Breast pump having a pressure adjusting mechanism
AssigneePigeon Corporation
InventorsShigeru Aida, Hiroyuki Uehara
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A breast pump for extracting milk from a human breast includes an extracting cup and has an engagement portion for engaging the breast. A container has a mouth portion connected to the extracting cup. A milk receiving bag is mounted to the mouth portion and suspended in the container. An air suction source is connected to the container in order to produce air suction inside the container. An air path connects the interior of the extracting cup and the inside of the container, wherein the air suction creates a negative air pressure condition to assist in the suction of milk. The milk flows by gravity through the extracting cup and into the milk receiving bag without contact with the air suction source or the inside of the container.
Claims24
A breast pump, comprising:
- an extracting cup having one end having an engagement portion for engagement with a breast and an opposite end;
- a container having a mouth portion connected to said extracting cup at said opposite end, said container having an interior space;
- a milk receiving bag for mounting to said mouth portion of said container and suspension in said interior space of said container;
- an air suction source connected to said container for producing an air suction condition in said interior space of said container;
- a first air path defined between and fluidly connecting the interior of said extracting cup and said interior space of said container;
- and
- a pressure adjusting means for adjusting the suction pressure on a breast in said extracting cup, comprising:
- a body portion defining a second air path communicating with said interior space of said container and first air path and an opening communicating with said second air path,
- a nozzle portion having a plurality of different diameter nozzle holes therein communicating with said second air path, said nozzle portion being fixed in said opening,
- a rotating member rotatably mounted in said opening having a portion therein for selectively allowing a single said nozzle hole to communicate said second air path with the exterior of said container, and
- a knob rotatably mounted on said body portion and connected to said rotating member for rotation thereof.
An adjustable pumping mechanism for use with a container, comprising:
- a diaphragm pump for producing air suction inside a container, said pump having a suction inlet for communication with the container;
- a body portion having an air path communicating with said suction inlet and communicatable with the container, and an opening communicating with said air path;
- a nozzle portion having a plurality of different diameter nozzle holes therein communicating with said air path, said nozzle portion being fixed in said opening;
- a rotating member rotatably mounted in said opening having a portion therein for selectively allowing a single said nozzle holes to communicate said air path with the exterior of said opening;
- and
- a knob rotatably mounted on said body portion and connecting to said rotating member for rotation thereof.
A breast pump, comprising:
- an extracting cup having one end having an engagement portion for engagement with a breast and an opposite end;
- a container having a mouth portion connected to said extracting cup at said opposite end, said container having an interior space;
- a milk receiving bag for mounting to said mouth portion of said container and suspension in said interior space of said container;
- an air suction source connected to said container for producing an air suction condition in said interior space of said container;
- and
- a first air path defined between and fluidly connecting the interior of said extracting cup and said interior space of said container;
- wherein said extracting cup has a milk extracting conduit communicating with said engagement portion and a connecting portion at said opposite end of said conduit for connecting said extracting cup to said mouth of said container;
- wherein said container has an upper end defining said mouth portion with external threads thereon, said milk receiving bag has a flange to be supported on top of said upper end and said connecting portion of said extracting cup has internal threads engaging said external threads of said upper end of said container and holds said flange of said bag on said upper end;
- and
- wherein said first air path extends between said upper end of said container and said bag and said flange of said bag, and between said flange and said connecting portion of said extracting cup, said first air path comprising grooves in said flange.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.