Abstract: A hand held breast pump comprises a powered head (1), a body (7) including a diaphragm pump, a breast engaging portion (23) and a bottle coupling (24). The powered head (1) may be exchangeable for a manual head (4).

Abstract: A babycare heating apparatus comprising a vessel (2;102) for containing water and a heating element (15;115) for heating water held in the vessel, characterised by: a temperature sensor (22;42,123) for sensing a temperature rise effected by operation of the heating element (15); and control means (25;125) for controlling the energising of the heating element (15;115) in dependence on the output of the temperature sensor (22;42;123) and being configured to de-energise the heating element (15;115) if the change in the temperature, sensed by the sensor (22;42;123), meets a predetermined criterion. The apparatus can be used as a steriliser or a bottle warmer and its uses a measure of the rate of heating during operation to determine whether the apparatus has been correctly charged with water.

Abstract: A flexible resilient breast pump insert adapted to fit onto a vacuum generating breast pump operable to cyclically generate and release a negative pressure is disclosed. The insert has deformable zones (11, 14) spaced from each other along the longitudinal axis of the insert which are connected to the source of negative pressure so that the zones (11, 14) are deformed sequentially when the negative pressure is applied, to cause them to move inwardly and outwardly relative to the users nipple and areola and apply a peristaltic pressure thereto.

Abstract: A closure assembly for a drinking vessel comprising a lid (2) with a spout (3). A diaphragm valve (14) is mounted on a central spigot (7) of an insert which protrudes from the bottom of the spout (3) and has an enlarged head (8) which provides a sealing surface (9) which cooperates with a bead (16) around a central hole (22) in the diaphragm. The diaphragm (14) has an annular flap (18) at its periphery which normally closes a breather hole (4) in the lid (2) but opens when a user sucks on the spout (3) to allow air to enter container (1) to equalize the internal and external pressure when liquid flows past the diaphragm (14).

Abstract: A flexible resilient breast pump insert (5) adapted to fit into the rigid funnel portion (1) of a vacuum generating breast pump operable to generate a negative pressure. The insert comprises a mouth portion (6) with an open end shaped to receive and contact the areola of a woman's breast and an inner portion (7) of reduced size to receive the woman's nipple. A lip (9) around the edge of the mouth portion allows it to be connected to the rigid breast pump funnel portion (1) to form a pressure tight seal therewith.

Abstract: A breast pump is disclosed comprising a body (50) with an inlet (84) thereto to receive milk expressed from a woman's breast. The body is formed for releasable attachment to a container for collecting expressed milk and houses a deformable diaphragm (51) which is cyclicly moved by manually or electrically driven actuating lever (53, 54) connected thereto to generate and release cyclicly a negative pressure in the nipple region sufficient to stimulate the nipple area to cause lactation. The pump preferably includes valve (80) mounted in the body so that the negative pressure is created in the pump body only and not in the container for the expressed milk when connected thereto.

Abstract: A baby feeding bottle of the disposable bag liner type comprising a hollow open ended rigid tubular body (1) to receive a bag (2) having an open top end which can be folded over the top rim of the tubular body. A feeding teat (7) having an outwardly extending annular flange engages and rests on the portion of the bag (2) folded over the top rim of the tubular body (1). A teat retaining ring (3) is fitted to the tubular body (1) to retain the teat (7) and the folded over bag portion (2) thereon in sealing engagement therewith and a removable base (5) is mounted in the open bottom end of the rigid tubular body (1). A removable base (5) is mounted in the tubular body (1) by means (14,17) which allow the base (5) to be fixedly mounted in the tubular body (1) in a plurality of different positions along the length thereof whereby the base is not movable from its selected position when an axial pressure is applied thereto.