Nursing Bra Adapted to Enable the Wearer to Breast Pump Hands Free

Abstract

The present invention is a device and method for adapting a nursing bra to facilitate hands-free breast milk pumping. The instant innovation uses a roughly ring-shaped cup or pocket adjustably suspended between an upper and a lower nursing bra attachment point. The user inserts a breast pump funnel through a void in the center of the roughly ring-shaped cup or pocket. The user may raise or lower each ring-shaped cup or pocket to ensure proper positioning and maintenance of the funnel upon the breast. The cup or pocket is configured to mechanically hold the breast pump funnel in place in a hand-free manner, permitting the wearer to use their hands for other tasks during the pumping process.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A device for adapting a nursing bra to enable hands-free breast pumping, comprising:
 a cup;   one or more connectors for selectively attaching and detaching said cup to a nursing bra;   the one or more connectors enabling adjustable positioning of said cup over a human nipple; and   a perforation in said cup permitting insertion of a breast pump funnel and the attachment of the breast pump funnel against a human breast.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , where the cup is made of cotton, nylon, spandex, polyester, neoprene, or any combination of cotton, nylon, spandex, polyester, and neoprene. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , where the one or more connectors includes hooks, buttons, straps, hook-and-loops; and/or ties. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , where the adjustable positioning is affected by one or more bra sliders. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , where the attachment of the funnel against a human breast is hands-free for the wearer of said device. 
     
     
         6 . A device for adapting a nursing bra to enable hands-free breast pumping, comprising:
 a fabric ring;   a first connector and a second connector attached to opposite ends of the fabric ring and connecting the fabric ring to the nursing bra;   the first connector and second connector capable of selectively positionable elongation and contraction;   a void within the fabric ring accommodating insertion of a breast pump funnel;   and the fabric ring operative to hold the funnel against a human breast.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , where the fabric ring is made of cotton, nylon, spandex, polyester, neoprene, or any combination of cotton, nylon, spandex, polyester, and neoprene. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6 , where the first and second connectors include hooks, buttons, straps, hook-and-loops; and/or ties. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 6 , where the selectively positionable elongation and contraction is affected by one or more bra sliders. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 6 , where the temporary maintenance of the funnel against a human breast is hands-free for the wearer. 
     
     
         11 . A method of adapting a nursing bra to enable hands-free breast pumping, comprising:
 attaching a cup to a nursing bra with one or more adjustable straps;   positioning said cup over a human nipple by elongating or contracting the one or more adjustable straps;   inserting a breast pump funnel through said cup;   positioning the funnel around the human nipple; and   employing said cup to hold said breast pump funnel in place during pumping.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , where the cloth cup is made of cotton, nylon, spandex, polyester, neoprene, or any combination of cotton, nylon, spandex, polyester, and neoprene. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , where the temporary attachment of the perforated cloth cup is affected by one or more hooks, buttons, straps, hook-and-loops, and/or ties. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising adjusting the straps by use of one or more bra sliders. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising holding said breast pump funnel in place in a hands-free manner for the wearer.