Nursing Garment with magnetic opening/closure

Abstract

This nursing garment of the present invention in a way that others will not know that the mother is wearing clothing accessible for nursing. This has been done by using a magnetic closure on the strap of the garment. It can be utilized in a variety of ways by using different sizes and shaped magnets. The magnets can be placed either on the front of the garment, on the shoulder of the garment, or over the shoulder of the garment. The size, shape, and placement of the magnet can vary depending upon the style (for example-formal dress, tank top, maxi dress etc.) of the garment.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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	6,854,132	February 2005	Polzin
	D577877	October 2008	Saincome-Vawter
	D595934	July 2009	Senior-Bundrick
	D638196	May 2011	Torres
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	2008/0172771	July 2008	Adamson
	2008/0276346	November 2008	Thunstedt
	D849,368	May 2019	Ellis
	D547,927	August 2007	Booth
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	D851,865	June 2019	Burk
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	9,572,386	February 2017	Scheer
	10,342,299	July 2019	Reiter
	2002/0178551	December 2002	Hsu
	2003/0019008	January 2003	Prather
	D664,738	August 2012	Friberg
	2014/0130228	May 2014	Horton

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is a very limited history on nursing clothing. Nursing-specific wear is still relatively new to the market but is the next big step for women's fashion. The World Health Organization now recommends that all mothers breastfeed their children until age two, and more and more women in the United States are breastfeeding exclusively. In 2013 the percentage of mothers in the United States who breastfed their babies was 81%. Fashion has not truly caught up to what nursing mothers need and want. Every nursing item currently on the market either is combination maternity and nursing or has a typical nursing clothing appearance.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,469,769 discloses a nursing garment wherein a built-in bra is detachable by the use of nursing clips to connect a built-in bra to shoulder straps, wherein the built-in bra is detachable from either one of the shoulder straps in preparation for nursing. While this clip down access clip is functional, it cannot be used with fabric typical of most women's clothing and only allows for a thin strap. Use of a clip like this also makes it obvious that the garment is a nursing garment.

U.S. Pat. No. D851,865 features zipper opening under both arms. This may be functional for breastfeeding while not being obvious, it is not necessarily practical as closing a side zipper while holding an infant can be difficult.

U.S. Pat. No. D736,499 uses camouflaged flaps as an opening but it is not always practical for every item of clothing.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,854,132 This shirt has the typical lift up access found in nursing wear.

U.S. Pat. No. D664,738 has the typical cross body/lift up access layered look that is typical on the market today, and what most women think of when they think of nursing clothing.

Modern women would like to wear the type of clothing that is in their pre-pregnancy closet while still being able to feed their child easily. This means a variety of styles including dresses, rompers, long sleeve blouses, swimwear and active wear with a discrete site of closure for opening the garment to breastfeed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This nursing garment is designed in a way that others will not know that the mother is wearing clothing accessible for nursing. This has been done by using a magnetic closure on the strap of the garment. It can be utilized in a variety of ways by using different sizes and shaped magnets. The magnets can be placed either on the front of the garment, on the shoulder of the garment, or over the shoulder of the garment. The size, shape, and placement of the magnet can vary depending upon the style (for example-formal dress, tank top, maxi dress etc.) of the garment.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a nursing garment that may take on any one of countless attractive styles and be embodied in any number of different types of wearing apparel without inhibiting the freedom of the woman to nurse as frequently as may be required.

The magnet is easy to camouflage because it is sewn into the inner layer of the garment allowing the garment to not look like the typical nursing garment. The magnetic closure allows the mother to drop a strap down on either side of her torso to easily to feed her child.

The magnetic closure allows the mother to nurse her child without pulling up or pulling down the entire front of the garment but by using a drop-down closure method.

It is another object of the invention to incorporate a functionality to the garment while still allowing the mother to wear fashion forward, aesthetically pleasing clothing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the drop-down magnet closure open with the breast exposed in a maxi dress with the closure located at the collarbone.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the drop-down magnet closure closed in a maxi dress with the closure located at the collarbone.

FIG. 3 is a back perspective view of the drop-down magnet closure closed in a maxi dress with the closure located at the collarbone.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the drop-down magnet closure open with one breast exposed for access in a tank top with the closure located just over the shoulder.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the drop-down magnet closure open on both sides with one breast exposed for access in a tank top with the closure located just over the shoulder.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the drop-down magnet closure closed in a tank top with the closure located just over the shoulder.

FIG. 7 is a back perspective view of the drop-down magnet closure closed in a tank top with the closure located just over the shoulder.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the drop-down magnet closure open with the breast exposed in an “A-line” dress with the closure located over the shoulder

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the drop-down magnet closure closed in an “A-line” dress with the closure located over the shoulder.

FIG. 10 is a back perspective view of the drop-down magnet closure closed in an “A-line” dress with the closure located over the shoulder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a nursing garment closure as shown in the maxi dress illustrated in FIG. 1. The magnetic closure (1) is comprised of two parts, the positive side (4) and the negative side (5) and is sewn into a pocket at the seam (12). The magnetic clasp (1) when unclasped allows the front panel of the garment to be dropped down (6) to allow the breast (17) to be accessed for breastfeeding. The dress (19) stays on the wearer when the front panel is lowered because the modesty panel (9) attached to the shoulder strap (10) as well as the side seam (14). The neckline of the modesty panel (23) is slightly lower than the neckline of the front panel (15) to allow the modesty panel to remain unseen when the front panel of the garment is attached as depicted in FIG. 2 (16). The hidden modesty panel (7) ends right at or just above the under bust seam (18). From the back as shown in FIG. 3, looks much as any normal maxi dress would, as is the goal of the magnetic clasp.

In some instances the magnetic closure is located at or over the shoulder, as shown in FIG. 4. The magnetic closure (1) is comprised of two parts, the positive side (4) and the negative side (5). The magnetic clasp (1) when unclasped allows the front panel of the garment to be dropped down on one side (8) to allow the breast (17) to be accessed for breastfeeding. The image would be mirrored with the opposite side dropped down. The magnets may be placed with the positive sides on the drop down straps (4) and the negative side (5) over the shoulder as shown in FIG. 4, or in reversing polarity as depicted in FIG. 5. The shirt (20) stays on the wearer when the front panel is lowered on one side or on both as depicted in FIG. 5 because the modesty panel (9) attached to the shoulder strap (10) as well as the side seam (14). The modesty panel (9) extends from the lowered neckline (23), to just below the bust. The neckline of the modesty panel (23) is slightly lower than the neckline of the front panel (15) to allow the modesty panel to remain unseen when the front panel of the garment is attached as depicted in FIG. 6 (16). From the back as shown in FIG. 7, the garment looks much as any normal tank would, as is the goal of the magnetic clasp. and is sewn into a pocket at the seam (12

FIG. 8 illustrates the magnetic drop down panel (6) in a A line dress (19). The magnets are still sewn in a panel (12) and are located just over the shoulder in this illustration. The inner modesty panel in this garment is fixed (22) with cutouts for the breasts to be accessed (17). The fixed panel is stitched to the lower part of the dress at the seam under the bust (18). The neckline of the fixed modesty panel (23) is still lower than the neckline (15) of the outer front drop down panel of the garment (6) as it is in the other garments. The fixed modesty panel has a strap (10) that is thinner than the front panel strap so that it cannot be seen when the panel is up as illustrated in FIG. 9. Both the inner fixed modesty panel and the outer drop down front panel are attached at the side seam (14). The back zipper (13) can be seen in FIG. 10, which also shows the location of the over the shoulder magnet location with the panel closed (16).

Claims

1. A nursing garment to be worn by a woman for breastfeeding her baby, comprising of two magnets sewn horizontally into a hidden fold over pocket at or near the seam. These two magnets are placed next to each other horizontally with the − side located in the pocket that is located just over the shoulder on the garment. There are two + polarity magnets sewn into the front panel of the garment into a hidden pocket at the shoulder seam. These magnets fasten together to keep the garment closed. This magnetic fastener allows the wearer of the garment to drop the front bodice of the dress down and expose her breast. The dress is able to stay on the wearer due to the inner panel that is sewn to the side seam under the arm hole.

2. An article of breastfeeding clothing according to claim 1 wherein said inner panel is fixed to said outer garment at the seam just under the bust, such as in an “a line” garment.

3. An article of breastfeeding clothing according to claim 1 wherein said magnetic clasps are stacked vertically.

4. An article of breastfeeding clothing according to claim 1 wherein said magnetic clasp is a single bar.

5. An article of breastfeeding clothing according to claim 1 wherein said magnetic clasps are rectangular.

6. An article of breastfeeding clothing according to claim 1 wherein only one magnetic clasp is used.

7. An article of breastfeeding clothing according to claim 1 wherein magnets are sewn in alternating polarity.

8. An article of breastfeeding clothing according to claim 1 wherein said magnetic clasps attach at the shoulder.

9. An article of breastfeeding clothing according to claim 1 wherein said magnetic clasps attach between the breasts and the collarbone.

10. An article of breastfeeding clothing according to claim 1 wherein said magnetic clasps attach at the collarbone.

11. An article of breastfeeding clothing according to claim 1 wherein said inner panel is a thin piece of fabric that attaches the strap to an inseam under the wearers arm, as many nursing bras currently do.

12. An article of breastfeeding clothing according to claim 1 wherein said magnetic closures are used in a different article of clothing, such as a shirt, romper, jumpsuit, swimsuit, sleepwear, etc to make the clothing article functional for a breastfeeding mother.

13. An article of breastfeeding clothing according to claim 1 wherein said magnetic closures are attached to straps of varying thickness.

14. An article of breastfeeding clothing according to claim 1 wherein said garment is made of different fabric types such as spandex, modal, lycra, cotton, poly blend, silk, chiffon, linen, viscose etc.

15. An article of breastfeeding clothing according to claim 1 wherein the magnetic clasp lifts from the bust to expose the breast.

16. An article of breastfeeding clothing according to claim 1 wherein the magnetic clasps are located on the side of the garment and lift to open inward.

17. An article of breastfeeding clothing according to claim 1 wherein varying magnet strengths and sizes are used.

18. An article of breastfeeding clothing according to claim 1 wherein the magnets are coated or enclosed in a PVC pouch.