US2748771A - Lacteal fluid receptor and pad therefor - Google Patents

Description

June 5, 1956 F. P. RICHARDS LACTEAL FLUID RECEPTOR AND PAD THEREFOR Filed NOV. 5, 1951 472665 z'ckazrdfi:

United States Patent LACTEAL FLUID RECEPTOR AND PAD THEREFOR This invention relates to means for collecting and retaining lacteal flow of nursing mothers and particularly to a novel receptor including a receptacle and a replaceable absorbent pad carried by the pocket like receptacle.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a moisture proof, pocket like receptor adapted to be placed inside the cup of a brassiere and a replaceable absorbent and disposable pad adapted to be carried by the receptor which pad will absorb milk dripping from the breast of the wearer and the receptor will retain the pad and protect the garments of the wearer from stain.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lacteal fluid receptor for nursing mothers adapted to be worn inside the cup of a brassiere and to support replaceable absorbent pads therein and which is detachably mounted in the cup of a nursing brassiere to permit removal therefrom for washing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lacteal fluid receptor means of the above character which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture, which is readily attached to and detached from a brassiere, and which provides proper ventilation for the body area covered thereby.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts disclosed by way of example in the following specification of one mode of execution of the invention; reference being had to the accompanying drawings which form a part of said specification and in which drawings;

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a brassiere on a wearer; a portion of the brassiere being broken away to show the receptor of the present invention in place thereunder,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the inner or body contacting side of a receptor embodying the present invention,

Fig. 3 is a front or outer side elevation of the receptor shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken generally on the line 44 of Fig. 1; a portion of the receptor being broken away to show the relation of the parts when in use,

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the pocket forming flap component of the receptor shown in the preceding figures,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the replaceable absorbent pad used with the receptor, and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the tab element to be attached to the brassiere strap to afford a detachable means for securing the receptor in place in the cup of a brassiere.

Referring first to Fig. 1, there is shown a nursing brassiere comprising a body encircling band portion B including breast receiving cups C, C; the cups being in the form of flaps detachably secured in position by slide fasteners F, F, and a pair of shoulder straps S, S includice ing length adjusting means A, A. The brassiere forms no part of the present invention and is referred to here only for a better understanding of the invention and its relation to the brassiere.

Referring now to all of the drawings, the invention comprises a thin, flexible, moisture proof pocket or receptor 1 adapted externally to conform generally to the inner face of the cup of the brassiere and to be connected to the brassiere at a point at the upper edge of the cup; preferably to the shoulder strap associated with the brassiere cup. The receptor includes a front portion 2 of generally circular outline and a rear portion 3 of generally crescent shaped outline; both portions being cut from sheet plastic or equivalent material which is thin, moistureproof, and flexible. The curved lower edge 4 of the rear portion 3 is attached to the curved lower edge 5 of the front portion 2 by a seam 6 which as shown here is a zigzag purling stitch which both secures the edges together and also covers the raw edges with a neat ornamental finish; the stitching continuing completely around the front portion 2 to provide an ornamental finish therefor. Prior to attachment, the front portion of the upper edge 7 of the rear portion is also provided with the same type of edge stitching; thecenter portion 8 thereof being turned down and notched at the center at 9 to permit the turning to provide a re-inforced portion of the edge thereof. To provide the desired shape of receptor pocket, the lower edges of the front and back portions are preferably cut in curves of greater radius than the radius of the joining seam and since the greater fullness is desired in the front portion, that edge is cut on a greater curve than the lower edge of the rear section. By way of example, incident to the stitching together of the front and rear portions, the front portion is provided withtriangular tucks 10 at each side and a third triangular tuck 11 at the center of the joining seam to effect a cup-like shape which will conform generally to the inner contour of the brassiere cup, and the rear portion is also provided with a triangular tuck 12 of lesser extent than the combinedtucks 10, 10 and 11 and disposed opposite the tuck 11 to bring said edge to substantially the same curvature as the tucked lower edge of the front member and thereby to allow it to have a fullness along the upper edge thereof. Alternatively to forming the tucks as the parts are sewn together, the tucks may be first formed and secured in place before the joining operation or the joining operation may include a slight relative shirring or gathering of the respective lower edges at each stitch instead of the illustrated tucks; the essential being that the joining portion of the seam shall be shorter than the length of the joined edges so that the desired relative extents of fullness in the front and rear portions are achieved. Further, if the tucks are preformed in the front and rear portions, the edges can then be joined in a fusing process instead of sewing. Thev alternative modes of manufacture are discussed by way of showing that there are several satisfactory modes of forming the joining of the component parts of the receptor and that the invention is not deemed to be limited to a receptor joined by the means illustrated. The upper edge of the outer portion 2 terminates in a point 13 and at this point one end of ashort strap 14 is attached; the other end of the strap carrying on its outer face one component of a detachable fastener such as the snapfastener pin member 15. Theother fastener component 16 is attached to one end of a secondshort strap 17, the opposite end of which is stitched or otherwise secured to the inner face of the shoulder strap S by the user at a position thereon which will properly position the receptor within the brassiere cup as indicated at 18. Ventilation is provided by a series ofholes 19 in the outer portion 2 in the area thereof above thepocket 20 formed therein by the joined front and rear portions.

Associated with the receptor is a replaceableabsorbent pad 21 of crescent shape in side outline carried by thepocket 20 and preferably formed of a soft, loosely matted, cellulosic material which disintegrates sufiicicntly in water to be readily disposable.

The use of the device is obvious. A pair of receptors are placed one in each of the brassiere cups with a pad in each receptor and any leakage from the breasts of the wearer is absorbed by the pads and is retained therein and is prevented from soiling the clothing by the moistureproof material of the receptor and, as the need arises, the pads can be quickly removed and replaced by fresh pads and the receptors can be readily detached and replaced incident to Washing them. Further, the receptor can be readily installed by the purchaser and when installed it can be readily removed and replaced incident to opening and closing the brassiere cup.

\Vhile the foregoing specification discloses one form of the invention, it is not to be assumed that the invention is limited to the exact form so disclosed and the invention includes all such modifications in the parts and in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as shall come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A lacteal fluid receptor comprising a first member formed of thin, flexible, moisture proof material shaped to conform to the inner face of the cup portion of a brassiere, a second member formed of thin, flexible, moisture proof material disposed on the side of said first member opposite the cup engaging side thereof; the curved lower edge of said first member being of greater length than the lower edge of said second member and both of said edges being gathered to form edge portions of substantially identical lengths which are less than the ungathered length of said lower edge of said second member, and said edges being connected together with resultant formation of a pad receiving pocket, and means operable to effect detachable connection of said receptor with a brassiere at a point above the cup portion thereof.

2. A lacteal fluid receptor comprising a first member formed of thin, flexible, moisture proof material shaped to conform to the inner face of the cup portion of a brassiere, a second member formed of thin, flexible, moisture proof material of generally crescent shape in plan outline disposed on the side of said first member opposite the cup engaging side thereof; the curved lower edge of said first member being of greater length than the lower edge of said second member and both of said edges being gathered to form edge portions of substantially identical lengths which are less than the ungathered length of said lower edge of said second member, and said edges being connected together with resultant formation of a pad receiving pocket, means operable to effect detachable connection of said receptor with a brassiere at a point above the cup portion thereof, and a replaceable absorbent pad element in said pocket.

3. A lacteal fluid receptor comprising a first member formed of thin, flexible, moisture proof material shaped to conform to the inner face of the cup portion of a brassiere, a second member formed of thin, flexible, moisture proof material of generally crescent shape in plan outline disposed on the side of said first member opposite the cup engaging side thereof; the curved lower edge of said first member being of greater length than the lower edge of said second member and both of said edges being gathered to form edge portions of substantially identical lengths which are less than the ungathered length of said lower edge of said second member, and said edges being connected together with resultant formation of a pad receiving pocket, and means operable to effect detachable connection of said receptor with a brassiere at a point above the cup portion thereof; said connecting means comprising a first strap element having one end thereof attached to the upper edge of said first portion and having one component of a detachable connector at the other end thereof and a second strap element having a complementary component of said connector at one end thereof and having its other end disposed for attachment to the brassiere at a point above the cup portion of the brassiere.

4. A lacteal fluid receptor comprising a first member formed of thin, flexible, moisture proof material shaped to conform to the inner face of the cup portion of a brassiere, a second member formed of thin, flexible, moisture proof material disposed on the side of said first member opposite the cup engaging side thereof; the curved lower edge of said first member being of greater length than the lower edge of said second member and both of said edges being gathered to form edge portions of substantially identical length which are less than the ungathered length of said lower edge of said second member, and said edges being connected together with resultant formation of a pad receiving pocket, means operable to effect detachable connection of said receptor with a brassiere at a point above the cup portion thereof, and a replaceable absorbent pad element having a concavely curved body engaging surface disposed in said pocket; said connecting means comprising a first strap element having one end thereof attached to the upper edge of said first portion and having one component of a detachable connector at the other end thereof and a second strap element having a complementary component of said connector at one end thereof and having its other end disposed for attachment to the brassiere at a point above the cup portion of the brassiere.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,984,253 Cox Dec. 11, 1934 1,989,382 Schnaittacher Jan. 29, 1935 2,047,522 Schnaittacher July 14, 1936 2,134,294 Yerkes Oct. 25, 1938 2,544,069 Cutler Mar. 6, 1951 2,564,094 Brandi Aug, 14, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 958,747 France Sept. 19, 1949 968,418 France Apr. 19, 1950

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