초록 ▼

A breast pump system includes a vacuum break backflow preventer for preventing breast milk from accidentally backflowing into a suction tube leading to a vacuum pump. The backflow preventer is a vacuum passageway with two spaced apart suction openings. The two openings convey air to cyclically press

A breast pump system includes a vacuum break backflow preventer for preventing breast milk from accidentally backflowing into a suction tube leading to a vacuum pump. The backflow preventer is a vacuum passageway with two spaced apart suction openings. The two openings convey air to cyclically pressurize and depressurize a small milk charging chamber. If milk accidentally covers one of the openings, air at the other opening minimizes the pressure differential that might otherwise draw the milk deep into the suction tube and toward the vacuum pump. For ease of cleaning and sanitizing, the system avoids or minimizes the use of baffles, permanently enclosed passageways, moving parts, and tight inside corners. Some passageways can be split open for access during cleaning. To make the breast milk collection device less protruding under a brassier, the vacuum passageway curves around the side of a nipple receptacle rather than in front of it.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A breast pump system usable by a lactating woman for collecting milk, the breast pump system comprising: an outer shell;a breast receiver coupled to the outer shell, the breast receiver comprising a breast guide and a nipple receptacle;the breast guide being adapted to engage a breast of the lact

1. A breast pump system usable by a lactating woman for collecting milk, the breast pump system comprising: an outer shell;a breast receiver coupled to the outer shell, the breast receiver comprising a breast guide and a nipple receptacle;the breast guide being adapted to engage a breast of the lactating woman;the nipple receptacle being of a tubular shape and having an inner curved wall surface, an outer curved wall surface, a proximate end and a distal end; the proximate end being adjacent to the breast guide, the inner curved wall surface defining a nipple chamber extending from the proximate end to at least the distal end, the nipple chamber being adapted to receive a nipple of the breast, the nipple receptacle defining a longitudinal centerline, the nipple receptacle defining a forward direction that is parallel to the longitudinal centerline, the nipple receptacle having a minimum radial distance from the longitudinal centerline to the inner curved wall surface of the nipple receptacle, the minimum radial distance being perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline, the forward direction pointing away from the breast when the breast is engaging the breast guide, the nipple receptacle extending in the forward direction from the proximate end at the breast guide;a storage chamber being defined between the outer shell and the breast receiver;a fluid exchanger coupled to the nipple receptacle;a valve;a charging chamber defined within at least one of the fluid exchanger and the valve, the charging chamber being connected in fluid communication with the nipple chamber, the valve connecting the charging chamber in at least momentary fluid communication with the storage chamber;a suction tube having a connection end coupled to the fluid exchanger and a remote end extending beyond the storage chamber, the suction tube being more flexible than at least one of the outer shell, the breast receiver, and the fluid exchanger;an air duct connecting the connection end of the suction tube in fluid communication with the charging chamber, the air duct defining a supply port adjacent to the connection end of the suction tube, the air duct defining a first opening adjacent to both the nipple receptacle and the charging chamber, the air duct defines a flow path between the supply port and the first opening, and the flow path extends circumferentially at least thirty degrees around both the longitudinal centerline and the outer curved wall surface of the nipple receptacle; andthe outer shell, the breast receiver and the fluid exchanger being selectively positionable as a unit to a predetermined orientation such that when the unit is in the predetermined orientation, the longitudinal centerline is horizontal, the longitudinal centerline extends over at least a portion of the charging chamber, the connection end of the suction tube is above the longitudinal centerline, and the nipple chamber extends farther forward than the first opening of the air duct by a horizontal distance that is greater than the minimum radial distance between the longitudinal centerline and the inner curved wall surface of the nipple receptacle. 2. The breast pump system of claim 1, wherein the air duct further defines a second opening adjacent to the charging chamber, the first opening and the second opening being spaced apart such that the longitudinal centerline of the nipple receptacle is interposed, with respect to a lateral direction, between the first opening and the second opening, wherein the lateral direction is horizontal and perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline when the unit is in the predetermined orientation. 3. The breast pump system of claim 1, wherein at least one section of the flow path lies within a radial gap between the fluid exchanger and the outer curved wall surface of the nipple receptacle. 4. The breast pump system of claim 3, wherein the fluid exchanger and the nipple receptacle are selectively configured in an assembled operating state and a disassembled cleaning state, the nipple receptacle engaging the fluid exchanger in the assembled operating state, the nipple receptacle disengaging the fluid exchanger in the disassembled cleaning state, the air duct at the at least one section of the flow path being intact in the assembled operating state, the air duct at the at least one section of the flow path being split apart in the disassembled cleaning state. 5. The breast pump system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the nipple receptacle and the fluid exchanger includes a domed concave surface facing a rearward direction toward the nipple chamber, the rearward direction being opposite of the forward direction, the domed concave surface being interposed between the nipple chamber and the outer shell. 6. The breast pump system of claim 1, further comprising: a primary sealing interface between the fluid exchanger and the outer curved wall surface of the nipple receptacle; anda secondary sealing interface being between the fluid exchanger and the outer curved wall surface of the nipple receptacle, the secondary sealing interface being farther forward than the primary sealing interface, the air duct being interposed between the primary sealing interface and the secondary sealing interface, and the primary sealing interface providing a tighter seal than the secondary sealing interface. 7. A breast pump system usable by a lactating woman for collecting milk, the breast pump system comprising: an outer shell;a breast receiver coupled to the outer shell, the breast receiver comprising a breast guide and a nipple receptacle;the breast guide being adapted to engage a breast of the lactating woman;the nipple receptacle being of a tubular shape and having an inner curved wall surface, an outer curved wall surface, a proximate end and a distal end; the proximate end being adjacent to the breast guide, the inner curved wall surface defining a nipple chamber extending from the proximate end to at least the distal end, the nipple chamber being adapted to receive a nipple of the breast, the nipple receptacle defining a longitudinal centerline, the nipple receptacle defining a forward direction that is parallel to the longitudinal centerline, the nipple receptacle having a minimum radial distance from the longitudinal centerline to the inner curved wall surface of the nipple receptacle, the minimum radial distance being perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline, the forward direction pointing away from the breast when the breast is engaging the breast guide, the nipple receptacle extending in the forward direction from the proximate end at the breast guide;a storage chamber being defined between the outer shell and the breast receiver;a fluid exchanger coupled to the nipple receptacle;a valve;a charging chamber defined within at least one of the fluid exchanger and the valve, the charging chamber being connected in fluid communication with the nipple chamber, the valve connecting the charging chamber in at least momentary fluid communication with the storage chamber;a suction tube having a connection end coupled to the fluid exchanger and a remote end extending beyond the storage chamber, the suction tube being more flexible than at least one of the outer shell, the breast receiver, and the fluid exchanger;a valve connecting the charging chamber in at least momentary fluid communication with the storage chamber; andan air duct connecting the connection end of the suction tube in fluid communication with the charging chamber; the air duct defining a supply port adjacent to the connection end of the suction tube, the air duct defining a first opening adjacent to the charging chamber, the air duct defining a second opening adjacent to the charging chamber, the first opening being spaced apart from the second opening, the supply port being in fluid communication with both the first opening and the second opening. 8. The breast pump system of claim 7, wherein the outer shell, the breast receiver and the fluid exchanger are selectively positionable as a unit to a predetermined orientation such that when the unit is in the predetermined orientation, the longitudinal centerline is horizontal, the longitudinal centerline extends over at least a portion of the charging chamber, the supply port of the fluid exchanger is above the longitudinal centerline, and the nipple chamber extends farther forward than both the first opening and the second opening of the air duct. 9. The breast pump system of claim 7, wherein the air duct includes a fork that connects the supply port in fluid communication with the first opening and the second opening, and the fork straddles the nipple receptacle. 10. The breast pump system of claim 7, wherein the air duct defines a flow path between the supply port and the first opening, and at least one section of the flow path lies within a radial gap between the fluid exchanger and the outer curved wall surface of the nipple receptacle. 11. A breast pump system usable by a lactating woman for collecting milk, the breast pump system comprising: an outer shell;a breast receiver coupled to the outer shell, the breast receiver comprising a breast guide and a nipple receptacle;the breast guide being adapted to engage a breast of the lactating woman;the nipple receptacle being of a tubular shape and having an inner curved wall surface, an outer curved wall surface, a proximate end and a distal end, the proximate end being adjacent to the breast guide, the inner curved wall surface defining a nipple chamber extending from the proximate end to at least the distal end, the nipple chamber being adapted to receive a nipple of the breast, the nipple receptacle defining a longitudinal centerline, the nipple receptacle defining a forward direction that is parallel to the longitudinal centerline, the nipple receptacle having a minimum radial distance from the longitudinal centerline to the inner curved wall surface of the nipple receptacle, the minimum radial distance being perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline, the forward direction pointing away from the breast guide, the nipple receptacle extending in the forward direction from the proximate end of the nipple receptacle;a storage chamber being defined between the outer shell and the breast receiver;a fluid exchanger coupled to the nipple receptacle;a valve;a charging chamber defined within at least one of the fluid exchanger and the valve, the charging chamber being connected in fluid communication with the nipple chamber, the valve connecting the charging chamber in at least momentary fluid communication with the storage chamber;a suction tube having a connection end coupled to the fluid exchanger and a remote end extending beyond the storage chamber, the suction tube being more flexible than at least one of the outer shell, the breast receiver, and the fluid exchanger;a valve connecting the charging chamber in at least momentary fluid communication with the storage chamber; andan air duct connecting the connection end of the suction tube in fluid communication with the charging chamber, the air duct defining a supply port adjacent to the connection end of the suction tube, the air duct defining a first opening adjacent to the charging chamber, the supply port being in fluid communication with the first opening, the air duct defining a flow path between the supply port and the first opening, the flow path having a curved section that is curved at least partially around the nipple receptacle, the curved section lying within a radial gap between the fluid exchanger and the outer curved wall surface of the nipple receptacle, the curved section of the flow path being directly up against the outer curved wall surface of the nipple receptacle. 12. The breast pump system of claim 11, wherein the fluid exchanger and the nipple receptacle are selectively configured in an assembled operating state and a disassembled cleaning state, the nipple receptacle engaging the fluid exchanger in the assembled operating state, the nipple receptacle disengaging the fluid exchanger in the disassembled cleaning state, the curved section of the flow path being intact in the assembled operating state, the curved section of the flow path being split apart in the disassembled cleaning state. 13. The breast pump system of claim 11, wherein the outer shell, the breast receiver and the fluid exchanger are selectively positionable as a unit to a predetermined orientation such that when the unit is in the predetermined orientation, the longitudinal centerline is horizontal and extends over at least a portion of the charging chamber, and the air duct further defines a second opening adjacent to the charging chamber, the first opening and the second opening being spaced apart such that with respect to a lateral direction the nipple receptacle is flanked by the first opening and the second opening, wherein the lateral direction is horizontal and perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline when the unit is in the predetermined orientation. 14. The breast pump system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the nipple receptacle and the fluid exchanger includes a domed concave surface facing a rearward direction toward the nipple chamber, the rearward direction being opposite of the forward direction, the domed concave surface being interposed between the nipple receptacle and the outer shell. 15. The breast pump system of claim 11, further comprising: a primary sealing interface between the fluid exchanger and the outer curved wall surface of the nipple receptacle; anda secondary sealing interface being between the fluid exchanger and the outer curved wall surface of the nipple receptacle, the secondary sealing interface being farther forward than the primary sealing interface, the air duct being interposed between the primary sealing interface and the secondary sealing interface, and the primary sealing interface providing a tighter seal than the secondary sealing interface. 16. A breast pump method usable by a lactating woman for collecting milk, the breast pump method comprising: a nipple receptacle encircling a nipple of the lactating woman;during a first period, directing a first current of air in a first curved upward direction circumferentially across a first outer convex wall surface of the nipple receptacle; andduring a second period, directing a second current of air in a first curved downward direction circumferentially across the first outer curved wall surface of the nipple receptacle. 17. The breast pump method of claim 16, wherein the second current of air is pressurized at greater than atmospheric pressure, and the first current of air is at subatmospheric pressure. 18. The breast pump method of claim 16, further comprising: during the first period, directing a third current of air in a second curved upward direction circumferentially across the first outer convex wall surface of the nipple receptacle; andduring the second period, directing a fourth current of air in a second curved downward direction circumferentially across the first outer curved wall surface of the nipple receptacle, wherein the nipple receptacle is interposed between the first current of air and the third current of air during the first period, and the nipple receptacle is interposed between the second current of air and the fourth current of air during the second period. 19. A breast pump system usable by a lactating woman for collecting milk, the breast pump system comprising: an outer shell;a breast receiver coupled to the outer shell, the breast receiver comprising a breast guide and a nipple receptacle;the breast guide being adapted to engage a breast of the lactating woman;the nipple receptacle being of a tubular shape defining a longitudinal centerline, the nipple receptacle having a nipple chamber that is elongate in a direction parallel to the longitudinal centerline, the nipple chamber being adapted to receive a nipple of the breast;a storage chamber being defined between the outer shell and the breast receiver;a fluid exchanger coupled to the nipple receptacle;a valve;a charging chamber defined within at least one of the fluid exchanger and the valve, the charging chamber being connected in fluid communication with the nipple chamber, the valve connecting the charging chamber in at least momentary fluid communication with the storage chamber; anda domed concave surface facing into the nipple chamber, facing away from the outer shell, and the nipple chamber extending out to the domed concave surface. 20. The breast pump system of claim 19, wherein the longitudinal centerline intersects the domed concave surface. 21. The breast pump system of claim 19, wherein domed concave surface is on the fluid exchanger. 22. The breast pump system of claim 19, wherein the domed concave surface is on the nipple receptacle. 23. The breast pump system of claim 19, wherein the domed concave surface is spaced apart from the nipple receptacle.