Abstrict A simple yet extremely effective closure device for a nursing bra
is provided which enables a nursing mother to quickly and inconspicuously
close a cup on a nursing bra. The closure device includes an elongated
flexible strip which is provided with a cup attachment clip at one
end thereof, a stop at the other end, and a clip for attaching the
strip to a bra strap intermediate the two ends. The bra strap clip
is configured to enable the strip to slide relative to the bra strap,
so that by pulling on the stop, the cup may be lifted into position
for attachment by suitable snaps or the like.
Claims Although I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my
invention, it will be readily apparent that many minor changes of
structure and operation could be made without departing from the
spirit of the invention. What I claim as new and desire to protect
by Letters Patent is:
1. A closure device for a nursing bra having a releasably securable
breast-enveloping cup and a supporting bra strap, said closure device
comprising:
an elongated flexible strip presenting a first end and a second
end;
means for releasably attaching the strip to the cup at said first
end;
means for releasably attaching the strip to the bra strap and for
enabling the strip to move slidably relative to the bra strap, said
attaching means being positioned intermediate the first end and
the second end; and
stop means attached to the second end for inhibiting the second
end from sliding through said bra strap attaching means.
2. A closure device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cup attaching
means and said bra strap attaching means comprise clips, each clip
presenting an access opening therein.
3. A nursing bra including at least one foldable, front breast
covering cup, for supporting said cup, and means on said cup for
releasably attaching said cup to said support member, wherein the
improvement comprises means releasably attached to said cup and
connected to said support means for lifting said cup from a location
proximate said bra strap.
4. A nursing bra as set forth in claim 3 wherein said lifting
means comprises an elongated flexible strip presenting first and
second ends, said first end being secured to said cup and a means
intermediate said first and second end for attaching said strip
to said bra strap for permitting relative movement therebetween,
and stop means attached to said second end for inhibiting said strip
from passing through said bra strap attaching means.
5. A nursing bra as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first end
of said strip is releasably secured to said cup below said cup attaching
means.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a closure device for a nursing bra of
simple yet highly effective construction which enables the nursing
mother to quickly and inconspicuously draw up the cup of a nursing
bra after nursing an infant. In particular, it enables the nursing
mother to cradle the infant with one arm while drawing up the breast-covering
cup from a position proximate her shoulder. The closure device hereof
is economical to construct and easy to attach, having an added advantage
of being small and easy to conceal under the clothing of the wearer.
More particularly, the invention is concerned with a flexible strip
or ribbon having a clip at one end and a stop at the other, with
a clip for attaching to the bra strap located intermediate the two
ends so that the top of the cup of the bra may be drawn upwardly
by sliding the strip relative to the draw strap.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Breast feeding has enjoyed a resurgency among nursing mothers because
of the obvious nutritional benefits to the child as well as the
emotional bonding between the mother and infant. As is commonly
the practice, nursing mothers wear what is known as a nursing bra,
which includes a flexible, foldable cup which may be lowered to
enable the infant to have access to the nipple of the mother. After
nursing is completed, the mother raises the cup and reattaches it
to the support member of the nursing bra so that the cup will remain
in breast covering position for normal wear. Typically, the mother
cradles a child with one arm, holding the infant to her bosom and,
at the same time, wearing an outer garment which permits the mother
to give access to her breast. The nursing bra typically includes
a snap or other closure at the top portion of the cup which is manually
reattached to the strap or supporting device. The mother may either
chose to permit the child to nurse in public view, with a portion
of her clothing covering her breast, or, alternatively, withdraw
to some more private setting.
In any event, the mother invariably encounters a problem when nursing
is completed. She must often reach far down into her garment in
order to grasp the top of the cup with one arm while cradling the
child with the other. This may prove cumbersome or even impossible,
necessitating putting the child down in order to reach the top of
the cup for refastening it to the remainder of the bra. At best,
this procedure is inconvenient, and at worst, may prove unsafe in
that the mother may have to place the child down in a public area
which may be somewhat unsanitary or be unable to prevent the child
from tumbling off a bench or seat on which it is placed. Fumbling
to locate the cup and reattach it to the bra is an annoyance which
most nursing mothers would prefer to avoid, and, if nursing in public,
it is difficult to reposition the cup near the fastener and remain
discrete and unexposed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The problems outlined above are in large measure solved by the
closure device in accordance with the present invention. That is
to say, the closure device hereof is economical to construct and
thus represents an inexpensive addition for the nursing mother,
may be reattached to different nursing bras as each bra needs to
be washed, and enables the mother to easily, quickly and inconspicuously
draw up the top of the cup of the nursing bra in close proximity
to her shoulder for reattachment without reaching far down into
her blouse to locate and reattach the top of the cup.
The closure device in accordance with the present invention is
designed to be used in conjunction with a conventional nursing bra
which includes a supporting structure, usually including a bra strap
for supporting the cup in an upright, closed position. The closure
device itself includes an elongated, flexible strip presenting two
opposed ends. A first end is provided with an attachment for securing
the strip to the top of the cup, while the second, opposed end is
provided with a stop. Located intermediate these two ends is a clip
in slidable engagement with the ribbon for attaching to the bra
strap. By attaching the first end to the top of the cup and the
bra strap attachment to the bra strap, the wearer may draw the top
of the cup upwards so that the cup, which normally has a fastener
at the top thereof, may be easily secured to the cup supporting
structure.
In particularly preferred forms, a clip is attached at the first
end of the flexible strip, which is preferably a fabric ribbon.
The ribbon may be sewn over the clip which presents an opening therein
for removably attaching the first end to the top of the bra cup.
A similar cup is located intermediate the two ends, for releasably
securing the ribbon to the bra strap. The stop on the second, opposed
end inhibits and prevents the ribbon from passing through the bra
strap attaching clip, allowing the closure device, the ribbon thus
preventing the top of the cup from slipping to an undesirably low
position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a nursing bra showing the closure
device attached thereto, with one of the cups of the bra lowered
and the other cup fastened to the cup supporting structure;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged, partial side elevational view showing the
closure device hereof with the cup drawn upwardly prior to fastening
to the supporting structure; and
FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the closure device hereof,
showing the stop means, cup attaching clip and bra strap attaching
clip on the strip.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawing, a closure device 10 for a nursing
bra 12 in accordance with the invention broadly includes an elongated,
flexible, thin strip 14 which carries a pair of clips for attachment
to the bra 12. Referring to FIG. 3 the strip 14 is preferably a
thin fabric ribbon presenting two opposed ends 16 18.
A metal, cup-attachment clip 20 of substantially rectangular or
oval configuration and presenting an access opening 22 opposite
the strip 14 is attached by stitching 24 where the ribbon 14 loops
around the bight 26 of the cup attaching clip 20. Thus, the cup
attaching clip is fixably secured at the first end 16 of the ribbon
14 and will not slide along the ribbon toward second end 18.
Second end 18 includes a stop 28 which is attached to the ribbon
by any suitable means such as adhesive, Velcro fasteners, or stitching.
Preferably, the stop 28 is a piece of fabric embroidery which may
be attached by stitching 30 and is of sufficient size to prevent
end 18 from being pulled through bra strap attaching clip 32.
Bra strap attaching clip 32 is also a rectangular or substantially
oval shaped member having a bight 34 of slightly greater width than
ribbon 14 and a depth sufficient to accommodate ribbon 14 and a
fabric bra strap such as is shown in FIG. 2. An access opening 38
is positioned bight 34 for enabling the bra strap attaching clip
to be secured to bra strap 36.
The closure device hereof is adapted to be used with a conventional
nursing bra 12 which has cups 40 presenting a top portion 42 for
attachment to supporting structure 44 of the bra 12. The supporting
structure 44 may include bra straps 36 and back strap 46 as well
as breast suspender 48. Cup 40 is preferably of a flexible, fabric
member, while supporting structure 44 may have a degree of elasticity
by incorporating resilient rubber threads therein to permit adequate
support for the female breast protruding through opening 50 defined
by breast suspender 48.
Yet further, it will be appreciated that in order to maintain the
cup in breast covering position, the cup and supporting structure
will ordinarily include complementary closure devices such as snap
52 on top portion 42 of cup 40 and snap receiver 54 on supporting
structure 44. It may be appreciated that various types of closure
devices may be employed, including not only snaps but also Velcro
attachments, hooks, and clasps, among others. For this reason, the
depth of cup attaching clip 20 as shown in FIG. 2 is sufficient
to receive the top portion 42 of cup 40 therein through opening
22 but insufficient to permit snap 52 or other attaching means on
top 40 from sliding through the cup attaching clip 20. Thus, the
snap 52 or other attaching device will engage cup attaching clip
20 and prevent top portion 42 from sliding therethrough.
Similarly, snap receiver 54 or other complementary attaching device
may be positioned either on breast suspender 48 or bra strap 36
so that cup 40 may be secured in a closed position. As shown herein,
the snap receiver 54 is located on breast suspender 48 with bra
strap attaching clip 32 positioned vertically thereabove for drawing
the top portion 42 vertically. Bra strap attaching clip 32 is of
sufficient depth to permit ribbon 14 to pass therethrough and to
secure to bra strap 36.
It is to be understood that while ribbon 14 may limit the cup from
falling downwardly beneath the bra 12 it is of sufficient length
to enable cup 40 to drop far enough that the female breast within
an opening 50 is fully exposed and that top portion 42 does not
obstruct the nursing evolution. When nursing is completed, the mother
need only grasp stop 28 and draw ribbon 14 upward to pull top portion
42 into position so that snap 52 may be located adjacent snap receiver
54. Because bra strap attaching clip 32 is above snap receiver 54
top portion 42 may be drawn upwardly a sufficient distance so that
snap 52 is in complete registry with snap receiver 54. It may also
be appreciated that the device hereof acts not only as a vertical
positioning device but also positions the snaps horizontally to
place the snap 52 and snap receiver 54 in approximate registry when
the user pulls on stop 28. It may also be appreciated that only
one hand is necessary to draw the ribbon 14 upwardly and thus enable
cup 40 to cover the female breast. When the snaps or other closure
devices are in approximate registry, the stop may be released so
that again, through one handed operation, the mother may reattach
the cup 40 to the supporting structure 44. Once snapped, as is shown
on the right side in FIG. 1 the ribbon 14 may be tucked behind
breast suspender 48 and cup 40 to remain inconspicuous until use
is again desired.
It may be appreciated that the preferred embodiment as disclosed
herein may be removed from a nursing bra when it is necessary to
launder it. Thus, a single pair of straps may be used on multiple
nursing bras when the releasable clips 22 and 32 are used as shown
in this embodiment.
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