Improvements in or connected with Breast-nipple Shields or Protectors.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 13th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 30th Oct., 1897
Improvements in or connected with Breast-nipple Shields or
Protectors.
I, EDMOND WALTON DICKINS of 122 Wallwood Road, Leytonstone, in the
County of Essex Traveller do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The invention relates to improvements in or connected with breast-nipple shields
or protectors.
It is well known that mothers frequently require to protect the breast-nipples
when nursing their infants and for this purpose various devices have been
suggested.
One of such devices consists of a glass shield upon the nipple of which is fitted
a rubber teat, and although this device fulfils the essential condition of lying
closely against the breast and thus excluding air it is objectionable in that it does
not closely fit the breast-nipple, and that combined with the length of the teat
increases the labour of the infant.
Another of such devices, and which was designed to remedy the defects abova
pointed out consists of a breast-nipple shield formed wholly of rubber, and whilst
this device when new, answers its purpose fairly well it speedily goes out of shape
and consequently the base or cup does not tightly fit against the breast and there-
fore admits extraneous air which is injurious to the infant whilst in some cases
where milk is plentiful it allows the same to leak out to the discomfort of the
mother.
Now the object of the present invention is to obtain a breast-shield from which
will be absent the defects above pointed out.
For this purpose the shield is formed of soft rubber in such manner that its
nipple will closely fit the breast-nipple, and its base or cup will closely fit the
breast, but instead of forming the base or cup wholly of soft rubber the periphery
thereof has circumferentially fixed therewith by covering it with rubber or other-
wise a stiff ring of metal or other suitable material which will always retain its
shape.
Or, the same effect might be obtained by vulcanising, and thus hardening the
rim of the cup or base.
As a further modification a loose ring or centrally apertured disc of hard material
might be employed to fit upon the outside of the shield the rubber nipple passing
through such device.
It will be obvious that the details and arrangement of the device may be other-
wise varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.
By the means hereinbefore described a breast-nipple shield or protector is
obtained, which removes all practical objections to the use of such an article
whilst at the same time it conduces to the comfort of both mother and infant.
Dated this 14th day of December 1896.

page_text: Improvements in or connected with Breast-nipple Shields or
Protectors.
I, EDMOND, WALTON DICKINS of 122 Wallwood Road, Leytonstone in the
County of Essex, Traveller do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The invention relates to improvements in or connected with breast-nipple 5
shields or protectors.
It is well known that mothers frequently require to protect the breast-nipples
when nursing their infants and indeed this practice is commonly recommended by
medical men, and for this purpose various devices have been suggested.
One of such devices consists of a glass shield upon the nipple of which is fitted 1
a rubber teat of the ordinary feeding bottle type and although this device fulfils
the essential condition of lying closely against the breast and thus excluding air
it is objectionable in that it does not closely fit the breast-nipple, and that combined
with the length of the teat increases the labour of the infant.
Another of such devices, and which was designed to remedy the defects above 1
pointed out consists of a breast-nipple shield formed wholly of rubber, and whilst
this device when new, answers its purpose fairly well it speedily goes out of shape
and consequently the base or cup does not tightly fit against the breast and there-
fore admits extraneous air which is injurious to the infant whilst in some cases
where milk is plentiful it allows the same to leak out to the discomfort of the 2
mother.
Now the object of the present invention is to obtain a breast-shield from which
will be absent the defects above pointed out.
For this purpose the shield is formed of soft rubber in such manner that its
nile will closely fit the breast-nipple, and its base or cup will closely fit the 2
breast but instead of forming the base or cup wholly of soft rubber the periphery
thereof has circumferentially fixed therewith by covering it with rubber or other-
wise a stiff ring of metal or other suitable material which will always retain its
shave.
Or, the same effect might be obtained by vulcanising, and thus hardening the g
rim of the cup or base.
As a further modification a loose ring or centrally apertured disc of hard
material might be employed to fit upon the outside of the shield, the rubber nipple
passing through such device.
It will be obvious that the details and arrangement of the device may be g
otherwise varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a breast-nipple shield or protector constructed
according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a plan thereof.
Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section thereof and
4
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are similar views to Figure 3, but representing slight 4
modifications in the construction of the device.
In the several figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
Referring to Figures 1 to 3 a represents the body. of the shield which in this

page_text: case is assumed to be formed of soft rubber in such manner that its nipple a¹ which
is furnished with leech bite slits will closely fit the breast-nipple and its base or
cup a will closely fit the breast of the user."
Instead however of forming the base or cup a wholly of soft rubber as heretofore
the rim or periphery a thereof is stiffened by means of a rigid ring of metal a³,
or it might be of other suitable material which will retain its shape, which is in
the process of manufacture embedded in the rim a by-covering the same with the
rubber forming the base or cup a.
Instead of forming the nipple a¹ and base a in one piece those parts whilst still
constructed of soft rubber may be formed separate and united in a similar manner
to that indicated at Figure 6 so as to admit of the nipple a' being readily renewed
from time to time.
In the example given at Figure 4 the rim a of the cup or base a is stiffened by
vulcanising the rubber of which it is composed and thus hardening the same whilst
leaving the rest of the shield in the desired flexible condition.
In the example given at Figure 5 the whole of the shield including the nipple
is formed of soft rubber, but the stiffening effect at the rim or base a² of the shield
is obtained by means of a cup shaped and centrally apertured loose ring or disc ³
of hard material which is employed to fit upon the outside of the shield a in such
manner that the rubber nipple a' thereof passes through the aperture in such
device.
In the example given at Figure 6 instead of forming the cup or base a of soft
rubber it is in this case constructed of glass, hard vulcanised rubber, or other
suitable hard material, whilst the nipple a¹ is formed of soft rubber so as to fit
the nipple of the user, and is provided with a grooved ring a which engages the
edges of the shield a bordering a central aperture formed therein in such manner
that the nipple a' may be readily renewed when desired.
It will be obvious that the details and arrangement of the device may be other-
wise varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.
By the means herein before described a breast-nipple shield or protector is
obtained which removes all practical objections to the use of such an article
whilst at the same time it conduces to the comfort of both mother and infant.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A breast-nipple shield comprising a rigid or stiffened rim or body adapted to
closely fit the breast and a soft nipple adapted to closely fit the breast nipple of
the user substantially as herein shown and described.
2. A breast-nipple shield comprising a body and nipple formed of soft rubber and
means for stiffening the rim or body consisting of an embedded ring of wire or
the like or a loose ring or an apertured disc or cup or the like of hard material
adapted to fit upon the base or rim of the shield substantially as herein shown and
described.
3. A breast-nipple shield constructed substantially as herein shown and described
Dated this 13th day of September 1897.
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.