Abstrict An automatic nursing sequence indicator bra that indicates to a
nursing mother alternating between two breasts for feeding an infant
which breast is to be used next in turn. In the preferred embodiment
the nursing sequence indicators are integral parts of the bra cups
themselves in the form of two flaps, each a part of the two bra
cups. The flaps are inwardly disposed between the two cups with
one at least partially covering the other when both bra cups are
closed. The flap of the cup opened last for nursing lies so that
it at least partially covers the flap of the other cup. The top
flap therefore points to the next breast to be used in turn. In
a second embodiment, the flaps are added as separate parts to the
bra cups. In the preferred and second embodiments the flaps may
be stiffened with additional material for flap alignment. The shape
of the flaps, and decorations or slogans may aid their intended
function.
Claims I claim:
1. An automatic nursing sequence indicator bra that requires no
effort by a nursing mother beyond that of opening and closing of
either a right or a left bra cup during a nursing cycle to indicate
that the unused breast is to be used in turn for nursing, in combination
with said nursing bra of conventional design, comprising:
(a) two automatic nursing sequence indicator flaps that are structurally
separate from two support straps for said opening and closing of
said bra cups said flaps being activated by said opening and closing
of said bra cups for nursing, said first flap being at least a part
of said right bra cup and said second flap being at least a part
of said left bra cup,
(b) said automatic nursing sequence indicator flaps being positionally
disposed by said opening and closing of said bra cups to
(c) automatically indicate to said nursing mother which breast
is to be used next in turn for nursing,
(d) wherein one of said flaps is on top of and at least partially
covers said other flap when said bra cups are both closed between
nursing cycles, and
(e) said position of said flaps indicates to said nursing mother
which breast is to be used next in turn.
2. Said automatic nursing sequence indicator bra of claim 1 wherein
said first flap is an integral part of said right bra cup, and said
second flap is an integral part of said left bra cup.
3. Said automatic nursing sequence indicator bra of claim 1 wherein
said flaps are fastened to said bra cups by sewing, hooking, gluing,
riveting, clipping, snapping, or by means of velcro.
4. Said automatic nursing sequence bra of claim 1 wherein the first
and second indicator flaps contain at least a layer of stiffer material
to maintain flap alignment and that said one flap at least partially
covers said other flap when both cups are closed between nursing
cycles, said material not contributing significantly to breast support.
5. The automatic nursing sequence bra of claim 1 further comprising
a use of a flap shape, a decorative design and a slogan for said
nursing indicator flaps to prompt the mother as to the next breast
to be used.
6. An automatic nursing sequence indicator bra that requires no
effort by a nursing mother beyond that of opening of a first or
a second bra cup to indicate that she is to use first one breast
and then another in turn for nursing, in combination with a said
nursing bra of conventional design, comprising;
(a) a first nursing sequence indicator flap that is at least a
part of said first bra cup, and
(b) a second nursing sequence indicator flap that is at least a
part of said second bra cup,
(c) said first and second nursing sequence indicator flaps positionally
disposed between said two bra cups when both cups are closed between
nursing sessions so that,
(d) said two flaps alternate in their position with first one flap
at least partly covering said second flap and then said second flap
at least partly covering said first flap in turn when said two bra
cups are closed,
(e) to indicate to said nursing mother by said flap position and
appearance which breast is to be used next for nursing,
(f) said flaps being intended for nursing sequence indication only
and not for breast support.
7. Said automatic nursing sequence indicator bra of claim 6 wherein
said flaps are integral parts of said bra cups.
8. Said automatic nursing sequence indicator bra of claim 6 wherein
said flaps are fastened to said bra cups by sewing, bonding, gluing,
riveting, or snapping.
9. Said automatic nursing sequence bra of claim 6 wherein said
two indicator flaps contain at least a layer of stiffer material
to insure flap alignment and that said first flap is at least partially
covered by said second flap or the second flap is at least partially
covered by said first flap in turn when both bra cups are closed
between nursing cycles.
10. Said automatic nursing sequence bra of claim 6 further comprising,
a use of a flap shape, a decorative design and an instructional
word or slogan for the nursing indicator flaps to prompt said mother
as to which breast to be used next.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention is that of nursing bras with automatic
nursing indicator means wherein the opening and closing of the bra
cups indicates to a nursing mother which breast is to be used next
in turn. No additional effort in the form of remembering to move
and then manually and separately moving the indicator means is required.
2. Description of the Related Art
Nursing mothers usually alternate between the two breasts when
feeding an infant, using first one breast and then the other for
a number of reasons. First, it relieves a feeling of fullness if
not pain. Second, it stimulates the production of milk in both breasts
insuring an adequate supply. Third, it helps prevent caking of the
milk in the unused breast that could pose health problems.
Traditionally, a safety pin which is manually moved from one side
of the bra to the other has been used as a nursing sequence indicator.
By manually moving the safety pin from the side of the bra for the
breast used last to the side of the bra with the breast to be used
next the nursing mother can keep track of the breast to be used
next in turn. This manual procedure requires additional effort beyond
that of opening and closing the bra cups for nursing. The nursing
mother must remember to move the safety pin after each feeding so
that the next breast to be used in turn is indicated. Unfortunately,
feeding occurs at all hours of the day and night when the mother
is sometimes half awake or is otherwise preoccupied and she forgets
to move the safety pin nursing sequence indicator. The result is
that one breast is used repeatedly and the other breast is not used.
In addition, the mother is holding the baby with one hand while
trying to move the safety pin nursing sequence indicator with the
other hand.
Some improvement was achieved by P. G. Schawel for which she obtained
U.S. Pat. No. 4423734 Jan. 3 1984 for a nursing bra with nursing
indicator. Her invention uses a permanently attached base member
to which is attached a moveable nursing indicator. Her patent describes
several embodiments of her invention all of which must be separately
and manually moved in the same manner as the safety pin in addition
to opening and closing the bra cups. Her indicators are locked into
position by one of several means. Essentially, what her improvement
does is to insure that the indicator is not lost and the mother
and baby are not injured by the safety pin. The loss of the safety
pin certainly has been prevented in the past by some mothers by
tying the pin to the bra with a string.
OBJECTIVE AND THE ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a nursing mother with
a nursing bra that automatically indicates to her the status of
her nursing with regard to which breast is to be used next or was
used last. The advantage of the invention is to provide this automatic
indication without additional effort beyond that of opening and
closing the bra cups for nursing. Prior art nursing indicator means
required that the mother remember to move the nursing sequence indicator
after each nursing session, both day and night, and to physically
and separately move the indicator after each nursing session, if
the indicator is to work as needed. It is apparent that such indicators
do not work well for some mothers and poorly or not at all for others.
The present invention provides a nursing indicator bra that requires
no conscious effort on the part of the mother to maintain the indicator
function so that first one breast and then the other is indicated
for nursing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is for an automatic nursing sequence indicator nursing
bra which requires no additional effort beyond the normal opening
and closing of the bra cups for nursing to indicate to the nursing
mother which breast is to be used next or which breast was used
last. In the preferred embodiment two indicating flaps are used,
one that is an integral part of the right bra cup and a second that
is an integral part of the left bra cup. In this embodiment no additional
parts are added to the conventional non indicating nursing bra cups.
Only the shape of the cups is changed. The two flaps are located
between the two cups so that one flap falls on top of and at least
partially covers the other flap when both the cups are closed. The
flap of the cup opened and closed last for nursing is on top when
both cups are closed between nursing sessions. This top flap points
to the other breast which is to be used next for nursing. By top
is meant the flap is furthest from the mothers body. In a second
embodiment the two flaps are attached, one each, to the two bra
cups so one flap at least partly covers and overlaps the other flap
when both cups are closed between nursing sessions. In this second
embodiment the flaps are separate pieces that are sewed, glued,
bonded, or otherwise attached with snaps, velcro or with other fasteners
with similar function to the bra cups. This embodiment has the attractive
advantage of being addable to nursing bras of standard design or
those already in existence manufactured by state of the art techniques.
In both the first and second embodiments the mother can determine
by vision or by feel which breast is to be used next by determining
which flap is on top. This flap points to the other breast which
is to be used next. This is emphasized if the flaps are of pointed
or arrowhead shape. In both embodiments the nursing mother need
not remember to move the nursing sequence indicator since this is
done automatically by the opening and closing of the bra cups during
the nursing cycle.
The five steps used in the actual nursing process for the two invention
embodiments are no more than those required for use of a nonindicating
conventional nursing bra. The prior art safety pin nursing sequence
indicator and the several Schawel invention indicator means all
require a seven step process for the indicator to work. One of these
two extra steps per nursing cycle is the remembering and separate
manual moving of the indicator means after the left breast is used
and the other is the remembering and separate manual moving of the
indicator means after the right breast is used. These two steps
are unnecessary with the invention embodiments. In the prior art
if the mother fails to separately move the indicator means, one
breast will be used more than once in turn and the indicator means
does not function as intended. In the invention, the indicator means
is always in the correct position with no memory or extra manual
effort on the part of the nursing mother.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1 through 5 show the five steps, needed for prior art A to
complete a nursing cycle for a conventional nonindicating nursing
bra without nursing indicator means. This is the minimum number
of steps needed to complete the nursing cycle for use of both breasts.
There is nothing for the nursing mother to observe to indicate which
breast was used last or is to be used next.
FIGS. 6 through 12 show the seven steps for prior art B, two additional
steps more than needed for prior art A, to complete one nursing
cycle when a safety pin 12 is used as a nursing sequence indicator
which must be separately and manually moved after each nursing session
for the nursing sequence indicator to serve its intended purpose.
FIGS. 13 through 19 show the seven steps for prior art C, two additional
steps more than prior art A, needed to complete one nursing cycle
when the preferred embodiment of the Schawel invention of U.S. Pat.
No. 4423734 is used. This number of operations and the attendant
difficulty of remembering to move and then moving the nursing sequence
indicator separately from the nursing operation after each nursing
session are the same as for the safety pin indicator of prior art
B. If the nursing mother forgets to move the indicator it does not
serve its intended purpose. All the embodiments of the Schawel patent
have this same limitation.
FIGS. 20 through 24 show the five steps needed for the preferred
and second embodiments of the invention to complete one nursing
cycle. The nursing mother need not remember to move the nursing
sequence indicators in the form of two flaps 15 and 16 because
this is done automatically with the opening and closing of the bra
cups 4 and 5. The invention requires no additional steps beyond
the five necessary for a conventional nursing bra without nursing
sequence indicator of prior art A. The invention requires two less
steps than prior art B and C.
FIG. 25 shows the preferred embodiment of the invention having
nursing sequence indicator flap 15A that is an integral part of
left bra cup 5 and nursing sequence indicator flap 16A that is an
integral part of right bra cup 4. Each flap and cup are a single
structural unit which may be constructed of at least one part each.
The terms left and right refer to the mother's breasts and not to
the drawing as viewed.
FIG. 26 shows the second embodiment of the invention having nursing
indicator means 15B that is a separate flap attached to left bra
cup 5 and indicator means 16B that is a separate flap that is attached
to right bra cup 4. Attachment is by sewing, bonding with adhesives,
attached with snaps or velcro, rivets or with their functional equivalents.
Flap 15B is attached at 15C and flap 16B is attached at 16C. This
embodiment allows automatic nursing means to be added to an existing
conventional nursing bras by the addition of the two flaps one attached
to each of the two cups. Each flap consists of at least one piece
of material. If attached with snaps, the flaps can be removed, if
this is desired at any time.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows the first step in the use of prior art A nursing bra
without nursing sequence indicator means at the beginning of the
nursing cycle. Both cups 4 and 5 are closed. Cup 4 is supported
by strap 6 and cup 5 is supported by strap 7. Strap 6 is attached
to shoulder strap 2 with any detachment means 8 known in the prior
art. Strap 7 is attached to shoulder strap 3 with any detachment
means 9 known in the prior art. Cups 4 and 5 then give both breasts
the maximum support between nursing cycles. Right cup 4 and left
cup 5 are attached to the front of the bra for at least for a part
of their circumference to a band 1 that surrounds the body of the
mother. Shoulder strap 2 passes over the right shoulder and is attached
behind the mother's back to the band 1 which surround the body of
the mother. Shoulder strap 3 passes over the left shoulder and is
attached behind the mother's back to the band 1 which surrounds
the body of the mother. The prior art attachment means 8 and 9 can
be detached so that either cup 4 or cup 5 respectively, can be
lowered for nursing. The numbered items in the remainder of the
figures have the same meaning as in FIG. 1.
FIG. 2 shows the second step in the nursing process with the prior
art A conventional nonindicating nursing bra. The right cup 4 is
opened and lowered for nursing by strap 6 after the attachment means
8 has been detached revealing support strap 6A attached to shoulder
strap 2 to support a partial cup 10A with an opening for nursing
10. The partial cup 10A provides some support to the right breast
during nursing.
FIG. 3 shows the third step for prior art A for the conventional
nonindicating nursing bra in which both cups 4 and 5 are closed
to fully support the breasts between nursing sessions. Strap 6 for
the right breast supports the right breast cup 4 when attached by
means 8 to the right shoulder strap 2. Strap 7 supports the left
breast cup 5 when attached by means 9 to left shoulder strap 3.
FIG. 4 shows the fourth step for prior art A for the conventional
nonindicating nursing bra in which the left cup 5 is opened and
lowered by strap 7 for nursing after the attachment means 9 has
been detached revealing stationary support strap 7A attached to
shoulder strap 3 which supports a partial cup 11A with an opening
for nursing 11. The partial cup 11A provides some support to the
left breast during nursing.
FIG. 5 shows the fifth step for prior art A for the conventional
nonindicating nursing bra in which both cups 4 and 5 are closed.
Cup 4 is closed and supported by strap 6 when attached with means
8 to shoulder strap 2. Cup 5 is closed and supported by strap 7
when attached by means 9 to shoulder strap 3. Both breasts are fully
supported between nursing sessions. These five steps complete the
nursing cycle for a conventional non-nursing-sequence nursing bra
for prior art A. At no time was there an indication from the bra
to the mother which breast was used or was to be used next.
FIG. 6 shows the first step in the nursing cycle for prior art
B with right bra cup 4 closed and supported by strap 6 when attached
by detachable means 8 to shoulder strap 2. Left bra cup 5 is closed
and supported by strap 7 when attached by detachable means 9 to
shoulder strap 3. Full breast support is provided when both cups
4 and 5 are closed. A common safety pin 12 old in the prior art
is attached to the right shoulder strap 2 of the bra to indicate
that this breast is to be used next for nursing. The safety pin
could be attached to any part of the bra but it is convenient to
use the right shoulder strap 2. In all other respects the bra of
prior art B is identical to the bra of prior art A. Only the safety
pin 12 has been added as a nursing sequence indicator which must
be moved manually and separately from the opening and closing of
the bra cups during nursing. The band 1 surrounds the body of the
mother as in prior art A. The cups 4 and 5 are attached to the band
1 in front of the mother's body for a part of the circumference
of the bra cups.
FIG. 7 shows the second step in the nursing cycle of prior art
B with the right cup 4 open and lowered with strap 6 after the attachment
means 8 has been detached for nursing revealing support strap 6A
attached to shoulder strap 2 which supports a partial cup 10A with
an opening for nursing 10. The partial cup 10A supplies some support
to the right breast during nursing by means of shoulder strap 6A.
The safety pin nursing sequence indicator 12 remains attached to
the right strap 2. The shoulder straps 2 and 3 pass over the mothers
shoulders and are attached to the bra body 1 behind the mothers
back usually by sewing but other means could be used.
FIG. 8 is the third step in the nursing cycle for prior art B with
cup 4 closed and the strap 6 attached by attachment means 8 to shoulder
strap 2 and the cup 5 closed and the strap 7 attached by attachment
means 9 to shoulder strap 3. The mother receives maximum support
between nursing cycles. The safety pin nursing indicator 12 is still
attached to the strap 2 the breast side for which nursing was last
completed. The nursing operation by itself did not move the safety
pin nursing indicator 12.
FIG. 9 is the fourth step in the nursing cycle when both bra cups
4 and 5 are closed between nursing sessions for prior art B in which
the mother must remember with mental effort and to transfer with
physical effort the nursing sequence indicator safety pin 12 from
the right bra strap 2 to the left bra strap 3 to indicate that the
left breast is to be used next for nursing. These two efforts are
in addition to the opening and closing of the bra cups 4 and 5 for
nursing. Failure to move the indicator 12 at this time because of
lack or sleep of the mother or because of other preoccupation negates
the usefulness of the safety pin 12 as a nursing sequence indicator.
Again, the safety pin 12 could be attached to any part of the bra
in a consistent manner that would indicate to the nursing mother
the breast to be used next. Of course the safety pin nursing sequence
indicator could be moved at any time prior to, during, or after
the nursing cycle with any consistent convention adopted by the
mother.
FIG. 10 is the fifth step in the nursing cycle for prior art B
in which the left breast strap 7 is detached from the shoulder strap
3 by detachment means 9 and the cup 5 is opened and lowered for
nursing from the left breast through the opening 11 in the partial
cup 11A. The partial cup 11A is supported during the nursing cycle
by strap 7A. The nursing indicator safety pin 12 remains on the
side of the breast in use, the left side.
FIG. 11 is the sixth step in the nursing cycle for prior art B
in which both breasts are covered again for additional support.
Bra cup 4 is closed and the strap 6 is attached by attachment means
8 to shoulder strap 2 and the cup 5 is closed and the strap 7 is
attached by attachment means 9 to shoulder strap 3. The safety pin
12 nursing indicator means is still attached to the left bra strap
3 the side of the last breast used for nursing. The opening and
closing of the bra cup 5 did not change the position of the nursing
sequence indicator 12.
FIG. 12 is the seventh and final step in the nursing cycle for
prior art B in which the mother must remember to transfer with mental
effort and to transfer with physical effort, the safety pin 12 from
the left bra strap 3 to the right bra strap 2 to indicate that the
right breast is to be used next in turn for nursing. These two efforts
are in addition to the opening and closing of the bra cups for nursing.
Failure to move the safety pin nursing indicator 12 at this time
because of lack or sleep of the mother or because of preoccupation
with other things negates the usefulness of the safety pin as a
nursing sequence indicator. Of course, the safety pin could be attached
and moved to any part of the bra in a consistent manner chosen by
the nursing mother to designate the breast to be used next.
FIG. 13 shows the first step, for prior art C of the nursing cycle
when the preferred embodiment of the Schawel invention of U.S. Pat.
No. 4423734 is used. She discloses a number of nursing indicator
means, all manual and similar to the safety pin 12 of prior art
B except that the indicator means is permanently attached to the
bra, much as would be the case if the safety pin were tied to the
bra to prevent it from becoming lost. In addition, her indicator
means are less likely to injure the mother and can be moved with
one hand. For the first step both bra cups 4 and 5 are closed. The
right bra cup 4 is supported by strap 6 attached to shoulder strap
2 by detachment means 8. The left bra cup 5 is supported by strap
7 attached to shoulder strap 3 by attachment means 9. In her preferred
embodiment a manual nursing sequence indicator has a base element
28 and a movable sliding element 29 with decorative element 30.
The indicator element 29 is slidably movable in a frame 28 permanently
attached to the band 1 that surrounds the body of the nursing mother.
The slidably moveable marker 29 is manually moved by the mother
from one side to the other to indicate which breast is to be used
next. The slidable member 29 is held in place by a locking means
between the frame 28 and the marker 29 not shown in the figure.
Other embodiments not shown but described in U.S. Pat. No. 4423734.
All of the embodiments of this patent require additional mental
and physical effort beyond that of opening and closing of the bra
cups for nursing, to make the nursing sequence indicator work as
intended as was required by the safety pin nursing sequence indicator
of prior art B. All embodiments have some means to keep the indicator
in place, once positioned.
FIG. 14 is the second step in the nursing cycle of prior art C
in which the right bra cup strap 6 is detached from attachment means
8 on shoulder strap 2 so that the bra cup 4 can be lowered to expose
the opening 10 in the partial cup 10A for nursing. The strap 6A
which lies beneath strap 6 when the cup 4 is closed and attached
at 8 supports the partial cup 10A and the breast during nursing.
Opening of the bra cup 4 does nothing to change the position of
the nursing sequence indicator 29 which remains besides bra cup
4.
FIG. 15 is the third step in the nursing cycle of prior art C in
which both right bra cup 4 and the left bra cup 5 are closed when
strap 6 is attached to the shoulder strap 2 by attachment means
8 and strap 7 is attached to the shoulder strap 3 by attachment
means 9. Both breasts receive additional support between nursing
sessions. The indicator means 29 remains on the side of the breast
last used, the right breast covered by bra cup 4 because it was
not moved by the opening and closing of the bra cups for nursing.
This is true for all of the embodiments of the Schawel patent. All
her nursing sequence indicators must be moved with effort in additional
to the opening and closing of the bra cups 4 and 5.
FIG. 16 is the fourth step in the nursing cycle of prior art C
showing the nursing indicator 29 after being moved, in separate
effort from the nursing procedure, to the side of the left bra cup
5 as is the case in the safety pin nursing sequence indicator of
prior art B. If this operation is omitted by the nursing mother
because of a semisleep state or is forgotten because of preoccupation
the indicator means 29 fails in its intended function, to keep the
mother alternating the use of her two breasts for feeding.
FIG. 17 is the fifth step in the nursing cycle of prior art C showing
the left strap 7 detached from attachment means 9 on shoulder strap
3 and the left bra cup 5 lowered to expose the partial cup 11A with
opening 11 for nursing. Strap 7A is attached to the shoulder strap
3 to supply support to the nursing breast by means of the partial
cup 11A. The mother selected the left breast for nursing because
of the position of the nursing sequence indicator 29. If it had
not been moved as in FIG. 16 by separate effort on the part of the
mother the right breast would be used twice in a row without the
alternation between breasts desired.
FIG. 18 is the sixth step of prior art C showing bra cup 4 closed
and supported by strap 6 when it is attached by means 8 to shoulder
strap 2. Cup 5 is closed and supported by strap 7 when it is attached
by means 9 to shoulder strap 3. The nursing indicator means 29 remains
on the side of the bra just used, the side of the left bra cup 5.
Opening and closing the bra cups during the nursing cycle did not
change the location of the nursing sequence indicator. This is true
for all the embodiments of the Schawel patent. Both breasts are
again supported between nursing sessions.
FIG. 19 is the seventh and last step of prior art C showing the
FIG. 18 configuration after the nursing indicator means 29 has been
manually moved by separate effort after the nursing session from
the left bra cup 5 to the side of the right bra cup 4. If this operation
is omitted because of a semisleep state of the mother or is otherwise
forgotten because of preoccupation, the indicator means 29 fails
in its intended function, to keep the mother alternating the use
of her two breasts for feeding.
FIG. 20 shows the first step in the use of the first and second
embodiments of the invention. Cup 4 is closed and supported by strap
6 which is attached by attachment means 8 to shoulder strap and
2. Cup 5 is closed and supported by strap 7 which is attached by
attachment means 9 to shoulder strap 3. Both breasts are supported
between nursing sessions. An indicator means in the form of a flap
15 points to the right breast to indicate that this breast is to
be used next in the nursing cycle. This position was automatically
determined because the left bra cup 5 was opened and closed last.
That is, indicator means 15 falls on top of and at least partly
covers indicator means 16 because cup 5 was opened and closed last.
The flaps 15 and 16 may be in the shape of an arrowhead to point
to the next breast to be used.
FIG. 21 shows the second step in the use of the first and second
embodiments of the invention with the right cup 4 opened and lowered
for nursing after detaching the strap 6 from the attachment means
8 of shoulder strap 2. Lowering the right cup 4 pulls the indicator
means 16 from under indicator means 15. The bra cup 4 folds along
line 31 to allow the flap 16 to be pulled from under the flap 15
when the bra cup 4 is opened for nursing. Opening bra cup 4 exposes
the partial cup 10A with opening 10 for nursing. The partial cup
10A is supported by strap 6A which is attached to shoulder strap
2. The flap 15 points to the side of the right breast and the flap
16 points to the side of the left breast.
FIG. 22 shows the third step in the use of the first and second
embodiments of the invention when both cups 4 and 5 are closed.
The cup 4 is supported by strap 6 which is attached by means 8 to
the right shoulder strap 2 for increased breast support between
nursing sessions. The closing of the bra cup 4 causes the indicator
means 16 to be on top of and to at least partially cover the indicator
means 15 thereby automatically indicating by pointing that the left
bra cup 5 is to be used next. The cup 5 is supported by strap 7
which is attached by means 9 to the left should strap 3. There is
no need to remember and then move the indicator means 16 because
this was accomplished by the opening and closing of the bra cup
4. Both breast received full support between nursing cycles.
FIG. 23 shows the fourth step in the use of the first and second
embodiments of the invention with the strap 7 for the left cup 5
detached from shoulder strap 3 by attachment means 9 and lowered
for nursing. This lowering of left bra cup along fold line 32 pulls
the indicator flap 15 from under the indicator flap 16. The partial
bra cup 11A containing a hole for nursing 11 is attached by strap
7A to shoulder strap 3.
FIG. 24 shows the fifth step in the use of the first and second
embodiments of the invention with both cups 4 and 5 closed when
their supporting straps 6 and 7 are attached to attachment means
8 and 9 on shoulder straps 2 and 3 respectively, for support of
both breasts between nursing sessions. The indicator means 15 is
again on top of and at least partially covers indicator means 16.
Indicator means 15 again points to the right breast 4 to begin a
new nursing cycle. There is no need to remember and then move the
indicator means 15 because this was accomplished by the opening
and closing of the bra cup 5. The five step nursing process for
FIGS. 20 through 24 is of the same complexity for the nursing mother
as the prior art A bra but with the important additional feature
of automatically indicating which breast is to be used next without
conscious effort on the part of the nursing mother as is required
for prior art B and prior art C. No additional effort either physical
or mental is required by the nursing mother beyond the opening and
closing of the bra cups for nursing. In prior art B and C both with
manual nursing indicators the nursing mother must remember to move
the indicator which is a mental effort, and then to move the indicator
which is a physical effort.
FIG. 25 shows the first embodiment of the invention which is the
preferred embodiment with nursing sequence indicator flaps 15A and
16A both created as integral parts of the bra cup shape. That is,
the bra cups 4 and 5 are themselves nursing sequence indicator means.
No additional separate elements need be added. Indicator flap 15A
is an integral part of bra cup 5 and indicator flap 16A is an integral
part of bra cup 4. While the cup and flap could be made structurally
from a single layer or sandwiched layers of material, they could
also be constructed of separate pieces in a variety of shapes and
sizes to obtain the integral structure needed. One or more layers
or pieces could be of a stiffening material to maintain nursing
indicator means alignment. That is, to insure that one flap at least
partially covers the other flap when both bra cups are closed. Additionally,
some decoration and/or slogan may be added to enhance the toy entertainment
value of the bra. For example an arrow design or slogan may be added
to the indicator elements 15A and 16A. FIG. 25 shows strap 6 detached
from attachment 8 and cup 4 opened for use of the right breast but
an analogous relationship holds for using the left breast as well
as demonstrated in FIGS. 20 through 24.
FIG. 26 shows the second embodiment of the invention in which the
nursing sequence indicator means 15B and 16B are separate flaps
sewn, glued, bonded, or otherwise fastened to the bra cups, at 15C
and 16C, respectively. This configuration allows the addition of
indicator means to nursing bras of prior art A design by the addition
of two indicator flaps 15B and 16B attached to the bra cups 4 and
5 at 15C and 16C, respectively. The flaps could be added after the
time of manufacture including installation by the mother herself.
The flaps should be soft enough so as not to irritate the breasts
but may be rigid enough to insure that the flap on top at least
partially covers the other flap when both flaps are closed between
nursing sessions. FIG. 26 shows cup 5 opened for use of the left
breast but an analogous relationship holds for using the right breast
as well as shown in FIGS. 20 through 24. When the flaps 15B and
16B are attached at 15C and 16C by means of detachable fasteners,
such as snaps or velcro, they may be easily removed if and when
the need arises. FIG. 26 shows strap 7 detached from attachment
means 9 and bra cup 5 opened for use of the left breast but an analogous
relationship holds for using the right breast as well as demonstrated
in FIGS. 20 through 24.
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