Breast milk bag
By designing sealing strips for the upper, lower, and middle sealing areas in the breast milk bag, combined with a resealable upper opening device, the problems of milk leakage and contamination in existing technologies are solved, achieving clean pouring and easy recycling.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- MEDRAD INC
- Filing Date
- 2023-12-21
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-10
AI Technical Summary
Existing breast milk bags are prone to milk leakage and contamination of the surrounding area when the side closure strip is removed, and it is difficult to maintain clean pouring conditions.
A breast milk storage bag has been designed with a sealing strip having an upper sealing area, a lower sealing area, and a middle sealing area, which are separated by lateral dividing lines. The sealing strip can be torn off with fingers, avoiding direct contact with the side opening. Combined with a resealable upper opening device, this ensures the cleanliness of the milk storage container and prevents contamination.
It effectively prevents milk spillage and contamination of the surrounding area, keeps the milk storage container clean, ensures that the pouring process is not contaminated, is suitable for single use and is easy to recycle.
Smart Images
Figure CN122373987A_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] This invention relates to a breast milk storage bag, comprising a bag body defining a milk reservoir between a bottom end, a top end, and two lateral ends. The bottom end of the bag body is adapted to support the milk storage bag when placed upright. The top end is positioned opposite to the bottom end. Each of the lateral ends extends between the bottom end and the top end. Furthermore, an upper opening is provided between the top end and the milk reservoir. This upper opening is adapted to allow breast milk to be introduced into the milk reservoir for storage. The corresponding upper opening may extend from one lateral end to the other. At least one of the lateral ends is provided with a side opening covered by a side closure strip.
[0002] The aforementioned features of the present invention are also known, for example, from CN 215 400 355 U1. In this prior art breast milk bag, lateral openings are provided at both lateral ends, said lateral openings being covered by side closure strips accommodated in upper recesses, each upper recess being located on the opposite side of the two lateral ends in the upper region of the breast milk bag. Within each recess, a side closure strip with a pyramidal shape is formed. A tear line is provided at the top of the pyramid shape, which can be torn from the bag body to open the corresponding side opening for allowing milk to be poured out from the milk reservoir.
[0003] Breast milk storage containers are used for the temporary storage of expressed human breast milk, which is a valuable liquid. For these reasons, all measures should be taken to prevent contamination of the milk in the storage containers, and clean dispensing conditions must be ensured.
[0004] Existing breast milk bags have the following disadvantages: due to the way the side closure strip is removed, milk contained in the milk reservoir may spill and soil the area around the breast milk bag. Furthermore, removing the side closure strip by cutting with scissors or peeling it off by hand may contaminate the area of the side opening, as scissors or hands must act directly on the breast milk bag at the point where it is opened to allow breast milk to be poured from the milk reservoir.
[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a breast milk bag that allows milk to be poured out while limiting the risk of soiling the area around the milk bag and the area of the side opening, and thus the risk of contaminating the storage container.
[0006] As a solution to the aforementioned objective, the present invention provides a breast milk bag with a sealing strip, which may have an upper sealing region, a lower sealing region, and a middle sealing region. The upper sealing region is connected to an upper sealing portion having a side opening at a lateral end, the upper sealing portion being disposed above the side opening. The lower sealing region may be connected to a lower sealing portion, which is connected to the lateral end below the side opening. The middle sealing region of the sealing strip covers and partially provides the side opening. A lateral dividing line is provided to remove the sealing strip to open the side opening. This lateral dividing line separates the upper sealing portion from the upper sealing region and / or separates the lower sealing region from the lower sealing portion. Furthermore, the lateral dividing line extends through the side opening. The lateral dividing line typically extends in a straight line.
[0007] At least one of the upper and lower sealing areas of the closure strip, preferably at least the upper sealing area, may have a considerable extension in the lateral direction of the bag body, which allows a user to grasp the upper sealing area between at least two fingers.
[0008] In the case where only one of the upper and lower sealing regions is provided, a weld line may be provided in another region below or above the side opening. This weld line typically connects at least two plastic foils surrounding the milk reservoir, and has a narrower width compared to the upper and / or lower sealing regions. This weld line can form a closed seal that provides lateral closure to the side opening and is part of the side sealing strip.
[0009] Assuming the user will essentially grasp the side closure strip with the corresponding finger, which extends substantially perpendicular to the corresponding lateral end with the side opening, the upper sealing area may have an extension that is longer than the width of the finger.
[0010] The dividing line preferably separates the upper sealing area and the upper sealing portion over an extension of at least 15 mm, preferably at least 19 mm, and typically no more than 20 mm, and preferably no more than 25 mm. In contrast, the extension of the dividing line separating the other sealing area and the corresponding sealing portion, i.e., typically the lower sealing area and the lower sealing portion, is shorter. This lower portion of the dividing line preferably extends over the sealing area and the lower sealing portion over a length of 15 mm or less.
[0011] The upper sealing portion and upper sealing area are typically two adjacent closed sections of sealing plastic foil, which essentially surround the milk reservoir. These sections are sealed by fully welding the plastic foils together to form a sealed area comprising the upper sealing portion and upper sealing area. A corresponding structure is provided on the opposite side of the side opening. Here, the lower sealing portion is adjacent to the lower sealing area. The lateral dividing line intersects the two sections with a common weld that connects the two plastic foils.
[0012] A preferred embodiment of an upper sealing region and an upper sealing portion having an extension suitable for gripping between fingers can be similarly or alternatively disposed below the side opening, i.e., disposed between the side opening and the bottom end.
[0013] The breast milk bag of the present invention allows the user to tear off the side closure strip by grasping the upper sealing area and / or by grasping the lower sealing area. The inventors have discovered that tearing off the side closure strip at the upper sealing area helps to further reduce milk leakage when tearing off the side closure strip, because the user's other hand can hold the milk bag at or near the upper end. In other words, this embodiment with a sufficiently wide upper sealing area will allow the user to tear off the side closure strip away from the upper end while firmly grasping the milk bag at the upper end. This grip will ensure maximum distance between the side opening and the bottom end, and thus will maintain the upper liquid level of the milk reservoir at the maximum possible distance from the side opening.
[0014] Preferably, the lateral dividing line may extend parallel to the lateral end and / or the lateral seal at or near the corresponding lateral end.
[0015] According to another preferred embodiment, the upper opening may intersect with the upper sealing portion and / or the upper sealing area. More preferably, a considerable portion of the upper sealing portion extends between the upper opening and the top end, while another considerable portion of the upper sealing portion extends downward from the upper opening toward the bottom end.
[0016] In a side view of the bag body, the side opening may have a funnel shape, which is provided on the one hand by the inclined ends of the upper sealing portion and the upper sealing area, and on the other hand by the inclined ends of the lower sealing portion and the lower sealing area, these tapering ends tapering toward the outside of the bag body toward each other.
[0017] To allow the side opening to be opened by removing the side closure strip, the side dividing line is preferably a tear-resistant line, which allows the side closure strip to be separated from the rest of the bag body by tearing. In other words, scissors or other tools are not required to remove the side closure strip from the rest of the bag body.
[0018] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the bag body is formed of a plastic foil, which is composed of a single material. This facilitates the recycling of the milk bag and should be understood as an alternative to prior art methods in which two or more layers define walls with different properties within the plastic foil, said walls surrounding the milk reservoir. In the prior art, the multilayer structure may, for example, include a plastic foil material in one layer, which acts as a barrier against oxygen, while another layer can provide a barrier against water vapor, and / or additional layers, and thus the material composition, will reduce the exposure of the breast milk contained in the reservoir to light radiating onto the milk bag.
[0019] The plastic foil of the present invention may comprise at least two layers formed of a single material bonded together, making the bag easily recyclable while still providing different functions. The material forming the bag is, in particular, low-density polyethylene, and one side of the bag is double-layered, thereby allowing the product to stand upright.
[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, the breast milk bag also has a resealable opening device assigned to the upper opening for opening and closing. The resealable opening device allows the milk reservoir to be closed after the breast milk to be stored in the bag has been poured into it. During the closing phase, the upper opening is sealed to at least prevent the breast milk contained in the reservoir from leaving through the upper opening. The resealable opening device is preferably a zipper, such as a double zipper.
[0021] According to another preferred embodiment, the top end is sealed by a top seal that is connected to and / or provided on or near the lateral ends. A top dividing line is provided between the top seal and the upper opening, and intersects with the two lateral ends and / or the seals provided at or immediately adjacent to the lateral ends.
[0022] According to another preferred embodiment, an enlarged gripping area is formed at a corner section, where a lateral seal, such as an upper seal, intersects with a top seal. This enlarged gripping area can be formed by two fully connected, i.e., fully welded, plastic foils surrounding the reservoir. The enlarged gripping area is sized to allow a user's two fingers, extending substantially perpendicular to the top seal, to grasp the enlarged gripping area without approaching or contacting any unsealed portion of the plastic foil near the top seal. The enlarged gripping area can have a length between 5 mm and at least 15 mm extending parallel to the top seal.
[0023] The breast milk bag is preferably disposable and allows for easy pouring of milk from the bag through the side opening. When the milk is poured out, contamination is prevented or blocked because scissors or fingers do not need to be in contact with the side opening to remove the closure strip. The closure strip's design also makes it easy to tear off.
[0024] Other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0025] Figure 1 This is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A magnified side view of detail I;
[0027] Figure 3 It is along Figure 1 Enlarged cross-sectional view of line III-III in the diagram;
[0028] Figure 4 An example of how to hold the milk when pouring it out through the side opening is illustrated.
[0029] exist Figure 1 In the attached drawing, reference numeral 2 identifies a breast milk bag, which has a bag body 4 defining a milk reservoir 6. The bag body 4 is formed of plastic foil 8. The bag body 4 is essentially a bag-shaped piece made of plastic foil 8. Figure 3 The bag is made of two main plastic foil sheets, indicated by reference numeral 10 in the accompanying drawings, and one or two secondary sheets 12 near the bottom end 14, to allow the bag-like component to expand by folding, so that the bag body 4 can be supported by the bottom end 14 in an upright position. The expanded state is... Figure 3 It is depicted as having an enlarged base 16 at the bottom end 14.
[0030] Reference numeral 18 denotes the top portion opposite to the bottom portion 14. Lateral portions extend between the bottom portion 14 and the top portion 18. Reference numeral 20 denotes the left lateral portion, and reference numeral 22 denotes the right lateral portion. In this embodiment, the lateral portions 20, 22 are defined by the lateral portions of the main sheet 10 and / or the secondary sheet 12. Adjacent to these portions, a welding line 26 is provided, which circumferentially surrounds the milk reservoir 6.
[0031] The welding line 26 provides a top seal 28, which joins the two main sheets 10 at the top end 18. A top dividing line 30 is provided parallel to the top seal 28 and extends toward the bottom end 14. This top dividing line 30 is adapted to be torn off to expose an upper opening 32 on the outside of the breast milk bag 2 at the top. Clearly, the top seal 28 is configured to supply the breast milk bag 2 to the user in a completely sealed and therefore clean and sterile state.
[0032] The upper opening 32 can be resealed by a resealable opening device 34 in the form of a zipper 36.
[0033] The upper opening 32 intersects with the left-side sealing portion 38 formed by a portion of the welding line 26, and intersects with the upper sealing portion 40, also formed by the welding line 26, on the other side. Therefore, the resealable opening device 34 is adapted to completely seal the reservoir 6 from the top, thereby preventing milk contained in the milk reservoir 6 from leaking out of the breast milk bag 2.
[0034] Another portion of the welding line 26 forms the lower sealing portion 42. The upper sealing portion 40 and the lower sealing portion 42 define a side opening 44 between them.
[0035] Reference numeral 46 identifies a lateral dividing line that intersects with the side opening 44. Figure 2 Furthermore, a side sealing strip 48 is provided on the right side of the lateral dividing line 46. The side sealing strip 48 has an upper sealing area 50 that is flush with the upper sealing portion 40 and a lower sealing area 52 that is flush with the lower sealing portion 42.
[0036] Furthermore, the side sealing strip 48 has an intermediate sealing region 54 disposed between the upper sealing region 50 and the lower sealing region 52. This intermediate sealing region 54 partially provides a side opening 44. In other words, the unsealed material of the main sheet 10 is disposed within... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The right-hand side of the lateral dividing line 46. In this embodiment, the main sheet 10 is fully welded together in a first region including the upper sealing portion 40 and the upper sealing region 50, and in a second region extending over the lower sealing portion 42 and the lower sealing region 52. These first and second sealing regions are each provided in a substantially rectangular form. The upper sealing region 50 may have approximately 12 mm. 2 Up to 35 mm 2 and 14 mm 2 Up to 40 mm 2 The size.
[0037] The lateral extension of the first region is between 15 mm and 25 mm and is adapted to be held between two of the user's fingers, while still protruding those fingers that extend substantially perpendicularly to the right-side lateral end 22. The lateral extension of the second region is smaller than that of the first region.
[0038] The outline of the second region tapers inward toward the side opening 44. This also applies to Figure 2 The outline between the side opening 44 and the second region shown.
[0039] The intermediate sealing region 52 is provided with a sealing part 56, which has a side opening 44 and is aligned with the outer side of the upper sealing region 50 and the lower sealing region 52, thereby connecting the sealing regions 50 and 52 in the lateral direction.
[0040] At the corner where the lateral sealing portion, i.e., the upper sealing portion 40, intersects with the top seal 28, an enlarged gripping area 58 is formed by a third fully welded area. This enlarged gripping area 58 has dimensions such that it allows a user's two fingers, extending substantially perpendicular to the top seal 28, to grasp the enlarged gripping area 58 without approaching or contacting the unsealed portion of the plastic foil 8 located near the top seal 28.
[0041] To use the breast milk bag, the user first grasps the sealed gripping area 58 to remove the uppermost portion of the bag body 4, including the top seal 28. To do this, the user tears off the top end along the top divider 30, thereby exposing the opening 32 to the environment. While doing so, the user can use their other hand to hold the breast milk bag 2 at the upper sealing area 50 by clamping the upper sealing area 50 between their fingers.
[0042] Next, the breast milk bag 2 is prepared to receive the expressed breast milk. The breast milk is then filled into the reservoir 6 through the upper opening 32. The upper opening 32 can then be closed by means of the zipper 36. The breast milk bag 2 can then be stored in a refrigerator or freezer to keep the expressed breast milk under preservation conditions.
[0043] To use expressed breast milk, and after the expressed breast milk may have reached a suitable temperature for feeding the newborn, the user will open breast milk bag 2 to pour out the breast milk, such as... Figure 4As shown in the diagram. To do this, the user will remove the side closure strip 48 by pinching the upper sealing area 50 between two fingers while simultaneously holding the breast milk bag 2 near the top 18. The user will then tear off the side closure strip 48 along the lateral dividing line 46. Due to the lateral extension of the upper sealing area 50 discussed above, the user's fingers will only touch the upper sealing area 50. In other words, the user's hand will not approach or contact the side opening 44. Therefore, when the user... Figure 4 When breast milk is poured out of the milk storage container as illustrated, the sterilization conditions inside the bag body 4, including the sterilization conditions at the side opening 44, will not be compromised.
[0044] As illustrated by the above description, the present invention provides a breast milk bag 2 that prevents contamination of the area inside the bag body 4, including the side opening 44, by breast milk. Furthermore, since the side opening 44 is located in the upper region near the upper opening 32 and the breast milk bag 2 can be held at the top 18 in an upright orientation, and wherein the milk level is sufficiently below the side opening 44 during and after the removal of the side closure strip 48 and before intentionally pouring out breast milk, the risk of soiling the area around the breast milk bag 2 is greatly reduced.
[0045] List of reference numerals
[0046] 2 breast milk bags
[0047] 4 bag body
[0048] 6. Milk storage container
[0049] 8. Plastic foil
[0050] 10 main sheets
[0051] 12-times sheet
[0052] 14. Bottom end
[0053] 16 Base
[0054] 18. Top part
[0055] 20 Left side end
[0056] 22 Right side end
[0057] 26 Welding lines
[0058] 28 Top seal
[0059] 30 Top dividing line
[0060] 32 Open at the top
[0061] 34 Resealable opening device
[0062] 36 Zippers
[0063] 38 Left-side sealing section
[0064] 40 Upper sealing part
[0065] 42 Lower sealing part
[0066] 44 side openings
[0067] 46 Lateral dividing line
[0068] 48 side sealing strips
[0069] 50 Upper sealing area
[0070] 52 Lower sealing area
[0071] 54 Intermediate sealing area
[0072] 56. Sealed section
[0073] 58 Sealed grip area
Claims
1. A breast milk bag (2) comprising a bag body (4) defining a milk reservoir (6) between a bottom end (14), a top end (18) and two lateral ends (20, 22). in, The bottom end (14) is adapted to support the milk bag (2) when placed upright. The top end portion (18) is configured to be opposite to the bottom end portion (14). Each lateral end portion (20, 22) extends between the bottom end portion (14) and the top end portion (18). - Wherein, an upper opening (32) is provided between the top part (18) and the milk reservoir (6). - and wherein at least one of the lateral side ends (22) is provided with a side opening (44) covered by a side closing strip (48). The side sealing strip (48) is characterized by having: - An upper sealing region (50), said upper sealing region (50) being connected to the upper sealing portion (40) of the lateral end (22) above the side opening (44), and / or - A lower sealing region (52), the lower sealing region (52) being connected to the lower sealing portion (42) of the lateral end (22) below the side opening (44), and - An intermediate sealing region (54) that covers the side opening (44) and partially provides the side opening (44). - Wherein, a lateral dividing line (46) configured to open the side opening (44) by removing the closing strip (48) separates the upper sealing area (50) from the upper sealing portion (40) and / or the lower sealing area (52) from the lower sealing portion (42) and extends through the side opening (44).
2. The breast milk bag (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lateral dividing line (46) separates the upper sealing area (50) and the upper sealing portion (40) over an extension of at least 15 mm.
3. The breast milk bag (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The lateral dividing line (46) separates the lower sealing area (52) and the lower sealing portion (42) over an extension of no more than 15 mm.
4. The breast milk bag (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The lateral dividing line (46) is a tear-resistant line.
5. The breast milk bag (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The bag body (4) is formed by a welded layer of plastic foil (8) surrounding the milk reservoir (6).
6. The breast milk bag (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The bag body (4) is formed of a plastic foil (8) made of a single material.
7. The breast milk bag (2) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The plastic foil (8) is low-density polyethylene.
8. The breast milk bag (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that... A resealable opening device (34) is provided on the upper opening (32) for opening and closing the upper opening (32).
9. The breast milk bag (2) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The resealable opening device (34) is a zipper (36).
10. The breast milk bag (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The top end is sealed by a top seal (28) connected to the lateral ends (20, 22), and a top dividing line (30) is provided between the top seal (28) and the upper opening (32), and the top dividing line (30) intersects with the two lateral ends (20, 22).
11. The breast milk bag (2) according to claim 10, characterized in that, The corner section of the top seal (28) is enlarged to provide a gripping area (58).
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Breast milk bag
CN215400355U