Patent Publication Number: US-6988930-B2

Title: Hands-free breast milk expression system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/143,326 filed May 9, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,764,377. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Nursing mothers who express their breast milk for later use often find themselves inconvenienced by the need to support a breast milk collection device with their hands while it operates. (As used herein, the term “breast milk collection device” refers to any apparatus suitable for collecting expressed breast milk, e.g., an assembly that includes a suction cup, receiving tube, Venturi channel, and milk bottle.) Attempting to “double pump” typically requires both hands, one for a collection device at each breast, which leaves a nursing mother with little way to accomplish any other tasks or even read during the lengthy process. 
   Various “hands free” breast pumping arrangements have been developed, but they are far from being ideal solutions to the problem. For example, the system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,996 to Fields requires the user to wear a special bra that serves as a support harness for the collection devices. For a manufacturer of breast pumping devices to provide such a specially designed undergarment raises challenges, especially since women wear bras of many different styles and sizes. Typically, women purchase bras in a retail store environment where they can ensure a correct fit and select the style that appeals to them, often with the assistance of trained sales personnel. They may not be eager to purchase such a personal item of clothing from an equipment manufacturer, especially without having the opportunity to try it on beforehand. 
   Accordingly, nursing mothers still need a convenient, effective, hands-free way to support one or two breast milk collection devices while expressing milk, without resorting to any garment or undergarment other than what they would ordinarily wear. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A breast milk expression system according to various aspects of the present invention conveniently and effectively supports a pair of breast milk collection devices at the breasts of a nursing mother, allowing her to express breast milk while keeping her hands free for other tasks. Advantageously, no special bra or other garment is required to provide support for the collection devices. The system includes a bar, a strap, and a pair of breast milk collection device connectors. The bar is comprised of a length of substantially rigid material, embodied in one or several distinct structures fabricated from such material, which connects two points on the material. Each connector secures to the bar near a respective one of these points. 
   The strap is comprised of a length of slender, flexible support material. The length of strap material is significantly greater than the length of the bar material. The strap is secured to the bar, with a point at or near each end of the strap connected to a point at or near each end of the bar. This arrangement permits the holder to form a loop from one end of the bar to the other. Advantageously, the strap can suspend from a nursing mother&#39;s neck, thereby suspending the breast milk collection devices near the nursing mother&#39;s breasts to express milk from them. 
   According to a more particular aspect of the invention, the pair of connectors can include a pair of releasable retaining structures. Each of these structures can releasably secure a breast milk collection device to the bar. In a particularly advantageous configuration, the structures each include a J-shaped hook comprised of a length of slender, substantially rigid material. The hook has an arc that is approximately or exactly semicircular and first and second straight portions that are parallel to each other and at opposite ends of the arc. Each structure further includes a cap, of size comparable to an average human thumb width, that has in one of its sides a recess of suitable size to receive an end part of the first straight portion. Further included in each of the structures is a compression spring sized to fit over the first straight portion. 
   The first straight portion of the hook passes through a first hole in the bar, through the spring, and into the recess of the cap. The second straight portion of the hook is shorter than the first and passes through a second hole in the bar. In this configuration, simple thumb pressure on the cap can release the hook&#39;s shorter second straight portion from the bar&#39;s second hole, freeing the longer first straight portion to swivel in the bar&#39;s first hole. Thus, an intuitive and straightforward release mechanism is provided. 
   The above summary does not include an exhaustive list of all aspects of the present invention. Indeed, the inventor contemplates that the invention includes all systems and methods that can be practiced from all suitable combinations of the various aspects summarized above, as well as those disclosed in the detailed description below and particularly pointed out in the claims filed with the application. Such combinations have particular advantages not specifically recited in the above summary. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pair of breast milk collection devices suspended, in accordance with various aspects of the invention, near a nursing mother&#39;s breasts by a bar and a neck-worn strap. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the breast milk collection devices and bar of  FIG. 1  supported by a person&#39;s index finger, illustrating the light weight and balance that an embodiment of the invention can achieve. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a sleeve portion of the bar of  FIGS. 1–2  and a connector that couples one of the breast milk collection devices of  FIG. 1  to the bar. 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the bar of  FIGS. 1–2  illustrating a central rod and two sleeve portions that receive the rod. 
       FIG. 5  is a partial view of the bar and strap of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 6  is a view of the bar and strap of  FIG. 1 , illustrating how the strap is significantly longer than the bar to permit the strap to fit around a wearer&#39;s neck. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
   A breast milk expression system according to various aspects of the present invention provides numerous benefits, notably the facilitation of hands-free “double pumping” without the need for any special bra or other garment. An advantageous combination of a substantially rigid bar and a flexible strap support a pair of breast milk collection devices near a nursing mother&#39;s breasts to express milk from the breasts. As may be better understood with reference to  FIG. 1 , for example, one such system  100  includes: a strap  130  comprised of strap material that suspends from the neck (not shown) of a wearer  110  (a nursing mother); a bar  120  connected to strap  130 ; and a pair of breast milk collection devices  140 ,  170  that suspend from bar  120  via connectors  150 ,  180 , respectively. Devices  140 ,  170  circulate air with an external pumping device (not shown) via hoses  147 ,  177  to develop suction conventionally by the Venturi effect, as discussed below. 
   Suspension of collection devices  140 ,  170  from the neck of wearer  110  contributes to the effectiveness of breast milk expression as well as making the process a more convenient one. In exemplary system  100 , strap  130  suspends from a single support point and imparts forces at two separated points along bar  120 . These forces have upward components and partially opposing horizontal components. Rigidity of bar  120  neutralizes the opposing vectors of the horizontal components, and the remaining horizontal vectors direct force toward the chest of wearer  110 . This force, along with suction from the milk expression process, helps keep breast milk collection devices  140 ,  170  firmly in contact with breasts of wearer  110 . Neutralization of perpendicular forces by bar  120  helps prevent devices  140 ,  170  from being dislodged, e.g., by twisting moment of hoses  147 ,  177  during pumping action. 
   In a variation of strap  130  having more distributed support, e.g., a bra-type cross-strap about the shoulders that perhaps does not even touch the neck, the opposing vectors of the horizontal components may be diminished. But vectors of substantially similar magnitude pointing toward the chest of wearer  110  can be expected to remain, providing the advantageous contact-maintaining force described above. 
   Two important dimensions of exemplary system  100  are adjustable to advantageously suspend collection devices  140 ,  170  near the breasts of wearer  110  regardless of her body dimensions. First, wearer  110  can adjust the length of strap  130  to raise or lower devices  140 ,  170 . Second, she can accommodate her chest width by adjusting the length of bar  120  between two points on the bar, near which collection devices  140 ,  170  are attached. The flexible positioning offered by these adjustments allows system  100  to accommodate a significant majority of nursing mother&#39;s bodies in a given population of interest, a population that may be more specifically defined for marketing to a particular region or more generally defined for worldwide marketing. 
   A strap according to various aspects of the invention includes any length of slender, flexible support material suitable for suspending a modest load around a person&#39;s neck. For example, the support material can have a cross section that is thin and flat (e.g., a camera strap) or round (e.g., a braided soft-core cord). As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , strap  130  is flat, having a central portion of its length of support material that is comprised of a wide, padded strap  132  and two end portions  134 ,  136  comprised of narrower, thinner straps (e.g., of nylon webbing). 
   To position collection devices  140 ,  170  at a suitable position below her neckline, wearer  110  can conventionally adjust the length of strap  130  by sliding a clip  135  up or down along the loop of end portion  134 . The position of clip  135  determines the amount of doubled-up strap present, which influences overall length of strap  130 . End portion  136  is amenable to the same type of adjustment, permitting further variation in the overall length of strap  130 . 
   A breast milk expression system according to various aspects of the invention can use a suitable length of any substantially rigid as a bar to separate two points on the material&#39;s length near which breast milk collection devices can attach. (These “points” are merely identifications of geometrical positions on structure and do not necessarily embody any separate structure themselves.) The length of material can comprise a single rigid structure or several rigid structures connected together. 
   As may be better understood with reference to  FIGS. 2–4 , bar  120  of exemplary system  100  includes a central rod  210  and a pair of sleeve portions  220 ,  230  ( FIG. 2 ) that fit snugly onto rod  210 . Sleeve portions  220 ,  230  have hollow interiors that are each dimensioned and shaped to receive a portion of rod  210  from one of its ends to a point at or near its center. For example, sleeve portion  220  is essentially a cylinder of thin-walled metal (stainless steel is preferred, as discussed below) with an opening  224  ( FIG. 4 ) having an inside diameter only slightly larger (e.g., by 0.9 mm) than the outside diameter of rod  210 , which is preferably also stainless steel and can be hollow. 
   In this exemplary configuration, friction between the exterior surface of rod  210  and the interior surface of sleeve portion  220  maintains the relative position between the two structures under normal conditions of use but permits wearer  110  to adjust their position by gently pushing them together or pulling them apart. To help ensure stability, the end of each sleeve  220 ,  230  preferably overlaps its respective end of rod  210  by at least about half an inch. 
   In a somewhat less versatile variation of bar  120 , rod  210  is rigidly mounted within one of sleeve portions  220 ,  230 , leaving length adjustment to the sliding interconnection between rod  210  and the other sleeve portion. 
   A few examples of substantially rigid materials that a bar such as bar  120  can employ include ABS plastic, wood, stainless steel, and anodized aluminum. Rigidity can come from the inherent stiffness of the material, its structural configuration (e.g., a hollow-core tube), or a combination of both. Stainless steel has several advantages that make it a preferred choice as a material, including visual appeal, strength, and corrosion resistance that makes it suitable for washing. The entire length of substantially rigid material in a bar need not comprise a single type of such material. For example, rod  210  can be fabricated from solid ABS plastic while sleeve portions  220 ,  230  can be fabricated from stainless steel. 
   As discussed above, strap  130  and bar  120  adjust in length using sliding clip  135  of  FIG. 1  (and a counterpart clip for strap portion  136 , not shown in  FIG. 1 ) and the slidable connection of rod  210  and sleeve portions  220 ,  230 . However, a bar and strap according to various aspects of the invention can employ any suitable structural arrangement to permit length adjustment. A few examples are listed as follows. 
   ADJUSTMENT EXAMPLE 1—the bar consists of two thin, flat sections of hard rubber. One section contains a number of receiving holes lined up across much of the section&#39;s length. The other section contains a number of raised bumps, one for each receiving hole, that are similarly lined up across that section&#39;s length. The two sections releasably connect together by engagement of some or all the bumps into or through respective receiving holes, with the length of the resulting bar dependent on how many of the bumps are engaged, similar to length adjustment of a baseball cap&#39;s back strap. The bumps can be slightly protruding portions of a continuous segment of hard rubber making up the bar. In one possible variation, the “bumps” can be individual structures connected to the main bar material by compression springs. 
   ADJUSTMENT EXAMPLE 2—the strap is made up of two sections of string, preferably flat like an apron string or including a padded wrapper along at least a portion of its length to ease contact with the wearer&#39;s neck. The string sections are simply tied together in a bow, with the amount of leftover string in and beyond the bow knot determining the strap length. 
   ADJUSTMENT EXAMPLE 3—the bar is comprised of two thin, flat strips of steel. Each strip has a “keeper” band fixedly mounted at one end. The keeper band is a band of rigid material, e.g., steel, with four straight sides and a rectangular cross-section. The length of the cross-section is substantially the same as the width of the bar, and one of the band&#39;s sides adhesively secures to the end of the strip to which it is attached. The other strip can then pass through the remaining part within the band&#39;s cross-section, which is made small enough to provide some friction between the bar and the band. As a result, the two strips can slide back and forth with respect to each other when force is applied to them, but they remain stable at a given position otherwise. 
   ADJUSTMENT EXAMPLE 4—the bar is a single piece of substantially rigid material, e.g., neoprene, that has multiple slots symmetrically disposed about its center. Each slot is oriented perpendicular to the bar&#39;s lengthwise axis. Each of a pair of breast milk collection devices releasably secures to the bar by a clip or tab that fits through one of the slots. As mentioned above, a bar according to various aspects of the invention is comprised of a length of substantially rigid material separating two points on the material. In this example, those points are located at the two selected slots. Thus, the length of substantially rigid material separating the two points is less than the total length of material in the bar. Here, the “length of material” is adjusted by selecting different points of separation at which the collection devices are attached (which define the length in question), not by changing the length of the bar itself. 
   A breast milk collection device according to various aspects of the invention includes any structure suitable for coupling to a lactating human breast to express and collect milk. For example, device  140  of  FIGS. 1–2  includes a suction cup  142  (e.g., of semi-transparent rigid neoprene) that is dimensioned and shaped to receive a portion of a breast of wearer  110 , and that includes a central opening  143  ( FIG. 2 ). Device  140  further includes: a receiving tube  144  in fluid communication with the interior of suction cup  142  through central opening  143 ; a milk bottle  148 ; and a Venturi channel  146 . 
   Air is directed from an external pumping device (not shown) to Venturi channel  146  and back again to the pumping device via a hose  147 , which contains forward and reverse air (also not shown) inside hose  147 . Venturi channel  146  is shaped internally to develop suction in receiving tube  144  as a result of that air flow, in accordance with the Venturi effect. 
   Device  140  may be of any suitable type. Examples include the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,857,051 to Larsson (the detailed description portion of which is incorporated herein by reference), the devices marketed by Medela, Inc. of McHenry, Ill. with the “Pump in Style” dual breast pump kit, and the devices marketed by Ameda Breastfeeding Products (Hollister Inc.) of Libertyville, Ill. 
   Breast milk collection device  140  connects to bar  120  via a breast milk collection device connector  150 . Similarly, collection device  170  connects to bar  120  via a like connector  180 . Exemplary connectors  150  and  180  are releasable retaining structures. A releasable retaining structure according to various aspects of the invention includes any configuration of mechanical elements that, when desired, can fasten to a bar and retain a portion of a breast milk collection device to the bar and, when desired, can release itself and the collection device from the bar. Retaining structure of connector  150  may be better understood with reference to  FIGS. 3–5 . 
     FIG. 3  illustrates connector  150  mounted to sleeve portion  220  of bar  120  in an open (i.e., released) configuration. That configuration is maintained by pressure from a person&#39;s thumb  350 , as discussed below. Structure  150  includes a hook comprised of a length of slender, substantially rigid material (i.e., any type of material that may be used in bar  120 ), preferably stainless steel. The material curves in an arc that is approximately or exactly semicircular, terminating in straight portions  152 ,  154  ( FIG. 3 ) that extend beyond the semicircular portion of the arc. Straight portion  152  is longer than straight portion  154 , an asymmetry that permits portion  152  to extend completely through a top hole  222  and a bottom hole  410  ( FIG. 4 ) in sleeve portion  220  while portion  154  extends only partially inside sleeve portion  220 , through a single bottom hole  420 . 
   Portion  152  extends above sleeve portion  220  a short distance to its end. A cap  158  receives the end of portion  152  in a recess (depicted in the cutaway view of cap  158 ) in its bottom side. Preferably, the recess of cap  158  includes conventional barbs about its circumference to secure the end of portion  152  in place. 
   A compression spring  156  fits over the short length of end portion  152  between hole  222  and a preferably stainless steel washer  153  ( FIGS. 3–4 ) adjacent to the bottom side of cap  158 , exerting upward force on end portion  154  through the rigid hook of structure  150 . This upward force keeps end portion  154  seated in sleeve portion  220 , where it restrains connector  150  from swiveling about end portion  152 . When the user wishes to open structure  150 , pressure from thumb  350  can move cap  158  downward, compressing spring  156  and releasing opposite end portion  154  from sleeve portion  220 . Then end portion  152  becomes free to rotate within hole  222  and its counterpart hole  410 , and those holes form a pivot axis for rotation of structure  150 . 
     FIG. 3  illustrates structure  150  partially rotated away from a closed (i.e., non-released) position.  FIG. 4  illustrates structure  150  in a fully open position, with end portion  154  free of hole  420  and the plane of the hook of structure  150  perpendicular to the lengthwise axis of sleeve portion  220 .  FIG. 5  illustrates structure  150  in a fully closed position with its end portion  154  secured in a hollow interior of sleeve portion  220 . 
   When in the open position depicted in  FIG. 4 , connector  150  can seat receiving tube  144  of breast milk collection device  140  in the arc of its hook. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , sleeve portion  220  does not obstruct the open part of the hook of structure  150  when it is in its open position. Receiving tube  144  can snugly fit into the arc of the hook, where connector  150  can then secure it in place by pivoting back to a closed position ( FIGS. 1–2 ). When thumb  350  releases downward pressure on cap  158 , spring  156  pushes cap  158  upward, in turn allowing end portion  154  to fit into hole  420 , securing both structure  150  and receiving tube  144  to bar  120 . 
   The fit between the hook of structure  150  and receiving tube  144  should be tight enough to keep collection device  140  in a substantially stable orientation, thus facilitating suction at the breast of wearer  110 . The fit should be kept loose enough to permit device  140  to oscillate in position somewhat with respect to the breast of wearer  110 , an action that device  140  preferably performs to enhance expression of milk. When such oscillation is desired, another advantage of the preferred construction of bar  120  ( FIG. 4 ) becomes apparent. The ability of sleeve portions  220 ,  230  to rotate independently about rod  210  permits devices  140 ,  170  to undergo independent oscillatory movements about the lengthwise axis of bar  120 . 
   Respective points of a strap and bar can connect in any suitable fashion. As may be better understood with reference to  FIGS. 5–6 , for example, points at ends of exemplary strap  130  connect to respective points of bar  120  with loops  610 ,  620  of strap material around bar  120 . Compression clips secure the end of each loop. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , for example, clip  520  secures one end of strap  130  (hidden inside clip  520 ) to strap material (also hidden) at the beginning of loop  610 . Compression clip  520  and its counterpart (not shown), which secures loop  620  ( FIG. 6 ), can be conventionally fabricated from a length of semi-rigid plastic with a U-shaped cross section and ends that touch unless forcibly spread apart. 
   Sleeve portions  210 ,  220  of exemplary bar  120  include end caps (e.g., of rubber) that fit inside the hollow of each sleeve, at the ends not receiving rod  210 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , for example, end cap  430  fits in one end of sleeve portion  220 , while opposite end  224  can receive rod  210 .  FIG. 4  illustrates another configuration, using end caps  430 ,  440  that have maximum diameters considerably greater than the outside diameters of sleeve portions  220 ,  230 . As a result, end caps  430 ,  440  can advantageously prevent end loops of a strap (e.g., strap  130  of  FIGS. 5–6 ) from falling off the ends of bar  120 . 
   Dimensions of a breast milk expression system according to various aspects of the invention can be selected to accommodate expected body shapes and sizes of a population of interest as well as the particular structure employed in such a system. TABLE I below lists exemplary dimensions of system  100  ( FIG. 1 ). These dimensions are not exact or critical, and any precise figures listed in TABLE I are set forth that way to communicate a particular fractional value without the use of fractions. 
   
     
       
         
             
             
             
           
             
               TABLE I 
             
             
                 
             
             
               Element 
               Dimension Type 
               Dimension 
             
             
                 
             
           
          
             
                 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
             
          
             
               BAR 120 
               Length range 
               9–16 
               in. 
             
             
               Sleeve portions 220, 230 
               Length 
               4.5 
               in. 
             
             
               Sleeve portions 220, 230 
               Inside diameter 
               0.4375 
               in. 
             
             
               Rod 210 
               Length 
               4.5 
               in. 
             
             
               Rod 210 
               Outside diameter 
               0.375 
               in. 
             
             
               Sleeve portions &amp; rod 210 
               Wall thickness 
               0.0345 
               in. 
             
             
               Holes 222, 410, 420 
               Diameter 
               5 
               mm 
             
             
               End caps 430, 440 
               Maximum diameter 
               0.75 
               in. 
             
             
               STRAP 130 
               Length range 
               18–46 
               in. 
             
             
               Padded strap 132 
               Length 
               16 
               in. 
             
             
               Padded strap 132 
               Strap width 
               1.5 
               in. 
             
             
               End portions 134, 136 
               Length (unlooped) 
               14 
               in. 
             
             
               End portions 134, 136 
               Strap width 
               0.35 
               in. 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
          
             
               CONNECTORS 150, 180 
               — 
               — 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
             
          
             
               Hook 
               Arc diameter 510 
               1.1875 
               in. 
             
             
               Hook 
               Rod outside diameter 
               0.1875 
               in. 
             
             
               Washer 153 
               Size 
               “No. 8” 
             
             
               Portion 152, hole 222 to 
               Length range 
               0.175–0.35 
               in. 
             
             
               washer 153 
             
             
               Spring 156 
               Diameter 
               0.28125 
               in. 
             
             
               Spring 156 
               Wire thickness 
               0.035 
               in. 
             
             
               Spring 156 
               Extended length 
               0.375 
               in. 
             
             
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   
   As illustrated in  FIG. 1  with reference to exemplary system  100 , a nursing mother can conveniently use a hands-free breast milk expression system according to various aspects of the invention to express milk from both her breasts while keeping her hands free. She can wear the strap around her neck with or without clothing on her torso, and without needing to wear any special bra or other article of clothing. She can easily adjust the system to fit her body, e.g., by first adjusting bar  120  to position breast milk collection devices  140 ,  170  at the separation of her breasts, then suspending bar  120  from strap  130  around her neck to position devices  140 ,  170  at the proper distance below her neckline. She can then activate breast milk expression, permitting devices  140 ,  170  to independently oscillate in motion and thus facilitate expression, while reading a book or engaging in some other activity during the process. 
   PUBLIC NOTICE REGARDING THE SCOPE OF THE INVENTION AND CLAIMS 
   The inventor considers various elements of the aspects and methods recited in the claims filed with the application as advantageous, perhaps even critical to certain implementations of the invention. However, the inventor regards no particular element as being “essential,” except as set forth expressly in any particular claim. 
   While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments and generally associated methods, the inventor contemplates that alterations and permutations of the preferred embodiments and methods will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings. 
   Additional structure can be included, or additional processes performed, while still practicing various aspects of the invention claimed without reference to such structure or processes. For example, breast milk collection devices according to various aspects of the invention can include integrated miniature pumps and thus avoid relying on air hoses connecting to an external pump. As a further example, a bar and strap according to various aspects of the invention can include scales of reference markings to which a wearer can refer when adjusting the bar and strap, e.g. as directed by an interactive Web site that calculates initial bar and strap lengths given a particular bra size. In addition, various structural components, e.g., a bar and strap, can include aesthetically appealing surface coloring or indicia, e.g., nursery ornamentation. 
   Accordingly, neither the above description of preferred exemplary embodiments nor the abstract defines or constrains the invention. Rather, the issued claims variously define the invention. Each variation of the invention is limited only by the recited limitations of its respective claim, and equivalents thereof, without limitation by other terms not present in the claim. 
   In addition, aspects of the invention are particularly pointed out in the claims using terminology that the inventor regards as having its broadest reasonable interpretation; the more specific interpretations of 35 U.S.C. § 112(6) are only intended in those instances where the terms “means” or “steps” are actually recited. As one example, the term “substantially rigid” is employed in reference to material that can retain its shape enough to serve its structure&#39;s intended purpose when subjected to deforming forces encountered during normal conditions of use. The term does not require that material experience no substantial deformation for it to be considered “substantially rigid.” 
   The words “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended as open-ended terminology, with the same meaning as if the phrase “at least” were appended after each instance thereof. A clause using the term “whereby” merely states the result of the limitations in any claim in which it may appear and does not set forth an additional limitation therein. Both in the claims and in the description above, the conjunction “or” between alternative elements means “and/or,” and thus does not imply that the elements are mutually exclusive unless context or a specific statement indicates otherwise.