US20050037689A1

US20050037689A1 - Nipple cover

Info

Publication number: US20050037689A1
Application number: US10/946,823
Authority: US
Inventors: Ione Gorski; Cynthia Chiarmonte-Arce
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-11-27
Filing date: 2004-09-23
Publication date: 2005-02-17
Also published as: US20040102134A1

Abstract

A stretchable, disposable, substantially flat nipple cover having multiple decorations thereon. The cover comprises a skin side having adhesive thereon, and an outer side. The outer peripheral edges of the cover form a decorative shape and the central area of the outer surface has another similar decoration thereon. The preferred decorations are seashells. A container and marketing display are provided which have matching decorations which are very pleasing to female tastes. The container is easy to use and manufacture.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to nipple covers which are substantially flat and can be stretched to fit different sizes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Nipple covers are known in the art. Many of them are flexible, but not stretchable.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,550 (Hattori) shows a relatively complicated retainer and covering adhesive on the the retainer. Hattori further shows a package (FIG. 41) and decoration (FIG. 28). The Hattori covers are not stretchable. Because of the tab and slot fastener, the package is relatively difficult to make and use.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,471 (Nakai) shows a flexible paper backing which is not stretchable.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,267 (Cole) shows a patch 20 which is not stretchable and has no cotton pad thereon.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,288 (Hattori) uses a flexible transparent sheet which is not decorative.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,847,404 (Grady) mentions seashells but there is no indication of stretchability, and there is no central pad.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,350,175 (Johnson et al) uses adhesive which covers the nipple, and a flexible paper material, which obviously is not stretchable.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,548 (Wittes et al) uses a concave shield (not substantially flat).
None of the above patents, taken alone or together, shows or suggests the instant claimed invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is a need for a disposable nipple cover which is relatively easy to manufacture and use, which is highly pleasing and decorative, and yet is stretchable to fit different sizes.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a decorative nipple cover which is very appealing to female tastes which can be stretched to fit different sizes.
It is a futher object of the invention to provide integrated and matching decorations in a container for the covers and in a marketing display for the containers. The container is relatively easy to make and use because it has no fasteners. The container can have an optional safety seal, such as a paper or plastic seal at the edge which has to be cut or broken to access the cover. The container is decorated with a seashell and mermaid. Optionally, the cover can be held in a sealed or unsealed plastic or paper pouch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a front (outer) view of the decorative nipple cover.
FIG. 1B is a front view of the cotton pad.
FIG. 1C is a bottom (skin-side) view of the nipple cover.
FIG. 2 is a view of the unfolded container for holding the nipple cover.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the marketing display.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is a decorative, disposble, substantially flat nipple cover having an outer side 1 (FIG. 1A) having a seashell decoration 2 thereon, and having outer periperal edges 3 forming a seashell shape. The cover is stretchable to fit different sizes. Various fabrics, films, mats, membranes, sheets or gauzes can be used. For instance, a nylon hosiery type material can be used. Stretchable materials made from polyvinyl chloride, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, polyethylene resins, urethane resins, silicon resins and polyester resins can be used. Soft tricot, jersey cloth, jersey tricot, polyester lycra, nylon lycra, satin type tricot and poly stretch tricot materials can be used. A disposable and stretchable nonwoven fabric made from polypropylene or other natural or synthetic fibers can be used. A typical cover will measure about 3 inches by 3 inches. The central seashell 2 will typically measure about one and a half inches by one and a half inches. “Substantially flat” means that the cover has no concave or cup-like parts.
FIG. 1C shows a skin-side view of the cover with the adhesive layer covered by release paper 4. Cotton pad 5 rests on the nipple and typically measures about one and a half inches by on and a half inches. The soft pad 5 can be any skin compatible material, preferably cotton and/or cellulose, etc. and can be decorated like the cover. The adhesive is a well knonw pressure sensitive, skin safe, FDA approved adhesive.
Seashell decoration 2 (FIG. 1A) can be printed, stamped, stitched, embossed, etc.
FIG. 2 shows the cover holding container having a central, square or rectangular area 6, which has four folding flaps thereon. Flap 7 is the same shape and size as central area 6. Flaps 8,9, and 10 are trapezoids. There are no fasteners on the container except for an optional safety seal 11. Safety seal 11 can be a paper or plastic layer sealed to an edge of the container, which must be cut or broken to access the cover inside. The container is easy to manufacture and use because there are no fasteners. Optionally, the cover can be placed inside a sealed or unsealed paper of plastic pouch. The container dimensions are typically about three and an eighth inches by three and an eighth inches. Hence the container is pocket size and fits into a small handbag.
FIG. 3 shows the preferred marketing display having a seashell part 12, having a mermaid decoration 13 thereon, wearing the decorative covers 14. The marketing display, with the integrated and matching decorations (seashell and mermaid), is very pleasing to female tastes. A typical display has a mermaid size of about 12 inches by 12 inches, and a holder box size of about six inches by six and a quarter inches.

Claims

1. A stretchable and substantially flat nipple cover for covering the nipple and immediate surrounding area comprising:

a skin side and an outer side;

said skin side having an adhesive and soft pad thereon;

said adhesive covered by an adhesive protector:

said cover having outer peripheral edges forming a decorative shape; and

said outer side having a central decoration thereon.

2. The nipple cover of claim 1, wherein said outer peripheral decoration shape and said central decorations are seashells.

3. The nipple cover of claim 1, wherein said adhesive is a pressure sensitive skin-safe adhesive.

4. The nipple cover of claim 1, wherein said soft pad is a cotton pad.

5. The nipple cover of claim 1, wherein said cover is opaque.

6. The nipple cover of claim 1, wherein said cover is skin colored.

7. The nipple cover of claim 1, wherein said stetchable cover is a stretchable fabric.

8. The nipple cover of claim 1, wherein said stretchable cover is a nonwoven material.

9. The nipple cover of claim 1, wherein said cover is held in a container consisting essentially of a rectangular or square shaped central area having four folding flaps thereon, one flap being the same shape and size as said central area, and the other flaps being trapezoidal.

10. The nipple cover of claim 9, wherein said container has multiple decorations thereon.

11. The nipple cover of claim 10, wherein said multiple decorations include a seashell and mermaid.

12. The nipple cover of claim 11, wherein said container is part of a decorative marketing display.

13. The nipple cover of claim 12, wherein said display includes a mermaid wearing said nipple covers.

14. A nipple cover comprising:

a skin side and outer side;

said skin side having an adhesive and a soft pad thereon;

said adhesive covered by an adhesive protector;

said cover being decorated, yet stretchable to fit different sizes.

15. The nipple cover of claim 14, having outer edges forming a periperal seashell decoration, and said cover outer side having a central seashell decoration thereon.

16. The nipple cover of claim 14, wherein said cover is held in a container consisting essentially of a central area having four foldable flaps thereon and said container has an optional safety seal thereon.

17. The nipple cover of claim 16, wherein said central area and one flap are substantially identical square or rectangular shapes and the other flaps are trapezoid shaped.

18. The nipple cover of claim 16, wherein said container is pocket size.

19. The nipple cover of claim 16, wherein said container is sized to fit into a small handbag.

20. A stetchable, substantially flat nipple cover comprising:

a skin side and an outer side;

said cover having dimensions of about three inches by three inches;

said skin side having an adhesive layer and a cotton pad thereon;

said cotton pad measuring about one and a half inches by one and a half inches;

said adhesive being covered by a peel-off protector;

said adhesive covering a peripheral area extending about five eighths of an inch inwardly from the edges of said cover;

said outer side having a seashell decoration covering a central area about one and a half inches by one and a half inches in size;

the outer peripheral edges of said cover forming a seashell decoration;

said cover being opaque and skin colored;

said cover being held in a container with dimensions of about three and an eighth inches by three and an eighth inches;

said container consisting essentially of a rectangular or square central area having four foldable flaps thereon, one flap being substantially the same size and shape as said central area anf the other three flaps being trapezoidal; and

said container having a safety seal thereon.