Manual breast pump

A manual breast pump adapted for one-handed operation includes a pump body defining an inlet, an outlet and a vacuum port, a stationary handle connected to the pump body, and a movable handle connected to the manual breast pump and spaced from the stationary handle so that both handles can be grasped simultaneously between the palm and fingers of a hand. The movable handle is movable with respect to the stationary handle and is operably connected to a piston disposed within the pumping chamber so that movement of the movable handle with respect to the stationary handle results in movement of the piston within the pumping chamber to create a vacuum at the vacuum port. The invention provides a manual breast pump which can be easily and comfortably supported and operated using one hand.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. 
No. 60/005,321, filed Oct. 16, 1995. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a manually operated breast pump, and more 
particularly to a manually operated breast pump which can be supported and 
operated using one hand, and which can be easily disassembled for cleaning 
and sanitizing. 
It is generally desirable to manually stimulate the breast to encourage 
lactation during withdrawal of milk using a breast pump. For this reason, 
it is preferable that the manual breast pump be capable of being operated 
using only one hand so that the other hand can be used to encourage 
lactation. However, most know manual breast pumps require two-handed 
operation, one hand holding the milk-receiving vessel and the other hand 
operating the manual suction device. For example, many manual breast pumps 
include a cylinder defining a suction chamber and a piston which is 
reciprocated with respect to the suction chamber to create a vacuum. Other 
similar manual breast pumps include a cylinder defining a suction chamber 
and having a second cylinder slidably received over the cylinder defining 
the suction chamber. Operation of many of these types of breast pumps 
require the use of one hand to support the milk-receiving vessel or part 
of the manual breast pump, while the other hand is used to reciprocate the 
piston or outer cylinder. Many other breast pumps, especially older 
designs, employ a squeeze bulb which is connected by a flexible conduit to 
a pump body. In order to use these types of breast pumps, the pump body 
must be supported in one hand while the bulb is squeezed with the other 
hand. 
Some manual breast pumps have been designed for one-handed operation, but 
they have generally been awkward to use. For example, many manual breast 
pumps designed for one-handed operation require that the operator support 
the pump and bottle with their thumb, such as by inserting the thumb 
through a thumb ring or wrapping the thumb around the neck connecting the 
breast shield or funnel to the pump body, while using their fingers to 
push a lever or handle toward the thumb supporting the pump and 
milk-receiving vessel. Operation of these types of manual breast pumps can 
be awkward, difficult, fatiguing, and uncomfortable. In particular, the 
pump and milk-receiving vessel are largely supported by the thumb, and the 
required operating movement tends to exert a moment on the pump and 
milk-receiving vessel about the thumb which must generally be opposed by 
the breast. 
Still another disadvantage with manual breast pumps designed for one-handed 
use is that they have been relatively complicated and difficult to 
disassemble for cleaning and sanitation. For example, manual breast pumps 
designed for one-handed operation have generally included co-operating 
piston and cylindrical suction chamber arrangements which are integrally 
connected to the portion of the pump which is secured to the 
milk-receiving vessel, and wherein the piston is not removable from the 
cylindrical suction chamber. As a result, it is generally difficult to 
thoroughly clean and disinfect the pump, especially the internal portions 
of the suction chamber. 
Another disadvantage with known manual breast pumps is that a piston or 
other reciprocating member must be moved linearly through a straight 
cylinder during operation. In order to effect such linear movement during 
operation of the manual breast pump, it is generally necessary to provide 
a relatively complicated pump mechanism comprising a large number of 
components which are difficult to assemble and disassemble, and/or require 
the operator to make awkward and uncomfortable pumping movements. 
A further problem with known manual breast pumps is that they generally 
either do not include a one-way valve between the manual breast pump and 
the milk-receiving vessel, or, if they do, it is a relatively complicated, 
multiple component valve arrangement such as ball or plug-type valve 
arrangement. A one-way valve which allows milk to flow into the 
milk-receiving vessel, but which prevents milk from flowing back from the 
milk-receiving vessel into the pump body is highly desirable. However, it 
is also desirable to achieve the one-way valve function with a simpler, 
less expensive device, which will reduce the overall cost of the manual 
breast pump and allow easier assembly and disassembly for cleaning and 
sanitizing of the components of the manual breast pump. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention provides a manual breast pump which can be easily and 
comfortably supported and operated using one hand. The manual breast pump 
is comprised of relatively few components which can be quickly and easily 
assembled and disassembled to facilitate thorough cleaning and 
disinfecting thereof. 
The manual breast pump includes a pump body which defines an inlet which is 
in fluid communication with a breast engaging funnel, an outlet for 
sealingly engaging an opening in a milk-receiving vessel, and a vacuum 
port in fluid communication with a tubular pump chamber. A stationary 
handle is connected to the pump body, and a movable handle is connected to 
the manual breast pump. The movable handle is spaced from the stationary 
handle so that both handles can be grasped simultaneously between the palm 
and fingers of a hand. The movable handle is movable with respect to the 
stationary handle and is operably connected to a piston disposed within 
the pump chamber so that movement of the movable handle with respect to 
the stationary handle results in movement of the piston within the pump 
chamber to create a vacuum at the vacuum port. 
In accordance with a preferred aspect of the invention, a manual breast 
pump is provided which is comprised of a relatively small number of parts 
that can be quickly and easily assembled or disassembled. Desirably, many 
of the components are configured to be snapped together and snapped apart 
to facilitate assembly and disassembly for easy cleaning and sanitizing of 
the components. 
The manual breast pump preferably includes, in accordance with a further 
aspect of the invention, an arcuate pump chamber which cooperates with a 
piston operably connected to a pump actuating lever. The piston is 
reciprocated along an arcuate path within the arcuate pump chamber by 
operation of a movable handle or other pump actuating lever. The arcuate 
pump chamber and arcuate movement of the piston allows the movable handle 
to be moved with respect to a stationary handle using a more natural and 
comfortable pumping motion wherein the handle portions are squeezed 
between the palm and fingers of a hand. The arcuate piston and pump 
chamber arrangement also provides a very simple mechanical arrangement 
requiring few components, further facilitating assembly and disassembly. 
In another aspect of the invention, a one part back splash valve is 
disposed at an outlet of a pump body engaging an opening in a 
milk-receiving vessel. The back splash valve is a one-way valve which 
allows milk to enter the milk-receiving vessel from the pump body, but 
which prevents milk from the milk-receiving vessel from flowing back into 
the pump body. The one piece back splash valve includes an annular seal 
lip for sealing between the outlet of the pump body and the upper edges or 
lip of the milk-receiving vessel. The valve comprises a pair of opposing 
flexible lips which flex apart to allow milk to flow through the valve 
from the pump body into the milk-receiving vessel, but which collapse 
together to prevent milk from flowing in the opposite direction. 
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a conduit neck has a 
first end configured to sealingly and rotatably engage the inlet of the 
pump body. A second end of the conduit neck is configured to support a 
breast engaging funnel. The rotatable conduit neck provides fluid 
communication between the breast engaging funnel and the inlet to the pump 
body, while allowing rotation of the breast engaging funnel with respect 
to pump handle portions attached to the pump body, as desired, to achieve 
maximum comfort during operation of the manual breast pump.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
A manual breast pump 20 (FIGS. 1-2) embodying the present invention 
includes a pump body 21, a funnel-supporting shield neck 22 and funnel 23 
connected to an inlet on the pump body 21, a back splash valve 24 
connected to an outlet of the pump body 21, and a manually operable 
hand-pump mechanism 25 connected to a vacuum port on the pump body 21. The 
breast pump 20 can be connected to a bottle 26 and conveniently and 
comfortably operated to extract milk from a mother's breast. The breast 
pump 20 is configured to stably rest on a support surface when the mother 
has filled the bottle 26 until the mother is ready to take care of the 
collected milk. The breast pump 20 is also configured to be separated into 
components that can be sanitarily cleaned such as in an automatic 
dishwasher. 
Pump body 21 (FIG. 2) includes three concentric cylindrically shaped walls 
30, 31, and 32 that extend downwardly from a top wall 33. The juncture of 
inner cylindrical wall 30 and top wall 33 defines a milk inlet 34, and the 
bottom of inner cylindrical wall 30 defines a milk outlet 35. A vacuum 
port 36 is defined on one side of top wall 33 generally between 
cylindrical inner wall 30 and intermediate cylindrical wall 31. A tubular 
cylindrical sleeve 37 extends arcuately laterally from walls 30-33. A 
vacuum-release control valve 40 operably covers hole 39, and is operable 
by thumb or finger pressure to vent pump chamber 38. Cylindrically shaped 
walls 30-32 extend downwardly and define an inner annular recess 41 and an 
outer annular recess 42. The inner surface on outer cylindrical wall 32 
includes threads 43 for threadably engaging mating threads 44 on the top 
of bottle 26. The recess 42 is configured to sealingly engage the top of 
bottle 26. 
Neck 22 (FIG. 2) is generally a conduit including a tubular 
pump-body-engaging lower section 46 and an upper tubular section 47 which 
is angled with respect to the lower section. The upper tubular section is 
preferably at about a 20.degree. angle with respect to the lower tubular 
section. The lower section 46 defines a tubular nipple configured to 
sealingly frictionally engage inlet 34 on pump body 21. Specifically, 
lower section 46 includes an outer surface having a detent 49 thereon for 
frictionally releasably engaging the lower end 50 of inner cylindrical 
wall 30 and further includes a cylindrical recess for receiving at least 
one O-ring seal 52. The angled section 47 includes an inner surface for 
receiving and frictionally engaging a slip-fit cylindrically shaped end 53 
of rippled funnel 23. The other end 54 of funnel 24 is frustoconically 
shaped to generally match the shape of a mother's breast, and includes 
three concentric annular ripples 55 designed for optimal comfort and 
sealing engagement with the mother's breast. The material of funnel 23 is 
resilient and deformable. 
Back splash valve 24 (FIGS. 6-8) includes an annular seal lip 57 and a lip 
valve element 58 formed at a lower end of valve 24. Valve element 58 
comprises a pair of opposing "duck bill" shaped flexible lips 58 that flex 
apart to permit the flow of milk through the valve into a milk-receiving 
vessel or bottle 26 in a first direction "A", but which collapse together 
to prevent the flow of milk in an opposite direction. The shaped body 57 
is configured to sealingly engage the pump body 21 and bottle 26. It is 
contemplated that the shaped body 57 can include different configurations. 
For example, compare FIG. 1 and FIGS. 6-7. It is also contemplated that 
the valve 58 can be configured differently. For example, the lip valve 
shown could be replaced with a gravity-controlled ball-and-seat valve. In 
the illustrated preferred embodiment (FIG. 1), the intermediate wall 31 
extends below inner wall 30 when assembled to allow flow of air through 
inlet 34 under inner wall 31 and upwardly into vacuum port 36. The valve 
element 38 extends into bottle 26, such that milk is directed to flow into 
bottle 26. 
Hand-pump mechanism 25 includes a stationary handle 60 (FIGS. 9-10) and a 
movable spring/piston handle 61 (FIGS. 12-13). The stationary handle 60 
(FIGS. 9-10) is boomerang shaped, and includes an elongated U-shaped 
connector section 62 configured for snap-attach connection to the arcuate 
cylindrically shaped sleeve 37 forming pump chamber 38. Specifically, pump 
body 21 includes detents 95 which engage apertures 96 in stationary handle 
60. A palm-receiving grip 63 extends at an angle to tubular connector 
section 62. The grip 63 includes side walls 64 connected by a rear wall 
65. The side walls 64 and rear wall 65 act as a shroud which protects the 
pump mechanism 25. The grip 63 also has a lower end 66 configured to 
stably engage a support surface such as a table top or counter top 67. The 
lower end 66 and the bottom of the bottle 26 form a structure for stably 
engaging the flat support surface so that the breast pump 20 including the 
bottle 26 can be stably rested as a unit on a counter top. A pair of slots 
68 are formed in the lower end of side walls 64. The slots 68 include a 
pivot-forming end 69 and an inlet 70 to the end 69. A detent 71 is formed 
along the inlet 69. 
The spring/piston handle 61 includes a piston-forming section 73 (FIGS. 
12-13) having a flat end 74 and an X-shaped cross section elongated piston 
shaft 75. Piston seal 76 (FIG. 3) includes a lipped pocket 76' configured 
to releasably engage the flat end 74. Piston seal 76 includes an annular 
flange 77 for sealingly slidably engaging the inner surface of pump sleeve 
37. Spring/piston handle 61 (FIGS. 12-13) further includes an arm section 
78 formed by opposing side walls 79 and front wall 80. The front wall 80 
includes a wall section 82 that extends adjacent to piston shaft 75 and 
defines a space 83 for receiving pump sleeve 37 therein. A pivot-forming 
pin 84 extends between opposing side walls 79. The pin 84 is configured to 
snap attach into slots 68 and is rotatably held therein by detent 71. A 
leaf-spring-like finger 85 extends from the bottom of side walls 79 
generally tangentially and spirally away from pin 84. It is contemplated 
that the spring can be a separate, replaceable element. Spring 85 urges 
piston 73 toward the end of pump chamber 38 adjacent the vacuum port. 
The piston seal 76 is initially installed onto piston-forming section 73. 
The spring/piston handle 61 is then assembled into stationary handle 60 
(FIG. 3). Specifically, pin 84 of spring/piston handle 61 is snap attached 
into slots 68 of stationary handle 60, thus pivotally mounting 
spring/piston handle 61 to stationary handle 60. The two are then inserted 
as a unit onto sleeve 37 of pump body 21. When stationary handle 60 is 
slip-connected to sleeve 37, piston-forming section 73 forms a piston 
within chamber 38. Spring finger 85 engages rear wall 81 of handle 60 to 
bias piston-forming section 73 to a forward position. The front wall 80 
forms a finger-actuable trigger that can be comfortably operated while the 
mother is holding stationary handle 60 with her hand. By "squeezing the 
trigger", spring/piston handle 61 moves rearwardly against the force of 
spring finger 85, causing a vacuum to be drawn in chamber 38. The vacuum 
is communicated through vacuum port 36 and inlet 34 to funnel 24 (FIG. 1), 
such that milk is drawn into the funnel 23. The milk flows from the funnel 
through pump body 21 and inlet 34 and, due to the configuration, drops 
through pump body outlet 35 and back splash valve 22 into bottle 26. When 
the mother has finished collecting milk, the breast pump 20 and the bottle 
26 can be stably set as a unit onto a table top or counter top without 
fear of tipping over since the configuration includes structure forming a 
stable support for the pump 20. 
A modified manual breast pump 20A embodying the present invention is shown 
in FIGS. 18-43. Identical or similar parts are identified with the same 
identification numbers as were used for pump 20, but with the addition of 
a letter "A" to reduce redundant discussion. Modified manual breast pump 
20A (FIG. 18) embodying the present invention includes a pump body 21A 
(FIGS. 25-28), a funnel supporting shield neck 22A (FIGS. 29-31), and 
funnel 23A (FIG. 18) connected to an inlet on the pump body 21A, and a 
manually operable hand-pump mechanism 25A (FIG. 18) connected to a vacuum 
port on the pump body 21A. The hand-pump mechanism 25A includes a spring 
element 61A' (FIGS. 32-34) that is releasably snap-attached to the piston 
element 61A" (FIGS. 35-38), which components are preassembled and then 
snap-attached to the stationary handle 60A (FIGS. 39-43). The breast pump 
20A can be connected to a bottle 26A and conveniently and comfortably 
operated to extract milk from a mother's breast. The breast pump 20A is 
configured to stably rest on a support surface when the mother has filled 
the bottle 26A until the mother is ready to take care of the collected 
milk. The breast pump 20A is configured to be separated into components 
that can be sanitarily cleaned in an automatic dishwasher. 
In pump 20A, pump body 21A is modified to open the cavity 41A/42A by 
eliminating the lower portion of walls that extend into cavity 41A/42A. 
Also in pump mechanism 25A, spring/piston handle 61A is modified to 
include the spring element 61A' that is releasably snap-attachable to 
piston element 61A". Specifically, spring element 61A' includes a 
configured end 90A having shoulders 91A for engaging pivot forming pin 84A 
and a projecting section of material 92A for engaging window 93A in 
stationary handle 61A". The releasability of spring element 61A' allows 
replacement of the stationary handle 61A". 
Vacuum port 36A (FIG. 28) is defined by an aperture in top wall 33A 
adjacent to tubular sleeve 37A to provide fluid communication between 
inlet 34A and the pump chamber 38A. 
Thus a manually operable breast pump is provided including a pump body, a 
funnel-supporting neck and funnel connected to an inlet on the pump body, 
a back splash valve connected to an outlet of the pump body, and a 
manually operable hand-pump mechanism connected to a vacuum port on the 
pump body. The breast pump can be connected to a bottle and conveniently 
operated to extract milk from a mother's breast. The breast pump is 
configured to stably rest on a support surface when the mother has filled 
the bottle until the mother is ready to take care of the collected milk. 
The breast pump is also configured to be separated into components that 
can be sanitarily cleaned, such as in an automatic dishwasher. 
Having described the invention, it should be understood that although a 
preferred embodiment has been disclosed herein other modifications and 
embodiments can be utilized without departing from the spirit of this 
invention. Therefore, this invention should not be limited to only the 
embodiment illustrated.