5,034,999
`[11] Patent Number:
`[19]
`United States Patent
`
`V Lubbers
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Jul. 30, 1991
`
`2/73
`6/1969 Grate
`3,449,763
`....... 2/104
`8/1978 Dodd
`4,106,122
`.2/49RX
`3/1981 Helm
`4,255,817
`2/104
`7/1984 Wood
`4,458,365
`.2/D1G.7
`4,622,6991l/1986 s '
`2/104
`4,651,349
`3/1987
`.2/49R
`4,660,225 4/1987 Kahn
`.. 2/104
`4,712,251 12/1987 Cobble .............
`.2/88
`4,771,480 9/1988 Stimpson etal.
`2/104
`4,797,953
`1/1989 Dameron ....... ..
`4,873,725 10/1989 Mitchell .................................... 2/48
`
`
`
`.
`
`Primary Examiner—Werner H. Schroeder
`Assistant Exam1'ner-Jeanette E. Chapman
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—R1'chard C. Litman
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACI
`
`A nursing bib completely covers the torso of a mother
`and helrhinfentt; The bit; attaohe; by rneafn; of a geek
`band.
`ebib ason its ‘ront,1nt e areao t e mot er s
`breasts, two portals which can he opened from under-
`neath the bib. The portals can also be opened from
`outside the drape with the free. These portals allow the
`mother to see the child while he is nursing without
`.
`.
`.
`.
`exposing herself or the infant to the outside.
`
`6 Claims, 1 Drawing Sheet
`
`DMC Exhibit 2031_001
`
`Target v. DMC
`|PR2013-00530, 531, 532, 533
`
`[54] NURSING 1313
`
`[76]
`
`Inventor: Karen A-Lubbers.P.O.Box 652,
`Ulysses, Kans. 67880
`
`[211 APPL N0-1 4571019
`[22] Filed:
`Jan.l8,1990
`
`Int. Cl.5 .......................... A41D 1/20; A41D I/22
`[51]
`[52] U.S.C1. ......................................... 2/104; 2/49 R;
`'
`2/33
`[58] Field of Search ..................... .. 2/46, 49 R, 50, 51,
`2/52’ 88’ 104’ 248’ 249
`References«Cited
`
`[56]
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`D. 220,152
`3/1971 Bush ..................................... 2/50 X
`2/88
`353,954 12/1886 McCarthy
`2/88
`913,694 3/[909 Carpenter
`997,304 7/1911 Ledem.
`2/33
`1,003,439 9/1911 Mom; , ,_ _ ,
`_ __ , _ __ 2/so
`1,098,l55 S/I914 Knapp.
`2/104
`-
`1,309,537 7/ 1919 Miller
`2/33
`2v417»333
`3/1947 S°h“5‘e’-
`-2/‘04
`2,558,382
`6/1951 Prevedi
`2/250
`2,567,524 9/1951 Morgan‘,
`__ 2/49 R
`2,593,218 4/1952 Swain ......
`2/250
`2,738,511
`3/1956 Brady .................................. .. 2/49 R
`
`
`
`

`
`V U.S. Patent_
`
`I
`
`July 30, 1991
`
`5,034,999
`
`DMC Exhibit 2031_002
`
`Target v. DMC
`|PR2013-00530, 531, 532, 533
`
`

`
`1
`
`NURSING BIB
`
`5,034,999
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates to devices to aid in the
`nursing of infants. More particularly,
`it provides a
`means of sheltering an infant during nursing and main-
`taining privacy. The bib has means by which the mother
`can check on the status of the child during nursing.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`The following patents are felt to be related to the
`present invention, but in no way disclose, whether taken
`singly or in combination, the applicant's present inven-
`tion.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,364 and French Patent No.
`1,374,522 issued respectively to Fenninger et al. and
`Rouyer disclose protective drapes with VELCRO fas-
`tening bands. These drapes are for use by barbers to
`prevent hair from falling onto their customers, and in no
`way relate to nursing.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,251 issued to Cobble discloses a
`nursing blanket that only partially covers the mother
`and infant. The device comes in two sections that must
`be assembled in order to use the device. This would
`tend to prevent usage of such a device due to a need to
`assemble it.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,782 issued to Knox et al. discloses
`a blouse having closable openings through which an
`infant can nurse. This apparatus provides no privacy for
`the mother when nursing her child.
`U.S. Pat. Nos.
`4,660,227, 4,601,068, 4,566,136,
`4,528,699, 4,280,228 and 2,911,650 issued to Abramson,
`Frechette, Echols, Hughes, Sulzmann and Gerich re-
`spectively disclose garments having overlying layers of
`fabric that can be pulled aside to expose the mother’s
`breast. These garments also provide no privacy to the
`mother and infant.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,754 issued to Ryan discloses a
`cover for the mother’s torso, but does not have the
`middle openings presented by the applicant.
`What is not disclosed by the prior art is a complete
`covering for mother and baby that completely shields
`the mother’s breast and the infant from the elements and
`provides total privacy. This serves to retain the moth-
`er’s body heat close to the infant and provides comfort
`to both the mother and infant by not exposing them
`during periods when the outside is cool.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention comprises a large drape or bib
`that is worn by the mother during nursing periods. The
`bib hangs in front of the mother with the child held
`behind it at her breast. This completely shields both the
`mother andyher nursing infant from other persons in the
`vicinity as well as from the elements. The bib is attached
`around the neck of the mother by means of an easily
`closable neck band.
`Provided on the main front portion of the bib are two
`scalable openings. one in front of and/or above each
`breast area, that can be opened by the mother to check
`visibly on the progress of her infant. These openings can
`be opened from under the bib, where the mother's
`hands would be holding the child. These openings are
`constructed from a flap that is sewn over a reinforced
`opening. The openings are reinforced so that they do
`not crease and collapse.
`
`2
`Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention
`to provide a nursing bib that provides complete privacy
`for the mother and child.
`It is a further object of the present invention to pro-
`vide a nursing bib that shrouds and protects the upper
`torso of the mother and infant from the elements.
`It is another object of the present invention to pro-
`vide a nursing bib with frontal openings that allow the
`mother to check up on the nursing infant.
`It is yet another object of the present invention to
`provide a nursing bib that quickly and easily attaches
`around the mother.
`It is an object of the present invention to provide a
`nursing bib that is constructed of one piece and is easy
`to use.
`
`These and other objects of the present invention will
`become readily apparent upon further review of the
`following specification and drawings.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a front view of the nursing bib worn by the
`mother.
`FIG. 2 is a front view of the nursing bib with the
`attachment means opened.
`Similar reference characters denote corresponding
`features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
`A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`10
`
`[5
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`The present invention 10 is illustrated in use by FIG.
`.1, with the mother 1 and infant 2 shown in outline. The
`nursing drape or bib 10 comprises a broad piece or panel
`of fabric 11 that drapes across the front of the mother's
`body, including a bottom edge 1112, top edge 11c and
`having lateral edges 11a, 11a defining a width sufficient
`to insure that, when worn as in FIG. 1, the bib 10 will
`completely cover at least the front and sides of the
`upper torso. With this arrangement, the infant 2 will be
`completely covered while nursing. This protective cov-
`ering 11 serves to shelter the child and the exposed
`mother from cool drafts of air while indoors or outside
`while insuring adequate privacy. The large cover of
`material 11 serves to retain warm air near the mother’s
`body which will keep the child warm as well as the
`mother.
`The drape 11 is attached around the mother’s neck 3
`by a band 12 that runs across the top portion of the
`drape 11. This band 12 has a central portion 13 that is
`attached to the narrowed top portion 14 of the drape
`and two free outer ends 15, 16 that extend out beyond
`the sides Ila, 11a. Each end 15, 16 of the band 12 has
`affixed to the its surface an attachment device 17. In this
`case, as shown in FIG. 2, that device 17 happens to be
`the respective interlocking surfaces of a hook and loop
`fastener commonly known as VELCRO. The attach-
`ment means 17 could also be conventional interlocking
`metal or plastic snaps. The band 12 is fastened around
`the mother's neck as shown in FIG. 1 and the drape 11
`hangs in front.
`to
`While nursing the infant, the mother will want
`‘check on his or her progress. This is achieved by open-
`ing one of the portals 18 above each breast area 18a.
`This allows the mother to check on the infant without
`having to lift the drape 11. Each portal 18 is constructed
`by making an opening 19 in the drape 11 over each
`breast area 18a where the child would be nursing, pref-
`erably near the infant's head while he is nursing. The
`openings 19 are slanted downwardly toward the center
`
`DMC Exhibit 2031_003
`
`Target v. DMC
`|PR2013-00530, 531, 532, 533
`
`

`
`3
`of the drape 11. This affords the mother a better view of
`the infant when she opens either one of the portals 18.
`Each opening 19 is surrounded by a border of reinforc-
`ing material such as vinyl sheet or leather 20 to prevent
`the openings 19 from creasing and folding, thus making 5
`them easier to open. Over each opening 19 is a flap 21 of
`fabric that serves to seal them over when they are not
`‘being used to view the infant. Each flap 21 includes side
`edges 23, 23, a top edge 22 and a bottom edge 22a. The
`edges of this flap 21 are folded over to prevent fraying 10
`of the edges. The flap 21 is sewn to the bottom and sides
`of the opening 19, leaving the top free edge 22 of the
`flap 21 free to be opened by the mother. Another option
`for the flap 21 and opening 19 structure is to have the
`flap 21 made from an elastic material or to have elastic l5
`material 23a connect two of the opposing sides 23 to the
`drape 11 as shown in the left—hand portal 18 of FIG. 2.
`In order to open the portal 18, the mother reaches up
`from beneath the drape 11 to grasp either the bottom of
`the drape 11 or the top edge 22 of the flap 21 to pull in 20
`the drape or push out the flap 21 in order to expose the
`opening 19 and the child underneath to the mother’s
`line of sight. The mother can also use her free hand to
`pull the flap 21 open from the outside of the drape 11. In
`either instance, the body of the flap 21 will be under- 25
`stood to continue toscreen another party s normal view
`of the mother and infant through the opening 19 and
`allows visual access solely from an almost vertical an-
`gle’ Such as the mother’s eyes‘ This is assured Sine? lhe 30
`flap 21 is secured along three edges, thereby permitting
`only its top edge 22 to be slightly displaced outwardly
`and not folded downwardly‘
`The whole fmmal drape 11 can be made from any
`lightweight material such as cotton or synthetics such 35
`as polyester. Natural woven, porous, materials such as
`cotton are preferable because of their ability to breathe.
`A Synlhellc nlalerlal 5uCh a5 NYLON W0uldn'l Peflnll
`the Small amount Of all'll0W through the drape 11 neces‘
`sary to keep the child from stilling. This would tend to 40
`become, in some instances, too hot and stuffy for both
`the mother and child, as well as unhealthy for the infant
`if he becomes too hot and sweaty. The band 12 should
`be made from a natural material such as cotton so as not
`to irritate the neck.
`It is to be understood that the present invention is not
`limited to the sole embodiment described above, but
`encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope
`of the following claims.
`I claim:
`1. A nursing bib for covering a mother and infant
`while nursingcomprising;
`
`4
`a drape (10) having body attachment means and de-
`fining a unitary coextensive panel (11) having an
`extent shrouding at least the front of the mother’s
`upper torso, said drape panel (11) including sub-
`Stanllally h01‘lZ0nlal Slngle "313 (110) and b0ll°l_n
`edgus (1117) l30unded by 3 Pall‘ Of 5ul3SlanllallY Vern‘
`Cal lateral edges (114: 110):
`_
`Sald h0ClY allachlnant means lnuludlng a neck hand
`(12)_affixed 19 said drape panel top edge (llc) and
`ha‘/l_n8 °PP051t€ ends (15. 15) Pl'0Vl‘led Wllh COOP-
`Ffallng alta°hm€nt_mean§ (17) 'Eh€1‘€0n:
`'
`Sald dfapa Panel (11) Including 3 Poflal assembly (13)
`J“xt3P°5ed the area of the mmherls breast as 1°‘
`_°a‘°d lherebmealll’
`,
`_
`_
`sald P°ml a55°mb13'(15)‘“°l“d'“g an aP°m"° (19) 1"
`said drape panel (11) defining a substantially rect-
`angular configuration,
`a flap (21) spanning and normally enclosing said'aper-
`ture (19) and having a plurality of edges (22, 22a,
`23, 23) including opposite side edges (23, 23), a
`bottom edge (220) and an uppermost top edge (22),
`means attaching said flap side and bottom edges (23,
`23, 22a) to said drape panel (11) to normally main-
`tain said flap (21) in a position closing off said aper-
`S:;:St(S1:31dtI(:urCS§:g1)i]:fE:r1l)t' shroud Said mother 5
`Said flap top edge (22) disposed substantially normal
`to and intermediate the mothem line of Sight be_
`tween the moths“ eyes and breasts whereby
`said mother may view said nursing infant without
`exposure to the eyes of other persons in from’ by
`displacemem of Said flap top edge (22) outwardly
`of said aperture (19) as this displacement allows of
`downwardly directed visual access to the nursing
`infant Substantially solely along a generally vertical
`line of sight between Said mother-S eyes and he,
`breasts.
`2. The nursing bib according to claim 1 including:
`two of said portals, one disposed adjacent each breast
`of said moths,-_
`3_ The nursing bib according to oiaim 1, wherein,
`said drape is made of a natui-a1_ woven, porous fiber
`materiai that auows for breathabiiim
`4_ The nursing bib according go claim 1 including;
`a reinforcing layer of material surrounding said aper-
`mi-e,
`5. The nursing bib according to claim 1 wherein;
`said attaching means includes elastic means.
`6. The nursing bib according to claim 2 wherein;
`said apertures are inclined downwardly toward the
`center of said drape panel.
`‘
`*
`*
`*
`
`*
`
`5,034,999
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`DMC Exhibit 2031_004
`
`Target v. DMC
`|PR2013-00530, 531, 532, 533