Abstract: A nursing brassiere that provides added support and yet can be easily manipulated to provide nursing access is disclosed The brassiere has overlapping frontal portions each with a cup-like configuration for covering the wearer's breasts. The frontal portions are attached to a lower elastic or elastic type cut and sewn portion below the breasts which includes a wrap-around band. Along a lower outer border of each cup-like frontal portion is a relatively short arcuate wire member that provides breast support under normal wear conditions. When nursing takes place, a frontal portion is easily pulled aside to displace the supporting wire and expose the breast for the necessary nursing access.

Abstract: In order to facilitate the handling of items of clothing having an arrangement for connecting and separating two coupling elements (2, 5), a pocket (7) or bridge which serves to receive the tip of the thumb (8) or of a finger of the wearer is assigned to at least in each case one coupling element (5). With the aid of the thumb tip inserted into the pocket (7), the coupling elements (2, 5) can be easily separated and also connected again.

Abstract: A nursing garment includes a vest which is attached to an undergarment which covers the upper torso of a nursing mother. The undergarment has a pair of openings therein through which the mother's breasts will protrude to permit nursing of a baby. The vest includes a pair of flaps which may be selectively connected together to cover the breasts. A sheet of liquid impervious, air permeable material is attached to the rearward surface of each flap and oriented to cover the breasts. A cover sheet of liquid and air permeable material is attached over each sheet on the rearward surface of each flap to form a pocket between the cover sheet and sheet on each flap. A pad of liquid absorbent material is removably inserted in each pocket to absorb liquid which may leak from the nursing mother's breasts.

Abstract: A device is provided for supporting a breast shield of a breast pump upon a woman's breast in a "hands-free" manner. This breast shield support includes a garment that is adapted to a woman's torso, and a mounting element formed with or attachable to the back of the breast shield. Elastic bands tied to loops on the garment are releasably affixed to the mounting element to support the breast shield on the exposed breast. A list for retrofitting the device to a breast pump assembly is advantageously provided.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for supporting a breast shield of a breast pump upon a woman's breast in a "hands-free" manner. Such a breast shield support includes, for example, a base member, such as a garment, that is adapted to be carried on a woman's torso. Part of the breast pump, such as the breast shield, is releasably attached to the base member and supports the breast shield on the exposed breast. Embodiments include corresponding fasteners on the breast shield and a brassiere, a harness-type strap arrangement for holding the shield against the breast and a breast shield which slips through a flap formed in a brassiere cup and is supported by the cup material.

Abstract: A moisture managing brassiere for sports wear and general wear includes a front portion, a back portion connected to the front portion, and a pair of shoulder straps connected respectively at one end to the front portion and at respective opposite ends to the back portion. The brassiere is constructed of a composite stretch fabric including an inner fabric layer, and intermediate fabric layer, and an outer shell fabric layer. The inner fabric layer is constructed of hydrophobic moisture wicking fibers for residing in skin contact during garment wear. The intermediate fabric layer resides adjacent to the inner fabric layer for receiving, dispersing, and transporting moisture outwardly away from the inner fabric layer. The outer fabric layer resides adjacent to the intermediate fabric layer for receiving and dispersing moisture wicked outwardly from the inner and intermediate fabric layers.

Abstract: A double-closure clasp for maternity, mastectomy or like garments, the clasp comprising a housing member and a pair of clip members slidably insertable in the housing; the housing being unitarily molded from plastic material and comprising a substantially flat base wall, opposed side walls and an upper wall defining a pair of adjacent apertures therethrough, the side walls, base wall and upper wall defining a pair of guideways terminating in transverse open entry slots in the housing through which the clip members are inserted. The clip members each including a substantially flat body defining a fenestration therein, and a resilient tongue extension having one end thereof integral with the body and disposed at an angle relative thereto, the tongue extension being disposed to move into and out of the fenestration, the body further including means for attachment to a portion of the garment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermal heat pack for heating the female breast during post partum nursing and, more particularly, to a thermal heat pack which readily conforms to the contours of different sized female breasts to provide therapeutic heat to an adjacent breast to reduce swelling and irritation.

Abstract: A moisture management brassiere which includes a brassiere body, including a body and back strap. The body and back strap are formed of a stretch fabric having a moisture transport fabric layer constructed of hydrophobic yarns which define a first fabric face for residing in skin contact and for wicking moisture away from the skin. A moisture dispersal fabric layer is provided, and is constructed of hydrophilic yarns and defines a second fabric face for residing in spaced-apart relation from the skin during garment wear. The moisture dispersal fabric layer receives moisture from the hydrophobic moisture transport layer. Stretch yarns provide stretch to the back strap. A pair of breast enclosing and supporting cups are attached to the back strap of the brassiere. Each of the cups is constructed of a moisture transport fabric layer constructed of hydrophobic yarns which define a first fabric face for residing in skin contact during garment wear and for wicking moisture away from the skin.

Abstract: This garment for a woman who has a need to breast feed an infant may be in the form of a hospital gown, blouse, dress, or any other type of upper body covering clothing normally worn by a woman. The garment, made of flexible material, has a vertical inwardly facing pleat centered on and along the upper front in the vicinity of the breasts of a wearer. The pleat includes and is formed by a pair of exposed exterior fold lines and a pair of normally hidden interior fold lines, with an inwardly facing pleat face disposed between the interior fold lines. Along a portion of the interior fold lines are normally hidden openings which are positioned to allow an infant access to the breasts of the wearer. A pair of movable breast cover panels are attached along opposite side of the inwardly facing pleat face.

Abstract: A nursing garment preferably in the form of a bra includes at least one cup which fits over a breast of the user. The cup includes a flap for selectively concealing or exposing the breast. When the flap is open the breast is exposed for nursing purposes. A focus pattern is provided on the cup located so that it can be viewed by the infant during nursing.

Abstract: An automatic nursing sequence indicator bra that indicates to a nursing mother alternating between two breasts for feeding an infant which breast is to be used next in turn. In the preferred embodiment the nursing sequence indicators are integral parts of the bra cups themselves in the form of two flaps, each a part of the two bra cups. The flaps are inwardly disposed between the two cups with one at least partially covering the other when both bra cups are closed. The flap of the cup opened last for nursing lies so that it at least partially covers the flap of the other cup. The top flap therefore points to the next breast to be used in turn. In a second embodiment, the flaps are added as separate parts to the bra cups. In the preferred and second embodiments the flaps may be stiffened with additional material for flap alignment. The shape of the flaps, and decorations or slogans may aid their intended function.

Abstract: A brassiere for handicapped people provides detachable and adjustable fabric fastening pads to temporarily hold the two halves together, and finger loops for those who cannot grip. The brassiere has a front opening with an overlapping portion joined to one brassiere cup which overlaps an underlapping portion joined to the other cup. Detachable and adjustable fabric fastening pads or the like are provided on the underside of the overlapping portion to engage with one or more corresponding support pads on the top surface of the underlapping portion. Fabric loops for fingers are provided attached to the overlapping and underlapping portions to avoid a person having to grip the edges of the two portions.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a maternity and nursing bra incorporating a one-handed fastening method that inherently allows for a stronger cup support and variable adjustment of cup size. It is accomplished by affixing parts of a fastener to the inside of an inner cup (17) to an inner band (15). Also incorporated into the inside of the inner cup (17) is an optional use nursing pad pocket (18). The bra's variable strap width adjusting band (12) and the relocatable shoulder straps (10) enables the bra to be worn with a variety of outer garment styles.

Abstract: A brassiere for handicapped people provides detachable and adjustable fabric fastening pads to temporarily hold the two halves together, and finger loops fopr those who cannot grip. The brassiere has a front opening with an overlapping portion joined to one brassiere cup which overlaps an underlapping portion joined to the other cup. Detachable and adjustable fabric fastening pads are provided on the underside of the overlapping portion to engage with support pads on the top surface of the underlapping portion. Fabric loops for fingers are provided attached to the overlapping and underlapping portions to avoid a person having to grip the edges of the two portions.

Abstract: A nursing brassiere is disclosed having a frontal section comprised of partially overlapping frontal portions each adapted to cover one side of a wearer's chest area. The frontal portions are connected to a lower band that fits around the wearer and has inner and outer overlapping members which are normally held together but are separable. Each frontal portion is attached to one overlapping band member so that it can be separately displaced by the wearer to facilitate nursing.

Abstract: 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.