U.S. patent application number 10/577725 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-13 for garment for women.
Invention is credited to Anna Thunstedt.
Application Number | 20080276346 10/577725 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29707846 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080276346 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Thunstedt; Anna |
November 13, 2008 |
Garment for Women
Abstract
A women's garment includes a front piece and a back piece, which
together form a body-enclosing casing, in which a neck opening, two
armholes and at least one lower opening are included, the front
piece being composed of a top piece and a bottom piece, which are
separated via a transverse, slit-like access opening, which is
delimited by an upper edge of the bottom piece, and a lower edge of
the top piece, the bottom piece being formed with a tab, which is
fastened on the inside of the top piece and separates two recesses
for the housing of breasts. The tab has a tapered basic shape and
is delimited by arched limiting edges, which transform into
likewise arched limiting edges, which form the upper edge of the
bottom piece and which generally have an arc radius that is smaller
than the arc radius of the tab limiting edges.
Inventors: |
Thunstedt; Anna;
(Kungsgarden, SE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & THOMPSON
209 Madison Street, Suite 500
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Family ID: |
29707846 |
Appl. No.: |
10/577725 |
Filed: |
November 5, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
November 5, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/SE04/01606 |
371 Date: |
May 2, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/104 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 1/215 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/104 |
International
Class: |
A41D 1/20 20060101
A41D001/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 5, 2003 |
SE |
0302922-0 |
Claims
1. Garment for women, comprising a front piece (1) and a back piece
(2), which together form a casing, in which at least four openings
are included, namely a neck opening (3), two armholes (4) and at
least one lower opening (5), the front piece being composed of a
top piece (10) and a bottom piece (11), as well as including a
transverse, slit-like access opening, which is delimited by, on one
hand, an upper edge (13) of the bottom piece (11), and. on the
other hand a lower edge (12) of the top piece (10), the bottom
piece (11) being formed with a tab (14), which is fastened on the
inside of the top piece (10) and which separates two recesses (19)
for the housing of breasts, characterized in that the tab (14) has
a tapered basic shape and is delimited by arched limiting edges
(17), which transform into likewise arched limiting edges (18),
which form the upper edge of the bottom piece (11) and which
generally have an arc radius that is smaller than the arc radius of
the tab limiting edges (17).
2. Garment according to claim 1, characterized in that an end of
the tab (14) is fastened on the inside of the top piece (10) in a
fastening point (15) located in the immediate vicinity of a
neckband (16).
3. Garment according to claim 1, characterized in that the top
piece (10) is arranged to cover, with the lower edge portion
thereof, the upper edge portion of the bottom piece (11).
4. Garment according to claim 2, characterized in that the top
piece (10) is arranged to cover, with the lower edge portion
thereof, the upper edge portion of the bottom piece (11).
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a women's garment, of the type
that comprises a front piece and a back piece, which together form
a body-enclosing casing, in which at least four openings are
included, namely a neck opening, two arm-holes and at least one
lower opening, the front piece being composed of a top piece and a
bottom piece, as well as including a transverse, slit-like access
opening, which is delimited by, on one hand, an upper edge of the
bottom piece, and on the other hand a lower edge of the top piece,
the bottom piece being formed with a tab, which is fastened or the
inside of the top piece and which separates two recesses for the
housing of breasts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Breastfeeding and breast milk production are affected by
psychological, physiological, hormonal and sociocultural factors,
which may vary most considerably from individual to individual. One
such a factor of psychological character is that some women become
embarrassed of exposing the breasts for outsiders. Therefore,
breastfeeding is avoided in many situations in spite of the child
needing milk. In physiological respect, breasts heavy with milk are
sensible organs, which easily may be affected detrimentally during
unfavourable circumstances. For instance, galactostasis may arise
if the breasts are exposed to coldness, draught and erroneous
pressure. Another phenomenon, namely so-called sympathy leakage,
may arise if the breast, which during breastfeeding via one of the
breasts should not lactate milk, is subjected to an outer pressure,
because an expulsion reflex may arise in the extraordinarily fine
mechanisms that control the milk secretion in spite of the child
not sucking on the breast in question. Such sympathy leakage may,
among other things, lead to the woman's clothes being soiled. Other
circumstances, which frequently are experienced as annoying, are
the feeling that the inactive breast is not kept steadily in place
in connection with the active breast being exposed to the child, as
well as feelings of embarrassment if the inactive breast is
entirely or partly laid bare. In order to overcome these drawbacks
brassieres have been developed having separately openable breast
cups. If the woman wears such a brassiere, the inactive breast may
be held steadily in place at the same time as the second
breast--after opening of the cup--is exposed to breastfeeding. By
the fact that the brassiere also after opening of a cup partially
surrounds the peripherical area of the breast, such brassieres also
give a feeling of steadiness for the active breast.
PRIOR ART
[0003] It is previously known to make clothes that are especially
intended for breastfeeding women, and which aim at facilitating
breastfeeding and simultaneously enabling proper clothing. Thus, by
SE 0000589-2, a women's garment is previously known of the type
initially mentioned. This known garment, which may consist of a
sweater or a dress, is distinguished by being formed with a
horizontal access opening formed in bust height, the two garment
sections that define the opening being clinging and manufactured
from an elastic material, more precisely with the purpose of
holding the bust warm. Said access opening, which also is
denominated overlap opening, has been provided by a top piece
included in the front piece of the garment having been brought to
cover, at the bottom, the outside of an upper portion of a bottom
piece. In this connection, the lower edge of the top piece as well
as the upper edge of the bottom piece are straight and extend
between vertical side seams, which unite the front and back pieces
of the garment.
[0004] Although the above-mentioned garment per se facilitates the
taking out and the exposure of the breasts by comparison with
conventional garments without access opening, the same is
associated with a plurality of drawbacks. One such drawback
manifests itself in that the garment by itself does not contribute
to giving steadiness to the breasts. Therefore, if the garment is
worn without a so-called nursing bra suitable for the purpose, in
particular the big-bosomed woman may experience that the inactive
breast lacks steadiness. Furthermore, the known garment requires
the top piece as well as the bottom piece in the front piece of the
garment to be manufactured from an elastic material for the bust to
hold the warmth. However, many times it is desirable to manufacture
garments from non-elastic materials, e.g., cotton for summer use.
Furthermore, cold air may find it's way into the passage between
the breasts in connection with one of the same being taken out for
breastfeeding. Sympathy leakage may also take place.
OBJECTS AND FEATURES OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention aims at obviating the above-mentioned
drawbacks of the previously known garment and at providing an
improved garment for breastfeeding women. Therefore, a primary
object of the invention is to provide a garment, which regardless
if the user wears brassiere or not, gives steadiness to the
inactive breast in connection with breastfeeding. An additional
object is to provide a garment that counteracts penetration of cold
air into the area between the breasts; all with the outermost
object to counteract galactostasis. It is also an object to provide
a garment the design of which gives certain steadiness to the
active breast. Furthermore, the garment should be possible to be
worn in a convenient and comfortable-way. Yet an object of the
invention is to provide a garment that can be manufactured from
most shifting cloths or textile materials, i.e., also non-elastic
such. Furthermore, the garment should be possible to be realized in
many different embodiments, e.g., in the form of sweaters, blouses,
dresses, suit jackets, overalls, swimsuits, etc.
[0006] According to the invention, at least the primary object is
attained by the features defined in the characterizing clause of
claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are furthermore
defined in the dependent claims.
ADDITIONAL ELUCIDATION OF PRIOR ART
[0007] By U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,699, a garment is previously known
intended for breastfeeding women, which garment includes a top
piece hanging in two shoulder straps, as well as a bottom piece,
the upper edge portion of which externally is covered by the top
piece. However, in this case the bottom piece, and not the top
piece, is partially pulled away in connection with exposure of a
breast for breast-feeding.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE APPENDED DRAWINGS
[0008] In the drawings:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view obliquely from the front/from
above of a garment according to the invention,
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view obliquely from behind/from
below of the same garment,
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 1 showing
a top piece included in the garment partly pulled-up in order to
expose a breast,
[0012] FIG. 4 is a front view of the garment in a spread-out,
"tailor-flat" state,
[0013] FIG. 5 is an analogous view showing the garment from
behind,
[0014] FIG. 6 is a planar view that from behind shows the inside of
the front piece of the garment,
[0015] FIG. 7 is a planar view of a bottom piece included in the
front piece according to FIG. 6, and
[0016] FIG. 8 is an analogous planar view showing a top piece,
which belongs to the bottom piece according to FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The garment shown in the drawings, which is exemplified in
the form of a sweater, comprises a front piece generally designated
1, and a back piece 2, which together form a broadcloth or casing,
which may enclose a woman's upper part of the body. In this casing,
four openings are included, namely a neck opening 3, two armholes 4
as well as a lower opening 5. In the example, the garment is
assumed to be made by the fact that separate front and back pieces
1, 2 are sawn together along longitudinal side seams 6 and shoulder
seams 7, besides which separate sleeves 8 are sawn up along sleeve
seams 9. However, the invention is in no way limited to this
manufacturing method. Thus, the sleeves 8, for instance, could be
spared. Furthermore, the garment may be manufactured with front and
back pieces, which do not require needlework in order to together
form a body-enclosing casing.
[0018] In FIGS. 6-8, only the front piece 1 of the garment is
shown, more precisely without sleeves 8. In the same way as in the
garment according to SE 0000589-2, said front piece includes a top
piece 10 as well as a bottom piece 11. The lower edge of the top
piece 10 is designated 12, while the upper edge of the bottom piece
11 generally is designated 13. In the corresponding top and bottom
pieces in the garment according to SE 00000589-2, not only the
lower edge of the top piece, but also the upper edge of the bottom
piece is straight and mutually parallel, the lower portion of the
top piece being kept pressed against the outside of the upper edge
portion of the bottom piece by means of the side seams of the
garment.
[0019] It should now be emphasized that the front piece 1 is shown
from behind or from the inside in FIG. 6. This is marked by the
inside of the bottom piece having been shaded.
[0020] In contrast to the garment according to SE 0000589-2, the
garment according to the invention includes a tab designated 14,
which is fastened on the inside of the top piece 10, more precisely
at a point that is designated 15. Although it is feasible per se to
locate the same fastening point 15 on a level below the neckband
16, the same is most preferably located in close vicinity of the
band, as is shown in FIG. 6.
[0021] In FIG. 7, it is shown how the tab 14 has a tapering shape
in the direction from the limiting edge 13 to the free end of the
tab, more precisely by being delimited by two arched edges 17. At
the bottom, said limiting edges 17 transform into two additional
arched limiting edges 18. The arc radius of these latter limiting
edges is smaller than the arc radius of the limiting edges 17. In
such a way, two softly rounded recesses 19 are formed, which
closely connect to the shape of female breasts.
[0022] In FIG. 6, L designates a reference line that marks the
level of the lower edge 12 of the top piece 10. The vertical
distance between the same reference line L and the neckband 16 is
designated A1, while the distance between the line L and the upper
edge of the bottom piece, such as this is constituted by the
bottoms of the rounded recesses, is designated A2. In practice, the
measure A2 should be within the range of 2-10 cm, suitably 3-8 cm.
The measure A1 varies per se depending on the size of the garment
in question, but the relation A1/A2 should be within the range of
2-4:1, and suitably amount to approx. 3:1.
[0023] By the existence of the described tab, it is guaranteed that
the inactive breast of the user during breast-feeding is kept
steadily in place, in particular when a separate brassiere is
lacking. Exposure of the desired breast can be carried out by the
simple measure of somewhat pulling up one half of the top piece 10,
as is outlined in FIG. 3. After such pulling-up, the skin between
the breasts is covered by the tab 14. By the fact that the upper
end of the tab is fastened adjacent to the neckband 16, in
particular the part of the garment not pulled-up is kept properly
against the body. By comparison with the garment according to SE
0000589-2, the garment according to the invention gives an improved
support as a consequence of the fact that the upper edge of the
bottom piece may be pulled up somewhat on the breast, the tab
supporting and lifting the breasts. The breasts also get support
from the lower edge of the top piece below the inactive breast by
the fact that the top piece is pulled up over the breast-feeding
breast, a substantial advantage of the garment according to the
invention being that the decolletage goes up a distance along the
lower edge of the breast. This is made on the inactive breast if it
is wanted to lay the breast-feeding breast from the lower edge of
the top piece. Another important advantage of the garment according
to the invention is that the same does not cause erroneous pressure
on the breasts in the way that the known garment may. In the
last-mentioned case, the upper edge of the bottom piece should be
pulled down below the breast that should be breast-feeding. This
makes that the upper edge of the bottom piece causes a pressure on
the inactive breast, at least if the inactive breast should be held
covered and warm, the upper edge of the bottom piece being pulled
down below the breastfeeding breast and pressing on the mammary
glands of the inactive breast. This may give rise to
galactostasis.
[0024] It is of course feasible to modify the shaping and
fashion-wise design of the garment within limits, which solely are
determined by the subsequent claims.
* * * * *