Patent Publication Number: US-11395788-B2

Title: Feeding device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/902,740, filed on 19 Sep. 2019, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Many women around the world are unable to breastfeed their children. There are a number of reasons why a new mother would not be able to properly breastfeed their child. These reasons may include: lack of milk production, prior mastectomy, pain, issues with latching, nipple confusion, and lack of prenatal educational resources. These reasons lend themselves to a decline in infants getting the proper natural feeding experience. Currently, when parents are unable to breastfeed their children, they often turn to a feeding bottle, which has been the go-to breastfeeding substitute for years. Although the feeding bottle has been able to deliver milk to infants, it eliminates the benefits of skin-to-skin contact between a caregiver and infant. Additionally, it may promote nipple confusion and early emotional detachment. Skin-to-skin contact may aid in the feeding experience by stimulating bonding between the caregiver and infant, stabilizing an infant&#39;s natural breathing rhythm and heartbeat, and comforting infants with colic. Thus, there is a need for a more natural substitute to imitate the breastfeeding experience for caregivers who are unable to breastfeed their children (e.g. mothers unable to breastfeed for the reasons listed above, fathers, and adoptive parents). 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a breastfeeding device is provided. The breastfeeding device comprises a liquid pouch assembly, a silicone housing, a silicone areola, and an adjustable strap. The liquid pouch assembly comprises a nipple removably coupled to an amorphous liquid bag. The silicone housing comprises a silicone cup and a rear silicone component. The silicone cup includes a central hole. The silicone cup and the rear silicone component are attached to one another and form an interior cavity. An entrance to the cavity is formed at the top of the silicone cup and the rear silicone component, and the liquid pouch assembly is insertable through the entrance. The nipple of the liquid pouch assembly is insertable into the central hole of the silicone cup and protrudes through the central hole while the amorphous liquid bag remains within the interior cavity. The silicone areola is external to the silicone housing, and the silicone areola is removably coupled to the nipple and concentric with the central hole of the silicone cup. The adjustable strap is attached to opposing sides of the silicone housing at the attachment of the silicone cup and the rear silicone component. The adjustable strap comprises a first end, a second end, and a third end. The first and second ends of the adjustable strap are attached to a first side of the silicone housing and the third end of the adjustable strap is attached to a second side of the silicone housing. The first end of the adjustable strap is attached to the top half of the silicone housing, and the second end of the adjustable strap is attached to the bottom half of the silicone housing. 
     In some embodiments, the silicone areola is textured and colored to resemble an areola of a female breast. In some embodiments, the silicone housing is textured and colored to resemble a female breast. In some embodiments, the nipple is textured and colored to resemble a nipple of a female breast. In some embodiments, the nipple is removably coupled to the amorphous liquid bag via a screw mechanism. In some embodiments, the nipple is removably coupled to the amorphous liquid bag via a snap mechanism with a seal. In some embodiments, the liquid pouch assembly contains one of breast milk, formula, water, juice, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the silicone cup and the rear silicone component are attached to one another using a strong adhesive. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an infant feeding device is provided. The infant feeding device comprises a housing, a member, an amorphous receptacle for holding liquid, and an adjustable strap. The housing comprises a protuberant portion having a first aperture and a back portion. The housing defines an interior volume accessed via a closable opening in the housing. The member has a second aperture, and the member is fixedly attached to an external face of the first portion such that the first and second apertures are aligned. The amorphous receptacle is attached to a hollow nipple. When the receptacle is disposed within the interior volume, the nipple protrudes through the first and second apertures. The adjustable strap is attached to the housing to allow the infant feeding device to be carried at chest height of a user. 
     In some embodiments, the first portion is flexible. In some embodiments, the receptacle, when filled with a liquid, is placed within the interior volume, and the housing conforms to the shape of the fluid-filled receptacle. In some embodiments, the receptacle is placed within the interior volume via the closable opening. In some embodiments, the member is a different color than the external face of the first portion. In some embodiments, the member is a different texture than the external face of the first portion. In some embodiments, the strap has three ends. In some embodiments, the back portion is generally planar. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following will be apparent from elements of the figures, which are provided for illustrative purposes. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic isometric view of an assembled breastfeeding device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic partially-exploded view of a breastfeeding device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a schematic isometric view of an assembled breastfeeding device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a method of using the breastfeeding device to feed an infant according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     The present application discloses illustrative (i.e., example) embodiments. The claimed inventions are not limited to the illustrative embodiments. Therefore, many implementations of the claims will be different than the illustrative embodiments. Various modifications can be made to the claimed inventions without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. The claims are intended to cover implementations with such modifications. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to a number of illustrative embodiments in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. 
     Various aspects of the present disclosure will be or will become apparent to one of skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying exemplary non-limiting embodiments. 
     A child&#39;s mouth is naturally designed to fit around the nipple of a mother&#39;s breast, which looks and feels different from the nipples (e.g. on feeding bottles) on the market today. The present invention provides a breastfeeding device for infants that facilitates a more natural feeding experience than a feeding bottle would and enables caregivers to bond more closely with infants through simulated skin-to-skin contact. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of an assembled breastfeeding device  1000 , and  FIG. 2  illustrates a partially-exploded view of the breastfeeding device  1000  of  FIG. 1 . The breastfeeding device  1000  may also be referred to as an infant feeding device. According to some embodiments, the breastfeeding device  1000  resembles the shape, touch, and feel of a female human breast. Further, the breastfeeding device  1000  has the same contours of a female human breast. The breastfeeding device  1000  may comprise a housing  1100 , and in some embodiments, the housing may be made of silicone to recreate the feel of a mother&#39;s breast. The housing  1100  may comprise a protuberant portion  1102  and a back portion  1104 . The protuberant portion  1102  and the back portion  1104  may be attached using, e.g., an adhesive, glue, snaps, clasps, a hook-and-loop fastener, etc. In an embodiment, the attachment between the protuberant portion and the back portion may have a permanent section and a releasable section which allows access to an interior cavity  1106  between the protuberant portion and the back portion. In some embodiments, the protuberant portion  1102  is flexible. In some embodiments, the back portion  1104  may be made of breathable cotton or another cloth material for ease of use and comfort of the user as back portion  1104  rests on a user&#39;s chest. The breathable cotton material may make the back portion  1104  absorbent of sweat from the user and condensation from the liquid inside the amorphous liquid bag  1204 . In some embodiments, the back portion  1104  is generally planar. In some embodiments, protuberant portion  1102  may be a silicone cup, and the back portion  1104  may be a rear silicone component or other material with a cotton cover over the side that contacts the user. 
     The housing  1100  may be textured and colored to resemble a female breast. The color may be tailored to match a variety of diverse skin tones so that a user (e.g. caregiver such as a biological parent or adoptive parent) may use a breastfeeding device  1000  that matches their skin tone. The protuberant portion  1102  and the back portion  1104  are attached to one another and form an interior cavity  1106 . In some embodiments, the protuberant portion  1102  and the back portion  1104  may be attached to one another using a strong adhesive. The protuberant portion  1102  may include a central hole  1110  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). The central hole  1110  may also be referred to as an aperture. An entrance  1108  to the interior cavity  1106  may be formed at the top of the protuberant portion  1102  and the back portion  1104 . Entrance  1108  may be a closable opening. Interior cavity  1106  may also be referred to as an interior volume that may be accessed via a closable opening in the housing  1100  and that is defined by the housing  1100 . 
     The breastfeeding device  1000  may further comprise a member  1112  external to the housing  1100 . The member  1112  includes an aperture. In some embodiments, member  1112  may be a silicone areola. In some embodiments, the silicone material used for the areola may be stiffer than a silicone material used for the protuberant portion  1102 . Member  1112  helps an infant latch onto the breastfeeding device  1000  more easily. In some embodiments, the member  1112  may be fixedly or removably attached to an external face of the protuberant portion  1102  such that the central hole  1110  and the aperture of the member  1112  are aligned. The member  1112  may be removably attached to the external face of the protuberant portion for cleaning purposes. The member  1112  may be textured and colored to resemble an areola of a female human breast. The member  1112  may be a different color and/or different texture than the external face of the protuberant portion  1102 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the breastfeeding device  1000  may further comprise a liquid pouch assembly  1200  (shown within the interior cavity  1106 ) comprising a nipple  1202  that may be removably coupled to an amorphous liquid bag  1204 . The nipple  1202  and amorphous liquid bag  1204  may be connected to one another through a detachable connector piece (not shown) for easy cleaning and assembly. The connector piece may be circular and may be made of plastic or a similar material. The connector piece may couple the nipple  1202  to the amorphous liquid bag  1204  via a locking mechanism for leak-proof assurance. The nipple  1202  is implemented for releasing the liquid housed inside the amorphous liquid bag  1204  to an infant. In some embodiments, the liquid pouch assembly  1200  may be kept at a specific temperature to resemble the body temperature of a human. The nipple  1202  may be textured and colored to resemble a nipple of a female human breast. The nipple  1202  and the amorphous liquid bag  1204  may be removably coupled to one another so that both components are washable and reusable. In some embodiments, the amorphous liquid bag  1204  may be disposable. The amorphous liquid bag  1204  may be referred to as an amorphous receptacle for holding a liquid. 
     In some embodiments, the liquid pouch assembly  1200  may contain one of breast milk, formula, water, juice, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, when the amorphous liquid bag  1204  is filled with a liquid and placed within the interior cavity  1106 , the housing  1100  may conform to the shape of the amorphous liquid bag  1204 . In some embodiments, the amorphous liquid bag  1204  may be oval shaped. In some embodiments, the amorphous liquid bag  1204  may hold up to 10 ounces of liquid. In some embodiments, the amorphous liquid bag  1204  may be strong enough to hold any type of liquid necessary for feeding an infant. In some embodiments, the nipple  1202  may be removably coupled to the amorphous liquid bag  1204  via a screw mechanism or a snap mechanism with a seal. The nipple  1202  may be a hollow nipple. In some embodiments, the nipple  1202  may include a plurality of holes (e.g.  4  holes) for even milk distribution. The inventor has identified that having more than one hole makes for even milk distribution, which tends to eliminate gas accumulation and paces the child&#39;s eating rhythm. 
     The liquid pouch assembly  1200  may be insertable into the interior cavity  1106  through the entrance  1108 . The nipple  1202  may be insertable into the central hole  1110  of the protuberant portion  1102  and may protrude through the central hole  1110  while the amorphous bag  1204  remains within the interior cavity  1106 . The nipple  1202  may be attached to the protuberant portion  1102  via a snap mechanism. As shown in  FIG. 1 , when the breastfeeding device  1000  is assembled with the liquid pouch assembly  1200  disposed within the interior cavity  1106 , the nipple  1202  may protrude through both the central hole  1110  and the aperture of the member  1112 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the member  1112  may be removably coupled to the external surface of the protuberant portion  1102  and the nipple  1202  and may be concentric with the central hole  1110  of the protuberant portion  1102 . The member  1112  may secure the nipple  1202  to the external surface of the protuberant portion  1102  so that the nipple does not slip beneath the external surface of the protuberant portion during feeding. 
     The breastfeeding device  1000  may further comprise an adjustable strap  1300  attached to opposing sides of the housing  1100  at the attachment of the protuberant portion  1102  and the back portion  1104 . The adjustable strap  1300  may be used to fix the breastfeeding device  1000  to the user. The adjustable strap  1300  may allow the breastfeeding device  1000  to be carried at the chest height of a user when the strap is placed around a user&#39;s shoulder and chest. The adjustable strap  1300  may also allow for a user to feed an infant hands-free. In some embodiments, the adjustable strap may be an elastic strap. The adjustable strap  1300  may be adjusted to fit different positions and user sizes.  FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of an assembled breastfeeding device  1000  where the adjustable strap  1300  comprises a first end  1302 , a second end  1304 , and a third end  1306 . The first end  1302  and second end  1304  may be attached to a first side of the housing  1100 , and the third end  1306  may be attached to a second side of the housing  1100 . The first end  1302  may be attached to the top half of the housing  1100 , and the second end  1304  may be attached to the bottom half of the housing  1100 . In some embodiments, the breastfeeding device  1000  may comprise two or more adjustable straps  1300 . This may allow the user to secure the breastfeeding device like a baby carrier with two or more adjustable straps  1300  around their back. In some embodiments, the adjustable straps  1300  may be padded for user comfort. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary feeding method  2000  for using the breastfeeding device  1000  to feed an infant. Depending on the desired use of the device  1000 , some of the steps below may be unnecessary and therefore omitted. Feeding method  2000  begins at step  2002 . At step  2004 , a user may fill the amorphous liquid bag  1204  with a liquid they intend to feed to an infant. At step  2006 , the user may attach the amorphous liquid bag  1204  to the nipple  1202 . At step  2008 , the user may insert the assembled liquid pouch assembly  1200  into the interior cavity  1106  through the entrance  1108 , placing the nipple  1202  through the central hole  1110 . At step  2010 , the user may mount member  1112  on the external face of the protuberant portion  1102  such that the nipple  1202  protrudes through the aperture of member  1112 . The user may then secure the nipple  1202  to the protuberant portion  1102  using the member  1112 . At step,  2012 , the user may close the entrance  1108  to the interior cavity  1106 . At step  2014 , the user may place the adjustable strap  1300  over his or her shoulder and/or around his or her chest to secure the breastfeeding device  1000  to the user. In an embodiment, the back portion  1104  will rest on his or her chest. 
     In operation, at step  2016 , the user may allow the infant to latch onto the nipple  1202 . At step  2018 , the user may feed the infant using the breastfeeding device  1000 . Method  2000  ends at step  2020 . After implementing method  2000  to feed an infant, the user may disassemble the breastfeeding device  1000  to clean it.