BREAST FEEDING AID AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME
A breast feeding aid for retaining a shirt up above the breast during feeding includes a strap having a first end and second; a shirt anchor operatively coupled to the first end of the strap, and a shirt attachment mechanism operatively coupled to the second end of the strap. During use, the breast feeding aid is attached to the lower edge of the user's shirt. The breast feeding aid is then pulled upward and over the shoulder of the user so that the shirt anchor rests on the user's back. This pulls and retains the shirt up above the breast during feeding.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/139,949, entitled “Breast Feeding Aid and Method of Using the Same,” which was filed on Dec. 22, 2008, the entire disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to a breast feeding aid and methods of using the same, and more particularly, to a breast feeding aid that retains a user's shirt up away from the breast during feeding and methods for using the same.
BACKGROUNDIn general, while breast feeding a child, a woman is required to hold her shirt or blouse up away from her breast. A woman typically uses one of her hands to hold the shirt up away from the breast, which can make it difficult to securely hold and position the child for feeding. In some cases a woman may contort her neck to use her head to retain her shirt in the necessary position, which can make breast feeding uncomfortable.
Additionally, to discretely breast feed a child in public, many women will use a blanket or other draping for privacy. It is difficult to simultaneously balance the blanket and retain both the blanket and the shirt in the proper position, all while securely holding the child in place for feeding. This again can make discretely breast feeding very difficult and uncomfortable.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREA breast feeding aid includes a strap having a first end and second end, a shirt anchor operatively coupled to the first end of the strap, and a shirt attachment mechanism operatively coupled to the second end of the strap. In one embodiment, the strap further includes a blanket attachment mechanism.
Additionally, a method of using a breast feeding aid includes providing a breast feeding aid having a strap having a first end and a second end, a shirt anchor operatively coupled to the first end, and a shirt attachment mechanism operatively coupled to the second end; attaching the shirt attachment mechanism to a lower edge of a user's shirt; and placing the shirt anchor over a shoulder of the user to pull and hold the user's shirt up and away from the breast. In one embodiment, the breasting feeding aid further includes attaching a blanket to the strap and covering the breast with the blanket.
Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the legal scope of the invention is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment of the invention, as describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the invention.
Referring to
Referring again to
The strap 12 can be formed from any suitable material. Preferably, the strap 12 is formed from a cloth material, such as ribbon. The strap 12 can include, for example, designs and/or colors that are aesthetically pleasing to the user. The strap 12 can be a single unitary portion. Alternatively, the strap 12 can include multiple portions that are operatively coupled. For example, the strap 12 can include first, second, and third portions that are removably coupled to one another to form the strap 12. The length of the strap 12 may be adjusted by removal of one of the first, second, or third portions. The multiple portions of the strap 12 can be removably coupled using any known methods or fasteners. For example, the multiple portions can be sown, glued, Velcro-ed, pinned, buttoned, snapped together, tied together, or any combinations thereof to form the strap 12.
Referring to
Referring to
The first end 14 of the strap 12 may be operatively coupled to the shirt anchor 18 using any known methods. For example, the first end 14 can be sown to an edge of the shirt anchor 18. The first end 14 of the strap can also be attached to the shirt anchor 18 using, for example, adhesive. Preferably, an edge of the shirt anchor 18 has a slot for receiving the first end 14 of the strap 12. The first end 14 of the strap 12 can be passed through the slot, folded over onto the strap 12, and attached to a portion of the strap 12 using known methods. For example, the first end 14 can be sown onto a portion of the strap 12.
The shirt anchor 18 must have sufficient weight to retain the shirt or other article of clothing up above the breast during feeding. To retain a typical shirt up above the breast, the shirt anchor 18 may have a weight in a range of about ¼ ounce (oz) to 10 oz, about ½ oz to about 8 oz, about 1 oz to about 5 oz, and about ¼ oz to about 2 oz. Preferably, the shirt anchor 18 is about ½ oz.
Referring to
The housing 24 can protect the mass 26 from being damaged, and also can enhance the comfort of the breast feeding aid 10 by providing the shirt anchor 18 with a softer, more cushioned exterior surface to lay against the user's back. The housing 24 can be formed, for example, from fabric. Preferably, the housing 24 is formed from a soft fabric, for example, felt. The housing 24 can be formed, for example, by coupling together two pieces of fabric, defining upper and lower portions of the housing 24, along a perimeter to form the internal pocket. A portion of the housing 24 perimeter can remain open to allow for placement of the mass 26 within the internal pocket. The remaining portion of the perimeter can then be closed to form the shirt anchor 18. The housing 24 can be any suitable shape and size. For example, the housing 24 can be circular, rectangular, square, triangular, or octagonal. For example, the housing 24 can have a length in a range of about 1 inch to 10 inches, and a width, for example, in a range of 1 to 10 inches. Other suitable ranges for the length and/or the width include about 2 inches to about 8 inches, about 4 inches to about 6 inches, and about 1 inch to about 3 inches. Preferably, the housing 24 is rectangle having a length of about 2 inches and a width of about 1¾ inches. The mass 26 is suitably sized to fit in this housing 24 and can be, for example, a square having a length and a width of about 1⅛ inches. The housing 24 can be operatively coupled to the first end 14 of the strap 12 using any known methods or fasteners. For example, the housing 24 can further include a slot 28 disposed near an edge of the housing 24. As shown in
The mass 26 preferably has a weight in a range of about ¼ oz to 10 oz, about ½ oz to about 8 oz, about 1 oz to about 5 oz, and about ¼ oz to about 2 oz. The mass 26 can be formed of any suitable material. For example, the mass 26 can be formed of metal or plastic. The mass 26 is sized to fit within the housing 24, and can have any suitable shape. Preferably, the mass 26 has a shape substantially similar to the shape of the housing 24.
Referring again to
The shirt attachment mechanism 20 can be any type of known fastener. Examples of suitable fasteners include, but are not limited to, clips, such as suspender clips, alligator clips, and magnetic clips, buttons, snaps, ties, Velcro, pins, clasps, hooks, adhesive, and combinations thereof.
Referring to
Referring to
Although the forgoing text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the scope of the invention is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment of the invention because describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the invention.
Thus, many modifications and variations may be made in the techniques and structures described and illustrated herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that the methods and apparatus described herein are illustrative only and are not limiting upon the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A breast feeding aid, comprising:
- a strap including first and second ends;
- a shirt anchor operatively coupled to the first end of the strap; and,
- a shirt attachment mechanism operatively coupled to the second end of the strap.
2. The breast feeding aid of claim of 1, wherein the strap has a length in a range of 5 to 15 inches.
3. The breast feeding aid of claim 1, wherein the strap is about 8 inches long.
4. The breast feeding aid of claim 1, wherein the strap has a width in a range of ½ inch to 5 inches.
5. The breast feeding aid of claim 1, wherein the strap is an adjustable strap comprising an adjustment clip.
6. The breast feeding aid of claim 1, wherein the strap is an adjustable strap comprising at least a first portion, a second portion removably coupled to the first portion, and a third portion removably coupled to one of the first or second portions.
7. The breast feeding aid of claim 1, wherein the strap further comprises an adjustment strap to allow for adjustment of the length of the strap.
8. The breast feeding aid of claim 1, wherein the strap comprises at least a first portion and a second portion coupled to the first portion using adhesive.
9. The breast feeding aid of claim 1, further comprising a blanket attachment mechanism operatively coupled to the strap.
10. The breast feeding aid of claim 9, wherein the blanket attachment mechanism is disposed at substantially the center of the strap.
11. The breast feeding aid of claim 9, wherein the blanket attachment mechanism is disposed adjacent to the shirt anchor.
12. The breast feeding aid of claim 9, further comprising a blanket having a breast feeding aid attachment mechanism removably attached to the blanket attachment mechanism.
13. The breast feeding aid of claim 1, wherein the shirt anchor has a weight in a range of ¼ ounce to 10 ounce.
14. The breast feeding aid of claim 1, wherein the shirt anchor comprises a slot for receiving the first end of the strap.
15. The breast feeding aid of claim 14, wherein the first end of the strap is operatively coupled to shirt anchor by passing the first end through the slot and attaching the first end to a portion of the strap.
16. The breast feeding aid of claim 1, wherein the shirt anchor comprises:
- a mass; and,
- a housing comprising an internal pocket for receiving the mass.
17. The breast feeding aid of claim 16, wherein the housing comprises a slot for receiving the first end of the strap.
18. The breast feeding aid of claim 1, further comprising an intermediate attachment ring for attaching the second end of the strap to the shirt attachment mechanism.
19. A method of using a breast feeding aid for retaining a shirt of a user up above a breast of the user, the method comprising:
- providing a breast feeding aid comprising a strap having first and second ends, a shirt anchor operatively coupled to the first end, and a shirt attachment mechanism operatively coupled to the second end;
- attaching the shirt attachment mechanism to a shirt; and,
- placing the shirt anchor over a shoulder of the user to retain the shirt up above the breast.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising attaching a blanket to the strap and covering the breast with the blanket.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 22, 2009
Publication Date: Jun 24, 2010
Inventor: Nicole L. Winning (Westchester, IL)
Application Number: 12/645,437
International Classification: A41F 19/00 (20060101);