NURSING COVER

Abstract

Nursing covers are provided, having a cover dimensioned to cover the torso of a wearer, and at least one nursing opening in the cover positioned to be in a region of breasts of the wearer to expose at least one of the breasts to an infant for breastfeeding. Another nursing cover provided has a cover dimensioned to cover the torso of a wearer, and at least one at least partially transparent portion of the cover providing visibility to a wearer of an infant being breastfed by the wearer under the cover when the cover covers a torso of the wearer.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/674,892, filed May 22, 2018, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD

The specification relates generally to apparel and, in particular, to a nursing cover.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one aspect, there is provided a nursing cover, comprising a cover dimensioned to cover the torso of a wearer and having a head opening, the cover being dimensioned to alternatively cover an infant car seat, and at least one nursing opening in the cover positioned to be in a region of breasts of the wearer to expose at least one of the breasts to an infant for breastfeeding.

The at least one nursing opening can have a normal closed state in which the at least one opening does not expose the wearer through the cover, closed and can be distended to an open state in which access to a breast can be provided to an infant positioned outside of the cover for breastfeeding. The nursing cover can be dimensioned to be placeable atop of an infant car seat to cover an infant seated therein.

The nursing cover can include at least one opening in the cover positioned to enable the wearer to extend their arms through to hold onto an infant

The nursing cover can further include at least one at least partially transparent portion of the cover providing visibility to the wearer of the infant being breastfed by the wearer under the cover when the cover covers a torso of the wearer. The nursing cover can be dimensioned to be placeable atop of an infant car seat to cover an infant seated therein.

In another aspect, there is provided a nursing cover, comprising a cover dimensioned to cover the torso of a wearer and having a head opening, the cover being dimensioned to alternatively cover an infant car seat, and at least one at least partially transparent portion of the cover providing visibility to a wearer of an infant being breastfed by the wearer under the cover when the cover covers a torso of the wearer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the embodiment described herein and to show more clearly how they may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a nursing cover in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows the nursing cover of FIG. 1 with a portion of the mid-chest band being pulled upwards to expose a nursing opening;

FIG. 3 shows a woman wearing the nursing cover of FIG. 1 and nursing an infant positioned outside of the nursing cover;

FIG. 4 shows a woman wearing the nursing cover of FIG. 1 and nursing an infant thereunder; and

FIG. 5 shows the nursing cover of FIG. 1 enveloping a car seat and an infant seated therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the Figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described herein. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein.

Various terms used throughout the present description may be read and understood as follows, unless the context indicates otherwise: “or” as used throughout is inclusive, as though written “and/or”; singular articles and pronouns as used throughout include their plural forms, and vice versa; similarly, gendered pronouns include their counterpart pronouns so that pronouns should not be understood as limiting anything described herein to use, implementation, performance, etc. by a single gender; “exemplary” should be understood as “illustrative” or “exemplifying” and not necessarily as “preferred” over other embodiments. Further definitions for terms may be set out herein; these may apply to prior and subsequent instances of those terms, as will be understood from a reading of the present description.

A nursing cover 20 in accordance with an embodiment is shown in FIG. 1. The nursing cover 20 is designed to be multi-purpose. It can be worn by a mother when nursing an infant, and can provide a number of feeding positions for the infant. Additionally, it can be placed over a car seat in which an infant is seated to cover and protect the infant at least partially from the elements.

Now referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the nursing cover 20 has two lateral sides 24a, 24 that extend longitudinally between a bottom edge 28 and a top edge 32 of the nursing cover 20. The lateral sides 24a, 24b extend generally parallelly upwards from the bottom edge 28 and have sloped edges 36a, 36b respectively that taper towards the top edge 32.

The nursing cover 20 is an apparel item that is constructed from a number of panels of elastic fabric or material, such as, for example, a rayon/spandex blend. In other embodiments, the nursing cover may be made from a non-elastic fabric or material. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, a front side shown has a lower body panel 40 that extends longitudinally from a hem 44 that is positioned at the bottom edge 28 and up to a line that is designed to rest about mid-chest for a wearer. While, in the presently illustrated embodiment, the hem 44 is merely stitched, it may be further elasticated or provided with a draw string in other embodiments. The lower body panel 40 extends laterally between a pair of side longitudinal seams 48a, 48b (which may be referred to herein as longitudinal seams 48a and 48b, and as seams 48). The longitudinal seams 48a, 48b extend between the hem 44 and the sloped edges 36a, 36b respectively. A mid-chest band 52 extends between the longitudinal seams 48a, 48b. The mid-chest band 52 at least partially overlaps and is selectively stitched to the lower body panel 40 to define two gaps in the stitching providing nursing openings 56. The nursing openings 56 are approximately 6 inches across. A decorative label 60 that is approximately a two-inch square is stitched on the mid-chest band 52 in the area where the mid-chest band 52 is stitched to the lower body panel 40 between the nursing openings 56.

In FIG. 1, the nursing openings 56 are shown in a normal closed state, in which the mid-chest band 52 at least partially overlaps a pair of bottom nursing opening edges 64a, 64b of the lower body panel 40. When the nursing openings 56 are in a closed state, a wearer of the nursing cover 20 is unexposed via the nursing openings 56. The nursing openings 56 can be distended to an open state as shown for the left-side nursing opening 56 in FIG. 2 by pulling the mid-chest band 52 upwards and/or one of the bottom nursing opening edges 64a, 64b of the lower body panel 40 downwards. The mid-chest band 52 overlaps the lower body panel 40 sufficiently to prevent unintentional distention of the nursing openings 56 and, thus, exposure of the breasts of a wearer.

An at least partially transparent panel 68 is stitched to the mid-chest panel 52 and extends between the longitudinal seams 48a, 48b. The at least partially transparent panel 68 is made of a material that is at least partially transparent. In the illustrated embodiment, the at least partially transparent panel 68 is made of a mesh. In other embodiments, the at least partially transparent panel 68 can be made of other suitably at least partially transparent materials, such as a netting, etc. Preferably the at least partially transparent panel 68 readily permits air to pass through. In other embodiments, an at least partially transparent portion of the nursing cover can be provided by, for example, a fabric panel with an at least partially transparent portion. Further, the nursing cover can alternatively be made so that a region of the nursing cover that is positioned above the breasts of a wearer when worn is substantially open, with one or more support ties extending between an upper portion of the nursing cover and the mid-chest band.

A top panel 72 is stitched to the at least partially transparent panel 68 and extends between it and a reinforced elastic collar 76 at a top edge 32 of the nursing cover 20. The reinforced elastic collar 76 borders a head opening through which a wearer's head can be placed when putting the nursing cover 20 on. The reinforced elastic collar 76 is preferred in some embodiments, but can optionally be replaced with a draw stringed collar, an unelasticated collar, etc. In the illustrated embodiment, the top panel 72 and the lower body panel 40 are made of the same mostly or fully opaque material, as may be the mid-chest band 52.

A rear panel 80 dimensioned to cover a rear of the nursing cover 20 wraps around each lateral side 24a, 24b and is stitched along the longitudinal seams 48a, 48b and a portion of the sloped edges 36a, 36b. A pair of arm openings 84a, 84b formed by gaps in the stitching between the rear panel 80 and the lower body panel 40 are positioned between the lower edge 28 and the bottom nursing opening edges 64a, 64b.

FIG. 3 shows a woman 88 wearing the nursing cover 20 and holding an infant 92 over the nursing cover 20 to nurse them. The nursing opening 56 is exposed by lifting and/or folding up the mid-chest band 52 to distend the nursing opening 56. The breast of the woman 88 can then be exposed via the nursing opening 56 and presented to the infant 92 for feeding. The arm openings 84a, 84b permit the woman 88 to extend her arms through to hold the infant 92 without causing the nursing cover 20 to ride up, exposing her sides and/or belly, as it may were she to extend her arms under the lower edge 28 thereof. The arms of the woman 88 act to anchor the nursing cover 20 over her torso to inhibit its riding up. In this manner, the woman 88 can readily nurse the infant 92 while remaining unexposed, thus facilitating nursing in a public area.

FIG. 4 shows the woman 88 wearing the nursing cover 20 over herself and the infant 92 while nursing them. The woman 88 can readily see the positioning of the infant 92 relative to her breast to correct any misalignment, detect improper attachment of the infant 92 to her breast, etc. The position of the nursing cover 20 is such, in this position, that, while the woman 88 can readily view the infant and her breast, at least partial coverage is provided to the woman 88 to reduce exposure of her torso while nursing in a public area.

FIG. 5 shows the nursing cover 20 enveloping an infant car seat 96 with an infant seated therein. The nursing cover 20 extends over the infant car seat 96 to protect the infant 92 at least partially from the elements while providing at least some visibility to the infant 92 and to the woman 88 to see the infant 92 via the at least partially transparent panel 68. Preferably, the at least partially transparent panel 68 is an open material to provide fresh air to the infant 92. The nursing openings 56 can also act as access points for the woman 88 to reach in and touch/adjust the infant 92 when the nursing cover 20 is being used as a car seat cover. In some cases, the nursing cover 20 may be clamped in place over the infant car seat 96 to retain the position of the at least partially transparent panel 68 over the face of the infant 92.

The hem 44 and the reinforced elastic collar are sufficiently restrictive so as to be able to maintain the nursing cover 20 on top of a person, an infant car seat, a high chair, etc.

While the nursing cover 20 is constructed from a number of panels, other methods of manufacturing the nursing cover can be employed.

In other embodiments, the nursing openings and the arm openings can be maintained in a closed state via any one of a number of mechanisms or structures. For example, magnets and possibly ferromagnetic elements encapsulated in the material on the edges of the openings can hold the openings in a normally closed position and can be opened with a minimum separation force. In this case, there may not be a need for overlapping material. Cloth tabs and slots can also be employed in another embodiment to fasten the openings closed.

The material of the nursing cover need not be elastic in some embodiments.

Other designs and shapes will occur to those skilled in the art for the overall dimensions and design of the nursing cover.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that there are yet more alternative implementations and modifications possible, and that the above examples are only illustrations of one or more implementations. The scope, therefore, is only to be limited by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A nursing cover, comprising:

a cover dimensioned to cover the torso of a wearer and having a head opening, the cover being dimensioned to alternatively cover an infant car seat; and

at least one nursing opening in the cover positioned to be in a region of breasts of the wearer to expose at least one of the breasts to an infant for breastfeeding.

2. The nursing cover of claim 1, wherein the at least one nursing opening has a normal closed state in which the at least one opening does not expose the wearer through the cover, and can be distended to an open state in which access to a breast can be provided to an infant positioned outside of the cover for breastfeeding.

3. The nursing cover of claim 2, wherein the nursing cover is dimensioned to be placeable atop of an infant car seat to cover an infant seated therein.

4. A nursing cover of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one opening in the cover positioned to enable the wearer to extend their arms through to hold onto an infant

5. A nursing cover of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one at least partially transparent portion of the cover providing visibility to the wearer of the infant being breastfed by the wearer under the cover when the cover covers a torso of the wearer.

6. The nursing cover of claim 5, wherein the nursing cover is dimensioned to be placeable atop of an infant car seat to cover an infant seated therein.

7. A nursing cover, comprising:

a cover dimensioned to cover the torso of a wearer and having a head opening, the cover being dimensioned to alternatively cover an infant car seat; and

at least one at least partially transparent portion of the cover providing visibility to a wearer of an infant being breastfed by the wearer under the cover when the cover covers a torso of the wearer.