Breastfeeding bra

Abstract

This invention relates to a bra strap for positioning a garment while breastfeeding and particularly relates to a bra having a pair of straps having a looped end with releasable fastening means for securing the cup in the first position and securing a garment in a breastfeeding second position. The invention also relates to a method of positioning a garment while breastfeeding.

1 . A strap for positioning a garment while breastfeeding comprising:
 a. first means for securing the strap to the bra;   b. second means for releasably securing the strap to itself whereby the strap extends about a portion of the garment and secures to itself in a breastfeeding position.   
     
     
         2 . A strap as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the strap is separate from the bra and has one end presenting said first means for securing the strap to the bra. 
     
     
         3 . A strap as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said first means comprises a hook to attach to the bra. 
     
     
         4 . A strap as claimed in  claim 3  wherein a second end of the strap presents said second releasable securing means for securing the strap to itself. 
     
     
         5 . A strap as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said second releasable securing means comprises a snap. 
     
     
         6 . A strap as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said strap comprises a bra strap and said first means for securing the bra strap to the bra is fixed to the bra and said second securing means releasably secures the strap to itself and a bra cup in a breastfeeding position. 
     
     
         7 . A bra strap as claimed in  claim 6  whereby the means for releasably securing comprises snaps. 
     
     
         8 . A bra strap as claimed in  claim 7  whereby the snaps comprise a first snap disposed intermediate the bra strap. 
     
     
         9 . A bra strap as claimed in  claim 8  whereby the snaps comprise a second snap disposed at a terminal end of the bra strap and releasably securable to the first snap. 
     
     
         10 . A bra strap as claimed in  claim 6  whereby said means comprise loop pile means and hook means. 
     
     
         11 . A bra strap as claimed in  claim 7  whereby the bra strap is looped. 
     
     
         12 . A method of positioning a garment while breastfeeding comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a bra strap associated with a bra cup having a intermediate position and terminal end whereby the terminal end is releasably secured to the intermediate portion.   b. raising a garment of the mother to a raised position.   c. maintaining the garment in a raised position by releasing the terminal end of the bra strap from the intermediate portion and extending the terminal end of the bra strap about the garment and securing the terminal end to the intermediate position.   
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 12  whereby the intermediate portion and terminal end include releasable securing means for securing the terminal end to the intermediate portion in a bra wearing position and releasing the terminal end from the intermediate portion to capture the garment in a second breast feeding position. 
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 13  whereby the releasable securing means comprises snaps. 
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 14  including the step of moving the cup to permit breast feeding. 
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 15  whereby the snaps include a first snap disposed in the intermediate portion and a second snap disposed at the terminal end. 
     
     
         17 . A method as claimed in  claim 16  whereby the second snap is unsnapped from the first snap to extend the bra strap under the garment and the second snap resecured to the first snap in the breastfeeding position. 
     
     
         18 . A bra having:
 a. a pair of cups and   b. a pair of straps securing the cup   c. each strap having a looped end whereby a terminal end of the strap extends from the cup to an intermediate portion along strap   d. releasable fastening means disposed at the terminal end and intermediate portion for:
 i. securing the cup in the first position 
 ii. releasing the terminal end from the intermediate portion to capture a garment in a second raised breastfeeding position and resecure the terminal end to the intermediate portion. 
   
     
     
         19 . A bra as claimed in  claim 18  whereby the fastening means comprises straps. 
     
     
         20 . A bra strap as claimed in  claim 19  for securing a mother's garment in a raised position while breastfeeding.