Abstrict A heated bra is arranged to relieve engorgement in a lactating
mother, wherein the bra structure includes a heated wire member
directed coextensively in surrounding relationship relative to each
cup member in electrical communication with an electrical energy
source. The bra structure is further arranged to include a fluid
impermeable chamber to accommodate heated water and other fluids
to assist in relieving pressure to an individual.
Claims What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by Letters
Patent of the United States is as follows:
1. A heated bra arrangement, comprising,
a first flexible cup member mounted to a second flexible cup member,
with the first flexible cup member and the second flexible cup member
longitudinally aligned by an interconnecting hinge portion, and
a first bra strap web mounted to the first cup member, and a second
bra strap web mounted to the second cup member, and
a continuous upper edge directed along an upper distal end of the
first cup member and the second cup member, and
a continuous lower edge directed along a lower distal edge of the
first cup member and the second cup member, and
a continuous electrical resistance heating coil directed coextensively
through the first cup member and the second cup member adjacent
the upper edge and the lower edge, and
the first bra strap web including a battery chamber, the battery
chamber including an on/off switch and a battery member contained
therewithin, with the battery member and the on/off switch in electrical
communication with the electrical resistance heating coil for effecting
selective heating of the electrical resistance heating coil, and
the first cup member and the second cup member include a respective
first cup opening and a second cup opening medially of the respective
first cup member and the second cup member, and a fluid impermeable
bladder directed coextensively through the first cup member and
the second cup member positioned between the electrical resistance
heating coil and the first cup opening and the second cup opening,
and a bladder fill conduit directed from the bladder to the continuous
upper edge, and a fill conduit cap arranged for selective securement
to the bladder fill conduit to permit selective filling of the bladder
with a heated fluid, and
the first cup opening includes a first cup opening flap and the
second cup opening includes a second cup opening flap, wherein the
first cup opening flap includes a first door opening and the second
cup opening flap includes a second door opening directed medially
of the respective first cup opening flap and the second cup opening
flap, and the first cup opening flap including a first door hook
and loop fastener patch, with the second cup opening flap including
a second door hook and loop fastener patch for selective securement
to the respective first cup member and the second cup member, wherein
the first door opening and the second door opening are of a predetermined
diameter, and the first cup opening and the second cup opening are
of a further predetermined diameter greater than the predetermined
diameter, and
the battery chamber includes a battery compartment door flap hingedly
mounted to the first bra strap web, with the battery compartment
door flap including a door flap hook and loop fastener strip, and
the first bra strap web including a strap hook and loop fastener
strip arranged for selective securement to the door flap hook and
loop fastener strip, and
a first annular hook and loop fastener strip is mounted to the
first cup member in surrounding relationship relative to the first
cup opening, and a second annular hook and loop fastener strip is
mounted to the second cup member in surrounding relationship relative
to the second cup opening, and including a first lotion cup and
a second lotion cup, the first lotion cup and the second lotion
cup each include a cup flange, wherein the first lotion cup includes
a first cup annular hook and loop fastener securable to the first
annular hook and loop fastener strip and the second lotion cup includes
a second cup annular hook and loop fastener for securement to the
second annular hook and loop fastener strip, the first lotion cup
and the second lotion cup include a cup sponge member, the cup sponge
member of the first lotion cup and the second lotion cup arranged
for receiving fluid lotion therewithin.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to wearing apparel, and more particularly
pertains to a new and improved heated bra arrangement wherein the
same is arranged to accommodate pressure relief for lactating individuals.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of breast feeding is a more economical and efficient as
well as nutritious manner of feeding an infant. Associated with
such breast feeding, is typical discomfort due to engorgement and
wherein to provide for relief, individuals have typically utilized
heated towels and the like directed onto the breast to relieve such
stress. The instant invention attempts to overcome deficiencies
of the prior art by providing for a readily secured bra structure
arranged to direct heat onto a nursing mother's breast to relieve
engorgement stress.
Prior art devices directed to nursing bras have heretofore failed
to provide such structure and are exemplified in the U.S. Pat. Nos.
4878879; 4911677; 4633876; 4355641; and 3513852.
Accordingly, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a
need for a new and improved heated bra arrangement as set forth
by the instant invention addressing both the problems of ease of
use as well as effectiveness in construction and in this respect,
the present invention substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types
of bra apparatus now present in the prior art, the present invention
provides a heated bra arrangement oriented to direct heat onto a
nursing woman's breast. As such, the general purpose of the present
invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail,
is to provide a new and improved heated bra arrangement which has
all the advantages of the prior art bra apparatus and none of the
disadvantages.
To attain this, the present invention provides a heated bra arranged
to relieve engorgement in a lactating mother, wherein the bra structure
includes a heated wire member directed coextensively in surrounding
relationship relative to each cup member in electrical communication
with an electrical energy source. The bra structure is further arranged
to include a fluid impermeable chamber to accommodate heated water
and other fluids to assist in relieving pressure to an individual.
My invention resides not in any one of these features per se, but
rather in the particular combination of all of them herein disclosed
and claimed and it is distinguished from the prior art in this particular
combination of all of its structures for the functions specified.
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, of course, additional features of the invention that will be
described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of
the claims appended hereto. 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 and improved heated bra arrangement which has all the advantages
of the prior art bra apparatus and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new
and improved heated bra arrangement which may be easily and efficiently
manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new
and improved heated bra arrangement which is of a durable and reliable
construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a
new and improved heated bra arrangement 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 heated bra arrangement
economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide
a new and improved heated bra arrangement 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.
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 had to the accompanying
drawings and descriptive matter in which there is 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 an orthographic view of the instant invention.
FIG. 1a is an orthographic view, taken along the lines 1a--1a of
FIG. 1 in the direction indicated by the arrows.
FIG. 2 is an orthographic view of section 2 as set forth in FIG.
1.
FIG. 3 is an orthographic view of a cup opening flap mounted to
an associated cup opening.
FIG. 4 is an isometric illustration of a lotion cup structure utilized
by the invention.
FIG. 5 is an orthographic view, taken along the lines 5--5 of FIG.
4 in the direction indicated by the arrows.
FIG. 6 is an isometric illustration of the lotion cup structure
accommodating a fluid lotion.
FIG. 7 is an orthographic view of the bra arrangement configured
for mounting of the lotion cup structure.
FIG. 8 is an orthographic view of the bra structure receiving the
lotion cup members thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS.
1 to 8 thereof, a new and improved heated bra arrangement embodying
the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally
designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.
More specifically, the heated bra arrangement 10 of the instant
invention essentially comprises a first flexible cup member 11 hingedly
mounted to a second flexible cup member 12 by a hinge portion 13
to longitudinally align the first and second cup members 11 and
12 together, as illustrated in FIG. 1. A fluid impermeable bladder
14 is coextensively directed through the first and second flexible
cup members 11 and 12 and to the hinge portion 13 having a fill
conduit 15 permitting directing of a heated fluid into the fluid
chamber 14a of the bladder 14. A fill conduit cap 16 is arranged
for securement to an upper distal end of the fill conduit 15 exteriorly
of the hinge portion 13 to a continuous upper edge 17 of the bra
structure. A lower continuous edge 18 is defined at a lower end
of the first and second cup members 11 and 12. A first bra strap
19 and a second bra strap 20 are longitudinally aligned relative
to one another and secured to the respective first and second cup
members 11 and 12 at opposed ends of the bra structure. The first
and second webs 19 and 20 include respective first and second fastener
patches 21 and 22 to permit the selective securement of the bra
structure about an individual. A battery compartment door flap 23
is mounted onto the first bra strap web 19 to overlie a battery
chamber 26. A door flap hook and loop fastener strip 24 is cooperative
with a strap hook and loop fastener strip 25. Within the battery
chamber 26 is a battery member 27 in electrical communication with
an on/off switch 28 into an electrical resistance heating coil 29
that is continuous and directed in surrounding relationship about
the bladder 14 within each of the first and second cup members 11
and 12. In this manner, heating of the heating coil 29 is effected
to provide for heating the cup members 12. If desired, in lieu of
the battery member 27 an alternating current supply may be directed
to the resistance heating coil as an alternative utilizing conventional
rectifier circuitry or may be utilized alone in lieu of the battery
member structure 27.
The first and second cup members 11 and 12 are formed with respective
first and second cup openings 30 and 31 having first and second
cup opening flaps 32 and 33 pivotally mounted to overlie each of
the respective first and second cup openings 30 and 31. The first
cup opening flap 32 and the second cup opening flap 33 are formed
with respective first and second door openings 34 and 35 to provide
for various opening diameter as the first and second door openings
34 and 35 are of a lesser diameter than the first and second cup
openings 30 and 31. Securement of the first and second door flaps
32 and 33 is effected by the use of first and second door hook and
loop fastener strips 36 and 37 mounted to the respective first and
second door flaps 32 and 33 arranged for securement to cooperating
fastener structure mounted to the first and second cup members 11
and 12 or alternatively securable to the fabric of the exterior
surface of the first and second cup members 11 and 12.
The FIGS. 4-8 illustrate the use of optional lotion cups to include
a respective first and second lotion cup 38 and 38a for securement
to the first and second cup members 11 and 12 arranged in covering
and surrounding relationship relative to the first and second cup
openings 30 and 31. Each lotion cup includes a cup flange 39 having
an annular hook and loop fastener 40 cooperative with respective
first and second bra cup annular hook and loop fastener strips 42
and 43 (see FIG. 7). In this manner, each lotion cup includes a
cup sponge member 44 contained therewithin to receive a fluid lotion
to enhance comfort and soothing of a nursing mother's breast during
the heating procedure.
As to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention,
the same should be apparent from the above disclosure, and accordingly
no further discussion relative to the manner of usage and operation
of the instant invention shall 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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