U.S. patent application number 11/139331 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-30 for combination nursing and breast milk expression support pillow.
Invention is credited to Lynn Wagner.
Application Number | 20060265809 11/139331 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37461595 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060265809 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wagner; Lynn |
November 30, 2006 |
Combination nursing and breast milk expression support pillow
Abstract
A pillow support device for an infant during breast feeding and
for hands-free engagement of breast pump devices during milk
expression sessions. The device features a front pillow section
removably engageable with a rear pillow section. The front pillow
section provides an optimum support for a prone child thereon
during nursing sessions and concurrently is adapted for cooperative
engagement with one or a plurality of breast pumps during milk
expression sessions and proper positioning of the pumps in relation
to the breasts of the user.
Inventors: |
Wagner; Lynn; (San Diego,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DONN K. HARMS;PATENT & TRADEMARK LAW CENTER
SUITE 100
12702 VIA CORTINA
DEL MAR
CA
92014
US
|
Family ID: |
37461595 |
Appl. No.: |
11/139331 |
Filed: |
May 26, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/655 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47D 13/083
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
005/655 |
International
Class: |
A47G 9/00 20060101
A47G009/00 |
Claims
1. A nursing pillow comprising: A front pillow section, said front
pillow section having a top surface, a bottom surface, an inner
edge, an outer edge, a first side edge opposite a second side edge,
said first side edge and said second side edge communicating
between said inner edge and said outer edge; said front pillow
having a center line substantially equidistant between said first
side edge and said second side edge; said front surface having a
center body portion defined by the distance between said top
surface and said bottom surface; said top surface having a pair of
apertures formed therein, said apertures positioned between said
center point and said first side edge and said second side edge
respectively; said top surface providing a support surface for a
prone nursing infant thereon, said support surface extending
forward of said pair of apertures to said outer edge; each of said
apertures defining a shape of a cavity formed by a cavity wall
surface depending from each said aperture into said center body
portion; and said shape of said cavity adapted for frictional
engagement of said cavity wall surface with a breast pump having a
breast engaging component.
2. The nursing pillow of claim 1 additionally comprising: said
shape of said apertures being substantially oval thereby defining
substantially oval cavities; and said oval shape providing a means
for angling said breast pump in said apertures toward and away from
said center line, whereby a properly aligned engagement to the
breast of a user of said nursing pillow is achievable.
3. The nursing pillow of claim 1 additionally comprising: means to
secure said front pillow section to a user with said inner edge
contiguous to the waist or torso of said user.
4. The nursing pillow of claim 2 additionally comprising: means to
secure said front pillow section to a user with said inner edge
contiguous to the waist or torso of said user.
5. The nursing pillow of claim 3 wherein said means to secure said
front pillow section to a user is a belt; said belt secured at a
first end to a first side of said front pillow section; and said
belt having a distal end opposite said first end; and means to
secure said distal end to an engagement with a second side of said
front pillow section opposite said first side.
6. The nursing pillow of claim 4 wherein said means to secure said
front pillow section to a user is a belt; said belt secured at a
first end to a first side of said front pillow section; and said
belt having a distal end opposite said first end; and means to
secure said distal end to an engagement with a second side of said
front pillow section opposite said first side.
7. The nursing pillow of claim 1 additionally comprising: a rear
pillow section having an interior edge and an exterior edge; means
to secure said front pillow section to said rear pillow section;
said front pillow section when secured to said rear pillow section
thereby engaged with the body of the user with said inner edge
adjacent to a front portion of. the user's body between the waist
and the breasts of said person; and said rear pillow section when
secured to said front pillow section providing a means for back
support to the back of the user.
8. The nursing pillow of claim 2 additionally comprising: a rear
pillow section having an interior edge and an exterior edge; means
to secure said front pillow section to said rear pillow section;
said front pillow section when secured to said rear pillow section
thereby engaged with the body of the user with said inner edge
adjacent to a front portion of the user's body between the waist
and the breasts of said person; and said rear pillow section when
secured to said front pillow section providing a means for back
support to the back of the user.
9. The nursing pillow of claim 7 additionally comprising: said
inner edge of said front pillow section and said interior edge of
said rear pillow section defining an interior circumference of said
nursing pillow; and means to adjust the size of said interior
circumference to accommodate the body of the user.
10. The nursing pillow of claim 8 additionally comprising: said
inner edge of said front pillow section and said interior edge of
said rear pillow section defining an interior circumference of said
nursing pillow; and means to adjust the size of said interior
circumference to accommodate the body of the user.
11. The nursing pillow of claim 9 wherein said means to adjust the
size of said interior circumference comprises: at least one gap
formable between said front pillow section when secured to said
rear pillow section; a strap secured at a first end to one of said
front pillow section or said rear pillow section; a fastening means
at a distal end of said strap, opposite said first end; said
fastening means securable to cooperative fastening means located
upon the other of said front pillow section or said rear pillow
section which is not engaged with said first end of said strap; and
said strap being elastic to allow for increase or decrease in the
size of said gap.
12. The nursing pillow of claim 10 wherein said means to adjust the
size of said interior circumference comprises: at least one gap
formable between said front pillow section when secured to said
rear pillow section; a strap secured at a first end to one of said
front pillow section or said rear pillow section; a fastening means
at a distal end of said strap, opposite said first end; said
fastening means securable to an engagement with a cooperative
fastening means located upon the other of said front pillow section
or said rear pillow section which is not engaged with said first
end of said strap; and said strap being elastic to allow for
increase or decrease in the size of said gap.
13. The nursing pillow of claim 9 wherein said means to adjust the
size of said interior circumference comprises: at least one gap
formable between said front pillow section when secured to said
rear pillow section; a strap secured at a first end to one of said
front pillow section or said rear pillow section; a fastening means
at a distal end of said strap, opposite said first end; said
fastening means securable to an engagement with a cooperative
fastening means located upon the other of said front pillow section
or said rear pillow section which is not engaged with said first
end of said strap; and said cooperative fastening means providing a
series of mounts each sequentially more distant from said first end
of said strap.
14. The nursing pillow of claim 10 wherein said means to adjust the
size of said interior circumference comprises: at least one gap
formable between said front pillow section when secured to said
rear pillow section; a strap secured at a first end to one of said
front pillow section or said rear pillow section; a fastening means
at a distal end of said strap, opposite said first end; said
fastening means securable to an engagement with a cooperative
fastening means located upon the other of said front pillow section
or said rear pillow section which is not engaged with said first
end of said strap; and said cooperative fastening means providing a
series of mounts each sequentially more distant from said first end
of said strap.
15. The nursing pillow of claim 5 wherein said means to secure said
distal end of said belt to said second side of said front pillow
section is substantially silent when released from said engagement
to avoid waking a sleeping infant.
16. The nursing pillow of claim 6 wherein said means to secure said
distal end of said belt to said second side of said front pillow
section is substantially silent when released from said engagement
to avoid waking a sleeping infant.
17. The nursing pillow of claim 11 wherein said means to secure
said distal end of said belt to said second side of said front
pillow section is substantially silent when released from said
engagement to avoid waking a sleeping infant.
18. The nursing pillow of claim 12 wherein said means to secure
said distal end of said belt to said second side of said front
pillow section is substantially silent when released from said
engagement to avoid waking a sleeping infant.
19. The nursing pillow of claim 13 wherein said means to secure
said distal end of said belt to said second side of said front
pillow section is substantially silent when released from said
engagement to avoid waking a sleeping infant.
20. The nursing pillow of claim 14 wherein said means to secure
said distal end of said belt to said second side of said front
pillow section is substantially silent when released from said
engagement to avoid waking a sleeping infant.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention herein disclosed relates generally to pillows.
More specifically, the invention herein described and disclosed
relates to a user configurable nursing pillow. The device features
a planar surfaced forward positioned pillow which is adapted for
engagement to one or a plurality of breast pumps to allow nursing
mothers to store breast milk for use during feedings when the
mother and child are separated or in a locale where breast feeding
would be inconvenient. A planar top surface of the forward position
pillow also provides an excellent support surface for nursing
babies in the prone position. An engageable rearward posited pillow
provides lumbar support and is removably engageable to the forward
position pillow using adjustable means for engagement that provides
a means for adapting the size of the device to the varying size of
users.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Breast feeding of children has been around as long as there
have been humans on the earth. In the past century, artificial
means for feeding small infants became popular through the
employment of bottles and milk containers with nipple-like
disbursement devices allowing babies to feed from sources other
than their mother. However, in the last few decades the benefits of
breast feeding to both mother and infant have become more widely
known. Breast milk is complete nutrition for the baby and is much
easier to digest than formula or other types of milk. In addition
it is the perfect temperature and provides for continuous bonding
of mother and infant.
[0003] For the mother, in addition to imparting nutritional and
emotional benefits to her child, there is a convenience factor to
breast feeding in that no sterilization is needed, breast milk does
not need to be heated, and generally milk for the child is always
available. Additional benefits to the mother herself are provided
in that the caloric outgo from breast feeding helps the mother lose
weight that may have accumulated during pregnancy. As a result,
breast feeding has taken on a new popularity to mothers much to the
benefit of mothers themselves and their children.
[0004] Additionally, in a modern society there are occasions where
breast feeding simply is not possible or practical. Such occasions
may arise when mother or child are traveling or are in a busy
public place. Or, due to the demands of modern society, there are
instances where the mother and child may be separated during one or
more feeding times.
[0005] For the mother wishing to continue a diet of breast milk for
the child this necessitates the storage of breast milk for use on
those occasions where natural feeding is not possible.
Conventionally, storage of breast milk involves the use of breast
pumps that act to extract the milk for deposit into containers
where it may be given to the child at a later feeding through the
use of nipple-engaged bottles.
[0006] Feeding a baby either by nursing with natural breast milk or
by bottle-feeding, necessitates supporting the child in a generally
prone position with the infant's head even with or just below the
breast of the mother. During such a feeding it is common for the
feeder to tilt their head forward to look at the infant. This can
result in the hunching of the shoulders and the use of the arm and
chest muscles to support the infant during the term of each
feeding. The shoulders are hunched forward. The arm muscles and
anterior chest muscles contract to support the infant. Using these
muscles for the numerous occasions required for feedings tends to
place additional stress on the spinal vertebrae to which the
muscles are attached. Further, prolonged muscular contraction in
this position with the mother's head leaning forward and shoulders
rounded in a cradling position places extra stress on the
corresponding muscle tendons which can cause soft tissue
inflamation and muscle stress and resulting pain over time. Such
muscle stress arising from holding a baby during feeding can
frequently result in headache or muscle pain in the neck,
shoulders, back, and arms.
[0007] Considering the fact that a new mother may nurse 10 to 15
times every day, mothers are faced with the very real possibility
that the tender act of nursing their child can in the long-run
result in pain and stress to themselves. Such a prospect can in the
long run shorten the time the child is breast fed by the mother due
to the underlying pain and stress from the physical act of doing
so.
[0008] Over the years, numerous devices have been employed to help
alleviate the muscle stress occurring during feeding of a baby.
Such devices include braces, slings, and more recently pillows to
support the weight of the child in front of the mother and thereby
relieve the stress to the mother from holding the weight of the
child during frequent breast feedings. Such pillows are provided in
a number of configurations.
[0009] However, most suck pillows fail to provide support for the
child in the proper position for nursing. Further, for the mother
who employs breast pumps to store breast milk for use at
inconvenient times and during her absence, such pillows generally
lack any provision to engage and hold the breast pumps in place.
This causes breast pumping to be inconvenient and requires more
time and dexterity than should ordinarily be required. Further, the
failure to address the use of breast pumps and resulting
inconvenience to the mother can be an additional cause for the
early cessation of beneficial breast feeding of the infant.
[0010] Further, most conventional support pillows do not attach to
the woman's body to allow her to stand or take other positions
other than being seated during breast-feeding sessions.
Additionally, generally available pillows make no provision for
lumbar support when sitting or any provision to adjust the size of
the body-engaged pillow to the changing size of the mother over the
term of breast feeding the infant.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,649 (Pender) is an inflatable nursing
pillow with multiple air chambers which are adjustable as needed
for child and mother positioning. However, Pender lacks any lumbar
support or adaptation for engagement of breast pumps or concurrent
milk expression and nursing ability.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 6,061,854 (Crowley) features a pillow for use
to position the child in the mother's lap. However Crowley too
fails to provide any lumbar support or means for engagement to
breast pumps with concurrent nursing support.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,790,999 (Clark) provides a pillow type
device especially adapted for nursing of twins. While Clark does
address the issue of back support, it fails to provide any means to
adjust the waist of the device to that of varying sized mothers and
lacks any means to comfortably engage breast pump devices.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 1,776,122 (Krasnick) is typical of pillow
style devices from early in this century. However, Krasnick fails
to provide an adequate surface for the positioning of the baby in
front of the mother and features a gap in the rear that impairs
back support. To a mother who may be of larger girth immediately
following pregnancy, the gap could be a serious support problem.
Neither does Krasnick provide any adaptation to engage breast
pumps.
[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,833 (Zenoff) teaches a pillow style
device with pockets attached for holding bottles and the like.
However, Zenoff too fails to provide any means for proper
positioning of breast pumps which may be employed concurrently with
nursing the child or when the child is not being nursed. Zenoff
must always be employed with a rear section of foam pillow which
limits its use in tight chairs or places.
[0016] As such there exists a pressing need for a nursing pillow
that while easily engageable with the mother's person concurrently
provides for proper positioning of the infant for a nursing
session. Such a device should provide for lumbar support if desired
yet also provide for removal of any rearward portion of the pillow
if such is undesirable or impractical in tight spaces. Such a
device should also provide adaptive engagement to breast pumps for
use by nursing mothers who need to store their milk for use during
separation from the child or at inconvenient venues. Finally, since
infants tend to fall asleep during nursing sessions, such a device
should be removable from engagement with the mother without
excessive noise that can wake the infant.
[0017] With respect to the above description, before explaining at
least one preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to
be understood that the invention is not limited in its application
to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the
components or steps set forth in the following description or
illustrated in the drawings. The various apparatus and methods of
the invention are capable of other embodiments and of being
practiced and carried out in various ways which will be obvious to
those skilled in the art once they review this disclosure. Also, it
is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed
herein are for the purpose of description and should not be
regarded as limiting.
[0018] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be
utilized as a basis for designing of other devices, methods and
systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present
disclosed device. It is important, therefore, that the objects and
claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction and
methodology insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope
of the present invention.
[0019] Further objectives of this invention will be brought out in
the following part of the specification, wherein detailed
description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention
without placing limitations thereon.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The device herein disclosed and described is a marked
improvement in the art of support pillows for breast feeding. A
number of features of the device allow for user configuration of
the pillow at the mother's discretion.
[0021] The device features a front pillow section having a
generally planar upper surface which extends a sufficient distance
to support a child in the prone position while the mother is
concurrently engaging a breast pump. The front pillow section is
best formed of foam material that will cushion the child during a
nursing section.
[0022] The front pillow section is engageable to a rear pillow
section using means for engagement of the pillow sections. This
means for engagement is currently a strap that is attached at a
first end to one pillow section--preferably the rear pillow
section--and has a means for fastening at the distal end of the
strap. This means for fastening can be a hook, buckle, button and
eye, or hook and loop fabric or any means to engage the distal end
of the strap to the front pillow section.
[0023] Experimentation has found that hook and loop fabric such as
VELCRO is not always the best choice. It seems that the sound of
the hook and loop fabric separating has a natural tendency to
awaken the infant when the pillow sections are separated.
Consequently while hook and loop fabric will work well for a
fastening means, a substantially silent-on-disengagement type of
fastener means is preferred to avoid waking a sleeping infant. The
depicted loop engaged over a post is one such means for fastening
the distal end of the strap that provides for an easy but
substantially silent fastener.
[0024] The device features a structure that provides not only for
the support of the infant during nursing, it also provides a means
for concurrent or separate engagement of a breast pump formed in
the front pillow section. Modern breast pumps feature a breast
engaging component which evacuates milk and deposits it into a
bottle or container. Commonly a baby bottle is the container and
expression of milk from the breast requires operation of a small
suction component.
[0025] In addition to providing proper support to feeding infants,
the device herein disclosed provides an equally useful function
through the additional utility of a means to engage a breast pump
through the provision of a pair of elongated specifically shaped
apertures formed in the top surface for the front pillow section.
These apertures are portioned to allow for conventional breast pump
devices to achieve a firm attachment to a woman's breasts during
milk expression. Through experimentation with this engagement
configuration it has been found that an oval shape to the apertures
are especially preferred dimensional characteristic. This is
because the oval shape allows for angling of the breast shields
commonly employed upon breast pump devices to more comfortably and
more securely engage upon the mother's breast while still
frictionally engaging the sides of the container of the breast
pump. By providing the apertures in this oval form, the device is
adaptable to the potentially infinitely varying differences of
different mother's anatomy when using the device as a breast pump
support. Using the device to hold one or a plurality of breast pump
devices employing shields in contact with the user's breasts allows
the mother to express milk for use at more convenient times without
the need to physically hold the breast pumps in a secure and sealed
engagement with her breasts. This allows for hands-free milk
expression helping the mother to relax and use her hands for
relaxing and enjoying exercises such as writing, reading, talking
on the phone and other such endeavors enjoyed by a mother of a
nursing infant during free time. Further, the provision of a top
surface sufficiently large to support a child nursing on one breast
while a breast pump is engaged on the other allows the mother to
express milk during a nursing session which generally allows for
better milk expression.
[0026] Additional utility of the device is provided by the rear
pillow section which provides a lumbar support while the woman is
wearing the device and sitting in a chair. The rear pillow section
is co-operatively engageable in the aforementioned fashion, but if
the user decides that it is not desirable or required, it does not
have to be engaged. Instead, a longer belt can be employed to
attach the front pillow section to the waist of the user, or in
cases where attachment is not desired the front pillow section
might be supported by the lap of the user and still provide an
excellent support for the infant during feeding.
[0027] An object of this invention is to provide a nursing pillow
that provides a platform to comfortably position an infant for
breast feeding while concurrently providing correct posture to the
mother.
[0028] Another object of this invention is to provide a nursing
pillow that also is adapted to co-operatively engage with one or a
plurality of breast pumps or breast pump shields and provide
hands-free milk expression.
[0029] An additional object of this invention is the provision of
such a nursing pillow which also provides for lumbar support of the
mother if desired.
[0030] A still further object of this invention is the provision of
such a nursing pillow that is adaptively configurable by the user
to either nurse an infant or employ a breast pump and provide back
support, as the case may be.
[0031] Another object of this invention is the provision of a
nursing pillow that can be used for both hands-free milk expression
with breast pumps and nursing an infant.
[0032] An additional object of this invention is the provision of
such a combination nursing pillow that will allow for concurrent
breast feeding and milk expression.
[0033] A still further object of this invention is the provision of
such a combination infant breast feeding support pillow and breast
pump registration device which will allow the user to express milk
into breast pump containers and concurrently use their hands for
other activities.
[0034] These together with other objects and advantages which
become subsequently apparent reside in the details of the
construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and
claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a
part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts
throughout.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSOCIATED DRAWINGS
[0035] FIG. 1a is a perspective top view of the device showing the
front pillow section with breast pump engaging apertures removably
engaged with a rear pillow section.
[0036] FIG. 1b depicts a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1
wherein the device replaces the rear pillow section with a belt
attachment for use in cramped conditions or where back support is
unwanted.
[0037] FIG. 2 depicts the device in use in a nursing session
operatively positioning the infant for nursing with the mother on
the top surface and concurrently engaging a breast pump.
[0038] FIG. 3 is a side view of the means for engagement of the
front pillow section to the rear pillow section.
[0039] FIG. 4 depicts a conventional breast pump container with
attached breast shield engaged within the elongated apertures
formed in the top surface of the front pillow section.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSED
DEVICE
[0040] Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-4 disclose the
preferred embodiments of the disclosed user configurable nursing
pillow.
[0041] As depicted in FIG. 1a, the device 10 employs a front pillow
section 12 having a generally planar upper surface 13 and a bottom
surface opposite the upper surface 13 which is normally planar but
could be shaped in an arc or some other shape that is comfortable
on the lap of the user during use. The front pillow section 12 is
preferably formed of foam material that will provide a cushion for
the child 15 during a nursing section.
[0042] The front pillow section 12 may be used by itself if so
desired but is engageable to a rear pillow section 14 by means for
engagement of the pillow sections to each other. Currently
preferred means for engagement of the two pillow sections to each
other is a strap 18 which is attached at a first end to the rear
pillow section 14, and has a means for fastening at the distal end
20 of the strap 18. This means for fastening can be a hook, buckle,
button and eye, or hook and loop fabric or any means to engage the
distal end of the strap to the front pillow section 12. Those
skilled in the art will realize that many different means for
engagement and means for fastening can be employed and such are
anticipated.
[0043] As noted above, it has been found through experimentation
with the device 10 that hook and loop fabric such as VELCRO is not
the best choice for the means for fastening the strap 18 to the
front pillow section 12. In order to avoid excess noise that
results from separation of hook and loop style fabric which can
awaken the infant 15 when the pillow sections are separated, it is
desirable to use a substantially silent means for fastening the
strap 18 to the front section 12 in any embodiment. The depicted
loop 22 engaged over a post 24 is one such means for fastening the
distal end of the strap 18 providing a convenient but substantially
silent fastener. Multiple posts 24 can be provided in sequentially
distant mounts to allow for a means of adjustment of the engagement
of the distal end of the strap 18 to adjust the size of the gap 17
to provide a means for waistline adjustment of the device. Or, the
strap 18 can be elastic and stretch to allow changes in gap size.
Of course other means for fastening the strap to the pillow
sections can be used and such are anticipated; however, a means for
fastening that is substantially silent on release of engagement is
preferred.
[0044] Additional utility is provided by the device 10 which
employs a means for engagement of the breast pump 26 having a
breast engaging breast shield 27 during sessions for expression of
milk from the mothers breast 28. Modern breast pumps 26 generally
employ a breast engaging component such as the breast shield 27
which suctionally secures the breast pump in a registered
engagement with the breast 28 to evacuate milk and deposit it into
a bottle or container 30. Conventionally, a baby bottle is the
container 30 of choice and expression of milk from the breast 28
requires operation of a small suction component of the breast pump
26 when the breast pump is positioned in an engaged position with
the breast 28.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 1 the device 10 provides a
means to engage a breast pump 26 and hold it in a registered
engagement with the breast 28 in a proper position for milk
expression sessions when engaged with the breast 28.
Experimentation has shown that such an engagement frequently
requires varying angles of engagement of the breast pump 26 with
the surface of the device 10 depending on the seated or standing
position of the woman and the physical characteristics of both the
woman and the breast pump. Such a means for angled engagement of a
breast pump 26 relative to the center line 35 is provided by at
least one or preferably a pair of apertures 32 formed in the top
surface 13 of the front pillow section 12. The apertures 32 define
cavities 33 formed in the body of the front pillow section 12. The
two apertures 32 defining the cavities 33 are best if placed off
center from the center line 35 of the front pillow section 12 which
would generally be aligned with the user's sternum. This positions
the cavities 33 substantially centered in front of the breasts 28
of the user during use of the device 12.
[0046] Ideally, the diameter of the aperture 32 should be slightly
smaller than the diameter of the container 30 such that the
sidewalls of the cavities 33 will compressibly engage with the
container 30 when inserted into the aperture 32. This compressed
engagement is caused by compression of the foam forming the front
pillow section 32 and the natural resisting bias thereof. The
compressed engagement is especially helpful in maintaining the
breast pump 26 at the proper height and angle for easy comfortable
milk expression sessions.
[0047] Experimentation with this means for breast pump engagement
and requirement for varying angles of engagement, as noted above,
has shown that an oval shape to the apertures 32 and depending
cavities 33 are a very preferred dimensional characteristic. While
other shapes will generally hold the breast pump upright or allow
for slight angles, the oval shape of the apertures 32 allows for
angling of the frictional engagement of the container 30 and
attached breast pump 26 to allow the user adjust the breast pump
angle and high above the upper surface 13 during use depending on
their individual physical characteristics, the pump
characteristics, and the position of the apertures 32 in front of
the breasts 28. Using one or both of the apertures 32 provides
temporary frictional compressed engagement of the container 30 and
attached breast pumps 26 to achieve a registered and comfortable
engagement with the breast 28 for comfort and efficient operation
of the breast pump 26. It also allows the user to express milk
using breast pumps for use at more convenient times while
eliminating the need to physically hold the breast pumps 26 during
the sometimes lengthy process. As noted, this frees the user's
hands for recreational or relaxation endeavors.
[0048] An additional benefit of the oval shape of the apertures 32
is that when the container 30 is inserted at an angle, the narrower
diameter of the apertures 32 at the distal ends tends to increase
the compression engagement on the container 30 helping to hold it
in place for the milk expression sessions. Of course other
elongated aperture dimensions will occur to those skilled in the
art, and such are anticipated.
[0049] While the device 10 will function with the front pillow
section 12 and a means to secure it around the user's torso with
the front section 12 in front of the user's breasts 28, the rear
pillow section 12 as noted is optionally engageable but preferred
as it provides a means for lumbar support while the user is wearing
the device and sitting in a chair 34. The rear pillow section 14 is
co-operatively engageable in the aforementioned fashion, but if the
user decides that it is not desirable or required, it does not have
to be engaged. This might be the case in a cramped sitting quarter
such as an automobile.
[0050] When employed, the distance of the rear pillow section 14
from the front pillow section 12 may be adjusted closer or further
away by means of the provision of the aforementioned adjustment gap
17 formed between the sections. This gap 17 can be provided by
dimensioning the distal ends of the generally U shaped front pillow
section 12 and rear pillow section 14 to contact each other for
persons with a small waistline and move apart to accommodate
persons with a larger waist line. Engageable straps 18 would be
longer than the gap 17 is wide and secured to one of the two pillow
sections and removably engage to the other at varying points. This
can be done with conventional hook and loop style fabric or hooks
or other attachments at the distal end. The employment of this
adjustable gap 17 and adjustable hook up of the distal ends of the
straps 18 thereby provides a means for adjustment of the interior
circumference of the device 12 to accommodate different waistlines
of the user. This would be especially useful since nursing mothers
tend to lose weight during the long term nursing process and
thereby require a means to adjust the securement to their waist to
fit.
[0051] If the rear section 14 is not employed due to personal
preference or space considerations, a longer belt 18 may be
employed as a means to engage the front pillow section 12 to a
relatively fixed engagement with the torso or waist of the user.
Or, as noted above, at times when attachment of the rear pillow
section 14 is not desired, the front pillow section 12 can simply
be supported by the lap of the user and still provide an excellent
support for the infant 15 during feeding and also provide a mount
for registered and comfortable engagement of one or a plurality of
breast pumps 26 during milk expression sessions.
[0052] FIG. 2 best depicts the device 10 providing both support for
a prone child engaged with one breast 28 while the breast pump 26
is concurrently engaged with the other breast 28. The device 10
allows such a function by providing the oval apertures 33 to allow
for adjustment and support of the breast pump 26 and a prone
support area of the top surface 13 extending in front of the
apertures 33 where the child may lay breast feeding concurrently
with the breast pump 26 being engaged for expression of milk from
the breast 28. This prone support area should be sufficiently wide
to support the lower body of a child 15 engaged on one breast while
the breast pump is engaged upon the other. Experimentation has
found that if a breast pump 26 is engaged for milk expression while
the child is concurrently breast feeding, more milk tends to be
expressed into the pump 26 than if it is engaged without the child
breast feeding. Consequently, this concurrent use ability is highly
desirable in the preferred embodiment of the device 10.
[0053] Although the invention has been described with respect to
particular embodiments thereof, it should be realized that various
changes and modifications may be made therein without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention. While the invention as
shown in the drawings and described in detail herein discloses
arrangements of elements of particular construction and
configuration for illustrating preferred embodiments of structure
and method of operation of the present invention, it is to be
understood, however, that elements of different construction and
configuration and other arrangements thereof, other than those
illustrated and described, may be employed in accordance with the
spirit of this invention. Any and all such changes, alternations
and modifications, as would occur to those skilled in the art, are
considered to be within the scope of this invention as broadly
defined in the appended claims.
[0054] Further, the purpose of the attached abstract is to enable
the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and
especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art
who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to
determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence
of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is
neither intended to define the invention of the application, which
is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to
the scope of the invention in any way.
* * * * *