U.S. patent application number 10/445440 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-02 for maternity bra.
Invention is credited to Francis, Euta D..
Application Number | 20040242119 10/445440 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33434885 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040242119 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Francis, Euta D. |
December 2, 2004 |
MATERNITY BRA
Abstract
A bra for use while pumping breast milk including a slot in the
breast section of the bra for use with a breast pump funnel and a
padded area surrounding each slot to support the funnel.
Optionally, the bra may be provided as part of a kit for pumping
breast milk that includes a pump funnel adapted for use in pumping
breast milk and a bra. The bra has a slot in the approximate center
of each breast section and a padded area surrounding each slot.
Each slot is adapted to provide access f:or the breast pump funnel,
and each padded area is adapted to provide extra support for the
pump funnel while engaged. A method of pumping breast milk includes
the steps of wearing the bra having slots and padded breast pump
funnel supports; inserting a pump funnel through one slot; and
pumping breast milk through the funnel.
Inventors: |
Francis, Euta D.; (Brooklyn,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ANTHONY EDW. J CAMPBELL
PO BOX 160370
AUSTIN
TX
78716
US
|
Family ID: |
33434885 |
Appl. No.: |
10/445440 |
Filed: |
May 28, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
450/36 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 1/062 20140204;
A41C 3/04 20130101; A61M 2209/088 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
450/036 |
International
Class: |
A41C 003/04 |
Claims
1. A kit for a system for pumping breast milk comprising: a pump
funnel adapted for use in pumping breast milk; a bra comprising: a
breast-covering section having an exterior with a slot formed
therein, wherein said slot is positioned to provide access to a
nipple of a wearer, and wherein each slot is adapted to provide
access for the breast pump funnel; and a padded area surrounding
said slot, wherein said padded area comprises a pad cover having a
slot formed therein affixed to said exterior of said
breast-covering section and padding having a slot formed therein
removably secured by said pad cover against said exterior of said
breast-covering section, and wherein said padded area is adapted to
provide extra support for said pump funnel when said pump funnel is
used on a wearer of said bra and said padding can be inserted and
removed through said slot in said pad cover.
2. The kit of claim 1, wherein said bra is composed of cotton.
3. (canceled)
4. The kit of claim 1, wherein said padding is cotton filler.
5. (canceled)
6. (canceled)
7. A bra for use while pumping breast milk comprising: a pair of
breast-covering sections, each of said breast-covering sections
having an exterior with a slot formed therethrough, wherein said
slots are positioned to provide access to nipples of a wearer, and
wherein said slots are adapted to provide access for the breast
pump funnel; and a padded area surrounding each of said slots,
wherein said padded area comprises a pad cover having a slot formed
therein affixed to said exterior of said breast-covering section
and padding having a slot formed therein removably secured by said
pad cover against said exterior of said breast-covering section,
and wherein said padded area is adapted to provide extra support
for a pump funnel of a breast pump when the breast pump is used by
a wearer of said bra and said padding can be inserted and removed
through said slot in said pad cover.
8. The bra of claim 7, wherein said bra is composed of cotton.
9. (canceled)
10. The bra of claim 7 wherein said padding is cotton filler.
11. (canceled)
12. (canceled)
13. A method of pumping breast milk comprising the steps of:
wearing a bra having: a breast-covering section, said
breast-covering section having an exterior with a slot formed
therethrough, wherein said slot is positioned to provide access to
a nipple, and wherein said slot is adapted to provide access for a
funnel of a breast pump; and a padded area surrounding said slot,
wherein said padded area comprises a pad cover having a slot formed
therein affixed to said exterior of said breast-covering section
and padding having a slot formed therein removably secured by said
pad cover against said exterior of said breast-covering section,
and wherein said padded area is adapted to provide extra support
for the pump funnel and said pad can be inserted and removed
through said slot in said pad cover; inserting a funnel adapted for
pumping breast milk through said slots; and pumping breast milk
through the funnel.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the bra is composed of
cotton.
15. (canceled)
16. The method of claim 13, wherein said padding is cotton
filler.
17. (canceled)
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a maternity bra for use in
connection with pumping breast milk. The maternity bra has
particular utility in connection with easily pumping breast milk
while the maternity bra is being worn by the mother.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Maternity bras are desirable for meeting the special needs
of lactating mothers.
[0005] The use of different maternity bras is known in the prior
art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,840 to Han discloses a
hands-free breast pump support bra and system using a highly
elastic material. However, the Han '840 patent does not include a
padded area structure as advantageously found in the present
invention, and has further drawbacks of requiring highly elastic
material.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,768 to Lockridge et al. discloses a
device and kit for supporting a breast shield and related pump
equipment that uses a mounting element of elastic bands and loops
for providing support. However, the '768 patent does not include a
slot and padded area structure, as utilized in the present
invention.
[0007] Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,166 to Silver et al.
discloses a different device and method for supporting a breast
shield and related pump equipment that implements straps and a
bulky flap structure that is very different from the slot and
padded area of the present invention.
[0008] Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,996 to Fields discloses a
breast milk pump support harness that includes detachable milk pump
support assemblies that are also very different from the elegant
slot and padded area solution of the present invention.
[0009] Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,186 to Penny discloses an
apparatus for securing suction devices to a nursing mother's
breasts. However, the Penny '186 patent is a halter top, and not a
maternity bra. It also has the additional deficiency of using round
openings rather than slots.
[0010] While the above-described devices fulfill their respective,
particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents
do not describe a maternity bra that allows breast milk to be
pumped conveniently and easily in a hand-free manner by the mother
while experiencing the comfort of a padded area as in the present
invention.
[0011] Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved maternity
bra that can be used for hands-free use of a breast pump. In this
regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. In
this respect, the maternity bra according to the present invention
substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of
the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily
developed for the purpose of improved comfort and convenience of
breast pumping for lactating mothers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known
types of other maternity bras now present in the prior art, the
present invention provides an improved maternity bra, and overcomes
the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art.
As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will
be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new
and improved maternity bra and method which has all the advantages
of the prior art mentioned heretofore and many novel features that
result in a maternity bra which is not anticipated, rendered
obvious, suggested, or even implied by the prior art, either alone
or in any combination thereof.
[0013] To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises
a kit for a system for pumping breast milk that includes a pump
funnel adapted for use in pumping breast milk and a bra. The bra
has a slot in the approximate center of each breast section and a
padded area surrounding each slot. Each slot is adapted to provide
access for the breast pump funnel, and each padded area is adapted
to provide extra support for the pump funnel while engaged.
[0014] Additionally, the invention encompasses a bra for use while
pumping breast milk including a slot in the approximate center of
each breast section and a padded area surrounding each slot. Each
slot is adapted to provide access for the breast pump funnel, and
each padded area is adapted to provide extra support for the pump
funnel while engaged.
[0015] Finally, also included is a method of pumping breast milk
that includes the steps of wearing a bra having a slot in the
approximate center of each breast section and a padded area
surrounding each slot, such that each slot is adapted to provide
access for the breast pump funnel and each padded area is adapted
to provide extra support for the pump funnel while engaged;
inserting a pump funnel through the slot, wherein the pump funnel
is adapted for pumping breast milk; and pumping breast milk through
the funnel.
[0016] 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.
[0017] There are, of course, additional features of the invention
that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject
matter of the claims attached.
[0018] Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in
the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of
presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of
the present invention when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings. In this respect, before explaining the
current embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be
understood that the invention is not limited in its application to
the details of construction and to the arrangements of the
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in
the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of
being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be
understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are
for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as
limiting.
[0019] As such, 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.
[0020] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a new and improved maternity bra that has all of the
advantages of the prior art other maternity bras and breast pump
supports and none of the disadvantages.
[0021] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
new and improved maternity bra that may be easily and efficiently
manufactured and marketed.
[0022] An even further object of the present invention is to
provide a new and improved maternity bra that has 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 maternity bra economically
available to the buying public.
[0023] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
a new maternity bra that 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.
[0024] These together with other objects of the invention, along
with the various features of novelty that 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
[0025] 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:
[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of
the maternity bra constructed in accordance with the principles of
the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the maternity bra of the
present invention being worn and with a breast pump funnel spout
inserted through one of the slots.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the maternity bra of the
present invention being worn, with a breast pump funnel spout
inserted through one of the slots, and with a breast pump and baby
bottle connected to the funnel.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of the maternity bra of the
present invention being worn and with a breast pump funnel spout
inserted through the cross-sectioned slot.
[0030] The same reference numerals refer to the same parts
throughout the various figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0031] Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS.
1-4, a preferred embodiment of the maternity bra of the present
invention is shown and generally designated by the reference
numeral 10.
[0032] In FIG. 1, a new and improved maternity bra 10 of the
present invention for comfortable hands-free breast pumping is
illustrated and will be described. More particularly, the maternity
bra 10 has two slots 12, one in each bra cup or breast covering.
Each slot 12 is intended to be located in approximate alignment
with the wearer's nipple. While this location may vary from
implementation to implementation depending upon the shape of the
bra cup and the amount of covering each bra cup provides, in the
preferred embodiment, each slot 12 is located in the center of its
cup. Surrounding each slot 12 is a padded area 14. The padded areas
14 serve a two-fold function. First, they increase the comfort of
the wearer while wearing the maternity bra 10 and simultaneously
breast pumping. Second, they provided added support for a breast
pump, thereby improving the hands-free advantage of the present
invention.
[0033] FIG. 2 shows the maternity bra 10 being worn by a lactating
mother 16. A funnel spout 18 has been inserted through the slot 12
so that it is in position with the wearer's nipple (not shown) for
pumping.
[0034] Turning to FIG. 3, the kit of the present invention is
illustrated during use. In use, the funnel 18 is inserted through
one of the slots 12 and placed over a nipple (not shown) of the
wearer 16. A breast pump 20 is connected to the funnel 18 for
pumping milk from the nipple (not shown) of the wearer 16, and a
container, such as a baby bottle 22, is connected to the breast
pump 20 for receiving the pumped milk from the wearer 16.
[0035] FIG. 4 shows a cross section taken along axis 4-4 of FIG. 2,
depicting the funnel 18 inserted through slot 12 so as to be mated
to a breast 24 in alignment with a nipple 26 of a user 16. A padded
area 14 is shown. The padded area provides additional support for
funnel 18, and may also provide cosmetic enhancement, and
additional support, comfort and protection for the breasts of a
wearer. The padding may be formed of a cotton filler, be
permanently affixed into said bra, or constitute a removable
filler.
[0036] While a preferred embodiment of the maternity bra has been
described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and
variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true
spirit and scope of the invention. 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. For example,
the maternity bra may be composed of cotton. Likewise, the slots
could be reinforced. The padded areas may be filled with cotton
filler. Alternatively, the padded areas may contain permanent
filler. Likewise, the filler may be removable.
[0037] 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.
* * * * *