Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] The priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/312,454, filed March 23, 2016, and entitled "Nursing Garment System," is claimed and the entire contents thereof are incorporated by reference herein.

Field of the Disclosure

[0002] This disclosure relates generally to a garment for a nursing woman using a breast pump to extract milk from her breasts for storage and subsequent feeding of an infant. The garment supports the portion of a breast pump system known as a breast shield, freeing the nursing woman's hands to carry out other tasks besides holding one or two breast shields in place.

Background

[0003] Breastfeeding of an infant provides numerous benefits to the infant and the breastfeeding woman. Breastmilk contains all of the nutrients a baby needs in the exact amounts required for optimal growth and development. Breastfed babies are healthier, having fewer middle ear infections, fewer respiratory infections, a decreased risk of developing allergies, cancer, childhood diabetes, and obesity, and being less prone to develop heart diseases, eczema, and asthma. For the breastfeeding woman, breastfeeding reduces post-delivery bleeding and chances of anaemia, aids in the uterus returning to its original size after birth, and burns up to an extra 500 calories per day.

[0004] However, not every nursing woman is able to breastfeed an infant on demand due to work schedules and other time demands. Accordingly, many nursing women use a breast pump to extract and store milk for feeding an infant. Breast pump systems routinely include a breast shield, which is a funnel-like apparatus having a conical region that is placed against the breast with the nipple in the center of the breast shield. Upon the application of negative pressure, the nipple is drawn toward, and often into, a tubular portion of the breast shield known as the nipple tunnel. The nipple tunnel of the breast shield is connected to other components of a breastmilk collection kit. This connection permits application of intermittent (i.e., cyclical) negative pressure to the interior of the breast shield, and also provides a flow path for breastmilk expressed into the nipple tunnel to be collected in a collection receptacle. The collection receptacle may be a breastmilk container having a threaded cap that can serve as a bottle for feeding an infant. A nursing woman generally has to hold the breast shield against her breast manually in order to pump milk.

[0005] Predictably, holding the breast shield in place is inconvenient and limits the tasks that the woman could otherwise accomplish while pumping. Although various brassieres and bustiers have been developed to hold the breast shield in place, such brassieres and bustiers have generally failed to adequately secure the breast shield and have required holding or frequent adjusting of the breast shield.

Summary

[0006] According to an aspect of the disclosure, a nursing garment system includes at least one connector configured to selectively connect a nursing bra to at least one of a hands-free breastpumping device, a nursing cover, and a breast cup. The nursing garment system is designed to facilitate selective nursing and hands-free breastpumping. In some arrangements, the at least one connector further comprises a closing device partially attached to each of the at least one of the hands-free breastpumping device, the nursing cover, and the breast cup, the closing device configured to connect to a nursing bra closing device. The closing device may be a clip, and the nursing bra closing device may be a nursing bra clip. Accordingly, the at least one connector may comprise a clip attached to each of the at least one of the hands-free

breastpumping device, the nursing cover, and the breast cup, the at least one connector further comprising a nursing bra clip, each clip of the at least one of the hands-free breastpumping device, the nursing cover, and the breast cup configured to snap fit with the nursing bra clip. In some arrangements, two connectors are provided, one on each of two straps of the nursing bra, to selectively connect the two straps of the nursing bra to at least one of a hands-free

breastpumping device, a nursing cover, and a breast cup.

[0007] In some arrangements, a closure device may be disposed at the back of a bottom band of the system. More specifically, a pumping garment may include a bottom band having a fastening mechanism at a back of the pumping garment. The fastening device may include multiple points of closure to adjust the circumference of the bottom band when the pumping garment is in a closed state. The fastening mechanism may be one of snaps, Velcro, and hook and eye closures.

[0008] In some arrangements, the system may include a pumping garment having a partial figure 8 elastic edge. In some arrangements, the system may include a pumping garment having an exterior hole adapted to receive a breastshield capable of being inserted from an outside of the pumping garment. The pumping garment may include an elastic edge that starts at a side edge or top edge of the pumping garment, makes a loop at an apex, and ends at a top edge or a side edge of the pumping garment. Alternately, the pumping garment may include an elastic edge extending across a front of the pumping garment. In some arrangements, an elastic edge surrounds an exterior hole of the pumping garment and is adapted to stretch to accommodate breastshields of a variety of sizes.

[0009] In some arrangements, the nursing cover is connected to the nursing bra at a top edge of the nursing cover. The nursing cover may be secured in place only by the connection to the nursing bra. The nursing cover may be connected to two straps of the nursing bra.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010] While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as the present disclosure, it is believed that the disclosure will be more fully understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Some of the figures may have been simplified by the omission of selected elements for the purpose of more clearly showing other elements. Such omissions of elements in some figures are not necessarily indicative of the presence or absence of particular elements in any of the exemplary embodiments, except as may be explicitly delineated in the corresponding written description. None of the drawings are necessarily to scale.

[0011] Figure 1A illustrates a front perspective view of nursing bra in a closed and fastened state, the nursing bra having two straps, each strap having a two-piece connector.

[0012] Figure IB illustrates a rear perspective view of the nursing bra depicted in Figure

1A.

[0013] Figure 2A illustrates a front view of a pumping garment of a hands-free breastpumping device in a fastened state, the pumping garment including a partial figure 8 elastic edge configured to support a breast shield of the hands-free breastpumping device.

[0014] Figure 2B illustrates a rear view of the pumping garment depicted in Figure 2A.

[0015] Figure 3A illustrates an exterior view of the pumping garment depicted in Figure

2A and 2B, the pumping garment being shown in an unfastened state.

[0016] Figure 3B illustrates an interior view of the pumping garment depicted in Figures

2A, 2B, and 3A, the pumping garment being shown in an unfastened state. [0017] Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of the pumping garment depicted in Figures

2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B on a wearer.

[0018] Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of the pumping garment depicted in Figures

2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B on a wearer supporting bottles and breast shields of the hands-free breastpumping device.

[0019] Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of another pumping garment of a hands- free breastpumping device in a fastened state on a wearer, the pumping garment including an elastic edge extending across the front of the pumping garment.

[0020] Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of a nursing cover connected by two-piece connectors to straps of a nursing bra on a wearer.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

[0021] A clip in pumping garment system, or nursing garment system is hereby disclosed. The clip in pumping garment system is configured to accommodate selective attachment of a pumping garment that covers the wearer's breasts except the nipples and secures a breast shield adjacent to each breast. The clip in pumping garment system is intended to be used by a woman that is already wearing a nursing bra with suitable connectors, such as clip in cups. The hands free clip in pumping bustier is intended to be clipped into the existing nursing connectors, or clips that the woman is wearing to secure the garment at the top. The bottom of the pumping bustier is secured by an elastic band extending around the body and secured with a suitable fastening device in the back.

[0022] The clip in pumping garment system is designed to be worn with a nursing bra that comes with a suitable connecting device, for example, a two part clip device or other suitable device that is typically placed above the nursing bra cups ( 1 ) shown in Figure 1. One part of the two part clip device is attached to the bra strap ( 2) and the other part of the device is attached to the top edge of the bra cup ( 3). When a lactating woman disconnects this device she is able to pull the bra cup down to reveal her breast thus enabling her to breastfeed or attached her breast to a breast shield. The clip in pumping garment is designed to clip into the portion of the nursing bra clip assembly that is attached to her bra strap ( 2 ). The clip in pumping garment has a suitable connector, such as a clip ( 4 ) depicted in Figure 2A attached to the top edge that clips into the existing nursing bra anchor ( 2 ).

[0023] By utilizing the connector or anchor assembly of the existing nursing bra anchor point for the clip in pumping garment system, it provides support to the weight of the bottles as they are filled with milk. The use of the existing clip also provides the ability for the user to adjust her bra strap while wearing the hands free clip in pumping garment. This adjustment can improve the fit of the garment and ensure that the breast shield is centered on the nipple during use of the pumping bustier. The use of the existing nursing bra anchor enables the wearer to put on the hands free garment or a nursing cover without removing her existing nursing bra. This thereby simplifies the process of putting on the garment because she doesn't need to first remove her nursing bra ( 14 ) shown in Figure 5. In addition, by not being required to remove the existing nursing bra the wearer is able to put on the hands free pumping bustier garment with far more discretion and only minimal exposure of the breast.

[0024] An exemplary embodiment of the clip in pumping garment system is made with a partial figure 8 elastic edge sewing technique specifically designed to improve the functionality of the hands free pumping garment that supports the breast shield assembly. The elastic edge ( 6) shown in Figure 3A starts at the side or top edge of the garment ( 7 ) making a loop ( 8) at the apex ( 9 ) and ends at the top or side edge of the garment (10). The use of the partial figure 8 sewing technique delivers significantly improved functionality specifically for use of a hands free pumping garment because it enables the garment to have a small exterior hole that can accommodate the insertion of a wide variety of breast shield sizes that can be inserted from the outside of the garment (1 1) shown in Figure 5. Without the figure 8 design the wearer would be required to disconnect the breast shield flange (15 ) from the breast shield tunnel mechanism (16) and insert the assembly from the inside of the pumping garment prior to reconnecting the breast shield assembly. Without the figure 8 design, the process as described would be repeated to remove the breast shield flange after pumping. Yet another exemplary embodiment of the clip in pumping garment is designed with the elastic edge extending across the front of the garment (10 B) shown in Figure 6.

[0025] The clip in pumping garment has a fastening mechanism that is designed to be closed at the back of the wearer (12) shown in Figure 2 similar to the typical closing placement of a bra. The fastening device can be a multi row hook and eye closure or any other suitable closure, such as a snaps or Velcro, for example. The fastening device is attached to the bottom band of the clip in pumping garment. The bottom band of the pumping garment extends around the front of the garment. The fastening device can be located at the back of the body and away from the breasts and breast shields enables the bottom band to have multiple points of closure (13 ) shown in Figure 3A which can adjust the circumference of the garment around the body. The fastening device at the back of the garment allows the wearer to achieve the desired tension around the body to improve the fit of the clip in pumping garment. Placement of the fastening device such as hook and eye closure allows for discrete and simple set up because the wearer can close the garment around the body without removing her nursing bra or other clothing.

[0026] A nursing garment system to facilitate selective nursing and hands-free breastpumping constructed in accordance with the principles herein can include: at least one connector configured to selectively connect a nursing bra to at least one of a hands-free breastpumping device, a nursing cover shown in Figure 7, and a breast cup.

[0027] The nursing garment system can further include: a closure device disposed at the back of a bottom band of the system, if desired.

[0028] In an embodiment, the nursing garment system can be further defined where the at least one connector includes a closing device partially attached to each of the at least one of a hands-free breastpumping device, a nursing cover, and a breast cup, the closing device configured to connect to the nursing bra closing device.

[0029] In another embodiment, the nursing garment system can be further defined where the at least one connector includes a clip attached to each of the at least one of a hands-free breastpumping device, a nursing cover, and a breast cup, the connector further including a nursing bra clip, the clip of the at least one of the hands-free breastpumping device, the nursing cover, and the breast cup configured to snap fit with the nursing bra clip.

[0030] The nursing garment system may further include two connectors, one on each of two straps of the nursing bra, to selectively connect the two straps of the nursing bra to at least one of a hands-free breastpumping device, a nursing cover, and a breast cup.

[0031] The nursing garment system may further include a pumping garment having a partial figure 8 elastic edge.

[0032] The nursing garment system may further include a pumping garment having an exterior hole adapted to receive a breastshield capable of being inserted from an outside of the pumping garment.

[0033] The nursing garment system may further include a pumping garment configured to support a breast shield assembly, the pumping garment including an elastic edge that starts at a side edge or top edge of the pumping garment, makes a loop at an apex, and ends at a top edge or a side edge of the pumping garment.

[0034] The nursing garment system may further include including a pumping garment configured to support a breast shield assembly, the pumping garment including an elastic edge extending across a front of the pumping garment.

[0035] The nursing garment system may further include a bottom band having a fastening mechanism at a back of a pumping garment, the fastening device including multiple points of closure to adjust the circumference of the bottom band when the pumping garment is in a closed state.

[0036] The nursing garment system may further include the fastening mechanism of the bottom band being one of snaps, Velcro, and hook and eye closures.

[0037] The nursing garment system may further include a pumping garment having an elastic edge that surrounds an exterior hole and is adapted to stretch to accommodate

breastshields of a variety of sizes.

[0038] The nursing garment system may further include the nursing cover being secured in place only by the connection to the nursing bra.

[0039] The nursing garment system may further include the nursing cover being connected to the nursing bra at a top edge of the nursing cover.

[0040] The nursing garment system may further include the nursing cover being connected to two straps of the nursing bra.

[0041] While the present disclosure has been described with respect to certain exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that variations may be made thereto and combinations can be formed therein and varied to form sub combinations that are still within the scope of the appended claims. Additionally, while a particularly-preferred embodiment is illustrated in the drawings of the present disclosure, it will be understood that the functional features disclosed and claimed herein can be accomplished in devices that differ from these drawings, and features of the drawings are not dictated by either function or by the

combinations shown.