Breast pump

Abstract

Breast Pump A breast pump (2) including a breast shield unit (6) with a breast shield having a nipple tunnel (24) adapted to at least in part receive a breast of a lactating user, a milk container (8) providing a reservoir (30) for milk expressed from the breast and a housing (10) comprising an aggregate (40) transferring electric energy into a driving force for generating suction for the expression of the milk, a power source (36) for energizing the aggregate (40) and a controller (56) for controlling the aggregate (40). To improve usability of the breast pump the present invention proposes a housing (10) having a modular configuration.

Description

[0001] Breast Pump

[0002] The present invention relates to a breast pump.

[0003] For example, the pump can include a breast shield unit with the breast shield having a nipple tunnel adapted to at least in part, receive a breast of a lactating user. The breast pump furthermore has a milk container providing a reservoir for milk expressed from the breast. Furthermore, the pump has a housing comprising an aggregate, a power source and a controller.

[0004] Such pump is e.g. known from WO 2018 / 229 504 A1 . This prior art provides information on an in-bra breast pump. In such a breast pump, the breast shield unit and the housing as well as the milk container are adapted to form an assembled unit, which unit can be placed against the breast of a lactating user and can be held within the bra of the user (in-bra breast pump).

[0005] The present invention, however, also relates to breast pumps in which the breast shield unit and usually the milk container provide one unit of the breast pump, which unit is connected to the housing via at least one tube such that the suction generated within the housing can be transferred into the nipple tunnel, in order to provide usually a cyclic suction profile adapted to expressed milk, see e.g. US 2015 / 314053 or US 2010217182 A1 (in-bra breast pump).

[0006] Ease of handling breast pumps is becoming more and more important over time as the users have different needs and go for products that meet their needs. In particular, the housing of the breast pump is a relatively heavy and cumbersome component so that measures to improve its handling are desirable. Ease of handling may e.g. imply ease of transport.

[0007] Moreover and when the breast pump is not required any longer due to the increasing age of the breast fat newborn and its need for other food than breast milk, the user may store, sell or dispose the breast pump. In any case, the money spent for buying the breast pump is to a large extent lost and also the environment may substantially be affected when the pump is disposed away.

[0008] Further, the users may have the need to personalize their breast pump such that the gallons of the breast pump meet their personal expectations and demands.

[0009] The present invention wishes to provide a proposal to at least in part, meet the above- mentioned objectives.

[0010] As a solution, the present invention provides a breast pump which has a breast pump unit which can be configured as known in prior art, and may have a breast shield having a nipple tunnel adapted to at least in part, receive the breast of the lactating user. Furthermore, a milk container may be provided, which is connected or connectable to the breast shield unit such that milk expressed within the nipple tunnel can be transferred to a reservoir provided by the milk container to store the amount of expressed milk. The inventive breast pump has a housing, which housing comprises and thus surrounds plural components of the breast pump such as the aggregate, a power source and a controller. The aggregate transfers electric energy into a driving force, which driving force eventually will generate the suction within the nipple tunnel. The controller is adapted to control the aggregate. The power source is provided for energizing the aggregate and optionally the controller.

[0011] According to the present invention, the housing has a modular configuration. According to one aspect of this proposal, the components contained within the housing like in the aggregate, the power source or the controller are modular. The controller may for example have a motherboard which allows to add and thereby electrically connect to the motherboard further electric or electronic components, which in the course of the control of the breast pump will allow further control features. The controller may, for example, be adapted to in addition receive a Bluetooth connection means, which may not be present in the basic configuration of the controller.

[0012] The power source may for example provide a certain electrical capacity in the basic configuration, which on demand can be enhanced by at least one further component like a battery module or by a different battery module with different power. The housing is prepared to mechanically receive and secure and electrically connect such additional and / or different battery module to an electrical supply path to the aggregate. The modular aggregate may for example allow nondestructive replacement of the aggregate within the housing to e.g. provide an aggregate with higher power without need to change all other components within the housing and / or the housing completely.

[0013] The modular configuration may as well be provided by a housing having at least two different housing parts which can be joined to form the housing. One part of the overall housing is a power housing which contains the power source. Furthermore, the inventive breast pump has an aggregate housing containing the aggregate. Both, the power housing and the aggregate housing have interfaces, which interfaces are adapted to electrically connect the power housing and the aggregate housing.

[0014] Connection in this way can be made by external electrical lines which are connectable to the respective interfaces provided on an outer surface of the power housing and the aggregate housing.

[0015] This design provides the possibility to customize the power housing on one hand and the aggregate housing on the other. A user may combine differently designed power housings or aggregate housings to customize the breast pump. A single breast pump may for example have different power housings with different electric capacities. Thus, in case of a longer absence of the user, the user may select a power housing having a higher electrical capacity whereas a lower electrical capacity and thus a much lighter power housing may be combined with the aggregate housing if an electric plug for charging the power housing is accessible anytime. The power housing may as well just transfer the energy provided from a housing plug to the aggregate housing, and may contain a transformer for providing electrical energy suitable to operate the aggregate in the aggregate housing. In other words, one power housing may not necessarily contain a battery as the power source.

[0016] With the inventive concept, the user may as well select a specific aggregate housing among different aggregate housings, which aggregate housings provide different suction power levels or suction profiles. Thus, instead of a complex control for adapting a suction profile provided by the breast pump to a specific need of the user, which need may change over time, the user may select a specific aggregate housing providing a suction profile which meets the actual demand of the user.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the housing furthermore comprises a control housing containing the controller. The control housing has a control interface, which control interface is adapted to electrically connect the control housing to the power housing and / or the aggregate housing. This preferred embodiment provides the opportunity to individually select a control housing which meets the specific demands of the user. If, for example, the breast pump is used outdoor in a dusty or wet environment, the control housing will have to meet other demands than in case of the use of the breast pump with in a closed environment like a hospital or a room within a house. Thus, the user may as well select a control housing and combine the same with the selected power housing and the aggregate housing to customize the respective breast pump meeting individual needs at a specific time or circumstance.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the breast pump has a holder, which holder comprises a first holder component and a second holder component. The first and the second holder components are adapted to be releasable coupled with each other, thereby forming the holder. The holder may sealingly encompass at least two of the control housing, the power housing and the aggregate housing. Furthermore, the first holder component and the second holder component electrically connect at least two of the control housing, the power housing and the aggregate housing. Such electrical connection may be provided by electrically connecting each of the housings to the first and the second holder component, respectively, which holder components are each electrically connected with each other. Additionally or alternatively, at least two of the control housing, the power housing and the aggregate housing made directly be electrically connected when being physically coupled by the coupling of the first and the second holder component. In such event, the control housing, the power housing and / or the aggregate housing do not require mating physical coupling means which are adapted to releasable couple the respective housings with each other. Instead, the holder can provide mechanical coupling of the control housing, the power housing and / or the aggregate housing. According to a further preferred embodiment, the holder comprises a carrying aid means. This carrying aid means may be any rigid, deformable or flexible part which can be used to hold and carry the holder along with the components assembled by the holder. The carrying aid means may be in the form of a belt or a closed loop such that the holder can be placed around the neck, an arm or the hip of the user. Apart from this functionality, the carrying aid means may provide for electrical or mechanical connection between the first and the second holder component.

[0019] According to a further preferred embodiment, and for releasable coupling the first and the second holder component, those holder components have assigned physical coupling means comprising e.g. at least one of a magnetic closure, a screw connection, a positive connection. The positive connection may be provided by a snap connection or a bayonet lock. On a regular basis, the holder components are figured such that physical coupling of the holder components leads to an electrical connection between at least two of the control housing, the power housing and the aggregate housing. Power and / or control signals can be transferred wirelessly between different modules i.e. housings.

[0020] As can be derived from the above description, the inventive breast pump allows to separately store or move or use at least the power housing and the aggregate housing. Thus, handling is simplified. Furthermore, usability of the breast pump is improved as e.g. a power housing containing a power source like a battery may be used independent from the breast pump and may be charged independently from the presence of further components of the breast pump. The separate housings in form of the power housing, the aggregate housing and / or the control housing are less cumbersome. Furthermore, each of those housings is lighter than the overall housing known from prior art, which encompasses a power source, an aggregate and the controller.

[0021] The holder not only physically joins the different component housings like the power housing, the aggregate housing and / or the control housing, but may be used to electrically connect the power source and the aggregate and / or the control contained in the separate component housings. The shells of each of the component housings or at least individual component housings may be rather thin thereby providing a lower shock or environmental protection of the component within the respective housing. As a compensation thereof, the holder may encompass the component housings thereby providing an outer rigid shell around the housings. Such rigid shell may be used in combination with the component housings to protect the same in case of use of those components of the breast pump in a rough environment whereas the protection and shielding by the power housing, the aggregate housing and / or the control housing may be sufficient in another environment like a hospital or a house such that no holder may be necessary for operating and using the breast pump.

[0022] As the power housing, the aggregate housing and the control housing may be used separately from each other or in combination, the power housing may for example be provided with a USB or USB-C port for using the power housing to energize a smart phone, a tablet or another consumer of electric energy, which energy may have a different quality than the energy provided through the regular plug within a house. The power housing may also have a selector for selecting the quality of the electric energy, in particular the output voltage. As mentioned above, the power housing may contain a battery including a rechargeable battery and / or a transformer of electric energy, which may be provided in form of a ballast. The aggregate housing may have an interface providing a suction pressure and / or an overpressure, which overpressure usually is the result of air expelled by the pump in the course of providing the suction pressure.

[0023] Thus, the aggregate housing may be used as a pneumatic assist device for pumping or sucking for other purposes than the expression of milk from the breast. A hose or pipe may be connected to the suction interface or the pressure interface on the outer surface of the aggregate housing. The aggregate housing may e.g. be combined with a massage cushion like a neck ring massage cushion, which massage cushion may provide a massaging movement due to a specific pressure and suction profile provided by the aggregate housing, usually controlled by the controller. The power housing may as well be used as a power source for heating another component, which other component may be provided by the milk container or a milk bottle in order to heat the expressed milk prior to feeding to the newborn. The power housing may as well be connected to a heating accessory like a band possibly shaped to embrace the neck or another portion of the body for comfort of the same. This heating accessory usually has a resistance heater and may be provided with a temperature sensor to limit the temperature to the comfort level.

[0024] The power housing may as well be provided with a display for the time thereby providing functionality of a clock. Buttons or icons may be provided on the outer side of the power housing for regulation of any component connectable to the power housing for energizing the same. The power housing may as well be provided with a torch to provide the functionality of a flash lamp including an on / off switch for the light source.

[0025] According to one aspect of the invention, the power housing may be used as power source for any consumer of electric energy. The power housing may be used as or become part of a gadget like a power bank or a clock, a torch, a pneumatic massager, a heater or warmer, etc., possibly with the addition of additional modules like for example a clock module that is connected to the power housing so that a clock gadget can be created or a resistor modules that is connected to the power housing to create a warmer. Many gadgets formed by the power housing as a whole or in part are possible after terminating use of the power housing for energizing an aggregate of the breast pump. Alternatively, the power source i.e. the battery as such and disassembled from the housing may be used as power source for any electric gadget. According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the power housing and the aggregate housing have mating physical coupling means and mating interfaces. The mating physical coupling means are adapted to releasable couple the power housing and the aggregate housing. This means that the power housing by means of the mating physical coupling means can be directly connected to the aggregate housing and vice versa. The mating interfaces are adapted to electrically connect the power housing to the aggregate housing. This connection is usually a direct connection, where the interfaces provided on both of the housings are in direct electrical contact. In other words, the electrical contact will not be provided by an additional means like a cable, which extends between the respective interfaces. In such an embodiment, a holder described above is dispensable. Moreover, the physical coupling means and the interfaces may be provided such that a physical coupling between the two housings will likewise couple the interfaces with each other between the respective housings. In other words, physical coupling of the housings will inevitably lead to electrical coupling of the housings via the interfaces. This facilitates joining of the overall housing by releasable connecting the power housing, the aggregate housing and / or the control housing.

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment, the housing comprises a control housing containing the controller, which control housing has physical coupling means and a control interface. The physical coupling means are adapted to releasable couple the control housing to the power housing and / or the aggregate housing. The control interface is adapted to electrically connect the control housing to the power housing and / or the aggregate housing. Thus, the controller is provided in a separate unit, which may be physically and electrically directly connected to the power housing and / or the aggregate housing. The controller may comprise plural controller components or pieces or submodules, which are contained in separate housings and / or may be received in module slot of a housing receiving at least one controller component. Such a module slot is adopted to receive a submodule housing containing another controller component or submodule, which when being received within the module slot will mechanically be connected with the housing and which will electrically be connected with the at least one controller component.

[0027] In a first variant, the aggregate housing is configured as an aggregate-pump-housing, which comprises the aggregate and a pump operatively connected with the aggregate to transform the driving force into suction. Accordingly, the aggregate-pump-housing is a unit which per se can be used as a suction and / or overpressure pump unit e.g. for the purposes mentioned above.

[0028] According to an alternate variant, a pump housing is provided, which pump housing contains the pump and not the aggregate. The pump housing has physical coupling means and a pump driving interface. The physical coupling means are adapted to releasable couple the pump housing to the aggregate housing. Furthermore, and in this variant, the aggregate housing has an aggregate driving interface. The pump driving interface and the aggregate driving interface are adapted to drivingly couple the pump and the aggregate for transmitting the driving force to the pump. The aggregate may for example have a piston which is moving in a cyclic fashion and thereby drives a membrane defining e.g. the pump driving interface and closing off a pump chamber provided within the pump housing. The piston may as well be sealed by a driving membrane to prevent water or dirt to enter the aggregate housing. The driving membrane may be secured or laid against the piston and may provide the aggregate driving interface which mechanically acts against the pump driving interface provided by the membrane. Thus, the driving force of the aggregate is transmitted to the pump.

[0029] For ease of physical connection between two of the housings, the coupling means preferably comprises at least one of a magnetic closure, a screw connection, a positive connection, in particular in form of a snap connection or a bayonet lock.

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the overall housing is smooth despite of the fact that the housing is composed of different component housing units. For this to achieve, the aggregate housing, the control housing and / or the pump housing are configured such that neighboring outer surfaces of two housings coupled with each other are flush.

[0031] According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the power housing, the aggregate housing, the control housing and / or the pump housing are provided with error prevention means preventing any incorrect physical coupling and / or electrical connection between the two housings. Such error prevention means provide a poka-yoke-functionality and guarantee appropriate connection of assigned housings, their mating physical coupling means and their mating interfaces. An unexperienced user will by all means assemble the different component housings in the appropriate way and as intended by the manufacturer of the breast pump.

[0032] On a general basis, the control housing may comprise a microcontroller, a memory and / or a Bluetooth interface provided within the control housing. The controller is usually provided by a mainboard, i.e. a printed circuit board with surface mounted devices.

[0033] In order to reduce the number of physical couplings and interfaces, the power housing preferably is sandwiched between the control housing and the aggregate housing or the aggregate- pump-housing.

[0034] For the same reason, the aggregate housing preferably is sandwiched between the pump housing and the power housing.

[0035] Further details and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment in connection with the drawing. In the drawings:

[0036] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a breast pump;

[0037] Fig. 2 is a perspective exploded view of an embodiment of the milk container and the breast shield of the breast pump of figure 1 ;

[0038] Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of figure 2;

[0039] Fig. 4 is a side perspective view of a housing in an unassembled state;

[0040] Fig. 5 is a side perspective view of the housing of figure 4 in an assembled state; Fig. 6 is a representation of a first schematic embodiment of a housing;

[0041] Fig. 7 is a representation of a schematic embodiment of an array of mating physical coupling means and interfaces;

[0042] Fig. 8 is a representation of a second schematic embodiment of a housing;

[0043] Fig. 9 is a representation of a third schematic embodiment of a housing and

[0044] Fig. 10 is a side perspective view of component housings of another embodiment of a housing in an unassembled state.

[0045] Figure 1 exemplifies an embodiment of a breast pump 2 having a breast unit 4 including a breast shield unit 6 joined with a milk container, which milk container is identified in figure 3 with reference numeral 8. Reference numeral 10 identifies in general a housing, which housing 10 has have a fluidic connection with the breast shield unit 6 via a flexible tube 12.

[0046] For this, the breast unit 4 has a plug connector 14, which communicates with the lumen of the tube 12 and a fluid working chamber 16 in part limited by an outer shell 18 of the breast unit 4 and a membrane 20, which sits on an outer rim of a pumping chamber 22 of the breast shield unit 6, which pumping chamber 22 is in fluid communication with a nipple tunnel 24 adapted to at least in part receive a breast of a lactating user and have a fluidic connection with the milk container 8 via a valve 26. The nipple tunnel 24 is a part of a breast shield 28. The outer shell 18 surrounds a reservoir 30, which is partially limited by walls of the breast shield unit 6.

[0047] As further exemplified in figure 4, the housing 10 is composed of different housing components. In the embodiment of figure 4, the housing 10 is formed by an aggregate-pump-housing 32 and a power housing 34. The power housing 34 contains a power source 36 in form of a battery 38. The aggregate-pump-housing 32 surrounds an aggregate 40 in form of a motor 42, which motor 42 is mechanically coupled with a pump 44 schematically exemplified as a piston 46 reciprocating in a cylinder 48. The cylinder 48 is provided with valves (not shown) to direct a suction airflow towards a suction interface 50 on an outer surface provided by the aggregate-pump-hous- ing 32, which suction interface 50 can be connected with the tube 12.

[0048] The power housing 34 is shown to have a power interface 52, which is electrically connected to the battery 38 and is adapted to electrically connect with an assigned interface (not shown in figure 4) of the aggregate-pump-housing 32 to make electrical contact between the motor 42 and the battery 38.

[0049] In figure 5, reference numeral 54 identifies a user interface of a controller 56, which controller 56 is received within the aggregate-pump-housing 32 for controlling operation of the aggregate 40. Thus, the aggregate-pump-housing 32 also functions as a control housing.

[0050] In this embodiment, the aggregate-pump-housing 32 has physical aggregate-to-power-cou- pling-means 58 in form of snap fingers 60, which cooperate with mating power-to-aggregate- coupling-means 62 in form of snap receptacles 64 provided by the power housing 34. The snap receptacles 64 are adapted to receive the snap fingers 60 to physically couple the aggregate- pump-housing 32 with the power housing 34 thereby making electrical contact between the power interface 52 and the assigned interface.

[0051] The aggregate-pump-housing 32 is provided with carrying aid means 66 in form of shoelaces which are tied up at their free ends for forming a loop 68 and which allow the hand of the user to project through the loop 68 to securely hold the housing 10 composed of the aggregate- pump-housing 32 and the power housing 34 by means of the carrying aid means 66.

[0052] Figure 6 exemplifies another embodiment coupling the power housing 34 with the aggre- gate-pump-housing 32 by means of magnets 72, 74 with different N / S poles. Each of the housings 32, 34 have each a magnet 72 assigned to the N pole and a magnet 74 assigned to the S pole. Thus, the housings 32, 34 can only be coupled in one predetermined way. Coupling of the housing 34, 34 is foolproof. Accordingly, the arrangement of the magnets 72, 74 as described above provides an error prevention means 76 preventing an incorrect physical coupling of the two housings 32, 34.

[0053] In figure 6, the power interface 52 has contact pins exposed on a projection of the power housing 34, which may be pre-tensioned outwardly by a spring to be connected to assigned contact surfaces of an aggregate-power-interface 78 exposed in a recess on the outer surfaces of the aggregate-pump-housing 32.

[0054] Figures 6 and 7 schematically show the arrangement of the different magnets 72, 74 and contact elements of the two interfaces 52, 78, which contact elements are generally identified with reference numeral 80.

[0055] Figure 8 shows a schematic representation of another housing 10, which housing 10 is composed of various housing components. Reference numeral 82 identifies a control housing, which control housing comprises the controller 56 comprising a PCB 84, a microcontroller 86, a memory 88 and a Bluetooth connection means 90.

[0056] The battery 38 is contained in the power housing 34, which is sandwiched between the control housing 82 and an aggregate housing 92 comprising the aggregate 40. The aggregate housing 92 is sandwiched between a pump housing 94 and the power housing 34.

[0057] In figure 8, reference numeral 96 identifies physical control-to-power-coupling-means of the control housing 82. Reference numeral 98 identifies physical power-to-control-coupling- means of the power housing 34. Those coupling means 96, 98 are provided to releasable and physically couple the control housing 82 with the power housing 34.

[0058] Electrical contact between the controller 56 and the battery 38 is provided between a con- trol-to-power-interface 100 provided on the outer surface of the control housing 82 and a power- to-control-interface 102 provided on the outer surface of the power housing 34. As the case may be, those interfaces 100, 102 may as well provide a conductive path for control signals from the controller 56 through the power housing 34 in case the controller 56 is to be connected to an electrical or electronic component in one of the other housings 92 or 94.

[0059] In figure 8, reference numeral 104 identifies physical power-to-aggregate-coupling-means of the power housing 34. Reference numeral 106 identifies physical aggregate-to-power-cou- pling-means of the aggregate housing 92. Those coupling means 104, 106 are provided to releasable and physically couple the aggregate housing 92 with the power housing 34.

[0060] Electrical contact between the power source 36 and the aggregate 40 is provided between a power-to-aggregate-interface 108 provided on the outer surfaces of the power housing 34 and an aggregate-to-power-interface 110 provided on the outer surface of the aggregate housing 92. As the case may be, those interfaces 108, 110 may as well provide a conductive path for control signals from the controller 56 through the power housing 34 into the aggregate housing 92 in case the controller 56 is to be connected to an electrical or electronic component in the aggregate housing 92.

[0061] In figure 8, reference numeral 112 identifies physical aggregate-pump-coupling-means of the aggregate housing 92. Reference numeral 114 identifies physical pump-aggregate-coupling- means of the pump housing 94. Those coupling means 112, 114 are provided to releasable and physically couple the aggregate housing 92 with the pump housing 94.

[0062] In figure 8 and between the aggregate housing 92 and the pump housing 94 the aggregate housing 92 is shown to have an aggregate driving interface 116 in form of an aggregate membrane 118, which is sealingly coupled with the aggregate housing 92 and mechanically coupled with the piston 46 and thus the driving force of the aggregate 40 to impose a reciprocating movement to the aggregate membrane 118 in case the aggregate 40 is operated. Opposite to the aggregate housing 92, the pump housing 94 is provided with a pump driving interface 120 in form of a driving membrane 122. The driving membrane 122 seals a pumping chamber 124. The driving membrane 122 is mechanically coupled with the aggregate membrane 118. Thus, reciprocating movement of the aggregate membrane 118 will likewise impose a reciprocating movement on the driving membrane 122 which will reduce and expand the volume of the pumping chamber 124. A suction valve 126 and a pressure valve 128 will direct flow out of and into the pumping chamber 122, which involves 126, 128 communicate with the suction interface 50 or a pressure interface 130, both interfaces 50, 130 being provided on the outer surface of the pump housing 94. Those interfaces 50, 130 can be used to attach a tube to the housing 10 for utilizing suction pressure or overpressure to either drive the breast pump or inflate or deflate another component like a cushion, in particular a massage cushion, which for providing a massaging effect will have to be inflated and deflated cyclically.

[0063] Figures 9 and 10 exemplify embodiments with a holder 132 constituted of a first holder component 134 in form of a first housing shell element 136 and a second holder component 138 in form of a second housing shell element 140. The housing shell elements 136, 140 are configured to circumferentially surround the aggregate-pump-housing 32 and the power housing 34. Each of the holder components 134, 138 has assigned physical component-to component coupling means 140, 142 in form of magnets 72, 74 for coupling the holder components 134, 138.

[0064] In a bottom of the first housing shell 136 of the first holder component 134 has a recess 142 which is adapted to receive a projection 144 of the power housing 34. In a bottom of the second housing shell 140 the second holder component 138 provides a projection 146 adapted to be received in a recess 148 of the aggregate-pump-housing 32. The projections 144,146 are each adapted to fit into the assigned recesses 142, 148. As the geometric configuration of each projection 144; 146 and the assigned recess 142; 148 is different, this geometric configuration provides an error proof mounting of the housings 32, 34 within the housing shells 136, 140, respectively. Magnets 72, 74 provided in each of the housing shells 136, 140 and each housing 32, 34 allow to hold each of the housing 32, 34 within the housing shells 136, 140 prior to coupling the housing shells 136, 140. After coupling of the housing shells 136, 140, the housings 32, 34 are encompassed by the holder 132. Moreover, and as a consequence of this physical coupling the housing 32 via the assigned and mating contact elements 80 is electrically connected with the second housing shell 140 and the aggregate-pump-housing 32 is electrically connected with the first housing shell 136. The magnets 72, 74 or other or additional couplings like mechanical couplings may ensure a stable connection for the transfer of energy via the contact elements 80.

[0065] Electric connection between electric or electronic components within the housings 32, 34 is achieved by an electric connector cable 150 coupled to each of the first and the second holder components 134, 138, which the cable may as well provide the functionality of the carrying aid means 66.

[0066] Figure 10 is an actual realization of the schematic embodiment shown in figure 8. The second housing shell warrant 40 is shown to have a USB interface 152, which can be used to load the battery (not shown in figure 10). Respective USB interface 152 may likewise be used to electrically supply another component, which is not a component of the breast pump 2.

[0067] Respective USB interface 152 is also provided on the outer side of the power housing 34 of figure 4. List of Reference Signs breast pump breast unit breast shield unit milk container housing flexible tube plug connector fluid working chamber outer shell membrane pumping chamber nipple tunnel valve breast shield reservoir aggregate-pump-housing power housing power source battery aggregate motor pump piston cylinder suction interface power interface user interface controller aggregate-to-power-coupling-means snap fingers power-to-aggregate-coupling-means snap receptacles carrying aid means loop

[0068] N pole magnet

[0069] S pole magnet error prevention means aggregate-power-interface contact element control housing

[0070] PCB microcontroller memory

[0071] Bluetooth connection means aggregate housing pump housing control-to-power-coupling-means power-to-control-coupling-means control-to-power-interface power-to-control-interface power-to-aggregate-coupling-means aggregate-to-power-coupling-means power-to-aggregate-interface aggregate-to-power-interface aggregate-pump-coupling-means pump-aggregate-coupling-means aggregate driving interface aggregate membrane pump driving interface driving membrane pumping chamber suction valve pressure valve pressure interface holder first holder component first housing shell element second holder component second housing shell element recess projection projection recess cable

[0072] USB interface

Claims

CLAIMS1. A breast pump (2) including a housing (10) comprising an aggregate (40) transferring electric energy into a driving force for generating suction for the expression of milk, a power source (36) for energizing the aggregate (40) and a controller (56) for controlling the aggregate (40), characterized in that the housing (10) has a modular configuration.

2. The breast pump (2) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the housing (10) comprises a power housing (34) containing the power source (36) and an aggregate housing (32; 94) containing the aggregate (40), wherein the power housing (34) and the aggregate housing (32; 94) each have interfaces (50; 52), wherein the interfaces (50; 52) are adapted to electrically connect the power housing (34) and the aggregate housing (40).

3. The breast pump according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said housing (10) comprises a control housing (82) containing the controller (56), wherein the control housing (82) has a control interface (100), which control interface (100) is adopted to electrically connect the controller (56) to the power source (36) and / or the aggregate (40).

4. The breast pump according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by a holder comprising a first holder component (134) and a second holder component (138), wherein the first holder component (134) and the second holder component (138) are adapted to be releasable coupled with each other thereby physically joining at least two of the control housing (82), the power housing (34) and the aggregate housing (32; 94) and electrically connecting at least two of the control housing (82), the power housing (34: 94) and the aggregate housing (32; 94).

5. The breast pump according to claim 4, characterized in that the holder or the housing (10) comprises carrying aid means (66).

6. The breast pump according to claim 4, characterized in that the first and the second holder components (134; 138) have mating physical coupling means comprising at least one of a magnetic closure, a screw connection, a positive connection, in particular a snap connection or a bayonet lock.

7. The breast pump according to claim 4, characterized in that the first and the second holder components (134; 138) are configured such that physical coupling of the first andthe second holder components (134; 138) will likewise electrically connect the at least two of the control housing (82), the power housing (34) and the aggregate housing (34: 94).

8. A breast pump according to any of the claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the power housing (34) and the aggregate housing (32; 92) have mating physical coupling means (96; 98) and mating interfaces (100; 102), wherein the mating physical coupling means (96; 98) are adapted to releasable couple the power housing (34) and the aggregate housing (92) and wherein the mating interfaces (100; 102) are adapted to electrically connect the power housing (34) to the aggregate housing (92).

9. The breast pump according to any of the claims 2 to 8, characterized in that said housing (10) comprises a control housing (82) containing the controller (56), wherein the control housing (82) has physical coupling means (96) and a control interface (100), wherein the physical coupling means (96) are adapted to releasable couple the control housing (82) to the power housing (34) and / or the aggregate housing (92) and wherein the control interface (100) is adapted to electrically connect the controller (56) to the power source (36) and / or the aggregate (40).

10. The breast pump according to any of the claims 2 to 9, characterized in that said aggregate housing is configured as an aggregate-pump-housing (32) comprising the aggregate (40) and a pump (44) operatively connected with the aggregate (40) to transform the driving force into suction.

11. The breast pump according to any of the claims 2 to 10, characterized by a pump housing (94) containing a pump (44), which pump housing (94) has physical coupling means (114) and a pump driving interface (120), wherein the physical coupling means (112; 114) are adapted to releasable couple the pump housing (94) to the aggregate housing (92) and wherein the aggregate housing (92) has an aggregate driving interface (116), wherein the pump driving interface (120) and the aggregate driving interface (116) are adapted to drivingly couple the pump (44) and the aggregate (40) for transmitting the driving force to the pump.

12. The breast pump according to any of the claims 8 to 11 , characterized in that said physical coupling means (96, 98; 104, 106; 112, 114) and said interfaces (100, 102; 108,110;116, 120) are configured such the physical coupling of housings (82; 34; 92; 94) will likewise couple the interfaces between the housings.

13. The breast pump according to any of the preceding claims in particular claim 10, characterized in that said control housing (82) or said aggregate-pump-housing (32) is provided with a user interface (54).

14. The breast pump according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said power housing (34) is provided with a USB interface (152) for loading and unloading said power source.

15. Use of a housing (10) of a breast pump (2) including a power source (36) for energizing an aggregate (40) of the breast pump (2), which aggregate (40) transfers electric energy into a driving force for generating suction for expressing milk as a power housing for energizing an electric gadget.

Images