Nursing cover

Abstract

The invention provides a nursing cover adapted to cover at least the torso of a user breastfeeding an infant. The cover includes at least one retaining means for lifting and temporarily, but continually, holding a front portion of an article of clothing covering the user's torso above and away from the user's breast so that the user need not have to continually manually hold said front portion during nursing. The cover can also include neckline shaping means adapted to keep the front neckline of the cover lifted away from the user's neck during use, whereby the user can view the infant's face during nursing and free her hands to conduct other activities, while the cover keeps at least her breast and the infant's face hidden from view by others.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A nursing cover comprising a cover and at least one retaining means permanently and/or removably secured to said cover, wherein said retaining means is adapted to temporarily but continually retain a front portion of an article of clothing of a nursing user in a raised/lifted position, thereby revealing the user's breast to a nursing infant, while said cover simultaneously keeps the user's breast and the nursing infant's face hidden from view from others. 
     
     
         2 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein said retaining means is adapted to access at least a portion of the volume of space covered by the cover and in front of the user's breast. 
     
     
         3 . The cover of  claim 2 , wherein said retaining means comprises is adapted to form a closable loop, whereby at least one end of said retaining means is permanently or temporarily secured to said cover, and another end of said retaining means is permanently or temporarily secured to said cover or to said retaining means itself. 
     
     
         4 . The cover of  claim 3 , wherein said retaining means comprise fabric, hook-and-loop fastener(s), clasp(s), button(s) and buttonhole(s), snap(s), snap-button(s), magnet(s), or combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The cover of  claim 1  comprising two or more retaining means. 
     
     
         6 . The cover of  claim 5 , wherein said two or more retaining means are located at about the same location of the cover or at different locations of the cover. 
     
     
         7 . The cover of  claim 6 , wherein ends of said retaining means are attachable to different locations of the neckline of the cover or are attachable to about the same location of the neckline of the cover. 
     
     
         8 . The cover of  claim 5 , wherein said two or more retaining means are different in materials and/or construction or are the same in materials and/or construction. 
     
     
         9 . The cover of  claim 5 , wherein said two or more retaining means are interchangeable. 
     
     
         10 . The cover of  claim 5  further comprising at least one pocket. 
     
     
         11 . The cover of  claim 5  further comprising neckline shaping means adapted to keep the front neckline of the cover lifted away from the mother's neck and chest during use. 
     
     
         12 . The cover of  claim 11 , wherein said neckline shaping means comprises a rigid, flexible, semi-rigid, pliable, or resilient material attached to or integral with said neckline of the cover. 
     
     
         13 . The cover of  claim 5 , wherein said cover is adapted for use as a stroller cover and/or infant car seat cover. 
     
     
         14 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein ends of said retaining means are attachable to different locations of the neckline of the cover or attachable to about the same location of the neckline of the cover. 
     
     
         15 . The cover of  claim 1  further comprising at least one pocket. 
     
     
         16 . The cover of  claim 1  further comprising neckline shaping means adapted to keep the front neckline of the cover lifted away from the mother's neck and chest during use. 
     
     
         17 . The cover of  claim 16 , wherein said neckline shaping means comprises a rigid, flexible, semi-rigid, pliable, or resilient material attached to or integral with said neckline of the cover. 
     
     
         18 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein said cover is adapted for use as a stroller cover and/or infant car seat canopy. 
     
     
         19 . A nursing cover comprising a cover with at least a front neckline; at least one retaining means permanently and/or removably secured to said cover; and neckline shaping means adapted to keep said front neckline lifted away from the mother's neck and chest during use, wherein said retaining means is adapted to temporarily but continually retain a front portion of an article of clothing of a nursing user in a raised/lifted position, thereby revealing the user's breast to a nursing infant, while said cover simultaneously keeps the user's breast and the nursing infant's face hidden from view from others. 
     
     
         20 . The cover of  claim 19  further comprising at least one pocket.