Abstrict A nursing bra device for preventing breast milk from leaking through
a bra. The nursing bra device includes a bra with a pair of cup
frames positioned on a torso strap. Each of a pair of shoulder straps
extends between one of the cup frames and the torso strap. Each
of a pair of bra cups is attached to one of the cup frames such
that a portion of each of the bra cups defines a flap for opening
and closing an opening defined by the cup frames. Each of the flaps
has a hole therein. Each of the bra cups has an inner layer and
an outer layer. The inner layer comprises an absorbent material.
Each of a pair of hook members is attached to one of the cup frames
and selectively holds the flaps in a closed position.
Claims I claim:
1. A nursing bra device comprising:
a bra including a pair of cup frames positioned on a torso strap,
said torso strap having a pair of ends, each of a pair of shoulder
straps extending between an apex of one of said cup frames and said
torso strap between the associated cup frame and a nearer end of
the torso strap, a fastening means removably fastens a first end
of said torso strap to a second end of said torso strap;
a pair of bra cups, each of said bra cups being attached to one
of said cup frames such that a portion of each of said bra cups
defines a flap for opening and closing an opening defined by said
cup frames, each of said flaps having a hole therein, each of said
bra cups having an inner layer and an outer layer, said inner layer
comprising an absorbent material, said outer layer comprising a
generally waterproof material;
a pair of hook members for selectively holding said flaps in a
closed position, each of said hook members being attached to one
of said cup frames and located for extending into said holes of
said bra cups for holding said flaps in said closed position.
2. The nursing bra device as in claim 1 wherein each of said bra
cups has a bottom portion and an upper portion and a peripheral
edge, each of said peripheral edges of said bottom portions of said
bra cups being attached to and extending along a bottom edge of
one of said cup frames, said upper portions each defining said flap.
3. The nursing bra device as in claim 2 wherein said holes are
located adjacent to said apex of said cup frames when said flap
is in a closed position covering said opening.
4. A nursing bra device comprising:
a bra including a pair of cup frames positioned on a torso strap,
said torso strap having a pair of ends, each of a pair of shoulder
straps extending between an apex of one of said cup frames and said
torso strap between the associated cup frame and a nearer end of
the torso strap, a fastening means removably fastens a first end
of said torso strap to a second end of said torso strap;
a pair of bra cups, each of said bra cups having a bottom portion
and an upper portion and a peripheral edge, each of said peripheral
edges of said bottom portions of said bra cups being attached to
and extending along a bottom edge of one of said cup frames, said
upper portions each defining a flap for opening and closing an opening
defined by said cup frames, each of said upper portions having a
hole therein positioned adjacent to said peripheral edge of said
bra cups, said holes being located adjacent to said apex of said
cup frames when said flap is in a closed position covering said
opening, each of said bra cups having an inner layer and an outer
layer, said inner layer comprising an absorbent material, said outer
layer comprising a generally waterproof material;
a pair of hook members for selectively holding said flaps in a
closed position, each of said hook members being attached to one
of said cup frames and being located for extending into said holes
of said bra cups for holding said flaps in said closed position.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to nursing bras and more particularly
pertains to a new nursing bra device for preventing breast milk
from leaking through a bra.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of nursing bras is known in the prior art. More specifically,
nursing bras heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist
basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations,
notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded
prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless
objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 4911677; 4259469; 5149336;
5964641; 4550734; and Des. U.S. Pat. No. 246729.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives
and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new
nursing bra device. The inventive device includes a bra with a pair
of cup frames positioned on a torso strap. The torso strap has a
pair of ends. Each of a pair of shoulder straps extends between
an apex of one of the cup frames and the torso strap. A fastening
means removably fastens the first end of the torso strap to the
second end of the torso strap. Each of a pair of bra cups is attached
to one of the cup frames such that a portion of each of the bra
cups defines a flap for opening and closing an opening defined by
the cup frames. Each of the flaps has a hole therein. Each of the
bra cups has an inner layer and an outer layer. The inner layer
comprises an absorbent material, and the outer layer comprises a
generally waterproof material. A pair of hook members selectively
hold the flaps in a closed position. Each of the hook members is
attached to one of the cup frames and is located for extending into
the holes of the bra cups for holding the flaps in the closed position.
In these respects, the nursing bra device according to the present
invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and
designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus
primarily developed for the purpose of preventing breast milk from
leaking through a bra.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types
of nursing bras now present in the prior art, the present invention
provides a new nursing bra device construction wherein the same
can be utilized for preventing breast milk from leaking through
a bra.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described
subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new nursing bra
device apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of
the nursing bras mentioned heretofore and many novel features that
result in a new nursing bra device which is not anticipated, rendered
obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art nursing
bras, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a bra
with a pair of cup frames positioned on a torso strap. The torso
strap has a pair of ends. Each of a pair of shoulder straps extends
between an apex of one of the cup frames and the torso strap. A
fastening means removably fastens the first end of the torso strap
to the second end of the torso strap. Each of a pair of bra cups
is attached to one of the cup frames such that a portion of each
of the bra cups defines a flap for opening and closing an opening
defined by the cup frames. Each of the flaps has a hole therein.
Each of the bra cups has an inner layer and an outer layer. The
inner layer comprises an absorbent material, and the outer layer
comprises a generally waterproof material. A pair of hook members
selectively hold the flaps in a closed position. Each of the hook
members is attached to one of the cup frames and is located for
extending into the holes of the bra cups for holding the flaps in
the closed position.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important
features of the invention in order that the detailed description
thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that
the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There
are additional features of the invention that will be described
hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims
appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the
invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is
not limited in its application to the details of construction and
to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following
description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable
of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various
ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology
employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not
be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,
upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as
a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems
for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention.
It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including
such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from
the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially
the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not
familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine
quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the
technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither
intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured
by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope
of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a
new nursing bra device apparatus and method which has many of the
advantages of the nursing bras mentioned heretofore and many novel
features that result in a new nursing bra device which is not anticipated,
rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior
art nursing bras, either alone or in any combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new
nursing bra device which may be easily and efficiently manufactured
and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new
nursing bra device which is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a
new nursing bra device which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture
with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is
then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public,
thereby making such nursing bra device economically available to
the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide
a new nursing bra device which provides in the apparatuses and methods
of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously
overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new
nursing bra device for preventing breast milk from leaking through
a bra.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new
nursing bra device which includes a bra with a pair of cup frames
positioned on a torso strap. The torso strap has a pair of ends.
Each of a pair of shoulder straps extends between an apex of one
of the cup frames and the torso strap. A fastening means removably
fastens the first end of the torso strap to the second end of the
torso strap. Each of a pair of bra cups is attached to one of the
cup frames such that a portion of each of the bra cups defines a
flap for opening and closing an opening defined by the cup frames.
Each of the flaps has a hole therein. Each of the bra cups has an
inner layer and an outer layer. The inner layer comprises an absorbent
material, and the outer layer comprises a generally waterproof material.
A pair of hook members selectively hold the flaps in a closed position.
Each of the hook members is attached to one of the cup frames and
is located for extending into the holes of the bra cups for holding
the flaps in the closed position.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide
a new nursing bra device that has the absorbent material built into
the bra cups. This eliminates the need for additional pads which
can shift causing leakage or do not conform to the breast so that
they are noticeably visible through the user's clothes.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with
the various features of novelty which characterize the invention,
are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and
forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of
the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects
attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying
drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred
embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood and objects other than
those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is
given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description
makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a new nursing bra device according
to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 2--2
of FIG. 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic frontal view of the interior surface of the
bra cup of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS.
1 through 3 thereof, a new nursing bra device embodying the principles
and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by
the reference numeral 10 will be described.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 the nursing bra device
10 generally comprises a bra including a pair of cup frames 12 positioned
on a torso strap 14. The torso strap 14 has a pair of ends 16. Each
of a pair of shoulder 18 straps extends between an apex 20 of one
of the cup frames 12 and the torso strap 14 between the associated
cup frame 12 and a nearer end 16 of the torso strap 14. A fastening
means removably fastens the first end of the torso strap to the
second end of the torso strap 14. The fastening means preferably
being a conventional hook 22 and eye-loop 24 type of fastening means
used for bras.
Each of a pair of bra cups 26 has a bottom portion 28 an upper
portion 30 and a peripheral edge 32. Each of the peripheral edges
32 of the bottom portions 28 of the bra cups 26 is attached to and
extends along a bottom edge of one of the cup frames 12. The upper
portions 30 each define a flap 31 for opening and closing an opening
34 defined by the cup frames 12. Each of the upper portions 30 has
a hole 36 therein positioned adjacent to the peripheral edge 32
of the bra cups 26. The holes 36 are preferably located adjacent
to the apex 20 of the cup frames 12 when the flap 31 is in a closed
position covering the opening 34. Each of the bra cups 26 has an
inner layer 38 and an outer layer 40. The inner layers 38 comprise
an absorbent material and the outer layers comprise 40 a generally
waterproof material. The hole may also be placed adjacent to the
peripheral edge 32 and generally between the upper 30 and lower
28 portions.
A pair of hook members 42 selectively hold the flaps 31 in a closed
position. Each of the hook members 42 is attached to one of the
cup frames 12 and is located for extending into the holes 36 of
the bra cups 26 for holding the flaps 31 in the closed position.
In use, the device 10 is used as a conventional nursing bra wherein
the bra cups 26 may be opened for exposing the breast during feeding.
Since the inner layer 38 of the bra cups 26 is absorbent, no additional
pad is needed which often are inconvenient in looks and usefulness.
The user, instead of removing pads as in conventional nursing bras,
instead washes the entire device 10.
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation
of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above
description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the
manner of usage and operation will be provided.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized
that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the
invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form,
function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily
apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent
relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described
in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present
invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of
the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications
and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is
not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and
operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications
and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of
the invention.
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