Lactation aid and soothing garment

• US 9,144,514 B2
• Filed: 01/01/2013
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christine L. Enderby
• Original Assignee: Christine L. Enderby
• Inventors: Enderby, Christine L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ekrami, Yasamin
• Application Number:
  US13/732,399
• Publication Number:
  US 20140188199A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 450/37, 450/36, 450/56, 450/1, 450/38, 450/28, 450/10, 450/30, 450/106, 450/105, 450/128, 450/109, 450/55, 450/57, 450/58, 607/108, 607/114, 607/139
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0021 Female breast
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0204 containing clay, mud, fango, sand, kaolin clay, volcanic or other inorganic granular solids
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0207 Plants, dried plants, seeds or fruits
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0225 connected to the body or a part thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0228 with belt or strap, e.g. with buckle
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0231 hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0242 heated by microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0273 with openings in the walls between the compartments serving as passageways for the filler flowing in circuits A61F2007/0054, A61F2007/0059
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/108 Cold packs, i.e. devices to be cooled or frozen in refrigerator or freezing compartment
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/02 Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/08 Warming pads, pans or mats A61F7/02 takes precedence; Hot-water bottles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/10 Cooling bags, e.g. ice-bags
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/062 Pump accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/067 with means for hands-free operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/0697 having means for massaging the breast
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/08 Supports for equipment

Abstract

A hands-free lactation aid and soothing garment can be used for simultaneous warm and cool therapy. Therapeutic cozies can be used in conjunction with a camisole or nursing camisole, bra, or nursing bra or apparel, can be inserted into a cozy cover for use with an adjustable neckband. With the appropriate breast cozies, breast pumping or nursing can occur simultaneously with warm/cool therapy, and a privacy shield attaches easily. An additional neck therapy insert can be used to sooth a sore neck, while an additional nipple soother can be attached to the center of the cozies to provide simultaneous warm and cold therapy to the effected area.

Claims

1. A therapeutic breast garment to be worn over the shoulders and around a user'"'"'s neck like a scarf, comprising:

at least one microwavable and freezable breast cozy configured in an egg-shape, having an inner concave face and an outer concave face, with both faces sharing a circular, central stitched region with a series of thermal mass holding compartments radiating out 360°

about a perimeter of said central stitched region;

an aperture (40) formed through said inner concave face and said outer concave face of said cozy near a perimeter joining said inner concave face of said cozy to said outer concave face of said cozy;

a first one-half mating strip of a hook-and-loop fastener (22) affixed adjacent said aperture (40) on said inner concave face;

a first means for fastening affixed adjacent said hook-and-loop fastener (22),

a fastening strap (46) having a proximate end affixed near the perimeter joining said inner concave face of said cozy to said outer concave face of said cozy and a second means for fastening adapted for mating engagement with said first means for fastening affixed to a distal end of said fastening strap,

wherein said thermal mass holding compartments that radiate out 360°

about a perimeter of said central stitched region are defined by stitch lines extending normally from said perimeter of said central stitched region to a stitched circle about the perimeter of said inner concave face and said outer concave face of said cozy;

wherein said central stitched region further comprises a circular one-half mating strip of hook-and-loop fastener;

each at least one microwaveable and freezable breast cozy is placed in a washable cozy cover comprising an inner lobe-shaped fabric half cozy cover and an outer lobe-shaped fabric half cozy cover stitched about a portion of their exterior perimeter to form a pocket capable of retaining said cozy, said inner lobe-shaped fabric half cozy cover having at least one garment fastener affixed thereto, and a first aperture and a second aperture formed therethrough said outer lobe-shaped fabric half cozy cover, and a third aperture formed therethrough both said inner lobe-shaped fabric half cozy cover and said outer lobe-shaped fabric half cozy cover adjacent a side perimeter;

a second one-half mating strip of a hook-and-loop fastener affixed to said inner lobe-shaped fabric half cozy cover for mating engagement with said first one-half mating strip on said inner concave face of said breast cozy;

an adjustable neck strap having a distal end configured for mating engagement with said at least one garment fastener of a first cozy cover and a proximate end configured for mating engagement with said at least one garment fastener of a second cozy cover;

wherein said second cozy cover has a pairing strap affixed to a side perimeter thereof, wherein said pairing strap has a distal end connectable to a proximate end of said pairing strap, said pairing strap sized for passing through said third aperture formed therethrough a first cozy cover; and

the therapeutic breast garment having no fastening strap suitable for securing behind a user'"'"'s back, and further comprising

a thermal nipple soother constructed as a polymer disk comprising at least one polymer disk face containing a microwaveable and freezable thermal mass, and

one-half of a hook-and-loop fastener attached to said at least one polymer disk face of the thermal nipple soother for mating attachment with said circular one-half mating strip of hook-and-loop-fastener of said central stitched region.

2. The therapeutic breast garment of claim 1 further comprising:

two garment fasteners; and

at least one connection strap removably connectable to said garment fasteners, so as to form a loop above said top of said cozy cover.

3. A therapeutic breast garment to be worn over the shoulders and around a user'"'"'s neck like a scarf, comprising:

at least one microwavable and freezable breast cozy configured in an egg-shape, having an inner concave face and an outer concave face, with both faces sharing a circular, central stitched region with a series of thermal mass holding compartments radiating out 360°

about a perimeter of said central stitched region;

an aperture (40) formed through said inner concave face and said outer concave face of said cozy near a perimeter joining said inner concave face of said cozy to said outer concave face of said cozy;

a first one-half mating strip of a hook-and-loop fastener (22) affixed adjacent said aperture (40) on said inner concave face;

a first means for fastening affixed adjacent said hook-and-loop fastener (22),

a fastening strap (46) having a proximate end affixed near the perimeter joining said inner concave face of said cozy to said outer concave face of said cozy and a second means for fastening adapted for mating engagement with said first means for fastening affixed to a distal end of said fastening strap,

wherein said thermal mass holding compartments that radiate out 360°

about a perimeter of said central stitched region are defined by stitch lines extending normally from said perimeter of said central stitched region to a stitched circle about the perimeter of said inner concave face and said outer concave face of said cozy;

wherein said central stitched region further comprises a circular one-half mating strip of hook-and-loop fastener;

each at least one microwaveable and freezable breast cozy is placed in a washable cozy cover comprising an inner lobe-shaped fabric half cozy cover and an outer lobe-shaped fabric half cozy cover stitched about a portion of their exterior perimeter to form a pocket capable of retaining said cozy, said inner lobe-shaped fabric half cozy cover having at least one garment fastener affixed thereto, and a first aperture and a second aperture formed therethrough said outer lobe-shaped fabric half cozy cover, and a third aperture formed therethrough both said inner lobe-shaped fabric half cozy cover and said outer lobe-shaped fabric half cozy cover adjacent a side perimeter;

a second one-half mating strip of a hook-and-loop fastener affixed to said inner lobe-shaped fabric half cozy cover for mating engagement with said first one-half mating strip on said inner concave face of said breast cozy;

an adjustable neck strap having a distal end configured for mating engagement with said at least one garment fasteners of a first cozy cover and a proximate end configured for mating engagement with said at least one garment fasteners of a second cozy cover;

wherein said second cozy cover has a pairing strap affixed to a side perimeter thereof, wherein said pairing strap has a distal end connectable to a proximate end of said pairing strap, said pairing strap sized for passing through said third aperture formed therethrough a first cozy cover; and

the therapeutic breast garment having no fastening strap suitable for securing behind a user'"'"'s back, and further comprising

a thermal nipple soother constructed as a fabric disk comprising at least one fabric disk face containing a microwaveable and freezable thermal mass; and

one-half of a hook-and-loop fastener attached to said at least one fabric disk face of the thermal nipple soother for mating attachment with said circular one-half mating strip of hook-and-loop fastener of said central stitched region.

4. The therapeutic breast garment of claim 3 further comprising:

two garment fasteners; and

at least one connection strap removably connectable to said garment fasteners, so as to form a loop above said top of said cozy cover.