U.S. patent application number 11/599916 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-07 for breastfeeding cover.
Invention is credited to Elizabeth T. McCoy.
Application Number | 20070124845 11/599916 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38117233 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070124845 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McCoy; Elizabeth T. |
June 7, 2007 |
Breastfeeding cover
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a wearable breastfeeding
cover, such as a nursing overshirt. The cover is comprised of a
garment having sleeves or arm holes, a front panel having at least
one access port, and a flap member secured to the front panel.
Inventors: |
McCoy; Elizabeth T.;
(Buffalo Grove, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OLSON & HIERL, LTD.
20 NORTH WACKER DRIVE
36TH FLOOR
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
38117233 |
Appl. No.: |
11/599916 |
Filed: |
November 15, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60736656 |
Nov 15, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/104 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 1/215 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/104 |
International
Class: |
A41D 1/20 20060101
A41D001/20 |
Claims
1. A breastfeeding cover comprising: a fabric panel having a front
side and a rear side; at least one opening extending through the
fabric panel; and a flap member operatively attached to the fabric
panel and layerable over the fabric panel such that the flap member
conceals the opening.
2. The breastfeeding cover of claim 1, wherein the flap member is
integral with an upper edge portion of the fabric panel.
3. The breastfeeding cover of claim 1, wherein the flap member is
detachably connected to the fabric panel.
4. The breastfeeding cover of claim 1, wherein the opening is a
vertical slit.
5. The breastfeeding cover of claim 1, wherein the panel comprises
side portions defining arm openings.
Description
RELATED U.S. APPLICATION DATA
[0001] Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/736,656, filed on Nov.
15, 2005.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a garment worn over other
clothing to provide privacy for nursing mothers. In particular, the
breastfeeding cover comprises an overshirt that enables a wearer to
nurse a baby in public while concealing herself and, if desired,
the baby.
BACKGROUND
[0003] In recent years, the benefits of breastfeeding a baby, such
as enhanced immunity, brain development, and weight loss for the
mother, have become known. However, breastfeeding in public has
always been a challenge for mothers. Historically, mothers would
hide in dark corners or excuse themselves from social gatherings,
confining themselves to a private area while nursing their babies.
If bold enough to engage in nursing in the company of others, a
mother would often cover herself--and the baby--with a receiving
blanket or small cloth draped over her shoulder in order to provide
a modicum of privacy. Such efforts at concealment may be hindered
or even thwarted, however, if the baby pulls the blanket off the
mother's shoulder or pushes it aside, as is often the case.
[0004] In order to accommodate mothers wishing to nurse their
babies in public, lines of clothing and other coverings have been
designed specifically to provide some covering and to aid in public
breastfeeding. Examples of these include breastfeeding-specific
clothes with built-in openings through which the baby can access
the mother's breast. Such clothing is worn in the place of "normal"
clothing. Mothers, however, often express that these clothes are
not attractive, and unnecessarily keep them in the "maternity"
clothing arena from which they desperately seek escape. Such
breastfeeding clothing is also often expensive and limited as to
styles available, which substantially limits a woman's dress
choices especially for more formal occasions. Many nursing mothers
are simply unwilling to purchase such clothing due to the limited
choices and high costs for items that will be worn for only a
relatively short time.
[0005] Other options that are available are in the form of nursing
cover-ups. Each of these designs, however, has its own limitation.
The first is essentially an apron-styled cover, in which the mother
places the product around her neck and encloses the baby in a small
tenting of material. This product provides the mother with the
desired level of privacy, as well as allowing the mother to view
her baby while feeding. However, many babies do not like the
sensation created by this type of covering and struggle to move the
material away, making for a very disruptive feeding environment. In
addition, such apron-styled garments are generally quite obvious in
appearance, thereby calling undesirable attention to the
mother.
[0006] Another available cover up comprises what is essentially a
long sash centered on the mother's shoulder. The sash drapes over
the front of the mother, like the receiving blankets of old, and
extends in the back, allowing the mother to sit upon or lean back
on the material for anchoring. The longer stretch of material in
the back allows for slightly better control and placement on the
mother's shoulder. But if the baby pushes the front sash to one
side or the other, the mother is again exposed, defeating the
purpose of the product altogether. In addition, the sash requires
that the mother have a place to sit or lean back so as to anchor
the sash, which is not always the most convenient option.
[0007] The present invention overcomes these and other shortcomings
of the prior art by providing a cover for breastfeeding that is
secure, does not require a specialized wardrobe, and is easy to
use.
SUMMARY of the INVENTION
[0008] The present invention is directed to a wearable
breastfeeding cover, such as a nursing overshirt. The cover is
comprised of a garment including a pair of sleeves or arm holes, a
front panel having at least one opening such as an access port, and
a flap member secured to an upper edge portion of the front panel.
In a preferred embodiment, the flap member is integral with or
fixedly secured to the upper edge portion of the front panel. Also,
in the preferred embodiment, the front panel includes a pair of
access ports, such as large vertical, slit-type openings for
feeding access. The front panel may also be secured around the back
of the wearer, such as with ties, hook and loop enclosures, or the
like.
[0009] To wear, the woman places her arms through the armholes or
sleeves, and with the preferred embodiment, the garment is then
fastened around the back of the wearer. The preferred embodiment of
the garment may even be worn in different manners. In one way, the
front panel of the garment is worn closest to the wearer's body,
with the flap member outside the front panel. In order to breast
feed, the wearer may lift her normal clothing to access a breast.
The baby is then guided to nurse through one of the openings in the
front panel. The wearer is afforded substantial privacy in that the
front panel conceals all of her torso but the portion accessed
through the opening. This minimal exposure is lessened even more by
the fact that the baby's head also serves to cover the woman's
breast. If desired, the flap member may be laid over some or all of
the baby to provide even added privacy. Unlike conventional
receiving blankets, the baby is unable to pull the flap member off
of the wearer, exposing the woman, and causing embarrassment and an
awkward situation.
[0010] Alternatively, the garment can be reversed and worn in a
different way. The garment can be worn in a reversed manner from
the previously discussed manner of wearing. For example, the flap
member is worn closest to the wearer's body and the front panel
with the access ports is on the outside. In other words, worn in
the "reversed" mode, the flap member is on the underside closest to
the wearer, and the front panel with the vertical openings are over
the flap member. To feed, the mother moves the flap member slightly
to one side to create access to the vertical openings in the front
panel, which now are on the top of the shirt, closest to baby. This
mode would be used in the common situation when the baby does not
like the sensation created by a cover over their head or body.
Rather than covering the baby, the fabric panel now serves as
additional cover for the mother, more than would be offered by the
shirt with the vertical openings alone.
[0011] This garment is perfect for use while pumping or expressing
milk, which is becoming increasingly common in the workplace.
[0012] It is also preferred that the garment be constructed of high
quality and stylish materials such that the nursing overshirt
provides the mother with a fashionable option for breastfeeding
privacy. Since the garment is worn over whatever "normal" clothing
the mother is wearing, her wardrobe options are not limited to
breast feeding clothing, thereby replacing many articles of
clothing with just a single cover-up.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a front view of a breastfeeding cover according to
one preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the breastfeeding cover of
FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the breastfeeding cover of FIG.
1;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a front view of the breastfeeding cover of FIG. 1
with the flap member lifted to reveal a front panel having access
ports;
[0017] FIG. 5 is left side view of the breastfeeding cover of FIG.
1 with the front panel lifted to reveal a front panel having access
ports; and
[0018] FIG. 6 is a front view of and alternative manner of wearing
the breastfeeding cover of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] The invention disclosed herein is susceptible of embodiment
in many different forms. Shown in the drawings and described
hereinbelow in detail are preferred embodiments of the invention.
It is to be understood, however, that the present disclosure is an
exemplification of the principles of the invention and does not
limit the invention to the illustrated embodiments.
[0020] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in
FIGS. 1-2. Breastfeeding cover 10 includes arm holes 12 on side
panels 13 on the left and right portion of the breastfeeding cover
10. Alternatively, breastfeeding cover 10 can include conventional
arm sleeves (not shown) in place of arm holes 12. Cover 10 includes
a front panel 14 and a flap member 16 that is secured at the front
panel upper edge 20. Flap member 16 can be secured at front panel
upper edge 20 permanently or it can be detachably secured in such a
way that flap member 16 can be removed from cover 10 at the option
of a wearer. Alternatively, flap member 16 can be integral with
front panel upper edge 20.
[0021] As shown in FIG. 3, cover 10 contains rear edges 22 at the
ends of respective side panels 13. If desired, the two rear edges
22 can be secured to each other by conventional methods known in
the prior art, such as ties or hooks.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 4, front panel 14 contains at least one
opening such as an access port 18. In a preferred embodiment, front
panel 14 contains two access ports 18 in the shape of large
vertical slits.
[0023] In use, cover 10 is placed onto the body of a wearer in a
variety of manners. Cover 10 can be placed on top of a wearer's
other clothing, or cover 10 can be worn by itself with no
additional clothing beneath it. Typically, a wearer places her arms
through arm holes 12 such that front panel 14 is adjacent the
wearer's front side, and side panels 13 are adjacent the wearer's
left and right sides. Side panels 13 are wrapped around the body of
the wearer such that rear edges 22 are adjacent each other, and the
rear edges 22 are fastened to each other adjacent the rear side of
the wearer.
[0024] In a preferred embodiment, front panel 14 is adjacent the
wearer's body and the flap member 16 extends along the outside of
the front panel 14 furthest from the wearer's body. In this
embodiment, the flap member 16 covers the front panel 14 from the
view of an outside observer. FIG. 2 illustrates such a
configuration with the flap member 16 covering the front panel
14.
[0025] In this configuration, flap member 16 can be lifted
vertically or moved horizontally to expose the front panel 14, as
shown in FIG. 4. By lifting flap member 16, access ports 18 can
also be exposed to allow access to a wearer's breast beneath the
access ports 18. A wearer can guide a baby to access ports 18 to
allow for breast feeding, and can arrange flap member 16 around or
on top of the baby in order to maximize the comfort and privacy of
the wearer and the baby. In a preferred embodiment, the flap member
16 is connected at the front panel upper edge 20 such that the flap
member 16 cannot be pulled completely off of the cover 10 to expose
the wearer during breastfeeding.
[0026] In another preferred embodiment, flap member 16 is adjacent
the wearer's body and the front panel 14 extends along the outside
of the flap member 16 furthest from the wearer's body. In this
embodiment, the front panel 14 covers the flap member 16 from the
view of an outside observer, except for the portion of the flap
member 16 that can be viewed through access ports 18. Although an
outside observer is able to see through the front panel 14 at the
location of the access ports 18, the body of the wearer is covered
from outside view by the flap member 16. FIG. 6 illustrates such a
configuration with the front panel 14 covering the flap member
16.
[0027] In this configuration, because front panel 14 and access
ports 18 are already externally exposed, access to a wearer's
breast can be achieved by simply moving the portion of the flap
member 16 located beneath the access ports 18. A wearer can arrange
flap member 16 in such a manner to maximize the comfort and privacy
of the wearer and the baby. In this configuration, flap member 16
is generally not placed over the baby, but is instead arranged to
provide maximum privacy and comfort for the wearer.
[0028] The foregoing descriptions are to be taken as illustrative,
but not limiting. Breastfeeding cover 10 can be constructed from
any suitable material of any color or texture. Cover 10 can contain
variations to its general structure that alter the style or fashion
of the cover. Other variants within the spirit and scope of the
present invention will readily present themselves to those skilled
in the art.
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