| Breastfeeding cover -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Breastfeeding coverRelated Patent Categories: Apparel, Body Garments, Vests, NursingBreastfeeding cover description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070124845, Breastfeeding cover. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED U.S. APPLICATION DATA [0001] Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/736,656, filed on Nov. 15, 2005. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a garment worn over other clothing to provide privacy for nursing mothers. In particular, the breastfeeding cover comprises an overshirt that enables a wearer to nurse a baby in public while concealing herself and, if desired, the baby. BACKGROUND [0003] In recent years, the benefits of breastfeeding a baby, such as enhanced immunity, brain development, and weight loss for the mother, have become known. However, breastfeeding in public has always been a challenge for mothers. Historically, mothers would hide in dark corners or excuse themselves from social gatherings, confining themselves to a private area while nursing their babies. If bold enough to engage in nursing in the company of others, a mother would often cover herself--and the baby--with a receiving blanket or small cloth draped over her shoulder in order to provide a modicum of privacy. Such efforts at concealment may be hindered or even thwarted, however, if the baby pulls the blanket off the mother's shoulder or pushes it aside, as is often the case. [0004] In order to accommodate mothers wishing to nurse their babies in public, lines of clothing and other coverings have been designed specifically to provide some covering and to aid in public breastfeeding. Examples of these include breastfeeding-specific clothes with built-in openings through which the baby can access the mother's breast. Such clothing is worn in the place of "normal" clothing. Mothers, however, often express that these clothes are not attractive, and unnecessarily keep them in the "maternity" clothing arena from which they desperately seek escape. Such breastfeeding clothing is also often expensive and limited as to styles available, which substantially limits a woman's dress choices especially for more formal occasions. Many nursing mothers are simply unwilling to purchase such clothing due to the limited choices and high costs for items that will be worn for only a relatively short time. [0005] Other options that are available are in the form of nursing cover-ups. Each of these designs, however, has its own limitation. The first is essentially an apron-styled cover, in which the mother places the product around her neck and encloses the baby in a small tenting of material. This product provides the mother with the desired level of privacy, as well as allowing the mother to view her baby while feeding. However, many babies do not like the sensation created by this type of covering and struggle to move the material away, making for a very disruptive feeding environment. In addition, such apron-styled garments are generally quite obvious in appearance, thereby calling undesirable attention to the mother. [0006] Another available cover up comprises what is essentially a long sash centered on the mother's shoulder. The sash drapes over the front of the mother, like the receiving blankets of old, and extends in the back, allowing the mother to sit upon or lean back on the material for anchoring. The longer stretch of material in the back allows for slightly better control and placement on the mother's shoulder. But if the baby pushes the front sash to one side or the other, the mother is again exposed, defeating the purpose of the product altogether. In addition, the sash requires that the mother have a place to sit or lean back so as to anchor the sash, which is not always the most convenient option. [0007] The present invention overcomes these and other shortcomings of the prior art by providing a cover for breastfeeding that is secure, does not require a specialized wardrobe, and is easy to use. SUMMARY of the INVENTION [0008] The present invention is directed to a wearable breastfeeding cover, such as a nursing overshirt. The cover is comprised of a garment including a pair of sleeves or arm holes, a front panel having at least one opening such as an access port, and a flap member secured to an upper edge portion of the front panel. In a preferred embodiment, the flap member is integral with or fixedly secured to the upper edge portion of the front panel. Also, in the preferred embodiment, the front panel includes a pair of access ports, such as large vertical, slit-type openings for feeding access. The front panel may also be secured around the back of the wearer, such as with ties, hook and loop enclosures, or the like. [0009] To wear, the woman places her arms through the armholes or sleeves, and with the preferred embodiment, the garment is then fastened around the back of the wearer. The preferred embodiment of the garment may even be worn in different manners. In one way, the front panel of the garment is worn closest to the wearer's body, with the flap member outside the front panel. In order to breast feed, the wearer may lift her normal clothing to access a breast. The baby is then guided to nurse through one of the openings in the front panel. The wearer is afforded substantial privacy in that the front panel conceals all of her torso but the portion accessed through the opening. This minimal exposure is lessened even more by the fact that the baby's head also serves to cover the woman's breast. If desired, the flap member may be laid over some or all of the baby to provide even added privacy. Unlike conventional receiving blankets, the baby is unable to pull the flap member off of the wearer, exposing the woman, and causing embarrassment and an awkward situation. [0010] Alternatively, the garment can be reversed and worn in a different way. The garment can be worn in a reversed manner from the previously discussed manner of wearing. For example, the flap member is worn closest to the wearer's body and the front panel with the access ports is on the outside. In other words, worn in the "reversed" mode, the flap member is on the underside closest to the wearer, and the front panel with the vertical openings are over the flap member. To feed, the mother moves the flap member slightly to one side to create access to the vertical openings in the front panel, which now are on the top of the shirt, closest to baby. This mode would be used in the common situation when the baby does not like the sensation created by a cover over their head or body. Rather than covering the baby, the fabric panel now serves as additional cover for the mother, more than would be offered by the shirt with the vertical openings alone. [0011] This garment is perfect for use while pumping or expressing milk, which is becoming increasingly common in the workplace. [0012] It is also preferred that the garment be constructed of high quality and stylish materials such that the nursing overshirt provides the mother with a fashionable option for breastfeeding privacy. Since the garment is worn over whatever "normal" clothing the mother is wearing, her wardrobe options are not limited to breast feeding clothing, thereby replacing many articles of clothing with just a single cover-up. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0013] FIG. 1 is a front view of a breastfeeding cover according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0014] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the breastfeeding cover of FIG. 1; [0015] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the breastfeeding cover of FIG. 1; [0016] FIG. 4 is a front view of the breastfeeding cover of FIG. 1 with the flap member lifted to reveal a front panel having access ports; [0017] FIG. 5 is left side view of the breastfeeding cover of FIG. 1 with the front panel lifted to reveal a front panel having access ports; and [0018] FIG. 6 is a front view of and alternative manner of wearing the breastfeeding cover of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Continue reading about Breastfeeding cover... Full patent description for Breastfeeding cover Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Breastfeeding cover patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Breastfeeding cover or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Child's garment with detachable connector strap Next Patent Application: Multi-purpose pocket tie Industry Class: Apparel ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Breastfeeding cover patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.1 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Qualcomm , Schering-Plough , Schlumberger , Seagate , Siemens , Texas Instruments , 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
