EP2491826A1 - Nursing pillow and method for placing same - Google Patents

Abstract

The pillow (1) has a masking unit in the form of masking band (7) comprising a connection zone (8) for connecting a convex outer peripheral face (16) of U-shaped body (2) following a masking zone (9) of breast to be sucked. The band includes width (L) equal to 6 cm on a portion of length of the band and forms a screen at raised state of the band above the body in a position in which angle of the band with a median plane of the body is non zero. The screen is positioned partially before the breast to be sucked in an active configuration of the body. An independent claim is also included for a method for placing a breast feeding pillow.

Description

The present invention relates to a nursing pillow.

It relates more particularly to a nursing pillow having a generally U-shaped body or horseshoe comprising two legs and a central portion connecting the two legs together. This cushion body, which has two opposite faces relative to the median plane of the cushion, said lower face and upper face of the cushion body interconnected by a convex outer peripheral face and a concave inner peripheral face, is, in the active configuration of breastfeeding, positionable around the mother's belly to form a support and support surface of the baby's body and / or at least one arm of the mother. In the active breastfeeding configuration, the central portion of the U is arranged facing the mother's belly while the opening of the U is disposed in the back of the mother.

The breastfeeding cushion raises the baby to the breast to suckle to save the mother's back. The mother can stay upright and relaxed while breastfeeding.

To further increase the comfort and well-being of the nursing mother, it is advantageous that this breastfeeding can be done in any environment. For this purpose, the cushion comprises masking means.

Breastfeeding cushions are already known with two masking strips as illustrated, for example, by the documents US 7,657,955 and USD 571,596 . This results in a large size and complexity of the whole.

The document US 2006/101579 described, meanwhile, a breastfeeding cushion intended not to come to surround the belly of the mother but to position itself between the torso and the arm of the mother. This results in lesser convenience.

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a nursing pillow whose design allows nursing in all discretion.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a nursing pillow whose design allows an adaptation to each breast while limiting the overall size of the assembly.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a nursing pillow having a generally U-shaped body comprising two legs and a central portion connecting the two legs to one another, this body having two opposite faces with respect to the median plane. cushion, said lower face and upper face of the cushion body interconnected by a convex outer peripheral face and a concave inner peripheral face, being, in active nursing configuration, positionable around the mother's belly to form a surface support and support of the body of the baby and / or at least one arm of the mother, said cushion further comprising means for masking the breast to suckle, characterized in that said masking means affect the shape of a so-called masking tape, comprising, from one of its ends towards its other end, at least one connecting zone to said cushion body followed by a breast masking zone to a tee wherein said masking tape has, over at least a portion of the length of the strip, a strip width of at least 6 cm and forms, in the erected state of the masking tape, over the body of the strip. cushion, in a position in which the angle of the masking band with the median plane of the cushion body is non-zero, a screen, at least partially positionable in front of the breast to suckle active configuration of nursing cushion body.

The cushion body thus has a masking tape whose masking area is separated from the cushion body by the bonding zone of the masking tape to the cushion body. This masking band has, in its masking zone, which corresponds to the area of the masking band intended to come opposite the breast, a width at least equal to 6 cm. The masking zone is thus formed by the portion of the masking tape positionable facing the breast to suck and which has, over at least a portion of its length, a band width of at least 6 cm.

Thanks to this wide width of the masking area, the suckling breast is at least partially hidden to allow the mother to breastfeed discreetly and avoid any embarrassment, especially when breastfeeding in a public place.

Preferably, the masking tape is a reversible tape connected to a leg of the cushion body, at or near the median plane of said cushion body.

As mentioned above, the masking tape is connected to the cushion body at or in the immediate vicinity of the median plane of said cushion body. In other words, the connection zone of the masking tape to the cushion body is disposed at or near the median plane of said cushion body, i.e. at a distance less than 1.5 cm from the median plane. This arrangement facilitates the reversibility of the band. In addition, the masking tape is connected to a leg of the cushion body. Thanks to this positioning of the connection, the zone of connection of the band to the cushion body extends entirely on one side of the plane, orthogonal to the median plane of the cushion, and passing through the center line of the cushion body dividing the body of the cushion. two-piece cushion at the central portion of said cushion body. This median line extends substantially parallel to the average longitudinal axis of the branches of the U formed by the cushion body.

Because the cushion body / masking tape connection is disposed on the outer periphery of the cushion body, on the leg of the cushion body, which is intended to abut the breast to suckle, it is necessary to return the cushion so that that the upper face of the cushion body becomes the lower face and vice versa when the mother wishes to pass to the other breast so that again, the connection or cushion body / mask band connection area is disposed on the leg of the cushion body which is intended to adjoin the breast to suck.

Positioning the masking tape / cushion body connection substantially at the center plane of the cushion body allows the cushion to be turned for breast feeding with one or other of the breasts without altering the disposition of the masking zone relative to the cushion body in terms of distance. Furthermore, the realization of a reversible band, that is to say which each face can indifferently form the location of the band corresponding to the visible face of said masking tape, allows an outside observer not to have the impression that the masking tape is upside down after turning said cushion. In the same way, the cushion body is reversible and the faces of the cushion opposite to the median plane of the cushion can indifferently form one of the upper face, the other the lower face of said cushion. These arrangements allow a limited bandwidth to be maintained while masking both the breast and the breast / arm link area, which a central arrangement of the masking band would not allow.

Preferably, the cushion is equipped with holding means of the masking tape in the erected state. The masking tape is thus maintained in the state erected by said masking means. These holding means allow the mother not to have to worry about maintaining the position of the masking tape.

These means for maintaining the band in the erected state can affect a large number of shapes. Preferably, the means for holding the masking tape in the erected state are formed at least by a portion of the strip disposed in the extension of the masking tape, this portion of the tape being suitable, in the manner of a scarf. , to wrap around the neck of the mother and / or being equipped, at its end opposite its end of connection to the masking tape, connecting means to the cushion body to form, with the masking tape, a loop or strap capable of bearing on the Above the shoulder of the mother in active nursing configuration of the cushion body.

The integration of the masking band in a loop or strap allows easy placement of said masking tape and maintaining the taut state of the latter. It also allows a successful integration of the masking tape to the rest of the cushion aesthetically.

Preferably, the masking tape has, in its masking area, at least a part of the length of the masking tape, a width L at least equal to 10 cm, to form a screen that can be positioned both in front of the breast. to suckle and the mother's arm adjoining the breast to suckle.

More preferably, the masking tape has, between its two ends, a non-constant width, preferably decreasing, from its connection zone to the cushion body in the direction of its masking zone. This results in a substantially trapezoidal shape of the masking tape.

To facilitate holding in position of the cushion body, the cushion body is equipped with activatable / deactivatable means for connecting the free ends of the legs of the cushion body together, said connecting means forming, in the activated state, means closing the belt formed by the cushion body.

To reduce the bulk of the assembly, preferably, the cushion body is equipped with a storage pocket of the masking tape.

The subject of the invention is also a method of laying a nursing pad of the aforementioned type, said method comprising a step of positioning the cushion body around the belly of the mother, in an active nursing configuration, for surrounding said belly and forming a bearing and support surface of the baby's body and / or at least one arm of the mother, characterized in that this method comprises, on the one hand, during the step of positioning the cushion body around the belly of the mother, depending on the breast to be sucked, a selection phase of the upper face of the cushion body by reversal any of said cushion body, on the other hand at least one step of straightening the masking tape above the cushion body in a position in which the masking tape forms a non-zero angle with the median plane of the cushion body and is positioned at least partially in front of the suckling breast to at least partially mask said breast.

• la figure 1 représente une vue en perspective d'un coussin d'allaitement conforme à l'invention à l'état dressé de la bande de masquage ;
• la figure 2 représente une vue schématique de face d'une mère allaitant à l'aide d'un coussin conforme à l'invention, à l'état dressé de la bande de masquage ;
• la figure 3 représente une vue schématique de dos d'une mère allaitant à l'aide d'un coussin conforme à l'invention, à l'état dressé de la bande de masquage et de maintien en position de ladite bande de masquage ;
• la figure 4 représente une vue schématique de profil, côté bande de masquage, d'une mère allaitant à l'aide d'un coussin conforme à l'invention, à l'état dressé de la bande de masquage ;
• la figure 5 représente une vue schématique de profil, côté opposé à la bande de masquage, d'une mère allaitant à l'aide d'un coussin conforme à l'invention, à l'état dressé de la bande de masquage ;
• la figure 6 représente une vue en perspective d'un coussin à l'état rangé des moyens de maintien ;
• la figure 7 représente une vue en perspective d'une variante d'un coussin d'allaitement conforme à l'invention, à l'état dressé de la bande de masquage.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective view of a nursing pillow according to the invention in the erected state of the masking tape;
• the figure 2 represents a schematic front view of a nursing mother using a cushion according to the invention, in the erected state of the masking tape;
• the figure 3 is a schematic view of the back of a breastfeeding mother using a cushion according to the invention, in the erected state of the masking tape and holding in position of said masking tape;
• the figure 4 represents a schematic side view, masking band side, of a nursing mother using a cushion according to the invention, in the erected state of the masking tape;
• the figure 5 represents a schematic side view, opposite to the masking tape, of a nursing mother using a cushion according to the invention, in the erected state of the masking tape;
• the figure 6 represents a perspective view of a cushion in the stowed state of the holding means;
• the figure 7 represents a perspective view of a variant of a nursing pillow according to the invention, in the erected state of the masking tape.

As mentioned above, the breastfeeding cushion 1, object of the invention has a body 2 generally U-shaped comprising two legs 3 and a central portion 4 connecting the two legs 3 between them. This cushion body 2 still has two faces 5, 6 opposite to the median plane which can be called the median horizontal or transverse plane of the cushion. This median plane forms a plane of symmetry of the cushion body. These two faces 5, 6 opposite able to form indifferently one the upper face, the other the lower face of the cushion body are interconnected by a convex outer peripheral face 16 and a concave inner peripheral face 17. In active configuration breastfeeding, this body 2 cushion is positionable with its central portion facing the belly of the mother 21 and the opening of the U next to the back of the mother. The legs and the central portion form a support and support surface of the body of the baby 22 and / or at least one arm 23 of the mother who bear on the upper face of the cushion body which itself comes into support on the belly of the mother by its inner peripheral face.

The positioning of the central portion 4 of the U bearing on the belly of the mother and the opening of the U in the back of the mother is more particularly visible to Figures 2 and 3 .

Characteristically to the invention, the cushion 1 further comprises means for masking the breast 20 to suckle. These masking means affect the shape of a single strip 7, called masking, which comprises, from one of its ends towards its other end, at least one zone 8 of connection to said body 2 cushion followed by a zone 9 masking breast 20 to suckle. In this masking zone 9, the masking band 7 has, over at least a part of its length, a band width L of at least 6 cm. In the same masking zone 9, said masking band forms, in the erected state of the masking band 7, above the cushion body 2, a screen which can be positioned at least partially in front of the breast to be sucked in the active configuration of said cushion body 2.

In the erected state of the masking band 7, above the cushion body 2, the masking tape is in a position in which it forms a non-zero angle with the median plane of the cushion body 2 or else with the average supporting support plane of the baby formed by said cushion body. This screen can be of variable size and shape depending on the choice of the manufacturer.

In the example shown in figure 2 , the masking band 7 has between its ends a non-constant width, in particular decreasing, from its zone 8 of connection to the body 2 cushion towards its zone 9 masking.

In addition, the masking band 7 has, in its masking area 9, at least a portion of the length of the masking band 7, a width L at least equal to 10 cm to form a screen positionable both before the breast 20 to suckle and the arm of the mother adjoining the breast 20 to suckle.

For user comfort, the cushion is equipped with means 10 for holding the masking tape 7 in the erected state.

In the examples shown, the means 10 for holding the masking tape 7 in the erected state are formed at least by a portion 11 of strip disposed in the extension of the masking band 7, this portion 11 band being equipped, at its end opposite its end of connection to the masking tape 7, means 12 for connection to the body 2 of cushion to form, with the band 7 of masking, a handle or strap able to come in support on the top of the shoulder of the mother 21 in active nursing configuration of the cushion body 2.

Two embodiments are illustrated.

In the example shown in figure 1 , the masking band 7 and the band portion 11 disposed in the extension of the masking band 7 are made in one piece. The band portion 11 is equipped, at its end opposite its end of connection to the masking tape 7, connecting means 12 which are activatable / deactivatable means preferably comprising hook-and-loop fastening means. In particular, the end of the belt portion 11 connectable to the body 2 cushion is equipped with two hook-and-loop fasteners arranged one at the end, the other away from said end to allow a folding of the end of the strip portion on itself by forming a closed loop by applying one of the self-gripping connection elements against the other self-gripping connection element. The cushion body 2 is itself equipped with complementary connection means connecting means equipping the portion 11 of tape. These complementary connection means are here made in the form of a ring 15 fixed to the cushion body 2 and inside which the free end of the band portion 11 can be introduced before being folded back on itself and closed by the Velcro connection. This zone of connection portion 11 of band / body 2 of cushion is positioned on the outer periphery of the cushion at the level of the cushion leg not equipped with the masking tape and preferably in the vicinity of the free end of the leg of the body cushion to allow a shoulder strap of the handle or shoulder strap formed by the masking tape and the portion 11 of tape, in the connected state of the portion 11 of tape to the body 2 cushion, as illustrated by the figure 3 .

In a second embodiment according to the figure 7 , the nursing pad 1 is of the type of which the band portion 11 is equipped, at its end opposite its end of connection to the masking band 7, means 12 for connection to the body 2 cushion. The band portion 11 is connected to the cushion body 2 by a permanent connection and to the masking band 7 by an activatable / deactivatable connection.

The activatable / deactivatable connection between the band portion and the masking tape may comprise hook-and-loop fastening means and be of the same type as that described above between the band portion and the cushion body. The ring equips for example the end of the band portion and the self-gripping connection elements are carried by the free end of the masking tape.

To ensure a good maintenance of the belt around the body of the mother, preferably, the body 2 of cushion is equipped with means 13 activatable / deactivatable connecting the free ends of the legs 3 of the body 2 cushion between them, said means 13 linkage forming, in the activated state, closure means of the belt formed by the cushion body 2 as illustrated by FIG. figure 6 .

These connecting means 13 are here formed again, for one of the legs, by a band whose free end is provided with self-gripping connection elements and is foldable on itself to form a closed loop and, for the other leg, by a ring inside which the free end of the band can penetrate before folding and closing on itself.

Generally, the cushion body 2 is equipped with a pocket 14 for storing the masking tape 7, this pouch preferably being disposed in the median plane of the cushion body.

As mentioned above and for the reasons explained above, the masking tape 7 is connected to the cushion body 2 at the median plane of said cushion body 2 or in the immediate vicinity of the latter. The masking tape 7 is a reversible tape. The masking band 7 is connected to the cushion body 2 at a leg 3 of said cushion body 2 and extends entirely on one side of the plane perpendicular to the median plane of the cushion and which passes through the center line of the cushion which separates, at the level of the central portion of the cushion, the cushion in two half-U.

The method for laying such a nursing pillow comprises a step of positioning the pillow body 2 around the belly of the mother in an active nursing configuration to surround said belly and form a bearing surface and supporting the body of the baby and / or at least one arm of the mother, and a step of straightening the masking band 7 above the cushion body 2 in a position in which the masking band 7 forms a non-zero angle with the median plane of the body 2 cushion or the average plane of support or support of said cushion and is positioned at least partially in front of the breast 20 to suck to at least partially hide said breast. During the positioning step, a possible phase of reversal of the cushion is provided when the leg of the cushion equipped with the masking tape is not the leg closest to the breast to suckle. The inversion of the cushion then makes it possible to obtain such positioning.

The positioning and straightening steps can be performed in undifferentiated order. Thus, in the case of the cushion represented in figure 1 it can be imagined that the mother proceeds, at first, with the positioning of the cushion body around her belly, at the closure of the U of the cushion by means 13 of connecting the free ends of the cushion legs, then straightening the masking tape before attaching the web portion 11 to the cushion body 2 after passing the loop formed by the masking tape and the web portion 11 on its shoulder. One can also imagine that the mother fixes the portion 11 of band to the cushion body 2, passes the head inside the loop formed to come to position a portion of the handle resting on his shoulder and then position the body 2 of cushion around his belly before closing the U of said body using the means 13 link. These different modes of implementation are also possible for the embodiment of the cushion represented in FIG. figure 7 .

Claims (11)

Cushion (1) for breastfeeding having a body (2) generally U-shaped comprising two legs (3) and a central portion (4) connecting the two legs (3) together, this body (2), which has two faces (5, 6) opposite to the median plane of the cushion, said lower face and upper face of the body (2) cushion connected together by an outer peripheral face (16) convex and a concave inner peripheral face (17), being, in active nursing configuration, positionable around the belly of the mother (21) to form a bearing and support surface of the baby's body (22) and / or at least one arm (23) of the mother, said cushion (1) further comprising means for masking the breast (20) to suckle, characterized in that said masking means affect the shape of a band (7), called masking, comprising, since the one of its ends towards its other end, at least one zone (8) connecting to the outer peripheral face ne (16) of the body (2) cushion followed by a zone (9) for masking the breast (20) to suckle in which said band (7) of masking has, on at least a part of the length of the band (7), a band width (L) of at least 6 cm and in the erected state of the masking band (7) above the cushion body (2) in a position in which angle of the masking band (7) with the median plane of the body (2) of cushion is non-zero, a screen, positionable at least partially in front of the breast (20) to suckle in active configuration of breast feeding (2) ) cushion. Nursing cushion (1) according to claim 1,
characterized in that the masking band (7) is a reversible band connected to a leg of the cushion body (2) at or in the immediate vicinity of the median plane of said cushion body (2). Nursing cushion (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2,
characterized in that said cushion is equipped with means (10) for holding the masking tape (7) in the erected state. Nursing cushion (1) according to claim 3,
characterized in that said means (10) for holding the masking tape (7) in the erected state are formed at least by a portion (11) of tape arranged in the extension of the masking tape (7), this portion (11) of band being adapted, in the manner of a scarf, to wrap around the neck of the mother and / or being equipped, at its end opposite its end of connection to the band (7) masking , means (12) for connecting the body (2) of cushion to form, with the band (7) of masking, a loop or strap capable of bearing on the top of the shoulder of the mother (21) in active nursing configuration of the cushion body (2). Nursing cushion (1) according to claim 4,
characterized in that the masking band (7) and the band portion (11) disposed in the extension of the masking band (7) are made in one piece. Nursing cushion (1) according to one of claims 4 or 5, of the type of which the portion (11) of band is equipped, at its end opposite its end of connection to the band (7) masking, means (12) for connection to the cushion body (2),
characterized in that the means (12) for connecting the web portion (11) to the pad body (2) are activatable / deactivatable means preferably comprising hook-and-loop fastening means. Nursing cushion (1) according to claim 4, of the type of which the portion (11) of band is equipped, at its end opposite its end of connection to the band (7) of masking, connection means (12) with the cushion body (2),
characterized in that the web portion (11) is connected to the cushion body (2) by a permanent link and to the masking tape (7) by an activatable / deactivatable link. Nursing cushion (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7,
characterized in that the cushion body (2) is reversible and the cushion faces (5, 6), opposite to the medial plane of the cushion, form indifferently one, the upper face, the other, the lower face. said cushion. Nursing cushion (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8,
characterized in that the cushion body is provided with a storage pocket for the masking tape. Nursing cushion (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9,
characterized in that the masking band (7) extends entirely from one side of the plane perpendicular to the median plane of the cushion and which passes through the center line of the cushion which separates, at the central portion of the cushion, the cushion in two half-U. A method of laying a nursing pillow according to one of claims 1 to 10, said method comprising a step of positioning the body (2) of cushion around the belly of the mother, in active nursing configuration, for surrounding said belly and forming a support and support surface of the baby's body (22) and / or at least one arm (23) of the mother, characterized in that said method comprises firstly, during of the step of positioning the body (2) of cushion around the belly of the mother, depending on the breast to be sucked, a selection phase of the upper face (5; 6) of the body (2) cushion by possible reversal of said cushion body (2), on the other hand at least one step of straightening the masking band (7) above the cushion body (2) in a position in which the masking band (7) forms a non-zero angle with the median plane of the cushion body (2) and is positioned at least partially in front of the breast (20) at t to at least partially mask said breast.

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