Abstrict A nursing garment and support bra is provided as an outer body
covering for a nursing mother suitable as a sleeping garment which
provides support for the breasts and access to the breasts by a
nursing infant, provides breast pad pockets to hold breast pads
to contain flow from leaking breasts, or prostheses, provides two
Vneckline breast retention panels easily slipped off the wearer's
shoulder or pulled to one side to expose a breast for nursing by
a nursing infant, and can function as a support bra for women who
have undergone surgery and have use of a prosthesis.
Claims What is claimed is:
1. A nursing garment and support bra as an outer body covering
for a nursing mother suitable as a sleeping garment and support
bra which provides support for the breasts and access to the breasts
by a nursing infant, which nursing garment and support bra, in combination,
comprising: two cros-over shoulder supported shoulder slip-off breast
retention panels with Vnecklines and elastic straps incorporated
therein; an abdomen covering panel; a back covering panel; the two
cross-over-shoulder supported shoulder slip-off breast retention
panels secured to the abdomen-covering panel by a seam joining the
said two breast retention panels to said abdomen covering panel
to form a Vneckline opening, each said cross-over breast retention
panel constructed of an angled side edge to form one side of a Vneckline,
each said panel crossing over the other, the two cross-over shoulder
supported shoulder slip-off breast retention panels are attached
to the back panel to form right and left coverings for the right
breast and left breast of the nursing mother, each shoulder supported
shoulder slip-off breast retention panel secured to a top of the
back covering panel to form shoulder support of the garment; each
cross-over shoulder supported shoulder slip-off breast retention
panel comprising two fabric layers, a first fabric layer as an outer
panel covering, a second fabric layer as a liner for the first fabric
layer and, each second fabric layer containing an opening positioned
over each breast; each cross-over shoulder supported shoulder slip-off
breast retention panel containing an elastic strap positioned on
the Vneckline of each shoulder supported shoulder slip-off breast
retention panel from the shoulder of each said breast retention
panel to the seam securing each breast retention panel to the abdomen
covering panel; said elastic strap positioned on said Vneckline
and secured to said seam securing each cross-over shoulder supported
shoulder slip-off breast retention panel to the abdomen panel below
the breasts, and secured to each side seam of the back covering
panel at the left and right sides of the garment; the abdomen covering
panel secured to each side of the back covering panel to form a
body covering garment in conjunction with said two cross-over shoulder
supported shoulder slip-off breast retention panels and; means to
secure the bottom edges of the abdomen covering panel and the joined
back covering panel as a retention means for positioning and fitting
the nursing garment and support bra around the nursing mother's
body.
2. The nursing garment and support bra of claim 1 wherein the two
fabric layers of said two cross-over shoulder supported shoulder
slip-off breast retention panels are joined with, the fabric layer
on the body side of each said breast retention panel having an opening.
3. The nursing garment and support bra of claim 1 wherein the garment
is made of a natural, synthetic or natural/synthetic blend fabric,
which is soft, stretchable, and resilient, providing a moderate
degree of support for the portion of the woman's body which it encases.
4. The nursing garment and support bra of claim 1 wherein the fabric
of the garment is selected from the group consisting of spandex,
nylon, polyester, cotton and blends thereof.
5. The nursing garment and support bra of claim 1 wherein the back
covering has "scoop" style shoulder straps to define a
conventional back neck opening wherein the back neck opening extends
to about the shoulder blades and the arm opening is defined by the
garment's shoulder straps.
6. The nursing garment and support bra of claim 1 wherein the back
covering is defined with "T" style shoulder straps, the
neck opening does not extend down the back of the wearer, is high
up on the back and close to the neck line, and the arm openings
extend into the back of the wearer sufficiently to provide support
to the bosom of the wearer.
7. The nursing garment and support bra of claim 1 wherein said
outer body covering encases a woman's torso.
8. The nursing garment and support bra of claim 1 wherein the back
of the garment from the center back below the neck opening of the
garment to the bottom hem line of the garment, comprises a fitted
back.
9. The nursing garment and support bra of claim 1 wherein said
means secured to the bottom edges of the abdomen covering panel
and the joined back covering panel as a retention means for positioning
and fitting the garment around the nursing mother's body comprises
an elastic lace of a sufficient elasticity to provide moderate stretchability
without high stretchability.
10. The nursing garment and support bra of claim 1 wherein said
means to secure the bottom edges of the abdomen covering panel and
the joined back cover panel for positioning and fitting the garment
around the nursing mothers body comprises a hem line secured to
the bottom edges of the abdomen covering panel and the joined back
covering panel.
11. The nursing garment and support bra of claim 1 wherein said
opening is positioned to fit over each breast for positioning, a
breast pad and prosthesis, and is, in the form of any one of a slit,
a circular opening, an oval opening or combination thereof.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nursing garment suitable as
a sleeping gown and more particularly accommodates the need of a
nursing mother for support of the bosom during sleeping and provides
for absorption of fluid leaking from the breasts during the night.
The present invention relates to a garment which provides support
to the wearer but does not restrict movement of the wearer without
the necessity of wearing a bra, thus alleviating the discomfort
and restrictions of wearing a bra. The present invention also relates
to a garment suitable as a support bra for women who have undergone
mastectomies, lump-ectomies and breast reduction to provide a garment
with needed support after these surgeries.
The invented garment functions as a bra replacement for women who
have undergone mastectomies, lump-ectomies and breast reduction.
Women who have undergone these procedures may wear the present invention
as a support top and use it to give them the support needed after
these surgeries without the discomfort of wearing a bra. The top
supports the wearer but does not restrict movement of the wearer.
The pockets in the present invention allow a woman wearing it after
breast surgery to place her prosthetic device right into the top,
rather than needing a separate garment to hold her prosthesis. These
pockets allow the wearer to place the prosthesis in either or both
sides of the top allowing a comfortable and more natural look.
The present invention is designed in a full length or waist length
as well as a shorter, midriff length. This allows the wearer to
wear the garment(s) in all stages of her recovery. Most patients
are not allowed to wear bras or any garments that cut under the
bust line after surgery. The top in the waist length allows the
wearer to feel the support of a bra but not be restricted under
the bust line. Upon further recovery, the patient can utilize the
top in the shorter length or midriff length allowing the wearer
to return to a bra type garment and still not have the need to layer
a prosthetic holding bra or device under her bra because the pockets
are in the present invention as well.
The invented garment overcomes the problem that there are no garments
currently available in the mastectomy or breast reduction clothing
market that have pockets for the prosthesis, encompassing a design
that gives support to the "good" breast. Also the garments
that are on the market typically consist of a looser design that
does not support either breast. The present invention supports the
"good" breast and holds the prosthetic device close to
the body of the wearer for a natural, more comfortable fit and effect.
The purpose of the garment is to provide sleepwear for a nursing
mother and a support bra for women who have undergone surgery. The
garment accommodates the need of a nursing mother for support of
the bosom without the requirement for a nursing brassiere being
a necessity for sleeping and nursing. The garment is unique in that
the garment provides support to the woman's bosom without the constrictions
of a nursing bra. The garment is comfortable enough to wear every
day and all day, yet holds the bosom to the body with support at
night during sleep. The garment eliminates the need to wear a nursing
bra and a pajama top or pajama jacket to bed. This garment is unique
in that the invented garment avoids the constrictions of a bra,
yet provides the needed support for the bosom, accommodates the
need for a nursing bra, and accommodates the need of the infant
to nurse. The garment is unique in that it functions as a support
bra for women who have undergone mastectomies, lump-ectomies and
breast reduction.
Many women need more support than others so a large busted woman
will need more support than a small-busted woman. After pregnancy
and birth of a child, even a small-busted woman frequently will
have a larger bust than before the pregnancy and birth. The instant
invented garment provides the means to adjust the garment and provide
the needed support for either a large busted woman or for the change
in bust size as required by the woman's changing size from pregnancy
to post delivery.
During periods of nursing, while the infant is nursing at one breast,
the stimulation occasioned by the feeding infant at the one breast
can result in flow from the other breast of the woman in what has
been termed "leakage." The flow from the breast not in
use can soak the woman's clothing and render the garments wet and
uncomfortable to wear. The invented embodiment provides breast pad
pockets to hold breast pads to contain leakage from the breasts.
The invented garment comprises a sleepwear garment for a nursing
mother, the garment utilizing a fabric of a cotton blend with a
stretch constituent fabric, spandex, the garment being designed
as a shoulder supported garment of waist length with an elastic
bias seam beneath the bust line and above the waist-length of the
garment. Closure means of the upper overlays above the body-encircling
bias seam is provided, the upper body overlays containing inside
pockets for holding removable breast pads to contain breast leakage.
The inside pockets can hold a prosthesis device if such is used.
The invented embodiment allows women to use breast pads if desired.
If no breast pad is desired, the garment lies flat against the breasts
and remains comfortable and supportive. A woman therefor can wear
the garment in the invented embodiment long after the woman stops
nursing. If breast pads are used for a few months and then discarded,
the garment will return to a flatter shape and not hold the shape
when breast pads were used. The invented garment with breast pad
inserts in the breast pad pockets can be worn as a nursing garment
and later as comfortable, supportive sleepwear and a support bra
after the need for nursing has passed without the breast pad inserts.
The invented embodiment allows women after breast surgery requiring
a prosthesis to place the prosthesis device in the breast pad pockets
of the garment rather than needing a separate garment to hold the
prosthesis. The separate breast pad pockets allow the wearer to
place the prosthesis in either or both sides of the garment to allow
a comfortable and natural appearance without the discomfort of wearing
a bra but with the support needed after surgery.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many prior art nursing garments are known in the art to accommodate
a nursing mother to nurse a child while wearing a garment. The prior
art garments, however, tend to be directed to separate aspects of
the problems a nursing mother encounters. For example, U.S. Pat.
No. 5848439 relates to a nursing cape adapted to cover a mother's
upper torso and drape over an infant while breast-feeding to provide
a high level of privacy. U.S. Pat. No. 5611086 teaches a nursing
garment which includes a vest which is attached to an undergarment
which covers the upper torso of a nursing mother. The undergarment
has a pair of openings through which the mother's breasts will protrude
to permit nursing of a baby. Pockets formed in the vest on the inward
side by a pair of flaps of liquid permeable material have liquid
absorbent material inserted therein to absorb liquid which may leak
from the nursing mother's breasts. The disposable or washable pads
which fit therein and their use have been taught in the prior art.
U.S. Pat. No. 5592692 discloses a garment which conceals a woman's
breast while nursing and which can be worn over a wearer's existing
clothing to allow a mother to nurse in public where access to privacy
is unavailable. U.S. Pat. No. 5461725 provides a nursing garment
with stretchable resilient support straps and a bodice. The straps
are sufficiently resilient and stretchable so that the wearer can
pull down the bodice to expose a breast for nursing, and when through,
the wearer can return the bodice to its original position covering
the breast. The bodice is V-necked and features a left cup and a
right cup and is made to exhibit good horizontal stretch. The straps
can be made of the same material as the bodice and can be of the
same resilient and stretchable material. The bodice cups are formed
by elastic shirring down the center of the bodice between the cups
thus formed. A band below the cups serves to hold the bodice in
place on the body of the wearer as well as to form the cups. Nursing
pads or breast pads can be inserted between the material layers
of the bodice and are removably secured. The cups support the breasts
without a bra. In use, the wearer pulls down a cup to expose a breast,
the cup being held under the breast by the contour and fold of the
breast. The other breast remains in its cup. The garment can be
of the empire style and reveal some breast cleavage to enhance the
woman's figure.
Other prior art patents relate to similar related aspects of problems
encountered by a nursing mother as to privacy and the need for nursing
pads or the need to adjust her garment to feed an infant. U.S. Pat.
No. 5182813 discloses a nursing garment having a pair of movable
breast cover panels connected to opposite sides of an inwardly facing
pleat face, the breast panels held in place by interior connections
to conceal the wearer's breasts from view through the openings during
normal wearing conditions. During nursing, the breast panels are
moved through the slash opening of the pleat face to position the
breast to allow the infant access to the breast. U.S. Pat. No. 5103501
discloses undergarments fabricated out of soft absorbent material.
An undershirt has breast openings and nursing pads which cover the
breast openings. The breast pads are removable to allow a woman
to breast-feed a baby. U.S. Pat. No. 4648404 discloses a coordinated
nursing slip and a nursing bra which can be worn separately or in
combination. In combination, the slip bosom and the bra nursing
flap open and close decorously as a unit to allow a mother to nurse
her baby in semi-public surroundings with minimum social embarrassment.
The nursing feature of the slip is invisible so that it could be
worn as a regular slip after the nursing period is over. In use,
the slip bosom and bra nursing flap are opened in unison to permit
the mother to nurse. U.S. Pat. No. 4208743 discloses a gown for
a mother to nurse an infant without partially disrobing. The gown
is provided with two apertures, one on each side, essentially under
each arm, each aperture so located that either breast can be exposed.
The apertures are located to enable the mother to insert both hands
at the same time to open a nursing type brassiere to nurse a child
without opening the gown or exposing the body. U.S. Pat. No. 3611439
discloses a nursing gown with breast covering panels which can be
dropped to expose either breast for the purpose of nursing.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly
or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention. Thus
a nursing garment suitable as a sleeping gown and can function as
a support bra for women who have undergone surgery, which particularly
accommodates the need of a nursing mother for support of the bosom
during sleep without the requirement for a nursing brassiere and
provides for absorption of fluid leaking from the breasts during
the night or from one breast when the infant is on the other breast
is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invented garment a sleepwear garment for a nursing mother and
a support bra for women who have undergone surgery. The garment
utilizes a fabric of cotton blended with a stretch constituent,
spandex, the garment comprising a shoulder supported garment of
waist length with bosom support and retained shoulder slio-off front
cross-over panels held in place by shoulder straps. The front shoulder
straps and front panels have elastic straps incorporated therein
for securing the shoulder straps and front panels in place over
the breasts. The front shoulder straps and front panels are a single
piece secured to the breast support seam of the garment. The breast
support seam located below the breasts incorporates an elastic strap
and is secured by the side seams of the garment back. An elastic
stretch lace secures the garment around the body of the wearer.
Each front panel includes a breast pad pocket, the pocket comprising
a liner sewn into each front panel to hold a breast pad or prosthesis.
Each panel liner embodying the pocket has an opening on the body
side to provide access for the breast pad insert or prosthesis.
The outer covering, the front shoulder straps and front panels,
and the inner breast pad pocket liners are made of soft, stretchable
natural, or synthetic fabrics or blends thereof. Preferably the
garment is made of a fabric with stretchability.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the present
invention with the elastic straps on the front panels, the breast
support elastic strap and the elastic lace trim and hidden pockets
shown in each panel.
FIG. 2 is a cutaway of the present invention to show the body side
breast panel pocket openings in each panel liner.
FIG. 3 is a view of a scoop back of the garment.
FIG. 4 is a view of a "T" style, or racer style, back
of the garment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In describing the preferred embodiments of the present invention,
reference is made to FIGS. 1-4 in which like numerals refer to like
features of the invention.
A front view of the preferred embodiment of the invention is depicted
in FIG. 1. The sleepwear garment comprises an outer covering 10
consisting of two breast retention cross-over panels, 17 and 18
abdomen covering panel 14 and a back covering panel 12. The two
cross-over breast retention panels 17 and 18 are constructed of
angled side edges to form one side of the Vneckline and the bottom
of the Vneckline is formed where the panels cross one over the other
as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Panels 17 and 18 are joined to panel
14 by seam 20. Seam 20 is located above the waistline of the wearer
of the garment and suitably below the breasts to cause the breast
retention panels to support the undersides and sides of the breasts
but do not otherwise restrict movement of the breasts by the wearer
of the garment. Covering 10 extends below the arms and includes
shoulder straps 16 as part of the breast retention panels. The outer
covering 10 is made of a natural, synthetic or natural/synthetic
blend fabric suitable for the desired end use such as spandex, nylon,
polyester, cotton or blends thereof. The fabric should be soft,
stretchable and resilient while still providing a moderate degree
of support for the portion of the woman's torso, which it encases.
As shown in FIG. 1 the outer covering 10 encases at least the
bust region of a woman's torso and covers the abdomen, hips and
rear areas as well, those portions of a woman's torso conventionally
covered by a woman's jacket. Alternatively, the outer covering 10
can comprise a full-length gown, which encases a woman's torso from
the shoulders to below the knees with a full skirt for the wearer's
comfort and ease of movement. The shoulder straps form a neck opening
19 and a pair of arm openings 35. The lower portion 14 of outer
covering 10 covering the abdomen and the two breast retention panels
17 and 18 with v-necklines, are sewn or otherwise secured to the
garment's back panel 12 along the side seams. The front panel covering
the abdomen and the rear portion of the outer covering may be made
of separate fabric panels in which case they are sewn or otherwise
secured along side seams. Each breast retention panel, 17 and 18
comprises two layers of fabric, the inner layer 32 containing openings
to insert breast pads, the outer layer furnishing the outer covering
10 the two layers sewn together to form a pocket therein, the inner
layer 32 with an opening 22 on the body side to provide access for
placement of a pad or prosthesis between the layers.
As shown in FIG. 1 each shoulder strap 16 of each breast retention
panel which form the shoulder straps of the garment, there is an
elastic strap 25 secured to each shoulder strap 16 joining the shoulder
end of the shoulder strap to the seam 20 joining the breast retention
panels and the abdomen covering panel 14. An elastic strap 30 is
secured to seam 20 joining the breast retention panels 17 and 18
and the abdomen covering panel 14 the elastic strap 30 secured
to the side seams joining the back panel 12 to the breast retention
panels 17 and 18 and abdomen covering panel 14. The elastic straps
are of a suitable elasticity to provide a measure of support to
the undersides and sides of the breasts. Elastic lace 26 is secured
to the lower portion of the abdomen covering panel 14 and the back
12 of garment 10 as a stretchable retention means for positioning
and fitting the garment to secure the garment around the body of
the wearer. The elastic lace 26 is of a sufficient elasticity to
provide moderate stretch ability of the garment without high stretch
ability. Alternatively, a hemline is secured to the lower portion
of the abdomen covering panel 14 and the back 12 of garment 10 as
a retention means for positioning and fitting the garment around
the nursing mother's body.
FIG. 2 depicts the hidden breast retention liners of panels 17
and 18 with openings 22 providing entrance to the breast retention
panel pockets formed within the panel between the outer covering
and the liner. The openings 22 are suitably positioned to fit over
each breast for positioning, a breast pad and prosthesis, and is,
alternatively, in the form of a slit, a circular opening, an oval
opening, and any modification of a slit opening, a circular opening,
oval opening.
The breast pad pocket openings on each breast retention panel are
suitably located that the breast pads and prosthesis are secured
between the breasts and the breast retention panels, the breast
pads and prosthesis being held between the two fabric layers of
each breast panel, the fabric layers being soft stretchable and
resilient of cotton with a stretch constituent, spandex, to hold
the breast pads and prosthesis in place over each breast.
FIG. 3 depicts the rear view of the nursing garment with "scoop"
style back shoulder neckline and shows the elastic lace 26 secured
to the garment to secure the garment around the body of the wearer.
The shoulder straps 16 define a conventional "scoop" back
in which the neck opening 19 extends to about the shoulder blades.
FIG. 4 depicts the rear view of the nursing garment with alternative
"T" style shoulder straps or a "racer" back
to provide added support to women who need such. In the alternative
style shown, the shoulder straps 16 define the "T" style
back in which the neck opening 19 does not extend down the back
of the wearer but is higher up on the back and closer to the neck
line while the arm openings 18 extend well into the back of the
wearer. Any other type of construction along the back region of
the garment may be utilized to provide support to the bosom of the
wearer but such construction should provide cross support as high
as possible and preferably no lower than just below the bust line.
Turning again to FIG. 1 the view depicts that the nursing garment
embodies a Vneckline. This allows the nursing mother to slide either
shoulder strap off her shoulder to nurse her child. The Vneckline
in the front of the garment allows the woman to easily slip the
shoulder strap and breast retention panel down so that there is
no need to fumble with hooks or clasps in the middle of the feeding
period. One breast remains covered while the other breast is used.
In an alternative embodiment, there is no need for the woman to
be concerned about soaking the garment while nursing the baby because
the breast pads stay in place by the stretchability and elastic
support provided by the stretchable materials of the fabric layers
of the panels and can absorb fluid from the breast not being used
for nursing. The breast pads, remaining in place, also absorb fluid
from both breasts after the nursing period if fluid continues to
flow.
Referring to FIG. 2 the breast pad pocket openings 22 depicted
are hidden on each breast retention panel 17 and 18 by outer covering
10. The breast pad pocket openings are positioned on each panel
17 and 18 in suitable position over each breast, each opening to
receive and hold a breast pad or prosthesis. The dimension of the
opening can be sized to allow breast pads of any suitable size to
be held in place by the stretchability and elastic support provided
by the stretchable materials of the fabric layers of the panels.
The breast retention panel inner layers are fashioned of the same
material as throughout the garment but it is understood that variations
in fabric used for the inner layers and the dimensions of the opening
are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
Essential elements of the garment comprise the two Vneckline breast
retention panels which are easily slipped off the wearer's shoulder
to expose a breast, and the three elastic straps which hold the
garment in place on the wearer as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Two straps
16 are secured to the Vnecklines of the breast retention panels
17 and 18. The third breast support elastic strap 20 is located
below the bosom and secured to the side seams joining the breast
retention panels to the back panel. The breast support elastic strap
20 is also secured to the seam joining the two breast retention
panels to the abdomen-covering panel. An additional essential element
comprises the elastic lace strap, which encircles the wearer at
the base of the garment and serves to hold the garment in place
around the torso of the wearer. The fabric comprising the garment
is an additional essential element being a cotton blend with a stretch
constituent which provides stretchability with recoverability, is
soft to the touch, and supportive to the wearer's body. The Vneckline
design of the garment as in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a further essential
element of the garment 10 in that the separate breast panels comprising
the Vneckline permit the wearer to slip a breast retention panel
and shoulder strap off her shoulder at the wearer's convenience
without undoing straps, hooks, buttons, or clasps, and to readjust
the breast retention panel and shoulder strap back upon her body
to the panel's original breast covering position with ease.
An alternative embodiment of the invented garment can comprise
a full-length gown or dress which encases a woman's torso from the
shoulders to below the knees with a full skirt for the wearer's
comfort and ease of movement. An alternative embodiment of the dress
can comprise the back of the dress having a center seam running
from the center back below the neck opening 19 of the gown to the
center of the waist of the gown to provide a fitted back to the
garment if such is desired.
While the fabric used in the garment may be of the same type throughout
the garment, the constituents of the fabric may be selected to provide
degrees of softness, stretchability, and support to the wearer's
torso as desired to increase the wearer's comfort and support needs.
While this invention has been described with reference to specific
embodiments, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that
variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope
of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and
modifications of the invention disclosed for the purpose of illustrations
which do not constitute departure from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
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