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EP-4543247-B1 - UPPER-TORSO SUPPORT GARMENT

EP4543247B1EP 4543247 B1EP4543247 B1EP 4543247B1EP-4543247-B1

Inventors

  • HO, Fanny, Yung
  • TOTH, Amy, L.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20230627

Claims (6)

  1. A support garment (210) comprising: a front portion (212) having a neck opening edge (224) and a torso opening edge, the front portion (212) comprising: an outer panel (228) and an inner panel (230) positioned internal to the outer panel (228), wherein each of the outer panel (228) and the inner panel (230) comprises a first breast covering portion (232, 242), a second breast covering portion (234, 244), and a middle region (236, 246) between the first breast covering portion (232, 242) and the second breast covering portion (234, 244); the outer panel (228) comprising a plurality of textile layers (228a, 228b, 228c) that are affixed to one another and that comprises a first textile layer (228a) and a second textile layer (228b), which is positioned between the first textile layer (228a) and the inner panel (230); the second textile layer (228b) comprising a molded concave portion oriented towards the inner panel (230), wherein the first textile layer (228a) does not include a corresponding molded concave portion; the first breast covering portion (242) and the second breast covering portion (244) of the inner panel (230) each comprise an opening (248, 252) configured to receive a portion of a breast pump; characterized in that the support garment further comprises a material extension (266) securing the middle region (236) of the outer panel (228) to the middle region (246) of the inner panel (230).
  2. The support garment (210) of claim 1, wherein the outer panel (228) further comprises a third textile layer (228c) positioned between the first textile layer (228a) and the second textile layer (228c).
  3. The support garment (210) of claim 2, wherein the third textile layer (228c) comprises a second molded concave portion corresponding with the first molded concave portion.
  4. The support garment (210) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the second textile layer (228b) comprises a spacer knit textile.
  5. The support garment (210) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the molded concave portion aligns with the opening (248) of the first breast covering portion (242) of the inner panel (230).
  6. The support garment (210) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the inner panel (230) comprises a first mesh textile (230a) having a first set of material properties and a second mesh textile (230b) having a second set of material properties, which are different from the first set of material properties.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The claimed invention is directed to a support garment, particularly a support garment having features to facilitate hands-free breast milk pumping. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Traditional support garments (e.g., bras) may include features that optimize the support garment for some uses or purposes (e.g., nursing by an infant or for normal wear). But these features may not be as conducive for breast-milk pumping, especially in view of some common structures of breast pumps (e.g., hands-free breast pumps or wearable breast pumps). For example, traditional nursing bras may not securely seat the pump or retain the pump in position, and as such, the breast pump may shift in use, which may negatively impact the pumping action of the pump. Additionally, breast pumps are often positioned by sliding the pump into a space between the wearer's breast and an inner surface of the support garment, and as such, besides problems with shifting as noted above, traditional support garments may not expand to accommodate the pump, which may be uncomfortable for the wearer. Furthermore, traditional support garments that might also be worn while using breast pumps often do not include features conducive to physical activity, such as exercising, sports, and other fitness-related activities. Although some aspects of this disclosure describe subject matter related to breast pumps, aspects herein further contemplate that these same considerations may also cause issues with respect to securely seating and/or accommodating prosthetics (e.g., such as breast prosthetics) or other objects (e.g., cushions, inserts, protective equipment, etc.) that may be retained or held in position by a support garment. GB 2 536 541 A relates to an accessory for a nursing bra, the bra having two openable cups supported from respective shoulder straps by respective shoulder clasps. Each clasp has a first upper portion connecting the respective shoulder strap to respective under arm portions, and second lower portions releasably engaged with the first upper portion and which are attached to the top of the respective cup. The accessory comprises a fabric sheet having two portions each connected to separate coupling members, each coupling member being engageable between the respective first upper portion and the second lower portion of each shoulder clasp. In use the fabric sheet conceals a portion of the user's breasts. The central portion of the fabric sheet may comprise fastening means to attach to a central portion of the bra. DE 299 16 482 U1 relates to a nursing bra with a breast center bar, which has parts of a closing device for hinged cups, behind which breast supports are arranged, which are connected to the side parts of the holder by at least one seam. The sections of the breast supports facing away from the side parts are connected to the chest center bar by at least one further seam. US 2014/273737 A1 relates to a nursing garment configured to be worn by a wearer having a breast. The nursing garment includes an interior layer, an intermediate layer, and an exterior layer. The intermediate layer comprises a moulded concave portion oriented towards the interior layer. First and second breast covering portions of the interior layer each comprise an opening configured to receive a portion of a breast pump. US 2020/297042 A1 relates 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. US 2021/219628 A1 relates to a bra having a front portion formed with multiple layers of mesh to provide a supportive, modest bra that is breathable, lightweight, and quick drying. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Examples of this disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures. FIG. 1 depicts a support garment in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of the support garment in FIG. 1 in a different state (e.g., where a first layer is folded down), in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.FIG. 3 depicts a support garment with a first object and a second object, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.FIG. 3A depicts a cross section identified in FIG. 3, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.FIG. 4 depicts an outer layer of the support garment partially omitted to show a material extension, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.FIG. 5 depicts another support garment in accordance with an example of the present disclosure.FIGS. 6 and 7 depict an inner layer of the support garment of FIG. 5 in accordance with an example of the present disclosure.FIG. 8A depicts an outer layer of the support garment of FIG. 5 in accordance with an example of the present disclosure.FIG. 8B depicts a cross-sectional view associated with the cross-section reference lines indicated in FIG. 8A, based on an example of