NURSING BRA

Abstract

Nursing bra with a back part and a breast part, which form a circumferential envelopment for the upper body in the connected state, with shoulder straps extending between the breast part and the back part and with two bra cups, each formed adapted to accommodate a female breast and each releasably connected to the shoulder straps and each having an opening that leads to the nipple of the female breast and that is on the outer side covered by an outer ply which is removable from the opening. A nursing bra of the type mentioned above that provides high functionality while having an attractive appearance is created according to the invention in that a flap is provided on the inner side of the bra cup and covers the opening.

Claims

1. A nursing bra with a back part and a breast part, which form a circumferential enclosure for the upper body in the connected state, with shoulder straps extending between said breast part and said back part and with two bra cups, each formed adapted to accommodate a female breast and each releasably connected to said shoulder straps and each having an opening that leads to the nipple of said female breast and that is on the outer side covered by an outer ply which is removable from said opening, characterized in that a flap provided on the inner side of said bra cup covers said opening.

2. The nursing bra according to claim 1, the outer ply being releasably connected to the shoulder straps.

3. The nursing bra according to claim 1, the bra cups and the outer ply being releasable independently of each other and jointly from said shoulder straps.

4. The nursing bra according to claim 1, the outer ply being formed as a decorative ply.

5. The nursing bra according to claim 4, the decorative ply covering the bra cups over the entire surface of the bra cups.

6. The nursing bra according to claim 1, each of the bra cups is formed from a cutting comprising at least two cup elements and that the opening is formed in the region of the joint between said two cup elements.

7. The nursing bra according to claim 6, the flap being provided in an integrally formed manner on one of the cup elements.

8. The nursing bra according to claim 1, the flap being formed mushroom-like with an at least partially convex-shaped end surface, from the ends of which edge sections converging towards one another branch off.

9. The nursing bra according to claim 6, the edge sections terminating at a boundary surface of the two cup elements.

10. The nursing bra according to claim 9, a flap base connected to said cup element arranged between the opening and the breast part.

11. The nursing bra according to claim 1, the cup elements abutting one another at an angle and connected by a shaping seam and that the outer ply at least in the region of the opening comprising a decorative seam following said shaping seam.

12. The nursing bra according to claim 4, the decorative ply and the outer surfaces of the circumferential envelopment are formed to be at least one of a uniform colored, material, or textural design.

13. The nursing bra according to claim 11, the shaping seam being formed as an element reinforcing the cup elements.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0028] Further details and advantages of the present invention shall become apparent from the following description of an embodiment in combination with the drawing, in which:

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a rear view of an embodiment of the nursing bra according to the invention;

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 without the decorative ply;

[0031] FIG. 3 shows the decorative ply applied on the front side to the bra cups of the embodiment;

[0032] FIG. 4 shows details of the connection between a shoulder strap and a bra cup of the embodiment;

[0033] FIG. 5 shows a rear view of the bra cup of the embodiment;

[0034] FIG. 6 shows a first embodiment of a lady's chemise;

[0035] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a second cutting;

[0036] FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a third cutting;

[0037] FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of a fourth cutting;

[0038] FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of a fifth cutting;

[0039] FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of a sixth cutting;

[0040] FIG. 12 shows a second embodiment of a nursing bra when used as an everyday bra;

[0041] FIG. 13 shows the embodiment shown in FIG. 12 with the left breast exposed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0042] FIGS. 1 and 2 show the basic structure of the nursing bra marked with reference numeral 2 comprising a circumferential envelopment 4 which is formed by a back part 6 and a breast part 8 connected thereto in the circumferential direction which is presently formed substantially by a lower breasts panel closely abutting against the ribs below the female breast. Shoulder straps 10 extend from the breast part 8 shown in FIG. 2 and are passed over the two shoulders of the woman and provided for vertical stabilization of bra cups 12 marked with reference number 12. The two bra cups (12) are three-dimensionally shaped and serve to accommodate the female breasts. In the embodiment shown, the back part 6 is separated in the middle and has eyelets at different distances as known per se for width adjustment of the circumferential envelopment 4, in which hooks disposed on the opposite partial section of the back part 6 can engage for circumferentially closing the back part 6 and the breast part 8. Similarly, fine adjustment of the length of the shoulder straps 10 is possible by way of adjusting devices, not shown in detail. For example, the shoulder strap 10 can respectively be passed as a loop through a hook 14 highlighted in FIG. 4 and can be fixed in a slidable manner with its free end relative to the part of the shoulder strap 10 which runs over the shoulder in order to obtain different lengths.

[0043] The hook 14 shown in FIG. 4 has a locking projection 16 which in the joined state projects through an opening of an eyelet designated by reference numeral 18. The eyelet 18 is connected directly to the upper end of an associated bra cup (not shown in FIG. 4) and with a band ring 20 to an open hook 22 which is connected to the upper free end of a decorative ply designated by reference numeral 24.

[0044] Due to this configuration, the bra cup 12 with the associated decorative ply 24 can be released together from the shoulder straps 10 by unhooking the eyelet 18 to expose the breast for breastfeeding a child, as is common practice with nursing bras 2. However, the present invention is not restricted to the embodiment shown. It is only important that the bra cup 12 and the associated decorative ply 24 are indirectly or directly releasably connected to the shoulder strap 10 to remove both in the typical state of use over plies disposed above the female breast jointly and together from the breast (see FIG. 12).

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a first example of such a decorative ply 24 in the form of a substantially full-surface cladding layer 26 which is located on the outer side of the bra cup 12. The cladding layer 26 also extends over the breast part 8, so that the nursing bra 2 has a uniform design from the front. The cladding layer 26 above the bra cup 12 is optically contrasted from the breast part 8 by way of a decorative seam 28. For example, at the opposite edges of the bra cups 12, the cladding layer 26 comprises lace 30 which projects beyond the lateral edges of the bra cups 12 and conceals them.

[0046] By releasing the open hook 22 from the band ring 20, the cladding layer 26 can be removed from the associated bra cup 12 so that the outer surface of the bra cup 12 temporarily forms the outer surface of the nursing bra 2. In the region of the bra cups 12, the nursing bra 2 has a respective opening 32 which is formed as an omission of a joining seam 34, where the joining seam 34 joins two cup elements 36 marked with reference number 36 in FIG. 2.

[0047] The opening 32 is formed by omitting the joining seam 34 over a length L of between 3 cm and 6 cm. The nipple is typically centered relative to the opening 32, but can also be slightly off center upwardly or downwardly relative to the center of the opening 32. These specifications apply to any joining seam 34 regardless of its specific orientation. In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 5, this joining seam 34 is formed to extend substantially vertically. But it can also be formed extending horizontally or at an angle.

[0048] Approximately two-thirds of the total length of the closed seam from the releasable hook 14 to the lower breast panel is disposed between the hook 14 and the upper edge of the opening 32. Approximately one-third of the total length of the joining seam 34 is disposed below the opening 32, i.e. between the lower edge of the opening 32 and the lower breast panel, i.e. the breast part 8.

[0049] The joining seam 34 is a shaping seam. Accordingly, the cup elements 36 abut each other at a certain angle in the joining seam 34. Due to this configuration, the opening 32 is located at the point furthest away from the costal arch, which facilitates the insertion of a breast shield for expressing breast milk. The decorative seam 28 joins cuttings of the decorative ply in shape, extension and contour like the joining seam 34, so that, when this decorative ply 24 has been applied, the bra cups 12 are covered thereby in a manner following the contour and having the same cut.

[0050] FIG. 5 illustrates the configuration of the bra cup 12 on its inner side. The left cup element 36.1 comprises a flap 38 which is integrally connected by an end-to-end flap base 40 to the fabric element forming the left cup element 36.1. The flap base 40 is provided between an upper edge section 42 and a lower edge section 44 of the flap 38, where the upper and the lower edge sections 42, 44 are sewn with the joining seam 34 to the left and the right cup element 36.1, 36.2 and connected thereto. Accordingly, the opening 32 is formed between the upper and the lower edge sections 42, 44 on the oppositely disposed outer side. By folding away the flap 38 from the inner surface of the right cup element 36.2, the opening 32 can be exposed on the inner side.

[0051] The flap 38 projects beyond the left cup element 36.1 in a mushroom-like manner. The apex of the generally convex formation of an end surface 45 of the flap 38 is in extension of the flap base 40. Edge sections of the mushroom head can be curved in a convex or concave manner to approximate the upper respectively the lower edge sections 42, 44 with this curvature, respectively, which end at the boundary surface of the two cup elements 36.1 and 36.2, respectively.

[0052] The flap 38 is preferably cut such that, after the tubular section of a breast shield has been passed through, the flap 38 projecting on the inner side from the bra cup 12 partially circumferential abuts the funnel-shaped section of the breast shield and imparts a certain support function there. The flap 38 of the solution according to the invention then has two different functions. First of all, it covers the opening 32 so that the nipple does not rub against the edges of the opening. The nipple is instead accommodated in a continuous and steplessly lined interior of the bra cup 12. When breast milk is expressed through the breast shield, the flap 38 provides a certain support function at least until the funnel-shaped portion of the breast shield has been sucked onto the surface of the breast due to the action of the suction pressure and situational positioning has then taken place.

[0053] FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment in which the decorative ply 24 is partially sewn fixedly onto the outer surface of the bra cup 12. The seam (28 and 34, respectively) extends obliquely upwardly from the center of the breast part 8 in the direction towards the outer circumferential edge of the bra cup 12 which is located above the circumferential envelopment 4. On the right-hand side, FIG. 6 shows the coverage of the bra cup 12 by the decorative ply 24 and the decorative ply 24 for the left bra cup 12 removed from the bra cup 12 for exposing the opening 32. The shaping joining seam 34 there likewise extends obliquely upwardly, however, steeper than the seam of the decorative ply. The flap 38 is indicated by a dash-dotted line. As illustrated by the right-hand part of FIG. 6, the joining seam 34 there also extends strictly parallel to the decorative seam 28.

[0054] A corresponding picture arises for FIG. 7, which illustrates another embodiment. A uniform joining seam 34 is provided there for both bra cups 12 and extends approximately horizontally. The flap 38, which is indicated by a dash-dotted line for this front view, is disposed below the joining seam 34 and therefore between the breast part 8 and the joining seam 34. The decorative ply 24 is fixedly connected, in particular, sewn with its upper edge to the bra cups 12 and be raised for exposing the opening 32, as indicated in FIG. 7 on the left-hand side. The decorative ply 24 can be connected by way of hook-and-loop fasteners or the like to the breast part 8, in order to abut against the outer surface of the actual bra cup 12 in a manner following the contour as much as possible. The decorative ply 24 can also be suspended freely from the upper region of the bra cups 12.

[0055] FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment in which the decorative ply 24 is arranged as a narrow decorative strip 46 only over a certain height region of the joining seam 34 and covers the latter. Since each decorative strip 46 is not connected over the entire surface to the outer surface of the bra cup 12, the opening 32 can be exposed by raising the decorative strip 46.

[0056] FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment in which the joining seam 34 extends approximately in correspondence to FIG. 8. The joining seam 34 provided for every bra cup 12 extends obliquely upwardly to the middle of the breast. The decorative ply 28 covers the bra cups 12 on the outside basically over the entire surface. Toward the outer edge, it can be fixed against the bra cups 12 or the circumferential envelopment 4, respectively, for example, by way of a hook-and-loop fastener, and can expose the opening 32 by being raised and pivoted inwardly.

[0057] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the decorative seam 28 is longer than the joining seam 34. But here as well, both seams 28, 34 extend parallel to each other, andlike in the first embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 5in a substantially vertically manner. The embodiment according to FIG. 10, as well as that according to FIG. 11, is designed as a lady's chemise, so that the nursing bra 2 is formed as part of a textile that substantially covers the predominant upper body. The decorative ply 24 can project arbitrarily far downwardly, possibly completely cover the front side of the lady's chemise, possibly also the back. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the decorative ply 24 terminates slightly below the bra cups 12 as substantially horizontally extending decorative strip 46. Like in the first embodiment, the decorative ply 24 is connectable via the eyelet 18 to the shoulder strap 10 and releasable therefrom. The lower end of the decorative ply 24 is in the region of the circumferential envelopment 4 firmly connected to the bra part of the lady's chemise, as shown on the right-hand side of FIG. 10.

[0058] Unlike the embodiment of FIG. 11 in which the decorative ply 24 is fixedly connected at its upper end to the shoulder straps 10 and can be raised to expose the opening 32.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0059] 2 nursing bra
4 circumferential envelopment
6 back part
8 breast part
10 shoulder strap
12 bra cups
14 hook
16 locking device
18 eyelet
20 band ring
22 open hook
24 decorative ply
26 cladding layer
28 decorative seam
30 lace
32 opening
34 joining seam
36 cup element
38 flap
40 flap base
42 upper edge section
44 lower edge section
45 end surface
46 decorative strip