BREASTFEEDING BRA

Abstract

This invention relates to a bra strap for positioning a garment while breastfeeding and particularly relates to a bra having a pair of straps having a looped end with releasable fastening means for securing the cup in the first position and securing a garment in a breastfeeding second position. The invention also relates to a method of positioning a garment while breastfeeding.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a strap to secure a mother's garment in a raised position while breastfeeding and particularly relates to a bra having a pair of straps having a looped end with releasable fastening means for securing a garment in a breastfeeding position. The invention also relates to a method of positioning a garment while breastfeeding. The strap can be separate from the bra or part of the bra straps.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is generally common for mothers to breastfeed their children either at home or out and about. Difficulties can arise when attempting to breastfeed as it requires a balancing of the infant, loosening of garments and manipulation of the bra.

Various devices have heretofor been devised in order to assist during this process.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,405 relates to a method and apparatus for positioning a garment while breastfeeding. A separate strap is provided for raising a garment of a mother to a raised position with the breast of the mother exposed. The invention provides a separate strap which can be lost or easily forgotten.

Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 6,427,244 relates to a device and method which includes the steps of placing a flexible restraint around the mother's neck or secured to the inside of the mother's shirt inserting a portion of the restraint under the shirt, pulling a portion of the restraint past a bottom edge of the shirt and past the exterior side of the shirt, and securing the restraint so that the shirt is raised above and at least one breast to facilitate nursing.

Another arrangement is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,611,399 which relates to a hands-free breast pumping support device generally which includes a strap having a first and second end and a first and second fastener coupled to the strap first and second end portions.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,648,404 teaches a functioning coordinated nursing slip and bra.

ALS Publication 2008/0146118 relates to a breast shield support having a central harness body adapted to hold a breast shield.

Yet another arrangement is disclosed in United States Publication 2005/0085160 which relates to a tanktop nursing bra for a nursing mother which provides a breast support and which also allows the nursing mother to easily and discreetly breastfeed her baby wherein the tank can be worn in public without the need to be covered.

Moreover, in United States Publication 2010/0031418 relates to an undergarment in the form a strapless camisole that attaches to the flaps of any top opening nursing bra to just below the clasp and opens with the flaps of the bra, staying, attached, when the woman opens the flaps to access the breast for nursing.

Finally, United States Publication 2001/0019933 relates to a sports brazier for nursing, including a pair of shoulder straps and a pair of cup members located generally below the shoulder straps. Each of the cup members includes an inner contact layer substantially completely covering the breast of the wearer and an outer compression layer slideably disposed in covering relation to the inner contact layer.

These and other arrangements present relatively complicated devices and methods.

There is a need for an improved device and method to allow greater flexibility and usability.

It is an aspect of this invention to provide a strap for positioning a garment while breastfeeding comprising: a first structure for securing the strap to a bra; a second structure for releasably securing the strap to itself whereby the strap extends about a portion of the garment and releasably secures to itself in a breastfeeding position. In one embodiment, the strap is separate from the bra and has one end presenting structure for releasably securing the strap to a bra. In another embodiment, the strap is part of the bra straps and is fixed to the bra straps.

It is another aspect of this invention to provide a bra having a pair of cups; a pair of straps securing the cups; each strap having a looped end whereby a terminal end extends from the cup to an intermediate portion along the strap.

It is a further aspect of this invention to provide a method of positioning a garment while breastfeeding which comprises the steps of: providing a bra strap associated with a bra cup, the bra strap having a first portion and a terminal end, whereby the terminal end is releasably secured to the first portion; raising a garment of a mother to a raised portion; maintaining a garment, in a raised position by releasing the terminal end of the bra strap from the first portion and extending the terminal end of the bra strap under the garment and securing the terminal end to the first portion.

These and other objects and features of the invention should now be described in relation to the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of the nursing bra in a first position

FIGS. 2a and 2b illustrates the bra strap in a first bra wearing position and a second unsnapped position

FIG. 3 illustrates the invention in a bra feeding position.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of another embodiment of the invention comprising a separate strap

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of FIG. 4 in an open position

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the strap of FIG. 4 in a closed position

FIG. 7 is a partial view of a bra strap

FIG. 8 is a partial view of the strap releasably secured to a bra strap

FIG. 9 is a prospective view of the bra in an open operative position

FIG. 10 is a prospective view of a second embodiment to the invention with the strap in a releasable secure position

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Like parts have been given like numbers throughout the figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the breastfeeding bra 2 having a pair of cups 4 and straps 6 that are fastened to the bra cups 4 in a manner well known to those persons skilled in the art. In particular, the straps 6 are secured to the back portion of the bra (not shown) as well as the front portion of the bra 2 as shown. The breastfeeding bra includes at least one strap 6 haying a first or an intermediate portion 8 and a terminal portion 10. The one strap 6 is looped upon itself as best illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b. The straps 6 are looped as shown by the numeral 12 so as to be secured to the cups 4 by means of clasps, hasps, or other means 14 as shown. The looped end 12 can be stitched 16 again in a manner well known to those persons skilled in the art. The terminal end 10 can also be stitched 18 as shown.

The first or intermediate portion 8 of a strap 6 and the terminal end 10 include releasable fastening means 20 which as shown comprises of the snaps 22 having a first snap 24 secured to the intermediate portion 8 and a second snap 26 secured to the terminal end 10. The fastening means 20 however can comprise of any other fastening means such as a hook and pile means which are sold under the Velcro trademark, a hook and eye structure or any other means.

Accordingly, the invention shown herein can be worn as a bra in the normal course or it can also be used as a breastfeeding bra.

The invention describes a bra strap 6 for positioning a garment such as a shirt blouse or the like 30 while breastfeeding. The bra strap includes means 20 for releasably securing the bra strap 6 to itself and to a bra cup by means of devices shown as 14. The bra strap 6 holds the bra cup in one position and the bra strap holds the bra strap and extends under a lower portion 32 of the garment 30 and secured to itself in a second breastfeeding position as shown in FIG. 3.

The means for releasably securing the bra strap 6 can comprise snaps 24, 26 or other means such as loop pile means sold for example under the trade-mark Velcro. A first snap 24 is disposed in an intermediate portion of the strap 6 and the second snap 26 is disposed in a terminal end 10 as shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b.

The invention describes a method of positioning a garment 30 while breastfeeding which comprises the steps of: providing a bra strap 6 associated with a bra cup 4 having a looped intermediate portion 8 and a terminal end 10 whereby the terminal end 10 is releasably secured to the first or intermediate portion; raising a garment 30 of a mother to a raised position; and maintaining the garment 30 in a raised position by releasing the terminal end 10 of the bra strap 6 from the first or intermediate portion 8 and extending the terminal end 10 of the bra straps 6 under the garment 30 and securing the terminal end 10 to the intermediate portion.

The breastfeeding bra is comprised of materials generally well known to those persons skilled in the art including nylon lycra and the like.

FIG. 4 illustrates a separate strap 60 for positioning a garment 30 while breastfeeding, comprising first means 62 for securing the strap 60 to the bra 70. The strap 60 also includes second means 64 for releasably securing the strap 60 to itself whereby the strap 60 extends about a portion of the garment and secures to itself in a breastfeeding position as illustrated in FIG. 10. The strap 60 is separate from the bra and has at one end 66 the first means for securing the strap to the bra 70 which in FIG. 4 comprises a hook 62. The hook 62 is secured to one end 66 of the strap and is adapted to releasably engage with the bra strap 6. In particular, the bra strap 6 includes the clasp, hasp buckle or other means 14 has shown whereby the hook 62 can releasably engage therewith. The strap 60 also includes a second releasably securing means 64 which as shown can comprise of snaps, or other means such as loop pile means or the like. As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the second releasably securing means can comprise a first snap 64a disposed at one end 66 of the strap and the second strap 64b disposed at another end 68 of the strap 60.

The bra 70 includes cups 4. The cups 4 also include a removable fastener 5 which is disengaged from the strap 6 in a manner well known to those persons skilled in the art so as to reveal the breast for breastfeeding.

Accordingly, the first and second embodiments of the invention present a strap 6 and 60 for positioning a garment 30 while breastfeeding comprising:

• • a. first means 62 and 16 for securing the strap 6, and 60 to the bra
  • b. second means 20 and 64 for releasably securing the strap 6 and 60 to itself whereby the strap extends about a portion of the garment 30 and secures to itself in the breastfeeding position.

In the second embodiment that strap 604 is separate from the bra and it has one end 66 presenting the first means 62 for securing the strap 60 to the bra. In this embodiment the first means 62 comprises a hook to attach to the bra strap as shown. However, other means can be used including loop pile means or the like. The second end 68 presents a second releasably securing means 64 for securing the strap 60 to itself as shown. The second releasing means 64 can comprise loop pile means, hook pile means or other fasteners such as a snap as shown.

In the first embodiment, the strap 6 comprised the bra strap 6 and the first means for securing the bra strap to the bra is fixed at 16. The second securing means shown in the first embodiment comprises releasably securing the strap 6 to itself and the bra.

The second embodiment can be utilized such that a regular bra can be utilized for breastfeeding purposes by simply carrying the strap as shown which has adapted to be releasably secured to the bra strap so as to permit the garment to be temporarily placed in a breastfeeding position.

Claims

1. A strap for positioning a garment while breastfeeding comprising:

a. first means for securing the strap to the bra;

b. second means for releasably securing the strap to itself whereby the strap extends about a portion of the garment and secures to itself in a breastfeeding position.

2. A strap as claimed in claim 1 wherein the strap is separate from the bra and has one end presenting said first means for securing the strap to the bra.

3. A strap as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first means comprises a hook to attach to the bra.

4. A strap as claimed in claim 3 wherein a second end of the strap presents said second releasable securing means for securing the strap to itself.

5. A strap as claimed in claim 4 wherein said second releasable securing means comprises a snap.

6. A strap as claimed in claim 1 wherein said strap comprises a bra strap and said first means for securing the bra strap to the bra is fixed to the bra and said second securing means releasably secures the strap to itself and a bra cup in a breastfeeding position.

7. A bra strap as claimed in claim 6 whereby the means for releasably securing comprises snaps.

8. A bra strap as claimed in claim 7 whereby the snaps comprise a first snap disposed intermediate the bra strap.

9. A bra strap as claimed in claim 8 whereby the snaps comprise a second snap disposed at a terminal end of the bra strap and releasably securable to the first snap.

10. A bra strap as claimed in claim 6 whereby said means comprise loop pile means and hook means.

11. A bra strap as claimed in claim 7 whereby the bra strap is looped.

12. A method of positioning a garment while breastfeeding comprising the steps of:

a. providing a bra strap associated with a bra cup having a intermediate position and terminal end whereby the terminal end is releasably secured to the intermediate portion.

b. raising a garment of the mother to a raised position.

c. maintaining the garment in a raised position by releasing the terminal end of the bra strap from the intermediate portion and extending the terminal end of the bra strap about the garment and securing the terminal end to the intermediate position.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 whereby the intermediate portion and terminal end include releasable securing means for securing the terminal end to the intermediate portion in a bra wearing position and releasing the terminal end from the intermediate portion to capture the garment in a second breast feeding position.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 whereby the releasable securing means comprises snaps.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14 including the step of moving the cup to permit breast feeding.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15 whereby the snaps include a first snap disposed in the intermediate portion and a second snap disposed at the terminal end.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16 whereby the second snap is unsnapped from the first snap to extend the bra strap under the garment and the second snap resecured to the first snap in the breastfeeding position.

18. A bra having:

a. a pair of cups and

b. a pair of straps securing the cup

c. each strap having a looped end whereby a terminal end of the strap extends from the cup to an intermediate portion along strap

d. releasable fastening means disposed at the terminal end and intermediate portion for: i. securing the cup in the first position ii. releasing the terminal end from the intermediate portion to capture a garment in a second raised breastfeeding position and resecure the terminal end to the intermediate portion.

19. A bra as claimed in claim 18 whereby the fastening means comprises straps.

20. A bra strap as claimed in claim 19 for securing a mother's garment in a raised position while breastfeeding.