GB2287640A

GB2287640A - Maternity brassiere

Info

Publication number: GB2287640A
Application number: GB9406063A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patricia Ann Gilbert
Original assignee: HOARE NICHOLAS PHILIP
Current assignee: HOARE NICHOLAS PHILIP
Priority date: 1994-03-26
Filing date: 1994-03-26
Publication date: 1995-09-27
Anticipated expiration: 2014-03-26
Also published as: GB2287640B; GB9406063D0

Abstract

A maternity brassiere (10) including a pair of breast cups (25), each breast cup including an internal pocket (32) for releasably holding an absorbent pad (33) within the cup, the pocket defining a window (38) across which the pad extends, when received in the pocket, for exposure to the breast of the wearer. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a maternity brassiere.

Maternity brassieres are known which have breast cups that are in the form of a flap detachably connected to the remainder of the brassiere to enable the wearer to expose a breast for feeding of a baby.

After feeding, the breast cup is attached to the remainder of the brassiere to operate. in a conventional manner to support the breasts.

It is known to provide absorbent pads for location inside the breast cups for the purpose of absorbing excess milk which tends to weep from the breasts inbetween feeds.

A problem associated with the use of these pads is that they tend to be displaced whilst the brassiere is being worn and in so doing become ineffective.

An aim of the present invention is to provide a maternity brassiere in which an absorbent pad can be releasably secured in position within a breast cup.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a maternity brassiere including a pair of breast cups, each breast cup including an internal pocket for releasably holding an absorbent pad within the cup, the pocket defining a window across which the pad extends, when received in the pocket, for exposure to the breast of the wearer.

Preferably the pocket is defined by a fabric lining secured about a peripheral edge to the mouth region of the breast cup. Preferably the lining is defined by separate pieces of fabric which are located side by side about the periphery of the mouth of the cup. Preferably the outer peripheral regions of the adjacent pieces of fabric overlap one another.

Preferably the lining is defined by two pieces of fabric.

The window is defined by the inner peripheral edges of the pieces of fabric.

Preferably the lining is formed from a soft fabric, preferably a knitted fabric. Preferably the inner edges of the pieces of fabric are provided with stabilising bands to prevent curling of the inner peripheral edges.

Various aspects of the present invention are hereinafter described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of one half of a brassiere according to an embodiment of the invention when viewed from the inside; Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in Figure 1.

In Figure 1 there is shown one half of a maternity brassiere 10, the other half being identical.

The brassiere 10 includes a main body 12 including body straps 14 and shoulder straps 15. A flap body portion 16 is attached to straps 14 and 15 by seams and is detachably secured to a central support panel 19 by conventional attachment means such as hook and eyes.

The central support panel 19 is secured to and supported by a band 20 which extends between the body straps 14. The band 20 is preferably elasticated.

Each flap body portion 16 includes a breast cup 25 which is constructed and shaped in any conventional manner. A lining 30 is provided within the breast cup 25 to define a pocket 32 for receiving an absorbent pad 33.

The pad 33 is of conventional construction and normally has a circular outer periphery.

The lining 30 is defined by two pieces of fabric 34,35 which are secured about the mouth of the breast cup. The combined length of the outer peripheries of the pieces of fabric 34,35 exceeds the peripheral length of the mouth so that the outer regions of the pieces of fabric overlap one another.

The inner peripheral edges of the pieces of fabric 34,35 extend across the mouth of the breast cup to define a window 38. Preferably the inner peripheral edges of the pieces of fabric are curved, in the direction shown, to provide a window having a relatively large central region.

Securance of the pieces of fabric 34,35 to the flap body portion 16 is preferably achieved by a circular seam 40 which is defined by a soft fabric tape 41 overlying the outer periphery of the pieces of fabric 34,35 and secured to the body portion 16 by stitching.

The circular seam 40 therefore defines an inner circular peripheral edge of the pocket 32 and the diameter of this edge is chosen to be greater than the diameter of the pad 33 by a distance which retains the pad 33 for extending across at least the full width W of the window.

Preferably the fabric pieces 34,35 are formed from a soft fabric which is comfortable for the wearer and follows the contours of the breast cup. A suitable material is a knitted fabric. For such a material which is prone to edge curl, a tape 50 is preferably secured to the inner edge of the pieces of fabric to prevent edge curl.

The tape 50 is also preferably formed from a soft fabric.

It will be appreciated that the lining 30 may be formed from a single piece of fabric or may be formed from more than 2 pieces of fabric which overlap about the periphery of the mouth to the breast cup.

Forming the lining from two or more pieces of fabric is preferred since it enables the lining to more easily conform to the contours of the breast cup during use.

It is envisaged that the pieces of fabric may be spaced about the periphery of the mouth and needn't necessarily overlap.

It will be appreciated that the lining 30 may be secured at its outer periphery to the breast cup at a position inbound of the mouth of the cup.

Claims

1. A maternity brassiere including a pair of breast cups, each breast cup including an internal pocket for releasably holding an absorbent pad within the cup, the pocket defining a window across which the pad extends, when received in the pocket, for exposure to the breast of the wearer.

2. A brassiere according to claim 1 wherein the pocket is defined by a fabric lining secured about a peripheral edge to the mouth region of the breast cup.

3. A brassiere according to claim 2 wherein the lining is defined by separate pieces of fabric which are located side by side about the periphery of the mouth of the cup.

4. A brassiere according to claim 3 wherein the outer peripheral regions of the adjacent pieces of fabric overlap one another.

5. A brassiere according to claim 3 or 4 wherein the window is defined by the inner peripheral edges of the pieces of fabric.

6. A brassiere according to claims 2, 3 or 4 wherein the fabric is a soft fabric, preferably a knitted fabric.

7. A brassiere according to claim 6 wherein the inner edges of the pieces of fabric are provided with stabilising bands to prevent curling of the inner peripheral edges.

8. A maternity brassiere substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.