Multi-layer nursing bra and nursing bra system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11717036-B2
Application number	US-202016823143-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 18, 2020
Priority date	Mar 22, 2019
Publication date	Aug 8, 2023
Grant date	Aug 8, 2023

Abstract

Concepts provided are directed to a multi-layer nursing bra and a nursing bra system to be worn by a wearer. The multi-layer nursing bra includes an outer layer positioned over an inner layer. One or more edges of the outer layer and one or more edges of the inner layer may be manipulated to form an opening for breast feeding. The nursing bra system is composed of the multi-layer nursing bra and an upper-body garment configured to be layered over the multi-layer nursing bra. The upper-body garment includes a nursing opening on a front portion of the upper-body garment to provide access to the opening created in the multi-layer nursing bra when needed.

First claim

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A multi-layer nursing bra comprising:
a front portion comprising:
an inner layer having a right edge extending between an upper right portion and a lower central portion of the inner layer, and a left edge extending between an upper left portion and the lower central portion of the inner layer, wherein the right edge and the left edge converge as they extend toward the lower central portion of the inner layer; and
an outer layer adjacent to the inner layer, the outer layer having an upper edge and a lower edge, wherein the upper edge of the outer layer is moveable relative to the inner layer along at least a midpoint of the right edge and along at least a midpoint of the left edge, wherein the outer layer of the multi-layer nursing bra comprises a right-side outer layer having a right-side upper edge and a left-side outer layer having a left-side upper edge, and wherein the right-side upper edge and the left-side upper edge are free of stitching on an outer surface of the outer layer.

2. The multi-layer nursing bra of claim 1 , wherein the multi-layer nursing bra is layered with an upper-body garment, wherein the upper-body garment is configured to be worn over the multi-layer nursing bra, the upper-body garment comprising:
a front portion and a back portion that together define at least a neck opening and a torso opening; and
a nursing opening extending from a right side of the front portion toward a left side of the front portion, wherein the nursing opening is positioned below the neck opening and above the torso opening.

3. The multi-layer nursing bra of claim 2 , wherein the front portion of the upper-body garment comprises an upper panel and a lower panel, wherein the upper panel comprises an upper perimeter edge and wherein the lower panel comprises a lower perimeter edge, and wherein the upper perimeter edge and the lower perimeter edge define the nursing opening.

4. The multi-layer nursing bra of claim 3 , wherein the upper perimeter edge of the upper panel is substantially detached from the lower perimeter edge of the lower panel.

5. The multi-layer nursing bra of claim 3 , wherein the upper perimeter edge of the upper panel overlaps the lower perimeter edge of the lower panel when the nursing opening is in a closed state.

6. The multi-layer nursing bra of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the right-side outer layer overlaps a portion of the left-side outer layer at a central region of the front portion.

7. The multi-layer nursing bra of claim 1 , wherein the right-side upper edge and the left-side upper edge form the upper edge of the outer layer of the multi-layer nursing bra, and wherein the outer layer comprises a hidden stitch on an inner surface of the right-side outer layer and the left-side outer layer.

8. The multi-layer nursing bra of claim 1 , wherein the right-side upper edge is movable relative to the inner layer of the multi-layer nursing bra at least at the midpoint of the right edge of the inner layer, and wherein the left-side upper edge is moveable relative to the inner layer of the multi-layer nursing bra at least at the midpoint of the left edge of the inner layer.

9. The multi-layer nursing bra of claim 1 , wherein the inner layer is comprised of a first elastically resilient textile material and the outer layer is comprised of a second elastically resilient textile material, and wherein a modulus of elasticity of the first elastically resilient textile material is substantially equal to a modulus of elasticity of the second elastically resilient textile material.

10. The multi-layer nursing bra of claim 1 , further comprising a back portion extending from the front portion.

11. The multi-layer nursing bra of claim 10 , further comprising a pair of shoulder straps extending between the front portion and the back portion.

12. The multi-layer nursing bra of claim 1 , further comprising a right wing band extending from a right side of the front portion, and a left wing band extending from a left side of the front portion.

13. A multi-layer nursing bra having a front portion comprising:
an outer layer extending between a first upper edge and a first lower edge;
an inner layer having a second upper edge extending between an upper right portion and an upper left portion, a right edge extending between the upper right portion and a lower central portion, and a left edge extending between the upper left portion and the lower central portion, wherein the inner layer seamlessly and continuously extends between the right edge and the left edge of the inner layer, and wherein the inner layer is positioned under the outer layer; and
an underband extending from the lower edge of the outer layer, wherein the lower central portion of the inner layer is coupled to a central region of the underband.

14. The multi-layer nursing bra of claim 13 , further comprising:
a back portion extending from the front portion;
a first shoulder strap extending between the front portion and the back portion; and
a second shoulder strap extending between the front portion and the back portion.

15. The multi-layer nursing bra of claim 13 , wherein the outer layer of the multi-layer nursing bra comprises a right-side outer layer and a left-side outer layer, wherein a portion of the right-side outer layer overlaps a portion of the left-side outer layer at a central region of the front portion.

16. The multi-layer nursing bra of claim 15 , wherein the right-side outer layer comprises a right-side upper edge, wherein the left-side outer layer comprises a left-side upper edge, and wherein the right-side upper edge and the left-side upper edge form the upper edge of the outer layer of the multi-layer nursing bra.

17. The multi-layer nursing bra of claim 13 , wherein the inner layer is comprised of a first elastically resilient textile material and the outer layer is comprised of a second elastically resilient textile material, and wherein a modulus of elasticity of the first elastically resilient textile material is different than or substantially equal to a modulus of elasticity of the second elastically resilient textile material.

18. The multi-layer nursing bra of claim 15 , wherein the upper right portion of the inner layer is affixed to a portion of a right-side edge of the right-side outer layer, and wherein the upper left portion of the inner layer is affixed to a portion of a left-side edge of the left-side outer layer.

19. The multi-layer nursing bra of claim 13 , wherein the inner layer is Y-shaped and is comprised of a single layer of material.

20. A method of manufacturing a multi-layer nursing bra comprising:
forming a front portion of the multi-layer nursing bra by positioning an outer layer over an inner layer;
the outer layer extending between a first upper edge and a lower edge,
the inner layer having a right edge extending between an upper right portion and a lower central portion, a left edge extending between an upper left portion and the lower central portion, and a second upper edge extending between the upper left portion and the upper right portion, wherein the inner layer seamlessly and continuously extends between the right edge and the left edge of the inner layer, wherein the right edge and the left edge converge as they extend toward the lower central portion of the inner layer;

securing an underband to the lower edge of the outer layer; and
securing the lower central portion of the inner layer to a central region of the underband.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Carlino Shannan C
• Carter Kristina E
• Cruz Karey B

Classifications

• A41C3/04 Primary

  for nursing mothers {(nursing clothing in general A41D1/215)} · CPC title

• A41C5/00

  Machines, appliances, or methods for manufacturing corsets or brassieres · CPC title

• A41C3/08

  combined with other garments (with corsets A41C1/06) · CPC title

• A41D1/215

  Nursing clothing, e.g. for breastfeeding · CPC title