Nursing Garment

Abstract

A unitary nursing garment is provided that includes an exterior garment and an integral bra integral with the exterior garment. The exterior garment may include a first portion, a second portion, and an overlapping area, wherein the first portion is configured to cover a chest portion of a user, the second portion is configured to cover a torso portion of a user, and the overlapping area is created by the first portion and second portion. The integral bra may include a first breast panel, a second breast panel, a first shoulder support, a second shoulder support, a back panel, and a support band. The integral bra may provide support from multiple directions, including at least upper and lower support.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A nursing garment comprising:
 an exterior garment comprising a first portion, a second portion, and an overlapping area,
 wherein the first portion is configured to cover a chest portion of a user, the second portion is configured to cover a torso portion of a user, and the overlapping area is created by the first portion and second portion: 
   an integral bra integrated within the exterior garment, the integral bra comprising a first breast panel, a second breast panel, a first shoulder support, a second shoulder support, a back panel, and a support band.   
     
     
         2 . The nursing garment of  claim 1  wherein the first shoulder support and second shoulder support provide upper support to the integral bra, and the support band provides lower support to the integral bra. 
     
     
         3 . The nursing garment of  claim 1  wherein the first breast panel and second breast panel overlap to form an overlapping area of the bra, wherein the overlapping area provides lower support to the integral bra. 
     
     
         4 . The nursing garment of  claim 1  further comprising anchor panels that provide lateral support to the integral bra. 
     
     
         5 . The nursing garment of  claim 1  wherein the first breast panel and second breast panel are independently moveable to expose a breast of a user. 
     
     
         6 . The nursing garment of  claim 1  wherein the first shoulder support and the second shoulder support comprise shoulder straps. 
     
     
         7 . The nursing garment of  claim 6  wherein the first breast panel and second breast panel comprise a fastener to selectively couple the first breast panel and second breast panel with shoulder straps. 
     
     
         8 . The nursing garment of  claim 7  wherein the fastener comprises a first clip, and the shoulder straps include a second clip to selectively couple with the first clip. 
     
     
         9 . The nursing garment of  claim 1  further comprising breast pads configured to be used in conjunction with the integral bra. 
     
     
         10 . The nursing garment of  claim 9  wherein the breast pads are fabricated of an absorbent material. 
     
     
         11 . The nursing garment of  claim 9  wherein the breast pads, the breast panels, or both the breast pads and breast panels comprise a fastener. 
     
     
         12 . The nursing garment of  claim 1  wherein the integral bra is integrated within the exterior garment via an irreversible fastener. 
     
     
         13 . The nursing garment of  claim 11  wherein the irreversible fastener is selected from stitching, rivets, adhesives, or a combination of two or more of these. 
     
     
         14 . The nursing garment of  claim 12  wherein the integral bra is integrated within the exterior garment via irreversible fastener at one or more of a shoulder seam, an armscye, or the support band. 
     
     
         15 . The nursing garment of  claim 12  wherein the second portion of the exterior garment forms a unitary piece with the integral bra, and wherein the exterior garment second portion extends to the shoulder supports of the integral bra. 
     
     
         16 . The nursing garment of  claim 1  nursing garment comprises a shirt, blouse, top, dress, tunic, robe, kaftan, gown, swimsuit, or exercise top. 
     
     
         17 . The nursing garment of  claim 1  wherein the integral bra further comprises a torso portion. 
     
     
         18 . A nursing garment comprising:
 an exterior garment comprising a cover portion configured to cover a chest portion and a torso portion of a user;   an integral bra integrated within the exterior garment, the integral bra comprising a first breast panel, a second breast panel, a first shoulder support, a second shoulder support, a back panel, a support band, and a torso portion, wherein the torso portion of the integral bra extends underneath the torso portion of the exterior garment.   
     
     
         19 . The nursing garment of  claim 18  wherein the first shoulder support and second shoulder support provide upper support to the integral bra, and the support band provides lower support to the integral bra. 
     
     
         20 . The nursing garment of  claim 18  wherein the integral bra is integrated within the exterior garment via an irreversible fastener.