Garment

Abstract

 Garment, such as a jumper or dress, for facilitating breastfeeding comprising an overlapping opening (1), which is horizontally arranged in level with the bosom at the front (2) of the garment, which overlapping opening (1) is defined at the sides (3) by vertical seams, characterised in that the garment or at least the two portions making up the overlapping opening (1) are tight-fitting and made of an elastic material for enabling breastfeeding while the breast in question is covered and for keeping the heat up in the bosom.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a garment, such as a jumper or dress, for facilitating when breastfeeding, comprising an overlapping opening, which is horizontally arranged at level of the bosom at the front of the garment, which overlapping opening is defined at the sides by vertical seams.

[0002] Many women may feel discomfort when showing their breasts in public during breastfeeding and it is not always a possibility of having a private place where the woman may breastfeed in privacy. Also religions views may be the case.

[0003] Whether the woman accepts that her breasts are exposed when breastfeeding or not, it is anyway awkward in many cases to reach the breast due to the woman's clothing, for example, the whole jumper must be lifted or more than half of the blouse need to be opened. Of course, also the breastfeeding restricts the possible choices of clothing. A dress brings on a total undressing in a private room before the breastfeeding may start.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned problems and to provide a garment that will facilitate at breastfeeding, will cover the breast during breastfeeding and will result in a wider choice of clothing for the breastfeeding woman.

[0005] This object is met by a garment according to the preamble, which is characterised in that the garment or at least the two portions making up the overlapping opening is tight-fitting and made of an elastic material for enabling breastfeeding while the breast in question is covered and for keeping the bosom warm.

[0006] Preferably, the lower portion of the front extends up to, substantially in level with, the arm-pits of the garment, and the upper portion of the front extends substantially down underneath the bosom of the wearer and overlaps on top of the lower portion of the front.

[0007] The present invention has the advantage that the breasts are easily reached for breastfeeding at the same time as the breast in question is covered by elastic material. The garment may have any design, for example, a jumper with different kind of arms or a dress, which may be either long or short and may have different kind of arms.

[0008] The garment may be made of any type of material, which gives a vast designer freedom, but the portion comprising the overlapping opening must be of a material that is elastic. Although, there is a lot of different elastic materials.

[0009] A further advantage of the present invention is that the double material in the overlapping opening keep the breasts warm so the risk of caked breasts decreases. Additionally it is possible to make the whole garment or only the two portions making up the overlapping opening in a material comprising warming properties, such as fleece. It is also possible to " insulate" with an extra layer of material, preferably fleece. For example, the outer material may be a tight-fitting material of any kind, which is provided with a layer of stretchy fleece on the inside. Of course, a heat reflecting material may be used also or instead, which reflects the body heat towards the body.

[0010] Another idea is that the inner-most layer is a moisture transporting material so that the bosom is kept dry, which also is important.

[0011] The present invention will now be described in more detail by embodiments in connection with the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1

illustrates a dress according to the present invention,

Fig. 2

illustrates in principle the portions forming a jumper according the present invention,

Fig. 3

illustrates the material positions of the portions forming a jumper according to fig. 2.

[0012] Fig. 1 shows an example of a way of designing a dress which shows an overlapping opening 1 in level with the breasts, which opening 1 extends from one side 3 to the other side 3 of the front 2 of the dress. The overlapping opening 1 is defined in the sides 3 by vertical seams (not shown). The lower portion 4 of the front 2 of the dress extends up to the armpits 5. In fig. 1, the upper-edge 6 of the lower portion 4 is illustrated by a dashed line. The upper portion 7 of the front 2 of the dress extends down to underneath the bosom of the wearer and ends in an edge 8. The upper portion 7 lies, overlapping, on top of the lower portion 4. This is more clearly illustrated in figs. 2 and 3. In this case the whole dress is made of an elastic material.

[0013] In fig. 2 the portions forming a jumper according to the present invention are shown. The portions are:

7 -

the upper portion of the front of the jumper,

4 -

the lower portion of the front of the jumper,

10 -

the back of the jumper.

[0014] In fig. 3 the material positioning of the portions may be seen from the side. The upper portion 7 is arranged outside of the lower portion 4, which extends up to the armpit 5, so that the result is an overlapping portion 9. The lower 4 and the upper portion 7 is connected by a vertical seam to the back 10.

[0015] For example, an extra layer of material can be applied to the inside of any or both of the overlapping portions. Of course, it may be applied also on the outside if so desired. (Not shown.)

[0016] When breastfeeding, when the woman wears a garment according to the present invention, she pulls down the lower portion 4 underneath the nipple of the breast in question, opens up the breastfeeding bra and pushes the overlapping portion up so that the baby may reach the nipple of the breast to feed at the same time as the upper overlapping portion 7 remains over the breast in question and covers it. None of the portions of the overlapping portion is displaced at the breast not in question due to the elastic, tight-fitting material. In such a way the breasts are not exposed, neither the stomach nor the upper portion of the chest, as would be the case if a conventional jumper or blouse would have been used.

Claims

1. Garment, such as a jumper or dress, for facilitating breastfeeding comprising an overlapping opening (1), which is horizontally arranged in level with the bosom at the front (2) of the garment, which overlapping opening (1) is defined at the sides (3) by vertical seams, characterised in that the garment or at least the two portions making up the overlapping opening (1) are tight-fitting and made of an elastic material for enabling breastfeeding while the breast in question is covered and for keeping the bosom warm.

2. Garment according to claim 1, wherein the lower portion (4) of the front (2) extends up to, substantially in level with, the armpits (5) of the garment and the upper portion (7) of the front (2) extends substantially down to underneath the bosom of the wearer.

3. Garment according to claim 2, wherein the upper portion (7) of the front (2) is overlapping on top of the lower portion (4) of the front (2).

4. Garment according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the overlapping opening (1) is provided with at least one extra heat insulating layer.

Drawing