The present invention also relates to a breast pump for collecting breast milk for small babies, the pump comprising a funnel-shaped connection member for abutment against a female breast, and means for creating a partial vacuum in the connection member.

BACKGROUND ART For small babies who, for various reasons, are not able to benefit from obtaining mother's milk direct from the mother's breast, or when the mother's milk production is too great, various aids have been developed, among other things different types of breast pumps which are based on the technology that a partial vacuum is created in a container which is connected to the female breast and that the mother's milk is sucked into the container.

USPS 2, 208,089 and international publication W088/07385 show a few examples of breast pumps, the mother's milk is thereafter fed to the infant using a bottle with a suckling teat. In those cases where the mother's milk is not sufficient for the infant, formula milk is used as a supplement and given to the infant by means of a bottle.

Today's baby's feeding bottles and storage bottles are generally provided with threaded closures and consist of several parts. A common construction consists of a screw union of a rigid material and a teat of an elastomer, as well as a screw union and lid of rigid material and a seal of an elastomer.

Existing breast pumps are often designed for electric or battery power. This may be an inconvenience in itself and it has also proved that such pumps generate disturbing noise, in particular taking into account the fact the they are employed in the

immediate vicinity of a small baby. A number of pumps, in particular certain electric pumps, cannot be controlled in respect of the partial vacuum which is created in the unit. A strong partial vacuum may be experienced by some mothers as painful, while insufficient partial vacuum is often ineffective. If the partial vacuum is at a substantially constant level during a lengthy period of time, this is ineffective for pumping out the mother's milk. It has proved that an intermittent partial vacuum is advantageous, since this more closely approximates the suckling pattern of a small baby.

Many hand-driven pumps are certainly silent in operation, but they are often experienced as tiring to use, since they require repeated movements of the hands and the forearm. For example, handles or balls need to be compressed in order to achieve the suction effect. On the other hand, in those cases where but few hand movements are required, the pumping-out operation takes place substantially continuously or in excessively long intervals.

In certain cases, it is even necessary that the mother use both hands to operate the pump, which is experienced as impractical and clumsy.

As was mentioned previously regarding feeding bottles and storage bottles, the breast pumps also consist of numerous parts. The disadvantages inherent in this are, inter alia, that it is inconvenient to manufacture and assemble the breast pumps. The number of parts also requires extensive distribution and store keeping of spare parts, since the number of parts increases the likelihood that some of these parts will get lost or will break.

PROBLEM STRUCTURE The present invention has for its object to improve and simplify a handling system for breast milk. The system should include a minimum number of parts, which minimises the costs of the system. The parts included should be designed so that the efficiency of the system is maximised.

SOLUTION The objects forming the basis of the present invention will be attained if the system intimated by way of introduction is characterised in that the vessel, the breast pump, the suckling teat and the lid have mutually co-operating connection devices for the optional connection of the breast pump, the suckling teat or the lid to the vessel.

Regarding the breast pump, the object of the present invention will be attained if the walls of the connection member are designed for inward deformation under the action of the partial vacuum for realising contact with the female breast.

Further advantages will be attained if the present invention is moreover given one or more of the characterising features as set forth in appended subclaims 2 to 3 and 6 to 11, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow, with particular reference to the accompanying Drawings. In the accompanying Drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the breast pump and collection vessel included in the system; Fig. 2 is a perspective view in the opposite direction compared with Fig. 1 of the breast pump, the hose included therein having been removed; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a suckling teat included in the system; and Fig. 4 shows a lid included in the system.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Fig. 1 shows a collection vessel 1 and a breast pump 5 in unassembled state. The breast pump 5 includes a funnel-shaped connection member 8 and a hose 11. The

handling system also includes a teat 7 and a lid 6, which are shown in Figs. 3 and 4, respectively.

The breast pump 5, the storage bottle and the feeding bottle in the system are based on the collection vessel 1 which is provided with a device for tight snap connection of a separate pump unit (the breast pump 5), a lid 6 (use as a storage bottle), and a suckling teat 7 (use as a feeding bottle).

The collection vessel 1 has been given a special design where the point of gravity is centred, which prevents the vessel from toppling over when it is in the upright position and is connected to the breast pump 5. As a result, the risk of contamination of the connection member 8 for abutment against the female breast is eliminated. The collection vessel 1 has an opening 2 which is offset in relation to the bottom 15 of the collection vessel 1. As a result, the above-mentioned centring of the point of gravity will be realised when the collection vessel 1 is connected to the pump unit 5. The opening 2 is preferably angularly offset in relation to the bottom of the vessel 1.

The collection vessel is manufactured from a substantially rigid material which is not, or at least to but a limited degree, deformed in the event of a partial vacuum being created inside the vessel 1. Thus, the volume of the vessel 1 is substantially constant during use together with both the breast pump 5 and the suckling teat 7. The material in the vessel 1 should be of a quality which is approved for medical purposes or food handling. Two examples of materials of this type are glass or polypropylene.

In its open end 2, the collection vessel 1 has been provided with a flange 3 for the snap connection of the pump unit 5 which, united, constitute a breast pump with connection facility. In such instance, the pump unit 5 has been provided with a closure 4 in the form of a bead which is applied on the flange 3 of the collection vessel 1 tightly and in openable fashion. The flange 3 is, in the preferred embodiment, flared for realising a circumferential recess 17 around the opening 2.

The breast pump 5 is manufactured from a soft and deformable material. Since the collection vessel 1 is substantially non-deformable, the greater part of the deformation will take place in the breast pump 5 in the event of a partial vacuum in

the unit. The breast pump 5 has a funnel-shaped connection member 8 which is intended to be applied to the female breast. The connection member 8 has a flexible edge 18 which is of one piece manufacture with and of the same material as the rest of the breast pump 5. The edge 18 is designed for sealing abutment against the female breast.

The connection member 8 is deformable when a partial vacuum occurs inside it, i. e. its walls are deformed inwards, and come into contact with the breast, principally the nipple. A substantial part of the present inventive concept is the mammary gland massage which is realised on the employment of the breast pump. The particular design which the funnel-shaped connection member 8 in the pump unit has been given makes for optimum emptying of the breast milk. The connection member 8 reassumes its original configuration when the pressure inside it rises.

The breast pump 5 operates by inner partial vacuum which may be realised using various external devices, but in the preferred embodiment, the user herself sucks on the hose 11 connected to the pump unit 5. In such instance, the connection member 8 is deformed. In the preferred embodiment, the connection member 8 has been designed so that an optimum deformation thereof is realised when the pressure therein falls. The funnel-shaped connection member 8 has thus at least two, but ideally additional regions 9,10 of different material thicknesses. At least two different material thicknesses are employed, which entails that the regions 9 of the thinner material thickness are deformed earlier and to a greater extent than the regions 10 of greater material thickness. In the preferred embodiment, the connection member 8 has two regions 9 of thinner material thickness and two regions 10 of greater material thickness. The regions 10 of the greater material thickness are designed as substantially horizontal bands along the sides of the connection member 8. When the pressure inside the connection member 8 falls, the upper and lower regions 9 thereof fall inwards towards the female breast and massage it in a manner which approximates the suckling movements of a small baby. At the same time, the thicker material regions 10 are deformed to a lesser extent and contribute in the rapid resumption by the connection member 8 of its configuration when the partial vacuum is gradually cancelled when the breast milk is pumped out.

The lower portion of the breast pump 5 is provided with a closure 4 in the form of a bead. The bead 4 is of a configuration which is complementary to the circumferential recess 17 on the collection vessel 1.

The entire breast pump 5 is manufactured from one and the same material. In the preferred embodiment, its varying material properties have been achieved only by a material thickness which varies between the different regions 9 and 10. Since only one material is employed, the pump 5 may be made smooth which, on the one hand, makes it comfortable to use and, on the other hand, minimises the risk of dirt and bacteria accumulation. The material in the bead 4 is also the same as in the rest of the breast pump 5.

Fig. 2 shows the breast pump 5 from the opposite side compared with Fig. 1. In this instance, the connection 16, in the form of a hole, for the hose 11 is also visible.

The hose 11 makes it possible to create a partial vacuum in the breast pump 5. The hose 11 is disposed in the hole 16. As a result, it is possible to evacuate the air enclosed in the breast pump 5 to the desired extent. If the user herself wishes to evacuate the breast pump 5, the hose 11 is provided with a nozzle 12 which contains a non-return valve 13. The non-return valve is provided with a small, but openable closure 14 in the end of the nozzle 12 in order to prevent saliva from entering into the hose 11. As a result, saliva is prevented from coming into contact with (and risking contaminating) the breast milk.

Since the user herself sucks on the nozzle 12 connected to the hose 11, she can create and regulate the partial vacuum for optimum emptying of the breast. Moreover, the massage of the mammary glands is controlled. No repeated movement by the hands or the forearms is necessary, for which reason the use of the system according to the present invention is not experienced as tiring. Since both the level of partial vacuum and the intervals at which the partial vacuum is maintained are controlled by the user, the emptying of the breast is not experienced as painful or irritating.

The hose 11 is simply mountable in the hole 16. The hose 11 is manufactured from a flexible and elastic material. The outer diameter of the hose 11 is slightly larger than

the diameter of the hole 16, but it is possible quite simply to press the hose 11 into the hole 16. As a result, a tight connection will be obtained.

The non-return valve 13 of the nozzle 12 is self-closing. When the pressure in the hose 11 and the nozzle 12 falls below the ambient air pressure, the closable opening 14 is closed. When the pressure is equalised in that milk is emptied from the breast and into the system, the closure 14 is once again opened. It is thus not necessary to maintain a constant partial vacuum by sucking on the hose 11.

In order to eliminate the cost for a separate saliva trap when the user prefers herself to realise the partial vacuum in the breast pump 5 by suction, the suction nozzle 12 disposed in the end of the hose 11 is designed with a non-return valve 13 which facilitates regulation of the desired partial vacuum and whose closed but openable portion constitutes the end of the suction nozzle 12 which thereby prevents saliva from entering into the hose 11 and down into the collection vessel 1, the oral cavity itself functioning as a saliva trap and no extra saliva trap is necessary.

The self-closing function of the valve 13 also makes possible pauses for the user without any risk of contamination of the contents in the collection vessel 1.

Fig. 3 shows a suckling teat 7 which is included in the system according to the present invention. The suckling teat 7 is of one piece manufacture in one and the same material. This minimises the risk of dirt and bacteria accumulation, as well as crack formation at material transitions. The suckling teat 7 is simple to clean, since it is of one piece manufacture and need not be dismantled other than being removed from the collection vessel 1 before cleaning. Finally, the risk that parts of the suckling teat get lost is eliminated by one piece manufacture. The suckling teat 7 is provided with an anchorage of the same type as the breast pump 5, with a bead 4 which corresponds to the circumferential recess 17 on the collection vessel 1.

Fig. 4 shows a lid 6 which, in the same manner as the suckling teat 7, is of one piece manufacture, preferably in a process by injection moulding. The lid 6 displays the same type of snap catch as the breast pump 5 and the suckling teat 7. The lid 6 is intended for storing the pumped-out breast milk for shorter or longer periods of time.

Preferably, the material which is employed in the parts included in the system is such that it withstands different temperatures for storage at low temperature and heating to a suitable consumption temperature. It is particularly advantageous if the material withstands boiling for disinfecting.

The components illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, i. e. the teat 7 and the lid 6, have thus been designed with a corresponding closure 4 as in the pump unit 5 and are applied tightly and in openable fashion on the flange 3 of the collection vessel 1, the collection vessel 1 and the teat 7 forming a feeding bottle, while the collection vessel 1 and the lid 6 form a storage bottle.

DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS In the preferred embodiment, it was disclosed that the breast pump is provided with a hose 11 and a nozzle 12 so that the user herself can suck out air from the breast pump 5. This is certainly advantageous, but it is nevertheless conceivable that the suction device may be of a different design, while the remaining components included in the system are the same. The formation of the connection member 8 with different material thicknesses in the various regions 9,10 may be varied to a high degree.

With a suitable selection of material and material thickness, it is even possible to achieve the desired massage effect in a homogeneous material thickness. In such instance, the connection member 8 is deformed in the event of partial vacuum and reassumes its form when the pressure once again rises.

A further manner of modifying the present invention is that the breast pump be manufactured from two different materials possessing different material properties in a so-called"two-shot"injection moulding. This gives smooth transitions between the different materials so that the above-described properties are obtained. At the same time, the different materials have such differing properties that the different regions 9 and 10 will thereby be obtained.

The present invention may be further modified without departing from the scope of the appended Claims.