Abstract:
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention includes a breastmilk collection and storage device that contours to the natural form of a female human breast and consists of an outer layer, an inner layer and a sterile collection bag. Designed to fit under any standard brassiere, the device provides an opening to be comfortably worn around the nipple. The opening directs mild to the sterile collection bag and further provides a sealing means for coupling to a cap or other closure device when not being worn.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to concealable, breastmilk collection and storage devices for lactating mothers. 
         [0002]    Natural breastfeeding infants, widely accepted as the best way to nurture an infant, often causes practical limitations particularly to working mothers or otherwise active mothers who are often in public spaces and are unable to immediately locate a private or discrete location where they can comfortably feed their infant or collect the breastmilk for a later use. Recognizing this problem, the prior art presents many varied attempts to provide devices that enable a lactating mother to collect or prevent lactation. 
         [0003]    Broadly, the state-of-the-art categorizes into three classifications including concealed devices for collection or storage, non-concealable pumping and storing apparatuses, and concealed lactation prevention devices. 
         [0004]    Representative of the first class of concealed devices, devices worn similar to undergarments, includes the concealed apparatus for hands free breast milk pumping and storage of Prentiss disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,440,100 issued on 27 Aug. 2002. The Prentiss apparatus includes a low-profile nipple cap held in place beneath a support brassier. This apparatus permits concealed, hands-free breast pumping in a public environment without any remarkable change in the user&#39;s visible appearance. Milk is expressed from the breasts through the nipple cap, which links to a remote reservoir via a milk storage conduit. A vacuum is applied to the storage reservoir by an electronic or manual pump. One limitation of the Prentiss apparatus includes the necessity of an external or remote reservoir bag. Further, the Prentiss apparatus requires a remote or external pump device to extract the milk. The additional, remote or external pump and bag destroy the privacy or operation discretion desired by many mothers, requiring them to find a more private or less-public venue to attend to the collection of breastmilk. Thus, there remains a need for a device that operates when completely concealed, and such a device should further eliminate the extra equipment as taught by Prentiss. 
         [0005]    The second category, non-concealable pumping and storing apparatuses, is well represented in the prior art and typically comprise a funnel-like device adapted to fit over the nipple and a portion of a female breast, a conduit member linking the funnel and directing milk to a collection device. Typically, the collection device is a bag. A representative example of the prior art includes a breast milk pump support harness disclosed by Fields in U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,996 issued on 19 Jun. 2001. Fields describes a support harness to be worn by a nursing mother that includes two detachable collection bottle support assemblies and a brassiere assembly. Examples of bags and collection funnels include a disposable sterile bag disclosed by Lafond in U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,082 issued on 11 Dec. 2001. Lafond describes a disposable plastic bag with a liquid receiving chamber having a tear-off strip and closure member. Limitations of this classification of these non-concealable pumping and storing apparatuses include their inability to be concealed beneath outer garments, require remote pumping devices, and are inoperable to discretely collect breastmilk. Thus, there remains a need for a collection system that can easily be worn under outer garments, yet retain a normal appearance for the user when worn. Such a device should include a collection means that does not require a remote or external pump apparatus. 
         [0006]    Attempts to both conceal and prevent lactation include devices described by Morrissey et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,231 issued on 2 Jul. 1996 and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,714 issued on 31 Mar. 1998 include an apparatus having an outer surface and an inner surface shaped to conform substantially to a human female breast and having a protrusion with a substantially flat, nipple-contacting surface which extends away from the support and positions to align substantially with and contact a nipple, and thus preventing lactation when placed over the breast. The Morrissey device, however, does not teach or disclose any means for collecting breastmilk, and attempts to prevent lactation. This device does not adequately address the need for a concealed collection device. 
         [0007]    Thus, there remains a need for a concealable device that collects breastmilk without requiring an external or remote pump device. Such a device should contour to the natural shape of the female breast to further enhance concealment and comfort during use. Such a device should be easy to wear with a supportive brassiere, provide a normal appearance when viewed under clothing, provide a means for collecting milk that can be reused, easily cleaned, and seal to retain the milk for later use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention overcomes the aforementioned limitations of the prior art and provides a concealable device for collecting breastmilk without requiring use of a remote or external pump device. 
         [0009]    In a preferred embodiment, the present invention includes a breastmilk collection and storage device that contours to the natural form of a female human breast and consists of an outer layer, an inner layer and a sterile collection bag. Designed to fit under any standard brassiere, the device provides an opening to be comfortably worn around the nipple. The opening directs mild to the sterile collection bag and further provides a sealing means for coupling to a cap or other closure device when not being worn. 
     
    
     
       DRAWING 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a back view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view along the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a partial cross-sectional side view detailing an opening according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view along the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a right side view of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a partial cross-sectional side view detailing an opening according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Possible preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawings and those skilled in the art will understand that alternative configurations and combinations of components may be substituted without subtracting from the invention. Also, in some figures certain components are omitted to more clearly illustrate the invention. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4  show a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, which consists of a breastmilk collection and storage device  10 . The collection and storage device adapts to fit over a human female nipple and portion of a female breast, and preferably under a supportive brassiere to provide a natural shape and appearance when worn in contact with skin under apparel. The device  10  includes an outer layer  21  having a first contour. The first contour emulates the curve and contour of a human female breast. For example the outer layer consists of a generally convex elliptical form when viewed from above and measures about a 6-inch diameter on the minor axis and about an 8-inch diameter on the major axis and consists of a relatively soft and resiliently deformable material such as a silicon-type material as would be appreciated by those with skill in this art. One suitable material for the inner and outer layers includes the brand-name STERalloy FDG available from www.hapcoweb.com, which is a liquid molding polymer alloy that has been specifically designed for food and drug applications. 
         [0019]    The device  10  further consists of an inner layer  31  having a second contour. The second contour also emulates the curve and contour of a human female breast, but is sized to create a cavity when coupled to the outer layer. For example, the inner layer  31  consists of a generally concave circular form when viewed from above and measures about 6-inches in diameter. 
         [0020]    The outer layer  21  couples to the inner layer  31  along two separate portions of a common boundary between the two layers. The two layers align their respective concavity in the same direction to form a cavity  43 , a volume that appears generally crescent-shaped when viewed in profile.  FIG. 3  clearly illustrates the crescent-shaped cavity  43  with respect to the inner layer  31  and outer layer  21 . As would be understood in this art, a portion of the boundary between the outer layer and inner layer aligns coincident with each other, and serves as a join-edge during the fabrication process. This join-edge may readily be adhered by using a suitable adhesive or molded in the desired configuration. Also, a portion of the boundary between the inner and outer layers will remain open and not coupled together. This opening lends itself readily to aiding the insertion and retraction of the collection bag  41 . 
         [0021]    In certain alternative preferred embodiments, the join-edge consists of a portion of the common boundary between the inner and outer layers and acts as a hinge. In this way the inner layer may nest in close proximity to the outerlayer for storage or when worn. Thus, as breastmilk collects in the collection bag, the outer layer may expand outward with respect to the wearer and the cavity  43  would vary in volume as the outer layer adjusts to changes in the volume of milk collected. 
         [0022]    Facilitating collection of breastmilk, the device  10  further includes a nipple-receiving opening  51  disposed on the inner layer  31 . The opening  51  adapts to enable the human female nipple to insert therethrough and create a fluid conduit from the inner layer to the cavity  43  or directly to a collection bag  41 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  more clearly illustrates a suitable collection bag  41 , which adapts to arrange within the cavity  43  formed between the inner and outer layers. The cavity may include several openings, as previously discussed. The collection bag  41 —any number of disposable plastic and sterile bags adapted for use to collect breastmilk, as would be well understood in this art, can adapt for use as the collection bag of the present invention—arranges in the cavity and pesents an opening to align with the nipple-receiving opening  51  so that breastmilk can flow from the lactating mother&#39;s breast into the collection bag. The collection bag, accordingly, selectively couples to the inner layer, or to the opening  51 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  also shows one alternative preferred embodiment of a suitable nipple-receiving opening  51 . This opening is circular (as  FIG. 2  illustrates) in cross section—although other shapes can work equally well including a slit, oval, or rectangle, for example. In this embodiment, the opening  51  includes a shoulder  53  protruding from the surface of the inner layer  31  at a first shoulder end. A circular flange  55  forms at an oppositely disposed second shoulder end. The flange  55  cooperates with the retaining member  61 , for example an elastically deformable member such as an O-ring or rubber band, to retain an open end of the collection bag  41  in position to enable fluid flow into the collection bag. 
         [0025]    The retention member  61 , in another preferred embodiment, removes from the nipple-receiving opening  51 , enabling the now-full collection bag to be removed from the inner layer and outer layer assembly. And, the retention member  61  now serves as a sealing member to close the now-full collection bag to prevent leakage. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  shows another preferred embodiment of a breastmilk collection device  10  having a rigid inner cup  71  formed or molded from a polyproponal or other similar plastic material. The inner cup includes an open top portion  73  and vertical sidewalls and a bottom cooperating to form a compartment  77 . An access port  75  disposed on one vertical sidewall aligns with the fluid conduit  57  portion of the inner layer  31  to provide a fluid-flow path from the female nipple to the collection cup  71 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  shows the collection cup  71  being used with a bag liner  41 , which can easily be inserted through the open top  73 .  FIG. 7  further details a possible arrangement of components relative to the inner layer  31 . An o-ring type sealing member  61  or rubber band inserts over a flange  55  onto a neck  53  of the fluid conduit  57 , which provides a fluid passage to the inner compartment  77  of the cup  71  or to a bag liner  41  inserted in the same inner compartment  77 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention. An outer layer  21  and cooperating inner layer  31  (not shown in  FIG. 6 ) sandwiches an inner cup  71  with an open top  73 . A port  51  enables breastmilk to flow into the compartment of the cup  71 . 
         [0029]    Although the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.