Breast pump

Abstract

The invention relates to a breast pump shaped to fit at least partially inside a bra (B) and comprising a housing (2), a breast shield (4) comprising a nipple passage (310) adapted to receive a nipple, and further comprising a milk compartment (122) adapted to contain a predetermined amount of expressed milk, further comprising a working fluid chamber (116) dispensed to a vacuum source and a pumping chamber (332) in fluid communication with the nipple passage (310), wherein the working fluid chamber (116) and the pumping chamber (332) are fluidly separated from each other by a membrane (202). To provide a breast pump that can be manufactured and assembled with a reduced number of components by handling, the invention proposes to define the housing (2), the milk compartment (122), the working fluid chamber (116) and the pumping chamber (332) by only three components. Such a pump with a valve disposed between the nipple passage (310) and the milk compartment (122) preferably has a medium separation element (200) forming the membrane (202) and the valve (204).

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a breast pump shaped to be at least partially fitted inside a bra. The breast pump includes a housing and a bra. The bra includes a nipple channel adapted to receive the nipple. The pump also has a milk compartment adapted to contain a predetermined amount of expressed milk.

[0002] For example, such a breast pump is known from WO 2018 / 229504 A1. This prior art breast pump comprises six separate components, which are assembled by the user before use. Among these components, the housing element, the bra element, and the milk container element are the main components of the prior art breast pump. The bra element is detachable from the housing. The bra element is made of a transparent material and provides a cup-shaped pump chamber housing adapted to connect to a membrane element at its outer circumference. After the bra element is inserted into the housing, the membrane element is sandwiched between the bra element and the housing. The milk container element has an opening that is releasably closed by a separate cap element protruding through a tube adapted to receive a valve element made of a soft, elastic material. This valve element is adapted to seal against a nipple channel formed by the bra element to surround an outlet port formed at the circumference of the nipple channel.

[0003] Another breast pump according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from US 8,702,646 B2, comprising a housing element and a breast shield element having a nipple channel. Prior art breast pumps also have a media separation element attached to an inner closed end of the nipple channel, thereby sealingly surrounding an outlet port located at the circumference of the nipple channel. The lower end of the media separation element is connected to a valve element leading to a milk compartment surrounded by the housing element. The upper end of the media separation element is adapted to connect to a hose leading to a vacuum source, which must be inserted into an insertion hole at the outer circumference of the housing element.

[0004] Another prior art breast pump conforming to the preamble of claim 1 is known from EP 3 777 911A1. Like the solution known from WO 2018 / 229504 A1, this prior art breast pump has a suction source in the form of an electrically driven pump. This prior art breast pump has a housing element adapted to be connected to a pump module and housing a media separation element adapted to be connected at its lower end to a valve element and at its upper end to a membrane element, and adapted to be fixed to the inner closed end of the nipple passage provided by a bra element.

[0005] Breastfeeding mothers will use a breast pump as described in the prior art to express milk. After expressing milk and feeding the baby with the expressed milk, the components of the breast pump are disassembled for cleaning and sterilization purposes. This procedure is repeated after each individual use of the breast pump.

[0006] Therefore, repeated use of a breast pump requires the assembly of all components, which becomes cumbersome as the number of parts increases. However, the number of individual components of a breast pump will be selected based on the function of each component. Sealing the nipple passage against the milk compartment typically requires a valve made of a resilient material. Furthermore, the membrane separating the working fluid chamber from the pumping chamber is also flexible and therefore made of a suitable material, while the outer shell and breast shield components are typically made of rigid materials. To allow for visual control of the nipple arrangement within the nipple passage, at least the various parts of the breast pump can be made of a transparent material as described in WO2018 / 229504 A1.

[0007] The present invention aims to provide a breast pump that allows for economical manufacture and use.

[0008] As a solution to the above objectives, the present invention provides a breast pump as defined in claim 1.

[0009] This breast pump is shaped to fit at least partially inside the bra. Therefore, the breast pump of the present invention is a hands-free breast pump, which the user can use by placing the breast pump inside the bra. The bra holds the breast pump in place.

[0010] As known from the prior art, a breast pump includes a housing and a breast shield, the breast shield including a nipple channel adapted to receive the nipple. The breast shield also has a milk compartment adapted to contain a predetermined amount of milk. For this purpose, the milk compartment is fluidly connected to the nipple channel. As in the prior art, the breast shield is removable to allow cleaning, for example, in a dishwasher. The pump also includes a working fluid chamber that dispenses to a vacuum source and a pumping chamber that is fluidly in communication with the nipple channel. The working fluid chamber and the pumping chamber are fluidly separated from each other by a membrane, which is typically made of a soft, elastic material.

[0011] The vacuum source can be an external vacuum source. For connection to such an external vacuum source, the breast pump can provide a joint suitable for sealingly receiving the tubing. Alternatively, the vacuum source can be an electrically driven pump element that forms part of the breast pump. In this case, the breast pump typically also includes a source of electrical power in the form of a battery, which is typically capable of being charged via an electrical interface located on the outer surface of the breast pump housing.

[0012] According to the present invention, the housing, milk compartment, working fluid compartment, and pumping compartment are defined by only three components. These components are integral, single-piece elements. Each component is an integral element that does not require disassembly by the user for cleaning purposes. In fact, each of the three components is an integral, single-piece element that cannot be further disassembled without being damaged.

[0013] The breast pump of the present invention may include one or more seals, which are typically part of a corresponding integral single-piece component. In the case where such a seal is a separate component, it will only seal the joint between at least two of the three components and will not itself define a milk compartment, housing, working fluid chamber, or pumping chamber. The seal only prevents fluid leakage from the corresponding compartment or chamber.

[0014] In the breast pump of the present invention, the working fluid chamber and the pumping fluid chamber are fluidly separated from each other by a membrane. The membrane is typically releasably attached to either the working fluid chamber housing or the pumping chamber housing. In the assembled, i.e., operational state of the breast pump, the membrane is typically sandwiched between the working fluid chamber housing and the pumping chamber housing. The attachment of the membrane against one of the working fluid chamber housing or the pumping chamber housing is typically achieved by a circumferential sealing edge of the membrane surrounding the upper end, ring, or edge of either the pumping chamber housing or the working fluid chamber housing. In the operational state of the pump, the upper edge or ring of the other housing rests against the membrane, thereby sandwiching and sealing the membrane between the working fluid chamber housing and the pumping chamber housing.

[0015] According to a parallel aspect of the invention, a valve is provided between the nipple channel and the milk compartment to prevent backflow of milk from the milk compartment into the nipple channel when the pressure in the nipple channel is lower than that in the milk compartment due to the pumping activity of the milk pump. Such a valve is known from the prior art solutions discussed above. However, according to the invention, the membrane and valve are formed by a media separation element. This media separation element is integral, i.e., a single-piece component. Therefore, the membrane and valve can be manufactured as a single integral component and treated as such for cleaning purposes. The pump is very easy to manufacture and assemble / disassemble by having a single media separation element that provides two functions: separating the working fluid chamber from the pumping chamber and preventing backflow from the milk compartment into the nipple channel.

[0016] The media separation elements are preferably releasably arranged between the outer shell element and the breast shield element; these elements are integral, one-piece components as described in conjunction with the first aspect of the invention. The housing of the breast pump of the present invention is typically formed only by the breast shield element and the outer shell element.

[0017] Each component in the assembly can be made of a different material. Segments made of different materials can be glued or welded together. Welding is preferably achieved by two-component injection molding, in which a first segment is molded in a first cavity, the first segment being arranged or exposed in a second cavity, the second cavity being larger than the first cavity and filled with a molten plastic material forming the second segment, the second molten plastic material fusing with the first segment, thereby forming a weld between the first and second segments to form an integral component comprising the first and second segments.

[0018] The monolithic element may have two or more segments. To allow for visual control of nipple arrangement within the nipple canal, portions of the outer shell and / or breast shield elements may be transparent. Transparency in the sense of this invention should be considered a material quality that allows a clear view through the material or a frosted transparent quality that allows a smaller degree of visibility but is still sufficient, for example, to check the correct position of the nipple within the nipple canal and / or the flow of milk or the amount of milk expressed from the milk compartment. Other portions or segments of the individual element may have different optical qualities and may be opaque or, to a greater extent, frosted, to substantially cover and thus optically shield the functional components within the breast pump. Such different optical qualities can be achieved by using monolithic elements made of a single material comprising a particular optical quality, with different materials or processes. Such processes may include—but are not limited to—coating or printing or layering with decorative films or sleeves, edging or sandblasting the surfaces of specific parts to alter the appearance of parts manufactured, such as those by molding, particularly injection molding.

[0019] The components are typically made of plastic materials, especially thermoplastics. The outer shell and bra elements can be made of polypropylene or materials such as Tritan (triphenylmethane). TM It is made of thermoplastic polyester, which can be transparent or opaque in the sense of this invention.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, the housing element has a first section covering the membrane and a second section located on the side of the first section, the second section having better transparency than the first section and allowing the user to observe the nipple channel through the housing element. In this preferred embodiment, the first and second sections are preferably symmetrical with respect to a vertical axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the nipple channel, the vertical axis lying in a plane intersecting the center of the membrane and / or in a plane including the maximum extension of the breast pump. In other words, if the membrane, and therefore the pumping chamber and working fluid chamber, are strictly arranged above the nozzle channel, the vertical axis can extend vertically in a gravitational field. In use, the breast pump is placed against the left or right breast in a slightly tilted orientation, in which the vertical axis is tilted outwards such that the vertical axis points towards the user's navel and away from the user's head. In this tilted orientation, the user will observe the nipple channel through the section of the second section located on the side of the first section, thus defining the outer periphery of the housing element, while the first section is located in the center and is arranged symmetrically with respect to the vertical axis and covers the membrane, thus covering the working fluid chamber and the pumping chamber, i.e., the technical components of the breast pump used for pumping operation.

[0021] The first section can be made of a frosted transparent or opaque material, but its transparency is not as good as that of the second section, which can be slightly frosted or completely transparent to allow observation of the milk flow or nipple orientation from the nipple canal into the milk compartment. Because the second section is positioned laterally to either side of the first section, this observation can be made regardless of whether the breast pump is placed against the left or right breast at an angle.

[0022] For the same reason, the nipple channel is preferably made of a material with better transparency than the flange section of the bra element, which surrounds the nipple channel and at least partially defines the contact surface that contacts the breast during use of the breast pump. Due to the improved transparency of the nipple channel, the user can observe the nipple and thus the milk flow within the nipple channel through the second section of the outer shell element. Furthermore, during disassembly, the user can confirm correct nipple alignment and thus select an appropriate size of bra element that conforms to the individual anatomy of the user's breast. In practice, breast pumps can be manufactured and thus distributed with bra elements of different sizes, forming a complete breast pump with a standardized outer shell element and a standardized media separation element. The individual size of the bra element provides a standardized joint for a sealable connection to the outer shell element and / or the membrane, i.e., the media separation element.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, which in itself can define aspects of the invention, and therefore can define the breast pump of the invention without being limited by other aspects, defining the milk chamber wall as being formed only by the outer shell element and the bra element. Such a breast pump is typically shaped to fit at least partially inside a bra and includes a housing and a bra including a nipple channel adapted to receive the nipple. The breast pump includes a milk chamber adapted to contain a predetermined amount of expressed milk, wherein the bra is removable from the housing. The pump will include a working fluid chamber dispensing to a vacuum source and a pumping chamber in fluid communication with the nipple channel, wherein the working fluid chamber and the pumping chamber are fluidly separated from each other by a membrane. The pumping chamber and the working fluid chamber may be surrounded by the milk chamber. In this case, the pumping chamber and the working fluid chamber are typically formed only by the outer shell element and the bra element. In this embodiment, a membrane will be sandwiched between the outer shell element and the bra element, and at most a seal may be formed between these elements, but will not define the milk chamber. The same is true for any valve disposed between the nipple channel and the milk chamber. Thus, the valve will not define the milk chamber. The valve will only provide a seal between the milk chamber and the nipple passage.

[0024] To facilitate assembly of the breast pump of the present invention after cleaning and sterilization, a media separation element defining the membrane and valve is fixed to the inner end of the nipple channel. This inner end is typically a closed end. The inner end of the nipple channel has a fixed engagement adapted to hold the media separation element. For this purpose, the media separation element typically has a fixed opening adapted to be pulled onto the inner end of the nipple channel for securing the media separation element against the breast shield element. After securing the media separation element against the breast shield element in this way, the membrane only needs to be tilted to properly align the membrane with the upper edge of the pump chamber housing provided by the breast shield element, thereby closing the pump chamber with the membrane. In the same manner, the valve needs to be tilted to properly align the valve only with the milk outlet, which has a port located at the outer circumference of the nipple channel and is typically opposite the pump chamber relative to the longitudinal axis of the nipple channel.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing element defines a plug receiving portion between its circumferential edge and the membrane, communicating with a working fluid chamber defined by the housing element. The plug receiving portion is exposed at the outer periphery of the breast pump and adapted to receive a plug element. The plug element is releasably connected and sealed within the plug receiving portion and is provided with a connection for a suction source, such as a pump or tubing leading to the pump. Periodically, the connection is positioned on the circumference of the plug element. The plug receiving portion allows the plug element to be arranged such that the connection protrudes to one side or the other relative to the vertical axis. Therefore, proper alignment of the plug element will satisfy the user's need to individually guide the tubing to one lateral side of the breast pump.

[0026] The plug element can be formed from silicone, PET, or ABS. The front surface of the plug element is typically aligned with the outer surface provided by the housing element. The plug receiver preferably has a long extension perpendicular to the vertical axis of the pump to allow for lateral tubing connection.

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a snap-fit ​​connector is provided between the bra element and the outer shell element. The snap-fit ​​connector includes mating snap-fit ​​elements, one of which is formed as an integral segment of the outer shell element, and the other as an integral segment of the bra element. The snap-fit ​​connector allows the breast pump to be manually assembled by the user without any tools. The snap-fit ​​connector secures the housing as an assembly formed by the bra element and the outer shell element.

[0028] Preferably, the sealing device is configured to circumferentially seal the joint between the outer shell element and the bra element. Such a sealing device may include a seal made of a soft, elastic material injection-molded around the outer shell element or bra element to securely seal the milk compartment and prevent milk leakage.

[0029] To allow for easy disassembly of the breast pump, the bra element preferably has wings that define a disassembly surface, allowing the user to remove the bra element from the housing element. These wings are typically located at the lower end of the breast pump, specifically at the end of the housing element opposite the pumping chamber and the working fluid chamber. For ease of disassembly, the housing element will have recesses on its outer surface, allowing the user's thumb to grasp the back of the wings while the other thumb rests against the recess to hold the housing element in place during removal.

[0030] Other details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0031] Figure 1 This is an exploded perspective view of the implementation method;

[0032] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of an embodiment, the cross-sectional view including the longitudinal axis of the nipple channel and extending parallel to a plane including the vertical axis;

[0033] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 and Figure 2 A perspective view of the front side of the embodiment, and

[0034] Figure 4 It shows Figure 1 and Figure 2 Front views of two different usage scenarios of the implementation method.

[0035] In the accompanying drawings, reference numeral 100 identifies housing element 100, reference numeral 200 identifies media separation element and reference numeral 300 identifies bra element.

[0036] The outer casing element 100 is spherical and defines a planar joint 102 surrounded by the circumferential edge 302 of the breast pump element 300. A sealing device in the form of a circumferential seal 304 is provided between the joint 102 and the circumferential edge 302. At the bottom of the breast pump, the breast pump element 300 has a wing 306 defining a disassembly surface 308. Adjacent to the disassembly surface 308, the outer casing element 100 provides a flat recess 104 as an interruption to the spherical outer surface of the outer casing element 100, the recess 104 providing an upright surface 106. For opening as... Figure 2 In the embodiment depicted, the user grips the housing element 100 such that the thumb of the hand gripping the housing element 100 rests against the holding surface 106. The thumb of the other hand engages with the removal surface 308, while the fingers of that hand engage at least partially with the circumferential edge 302 located at the top of the pump to remove the bra element 300 from the housing element 100.

[0037] Near the top, the housing element 100 provides a plug receiving portion 108, which is formed as a recess within a spherical outer surface and adapted to receive the plug element 400. The plug element 400, i.e., its periphery, is provided with a tube engagement portion 402, which can be coupled to… Figure 3 The tube connection depicted and identified by reference numeral 500 in the accompanying drawings. The plug receiving portion 108 has a relatively long extension. Due to the spherical structure of the housing element 100, the axial extension of the tube joint 401 is arranged below the opposite side edge of the receiving portion 108. Therefore, as Figure 3 As shown, tube 500 can be connected to plug element 400 in the lateral extension.

[0038] The plug element 400 has a central hole 404 extending from a protrusion 406, which sealably engages with a working medium inlet 110 located in the center of the plug receiving portion 108 (contrast). Figure 2 Therefore, the plug element 400 can be arranged in an alignment tilted 180° around the working medium inlet to achieve a connection with... Figure 3 The extension shown provides a connection for the tube 500 in the opposite lateral extension.

[0039] The bra element 300 of this embodiment is a co-injection molded integral element having a nipple channel 310 made of a transparent material and a flange segment 312 made of an opaque material, the flange segment 312 providing a contact surface 314 to at least partially contact the user's breast. Due to the transparency of the nipple channel 310, the user can confirm the correct alignment of the nipple within the nipple channel 310. Above the nipple channel 310, the bra element 300 defines a pump chamber housing 316, which is in fluid communication with the nipple channel 310 via a pump inlet 318. The pump chamber 316 has a flat upper edge 320. The upper edge 320 is annular in shape.

[0040] The inner end 322 of the nipple channel 310 is provided with a fixing engagement 324. The bottom side of the nipple channel 310 protrudes from the valve receiving part 326.

[0041] An open opening 328 is provided at the top of the bra element 300. The open opening 328 protrudes through a snap hook 330 provided by the bra element 300 and engages with a snap opposing surface 111 provided by the annular section 112 of the outer shell element 100 when a circumferential seal is inserted.

[0042] The media separation element 200 has a membrane 202 and a valve 204, which are connected by a connection section 206 having a fixed opening 208. The membrane 202, valve 204 and connection section 206 are implemented as a single integral element, namely the media separation element 200.

[0043] As from Figure 2 As can be seen, the housing element 100 has a circumferential edge 114 that protrudes inward from the concave inner surface of the housing element 100.

[0044] For assembly, the media separation element 200 is secured to the inner end 322 of the nipple channel 310 by at least partially inserting the fixing engagement 324 into the fixing opening 208. The mating surfaces of the media separation element 200 and the fixing engagement 324 provide attachment for the two elements 100, 200. Subsequently, the membrane 202 is inclined and secured against the upper edge 320 to close the pumping chamber 332. Therefore, and as from... Figure 2 As can be seen, the membrane 202 is gripped around the upper edge 320 for proper attachment of the membrane 202 against the breast shield element 300, specifically the pump chamber housing 316. On the other hand, the valve 204 will be tilted to connect within the valve receiving portion 326 and abut against the milk outlet 334 provided on the outer circumference of the nipple channel 310.

[0045] In a further stage of assembly, a pre-assembled assembly, including the media separation element 200 and the bra element 300, is inserted into the housing element 100. During this assembly, the circumferential edge 114 abuts against the membrane 202, thereby sealing the membrane 202 between the bra element 300 and the housing element 100.

[0046] Therefore, the working fluid chamber 116 is disposed within the housing element 100, and the working fluid chamber 116 is in communication with the pipe joint 402 via the working medium inlet 110.

[0047] Figure 3 The formation of a housing element 100 made of two plastic materials with different transparency properties is described. For the following discussion, reference is made to the nipple canal... Figure 2 and Figure 3 The figure shows a longitudinal axis, denoted by the reference numeral L, and a vertical axis V, extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L and in the same plane, which defines the longitudinal axis. Figure 2 A cross-sectional view. This embodiment is symmetrical with respect to the vertical axis V.

[0048] This also applies to the different sections of the outer casing element 100. The first section 118 covers the nipple channel 310 and is thus positioned in the central portion of the outer casing element 100. The first section 118 is made of a frosted, transparent thermoplastic material. The second section 120 is laterally disposed relative to the first section 118 and is made of a slightly frosted, transparent plastic material with higher transparency than the first section 118. The two sections 118 and 120 are joined by co-injection molding. Each of the lateral sides of the second section 120 is provided with a scale line 121, which identifies the amount of milk collected within the pump. Alternatively, the scale line may be provided on the bra 4. In this embodiment, the second section 120 is U-shaped and extends beyond the central region of the outer casing element 100. In this embodiment, the second section 120 provides the bottom of the outer casing element 100.

[0049] Figure 1 A bra element 300 made of two different materials is shown. The nipple channel 310 and the tapered section 338 extending from the nipple channel 310 are made of a clear, transparent material, while the flange section 312 is made of a frosted or opaque plastic material. This construction allows the user to check nipple alignment within the nipple channel 310 through the bra element 300.

[0050] In use, such as Figure 4 As shown, the breast pump is configured with a vertical axis V that is slightly inclined outward below the pump. Therefore, the user's field of vision O will be directed to the lateral side of the housing element, and thus to the second section, which will allow the user to observe the milk flow and nipple alignment, as well as, for example, valve operation. Figure 4 It is also shown that, due to the two different orientations in which the plug element 400 rotates 180° within the plug receiving portion 108, the tube 500 of the pump for use in the left and right breasts is guided toward the center of the body to be connected to the external pump.

[0051] The outer casing 100 is avocado-shaped. The outer casing element 100 has a maximum width approximately at the level of the longitudinal axis L, which is an extension perpendicular to the plane containing both the vertical and longitudinal axes. The outer casing element 100, and therefore the breast element, has a maximum extension in the height direction in the plane containing the vertical axis L. The longitudinal axis L is located below the middle height of the outer casing element 100, which is an extension parallel to the vertical axis. Because of this, the pump's center of gravity is essentially horizontal to or slightly below the longitudinal axis L. Due to this center of gravity, the pump is tilted so that the open nozzle 328 takes the highest point of the pump while the surface 106 takes the lowest point. Indeed, and as from... Figure 2 It is evident that the vertical surface 106 firmly supports the pump in its upright position, which is mounted on the flat horizontal surface F.

[0052] Due to the avocado shape of the outer casing element 100, the breast pump of this embodiment can be at least partially stored inside the bra B. Figure 4 Therefore, the breast pump is a hands-free pump. During operation, the negative pressure of an external vacuum source (not shown in the figures) cyclically empties the working fluid chamber 116, causing the membrane 202 to expand towards the working fluid chamber 116 or towards the pumping chamber 332. The pressure distribution thus generated in the pumping chamber 332 is transmitted to the nipple passage 310 through the pumping inlet.

[0053] As a result, milk is squeezed out and directed downwards into a milk compartment 122 sandwiched between the outer casing element 100 and the breast shield element 300. The milk compartment 122 effectively occupies the entire interior space within the outer casing element 100, which is not covered by the volume of the material or working fluid chamber 116 and the pumping chamber 332 of the breast shield element 300 or the media separation element 200. The milk compartment 122 communicates with the atmosphere through an open spout 328. Because the open spout 328 is positioned at the top of the milk pump and because it is relatively small, spillage of milk squeezed out and contained within the milk compartment 122 is prevented.

[0054] After the milk is expressed, the pump is removed from the bra B and can be placed in an upright position on the vertical surface 106. By rotating the pump up and down, the expressed milk can be poured out through the open nozzle 328. During the pumping operation and the filling of the milk compartment 122 with milk, air can be expelled through the open nozzle 328.

[0055] In this embodiment, the housing 2 of the breast pump is essentially provided only by the outer shell element 100 and the bra element 300. The bra element 300 provides a bra 4 that is suitable for placement against the user's breast, specifically by means of the contact surface 314.

[0056] The outer shell element 100 and the bra element 300 are connected to each other. The outer periphery of the bra element 300 is horizontal with the outer periphery of the outer shell element 100. This avoids free outer edges formed by the outer peripheries of the bra element 300 and / or the outer shell element 100, thus facilitating a smooth outer shell 2 for the breast pump. The outer periphery of the outer shell element 100 is surrounded and held within the outer periphery of the bra element 300.

[0057] The working fluid chamber 116, pumping chamber 332, and milk compartment 122 are defined by only three separate but integral elements discussed in detail above: the housing element 100, the media separation element 200, and the breast shield element 300. Since the media separation element 200, as a single integral element, is provided with a membrane 202 and a valve 204, the breast pump of the present invention can be manufactured with a reduced number of parts. The media separation element 200 can be easily mounted on the breast shield element 300. Pump assembly is facilitated by the reduced number of components to be processed and the possibility of temporarily attaching the media separation element 200 against the inner end 322 of the nipple passage 310. The membrane 202 is securely clamped to seal the fluid working chamber 116 and the pumping chamber 332 after pump assembly, thanks to the mating surfaces provided by the circumferential ring 114 and the upper edge 320.

[0058] The transparent or slightly frosted sections of the pump allow visibility through at least portions of the housing element 100 and the breast shield element 300, particularly the nipple channel 310, to observe nipple alignment and / or milk flow and to grasp the indication of stopping the pumping.

[0059] List of reference numerals

[0060] 2. Shell

[0061] 4. Bra

[0062] 100 housing components

[0063] 102 Joint

[0064] 104 recess

[0065] 106 vertical surfaces

[0066] 108 plug receiving section

[0067] 110 Working Medium Inlet

[0068] 111 buckle opposing surface

[0069] 112 Ring Road Section

[0070] 114 circumferential rings

[0071] 116 Working Fluid Chamber

[0072] 118 First Section

[0073] 120 Part 2

[0074] 121 mark

[0075] 122 Milk Storage Room

[0076] 200 Media Separation Element

[0077] 202 membrane

[0078] 204 valve

[0079] 206 connecting section

[0080] 208 Fixed Opening

[0081] 300 Bra Components

[0082] 302 circumferential edge

[0083] 304 circumferential seal

[0084] 306 Wing

[0085] 308 disassembly surface

[0086] 310 Nipple Channel

[0087] 312 flange section

[0088] 314 contact surface

[0089] 316 Pump Chamber Shell

[0090] 318 Pump Inlet

[0091] 320 top edge

[0092] 322 inner end

[0093] 324 Fixed Joint

[0094] 326 Valve Receiving Section

[0095] 328 Open mouth

[0096] 330 buckle hook

[0097] 332 Pumping Chamber

[0098] 334 Milk Export

[0099] 338 tapered section

[0100] 400 plug components

[0101] 402 pipe joint

[0102] 404 holes

[0103] 406 protrusion

[0104] 500 tubes

[0105] L-axis of the nipple canal

[0106] V Vertical axis

[0107] F Flat surface

[0108] B bra

[0109] O Vision

Claims

1. A breast pump, the breast pump being shaped to be at least partially fitted inside a bra (B), and comprising a housing (2) including an outer shell element and a bra element, a bra (4) including a nipple channel (310) adapted to receive a nipple, a media separation element (200), and the breast pump further comprising a milk compartment (122) adapted to contain a predetermined amount of expressed milk, the breast pump further comprising a working fluid chamber (116) distributing to a vacuum source and a pumping chamber (332) in fluid communication with the nipple channel (310), wherein, The working fluid chamber (116) and the pumping chamber (332) are fluidly separated from each other by a media separation element (200). Its features are, The milk compartment (122), the working fluid compartment (116), and the pumping compartment (332) are composed of only three components: the outer shell element (100), the breast cover element (300), and the media separation element (200).

2. The breast pump of claim 1, further comprising a valve (204) defined by one of the three components.

3. A breast pump, the breast pump being shaped to be at least partially fitted inside a bra (B) and including a housing (2), a bra (4) including a nipple channel (310) adapted to receive a nipple, and the breast pump further including a milk compartment (122) adapted to contain a predetermined amount of expressed milk, the breast pump further including a working fluid chamber (116) distributing to a vacuum source and a pumping chamber (332) in fluid communication with the nipple channel (310), wherein, The working fluid chamber (116) and the pumping chamber (332) are fluidly separated from each other by a membrane (202), wherein a valve (204) is provided between the nipple channel (310) and the milk compartment (122), characterized in that the membrane (202) and the valve (204) are formed by a media separation element (200).

4. The breast pump according to claim 1 or 3, wherein, The media separation element (200) is releasably arranged between the outer shell element (100) and the bra element (300).

5. The breast pump according to claim 3, wherein, The media separation element (220) includes a membrane (202) and a valve (204), the membrane (202) being releasably sandwiched between the housing element (100) and the bra element (300) on one side of the nipple channel (310), and the valve (204) being releasably attached to the bra element (300) on the other side of the nipple channel (310).

6. The breast pump according to claim 3, wherein, The housing (2) is defined only by the outer shell element (100) and the bra element (300).

7. The breast pump according to claim 4, wherein, The housing element (100) has a first segment (118) covering the membrane (202) and a second segment (120) located on the side of the first segment (118), the second segment (120) having better transparency than the first segment (118), thereby allowing the user to observe the nipple channel (310) through the housing element (100).

8. The breast pump according to claim 4, wherein, The nipple channel (310) is made of a material with better transparency than the flange segment (312) of the bra element (300), the flange segment (312) surrounding the nipple channel (310) and at least partially defining a contact surface (314) for contacting the breast.

9. The breast pump according to claim 3, wherein, The walls of the milk compartment (122) are defined by only the outer shell element (100) and the breast cover element (300).

10. The breast pump according to claim 4, wherein, The outer shell element (100), the media separation element (200), and the breast shield element (300) define, in combination, a working fluid chamber (116) for dispensing to a vacuum source, a pumping chamber (332) in fluid communication with the nipple channel (310), and the milk compartment (122).

11. The breast pump according to claim 5, wherein, The media separation element (200) defining the membrane (202) and valve (204) is fixed to the inner end (322) of the nipple channel (310).

12. The breast pump according to claim 4, wherein, The housing element (100) defines a plug receiving portion (108) that communicates with the working fluid chamber (116) and is exposed on the outer periphery of the breast pump. The plug receiving portion (108) is adapted to receive a plug element (400) that is releasably connected to and sealed within the plug receiving portion (108) and is provided with an engagement portion (402) for a suction source.

13. The breast pump according to claim 4 further includes a sealing device (304) for circumferentially sealing the joint between the housing element (100) and the bra element (300).

14. The breast pump according to claim 4, further comprising a snap-fit ​​connector, the snap-fit ​​connector comprising mating snap-fit ​​elements (330; 111), one of the snap-fit ​​elements (330; 111) being formed as an integral section of the outer shell element (100) and the other snap-fit ​​element being formed as an integral section of the bra element (300).

15. The breast pump according to claim 4, wherein, The bra element (300) has wings (306) that define a removal surface (308) to allow a user to remove the bra element (300) from the housing element (100).

Images