Breast pump

• US 7,833,190 B1
• Filed: 05/15/2008
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Petisamaria Hall
• Original Assignee: Petisamaria Hall
• Inventors: Hall, Petisamaria
• Primary Examiner(s): Stigell; Theodore J
• Application Number:
  US12/120,781
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 604 74- 76, 604/131, 604/151, 604/315, 119/14.42, 119/14.43, 119 1447- 1453, 450 36- 37
• US Class Current: 604/74
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/06 Milking pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/062 Pump accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/067 with means for hands-free operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3382 Upper level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/088 on the body

Abstract

The present invention relates to a breast pump including a cylindrical housing encapsulated by an insulated thermal layer; the housing includes an outer wall and an open top in communication with an interior chamber. Superimposed on the open top is a removable pump assembly having a pair of outlet tubes extending therefrom. At a distal end of each tube is a conical suction cup for placing over a nursing mother'"'"'s breast nipple. Any one of a plurality of varying sized auxiliary containers, such as a conventional baby bottle, can be placed within the interior chamber to receive and store breast milk extracted from the breasts.

Claims

1. A breast pump comprising:

a housing encapsulated by an insulated thermal layer, said housing having an outer wall and an open top in communication with an interior chamber;

an auxiliary container received within said interior chamber, the auxiliary container configured to receive breast milk;

a disc-shaped casing superimposed on the open top of said housing, said casing including a circumferential zipper for removably securing said casing to the open top of said housing;

a pair of pumps received within the casing, each of said pumps having an outlet tube connected to a suction side thereof;

a conical suction cup at a distal end of each of said outlet tubes for placing over a breast nipple;

means for selectively activating either of said pumps, the means located on the casing.

2. The breast pump according to claim 1 wherein said means for selectively activating either of said pumps includes a pair of buttons positioned on an exterior surface of said casing, each of said buttons activating one of said pumps thereby allowing a nursing mother to selectively pump either of two breasts.

3. The breast pump according claim 2 further comprising a level sensor extending from a lower surface of the casing and into the auxiliary container when the casing is secured to said housing, said sensor electrically connected to an internally-disposed vibrator so that when breast milk reaches a predetermined level within the auxiliary container, the vibrator is activated to alert a nursing mother that the auxiliary container is full and that the pumps should be deactivated.

4. The breast pump according claim 3 further comprising a zippered, detachable panel at a lower end of the housing that provides selective access to the auxiliary container.

5. The breast pump according claim 4 further comprising a belt clip and a separable security loop on the outer wall of said housing that allow the nursing mother to secure the breast pump to a garment.

6. The breast pump according claim 5 wherein said housing is cylindrical.

7. The breast pump according claim 6 wherein the outlet tube of one of said pumps is coupled with the outlet tube of another of said pumps.