Nursing garment

Abstract

A nursing garment for wearing when breastfeeding an infant, the garment comprising a first garment layer having a front surface that leaves breasts uncovered when worn, a second garment layer connected to the first garment layer, the second garment layer overlying at least a portion of the first garment layer and covering breasts when worn, and at least one support member moveable between a non-breastfeeding position and a breastfeeding position.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A nursing garment, the garment comprising:
 a first garment layer having a front surface;   a second garment layer connected to the first garment layer, the second garment layer overlying at least a portion of the first garment layer; and   a support member moveable between:
 a) a first non-breastfeeding position, in which the second garment layer lies proximate to the front surface of the first garment layer, and 
 b) a second breastfeeding position, in which the support member holds the second garment layer apart from the front surface of the first garment layer, providing an internal chamber between the first and second garment layers. 
   
     
     
         2 . The nursing garment of  claim 1 , wherein the front surface of the first garment layer includes an aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The nursing garment of  claim 1 , wherein the support member is disposed within an upper end of the second garment layer. 
     
     
         4 . The nursing garment of  claim 1 , wherein the second garment layer includes a stay to support the support member in the breastfeeding position. 
     
     
         5 . The nursing garment of  claim 1 , further comprising two outer support sections and a central support section, the central support section being outwardly flanked and overlain on either side by the outer support sections. 
     
     
         6 . The nursing garment of  claim 5 , wherein each of the outer and central support sections is curved. 
     
     
         7 . The nursing garment of  claim 5 , wherein each of the outer and central support sections is flexible and resilient. 
     
     
         8 . The nursing garment of  claim 5 , further comprising drawstrings at adjacent ends of the outer support sections that overlie the central support section. 
     
     
         9 . The nursing garment of  claim 8 , wherein the drawstrings are tied together to secure the support member in the first non-breastfeeding position, and untied to allow the support member to assume the second breastfeeding position. 
     
     
         10 . The nursing garment of  claim 1 , wherein the second garment layer is connected to the first garment layer by a fastener. 
     
     
         11 . The nursing garment of  claim 10 , wherein the fastener is a central fastener to connect an upper end of the second garment layer to the first garment layer. 
     
     
         12 . The nursing garment of  claim 1 , wherein openings are provided between the first and second garment layers for access to the internal chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The nursing garment of  claim 1 , wherein the internal chamber is at least  10  centimetres in depth. 
     
     
         14 . The nursing garment of  claim 1 , wherein the internal chamber includes a canopy at its upper end. 
     
     
         15 . The nursing garment of  claim 14 , wherein the canopy comprises a translucent mesh. 
     
     
         16 . The nursing garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first garment layer comprises a pocket. 
     
     
         17 . The nursing garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first garment layer includes a cupped portion to provide support for a breast when worn by a user.