GB2561160A

GB2561160A - A Breastmilk apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2561160A
Application number: GB1705026.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Angelina Simpson Shantell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-03-29
Filing date: 2017-03-29
Publication date: 2018-10-10
Also published as: GB201705026D0

Abstract

Breast milk apparatus comprises a garment 1, a collecting means 11, a collection container 3 and a collection pathway 20, wherein the collection pathway 20 is comprised in the garment 1 and the collecting container 3 is situated distal from the collecting means 11. The garment may be a vest and the container may be a displaceable flexible bag. The collection tubing 20 maybe embedded within the garment by passing up through a seam on a side panel of the garment.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: A Breastmilk apparatus Abstract Title: Breast milk collection apparatus (57) Breast milk apparatus comprises a garment 1, a collecting means 11, a collection container 3 and a collection pathway 20, wherein the collection pathway 20 is comprised in the garment 1 and the collecting container 3 is situated distal from the collecting means 11. The garment may be a vest and the container may be a displaceable flexible bag. The collection tubing 20 maybe embedded within the garment by passing up through a seam on a side panel of the garment.

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A BREASTMILK APPARATUS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to breastmilk apparatus, in particular prevention of leakage and collection of breastmilk.

Background

Increasing awareness of the importance of breastfeeding infants is prevalent among many users.

However this desire can be problematic to satisfy.

In particular breasts may leak milk when in use for breastfeeding. In addition or the alternative it can be uncomfortable or otherwise problematic for some women to breastfeed in public.

Many users may store expressed breastmilk for later use, but this does not provide immediate solutions to a hungry child or a leaking nipple.

Prior Art

CN 202 233 080 (WEIZHEN) discloses a piece of internally-worn type breast feeding and milk collecting clothes which is formed in the way that a neck opening is formed on the upper side of a close-fitting coat, and a horizontal extending opening is formed on the front side; the piece of internally-worn type breast feeding and milk collecting clothes can be long-sleeved or short-sleeved type or can be a vest; and the neck opening can be a round collar, a vertical collar or a V collar. Since the internally-worn type breast feeding and milk collecting clothes is elastic and close-fitting, the internally-worn type breast feeding and milk collecting clothes not only can keep warm, but also both breasts in front of the chest of a user to be fully exposed from the opening; a user can wear a bra or other clothes outside the breast feeding or collecting clothes, so that when breast feeding or milk collecting is performed, all that is needed is to raise overclothes or the bra, and the user in breast feeding period can comfortably, freely and conveniently use.

CN 2014 22 417 (LIFEN) relates to a lactation bra, which comprises flexible cup bodies which can cover the breast and can be matched with the shape of the breast. The lower part of the cup body is provided with a concave milk collecting cup, and the lower part at the inner side of the cup body is also provided with a guide groove which leads to the milk collecting cup. The lactation bra not only protects the breasts and ensures that the breasts are maintained dry, but also can collect leaking milk.

CN 2 289 403 (WEICHI) discloses a novel bra for by lactating women, comprising a bra and shoulder belts. The middle position of an inner layer of the bra has a hole. A nipple cap with a hose is positioned in an interlayer of the bra through the hole and the hose is connected with a milk storage case. The bra can prevent mastoptosis, reduce the stimulation to a nipple and relieve the milk leakage. The bra can keep the nipple clean and healthy and prevent clothes from being made wet by milk leakage.

The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a breastmilk apparatus, comprising a garment, a collecting means, a collection container and a collection pathway, wherein the collection pathway is provided in the garment and the container is situated apart from the collecting means.

In some embodiments the collecting means is a passive collecting means, wherein the milk is envisaged to fall into the collecting means, rather than requiring expression or pumping.

In some embodiments the collection pathway may be deformable so as to activate pumping within the collection pathway which may be operable as a part of the collecting means.

In some embodiments the collecting means comprises a nipple cover, which cover is envisaged to cover the nipple of a user and enable capture of breastmilk.

Such nipple cover may comprise attachment means to a user’s nipple or breast, and/or may be shaped to surround the nipple. The nipple cover may comprise a funnelling means, acting as the collecting means for milk expressed through general passage of time.

In some embodiments the container is arranged to be held against the user’s body, so as to maintain warmth in the milk. In some embodiments the container or garment may comprise insulation or padding.

In some embodiments the garment comprises a vest or similar torso covering, arranged to cover the nipples, breasts and at least part of the back or front of the user.

Potentially the apparatus is arranged with accessories such as bottles and storage bottles fastened onto end of tubes.

The container may be arranged in use to be located to the front or rear of the user’s torso, so as to be easily hidden from view. The container may be substantially planar or flat, so as to be spread across the torso, holding a maximal volume with minimal projection.

The container may be displaceable partly or wholly from the garment and/or the collection pathway. For example in this way the container may be replaceable and/or cleaned and/or may be filled and stored for later.

The garment may comprise adjustability and/or elastomeric material, such as to accommodate the changing shape of a recent mother, For example breathable material around the sides of the stomach and ribcage allows for stretching of the garment and provides an area where milk containers may are situated.

In this way the apparatus provides a garment to allow a breast feeding user to carry out day-to-day activities whilst collecting and storing vital breastmilk. It also prevents the mother losing milk via leakage, preventing leakage appearing through stains on garments such as a vest and shirt in public.

The garment may comprise an undergarment which is envisaged to be worn under a separate shirt or dress, and is not envisaged to restrict movement around the arms.

The garment may therefore be envisaged to figure hugging for minimal visual impact and may comprise shaping such as padding around the breasts, such as foam used in similar products. In this way reduction in breast size after feeding may be disguised.

In some embodiments the garment may comprise structural support, and/or adjustable securement mechanisms, for example wherein the garment may possibly be removed like a corset, tied at the sides.

The container may comprise a bag or plurality of bags, which bags may held in pockets around the hip area of the garment. The container may be provided in transparent or translucent material at least in part, such that the user is enabled to monitor content levels, and may have measurement markings on them to show how much milk is in each bag.

The collecting means may include internal or external tubing, for example in a nonirritant thermoplastic material. In some embodiments the apparatus may be provided with a one-way valve from the collecting means to the container(s).

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows an isometric exploded view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows an isometric exploded view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 6 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the figures there is shown breastmilk apparatus 1000, comprising a garment 1, internally having a collecting means 11, a collection container 3 and a collection pathway 2.

The collection pathway 2 is comprised in the garment 1 and the container 3 is situated distal from the collecting means 11.

In the pictured embodiment therefore there is provided a vest garment which allows breastfeeding mothers to collect the milk lost through the day in order for it to be used later or potentially frozen for another use.

The vest has shoulder straps 5 with connectors 4, and a belt 8 arranged for storage.

The belt 8 comprises two storage loops 9 to front of the garment, suitable for receipt of milk bottles (not shown).

The garment 1 comprises two container pouches 10, having fold down flaps 12 with flap securement means 13, arranged to each side of the user’s torso in use, arranged to hold displaceable containers 21 for receipt of breastmilk, which containers 21 comprise flexible silicone bags.

The top end of the containers 21 comprises a connection 22 with a silicone tube 20, which tube forms a part of the collection pathway 2, passing up through a seam on a side panel 7 of the garment 1 to the collecting means 11, which collecting means comprises nipple covers 25.

These nipple covers 25 are held in place by the elasticity of the garment 1, and comprise a centrally situated collecting teat collector 24. The nipple covers 25 are formed in flexible silicone, and biased concave.

The collectors 24 connect to the silicone tube 20 at one-way valves 23/27.

The nipple covers 25are surrounded below by absorbent pads 26. These pads 26 sit below the covers 25 and accept overflow of breastmilk. The pads 26 are displaceable from the garment 1 for cleaning or replacement purposes.

The apparatus according to the present invention thereby has the following advantages. The apparatus: saves money as the user does not need to buy milk formula as the user can collect enough breastmilk; it enables the infant to drink more natural breast milk; and it reduces waste through breast milk leakage.

The apparatus is envisaged to collect milk whilst performing usual or any day-to-day activities.

All tubes and parts are detachable. In the pictured embodiment the collecting means comprises thermoplastics tubing, hidden within clothing material layers. The tubing may be removed from the garment, and may be kept in place by passage through seams.

The container 21 comprises interchangeable 8 Oz bags that can be stored in the fridge or freezer. The containers 21 are similar to saline bags being thick to prevent popping or piercing liable to occur during daily activities.

The apparatus comprise a one-way valve connection to the collection pathway and collecting means, which may be situated in the bags. Such containers 21 may feature an air hole after the valve to prevent from bursting if under pressure.

The garment comprises a vest with hook opening 4 for ease of breastfeeding, such opening being arranged to allow access easily to the nipple. The vest may further contain padding and support for breasts.

Preferably breathable materials are used for the garment construction, and may also be anti-bacterial - particularly where the containers lay against the rib cage/hips.

The collecting means comprises silicon guards and connections, to prevent leaking at all potential milk exit points.

In use the user in use wears the vest and fixes the silicone guards over her nipples.

Silicone nipple guards collect the milk from the nipples and feed the milk through separate tubes into sealed milk bags that are situated in pockets around the hip area of the woman. In this way the sealed bags can then be removed, stored and replaced.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims, in particular but not solely combination of features of described embodiments.

Claims

1. A breastmilk apparatus comprises a garment, a collecting means, a collection container and a collection pathway, wherein the collection pathway is provided in the garment and the container is situated apart from the collecting means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the garment is a vest.

3. Apparatus according to either claim 1 or 2 wherein the collection pathway is tubing.

4. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the collection container comprises a displaceable bag.

5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the collecting means comprises silicone nipple covers.

6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims comprising a one-way valve between the collecting means and collection container.

7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims comprising a bottle carrying mechanism.

8. Apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the Figures.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1705026.1 Examiner: MrPaulMakin