CN220213550U - Passive milk collector - Google Patents

Abstract

The present utility model relates to a passive milk collector having a body defining a reservoir, a sealing surface and an opening inside the body, wherein the opening is adapted to receive a nipple of a user, wherein the sealing surface is adapted to seal the milk collector against a breast of the user when the nipple is received in the opening, and wherein the opening is surrounded by the sealing surface and is in fluid communication with the reservoir. For ease of cleaning, the body is formed of an outer housing element and an inner housing element, the inner housing element providing the sealing surface and the opening, wherein the outer housing element is a unitary body formed of a first plastic material and the inner housing element is a unitary body formed of a second plastic material, wherein the first plastic material is harder than the second plastic material.

Description

Passive milk collector

Technical Field

The present utility model relates to a passive milk collector having a body defining a reservoir, a sealing surface and an opening inside the body, wherein the opening is adapted to receive a nipple of a user, wherein the sealing surface is adapted to seal against and possibly against a breast of a user when the nipple is received in the opening, and wherein the opening is surrounded by the sealing surface and is in fluid communication with the reservoir.

Such a collector is generally known from WO 2021/084283 A1.

Background

Milk collectors are often required to meet a variety of requirements. The milk collector should have a low weight but at the same time be sufficiently stiff to maintain the shape during use, for example when fitted inside a bra. Furthermore, the collector should be economical and easy to manufacture. The materials used should be skin friendly, which is particularly applicable to those materials which are in direct contact with the user's breast. The milk collector should be capable of being comfortably worn for a long period of time, for example overnight or for two or more hours. The breast of the nursing mother is particularly sensitive. Furthermore, the milk collector should be configured to allow easy cleaning.

Disclosure of Invention

The present utility model aims to provide a passive milk collector which addresses at least some, if not all, of the above problems and requirements.

As a solution to the above-mentioned problems, the present utility model proposes a passive milk collector comprising a body with a reservoir for milk, with a sealing surface and with an opening. The opening is adapted to receive a nipple of a user, wherein the sealing surface is adapted to rest against the breast of the user when the nipple is received in the opening. The opening may be designed such that the nipple does not have to be in contact or partial contact with it or with another wall, i.e. the nipple may not be in contact with anything to reduce stress to the nipple. The opening is surrounded by the sealing surface and is in particular directly adjacent to the sealing surface and is in fluid communication with the reservoir for guiding milk to the reservoir. The opening may not necessarily be the only opening communicating with the reservoir. The reservoir may be designed to maintain atmospheric pressure, for example by having another opening.

The body is formed of an outer housing element and an inner housing element, the inner housing element providing a sealing surface and an opening, wherein the outer housing element is a unitary body formed of a first plastic material and the inner housing element is a unitary body formed of a second plastic material, wherein the first plastic material is harder than the second plastic material. Thus, the body is made of two single-piece parts, each made of a non-metallic material (in particular plastic or polymer), one softer/more flexible part sealing against the breast and guiding the nipple and milk, the other part being harder/stronger and preferably rigid and the other part being present to form a reservoir between the two plastic parts for accumulating milk from the breast therein.

Due to the different materials, the milk collector most comfortably fits the breast at the sealing surface while mechanical stability and constant shape are ensured by the outer housing element, e.g. to avoid compression or deformation of the body which could lead to milk leakage. The milk collector may be inherently fluid tight due to the sealing of the softer material at the other material. In particular, by using a single body for the housing element, the milk collector is easy to assemble and disassemble, less likely to leak milk and mechanically very stable. Furthermore, unitary bodies made of plastic are easy to produce, such as molding.

In particular, the first plastic material may be harder than the second plastic material, i.e. comprise a larger hardness value and/or mechanical strength value. The first plastic material may have a higher mechanical strength and/or hardness than the second plastic material. A first plastic material may be understood to be harder than a second plastic material if a certain mechanical parameter is for example at least 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 100% or more larger than a similar certain mechanical parameter of the second plastic material, wherein the certain mechanical parameter is selected from the group consisting of: hardness (in particular shore hardness), modulus of elasticity, young's modulus, tensile modulus, flexural strength, yield strength, tensile strength and fracture toughness.

The first plastic material may comprise a shore hardness value that is greater than the shore hardness value of the second plastic material. Shore hardness may be measured relative to at least one of standard DIN ISO 7619-1 (date e.g., 2012-02), EN ISO 868 (e.g., 2003-10), DIN 53505 (e.g., 2000-08), or ASTM D2240 (e.g., 2015-08). The difference in shore hardness values may increase from a lower shore hardness value to a larger shore hardness value by at least 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 100% or more of the shore hardness value of the shore scale (e.g., methods of shore a, shore B, shore C, shore D, shore 0 or shore 00). The difference in shore hardness values may correspond to a difference of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 or more shore scales. Since the resolution of the shore hardness standard or method (shore a, shore B, shore C, shore D, shore 0 or shore 00) varies from 0 to 100 hardness ranges or from different types of materials, in particular, materials with a shore a hardness >80 may be tested according to shore D and materials with a shore D hardness <30 may be tested according to shore a. The shore hardness values tested with the different methods may be converted based on known methods to define a harder material (e.g., see the table in table 1 where 85 shore B is considered harder than 95 shore a, which is converted to 100 shore a, i.e., greater than 95 shore a) or may be compared although different methods are used (e.g., 85 shore B is considered softer than 95 shore a based on numerical considerations only).

The inner housing element and/or the second plastic material may be made of a particularly soft non-metallic material, in particular a soft plastic material, for example selected from the group consisting of silicone, rubber, thermoplastic, elastomer, thermoplastic elastomer or a combination thereof.

The outer housing element and/or the first plastic material may be made of a particularly hard non-metallic material and/or a hard plastic material, in particular a material different from the inner housing element, for example selected from the group consisting of technical plastic parts PP (polypropylene), PE (polyethylene), PE-HD (high density polyethylene), tritan, PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) or a combination thereof (any other material).

The PE may include a hardness in the shore D range of 30 to 90, or 35 to 70, or 40 to 50.

PE-HD may include a hardness in the range of 45 to 75 Shore D, or 50 to 70, or 55 to 65.

PTFE may include a hardness in the range of 50 to 90, or 60 to 80, or 65 to 75 shore D.

PMMA may include a hardness in the range of 50 to 90, or 60 to 80, or 65 to 75 shore D.

The PET may include a hardness in the range of 50 to 80, or 60 to 70, or 63 to 66 shore D.

For example, the second plastic material has a hardness of 50 shore D, whereas the first plastic material has a hardness of 55 shore D, in this case a hardness that is 10% greater than the mechanical parameter of the hardness value of 50 shore D of the second plastic material.

Preferably, the first material has a shore hardness selected in the range between 50 and 100, for example 50 to 70, 70 to 90, 60 to 90 or 75 to 85 (for example according to shore a, shore D or any other). The second material may have a shore hardness selected in the range between 0 and 50, such as 0 to 20, 20 to 40, 10 to 40, or 25 to 35 (e.g., according to shore D, shore a, or any other).

The outer housing element and the inner housing element may be releasably coupled or detachably coupled, for example by means of form-fitting and/or circumferential edges (in particular extending in a single plane). The outer housing element and/or the inner housing element may comprise a seal, for example an integrated seal, for example a seal that is adhered by over-moulding the base body of the outer housing element and/or the inner housing element. The seal may be made of a soft material similarly selected as the second material. The seal most preferably forms a sealing ring.

Preferably, the outer housing is made of a rigid material and the inner housing is made of a flexible material or may also be in the form of a membrane or flexible wall, wherein the inner housing is releasably connected and stretched, for example, over the edges of the outer housing.

The upper section of the inner shell member may provide a concave sealing surface, particularly for sealing a larger surface on a user's breast with low stress to the breast. The lower section of the inner housing element may provide a convex outer surface covering the reservoir. The convex outer surface enhances user comfort and enables a larger reservoir. The segments can be understood as the upper/lower third or half of the housing element.

The outer shell member may provide overall stability, while the softer inner shell member may provide a soft surface for comfortable attachment to the breast. The outer shell element may have a rear surface facing away from the reservoir for a smooth grip by hand or for example an ergonomic fit into a bra at the breast. Thus, the outer housing element may have a cup shape.

The sealing surface surrounding the opening may be concave. The sealing surface is thus adapted to a particularly convex breast. The concave sealing surface at the opening improves user comfort and reduces stress on the breast.

The upper section of the inner housing element may have a smaller wall thickness than the lower section of the inner housing element. The wall thickness is typically measured perpendicular to the corresponding surface (e.g., sealing surface or convex outer surface). The ratio between the wall thickness of the lower section and the wall thickness of the upper section may be selected to be between 1 and 10, preferably between 3 and 8, more preferably between 3 and 6, most preferably between 4 and 5. Thus, the lower section wall thickness may be 1 to 10 times thicker than the upper section wall thickness. In each case, the wall thickness may be adapted to the lowest wall thickness, the average wall thickness or the highest wall thickness in the segment. This improves the comfort of the user, as one area is more deformable than another. When the lower leg is harder than the upper leg, there is less likelihood of milk spilling.

The opening may be surrounded by a collar that protrudes inwardly into the reservoir. The collar may protrude towards the reservoir, e.g. away from and opposite the sealing surface. In order to improve the tight sealing of the breast during use, the opening may preferably be surrounded by a collar protruding inwardly from the sealing surface. The ring may provide a substantial contact surface for the breast, in particular the area of the areola close to the nipple, so that the opening is in fluid tight and smooth contact with the breast and, for example, so that the nipple does not contact the ring. The loops protruding towards the reservoir may promote comfort or sealing of the breast. The collar may reduce the risk of milk exiting the reservoir through the opening.

The upper portion of the outer housing element may have a pouring opening. The pouring opening is used for guiding milk to pour from the reservoir. The pouring opening may be located at the top of the outer housing element. With the pouring opening, milk collected in the reservoir can be poured out of the reservoir, for example when the outer housing element is turned. The pouring opening may be defined by a cylindrical tube section, which may be provided with a lid. The pouring opening may have an annular shape, an oval shape or a circular shape, in particular in order to enhance its cleaning ability. The pouring opening may not be designed to be covered or closed. Thus, the pouring opening may be used for the atmospheric pressure equalisation of the reservoir.

The milk collector may be shaped to be wearable within a bra. The milk collector may have a rounded shape or a convex shape to mimic the shape of a female breast and contact the bra on the inside facing the user's breast, with the milk collector being located between the breast and the bra.

The body typically has an outer peripheral surface that is strictly convex, except for a flat shelf. Preferably, the body defines a circumference of generally circular shape, elliptical shape or avocado shape when viewed along the central axis of the opening. In a side view parallel to the corresponding plane defined by the circumferential edge, the outer housing element may define a substantially semi-annular profile from which only the flat support may leave. Such a bracket may be provided at the lower end of the main body.

The planar support is configured to allow the body to rest on a planar surface, such as a table. In this standing position, the opening is provided in the upper half of the main body, preferably near the upper end of the main body in the use position. In other words, the opening is arranged to provide a reservoir of substantial volume for storing milk when the body rests on a flat surface. The use position refers to a position in which the passive milk collector is placed against the breast of a standing user in an orientation in which the longitudinal axis of the body of the collector extends substantially parallel to the sagittal plane of the user. The longitudinal axis is typically the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the body. The corresponding body is generally shaped in a mirror-symmetrical manner with respect to the longitudinal axis. Thus, the passive milk collector may collect milk from the left or right breast in the same manner as a left or right hand user. In the use position, the body of the collector may be slightly inclined relative to the sagittal plane in a top view of the body such that the upper or top portion of the body is disposed outwardly and the lower or bottom portion of the body is disposed inwardly relative to a plane parallel to the sagittal plane.

Drawings

Embodiments of the present utility model will now be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a passive milk collector having a body of coupled outer and inner housing elements;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the outer housing element and the inner housing element in a separated state;

fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the inner housing element along line L-L in fig. 1.

Detailed Description

In the figures, reference numeral 2 denotes a passive milk collector, which passive milk collector 2 is defined by a main body 4. The body 4 is formed by an outer housing element 8 and an inner housing element 10. The reservoir 16 is surrounded by the body 4. The passive milk collector may be shaped to be worn inside a bra of a human user having a breast in order to passively collect milk.

The inner housing element 10 provides a sealing surface 12 surrounding an opening 14 having a collar 34 leading to the reservoir 16 and projecting oppositely from the sealing surface 12.

The outer housing element 8 is made of a first plastic material which is a hard plastic material, such as PE, and which has a shore hardness in the range of 40 to 50 shore a or 8 to 12 shore D (see table 1). The inner housing element 10 is made of a second plastic material which is less rigid and is for example a plastic material such as silicone or the like and which has a shore hardness in the range of 0 to 30 shore a or 0 to 6 shore D (see table 1).

TABLE 1

In order to enhance the stability and cleanability of the body 4, the outer housing element 8 has a particularly concave inner side surface 36 on its inner side or facing the reservoir 16 and a particularly convex rear surface 38 on its outer side or facing away from the reservoir 16. Thus, in top view, the outer housing element 8 as well as the main body 4 are cup-shaped and at least substantially avocado-shaped.

The reservoir 16 is surrounded or surrounded by surfaces (denoted 36 and 40 in this case), for example by a concave inner side surface 36 of the outer housing element 8 and an inner side surface 40 of the inner housing element 10 (which is opposite to its sealing surface 12 and its convex outer surface 26). Due to this outer surface 26, the inner housing element 10 surrounds the reservoir 16 in a concave manner, thereby providing additional reservoir volume. The surfaces 36, 40 are particularly smooth so as to avoid any voids or obstructions to the liquid within the body 4 to enhance hygiene. For this purpose, any liquid (whether milk or a cleaning liquid like water) may be completely and easily poured from the reservoir 16. For thorough cleaning, the outer housing 8 and the inner housing element 10 are separated to fully touch the inner wall of the main body 4.

To this end, the outer housing element 8 and the inner housing element 10 may be releasably coupled or coupled at interface wires 30, 32, which extend in a single plane. At the interface lines 30, 32, the housing elements 8, 10 are designed to seal against each other by means of seals formed or integrated at the outer housing element 8. The coupling of the housing elements 8, 10 can be achieved by means of a form fit. Fig. 1 shows a coupled or linked state.

The outer circumference 44, in this case at the interface wires 30, 32, at least substantially surrounds the reservoir 16. The outer circumference 44 is circular in shape or avocado-shaped. In this case, the outer circumference 44 lies in the single plane. It is possible that at least one of the outer circumference 44 and the interface wires 30, 32 does not lie entirely in a single plane, but may be curved in three dimensions.

The body 4, in particular the housing elements 8, 10, comprises a longitudinal axis L connecting two points of the body 4 furthest from each other. With respect to this axis L, the body 4 comprises symmetry.

At the upper section 22 of the inner housing element 10, the sealing surface 12 is concaveIs shaped and the upper section 22 has a relatively thin wall thickness t ₁ So as to smooth and flexible the sealing surface 12 to accommodate the user's breast. At the lower section 24 of the inner housing element 10, a convex outer surface 26 is provided, wherein the lower section 24 has a wall thickness t ₂ The wall thickness is at least the wall thickness t ₁ Here 4 to 5 times the thickness. This is achieved in order to maximize the reservoir 16 and enhance the stability of the body 4 and the comfort of the user; furthermore, the convex outer surface 26 may be placed under the breast when the milk collector is worn in a bra.

The opening 14 has a collar 34 which projects away from the sealing surface 12 towards or into the reservoir 16 and towards the outer housing element 8. The collar 34 is located adjacent to the sealing surface 12 and is integrally formed therewith. Thus, the collar 34 provides a smooth transition to the sealing surface 12 for good user comfort. The ring 34 has a conical shape or an inwardly convex circular shape for areola and/or nipple. The collar 34 terminates within the reservoir 16 at least substantially away from the surfaces 36, 40 defining the reservoir 16.

At the lower section 24, a scale 18 is provided in order to estimate the milk volume in the reservoir 16. The graduations 18 may show milk volume due to the translucency or transparency of the inner housing element 10. The graduations 18 consist of, for example, a print or particularly recessed or protruding ridges/marks on the side of the reservoir 16 or the sealing surface 12.

As can be seen in fig. 2, the housing elements 8, 10 comprise complementary interface lines 30, 32 for releasable and fluid-tight connection of the housing elements 8, 10 to each other. The interface wire 30 includes a seal integrated with the interface wire 30. The seal is configured to be in fluid tight contact with the interface wire 32 at the inner housing element 10. The seal may additionally or alternatively be placed at the inner housing element 10. In particular, the silicon material of the inner housing element 10 may be sufficiently soft such that it may provide a sealing function against the outer housing element 8.

The outer housing element 8 has a circumferential edge 42 at the interface wire 30. The edge 42 can support the coupling between the housing elements 8, 10, in particular by enabling the inner housing body element 10 to be gripped in the region of the edge 42 in order to achieve a fluid-tight connection and for example to achieve a smooth transition or a continuous transition between the housing elements 8, 10 at the outside of said housing elements.

The outer housing element 8 has a pouring opening 20 at the upper part 28 or at the top. In use of the milk collector 2, the pouring opening 20 is located substantially at the top of the milk collector 2. The pouring opening 20 may be kept open at all times and may comprise a collar to reduce the risk of spillage or leakage. The pour opening 20 ensures that milk remains in the reservoir 16 and that the pressure inside the reservoir 16 is atmospheric pressure. On a regular basis, milk remaining in the collector is poured from the reservoir through the pouring opening 20. For example, the user may wear the milk collector 2 for more than one or two hours without vacuum to collect milk.

List of reference numerals

2. Passive milk collector

4. Main body

8. Outer housing element

10. Inner housing element

12. Sealing surface

14. An opening

16. Storage container

18. Graduation scale

20. Pouring opening

22. Upper section of inner housing element

24. Lower part of the inner housing element

26. The outer surface of the inner housing element

28. Upper part of the outer housing element

30. Interface wire for outer housing element

32. Interface wire of inner shell element

34. Ring ring

36. Inner surface of outer housing element

38. Outer surface of the outer housing element

40. Inner surface of inner housing element

42. Edge of the sheet

44. Outer circumference of

L longitudinal symmetry axis

t ₁ Wall thickness of upper section

t ₂ Wall thickness of the lower section.

Claims (12)

1. A passive milk collector (2), characterized in that it has a body (4) defining a reservoir (16), a sealing surface (12) and an opening (14) within the body (4), wherein the opening (14) is adapted to receive a nipple of a user, wherein the sealing surface (12) is adapted to rest against a breast of the user when the nipple is received within the opening (14), and wherein the opening (14) is surrounded by the sealing surface (12) and is in fluid communication with the reservoir (16), the body (4) being constituted by an outer housing element (8) and an inner housing element (10), the inner housing element (10) providing the sealing surface (12) and the opening (14), wherein the outer housing element (8) is a unitary body formed of a first plastic material and the inner housing element (10) is a unitary body formed of a second plastic material, wherein the first plastic material is harder than the second plastic material.

2. A passive milk collector according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer housing element (8) and the inner housing element (10) are releasably coupled.

3. The passive milk collector of claim 1, wherein an upper section (22) of the inner housing element (10) provides a concave sealing surface (12), and wherein a lower section (24) of the inner housing element (10) provides a convex outer surface (26) covering the reservoir (16).

4. A passive milk collector according to claim 3, characterized in that the opening (14) is surrounded by a concave sealing surface (12).

5. A passive milk collector (2) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the wall thickness of the upper section (22) of the inner housing element (10) is smaller than the wall thickness of the lower section (24) of the inner housing element (10).

6. The passive milk collector (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that the ratio between the wall thickness of the lower section (24) of the inner housing element (10) and the wall thickness of the upper section (22) of the inner housing element (10) is between 3 and 8.

7. The passive milk collector (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that the ratio between the wall thickness of the lower section (24) of the inner housing element (10) and the wall thickness of the upper section (22) of the inner housing element (10) is between 3 and 6.

8. The passive milk collector (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that the ratio between the wall thickness of the lower section (24) of the inner housing element (10) and the wall thickness of the upper section (22) of the inner housing element (10) is between 4 and 5.

9. The passive milk collector (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening (14) is surrounded by a collar (34) protruding inwardly into the reservoir (16).

10. A passive milk collector (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner housing element is made of silicone.

11. A passive milk collector (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper part (28) of the outer housing element (8) is provided with a pouring opening (20).

12. A passive milk collector (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the body (4) is shaped to be wearable in a bra.