Reclining breast pumping system
First Claim
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1. A method for a woman to express breast milk, comprising:
- (a) placing a breast shield over an area surrounding the areola and nipple of a breast of the woman, wherein the breast shield forms a passageway and;
(1) material adjacent to a first end of the passageway is shaped to fit over the area surrounding the areola and nipple while allowing them to move relative to the material, (2) material of the breast shield extending from a second end of the passageway is formed into a tube, and (3) the passageway formed by the part of the tube closest to but not touching the nipple when the shield is so placed extends in a direction non-perpendicular to the areola;
(b) orienting the breast shield such that the passageway formed by the part of the tube closest to the nipple extends downward; and
(c) expressing milk from the breast through the tube while reclining.
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Abstract
A disclosed reclining breast pumping system includes a breast shield that forms a passageway. Material of the breast shield adjacent to a first end of the passageway is shaped to fit over an area surrounding the areola and nipple of a woman'"'"'s breast. Material of the breast shield that extends from a second end of the passageway is formed into a tube. When the breast shield is fitted onto a woman'"'"'s breast, the part of the passageway closest to but not touching the nipple of the breast extends in a direction that is non-perpendicular to the areola. Variations and methods are also disclosed.
38 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for a woman to express breast milk, comprising:
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(a) placing a breast shield over an area surrounding the areola and nipple of a breast of the woman, wherein the breast shield forms a passageway and;
(1) material adjacent to a first end of the passageway is shaped to fit over the area surrounding the areola and nipple while allowing them to move relative to the material, (2) material of the breast shield extending from a second end of the passageway is formed into a tube, and (3) the passageway formed by the part of the tube closest to but not touching the nipple when the shield is so placed extends in a direction non-perpendicular to the areola;
(b) orienting the breast shield such that the passageway formed by the part of the tube closest to the nipple extends downward; and
(c) expressing milk from the breast through the tube while reclining. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus comprising:
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(a) a flexible strap; and
(b) a breast shield coupled to the strap and forming a passageway, wherein;
(1) material of the breast shield extending from one end of the passageway is shaped to fit over an area surrounding the areola and nipple of a woman'"'"'s breast while allowing them to move relative to the material, and (2) material of the breast shield extending from the other end of the passageway is formed into a tube;
(c) wherein, when the breast shield is fitted onto the breast, the passageway formed by the part of the tube closest to but not touching the nipple extends in a direction non-perpendicular to the areola. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A breast shield forming a passageway, wherein:
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(a) material of the breast shield extending from one end of the passageway includes a plurality of ripples at varying radii about the passageway and is shaped to fit over an area surrounding the areola and nipple of a woman'"'"'s breast while allowing them to move relative to the material;
(b) material of the breast shield extending from the other end of the passageway is formed into a tube;
(c) the breast shield is shaped such that, when it is fitted onto the breast, the passageway formed by the part of the tube closest to but not touching the nipple extends in a direction non-perpendicular to the areola. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification