Abstract:
This invention relates to a breast pump which can perform the automatic suction with the following advantages:  
     1) A breast-milking mother can stop the operation of breast pump immediately, when her breast site feels painful through continual suction;  
     2) The suction can be immediately made available by re-pushing a switch, thus ensuring the convenience in use;  
     3) Since the breast pump has a massage function in addition to the basic suction of human milk, thus removing a breast stiffness in an efficient manner and improving the whole functions of breast pump;  
     4) The rapid detachment of breast pump after use can be made through the fabrication of suction release value, thus making the separation procedure of breast pump easier;  
     5) Since the induction neck of breast pump is equipped with a separate induction conduit which is extended to the inside of a breast milk bottle, human milk can be directly dropped to the bottle, whereby any disinfection for bottle is unnecessary; and,  
     6) Since the breast milk bottle is connected to the main body of breast pump with a transparent hose, the insertion of breast pump to mother&#39;s nipple can be directly ascertained by naked eyes.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates to a breast pump used for squeezing human milk with the following advantages:  
           [0003]    1) The automatic suction can ensure the convenience in use;  
           [0004]    2) The additional massage function can contribute much to diverse performances;  
           [0005]    3) Since the suction neck of breast pump is equipped with a soft induction neck designed to cover the breast site, any discomfort during use can be removed, while the breast pump can be easily detached using a suction release valve; and,  
           [0006]    4) Since an induction neck is equipped with a separate induction conduit, human milk can be directly dropped to the floor of breast milk bottle, thus preventing the contamination of breast milk bottle; and,  
           [0007]    5) Since the breast milk bottle is connected to the main body of breast pump with a transparent hose, the insertion of breast pump to mother&#39;s nipple can be directly ascertained by naked eyes.  
           [0008]    In general, a breast pump is intended for use to squeeze the first human milk from child-born or forcibly squeeze excessive amount of human milk during lactation. The breast pump is divided into manual and automatic types.  
           [0009]    In the case of the manual breast pump, a lactating woman makes a manual pumping process by hands and thus a lot of force is inevitably required with inconvenient usage. To be harmonious with this matter, various types of automatic breast pump have been recently marketed.  
           [0010]    However, the conventional automatic breast pump lacking any massage function has failed to remove the breast stiffness with the following disadvantages:  
           [0011]    1) With a switch on, an automatic breast pump has a continuous operation. A breast-milking mother cannot stop the operation of breast pump immediately, when her breast site feels painful through continual suction. Furthermore, when a switch is off, the switch operation is quite cumbersome.  
           [0012]    2) Since the suction force is controlled by inflow air, the continuous operation of motor results in excessive electric consumption.  
           [0013]    3) Since the main body of breast pump is directly attached to the upper part of human milk bottle, there is a high risk on the malfunction or internal contamination of breast pump.  
           [0014]    4) Since the inside of human milk bottle cap is smeared with human milk flowing from the bottle via suction neck, the human milk bottle needs to be disinfected every time during use.  
           [0015]    5) The conventional automatic breast pump lacking diverse functions has a simple suction without any massage function.  
         SUMMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0016]    To free from the aforementioned shortcomings, this invention relates to a breast pump which can perform the automatic suction with the following advantages:  
           [0017]    1) A breast-milking mother can stop the operation of breast pump immediately, when her breast site feels painful through continual suction;  
           [0018]    2) The suction can be immediately made available by re-pushing a switch, thus ensuring the convenience in use;  
           [0019]    3) Since the breast pump has a massage function in addition to the basic suction of human milk, thus removing a breast stiffness in an efficient manner and improving the whole functions of breast pump;  
           [0020]    4) Since a suction neck has a soft induction neck designed to softly contact with a breast site, a lactating woman feels comfort during use, and the rapid detachment of breast pump after use can be made through the fabrication of suction release value, thus making the separation procedure of breast pump easier;  
           [0021]    5) Since the induction neck of breast pump is equipped with a separate induction conduit which is extended to the inside of a breast milk bottle, human milk can be directly dropped to the bottle, whereby any disinfection for bottle is unnecessary; and.  
           [0022]    6) Since the breast milk bottle is connected to the main body of breast pump with a transparent hose, the insertion of breast pump to mother&#39;s nipple can be directly ascertained by naked eyes, thus preventing any smear in the bottle. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the whole shape of breast pump according to this invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing that an induction neck is installed at human milk bottle from the breast pump.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of automatic pump from the breast pump.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIGS. 4 a  and  4  are sectional views showing the operational state of FIG. 3.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5 a perspective view showing the structure of massage device from the breast pump.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 is a sectional view of FIG. 5.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the structure of suction release valve from the breast pump.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 8 a perspective view showing the locking/release structure of battery cap from the breast pump. 
     
    
     EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CODES IN THE DRAWINGS  
       [0031]    [0031]                                                       10: Suction neck   11: Cap           12: Breast milk bottle   13: Automatic pump           14: Main body of breast pump   15: Induction neck           16: Tube   16A: Milk-collecting neck           17: Motor   18: Pump body           18A: Connection rod   19: Suction neck           20: Outlet   21: Pump room           22: Eccentric cam   23: Power piece           24: Massage plate   25: Elastic piece           26: Massage device   27: Push button           28: Valve case   29: Suction neck           30: Outlet   31: Valve housing           32: Valve slip   33: Valve body           34: Suction release value   35: Tight lock plate           36: Groove   37: Induction conduit           38: Contact switch   39: Battery reservoir           40: Battery cap   41: Locking ring           44: Tight seal ring   45: Operational portion           46: Suction valve   47: Discharge valve           48: Contact plate   49: Lumbar portion           50: Stopper piece   51: Stopper groove                        
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0032]    This invention is explained in detail based upon the accompanying drawings as set forth hereunder.  
         [0033]    This invention is characterized by a breast pump having a breast pump having a breast milk bottle  12  equipped with a suction neck  10  and cam  11 , and the main body of a breast pump  14  including automatic pump  13 , etc., wherein a soft induction neck  15  designed to softly cover a breast site is equipped to the breast milk bottle  12 , while the breast milk bottle  12  and main body of said breast pump  14  are connected to a transparent tube  16  having a milk-collecting neck which can be housed or detached with a certain length.  
         [0034]    In particular, this invention is characterized by a breast pump having an automatic pump  13  placed at the main body of breast pump, wherein it comprises a motor  17 ; a pump body  18  which is eccentrically combined to a shaft of the motor  17  vertically for rectilineal movement; a connection rod  18 A formed in the pump body; suction neck  19  passing through the breast milk bottle and, a pump room having an outlet passing through the outer pathway.  
         [0035]    Another embodiment of this invention is characterized by a breast pump, wherein the main body of said breast pump  14  is equipped with an eccentric cam  22  connected to the shaft of a motor  17 ; a motor piece  23  connected to said eccentric cam  22 ; massage plate which can be oscillated in a single coupling with the motor piece  23 ; and, a massage device  26  equipped with a recovery elastic piece  25  which is placed at the back side of said massage plate  24 .  
         [0036]    Another embodiment of this invention is characterized by a breast pump, wherein the main body of breast pump  14  comprises a manual push button  27 ; a valve case  28  fixing said push button  27  to the main body of breast pump  14 ; a value housing  31 ; a suction release valve  34  consisting of a valve body  33  which is installed in the inside of the valve housing  31  and a valve slip torn in a straight line.  
         [0037]    Another embodiment of this invention is characterized by a breast pump, wherein said induction neck  15  comprises a tight-lock plate  35  in a trumpet form which can be tightly contacted to nipple site and its circumference; groove  36  which is placed on the back circumference of said tight-lock plate  35  and inserted to the front portion of said suction neck located at said breast milk bottle  12 ; and an induction conduit  37  which can be extended to the inside of said breast milk bottle in a certain length.  
         [0038]    Another embodiment of this invention is characterized by a breast pump, wherein the automatic pump  13  is equipped with a contact switch  38  of three modes (stopping, semi-automatic and automatic) which can be freely selected.  
         [0039]    Another embodiment of this invention is characterized by a breast pump, wherein the main body of breast pump  14  is equipped with a battery reservoir  39 , and battery cap  40  of the battery reservoir  39  is installed in a manner such that it can be opened and closed by a rotary locking and release mode.  
         [0040]    This invention is explained in more detail based upon the accompanying drawings as set forth hereunder.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the whole shape of breast pump according to this invention. The breast pump comprises the breast milk bottle  12  as a milk storage means; the main body of breast pump  14  including the automatic pump  13  as a power source to squeeze human milk; the tube  16  connecting both breast milk bottle  12  and automatic pump  13 ; and the milk-collecting neck is placed in the tube.  
         [0042]    The tube  16  can be connected between a tube connection neck  42  formed in a cap  11  of breast milk bottle  12  and an upper part of the main body of breast pump, which can be easily housed and detached. Since the transparent tube can easily ascertain the inflow of human milk to the milk-collecting neck  16 A and main body of breast pump  14  via the tube  16 , there is no risk for the inflow of milk into the main body of breast pump  14  in the long run.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing that an induction neck  15  is installed at the cap  11  of human milk bottle  12  from the breast pump.  
         [0044]    The cap  11  at the breast milk bottle having the same structure of the general milk bottle may be freely connected and separated in a spiral form; the induction neck  15  is inserted to the suction neck  10  placed at the one-side of cap in a straight form  
         [0045]    The induction neck  15  comprises a tight lock plate in a trumpet form which can cover a front breast including nipples for its attachment; a groove  36  which can accurately connect the induction neck  15  and suction neck  10 , since it is formed at the back circumference of tight lock plate  35  and inserted to the upper part of suction neck  10  at the breast milk bottle; and, a induction conduit  37  which is extended to the internal upper center of breast milk bottle  12  to let human milk drop into the breast milk  12 , thus preventing the smearing phenomenon of human milk in the inside of cap  11 .  
         [0046]    The induction neck  15  is installed in such a manner that it is inserted into the suction neck of breast milk bottle  12  via the groove  36 . With the induction neck  15  constricted by vacuum force in the breast milk bottle  12 , the outer air between the induction neck  15  and suction neck  10  is blocked, thus maintaining the vacuum state within the breast milk bottle  12  accurately.  
         [0047]    In particular, since the whole induction neck  15  including the tight lock plate  35  is made from a soft material, the tight attachment of tight lock plate  35  to a front breast provides a soft feeling and comfort to a lactating woman, thus ensuring the convenience in use.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of automatic pump  13  from the breast pump according to this invention.  
         [0049]    The automatic pump  13  is on or off by a separate switch means, wherein it comprises: a motor  17  installed within the inside of main body of breast pump  14 ; a pump body  18  which is eccentrically connected to the shaft of motor  17  to repeat the pumping, while making a rectilineal motion against the rotary movement of motor  17 ; an suction neck  19  passing through the breast milk bottle  12 ; and, a pump room having a certain space with the pump body  18 , together with an outlet  
         [0050]    [0050]FIGS. 4 a  and  4  are sectional views showing the operational state of automatic pump  13 .  
         [0051]    The pump body  18 , which plays an actual role in pumping, comprises a tight seal ring  44 , an operational portion  45  and an operational rod  43  which is extended to backside in a certain length. Its pumping can be made by the operational rod which is eccentrically connected to the shaft of motor  17  to exchange a rotary motion into a rectilineal motion. The pump body  18  is equipped with a connection rod  18 A which connects a suction valve at the suction neck  19  and tight seal ring  44 , thus ensuring the tight-seal function of suction neck accurately.  
         [0052]    As illustrated in FIG. 4 a , the space of pump room  21  become widened due to suction of pump body  18  and then, the air within the breast milk bottle  12  is sucked by the suction neck  19 . As illustrated in FIG. 4 b , the space of pump room  21  become narrowed due to discharge of pump body  18  and then, the air within the pump room  21  is discharged by the outlet  20 .  
         [0053]    Both suction neck  19  and outlet  20  are equipped with a suction value  46  and discharge value  47 , respectively. During the operation of pump body  18 , the suction valve can suck the air within the breast milk bottle  12 , while the discharge value can discharge the sucked air within the pump room  21  to the outside.  
         [0054]    Further, this invention is characterized by a contact switch  38  as the switch means of automatic pump  13 .  
         [0055]    The automatic pump  13  is equipped with three modes (stopping, semi-automatic and automatic) which can be freely selected, and one-touch switch operation may be made available during semi-automatic operation.  
         [0056]    As illustrated in FIG. 3, the automatic pump  13  consists of  2  contact plates  48  at both sides and then, it can be used at the corresponding mode in a manner to rotate the contact switch  38 .  
         [0057]    From the contact switch  38 , its mode selected by both rib means at the rim circumference and protracted stopper located at the main body of breast pump  14  can be maintained. In the case of semi-automatic mode, the repeated push may be made available due to the elasticity of spring itself.  
         [0058]    In the case of selecting the semi-mode, a lactating woman can squeeze her breast milk, when she pushes the contact switch  38  only. When a lactating mother feels painful due to the continual squeeze of breast milk, she leaves the pushed contact switch  38  to stop the suction of breast milk immediately. Then, with the contact switch pushed, the suction of breast milk can be immediately made available, thus ensuring an adequate control of suction during the squeeze operation of breast milk.  
         [0059]    [0059]FIGS. 5 and 6 shows the structure of massage device from the breast pump of this invention.  
         [0060]    The massage device  26  comprises an eccentric cam  22  which is connected to the shaft of a motor  17  for possible rotation; a motor piece  23  connected to the eccentric cam  22  using a lumbar portion  49  in a half-circle form; massage plate  24  which can be oscillated in a single coupling with said motor piece  23 ; and, a recovery elastic piece  25  where the rim of main body of breast pump is fixed and placed at the back side of massage plate  24  to provide the massage plate with a recovery force.  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 4A shows that the massage plate  24  is pushed upward by the eccentric cam  22 . FIG. 4B shows that the massage plate  24  is moved downward. When the massage plate  24  is turned to a certain place at the automatic mode of contact switch  38 , the powder piece  23 , being contacted with the eccentric cam  22  rotated by motor  17 , can be repeatedly moved upward and downward. Then, the massage plate  24 , being connected with the power piece in a single coupling, is repeatedly oscillated, thus ensuring the massage by attaching the plate to a stiff breast.  
         [0062]    [0062]FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the structure of suction release valve  34  from the breast pump.  
         [0063]    The suction release valve  34  comprises a manual push button  27  which widens the slip value  32  of value body  33  and a spring means which recover the widened slip value of  32 ; a valve case  28  which fixes the push button  27  to the main body of breast pump  14 ; a value housing  31  which is jointly passed with a suction neck  29  at the main body of breast pump  17  and at the same time, equipped with a plural number of outlet  30 ; and, a valve body  33  which is installed in the valve housing  31  to block the suction part of valve housing  31  and outer part, while having a silicon-type elastic valve slip torn in a straight line.  
         [0064]    After completing the squeeze of breast milk, the suction release valve  34  serves to remove the vacuum state of breast milk bottle  12  and adsorption state of induction neck  15 .  
         [0065]    To this end, with the push button  27 , its lower end pushes the upper end of valve body  33  equipped with the valve slip  32 ; simultaneously, when the valve slip  32  is widened, the outer air flows into the inside of breast milk bottle from the suction neck  29  of main body of breast pump  14  and tube  16 , the induction neck may be easily detached from the front breast, while removing the vacuum state of breast milk bottle  12 .  
         [0066]    With the push button left, the tight-seal state can be again maintained, since the operation of breast pump is recovered into an original state.  
         [0067]    [0067]FIG. 8 a perspective view showing the locking/release structure of battery cap from the breast pump.  
         [0068]    The breast pump of this invention can be used by connecting it to an electric cord and housing into a battery.  
         [0069]    When the breast pump is used by connecting it to an electric cord, a separate jack is provided, together with a battery reservoir  39 .  
         [0070]    When a battery cap  40  is opened or closed, a locking ring installed at the upper part of main body of breast pump  14  is operated.  
         [0071]    More specifically, since the locking ring  41  is equipped with a long groove  51  which can connect with a stopper piece  50  installed at the battery cap, the locking ring is turned to one side to deviate it from the stopper groove  51 , ash shown in the left of drawing, or to connect with the stopper groove, as shown in the right of drawing. Since the batter cap  40  is easily opened or closed, the breast pump cannot be detached from the outer impact, while exchanging a battery easily.  
         [0072]    As described above, to free from some drawbacks that the conventional manual and automatic breast pump, this invention relates to a breast pump which can perform the automatic suction with the following advantages:  
         [0073]    1) The suction mode such as automatic or semi-automatic function can be freely selected;  
         [0074]    2) The additional massage function can contribute much to removal of any breast stiffness;  
         [0075]    3) The suction neck of breast pump has a soft induction neck, while the breast pump can be easily detached using a suction release valve; and,  
         [0076]    4) Since the breast milk bottle is connected to the main body of breast pump with a transparent hose having a milk-collection neck, any human milk flowing into the inside of automatic pump can be prevented in advance, thus avoiding any malfunction of automatic pump and providing a comfort during suction.