System, method and apparatus for maternity garment

Abstract

Maternity garments for pumping and nursing provide a wardrobe-adapting design having concealed openings. The concealed openings of the garment are located adjacent the breasts of the user. Each opening includes a zipper that can be configured in a horizontal, vertical or diagonal orientation. Each zipper includes two closed ends and dual-sliders for selectively opening, relocating or closing the size of the opening. Each opening allows the user to access a breast without moving or Shilling the garment itself The wearer can adjust the locations of the dual-sliders, as well as the opening size between them, to simultaneously provide comfortable access and minimal exposure of the breast while nursing or pumping. In addition, the dual-sliders permit utilitarian support of a breast pump for hands-free operation by the user by selectively positioning and closing the opening snugly around the born of the breast pump in a comfortable position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A maternity garment, comprising:
 a garment body having a garment torso with a neck opening, arm openings and a front, the front comprising a pair of closure systems configured to be located adjacent to breasts of a wearer of the maternity garment; each closure system comprising:   a zipper comprising a zipper backing secured to the garment body, a zipper seam comprising zipper teeth that are closed on each end of the zipper seam to define two closed ends for limiting the range of motion of two sliders secured to the zipper teeth, each slider has a zipper pull, the two sliders are configured for independent manual positioning along the zipper seam, wherein the two sliders are configured to comprise a closed position wherein the sliders substantially abut each other and provide substantially no opening therebetween, and variable open positions wherein the sliders are configured to be spaced apart from each other at selected distances to provide respective openings therebetween for nursing and or pumping by the wearer.   
     
     
         2 . The maternity garment of  claim 1 , wherein each of the closure systems is configured to be reversibly concealed from external view on the maternity garment when not in use by the wearer during nursing or pumping. 
     
     
         3 . The maternity garment of  claim 1 , wherein each closure system is configured to support and hold a breast pump in place for hands-free operation of the breast pump by the wearer. 
     
     
         4 . The maternity garment of  claim 1 , wherein each closure system is configured to extend in a generally vertical direction when the maternity garment is worn by the wearer, such that the sliders can be positioned near an upper end of the closure system to provide an upper opening for the wearer to nurse or pump near the upper end, the sliders can be positioned near a center of the closure system to provide a center opening for the wearer to nurse or pump near the center and the sliders can be positioned near a lower end of the closure system to provide a lower opening for the wearer to nurse or pump near the lower end. 
     
     
         5 . The maternity garment of  claim 1 , wherein each closure system is configured to extend in a vertical direction when the maternity garment is worn by the wearer. 
     
     
         6 . The maternity garment of  claim 1 , wherein each closure system is configured to extend in a diagonal direction when the maternity garment is worn by the wearer. 
     
     
         7 . The maternity garment of  claim 1 , wherein each closure system is configured to extend in a horizontal direction when the maternity garment is worn by the wearer. 
     
     
         8 . The maternity garment of  claim 1 , wherein the maternity garment is configured to accommodate breast ptosis for the wearer. 
     
     
         9 . A method of accommodating for breast ptosis, the method comprising:
 providing a maternity garment comprising a pair of closure systems configured to be located adjacent to and reversibly expose at least portions of breasts of a wearer of the maternity garment;   adjusting the closure systems to accommodate a first grade of breast ptosis of the wearer, such that that the closure systems are set at a first setting for the first grade of breast ptosis;   breastfeeding or breast pumping in the maternity garment through the closure systems at the first setting for the first grade of breast ptosis;   adjusting the closure systems to a subsequent, second grade of breast ptosis of the wearer, such that that the closure systems are set at a second setting for the second grade of breast ptosis that differs from the first setting; and then   breastfeeding or breast pumping in the maternity garment through the closure systems at the second setting for the second grade of breast ptosis.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein adjusting the closure systems comprises moving two zipper sliders for each closure system along a respective zipper seam to a different vertical elevation to accommodate different grades of breast ptosis.