Abstrict A nighttime nursing tube bra comprising a front central portion
having a first constant width and first and second side portions
coupled to the left and right of the front central portion. The
top and bottom portions of the front central portion and the first
and second side portions have coupled therealong elastomeric band
members which resiliently collapse around the wearer's body immediately
above and below the breasts of the wearer. The free ends of first
and second side portions, preferably, are securable via VELCRO.RTM.
to form an tube bra around the chest of a nursing mother. The front
central portion includes first and second releasable panels which
permits easy access to the wearer's breast. In the preferred embodiment,
the tube bra is made of a absorbent material such as terry cloth.
Claims What is claimed is:
1. A nighttime nursing tube bra securable about breasts of a wearer
comprising:
a tubular bra member having a forward central portion including
a first elastomeric band along a top edge, a second elastomeric
band along a bottom edge and a first number of spaced hook and pile
fastener sections spaced along a perimeter of an interior surface
thereof; and
a liner member sized and shaped to conform to said forward central
portion, said liner member being constructed from an absorbent,
launderable fabric, and including a second number of hook and pile
faster sections spaced about said liner member perimeter thereof,
said first and second numbers of hook and pile fastener sections
being securable together to attach said liner member to said interior
surface of said forward central portion.
Description TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to nursing brassieres and, more particularly,
to a nighttime nursing tube bra having a tubular bra member having
a forward central portion including a first elastomeric band along
a top edge, a second elastomeric band along a bottom edge and a
first number of spaced hook and pile fastener sections spaced along
a perimeter of an interior surface thereof; and a liner member sized
and shaped to conform to the forward central portion, the liner
member being constructed from an absorbent, launderable fabric,
such as terry cloth, and including a second number of hook and pile
faster sections spaced about the liner member perimeter thereof,
the first and second numbers of hook and pile fastener sections
being securable together to attach the liner member to the interior
surface of the forward central portion.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
After having a baby, a mother oftentimes breast feeds the newborn
baby. Therefore, several brassieres have been designed to provide
access to the breast without the need to take off the brassiere.
As is known, the mother's breast size after the baby is born is
significantly larger than her normal breast size. Therefore, while
sleeping, some mothers wear brassieres to sleep to support the weight
of their breasts. Additionally, at night since the breast are filled
with the mother's milk, the breasts leak with the mother's milk
which soils the bed linens.
The existing nursing bras have straps which support the bra around
the shoulders of the mother which is uncomfortable while sleeping.
Moreover, if the mother needs to breast feed the baby in the middle
of the night, some of the nursing bras utilize snaps and hooks which
are cumbersome to operate when the mother is, if you will, half
asleep.
Several examples of patented nursing bras or garments are described
below.
U.S. Pat. No. 5182813 to Booze, entitled "NURSING GARMENT"
discloses a garment in the form of a hospital gown for mothers who
may need to nurse their baby. The garment is made of flexible material,
has a vertical inwardly facing pleat centered on and along the upper
front in the vicinity of the breasts of the wearer. The pleat includes
an interior fold line which incorporates an opening therealong to
provide access to the breasts of the wearer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5094647 to Courtney, entitled "NURSING GARMENT"
discloses a nursing bra which includes at least one cup which fits
over a breast of the user. The cup includes a flap for selectively
concealing or exposing the breast. A focus pattern is provided on
the cup located so that it can be viewed by the infant during nursing.
The bra shown has straps.
U.S. Pat. No. 4911677 to White, entitled "NURSING BRA"
discloses a nursing brassiere having a frontal section comprised
of partially overlapping frontal portions each adapted to cover
one side of a wearer's chest area. The frontal portions are connected
to a lower band that fits around the wearer and has inner and outer
overlapping members. The bra shown has straps.
U.S. Pat. No. 4640287 to Anderson et al., entitled "RELEASABLE
FASTENING MEANS AND METHOD FOR CLOTHING ITEMS, PARTICULARLY CAPS,
BRASSIERES, AND NURSING BRASSIERES" discloses the use of VELCRO.RTM.
can be used as a fastening means for various clothing items. The
bra shown has straps.
U.S. Pat. No. 4390024 to Williams, entitled "MATERNITY
BRASSIERE" discloses a bra with straps and includes detachable
inner cup sections which overlay the inner portions of wide stretchable
bands.
While each of the above brassieres function as desired, none of
them disclose a nighttime nursing tube bra that can be easily pulled
down to expose one or more breasts and that includes a detachable,
launderable liner member.
As will be seen more fully below, the present invention is substantially
different in structure, methodology and approach from that of the
prior nursing brassieres or garments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to
provide a nighttime nursing tube bra which does not necessarily
firmly or bindingly support the wearer's breast close to the body
when worn as conventional support nursing bras would.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide
a nighttime nursing tube bra which is devoid of shoulder straps.
It is a still further object to provide a nighttime nursing tube
bra that does not have discrete cup portions for the placement of
the wearer's breasts, as do conventional nursing bras.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide
a nighttime nursing tube bra which eliminates the need to operate
buckles, snaps and/or hooks before a child can be nursed.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide
a nighttime nursing tube bra having a tubular bra member having
a forward central portion including a first elastomeric band along
a top edge, a second elastomeric band along a bottom edge and a
first number of spaced hook and pile fastener sections spaced along
a perimeter of an interior surface thereof; and a liner member sized
and shaped to conform to the forward central portion, the liner
member being constructed from an absorbent, launderable fabric,
such as terry cloth, and including a second number of hook and pile
faster sections spaced about the liner member perimeter thereof,
the first and second numbers of hook and pile fastener sections
being securable together to attach the liner member to the interior
surface of the forward central portion.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a nighttime
nursing tube bra that accomplishes one or more of the above objects
in combination.
Accordingly, a nighttime nursing tube bra is provided. The nighttime
nursing tube bra includes a tubular bra member having a forward
central portion including a first elastomeric band along a top edge,
a second elastomeric band along a bottom edge and a first number
of spaced hook and pile fastener sections spaced along a perimeter
of an interior surface thereof; and a liner member sized and shaped
to conform to the forward central portion, the liner member being
constructed from an absorbent, launderable fabric, such as terry
cloth, and including a second number of hook and pile faster sections
spaced about the liner member perimeter thereof, the first and second
numbers of hook and pile fastener sections being securable together
to attach the liner member to the interior surface of the forward
central portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the present
invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description,
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like
elements are given the same or analogous reference numbers and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the
nighttime nursing tube bra of the present invention showing the
tubular bra member and the liner member secured together.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the interior facing surface of the exemplary
tubular bra member of FIG. 1 in isolation showing the forward central
portion defined between two end sections each terminating in a hook
and pile tube fastener section; the first elastomeric band along
and past a top edge of the central portion; the second elastomeric
band along and past a bottom edge of the central portion; and the
first number of spaced hook and pile fastener sections spaced along
the perimeter of and an interior surface of the forward central
portion.
FIG. 3 first plan view of the bra member facing surface of the
exemplary liner member of FIG. 1 in isolation showing the liner
member perimeter edge and the second number of hook and pile faster
sections spaced about the liner member perimeter.
FIG. 4 second plan view of the user facing surface of the exemplary
liner member of FIG. 1 in isolation showing the left and right absorbent
pad receiving pocket openings for receiving optional absorbent material
if desired by the user.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the nighttime nursing tube
bra of the present invention, generally designated by the numeral
10. Nighttime nursing tube bra 10 includes a tubular bra member,
generally designated 12 and a liner member, generally designated
14 that are securable together. With reference now to FIG. 2 tubular
bra member 12 is constructed from a woven fabric material and includes
a forward central portion, generally designated 16 defined between
a left end section 18 and a right end section 20. Left end section
18 and right end section 20 each terminate in a hook and pile tube
fastener section 22a, 22b that are securable to each other so as
to form tubular bra member 12 into a closed tube shape. A first
elastomeric band 24 is secured along and past a top edge 26 of central
portion 16. A second elastomeric band 28 is secured along and past
a bottom edge 30 of central portion 16. A first number of spaced
hook and pile fastener sections 32 are spaced along the perimeter
of and to an interior surface of forward central portion 16. In
use, the top edge 26 of central portion 16 is pulled out and down
below the breast or breasts to expose the breast or breasts for
nursing. When nursing is finished, top edge 26 of central portion
16 is pulled out and up and over the breast or breasts to cover
the previously exposed breast or breasts.
With reference now to FIG. 3 liner member 14 is constructed of
absorbent terry cloth fabric and has a bra member facing surface
36 defined by a liner member perimeter edge 38 and to which a second
number of hook and pile faster sections 40 are secured. Second number
of hook and pile fastener sections 40 are spaced about liner member
perimeter edge 38 such that they correspond to the placement of
first number of spaced hook and pile fastener sections 32 (FIG.
2) when bra member facing surface 36 is in facewise registration
with forward central portion 16. With reference to FIG. 4 in this
embodiment, liner member 14 is provided with left and right absorbent
pad receiving pocket openings 4244 into the user contact surface
46 for receiving additional optional absorbent material pads if
desired by the user.
It can be seen from the foregoing description that a nighttime
nursing tube bra has been provided that does not bindingly support
the wearer's breast close to the body when worn as conventional
support nursing bras would; that is devoid of shoulder straps; that
does not have discrete cup portions for the placement of the wearer's
breasts, as do conventional nursing bras; that does not require
operation of buckles, snaps and hooks to allow nursing; and that
has a forward central portion including a first elastomeric band
along a top edge, a second elastomeric band along a bottom edge
and a first number of spaced hook and pile fastener sections spaced
along a perimeter of an interior surface thereof; and a liner member
sized and shaped to conform to the forward central portion, the
liner member being constructed from an absorbent, launderable fabric,
such as terry cloth, and including a second number of hook and pile
faster sections spaced about the liner member perimeter thereof,
the first and second numbers of hook and pile fastener sections
being securable together to attach the liner member to the interior
surface of the forward central portion.
It is noted that the embodiment of the nighttime nursing tube bra
described herein in detail, for exemplary purposes, is of course
subject to many different variations in structure, design, application
and methodology. Because many varying and different embodiments
may be made within the scope of the inventive concept(s) herein
taught, and because many modifications may be made in the embodiment
herein detailed in accordance with the descriptive requirements
of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein are to
be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
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