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US 2003/0191427 A1Published application
Breast band for hands-free breast pumping
AssigneeNone recorded
InventorsLisa A. Jay, Margaret A. LaShoto, Louis J. Foreman
Life of this patent
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AssigneeNone recorded
InventorsLisa A. Jay, Margaret A. LaShoto, Louis J. Foreman
Estimating the term…
A strapless hands-free breast band device of the present invention includes a unitary breast band having self-closing openings for receiving milk intake receptacles that is custom-fittable to the user. The self-closing openings are horizontal slit openings in an anisotropic breast band material that provide for adequate support of the milk intake receptacles without deflection, bending, or buckling of the band due to the weight of the receptacles when filling or filled with milk.
A unitary, strapless breast band for securing two milk intake components or receptacles of a suction device to the nipples of a nursing mother's breasts, comprising:
A custom-fitted breast band for securing two milk intake components or receptacles of a suction device to the nipples of a nursing mother's breasts, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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Backward citations are indexed for grants only.
Milking pumps: pump accessories
Pump accessories: with means for hands-free operation
Devices for delivering substances into the body
Term end not estimated
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices that facilitate breast pumping and, more particularly, to a breast band for hands-free breast pumping.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 is a full-frontal view of the preferred embodiment of the hands-free breast band.
In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Also in the following description, it is to be understood that such terms as “forward,” “rearward,” “front,” “back,” “right,” “left,” “upwardly,” “downwardly,” and the like are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms.
Referring now to the drawings in general, the illustrations are for the purpose of describing a preferred embodiment of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention thereto. The device of the present invention is configured as a unitary breast band having self-closing openings for receiving milk intake receptacles. FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment, a strapless hands-free breast band 1 substantially rectangular in shape having a top edge 8 and bottom edge 9 both of length 3 and a first end 11 and a second end 10 both of height 2. The breast band 12 is the primary component of the apparatus. In one embodiment according to the present invention, the breast band 12 may be manufactured as a single strip of fabric having an essentially constant width along the entire band 12 (see FIG. 12). In an alternative embodiment, the breast band may be tapered at the back region to provide increased comfort and freedom of movement. Ideally, the band 12 is approximately thirty inches (30″) long and approximately eight inches (8″) to ten inches (10″) wide. Alternatively, the band 12 may be manufactured as a single strip of fabric.
Also shown in FIG. 1 on the breast band 12, are breast cup regions 6, 7 which may be contoured or capable of being contoured to accommodate different breast cup sizes. Notably, while the initial material may be planar, the cups may be individually shaped or contoured or molded about the woman's breasts at the first wearing of the band in order to provide for more customizeable shaping of the band for the user.