Supportive nursing garment

Abstract

A nursing garment comprising a breast support, a breast covering layer disposed between breasts of a user and the breast support, and a pair of shoulder straps, with each strap connected to the breast covering layer. The breast covering layer has a nursing flap positioned over each breast, with each nursing flap able to be lifted individually to provide access to a breast for nursing an infant. The breast support is releasably detachable from the breast covering layer to enable lifting of the nursing flap and the nursing flap continues to cover the breast from view while nursing the infant.

1 . A nursing garment comprising:
 a breast support;   a breast covering layer disposed between breasts of a user and the breast support;   a pair of shoulder straps, each strap connected to the breast covering layer;   the breast covering layer having a nursing flap positioned over each breast, each nursing flap able to be lifted individually to provide access to a breast for nursing an infant;   wherein the breast support is releasably detachable from the breast covering layer to enable lifting of the nursing flap and the nursing flap thereof covers the breast from view while nursing the infant.   
   
   
       2 . A nursing garment according to  claim 1  further comprising a back panel having side edges connected to respective side edges of the breast support and respective side edges of the breast covering layer. 
   
   
       3 . A nursing garment according to  claim 2  wherein each shoulder strap is connected at one end to an upper edge of the breast covering layer and at another end to an upper edge of the back panel. 
   
   
       4 . A nursing garment according to  claim 3  further comprising a band extending around the torso of the user, the band being connected to a lower edge of the back panel, a lower edge of the breast support and a lower portion of the breast covering layer. 
   
   
       5 . A nursing garment according to  claim 4  wherein each of the shoulder straps are connected to the upper edge of the breast covering layer by one or more hooks. 
   
   
       6 . A nursing garment according to  claim 5  wherein the breast support has an eyelet to enable releasable attachment to the one or more hooks thereby allowing the breast support to fold downwardly and provide access to the nursing flap. 
   
   
       7 . A nursing garment according to  claim 6  wherein the breast support is formed as a pair of cups and a base panel, each cup attached to the base panel. 
   
   
       8 . A nursing garment according to  claim 7  wherein the eyelet of the breast support is located at an upper portion of each cup to enable either cup to fold downwardly and provide access to the nursing flap. 
   
   
       9 . A nursing garment according to  claim 8  made of a stretchable material to avoid the use of fasteners in the back panel such that the garment is placed around the torso after being looped over the head of the user. 
   
   
       10 . A nursing garment according to  claim 1  that forms part of another garment, such as a singlet, shirt or dress.