Patent Publication Number: US-2022218884-A1

Title: Breast Pump Adapter

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/136,099, entitled BREAST PUMP ADAPTER, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to systems for filling a bag with liquid dispensed from the outlet of a breast pump. More specifically, aspects of the present disclosure relate to an adapter for securing a bag to breast pumps having different configurations. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Breast pumps are configured to pump breast milk into a receptacle. Conventional breast pumps attach to a plastic feeding bottle. The pumped milk is deposited directly into the feeding bottle. Certain breast pump systems are configured to pump directly into a flexible storage bag. Many of these systems require the bag to be contained in a rigid vessel during pumping. In some of the systems, the bag hangs directly from the pump or an adapter connected thereto. One adapter for securing a bag to a breast pump includes a conduit with diametrically opposite mounting hooks extending radially outward from the conduit. Each of the mounting hooks includes a radially outwardly projecting portion and an upwardly extending portion. To secure a bag to the adapter, holes in the bag are threaded over the upwardly extending portion of the mounting hooks and onto the radially outwardly projecting portion of the mounting hooks. The bag hangs down from the radially outwardly projecting portion of the mounting hooks during use. Since the mounting hooks in this design project radially outwardly from the conduit, the bag opening must be larger than the conduit so that the holes in the bag can be threaded onto the hooks. As a result, the bag does not closely conform to the conduit, which can permit air and contaminants to enter the bag. In addition, because the mounting hooks extend in two directions (i.e., radially outward and upward) removing the bag from the adapter when it is filled with liquid can be difficult. Moreover, the positioning of the adapter with the bag makes it impossible to seal the bag prior to removal of the bag from the adapter. Sealing the bag closed would prevent movement of the bag needed to remove the bag from the mounting hooks. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, an adapter configured for connecting a breast milk collection bag to breast milk pump fittings of different sizes generally comprises a first adapter portion and a second adapter portion. The first adapter portion is configured for connecting to a fitting of a first breast milk pump of a first size. The second adapter portion is configured for connecting to a fitting of a second breast milk pump of a second size that is different from the first size. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a breast milk pump adapter for connecting a breast milk collection bag to breast milk pump fittings of different sizes generally comprises a retainer, a first adapter portion, a second adapter portion, and a flow passage. The retainer is configured to engage and hold the breast milk collection bag on the adapter while the breast milk collection bag is filled with milk by the breast milk pump. The first adapter portion projects from a first surface of the retainer and is configured for connection to a fitting of a first breast milk pump of a first size. The second adapter portion projects from a second surface of the retainer opposite the first surface and is configured for connection to a fitting of a second breast milk pump of a second size that is different from the first size. The flow passage extends through the first adapter portion, the second adapter portion, and the retainer. 
     Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a breast pump system with a breast pump and a breast pump adapter; 
         FIG. 2  is an elevation of a breast pump and an adapter from the breast pump system in which the adapter is detached from the breast pump; 
         FIG. 3  is an elevation of a bag of the breast pump system with portions broken away; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective of the adapter; 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevation of the adapter; 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan of the adapter; 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom plan of the adapter; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another breast pump system with a different breast pump and the breast pump adapter used in an alternative configuration; 
       and 
         FIG. 9  is an elevation of the alternative breast pump and the adapter from the alternative breast pump system in which the adapter is detached from the alternative breast pump. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure improves upon the invention disclosed in co-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 9,931,450, and the contents of this patent are incorporated herein by reference. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a breast pump system is generally indicated at reference number  10 . The breast pump system  10  includes a first breast pump  12 , a flexible bag  20 , and a breast pump adapter  30  for attaching the bag to the pump so that breast milk can be delivered into the bag. The first breast pump  12  has a fluid inlet portion  16  and a fluid outlet portion  18 . The inlet portion  16  of the first breast pump  12  is configured to engage the breast of a user and pump breast milk (broadly liquid) into a receptacle, such as a bottle (not shown), the bag  20 , or other suitable container. The outlet portion  18  of the first breast pump  12  is configured to thread into the threaded end of a first rigid plastic bottle (e.g., a baby bottle). The first breast pump  12  pumps liquid from the inlet portion  16  through the pump and dispenses the liquid out the outlet portion  18 . As described in more detail below, the adapter  30  has a first adapter portion  40  that is configured to attach to the outlet portion  18  of the first breast pump  12  for attaching the bag  20  to allow liquid to be pumped in the bag. As is later described in more detail in connection with  FIGS. 8-9 , the breast pump adapter  30  can be used in in a second (inverted) configuration in an alternative breast pump system  10 ′. The alternative breast pump system  10 ′ includes a second breast pump  12 ′, the bag  20 , and the adapter  30  in the inverted configuration. Like the first breast pump  12 , the second breast pump  12 ′ has a fluid inlet portion  16 ′ and fluid outlet portion  18 ′. The outlet portion  18 ′ of the second breast pump  12 ′ is configured to thread into the threaded end of a second rigid plastic bottle with a smaller opening than that of the first bottle. As described in more detail below, the adapter  30  has a second adapter portion  50  (opposite the first adapter portion  40 ) that is configured to attach to the outlet portion  18 ′ of the second breast pump  12 ′ for attaching the bag  20  to allow liquid to be pumped in the bag. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the bag  20  includes a bag body  22  defining a bag interior  24  and a bag opening  26 . The bag body  22  can also include an end margin  28  adjacent the bag opening  26 . The end margin  28  is configured for securing and hanging the bag  14  from the adapter  20 . A reclosable seal  27  extends across a width W of the bag beneath the end margin  28 . Though the illustrated bag  20  uses a reclosable seal, it is contemplated that other types of bags can use other types of seals or that a seal may be omitted without departing from the scope of the invention. In a preferred embodiment, a mark, such as the circumferential line  29  shown in  FIG. 3 , may be on the bag  20  to indicate to a user how far to pull the bag onto the adapter  30  for optimal use. For example, as is seen in  FIG. 1 , the line  29  can be aligned with the retainer rim  32  of the adapter  30 . The bag  20  is constructed and arranged so that the bag does not tear under normal use while the bag is suspended from the adapter  30  and the bag interior  24  is filled with liquid. The bag  20  can also include additional or alternative features, including tamper resistance, easy opening seals, grip strips, dedicated labeling spaces, holes, or perforations. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 and 4-7 , the breast pump adapter  30  is configured to secure the bag  20  to the breast pump  12  to receive liquid dispensed through the outlet portion  18  of the breast pump into the bag interior  24 . The adapter  30  includes a retainer rim  32 , a first adapter portion  40  positioned above the retainer rim, and a second adapter portion  50  positioned beneath the retainer rim. A liquid flow passage  60  extends continuously through the first adapter portion  40 , the retainer rim  32 , and the second adapter portion  50 . In the configuration of the adapter  30  depicted in  FIGS. 1-2 , the first adapter portion  40  functions as an inlet for the liquid flow passage  60 , and the second adapter portion  50  functions as an outlet for the liquid flow passage. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4-7 , the retainer rim  32  has a greater diameter than both the first adapter portion  40  and the second adapter portion  50 . The diameter of the retainer rim  32  is sized in relation to the bag  20  so that the end margin  28  of the bag may engage securely with the retainer rim and be held by the retainer rim as liquid fills the bag. In some embodiments, the outside edge of retainer rim  32  may have smoothed (e.g., rounded) corners (not shown) to reduce concentrated stress which could cause the bag to tear during installation and/or use. The first adapter portion  40  of the adapter  30  is configured to be attached to the outlet portion  18  of the pump  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, an outer portion  42  of the first adapter portion  40  is configured to thread into the outlet portion  18  of the breast pump  12 . An interior surface (not shown) of the outlet portion  18  includes mating threads. In the illustrated embodiment, the first adapter portion  40  further includes an unthreaded portion  44  that is connected to the retainer rim  32 . It is understood that the unthreaded portion  44  is optional and may not be present in other embodiments. Further, it is understood that in other embodiments the first adapter portion  40  can be attached to the outlet portion  18  by other means such as a snap fit. In the embodiment represented in  FIGS. 4-7  the retainer rim  32 , the first adapter portion  40 , and the second adapter portion  50  are integrally formed as one piece of material. In other embodiments, the retainer rim  32 , the first adapter portion  40 , and the second adapter portion  50  may be separate pieces that are joined together. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , when the adapter  30  is attached to the breast pump  12  (i.e., when the first outer portion  42  is threaded into the outlet portion  18  of the breast pump), liquid dispensed from the outlet portion of the breast pump is received in the liquid flow passage  60 . The liquid passes through the liquid flow passage  60  and is dispensed from the second adapter portion  50  of the adapter  30 . The bag  20  is secured to the adapter  30  so that the liquid dispensed from the second adapter portion  50  of the adapter  30  is received in the bag interior  24 . 
     When the second adapter portion  50  and the retainer rim  32  are inserted in the bag  20 , the end margin  28  of the bag body  22  conforms tightly over the outside edge of the retainer rim, securing the bag in place and sealing the end margin of the bag so that only liquid coming from the breast pump  12  can enter the bag. When the bag  20  is thus secured to the adapter  30 , the amount of airborne contaminants that can enter the bag is greatly reduced or eliminated. The diameter of the retainer rim  32  corresponds closely to the diameter of the opening in the bag  20 . In at least some embodiments, the retainer rim  32  may resiliently deform the bag  20  so that the bag grips the rim securely while milk is being fed into the bag. Although the adapter  30  and bag  20  are sized so that the bag remains in place when filled with liquid, the bag can be detached with minimal resistance, reducing the likelihood of undesired leaks or spills resulting from sudden movements. When the bag  20  is detached from the adapter  30 , the bag can be clamped, tied, or otherwise sealed shut, allowing for temporary storage of the liquid in the bag. It is also possible to seal the bag  20  while still on the retainer rim  32  without damaging the bag or making it impossible to remove the bag from the adapter  30 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8-9 , the breast pump adapter  30  is shown in a second configuration and is attached to a second breast pump  12 ′. The second configuration of the breast pump adapter  30  can be achieved by inverting the breast pump adapter so the second adapter portion  50  is positioned above the retainer rim  32  and the first adapter portion  40  is positioned beneath the retainer rim. In the second configuration, the second adapter portion  50  functions as an inlet for the liquid flow passage  60 , and the first adapter portion  40  functions as an outlet for the liquid flow passage. The second adapter portion  50  of the adapter  30  is configured to be attached to the outlet portion  18 ′ of the pump  12 ′. Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , an outer portion  52  of the second adapter portion  50  is configured to thread into the outlet portion  18 ′ of the second breast pump  12 ′. In the illustrated embodiment, the second adapter portion  50  further includes an unthreaded portion  54  that is connected to the retainer rim  32 . It is understood that the unthreaded portion  54  is optional and may not be present in other embodiments. Further, it is understood that in other embodiments the second adapter portion  50  can be attached to the outlet portion  18 ′ by another means such as a snap fit. The breast pump system  10 ′ operates essentially the same as the breast pump system  10  described above in connection with  FIG. 1 . 
     In one nonlimiting embodiment, the rim  32  has a diameter of about 64 mm. The first adapter portion  40  has a diameter of about 53 mm and the second adapter portion  50  has a diameter of about 40 mm. The height of the first adapter portion  40  from the upper surface of the rim  32  is about 12.8 mm and the height of the second adapter portion from the lower surface of the rim  32  is about 13.5 mm. The rim  32  is about 3 mm thick. It will be understood that these dimensions are exemplary, but other dimensions may be employed without departing from the scope of the present invention. In general, the first adapter portion  40  and second adapter portions  50  are configured differently so that they can connect to breast pumps having different connection interfaces. 
     Having described the invention in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations to a breast pump adapter system are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims. 
     When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiments(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, words of position including “above” and “beneath” are intended as relative terms and do not require an element or elements to have an absolute orientation. 
     In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained. 
     As various changes could be made in the above product without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.