Portable breast pump

Abstract

A portable breast pump has a suction unit and a collecting unit which is connected to this suction unit via a flexible suction line. The collecting unit comprises a breast shield, a milk-receiving container and a coupling element which connects the breast shield to the milk-receiving container. The suction unit has a housing with an operating means for operating the pump and a fastening means for fastening the housing on a carrying means, which can be fastened on the mother's body. This breast pump is easy to operate, allows the milk to be expressed even in confined areas with no set-down surfaces and, in addition, does not hinder the mother's mobility.

1 . A portable breast pump comprising: a suction unit, a collecting unit and a suction line, the suction line connecting the collecting unit to the suction unit, the collecting unit having a breast shield, a milk-receiving container and a coupling element, which connects the breast shield to the milk-receiving container to form a rigid unit, and the suction unit having a housing, wherein the housing is provided with a fastening means for fastening the housing on a carrying means, which can be fastened on a mother's body so that the suction unit can be carried in an exposed manner, wherein the housing has a round cross-section and comprises an upper part and a lower part, wherein the upper part and the lower part are connected with each other by a peripheral ball spring-actuated lock.  
   
   
       2 . A suction unit for use in a portable breast pump comprising; a breast pump having a collecting unit with a breast shield, a milk-receiving container and a coupling element, which connects the breast shield to the milk-receiving container for form a rigid unit, the breast pump also having a flexible suction line, by means of which the collecting unit can be connected to the suction unit, and the suction unit having a housing, wherein the housing is provided with a fastening means for fastening the housing on a carrying means, which can be fastened on a mother's body so that the suction unit can be carried in an exposed manner, wherein the housing has a round cross-section and comprises an upper part and a lower part, wherein the upper part and the lower part are connected with each other by a peripheral ball spring-actuated lock.  
   
   
       3 . The suction unit as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the fastening means is designed for fastening on a belt or on a carrying loop.  
   
   
       4 . The suction unit as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the fastening means is designed as a releasable means.  
   
   
       5 . The suction unit as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the fastening means is arranged on a rear side of the housing.  
   
   
       6 . The suction unit as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the fastening means comprises further a plug-in closure part.  
   
   
       7 . The suction unit as claimed in one of  claims 2  to  6 , wherein the housing is of rigid design.  
   
   
       8 . The suction unit as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein there is provided at least one operating means which is fitted on the housing and which is arranged on a side of the housing which is located opposite the fastening means.  
   
   
       9 . The suction unit as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the housing is of flat design and has a front side, a rear side and a lateral surface which connects the two sides.  
   
   
       10 . The suction unit as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein a recess is provided in the lateral surface for the purpose of accommodating one end of the suction line.  
   
   
       11 . The suction unit as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the fastening means is one of a resilient clip and a plug-in closure part.  
   
   
       12 . A portable breast pump comprising: a suction unit, a collecting unit and a suction line, the suction line connecting the collecting unit to the suction unit, the collecting unit having a breast shield, a milk-receiving container and a coupling element, which connects the breast shield to the milk-receiving container to form a rigid unit, and the suction unit having a housing, wherein the housing is provided with a fastening means for fastening the housing on a carrying means, which can be fastened on a mother's body so that the suction unit can be carried in an exposed manner, wherein the housing has a round cross-section and comprises an upper part and a lower part, and wherein the fastening means comprises an eye attached to a periphery of the housing, either to the upper part or the lower part.  
   
   
       13 . The portable breast pump as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fastening means comprises a resilient clip which can be hooked on the carrying means.  
   
   
       14 . The suction unit as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the fastening means comprises a resilient clip which can be hooked on the carrying means.