Nursing garments

Abstract

A nursing garment comprises material defining first and second openings, proximate a wearer's first and second breast. First and second zippers may be provided to selectively open and close the first and second openings, and first and second flaps may be defined to substantially cover the zipper teeth and zipper heads of the zippers. An inner lining has a periphery having a front portion extending in front of and below the user's breasts when wearing the garment, wherein a first, upper periphery portion connected, at least in part, to the material and a second, lower front periphery portion not connected to the material. The second front periphery portion and a portion of the front portion are movable from below the wearer's breasts to above the wearer's breasts to expose at least one cup of the nursing bra and/or at least one breast.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A nursing garment comprising:
 clothing material defining a first opening through the material, proximate a wearer's first breast and a second opening through the material proximate the wearer's second breast, when the garment is worn by the wearer;   a first zipper to selectively open and close the first opening, the zipper comprising zipper teeth and a zipper head;   a second zipper to selectively open and close the second opening, the second zipper comprising second zipper teeth connected to opposing sides of the opening and a second zipper head;   wherein the material further defines:   a first flap proximate the first zipper, the first flap being configured to substantially cover the first zipper teeth and the first zipper head of the first zipper; and   a second flap proximate the second zipper, the second flap being configured to substantially cover the second zipper teeth and second zipper head of the second zipper;   the nursing garment further comprising:   an inner lining having a periphery having a front portion extending in front of and below the user's breasts when wearing the garment, the inner lining having a first, upper periphery portion connected, at least in part, to the material and a second, lower front periphery portion not connected to the material, wherein the second front periphery portion and a portion of the front portion are movable from below the wearer's breasts to above the wearer's breasts to expose at least one cup of the nursing bra and/or at least one breast.   
     
     
         2 . The nursing garment of  claim 1 , further comprising an elastic band at a bottom of the lining. 
     
     
         3 . The nursing garment of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the material further defines openings for arms and a head; and   the lining further defines respective openings for arms and an opening for the head proximate the locations of the arms and legs of the openings for the garment.   
     
     
         4 . The nursing garment of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the material defines a rear opening;   the garment further comprises a connector to close the opening; and   the lining further defines a rear opening proximate the opening on the rear portion of the garment.   
     
     
         5 . The nursing garment of  claim 4 , wherein the lining comprises a front portion and a rear portion connected to each other. 
     
     
         6 . The nursing garment of  claim 4 , wherein the rear portion comprises first and second portions separated by a distance to define the opening in the lining. 
     
     
         7 . The nursing garment of  claim 1 , wherein the zippers extend substantially vertically and the flaps over the respective zippers extend at the same angle as the zippers. 
     
     
         8 . The nursing garment of  claim 1 , configured to form a dress, a blouse, a sweater, poncho, a T-shirt, or a jacket. 
     
     
         9 . A nursing garment comprising:
 clothing material defining an opening through the material proximate a breast of a wearer, when the garment is worn by the wearer; and   a connector to close the at least one opening;   wherein a section of the material completely covers the connector.   
     
     
         10 . The nursing garment of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the connector comprises a zipper including zipper teeth and a zipper head; and         
     
     
         11 . The nursing garment of  claim 10 , wherein the section of the material defines a flap to cover the zipper including the zipper teeth and the zipper head. 
     
     
         12 . The nursing garment of  claim 10 , wherein material defines a seam to over the zipper teeth, the garment further comprising:
 a pocket to receive at least the zipper head.   
     
     
         13 . The nursing garment of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 an inner lining having a periphery having a front portion extending in front of and below the user's breasts when wearing the garment, the inner lining having a first, upper periphery portion connected, at least in part, to the material and a second, lower front periphery portion not connected to the material, wherein the second front periphery portion and a portion of the front portion are movable from below the wearer's breasts to above the wearer's breasts to expose at least one cup of the nursing bra and/or at least one breast.   
     
     
         14 . The nursing garment of  claim 1 , configured to form a dress, a blouse, a sweater, poncho, a T-shirt, or a jacket. 
     
     
         15 . A nursing garment comprising:
 clothing material defining an opening through the material proximate a breast of a wearer, when the garment is worn by the wearer; and   an inner lining having a periphery having a front portion extending in front of and below the user's breasts when wearing the garment, the inner lining having a first, upper periphery portion connected, at least in part, to the material and a second, lower front periphery portion not connected to the material, wherein the second front periphery portion and a portion of the front portion are movable from below the wearer's breasts to above the wearer's breasts to expose at least one cup of the nursing bra and/or at least one breast.   
     
     
         16 . The nursing garment of  claim 15 , wherein the second, front periphery portion has:
 a first position in front of and extending below the user's breasts;   a second position above the wearer's breasts to expose at least one cup of the nursing bra and/or at least one breast; and   a third position between the second and third positions, during nursing and/or pumping.   
     
     
         17 . The nursing garment of  claim 15 , further comprising an elastic band along a lower edge of the lining. 
     
     
         18 . The nursing garment of  claim 15 , wherein the lining comprises a different material than the clothing material.