Breast pump shield and breast pump assembly

Abstract

A breast shield (1) connectable to a breast pump (20) comprises a frustoconical support (2) having a first opening (4), a second opening (5) spaced apart from the first opening (4) and an inner cavity (7) between the first and second openings (5), the inner cavity being configured to receive at least a portion of a user's breast through the first opening (4); a coupling portion (3) at the first opening (4) and configured to be rotatably coupled to a connection portion (23) of the breast pump (20) to put the breast pump in fluid communication with the breast shield (1), the breast shield (1) being rotatable relative to the connection portion (23) about an axis (X), the coupling portion (3) comprising a contact surface (3a) adapted to be in contact with an outer surface (23a) of the connection portion (23) and having a surface texture adapted to reduce friction between the coupling portion (3) and the connection portion (23) when the breast shield (1) is rotated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a breast pump cup and a breast pump assembly, the breast pump assembly including a breast pump and a breast pump cup connectable to the breast pump. The breast pump cup and breast pump assembly of this invention are specifically designed for expressing breast milk during breastfeeding. Background Technology

[0002] It is known in the art to manufacture breast pump cups that can be attached to a breast pump by means of their connection. Known breast pump cups are made of rigid polymer materials (such as silicone, polyethylene, or polypropylene).

[0003] Document CN202036597U shows an example of a breast pump cup, wherein the cup includes a rigid funnel-shaped support adapted to accommodate a portion of the user's (i.e., the mother's) breast during breastfeeding.

[0004] Document CN202036597U also shows an embodiment of a breast pump cup that can rotate relative to the assembly part of the breast pump, allowing the mother to find the most comfortable position and thus ensuring greater comfort during use.

[0005] Known breast pump cups that can rotate relative to the assembly of the breast pump do not have optimal degrees of freedom of movement. In fact, due to the surface properties of the cup material, especially due to the high adhesion of the surface, rotation of the breast pump cup is hindered and impractical. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In this context, the technical objective of the present invention is to manufacture a breast pump cup that overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art.

[0007] In particular, the object of the present invention is to manufacture a breast pump cup that promotes rotation of the breast pump cup relative to the breast pump.

[0008] The technical task and stated purpose mentioned are essentially achieved by a breast pump cup that includes the technical features set forth in one or more of the appended claims.

[0009] Due to the implementation method, a breast pump cup that can easily rotate relative to the connecting portion of the breast pump due to reduced friction can be obtained. Specifically, the breast pump cup includes a connecting portion having a contact surface with a surface texture that reduces friction between the connecting portion itself and the connecting portion of the breast pump during cup rotation.

[0010] Advantageously, the surface texture has a greater surface roughness compared to the rest of the breast pump cup, which reduces silicone adhesion, particularly at the joint, and promotes cup rotation. In this way, a breast pump cup with better performance in use can be obtained without unduly increasing its production costs.

[0011] Advantageously, this surface texture can be combined with a similar texture manufactured on the connecting part of the breast pump to achieve a synergistic effect and further promote the rotation of the breast pump cup.

[0012] Another advantage of the breast pump cup according to the invention relates to improved milk extraction. In fact, by combining the rotation of the breast pump cup with any massage effect caused by the structure of the cup itself, a synergistic effect is achieved that improves stimulation of the mother's breasts and makes the use of the breast pump cup easier and more effective. Attached Figure Description

[0013] The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of its possible practical embodiments, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0014] - Figure 1 A breast pump cup according to the invention is shown;

[0015] - Figure 2 A breast pump with a breast pump assembly according to the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0016] This invention relates to Figure 1 The breast pump cup 1 shown can be connected to Figure 2 The manual or automatic breast pump 20 shown in the embodiment of the breast pump.

[0017] For the purposes of this invention, the breast pump 20 includes a mechanical device that allows breast milk to be stimulated from the user's (especially the mother's) breast by drawing and periodically releasing the user's nipple through the breast pump cup during breastfeeding.

[0018] The breast pump 20 includes at least one connecting portion 23 having an outer surface 23a for connecting the breast pump itself to the breast pump cup 1.

[0019] The breast pump cup 1 of the present invention includes a truncated conical support 2 having a first opening 4 that can be connected to the breast pump 1 and a second opening 5 spaced apart from the first opening 4 along the axis X.

[0020] Within the scope of this specification, a truncated conical support refers to a "funnel-shaped" element defined by a decreasing cross-section along the main direction.

[0021] The support 2 also includes a sidewall 6 having an inner surface 6a and extending between the first opening 4 and the second opening 5. The support 2 defines an inner cavity 7 between the first opening 4 and the second opening 5, the inner cavity being adapted to receive at least a portion of a user's breast through the first opening 4. Specifically, the inner cavity 7 is defined and surrounded by the sidewall 6. More specifically, the inner surface 6a faces the inner cavity 7.

[0022] The breast pump cup 1 also includes a connecting portion 3 located at the first opening 4 of the support 2. The connecting portion 3 is adapted to be rotatably connected to the connecting portion 23 of the breast pump 20 so that the breast pump cup 1 is in fluid communication with the breast pump 20.

[0023] Preferably, the connecting portion 3 is adapted to be reversibly connected to the connecting portion 23 via a snap-fit ​​connection. Still preferably, the connecting portion 3 has a tubular shape. Similarly, the connecting portion 23 also has a tubular shape. Still preferably, the connecting portion 23 has a smaller dimension than the connecting portion 3 so that it can be coaxially inserted and connected within the connecting portion 3.

[0024] It should be noted that the connection between the connecting portion 3 and the connecting portion 23 can be made according to an alternative (not shown) of the embodiment just described. Specifically, the connecting portion 3 can have a smaller size than the connecting portion 23 so that it can be coaxially inserted and connected within the connecting portion 23.

[0025] In the following description of this specification, reference will be made to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, without loss of generality. In practice, those skilled in the art will be able to adjust the structures of the connecting portion 3 and the connecting portion 23 by specifically referring to the inner and outer surfaces and the components, in order to reverse the connection pattern between the two portions.

[0026] The connecting portion 3 of the breast pump cup 1 includes a contact surface 3a adapted to contact the outer surface 23a of the connecting portion 23 of the breast pump 20. More specifically, the contact surface 3a is defined by the inner surface (not shown) of the connecting portion 3.

[0027] According to the invention, the breast pump cup 1 is rotatable about axis X relative to the connecting portion 23 of the breast pump 20, and in particular about the connecting portion 23.

[0028] The contact surface 3a of the connecting part 3 has a surface texture suitable for reducing friction between the connecting part 3 and the connecting part 23 when the breast pump cup 1 rotates.

[0029] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the surface texture of the contact surface 3a of the connecting portion 3 is associated with the coefficient of friction relative to the connecting portion 23 of the breast pump 20, which is lower than the coefficient of friction associated with the inner surface 6a of the sidewall 6 of the support member 2.

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the surface texture of the contact surface 3a is defined by a surface roughness greater than that of the inner surface 6a of the sidewall 6 of the support member 2, in order to reduce the adhesion of the contact surface 3a. In other words, the surface texture, particularly the increased surface roughness, allows for reduced adhesion of the material of the connecting portion 3.

[0031] It should be noted that surface roughness refers to a surface property defined by alternating grooves or scratches and ridges distributed on the surface and having dimensions on the order of micrometers (i.e., having corresponding depth and height).

[0032] Preferably, the surface roughness of the contact surface 3a is defined by a value calculated between the groove depth and the ridge height, which is between 20 and 30 μm, more preferably between 23 and 27 μm.

[0033] Preferably, the surface roughness is uniform across the entire contact surface 3a.

[0034] Preferably, the surface texture of the contact surface 3a is achieved by roughening (preferably uniformly) the contact surface 3a itself. More specifically, the surface texture is obtained by molding or co-molding the breast pump cup 1 using a mold previously processed by laser machining. In particular, the machining of the mold and thus its roughening, and consequently the roughening of the contact surface 3a, is laser processing. In this way, the surface texture can be obtained directly during the manufacture of the breast pump cup 1.

[0035] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connecting portion 3 of the breast pump cup 1, and particularly the breast pump cup 1 itself, is made of silicone or polypropylene, preferably silicone. More preferably, the breast pump cup 1 is at least partially made of silicone with a hardness between 60 and 80 sh. Still preferably, the breast pump cup 1 is integrally formed, and therefore, the connecting portion 3 is integrally formed with the support member 2.

[0036] It should be noted that silicone resin has surface adhesion that may affect the proper rotation of the breast pump cup 1 relative to the connecting portion 23 of the breast pump 20.

[0037] It should be noted that introducing surface texture on the contact surface 3a of the connecting part 3 allows for reduced silicone adhesion, which in turn facilitates the rotation of the breast pump cup 1.

[0038] It should also be noted that the surface finishing of the connecting portion 3 reduces the adhesion of the contact surface 3a without excessively increasing production costs. In fact, manufacturing a breast pump cup 1 with this surface texture on the connecting portion 3 and the entire sidewall 6 would be more expensive. Furthermore, the surface texture manufactured on the inner surface 6a of the sidewall 6 may be uncomfortable for the user's breasts.

[0039] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the breast pump cup 1 is configured to rotate clockwise and / or counterclockwise by a maximum angle between at least one main position (i.e., the central position relative to the breast pump 20). Preferably, the maximum rotation angle is equal to 90° clockwise and / or counterclockwise. In other words, the breast pump cup 1 can rotate along the circumferential direction θ between a first side position (i.e., an angle equal to -90° relative to the main position) and a second side position (i.e., an angle equal to +90° relative to the main position). Therefore, the breast pump cup 1 can rotate a total angle equal to 180°.

[0040] According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the connecting portion 3 includes an internal guide element 8 adapted to be connected to an external guide element 28 of the connecting portion 23 of the breast pump 20 to facilitate rotation of the breast pump cup 1 relative to the breast pump 20.

[0041] According to the same aspect, the internal guide element 8 of the connecting portion 3 includes at least one annular seat 8a, which is configured to receive and seal with the annular protrusion 28a of the external guide element 28 of the connecting portion 23 of the breast pump 20.

[0042] Preferably, the internal guide element 8 includes two annular seats 8a that can be connected to two annular protrusions 28a of the external guide element 28, respectively.

[0043] Preferably, the surface texture extends on the internal guide element 8.

[0044] It should be noted that when the breast pump cup 1 rotates, the surface texture allows for reduced friction between the breast pump cup 1 and the breast pump 20 without affecting the sealed connection obtained through the internal guide element 8 and the external guide element 28.

[0045] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the internal guide element 8 includes at least one stroke end element (not shown) configured to abut against the blocking surface (not shown) of the connection portion 23 of the breast pump 20. In this way, the stroke end element allows and prevents the breast pump cup 1 from rotating beyond a maximum angle. Preferably, the stroke end element includes two ends spaced apart in the circumferential direction θ, adapted to abut against the blocking surface at a first side position and a second side position, respectively.

[0046] According to an alternative embodiment (not shown), the internal guide element 8 is included in the connecting portion 23 of the breast pump 20, while the external guide element 28 is included in the connecting portion 3 of the breast pump cup 1. More specifically, the contact surface 3a of the connecting portion 3 is defined by the outer surface of the connecting portion 3 and is adapted to be positioned to contact the inner surface of the connecting portion 23. In the above alternative embodiment, the breast pump cup 1 rotates about axis X inside the connecting portion 23 of the breast pump 20.

[0047] In the above alternative embodiment, the external guide element 28 of the connecting portion 3 includes a blocking surface adapted to abut against the corresponding end of the stroke end element of the internal guide element 8 of the connecting portion 23 at a first side position and a second side position.

[0048] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support member 2 has an edge 10 at the second opening 5. Preferably, the support member 2 further includes a resting portion 11 at and protruding from the edge 10. This resting portion 11 is configured to contact at least a portion of the user's breast. Still preferably, the resting portion 11 is integrally formed with the support member 2 and is continuously formed with the sidewall 6 of the support member 2. Still preferably, the resting portion 11 is made of a material with a lower hardness than the material of the support member 2.

[0049] According to one aspect of the invention, the support 2 includes a tab 12 that projects from the edge 10 and more particularly from the resting portion 11. The tab 12 can be gripped by a user to rotate and manipulate the breast pump cup 1.

[0050] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sidewall 6 of the support 2 includes one or more massage portions 16 spaced at an angle along the circumferential direction θ. These massage portions 16 allow stimulation and facilitate the expression of breast milk in different parts of the user's breast.

[0051] Advantageously, the presence of the rotating and massaging portion 16 of the breast pump cup 1 allows for better milk extraction. In fact, a synergistic effect can be achieved, which improves stimulation of the user's breasts at different locations, thus making the use of the breast pump cup easier and more effective.

[0052] Another object of the present invention is a breast pump assembly comprising a breast pump cup 1 according to the present specification and a corresponding breast pump 20 connectable to the breast pump cup 1.

[0053] It can be noted that the breast pump 20 of the breast pump assembly preferably includes all the technical features shown for the general breast pumps described in this disclosure. Therefore, these features will not be repeated hereafter and are considered as optional, preferred and combinable features of those features described below in this specification.

[0054] Preferably, the connecting part 23 of the breast pump 20 is made of polypropylene.

[0055] According to the present invention, the outer surface 23a of the connecting portion 23 of the breast pump 20 has a surface texture. Preferably, the surface texture is manufactured and defined similarly to the surface texture of the contact surface 3a of the connecting portion 3. Optionally, the surface texture of the outer surface 23a of the connecting portion 23 is obtained by different techniques and / or defined by a surface roughness different from that of the contact surface 3a.

[0056] The surface texture of the outer surface 23a of the connecting part 23 can be connected to the surface texture of the contact surface 3a of the connecting part 3 so as to reduce the friction between the connecting part 3 and the connecting part 23 when the user rotates the breast pump cup 1, thereby reducing the friction between the contact surface 3a and the outer surface 23a itself.

[0057] Advantageously, the friction reduction effect is further enhanced by the synergistic effect generated by connecting the two surface textures.

Claims

1. A breast pump cup (1) capable of being connected to a breast pump (20), the breast pump cup comprising: - A truncated conical support (2) having a first opening (4), a second opening (5) spaced apart from the first opening (4), and a sidewall (6) having an inner surface (6a) between the first opening (4) and the second opening (5), the support (2) defining an inner cavity (7) between the first opening (4) and the second opening (5), the inner cavity being configured to receive at least a portion of a user's breast through the first opening (4). - A connecting portion (3), located at the first opening (4) of the support member (2), the connecting portion (3) is configured to be rotatably connected to the connecting portion (23) of the breast pump (20) to position the breast pump cup (1) in fluid communication with the breast pump (20), the breast pump cup (1) being rotatable about an axis (X) relative to the connecting portion (23) of the breast pump (20). The connecting portion (3) is characterized in that it includes a contact surface (3a) adapted to contact the outer surface (23a) of the connecting portion (23), and has a surface texture adapted to reduce friction between the connecting portion (3) and the connecting portion (23) when the breast pump cup (1) rotates. The surface texture of the contact surface (3a) is defined by a surface roughness greater than that of the inner surface (6a) of the sidewall (6) of the support member (2) in order to reduce the adhesion of the contact surface (3a).

2. The breast pump cup (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The surface texture of the contact surface (3a) of the connecting portion (3) is made by laser processing.

3. The breast pump cup (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The connecting part (3) of the breast pump cup (1) is made of silicone resin.

4. The breast pump cup (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The connecting portion (3) includes an internal guide element (8) that can be connected to an external guide element (28) of the connecting portion (23) of the breast pump (30), and the surface texture extends on the internal guide element (8).

5. The breast pump cup (1) according to claim 4, wherein, The internal guide element (8) of the connecting portion (3) includes at least one annular seat (8a), which is configured to receive and seal with the annular protrusion (28a) of the external guide element (28) of the connecting portion (23) of the breast pump (20).

6. The breast pump cup (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein, The internal guide member (8) includes at least one stroke end element configured to abut against the blocking surface of the connecting portion (23) of the breast pump cup (20), the breast pump cup (1) being configured to rotate clockwise and / or counterclockwise by a maximum angle from the main position, the stroke end element being adapted to prevent the breast pump cup (1) from rotating beyond the maximum angle.

7. The breast pump cup (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The support (2) includes an edge (10) at the first opening (4) and a tab (12) protruding from the edge (10), the tab (12) being able to be grasped by a user to rotate and manipulate the breast pump cup (1).

8. A breast pump assembly, comprising: - Breast pump (20), which includes a connecting portion (23) having an outer surface (23a); - The breast pump cup (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which is capable of being connected to the breast pump (20). The outer surface (23a) of the connecting portion (23) of the breast pump (20) has a surface texture that can be connected to the contact surface (3a) of the connecting portion (3) to reduce the friction between the contact surface (3a) and the outer surface (23a) when the breast pump (1) rotates.

9. The breast pump assembly according to claim 8, wherein, The connecting portion (23) of the breast pump (20) is made of polypropylene.

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