WO2001047452A1

WO2001047452A1 - Breast shield

Info

Publication number: WO2001047452A1
Application number: PCT/GB2000/004780
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edward Atkin; Roger Leonard Williams
Original assignee: Cannon Rubber Limited
Priority date: 1999-12-23
Filing date: 2000-12-13
Publication date: 2001-07-05
Also published as: GB2357434B; AU2196301A; GB2357434A; GB9930501D0

Abstract

A breast shield comprising a rigid cup-shaped shell (1) with an elastic membrane (10) stretched across its open end having a central hole (4) therein to receive a woman's nipple (7). The section of the membrane (20) around the central hole (14) is preferably frusto-conical for increased comfort and has spacers (15) moulded thereon around the hole to space the membrane (10) from the woman's breast (9) for increased air circulation. The central hole (14) spaces the end of the woman's nipple (7) from the inside of the shell (1) to protect the lactating woman's nipple (7) from irritation from her clothing on the shell (1).

Description

BREAST SHIELD

This invention relates to a breast shield and more particularly to a shield comprising a flexible membrane stretched over a rigid shell which is capable of collecting lactated milk from a woman's breast. ^"When women are breast feeding, milk often leaks from their breasts between feeds and soaks into their brassiere which is not only unhygienic but it tends to cause their nipples to become cracked and sore as the damp cloth rubs against them.

One way of overcoming this problem is for the woman to insert a soft breast pad into her brassiere to absorb any leaked milk but this can quickly become saturated with milk thereby causing further irritation and soreness of the nipple.

One prior art solution to overcome this problem is disclosed in US Patent No. 5.032.103 which describes and illustrates a breast shield which comprises a rigid open topped dome-shaped shell with an elastic member which extends across said open top. The elastic member has an opening through which the breast nipple extends into the interior of the shell. The elastic serves as a base or mount for the shell which resiliently spaces the shell from contacting the nipple. As a result, any milk lactating from the nipple can be collected in the shell and kept away from it and also the end of the nipple cannot contact the shell or the woman's clothes. A further feature of the breast shield disclosed in this patent is that it is additionally designed to aid in re-inverting an inverted nipple. To do this, the membrane needs to apply a considerable resilient pressure to the breast to press the nipple out of the breast and into the shell. This is achieved by making the membrane planar but it has the disadvantage that the part of the membrane around the central hole which receives the nipple is pressed very firmly into contact with the breast when the shell is inserted in the woman's brassiere. As a result of this firm contact, the breast tends to perspire which can cause irritation and become uncomfortable. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a breast shield which is more comfortable to wear and applies less pressure to the woman's breast in use.

According to the invention therefore there is provided a breast shield for use by a lactating woman comprising a cup-shaped shell having an upper perimeter, an elastic membrane releasably attached to the upper perimeter and stretched across the open end of the shell, the membrane having a contoured central section deformed out of the main plane of the membrane and terminating in an aperture shaped to receive the woman's nipple, said aperture being spaced from the bottom of the cup- shaped shell by a distance such that the end of the woman's nipple cannot contact the shell when inserted in the aperture.

In the preferred embodiment, the whole of the elastic membrane which contacts the woman's breast is generally frusto -conical in cross section so that its shape is substantially the same as that of the woman's breast and therefore it applies only a slight resilient pressure thereto when the shield is in position in her brassiere. This makes the membrane much more comfortable to wear.

Preferably a plurality of protuberances are provided around the central aperture to space the membrane from the woman's breast when her nipple is inserted therein. These protuberances serve to provide an air space between the membrane and the woman's breast which allows air to circulate to discourage perspiration developing at the interface between the woman's breast and the elastic membrane which can cause discomfort.

Preferably the membrane has an inner and outer surface and each protuberance is a moulded projection extending in a direction out of the plane of the membrane away from the inner surface thereof, each protuberance being petal shaped and having a major and minor axis, the major axis of each petal lying on a radius extending from the centre of the aperture. Conveniently, six protuberances are provided around the central hole which are circumferentially equidistantly spaced from each other. Any number of protuberances can however be used and they can be of any shape provided that they space the woman's breast from the outer surface of the membrane. Preferably, each protuberance is hollow but it can be solid if desired.

Preferably the flexible membrane is moulded from silicone but other flexible resilient material such as natural or synthetic rubber can be used.

The periphery of the membrane preferably has a lip formed thereon which cooperates with the periphery of the open ended shell to attach the membrane thereto.

In the preferred embodiment a flange extends laterally outwardly from the periphery of the open ended shell, the lip cooperating with said laterally extending flange to attach the membrane thereto. Preferably the perimeter of the shell is curved along its length to adapt the annular point of contact of the shell to the shape of the woman's breast. In the preferred embodiment, the shell perimeter has a pair of diametrically opposed curved recesses along its opposite sides to provide a curved split line.

Conveniently, at least one ventilation hole is provided in the top region of the shell.

In the preferred embodiment, an indentation is also provided in the periphery of the shell to provide a pouring spout opposite the or each ventilation hole. Conveniently, support means are provided on the outside surface at the bottom of the shell so that the shell can stand freely on a flat surface without any milk collected in the shell spilling therefrom.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of the shell which forms part of the breast shield of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the shell shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the shell shown in Figures 1 and 2 but resting on a plane support surface;

Figure 4 is a front view of the elastic membrane which fits on the shell shown in Figures 1-3;

Figure 5 is a side view of the membrane shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the assembled breast shell; and Figure 7 is a cross section of the breast shield of the invention in use on a woman's breast.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly Figures 1-3, there is shown a cup-shaped shell 1 which is preferably moulded from a rigid plastics material. The shell 1 is cup-shaped and has a lateral outwardly extending flange 2 extending from its upper periphery. One or more ventilation holes 3 (five are illustrated) are moulded into the top of the shell and a pouring indentation or spout 5 is moulded into the shell periphery opposite said ventilation holes and partly intrudes into the laterally extending flange 2. Each opposite side of the flange 2 has a curved depression 6 formed therein to provide a curved split line for the shell so that it more closely fits the contours of the woman's breast and is therefore a better fit thereon and more comfortable to wear. A pair of supports or feet 4 are moulded on the front face of the shell 1.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, there is shown a resilient elastic membrane 10, preferably moulded from silicone rubber, which is circular in shape and has a lip 11 around its periphery with a rebate 12 formed therein. A central hole 14 is provided in the membrane 10 and the whole of the section 14A of the membrane is contoured (preferably frusto-conical in shape) between the annular lip 11 and the central hole 14 to receive the woman's breast although this is not essential. The membrane has an inner surface 20A and an outer surface 20B.

A plurality of hollow moulded protuberances 15 are circumferentially arranged around the central hole 14 and equidistantly spaced from each other, each protuberance preferably being petal shaped as illustrated having a major axis and a minor axis. In the illustrated embodiment, the major axes of a pair of opposed petals are diametrically aligned with each other there being six petals arranged around the central hole 14. Any number of petals can however be used. Each petal protrudes inwardly away from the inner surface 20A of the membrane 10 as can be more clearly seen in Figure 5.

The membrane 10 is attached to the rigid shell 1 by fitting the lip 11 over the laterally extending flange 2 thereon. The size of the shell 1 is designed to receive a substantial portion of the woman's breast and is intended to centralise about her nipple and areola when inserted within the cup of a nursing brassiere.

Referring now to Figure 6, the breast shield of the invention can be seen in position on a woman's breast 9 with her nipple 7 protruding through the central opening 14 in the elastic membrane 10. The petals 15 contact the part of the breast around the areola and providing air pockets 16 therebetween to increase air circulation and stop perspiration and moisture developing which can cause irritation. It will be noted that the shell 1 is spaced from the end of the nipple 7 so it cannot rub against it. Any milk leaking from the nipple is collected at 8 in the bottom of the shell between the membrane 10 and the shell itself. Air circulation within the shell is achieved through the vent holes 3.

Referring now to Figure 3, it can be seen that the supports or feet 4 allow the shell 1 to be free-standing on a flat surface with the milk 8 level maintained below the vent holes 3 so it cannot leak out. This collected milk 8 can be poured from the shell 1 using the pour spout 5 but should not be used for feeding as this is unhygienic. The main purpose of collecting it in the shell is to keep it away from the end of the nipple to prevent the nipple from becoming cracked and sore.

Claims

1. A breast shield for fitting to the breast of a lactating woman comprising a cup-shaped shell having an upper perimeter, an elastic membrane releasably attached to said perimeter and stretched across the open end of the shell, the membrane having a contoured central section deformed out of the main plane of the membrane which terminates in an aperture shaped to receive the woman's nipple, said aperture being spaced from the bottom of the cup-shaped shell by a distance such that the end of the woman's nipple cannot contact the shell when inserted in the aperture.

2. A breast shield as claimed in claim 1 wherein the portion of the elastic membrane which contacts the woman's breast is generally frusto- conical in cross section.

3. A breast shield as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a plurality of protuberances are provided around the central hole to space the membrane from the woman's breast when her nipple is inserted therein.

4. A breast shield as claimed in claim 3 wherein the membrane has an inner and outer surface and each protuberance is a moulded projection extending in a direction out of the plane of the membrane away from the inner surface thereof.

5. A breast shield as claimed in claim 4 wherein in each protuberance is petal shaped with a major and minor axis, the major axis of each petal lying on a radius extending from the centre of the aperture.

6. A breast shield as claimed in any of claims 3-5 wherein six protuberances are circumferentially positioned around the central hole and equidistantly spaced from each other.

7. A breast shield as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the flexible member is moulded from silicone rubber.

8. A breast shield as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a lip is formed around the periphery of the membrane which cooperates with the periphery of the open ended shell to attach the membrane thereto.

9. A breast shield as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the shell is moulded from a rigid plastics material.

10. A breast shield as claimed in claim 9 wherein a flange extends laterally outwardly from the periphery of the open ended shell.

11. A breast shield as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the perimeter of the shell is curved along its length to adapt the annular point of contact of the shell to the shape of the wearer's breast.

12. A breast shield as claimed in claim 11 wherein the shell perimeter has a pair of diametrically curved recesses on its opposite sides to provide a curved split line.

13. A breast shield as claimed in any of claims 9-12 wherein at least one ventilation hole is provided in the top region of the shell.

14. A breast shield as claimed in claim 13 wherein an indentation is provided in the periphery of the shell to provide a pouring spout opposite the or each ventilation hole.

15. A breast shield as claimed in any preceding claim wherein support means are provided on the outside surface at the bottom of the shell at a location so that the shell can be free-standing on a flat surface.

16. A breast shield substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A breast shell substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1-3 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A membrane for fitting to a breast shell substantially as herein described and illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6.