Patent Application
20190365609
The present invention generally relates to an insert for a breast pump, and in particular the invention relates to a breast nipple cushion adapted to protect a user's breast nipple and areola during the pumping of breast milk.
Breast pumps are well known devices for extracting milk from the breast of a user. A breast pump may be used if the baby is not itself able to extract the milk, or if the mother is separated from the baby, for example if away from the baby at work. The use of a breast pump to extract milk may also be used to stimulate and increase milk production in women with a low milk supply.
Conventional breast pumps are vacuum-based, as such, a breast pump makes use of a vacuum to induce milk extraction from a nursing mother's breast. The pumping action of the device draws the milk from the nipple to a collection vessel, and the pressure and/or frequency may be adjusted to the preferences of the mother. Therefore, the adjustability of the breast pump to the preference of the mother is limited.
In the field of breast pumps for expressing breast milk, the typical breast pump's funnel-shaped breast cushions are generally constructed from a rigid plastic and/or Silicone material. One of the problems with the breast pumps available nowadays, is that users are known to experience some form of discomfort or difficulty when using such a breast pump. The rigidity of the breast cushion's material tends to generate various levels of friction and compression that can lead to discomfort in the form sores, bruises, cracks, blisters, swollen, or bleeding skin or tissue around the user's areola and nipple.
Despite many breast pump manufacturers' attempts to solve this problem, there has yet to be a universal solution that can be used across all brands, parts, and sizes to reduce discomfort for the breast pump use.
As can be seen throughout this application, there is a need for a nipple cushion usable by breastfeeding mothers that facilitates the prevention of any form of discomfort or injury to their nipples and areolas when using a breast pump to extract breast milk. Compatibility with a variety pumps would also be desirable aspect.
Despite the various-sized breast cushion pumps, and accessories that current manufactures produce, not all women may be able to achieve a proper fit. In the event that a breast cushion is too big for the woman using it, milk may not be able to be extracted because proper suction or enough pressure is achieved to allow a letdown of breastmilk. Conversely, in the event that the breast cushion is too small for the woman using it, increased friction may be experienced between the areola/nipple and the breast cushion creating more discomfort and possibly pain. Additionally, a breast cushion that is too small can block milk ducts, and prevent the letdown of the breastmilk.
The objective of the present invention is to present a breast pump insert which considerably eases and possibly overcomes matters of discomfort to a user. Specifically, the apparatus of the present invention reduces or possibly eliminates friction felt by users using any of the nipple cushions that exist today.
In a first embodiment the present invention provides a breast pump which substantially alleviates or overcomes the problems mentioned above and aids in the extraction of breast milk from a user's breast in a fashion which is safer and less injurious.
In a second embodiment, the present invention provides nipple cushion. Such a nipple cushion takes a shape of a funnel. The nipple cushion of the present invention is supple and may take the form of the funnel-shaped breast cushion that is part of breast pumps available in the market.
Preferably, the supple nipple cushion is configured to deform towards a user's areola and nipple, reducing any frictional forces that may create soreness of the user's nipple and areola.
The fourth embodiment may further comprise a method of manufacturing the nipple cushions via the material being hand-poured, injection molding, or by additive manufacturing of materials including thermoplastic elastomer, silicone, rubber, natural rubber, latex or other rubber-like material.
In order to facilitate a full understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are referenced with like numerals. These drawings should not be construed as limiting the present invention, but are intended to be exemplary and for reference.
The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments as shown in the accompanying drawings. While the present invention is described herein with reference to the exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to such exemplary embodiments. Those possessing ordinary skill in the art and having access to the teachings herein will recognize additional implementations, modifications, and embodiments, as well as other applications for use of the invention, which are fully contemplated herein as within the scope of the present invention as disclosed and claimed herein, and with respect to which the present invention could be of significant utility.
Detailed reference will now be made to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in
The general funnel shape construction is preferable in order to adapt the nipple cushion for use with a breast pump and its associated breast cushion of a generally similar funnel shape. The nipple cushion includes a pump interface 105, in which on occasion, the user may fold it inwards in order to achieve better adhesion to the user's skin, and to lessen any friction resulting from the breast being moved back and forth during milking sessions. At the other end of the nipple cushion 100, is nipple and areola interface 110. An adhesive ring end 115 that may be applied around the opening of the pump interface 105 and the nipple and areola interface 110, preferably food grade and nontoxic adhesive is applied by hand or machine along 115, the outside edges or surface of the nipple cushion 100. Included in the nipple cushion 100 also is a raised section 120 which is formed around the circumference of the nipple and areola interface 110. The raised section 120 is raised on the inner part of the nipple and areola interface 110 in order to keep nipple and areola interface 110 held against the breast of the user.
Referring now to
In reference to
In order for the present invention to conform to any size and shaped nipple as well as any size and shape breast pump cushion, the nipple cushion 200 is fabricated from an elastomeric material that is highly elastic, has high tear resistance and can exhibit both tacky and non-tacky surfaces. The present invention may be made of extremely soft and stretchy elastomeric materials to mimic the properties of human skin and to conform to any solid surface it comes in contact with under moderate to extreme pressure.
While the previous section describes the elements of the nipple cushion of the present invention, the production of the nipple cushion should yield a single unit to be used/worn by the pump user. As seen in reference to
Once inserted, the nipple and areola interface of the nipple cushion 410 is pressed in a circular motion against the inside circumference of the breast pump breast cushion 460 so that the adhesive layer (shown in
The user may then insert her areola and nipple 420 into the nipple areola interface 410. Once the front and rear sections of the nipple cushion (shown in
In reference to
In reference to
Additionally, to prevent suction loss/leakage the present invention can be bound to a breast pump's breast cushion in a permanent, semi-permanent, or non-permanent manner through the application of adhesives or fusing materials during or after the manufacturing process.
As seen in reference to
The nipple cushion 100 can be produced via hand pouring, injection molding, or additive manufacturing of materials such as thermoplastic elastomer, silicone rubber, natural rubber, latex, or other rubber-like materials. The preferred material is an injection molded thermoplastic elastomer that meets the North America and European Union food safety standards for fatty food/liquid contact and transport.
The process for injection molding thermoplastic elastomer starts with melting of pellets into a liquid form through higher than room temperature (e.g. 350 degrees Fahrenheit), then injected into a hardened steel or other solid and durable manufacturing tooling material for cast, cure or set, and removal or ejection at or below room temperature. When creating multiple units simultaneously the usage of multiple operators, or multi-cavity tooling and/or additional manufacturing lines would be required. The additional step of applying the adhesive coating 1c can either be performed by human operator or via machine after the base unit has been injection molded. In the case of additive or subtractive manufacturing a computer-aided design file is loaded into the tool (e.g. CNC, lathe, 3D printer) for cutting and/or forming into the desired shape and pattern.
Another alternative could be to design a memory material in such a way that the starting shape would differ from the components described earlier but with external catalyst (e.g. water, electrical field, etc.) the shape could be modified to resemble the invention. Soft and stretchy materials other than the elastomers mentioned could be used.
While the invention has been described by reference to certain preferred embodiments, it should be understood that numerous changes could be made within the spirit and scope of the inventive concept described. Also, the present invention is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments described herein. It is fully contemplated that other various embodiments of and modifications to the present invention, in addition to those described herein, will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Thus, such other embodiments and modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the following appended claims. Further, although the present invention has been described herein in the context of particular embodiments, implementations and applications and in particular environments, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that its usefulness is not limited thereto and that the present invention can be beneficially applied in any number of ways and environments for any number of purposes. Accordingly, the claims set forth below should be construed in view of the full breadth and spirit of the present invention as disclosed herein.
