Nursing garment

Abstract

The invention relates to a nursing garment (1) for absorbing fluids, which can be put on and worn on a woman's upper body, with one side of the garment (1) facing a part of the woman's skin, wherein the side is at least partially in direct or indirect contact with the woman's skin. To effectively collect and absorb fluids from a breastfeeding woman in a structurally simple manner, the nursing garment (1) may have at least one hydrophilic material section (6) in an absorption area (5) of the side, wherein the hydrophilic material section (6) of the nursing garment (1) at least partially covers the woman's breasts (7) and / or upper abdomen (8).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a nursing garment for absorbing fluid, which can be put on and worn on a woman's upper body, with a body side of the garment facing a part of the woman's skin, wherein the body side lies at least partially directly or indirectly against the part of the woman's skin.

[0002] For breastfeeding, i.e., feeding an infant from the breast of a woman or a wet nurse, the woman's breast begins producing breast milk during pregnancy. Typically, the woman begins secreting breast milk a few days after birth or after a process of induced lactation (milk secretion). Regular breastfeeding causes lactation to be triggered reflexively by stimuli.

[0003] Since lactation is triggered reflexively by stimuli and cannot be stopped in the short term, women regularly wet their clothes with breast milk.

[0004] From breastfeeding practice, designs of nursing garments are known that are designed as nursing bras, which allow the respective breast to be exposed for breastfeeding. This allows for a quick start to breastfeeding. To keep the rest of the clothing and the nursing bra as dry as possible, nursing pads are available that are inserted into the nursing bra to absorb any unwanted leakage of breast milk.

[0005] From the publication DE 10 2020 007 568 A1, nursing underwear is known which has a first textile layer, a second textile layer, and a third textile layer. The first textile layer is arranged on a side of the second textile layer that faces the skin of a person wearing the nursing underwear. The third textile layer is arranged on a side of the second textile layer that faces away from the skin of a person wearing the nursing underwear. While the first textile layer comprises silk, the second textile layer, on the one hand, has a first hydrophilicity and, on the other hand, the third textile layer, on the other hand, has a second hydrophilicity, wherein the first hydrophilicity is greater than the second hydrophilicity.

[0006] The disadvantage of the above nursing underwear and the nursing bras known from breastfeeding practice is their complex construction and the awkward handling of the nursing bras - especially since many women find them uncomfortable and irritating to the breasts.

[0007] It is an object of the invention to provide a nursing garment with which fluid from a nursing woman can be effectively collected and absorbed in a structurally simple manner.

[0008] The object is achieved according to the invention according to independent claim 1 by a nursing garment which is characterized in that in an absorption region of the body side, the nursing garment has at least one hydrophilic material section, wherein the hydrophilic material section of the nursing garment at least partially covers breasts and / or an upper abdomen of the woman.

[0009] With the hydrophilic, fluid-absorbing material section extending beyond the narrow area of ​​the woman's breasts and nipples, the nursing garment according to the invention can be worn more loosely. Preferably, the material section spans an absorption area from approximately above the woman's breasts to the upper abdomen above the woman's navel. Alternatively, the material section can extend only to just below the breasts.

[0010] The nursing bra must necessarily be worn tightly around the breasts of a woman who has often just given birth. This can, however, trigger pain, which in turn can lead to an inadvertent release of breast milk. The body of a breastfeeding woman changes throughout the entire breastfeeding period, so breast volume can also vary over the breastfeeding period, making the nursing bra unsuitable for at least a certain period of breastfeeding.

[0011] The nursing garment according to the invention is preferably made of cotton, wool, or another elastic textile fabric and is thus more stretchable and elastic than a nursing bra. The nursing garment can thus adapt to changes in the shape of the woman's body during breastfeeding and reduces pain stimuli for the woman, so that less breast milk is secreted reflexively and fewer regular garments become inadvertently wet and soiled. Nursing garments made of cotton or another elastic textile fabric can also be worn by women with different body shapes, as these textiles adapt to the individual woman's body with less pain stimuli than nursing bras.

[0012] Optionally, the breastfeeding woman can completely forgo a nursing bra or regular bra while breastfeeding. Furthermore, by integrating the hydrophilic material section into, for example, a T-shirt, many different body shapes and sizes can be easily accommodated and accommodated as standard.

[0013] With the absorption area of ​​the fluid-absorbing material extending across the upper body, from above the breasts to above the navel, a larger area of ​​the woman's upper body is effectively and safely covered against leaking breast milk. Alternatively, the absorption area extends to just below the breast; optionally, it extends to just above the woman's navel.

[0014] Optionally, the nursing garment according to the invention is structurally simpler and more cost-effective to produce, since only one material section of the nursing garment needs to be hydrophilic and no complex cut shapes of the nursing garment need to be provided for the effect according to the invention.

[0015] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the nursing garment, it can be provided that the hydrophilic material section of the nursing garment at least partially covers the woman's armpit areas. Advantageously, it can optionally be provided that the hydrophilic material section of the nursing garment at least partially covers a back area of ​​the woman. Due to hormonal fluctuations in the woman who has given birth and is breastfeeding, increased sweating can occur in other areas of the upper body, for example under the armpits or in the back area. With the additional coverage of other areas of the upper body, more secreted fluid can be effectively and easily absorbed by the hydrophilic material section(s).

[0016] Optionally, it can advantageously be provided that the hydrophilic material section encompasses a full circumferential area of ​​the upper body in the direction of the woman's chest circumference, with the absorption area comprising both the back area and a chest area of ​​the woman's breasts. With the full circumferential area of ​​the upper body, the hydrophilic material section can more effectively absorb fluid and distribute it within the material section, with the sides of the upper body also being covered by the absorption area and the material section.

[0017] Preferably, according to an optional aspect of the invention, the hydrophilic material portion and the nursing garment can be formed as a single piece. With this single piece, the hydrophilic material portion can be manufactured directly with the nursing garment; it can be directly integrated into the nursing garment.

[0018] To ensure greater flexibility in fluid absorption, a particularly advantageous embodiment of the nursing garment according to the invention can provide for the hydrophilic material section to be detachable from the body side of the nursing garment, wherein the material section can be secured to the body side of the garment by means of a connecting means. The material section can be replaced with a new material section when the former has absorbed its maximum amount of fluid or is damaged. The connecting means can preferably be a hook-and-loop fastener, a reversible adhesive, or another type of fastener.

[0019] In addition, interchangeable hydrophilic material sections allow the amount of fluid absorbed to be adjusted. The need for a fluid-absorbent nursing garment changes throughout the breastfeeding period, so interchangeable material sections, each capable of absorbing different amounts of fluid, can be adapted to the amount of fluid secreted per breastfeeding period.

[0020] According to an optional embodiment of the invention, the garment can preferably comprise at least two independently detachable hydrophilic material sections. Different areas of the upper body can comprise different material sections that can absorb different amounts of liquid and can therefore differ in their dimensions and thicknesses.

[0021] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the nursing garment according to the invention, the material section in the absorption area can comprise a hydrophilic polymer material. Hydrophilic material sections made of a polymer-absorbent material can advantageously absorb large amounts of liquid relative to their volume – they are referred to as so-called superabsorbents. The material section of the nursing garment can be small in size and yet absorb liquid sufficiently well and be extremely practical. Sodium polyacrylate is particularly suitable as a hydrophilic polymer material, which can absorb liquid up to several hundred times its own weight and advantageously does not release heat or toxic substances during the entire liquid absorption process.

[0022] According to an optional aspect of the invention, the hydrophilic polymer material can preferably be formed as polymer fibers that are incorporated into the material section in the absorption area. The hydrophilic polymer fibers can be woven directly into the nursing garment and / or the material section in the absorption area, whereby it is also conceivable to provide different polymer fiber types or hydrophilic polymer materials.

[0023] Optionally, it can preferably be provided that the material section consists of at least 50%, particularly preferably at least 75%, of the hydrophilic polymer material.

[0024] In order to quickly initiate the breastfeeding process, according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the nursing garment can be provided with at least one closure element designed to open and / or close the nursing garment at least in the absorption area. The closure element can be, for example, a zipper or buttons, with which the nursing garment can be opened and closed again at least in the absorption area.

[0025] The nursing garment according to the invention is shown below using schematic illustrations. Fig. 1 a nursing garment according to the invention with a hydrophilic material section, Fig. 2 a section of the nursing garment according to Fig. 1 in a sectional view, Fig. 3 a nursing garment according to the invention with a closure means and two material sections and Fig. 4 a nursing garment according to the invention with an alternative closure means and two material sections in an alternative embodiment.

[0026] The Fig. 1 shows the nursing garment 1 in the form of a short-sleeved T-shirt for a woman's upper body 2. In a central region of the nursing garment 1, on a body side 3 of the nursing garment 1 facing a skin area 4 of the upper body 2, a hydrophilic material section 6 is secured to the body side 3. The fluid-absorbing material section 6 comprises an absorption region 5 in which secreted fluid from the woman, in particular secreted breast milk, is absorbed. The material section 6 is configured such that the absorption region 5 covers both the woman's breasts 7 and an upper abdomen 8 above a navel 13 of the woman. Fluid secreted in this absorption region 5 is absorbed by the material section 6, leaving the remaining areas of the nursing garment 1 dry.

[0027] The Fig. 2 shows a section of the nursing garment 1 according to Fig. 1 in a sectional view, wherein a material section 6 is applied to the skin areas 4 of the upper body 2, both in a back region 10 and in a chest region comprising the breasts 7 and the upper abdomen 8 of the woman. The hydrophilic material sections 6 are secured to the body side 3 of the nursing garment 1 by means of a connecting means 11, wherein the connecting means 11 is designed as a hook-and-loop connection; the connecting means 11 is thus arranged between the respective material section 6 and the body side 3 of the nursing garment 1. The hydrophilic material sections 6 can be detached from the body side 3 by means of the connecting means 11, can be replaced, and reattached to the body side 3.

[0028] The Fig. Figure 3 shows a sleeveless nursing garment 1 comprising two hydrophilic material sections 6, each covering a breast 7 and part of an upper abdomen 8. The material sections 6 are removably attached to a body side 3 of the nursing garment 1, which faces a skin area 4 of an upper body 2, by means of a connecting means 11. Both hydrophilic material sections 6 together form a common absorption area 5, in which secreted breast milk is absorbed by the material sections 6.

[0029] Between the material sections 6, a closure means 12 in the form of a zipper runs from above a belly button 13 to the round neckline of the T-shirt, with which at least one of the breasts 7 can be exposed for breastfeeding if necessary when the zipper is opened.

[0030] The Fig.4 shows a nursing garment 1 in the form of a T-shirt with a V-shaped neckline. From the neckline to above a navel, 13 buttons are attached to the nursing garment as closure means 12, with which at least one breast 7 can be exposed for breastfeeding if necessary. The buttons run both vertically from the neckline to the navel 13 and horizontally along a circumferential line 14 of an upper abdomen 8, so that the respective breast 7 can be exposed more quickly, more extensively, and more easily if necessary.

[0031] The nursing garment 1 has two separate hydrophilic material sections 6, each covering one of the breasts 7 and an area of ​​an upper abdomen 8. Additionally, the hydrophilic material sections 6 are each extended into an axillary region 9, so that a continuous absorption area 5 encompasses the upper abdomen 8, the breasts 7, and the axillary regions 9, in which the hydrophilic material sections 6 can effectively absorb secreted fluid. List of reference symbols 1 nursing garment 2 Upper body 3 body side 4 Skin area 5 Absorption range 6 Material section 7 breasts 8 Upper abdomen 9 Armpit area 10 Back area 11 connecting devices 12 closure devices 13 Belly button 14 Upper abdominal circumference line QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2020 007 568 A1

[0005]

Claims

[1] Nursing garment (1) for absorbing fluid, which can be put on and worn on a woman's upper body (2), with a body side (3) of the garment (1) facing a skin part (4) of the woman, wherein the body side (3) lies at least partially directly or indirectly against the skin part (4) of the woman, characterized by in that in an absorption area (5) of the body side (3) the nursing garment (1) has at least one hydrophilic material section (6), wherein the hydrophilic material section (6) of the nursing garment (1) at least partially covers breasts (7) and / or an upper abdomen (8) of the woman. [2] Nursing garment (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the hydrophilic material section (6) of the nursing garment (1) at least partially covers the woman's armpit areas (9). [3] Nursing garment (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the hydrophilic material section (6) of the nursing garment (1) at least partially covers a back area (10) of the woman. [4] Nursing garment (1) according to claim 3, characterized by in that the hydrophilic material section (6) comprises a full circumferential area of ​​the upper body (2) in the direction of a breast circumference of the woman, wherein the absorption area (5) comprises both the back area (10) and a chest area of ​​the breasts (7) of the woman. [5] Nursing garment (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the hydrophilic material section (6) and the nursing garment (1) are formed as a one-piece part. [6] Nursing garment (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized bythat the hydrophilic material section (6) is detachable from the body side (3) of the nursing garment (1), wherein the material section (6) is fixable to the body side (3) of the garment (1) by means of a connecting means (11). [7] Nursing garment (1) according to claim 6, characterized by that the garment (1) has at least two independently detachable hydrophilic material sections (6). [8] Nursing garment (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the material section (6) in the absorption region (5) comprises a hydrophilic polymer material. [9] Nursing garment (1) according to claim 8, characterized by that the hydrophilic polymer material is formed as polymer fibers which are introduced into the material section (6) in the absorption region (5). [10] Nursing garment (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the nursing garment (1) has at least one closure means (12) which is designed to open and / or close the nursing garment (1) at least in the absorption area (5).

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