Breast pump

Abstract

The present invention relates to a breast pump wearable inside a bra and comprising a housing unit (300) including at least one of an aggregate (326), a controller (352) and a battery (322), a breast shield unit (100) including a nipple tunnel (28) adapted to receive a nipple, and a milk container (200) adapted to contain a predetermined amount of expressed milk. To enhance clean- ing of the housing unit (300), the housing unit (300) is sealed such that water rinsing the housing unit (300) will not reach an interior surrounded by a housing shell (302) of said housing unit (300).

Description

[0001] BREAST PUMP

[0002] The present invention relates to a breast pump shaped at least in part to fit inside a bra.

[0003] A breast pump wearable inside a bra, which can also be identified as an in-bra breast pump comprises different components like e.g. breast shield unit including a nipple tunnel and a milk container. According to WO 2018 / 229504 A1 , such functional components of the breast pump are connectable to a housing unit, which housing unit includes a pump aggregate, a controller and a battery. Accordingly, the breast shield component and the milk container can be placed in a dishwasher for cleaning purposes.

[0004] The breast shield unit of the aforementioned in-bra breast pump has a membrane seat for a membrane, which membrane separates the milk side of the pump from the working fluid side of the pump. Respective membrane is assigned to the nipple tunnel element and thus will be removed from the housing unit when disassembling the breast pump. Thus, in the disassembled state, the working fluid side leading directly to the interior of an air pump provided inside the housing is open to ambient. The air pump of the breast pump according to WO 2018 / 229504 A1 is a specific embodiment of a pump aggregate.

[0005] Moreover, electric connections for charging a battery inside the housing unit and buttons of a user interface are provided on the outer surface of the housing. Accordingly, precaution must be applied when cleaning the housing unit of the breast pump. The housing unit must be cleaned with a dry cleaning cloth, at most, with a slightly wetted cleaning cloth. Such cleaning may not be regarded to be sufficient to satisfy the mother's need for a clean breast pump prior to any use.

[0006] WO2021 / 191637 A1 discloses a breast pump system comprising at least one wearable milk collection hub connected via an air line to a combined external air pump and control unit. The milk collection hub is at least in part made of dishwasher-safe material such as PP, PC.

[0007] The present invention wishes to provide a breast pump wearable inside a bra, which breast pump can be cleaned more efficiently and more easily.

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

[0009] The inventive breast pump includes a housing unit, which housing unit houses at least one of the pump aggregate, a controller and a battery. The in-bra breast pump may form part of a set of two breast pumps, one being assigned to the left and one being assigned to the right breast of the user. In such a set, each breast pump may comprise a housing unit. Yet, the two housing units may be complementary in the sense that each of the two housing units does not house all components required for operating the breast pump. In fact, at least one of the battery and / or the controller and / or the aggregate may be housed in one housing unit of the set whereas the other of the aggregate, the controller and / or the battery may be housed in the housing unit of the other of the two breast pumps. This explains that not all components required for operating the breast pump may necessarily be contained within one housing unit.

[0010] Moreover, breast pumps wearable inside a bra are known which e.g. provide a battery outside of the housing unit, which battery may be connected to the aggregate and the controller within the housing unit via a powerline, which powerline extends between the housing unit and the external battery.

[0011] The aggregate may be any means, which provides power for generating a suction pressure for expressing milk from the breast of a breast-feeding mother. The aggregate receives electric power and transforms this power into a fluid pressure and / or a movement e.g. of a membrane of the breast pump.

[0012] The in-bra breast pump furthermore has a breast shield unit including a nipple tunnel, which nipple tunnel is adapted to receive the nipple of the user. This breast shield unit may be formed of one or plural different components. The breast shield unit is usually releasably connectable to the housing unit and / or the milk container. As the breast shield unit, the milk container may be formed of one or plural individual components. As mentioned above, the breast shield element and the milk container per se may be fully or partially dish washable. Those components of the in-bra breast pump are usually made of a transparent or translucent plastic material. In the inventive breast pump, the breast shield unit and / or the milk container are releasably connectable to the housing.

[0013] The breast pump usually has a semi-spherical shape. The front of the breast pump is convex, adapted to lay against the bra and adapted to imitate the shape of the female breast. The backside of the breast pump may be concave to seal against the breast, which in particular relates to a breast shield unit of the breast pump. In use, the nipple tunnel is usually at least in part received within the housing unit.

[0014] The housing unit of the breast pump of the present invention is sealed such that water rinsing the housing unit will not reach an interior surrounded by an outer shell of the housing, which outer shell will be referred to in the following as the housing shell.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the housing unit has a housing shell comprising at least two shell elements, which shell elements are sealingly connected with each other for sealingly enclosing an interior of the housing. The housing shell is usually made of a hard plastic material. The two shell elements are joined after mounting at least one of the pump aggregate, the controller and the battery within the housing unit and - to the extend required - providing electric or electronic connections between at least one of those elements and elements of the user interface and / or conductive elements of the plug. The at least two shell elements may be joined by welding or gluing. The two shell elements may be snapped connected, i.e. may be connected by a positive fit with an elastomeric seal sandwiched between the two shell elements for sealingly connecting the same with each other. This preferred embodiment will allow mounting and assembly of all components to be received in the interior of the housing unit and enclosing those components within the housing unit in a sealing manner.

[0016] In attempt to reduce the number of holes or voids within the outer shell which seat components for energizing or controlling the aggregate or the battery, the inventive breast pump may provide inductive charging of the battery through the housing shell. The above mentioned user interface may be an internal interface which is remotely accessible to the user e.g. by a handheld device such as a smart phone and / or the controller within the housing unit may be connectable via a wireless connection with a handheld device like a mobile phone, which has an app for controlling the pump breast pump and will form at least part of the user interface. Implementation of those options may allow to design the housing unit with only an interface arranged within the housing shell. This interface may transfer the control commands to the aggregate and / or the driving energy for the aggregate within the housing unit.

[0017] As in prior art and in a more conventional design, the housing shell may have elements of an user interface, which elements are exposed on the outer side of the housing unit and are in data connection with the controller arranged within the housing unit. The elements of the user interface are sealingly connected with the housing shell. In other words, all elements of the user interface exposed on the outer side of the housing unit are arranged such that rinsing water cannot enter into the housing unit through each of the elements of the user interface or between each of those elements and the housing shell. For this, the elements of the user interface may be formed of a soft elastomeric material, which soft elastomeric material is sealingly joined usually within a bore provided in the housing shell. Alternatively, a central portion of the element of the user interface may have a button made of a hard plastic material, which button is usually received within the bore of the housing shell such, that the bottom and the housing shell are flush, which will help to avoid dirt, residual rinsing water and / or bacteria to nest on the outer side of the housing. The button is sealingly joined to the housing shell by a soft elastomeric material. This soft elastomeric material is usually directly bonded against the circumferential surface of the bore on one hand and the outer circumference of the button on the other.

[0018] On a general basis, below an element of the user interface and within the housing unit, there is provided a switch, which is activated by the element of the user interface upon pressing the same towards the interior of the housing unit. The elastic material provided may force the user interface into an initial position, in which the element of the user interfaces is flush with the outer surface of the housing shell. According to a further preferred embodiment, the housing unit has an electric plug, which electric plug may be provided on an outer side of the housing.

[0019] The electric plug is electrically coupled with the battery and is provided for charging the battery or is provided for connecting the battery to the controller or the aggregate. The latter may apply to an embodiment in which the battery is received within a separate battery compartment of the housing unit and can be disconnected from the plug and temporarily be removed from the housing unit. The conductive elements may form male or female plug connectors and may be received e.g. within a plastic material which is injection molded around the conductive elements. The plastic material may form a separate electric plug housing, which electric plug housing may e.g. be connected in a sealing manner with the housing shell by gluing or welding or by means of a soft elastomeric material as described above for sealingly joining the button of the user interface with the housing shell.

[0020] The electric plug may be received within the housing shell and may be exposed or exposable on the outer side of the housing unit. The electric plug according to this preferred embodiment is sealingly connected with the housing shell. Such connection may be provided by sealingly receiving conductive elements of the plug within the material of the housing shell or within a housing material of the plug housing in a sealing manner.

[0021] Alternatively or additionally, the electric plug may be provided within a battery compartment. This battery compartment is open to the outer side of the housing and is adapted to receive the battery. The battery compartment is formed as a recess within the housing unit and allows removal of the battery by the user. The battery compartment is sealed against the housing shell made of the hard plastic material.

[0022] The battery compartment or the electric plug may be covered by a cover member, which cover member is usually flush with outer surface of the housing shell and may be sealed against the housing shell in a mounted state. The cover member is removable from the housing shell to allow access to the battery compartment or the electric plug. For cleaning purposes and in order to avoid rinsing water from nesting in voids provided on the outside of the housing shell, the cover member may fit into a plug bore provided within the housing shell in a sealed fashion, which plug bore receives the electric plug. For the same reasons, the cover member may fit into a battery compartment opening in a sealed fashion, which battery compartment opening allows removal of the battery from the battery compartment.

[0023] A hinge may be provided between the housing shell and the or any cover member to keep the cover member joined with the housing shell even after dismounting respective cover member from the plug bore or the battery compartment opening e.g. during charging of the battery. The sealing measures and / or the option to remove the battery from the housing unit in a simple and reliable fashion will render the housing unit of the breast pump dishwasher-safe. During dishwashing, the battery may be removed from the housing unit may be charged. Thus, in such an embodiment, an electric plug provided as a battery charging interface as discussed before may be provided within the battery compartment but may not need to be designed as the same is provided within the battery compartment and may be covered by the battery compartment cover when using the breast pump. Thus, respective proposals enhance the design options for the housing.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the aggregate cooperates with a housing bellows which is movably held within an opening of the housing shell. The housing bellows is sealingly connected with the housing shell. The housing bellows may separate the working fluid side from the milk side of the pump in case a working fluid is used to operate the pump. A sealed valve may be provided for allowing air expelled by the air pump to be vented from the housing. Such valve will usually be a one-way valve which will allow venting of air to the outside while preventing rinsing water from entering into the housing unit.

[0025] In the preferred embodiment with the housing bellows the aggregate is not exposed to ambient of the pump. Instead, the aggregate is sealingly covered by the housing bellows.

[0026] According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, a piston drivingly connected with the aggregate for moving the piston in a reciprocating fashion may be at least in part covered by the housing bellows. More specifically, respective piston may extend through the housing bellows and may be connected in a sealing fashion with the housing bellows. For this, the housing bellows preferably has an inner hole through which the spindle extends. The spindle may have a cap section. Respective cap section and a disc element secured against the spindle may sandwich an inner portion of the housing bellows for sealingly connecting the housing bellows with spindle. Thus, the spindle is not only sealingly connected with the housing shell but is also provided on an outer side of the housing unit to directly transmit the reciprocating movement to another component of the means of the breast pump providing a cyclic suction within the nipple tunnel for expressing milk.

[0027] According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the housing unit comprises at least one pressure equalization means exposed to an outer side of the housing unit and adapted to equalize the pressure within the interior of the housing. Respective pressure equalization means may be permeable for gaseous media but will prevent liquid from entering into the area of the housing. Such pressure equalization means may be formed of a filter which will allow air to pass. When being wetted, such filter may swell to prevent water to reach the interior of the housing e.g. during cleaning, rinsing or dishwashing or in case of an unintentional spill of liquid over the breast pump. The pressure equalization means may also comprise or be formed of a valve. Respective valve may be a venting valve allowing air within the housing unit to be dispensed to ambient. This proposal is made in view of the fact, that the sealing of the housing unit may have a quality to allow the housing unit to dishwash the same. Dishwashing under higher temperature may lead to air trapped within the housing unit to expand thereby increasing the pressure inside the housing unit. The pressure equalization means may allow such air to be dispensed to ambient thereby reducing the internal pressure in a rather hot environment like in a dishwasher.

[0028] The above mentioned valve may be a relief valve adapted to allow air to enter the housing unit from ambient. While the above discussed venting valve will prevent overpressure within the housing unit in case of a hot environment, the relief valve will allow air to enter the housing unit from ambient to equalize the pressure situation within the housing unit for example, after dishwashing and cooling of the housing. As the air trapped within the housing unit cools down, the pressure inside the housing unit will fall. The relief valve will prevent a negative pressure within the housing unit and thus will reduce the mechanical stress on the housing shell by such negative pressure.

[0029] Preferably, the housing unit is provided with a bi-directional valve adapted to allow air within the housing unit to be dispensed to ambient and adapted to allow air to enter the housing unit from ambient. Thus, one single valve will provide both effects discussed above.

[0030] The housing unit may have a passive valve or a check valve. The valve may as well be an active valve which is activated by an actuator contained within the housing, which actuator may be driven by a pressure sensor sensing the pressure conditions within the housing.

[0031] A passive valve may for example form part of any of the sealing means mentioned above. In case a component of the housing unit is provided by a soft elastomeric material, this soft elastomeric material may form part of the valve and may cooperate with the hard plastic material and a valve opening received therein to allow air to pass through the opening in response to a pressure difference on both sides of the housing shell. Accordingly, any soft elastomeric material forming a seal or elastic closure of the housing unit may as well provide a component which in one part provides at least the flexible valve flap of a passive valve. For the same reason, the pressure equalization means, preferably the valve may be provided in one piece with the afore- discussed housing bellows.

[0032] Further details, advantages or features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a specific embodiment in combination with the drawings. In the drawings:

[0033] Fig. 1 is an exploded view of the individual components and elements of a first embodiment of the breast pump according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment in an assembled state;

[0034] Fig. 2.1 is an enlarged section of the cross-sectional view of the Figure 1 ;

[0035] Fig. 3 is a top view of the embodiment in an assembled state;

[0036] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the housing unit along normal to line L;

[0037] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the housing unit intersecting a button of the user interface;

[0038] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the housing unit intersecting a first embodiment of a plug;

[0039] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the housing unit intersecting a second embodiment of a plug;

[0040] Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the housing unit intersecting a third embodiment of a plug in a battery compartment and

[0041] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the housing unit intersecting an interface between two housing shells.

[0042] In Fig. 1 , reference numeral 100 identifies a breast shield unit, reference numeral 200 identifies a milk container and reference numeral 300 identifies a housing unit.

[0043] The breast shield unit 100 has a breast shield element 102 of a transparent material, which breast shield element 102 as a unitary plastic element provides a flange 104 and a nipple tunnel 106. The nipple tunnel 106 is provided with threads 108 arranged circumferentially spaced relative to each other on the outer circumference of the nipple tunnel 106. Reference numeral 110 identifies a two-way valve element, which can be mounted on the free inner end 112 of the nipple tunnel 106.

[0044] The milk container 200 consists of a spherical container shell element 202 and a lid element 204. This lid element 204 is a unitary transparent plastic molded part which forms a flat lid section 206 and a longish nipple tunnel receptacle 208, which is provided with threads 209 cooperating with the threads 108 to connect the breast shield unit 100 to the milk container 200 with the housing unit 300 sandwiched in between. Reference numeral 210 identifies a milk chamber defined between the inner wall of the spherical container shell element 202 and the flat lid section 204, in which milk chamber 210 the nipple tunnel receptacle 208 extends, when the container shell element 202 and the lid element 204 are sealingly connected.

[0045] For this to achieve, the lid element 204 is provided with a container seal 212 made of a soft elastomeric material and attached to the hard plastic of the lid element 204 e.g. by co-injection molding. For coupling the lid element 204 with the container shell element 202, a spout closure element 214 is slideably held in the lid element 204. Opposite to said lid element 204 the container shell element 202 and the lid element 204 are coupled via a hinge 216. To close and seal the milk chamber 210 the spout closure element 214 can slid be towards a spoud 218 to interlock a forward end of the spout closure element 214 against a mating surface provided by the container shell element 202.

[0046] In figure 1 , reference number 220 identifies a membrane, which is releasably secured to the lid section 206 and covers a pumping chamber 222, which in the direction of the flow of the expressed milk form the nipple tunnel 106 into the milk chamber 210 is arranged between the two- way valve element 110 and a one way inlet valve 224 connected to the nipple tunnel receptacle 208. Reference numeral 226 identifies a passageway for the milk provided within the milk container, which passageway provides a fluid connection for the milk between the two-way valve element 110 and the pumping chamber 222.

[0047] In figures 1 and 2 L identifies a longitudinal axis of the nipple tunnel 106 and the nipple tunnel receptacle 208.

[0048] In figures 1 and 2 the housing unit 300 can be seen to have a housing shell 302 made of two shell elements 304; 306 (figure 2) of an opaque plastic material.

[0049] In a side view, the housing shell 302 is wedge-shaped- see figure 1. On the outer circumferential surface 307 of the housing shell 302 elements 308 of a user interface 310 and optical indicators 312 indicating operational information of the pump are provided. Details of the elements 308 and the optical indicators 312 are derivable from Fig. 3. The central elements 308.2 to 308.4 are received within a single soft elastomeric pad 314 (see also figure 2), which is sealingly connected to the housing shell 302 via co-injection molding and covers a switch 316 arranged within the housing shell 302. The outer elements 308.1 and 308.5 comprise buttons 315 of a hard plastic material which are surrounded by a soft elastomeric ring sealingly connected to the housing shell 302 and each button 315. The optical indicators 312 are made of transparent or translucent hard plastic elements which may be sealingly connected to the housing shell 302 via co-injection molding, gluing, welding or the like and which are assigned to light sources like LEDs (not shown) arranged within the housing shell 302.

[0050] In figure 1 , reference number 318 identifies a USB interface below a cover 320, which cover 320 is sealed against the housing shell 302 in a water proof fashion.

[0051] Figures 2, 3 and 4 show details of components of the housing unit 300 received within the housing shell 302. In figure 4, reference numeral 322 identifies a rechargeable battery / accumu- lator adapted to energize an electric motor 324 providing an example of an aggregate 326. For recharging, the battery / accumulator 322 is electrically connected to the USB interface 318. A drive shaft 328 of the electric motor 324 is mechanically connected with a nut element 330 via a drive belt 331. The nut element 330 cooperates with a piston 332 comprising a spindle 334. The nut element 330 is rotatably supported by a bearing 336 held by a drive housing 338. The housing shell 302 has an opening 340 covered by a housing bellows 342. The outer rim of this housing bellows 342 is sandwiched between the drive housing 338 and walls of the shell element 304. Outer rim of this housing bellows 342 can be sealed against the housing shell 302 by gluing or welding. An inner hole 344 of the housing bellows 340 is sandwiched between a cap section 346 of the spindle 334 and a disc element 348, which disc element 348 is arranged on the inner side of the cap section 346 directed towards the nut element 330.

[0052] The disc element 348 can be secured against the cap section 346 by means of gluing, welding and / or hot pressing of plastic projections formed by the disc element 348, which plastic projections penetrate the housing bellows 340 and the disc element 348 and are heated and then pressed against the outer surface of the disc element 348.

[0053] Thus, the housing bellows 342 seals the interior of the housing shell 302 and thus of the housing unit 300. As the inner portion of the housing bellows 340 is connected to the piston 332 and the spindle 334, which spindle 334 will be moving linearly in a reciprocating fashion as the drive motor 324 is operated in a reversing fashion, the housing bellows 342 will make the driving movement of the drive motor 324 available on the outer side of the housing shell 302.

[0054] In the figures, reference numeral 350 identifies PCB as a specific example for a controller 351. This controller 351 controls the aggregate 326, is in data connection with elements 308 of the user interface 310 and receives energy from the battery / accumulator 322 for driving the aggregate 326.

[0055] In the following further means are described to seal the housing against ambient such that water will not be allowed to enter the interior of the housing.

[0056] As already mentioned above, the housing bellows 342 covers the housing shell 304 in a sealing manner while allowing to make the driving force of the aggregate 326 available on the outer side of the housing unit 300.

[0057] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view through the button 315 mentioned before and portions of the housing shell 302. The housing shell 302 has a bore 352 surrounding the button 315. Between the button 315 and the inner circumferential surface of the bore 352 a ring 353 of a soft elastomeric material 354 is provided. The soft elastomeric material 354 is adhered to the outer circumferential surface of the button 315 and the inner circumferential surface of the bore 352. As derivable, the switch 316 is within reach of the movement of the button 315 due to the elasticity of the elastomeric material 354.

[0058] Figures 6 and 7 show embodiments of an electric plug 356, which may form the USB interface 318. The electric plug 356 has plural conductive elements 360, which are received in a plastic material 362 providing an electric plug housing 364. In the embodiment of figure 6, reference number 366 identifies a ring of an adhesive which fills the gap between the bore 352 and the outer circumferential surface of the electric plug housing 364 and seals the electric plug housing 364 against the housing shell 302.

[0059] In the embodiment of figure 7, the plastic material 362 of the electric plug housing 364 is welded to the inner circumferential surface of the bore 352 in a sealing fashion.

[0060] This inner circumferential surface of the bore 352 projects the free elements ends of the conductive elements 360. Level with the outer surface provided by the housing shell 302 and thus flush with the outer surface of said housing shell 302 there is provided a plug cover element 368. Between this plug cover element 368 and the inner circumferential surface of the bore 350 an elastomeric seal 370 is provided. The elastomeric seal 370 is connected to the plug cover element 368. The material of the elastomeric seal 370 also forms hinge 372 which is connected with the housing shell 302. Thus, the plug cover element 368 can be released from the bore 350 but will still be connected to the housing shell 302. The elastomeric seal 370 and the hinge 372 are formed by a unitary body of soft elastomeric material.

[0061] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view through a battery compartment 380 covered by a battery cover member 382, which battery cover member 382 is received within a battery compartment opening 384 in a sealing fashion as described before with respect to figure 7. The conductive elements 360 of this embodiment are injection molded around by the plastic material defining walls 386 of the battery compartment 380. In other words, the electric plug housing 364 is in one piece with the housing shell 302 or other parts of the housing of the housing unit 300. Through a battery compartment opening 384 the battery 322 may be disconnected and removed from the housing unit 300 for replacing or charging by the user of the breast pump and without specific tooling. Moreover, the battery 322 as a component particularly sensible to temperature changes may be removed before dishwashing and thus will not be exposed to the temperature changes encountered by dishwashing.

[0062] Instead of a sealed battery cover member 382 a non-sealed battery cover member may be assigned to the battery compartment opening 384, which may releasably be connected to the housing shell 302 by a conventional hinge. In case of dishwashing with the battery cover member 382 may be removed from the battery compartment opening 384, water may rinse the battery compartment 380 but the battery compartment 380 may dry again throughout the dishwashing process.

[0063] In figure 2 the two housing shell elements 304, 306 can be seen to be connected with an elastic sealing ring 388 disposed between the shell elements 304, 306 for sealing the interior of the housing shell unit 300.

[0064] Figure 9 provides an example for an alternate solution in which the two housing shell elements 304, 306 each have a stepped and corresponding geometry defining a stepped joining interface 390. This stepped joining interface 390 provides an enlarged joining surface leading to enhanced durability and tightness at the joint between the two housing shell elements 304, 306. For joining, the housing shell elements 304, 306 are welded or glued.

[0065] In figure 2.1 reference number 392 identifies one way, which valve 392 allows venting of the housing interior. The venting valve 392 comprises a valve flap 394 made as a section of the housing bellows 342. The valve flap 394 and the housing bellows 342 are formed by the same elastomeric body. The valve flap 394 cooperates with a sealing projection 396 and will disengage from said sealing projection 396 in case of an over pressure within the housing unit 300. Thus, air trapped within the housing unit 300 will vent through a valve opening 398 formed as a recess within the housing shell 302.

[0066] In figure 2.1 reference number 400 identifies a two-way valve allowing both, venting of the housing by dispensing air to ambient and allowing air to enter the housing from ambient in case of a pressure difference between interior of the housing unit 300 and the ambient surrounding the housing unit.

[0067] In figure 2.1 reference number 402 identifies a filter composed of filaments which swell when being wetted thereby obstructing the filter, which on a regular basis and when being dry allows exchange of gaseous media between the interior of the housing unit 300 and the ambient surrounding the housing unit 300.

[0068] The valves 392; 400 and the filter 402 are each specific embodiments of pressure equalization means 404 which are provided to equalize any pressure difference between the interior of the housing unit 300 and the ambient surrounding the housing unit 300.

[0069] List of Reference Signs breast shield unit breast shield element flange nipple tunnel thread two-way valve element free inner end milk container container shell element lid element lid section nipple tunnel receptacle threads milk chamber container seal spout closure element hinge spoud membrane, pumping chamber one way inlet valve passageway housing unit housing shell shell element shell element outer circumferential surface elements user interface optical indicators soft elastomeric pad button switch USB interface cover rechargeable battery / accumulator electric motor aggregate drive shaft nut element drive belt piston spindle bearing drive housing opening housing bellows inner hole cap section disc element PCB controller 52 bore 53 ring 54 elastomeric material 56 electric plug

[0070] 360 conductive elements

[0071] 362 plastic material

[0072] 364 electric plug housing

[0073] 366 adhesive ring

[0074] 368 plug cover element

[0075] 370 elastomeric seal

[0076] 372 hinge

[0077] 380 battery compartment

[0078] 382 battery cover member

[0079] 384 battery compartment opening

[0080] 386 walls of the battery compartment

[0081] 388 elastic sealing ring

[0082] 390 joining interface

[0083] 392 one way valve

[0084] 394 valve flap

[0085] 396 sealing projection

[0086] 398 valve opening

[0087] 400 valve

[0088] 402 filter

[0089] 404 equalization means L longitudinal axis

Claims

Claims1. A breast pump wearable inside a bra and comprising a housing unit (300) including at least one of an aggregate (326), a controller (351) and a battery (322), a breast shield unit (100) including a nipple tunnel (106) adapted to receive a nipple, and a milk container (200) adapted to contain a predetermined amount of expressed milk, characterized in that the housing unit (300) is sealed such that water rinsing the housing unit (300) will not reach an interior surrounded by a housing shell (302) of said housing unit (300).

2. The breast pump as defined in claim 1 , characterized in that the housing has a housing shell (302) made of a hard plastic material and that elements (308) of a user interface (310) are sealingly connected with said housing shell (302), which elements (308) are exposed on an outer side of the housing unit (300) and are in data connection with said controller (351).

3. The breast pump as defined in defined in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the housing unit (300) has a housing shell (302) comprising at least two shell elements (304, 306), which are sealingly connected with each other for sealingly enclosing an interior of the housing unit (300).

4. The breast pump as defined in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing unit (300) has a housing shell (302) made of a hard plastic material and an electric plug (356), which electric plug (356) is electrically connected with said battery (322) and / or said controller (351), wherein said electric plug (356) is sealingly connected with said housing shell (302).

5. The breast pump as defined in claim 4, characterized by an electric plug cover member (368) removably attached to said housing shell (302) in a sealed fashion for covering and sealing said electric plug (356).

6. The breast pump as defined in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aggregate (326) cooperates with a housing bellows (342) moveable held within an opening (340) of the a housing shell (302), which housing bellows (342) is sealingly connected with said housing unit (300).

7. The breast pump as defined in claim 6, characterized by a piston (332) drivingly connected with said aggregate (326) for moving said piston (332) in a reciprocating fashion, which piston (332) extends through said housing bellows (342) and is sealingly connected with said housing bellows (342).

8. The breast pump as defined in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing comprises a housing shell (302) made of a hard plastic material and sealingly enclosing an interior of the housing unit (300) and further comprises at least one pressure equalization means (404) exposed to an outer side of the housing unit (300) and adapted to equalize a pressure within the interior of the housing unit (300).

9. The breast pump as defined in claim 8, characterized in that the pressure equalization means(404) is permeable for gaseous media and will prevent liquid form entering into the interior of the housing unit (300).

10. The breast pump as defined in claim 9, characterized in that the pressure equalization mean comprises at least one of a valve (392; 400) or a filter (402).

11. The breast pump as defined in claim 10, characterized in that the pressure equalization means comprises a venting valve (392) adapted to allow air within the housing unit (300) to be dispensed to ambient.

12. The breast pump as defined in claim 10 or 11 , characterized in that housing unit (300) is provided with a relief valve (400) adapted to allow air to enter the housing unit (300) from ambient.

13. The breast pump as defined in any of the claims 10to 12, characterized in that housing unit (300) is provided with a bidirectional valve (400) adapted to allow air within the housing unit (300) to be dispensed to ambient and adapted to allow air to enter the housing unit (300) from ambient.

14. The breast pump as defined in any of the claims, characterized in that the housing unit (300) has a battery compartment (380) releasable covered by a battery cover member (382) , wherein the battery compartment (380) is sealed against a housing shell (302) made of a hard plastic material.

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