Pump-to-Bottle Bag

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a pump-to-bottle bag which allows breast feeding mothers to transfer milk from a breast pump directly into the bag. The apparatus includes a cylindrical support which engages a pump receiving ring within its mouth so as to engage the free edges of the bag between the cylindrical support and the pump receiving ring. The pump receiving ring receives the breast pump so that the milk can be pumped directly into the bag.

Description

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/513,006 filed on Jul. 29, 2011, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to a pump-to-bottle bag which allows breast feeding mothers to transfer milk from a breast pump directly into the bag.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The prior art includes a non-reclosable bag, by Playtex, which freezes the breast milk in one large cylindrical piece. This makes thawing of the milk more time-consuming. Moreover, it is believed that most breast-feeding mothers would prefer to lay a reclosable bag on its side so that the breast milk would freeze in a long thin layer which typically would thaw more quickly. The Playtex system is also problematic in that there are a number of different adapters and fixtures, all of which need to be cleaned and maintained sterile between uses.

The prior art further includes a Medela bag which uses adhesive tape that goes over the pump and does not create an airtight seal. As a result, suction is reduced while the possibility of contamination is increased. This bag cannot be used as the feeding bag, so the mother must, after pumping, pour the milk into a separate bottle feeding system in order to feed the child. This likewise involves additional components that need to be cleaned and maintained sterile between uses.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide a storage bag for receiving breast milk directly from the pump, and wherein the milk can subsequently be thawed quickly.

It is therefore a further object of the present disclosure to provide a storage bag for breast milk which reduces the risk of contamination, maintains a closed seal so that pumping is more efficient and reduces the number of parts that need to be cleaned and maintained as sterile between uses.

These and other objects are obtained by providing a bag for receiving breast milk wherein a polymeric bag is engaged between a cylindrical support and a pump receiving ring. The pump receiving ring is received within the interior of the top of the cylindrical support. A sealing relationship is formed between the pump receiving ring and the cylindrical support with the upper portions of the polymeric bag extending therebetween. The pump receiving ring further includes a locking mechanism for engaging the breast pump.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side plan view of the pump-to-bottle bag apparatus of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the upper portion of the pump-to-bottle bag apparatus of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the upper portion of the pump-to-bottle bag apparatus of the present disclosure, without the bag, but showing the pump in phantom.

FIG. 4 is a side plan view, partially in phantom, of the pump receiving ring of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, one sees that FIG. 1 is plan view of the pump-to-bottle bag and associated components. The apparatus 10 includes a polymeric bag 12 with an closed bottom 14 and a mouth 16 with upper edges 18. The apparatus 10 further includes cylindrical support 22 which is typically made of some plastic, polymeric or similar material. It is typically open on both the upper end 24 and lower end 26. The upper end 24, or mouth, includes an internal lip 28 downwardly adjacent from the upper edge 30 thereof, and a concave arcuate surface 32 is formed between the upper edge 30 and the internal lip 28. Interior cylindrical boss 33 is formed at an upper portion of concave arcuate surface 32. This concave arcuate surface 32 is formed to receive the pump receiving ring 34 which includes a complementary convex arcuate surface 36, which further includes cylindrical groove 37 for detent engaging interior cylindrical boss 33. Pump receiving ring 34 is typically formed from plastic, polymeric or similar material and is typically rotationally symmetric. The upper portions of polymeric bag 12 are engaged between the concave arcuate surface 32 of cylindrical support 22 and the complementary convex arcute surface 36 of pump receiving ring 34 so that upper edges 18 of polymeric bag 12 extend therefrom. The detent engagement of interior cylindrical boss 33 and cylindrical groove 37 (with a portion of the walls of polymeric bag 12 therebetween) aids in maintaining the engagement of the cylindrical support 22 to pump receiving ring 34 and further maintains the seal and position with respect to the polymeric bag 12.

Pump receiving ring 34 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 2-4. Pump receiving ring 34 includes neck 40 with cylindrical locking ring 42 for engaging pump 100 (shown in phantom in FIG. 3). Pump receiving ring 34 further includes central passageway 44 (shown in phantom in FIG. 4) for passing the milk from the pump 100 to the interior or storage volume of bag 12.

The lower support engaging portion 46 of pump receiving ring 34 includes a central cylindrical seal 50, which is typically made of rubber or some similar material, for engaging against a central portion of concave arcuate surface 32 (with a portion of the walls of polymeric bag 12 therebetween). The lower support engaging portion 46 further includes a lower cylindrical seal 52, which is likewise typically made of rubber or some similar material, for engaging against internal lip 28 (with a portion of the walls of polymeric bag 12 therebetween).

To use apparatus 10, the user places the polymeric bag 12 within the cylindrical support 22, adjusts the position of the upper edges 18 of polymeric bag 12 and snap engages the pump receiving ring 34 to cylindrical support 22. The user then engages the pump 100 to the pump receiving ring 34 and operates the pump 100 to express milk into the polymeric bag 12. The polymeric bag 12 is then removed from apparatus 10 and then typically sealed and chilled or frozen for later use.

Thus the several aforementioned objects and advantages are most effectively attained. Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for receiving liquid from a source, including:

a base;

a bag;

a cap for engaging the base, wherein a portion of the bag is engaged between the base and the cap, wherein the cap further engages the source, the cap further including a central passageway for communicating liquid from the source to the bag.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base includes an open top and an open bottom.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the base includes an internal lip within the open top for receiving the cap.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the base is cylindrical.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the cap is rotationally symmetric.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein an interior concave arcuate surface is formed within the base between the internal lip and the open top.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein a convex arcuate surface is formed on the cap which is complementary to the concave arcuate surface of the base, and wherein the convex arcuate surface engages with the concave arcuate surface with the portion of the bag therebetween.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the concave arcuate surface includes a cylindrical boss.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the convex arcuate surface includes a cylindrical groove for snap or detent engagement with the cylindrical boss.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the cap includes at least one seal directed to the support.

11. An apparatus for receiving breast milk from a breast pump, including:

a base;

a polymeric bag;

a cap for engaging the base, wherein a portion of the polymeric bag is engaged between the base and the cap, wherein the cap further engages the breast pump, the cap further including a central passageway for communicating milk from the breast pump to the polymeric bag.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the base includes an open top and an open bottom.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the base includes an internal lip within the open top for receiving the cap.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the base is cylindrical.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the cap is rotationally symmetric.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein an interior concave arcuate surface is formed within the base between the internal lip and the open top.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein a convex arcuate surface is formed on the cap which is complementary to the concave arcuate surface of the base, and wherein the convex arcuate surface engages with the concave arcuate surface with the portion of the bag therebetween.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the concave arcuate surface includes a cylindrical boss and wherein the convex arcuate surface includes a cylindrical groove for snap or detent engagement with the cylindrical boss.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the cap includes a cylindrical locking mechanism for engaging the pump.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the cap includes at least one seal directed to the support.