Nursing-gown.

Application filed April 12,1904, Serial No, 202,757,

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, Rebecca T. Coyle, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Penn5 sylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Nursing-Gowns, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of a nursing-gown formed of a pair of flaps connected with the io edges of an opening or slit in the gown, the same being adapted to be folded over the breast on either side or on both sides thereof, so as to partly or entirely cover and conceal the breast without, however, interfering with 15 nursing, said flaps when not in use being adapted to close said opening or slit and to be folded compactly out of the way.

Figure 1 represents a front view of a nurs' ing-gown embodying my invention. Figs. 2 20 and 3 represent rear views thereof. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 represent horizontal sections thereof, showing certain parts in different positions.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a garment which, excepting the feature of my invention applied thereto, is as usual. The breast portions of the garment are vertically slitted, and to the edges of the slits are secured the flaps B, which consist of pieces of fabric which are gathered at the upper and lower ends, as at C, and open from said ends from top to bottom, forming passages D, whereby provision is made for presenting the breasts 35 at the front of the garment for nursing purposes. On the inner portions of the flaps are fastening members E F, which when connected. hold the passages D in closed condition, said passages then being practically concealed;

but to such fastenings I do not limit myself, and they may be omitted, if desired.

The operation is as follows: The fastenings of either side are disconnected., when the walls of the passage D and the portions of the gar ment adjacent thereto may be spread, thus 45 widening said passage about the location of the breast and allowing the breast to protrude. The walls of the passage D now contract, owing to the strain on the gathers C, and so materially cover the breast sufficient 50 for general purposes, as shown in Fig. 1. Either flap B on the right or left may be drawn forward to the front through said passage, so as to further cover and conceal one side of the breast, or both flaps may so be drawn for- 55 ward (see Fig. 5) as to cover both sides of the breast and practically cover the entire breast, leaving, however, the nipple free, the effect of which is evident in. either case, as in Figs.

and 5, respectively. If one flap is in use, 6° the other flap may remain folded or be folded rearward of the breast portion, as in Figs. 3 and 4, or if when no nursing is required and the passage D is closed the flaps may be folded on each other, as shown in full lines in Figs. 6 5 2 and 6, or the rear flap in Fig. 6 may be folded in a direction opposite to the other flap, as shown in dotted lines in said figure.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction shown without departing from 70 the general spirit of my invention, and I do not, therefore, desire to be limited in each case to the same.