Milk Bag with Pump Attachment Strap

Abstract

A sanitary disposable bag is described for attachment to a breastmilk pump for containing breastmilk that can be easily and efficiently manufactured, packaged and used. A plastic bag adapted to contain milk, such as a bag formed by two sheets of plastic constituting a front and a back sheet that are in facial engagement and are joined to each other by a series of seals in such manner to define a sealable liquid containing portion of the bag. The bag includes a hanger attachment portion of the bag, which in one form is a strap, sized and shaped to suspend the bag in place with a milk outlet of the pump.

Claims

1. An improved bag for use with a breastpump, wherein the breastpump has an outlet through which milk travels and structure above the outlet, comprising: A bag formed of material having an interior defined within the bag to form a liquid and elongated attachment element including first and second ends, said first end being attachable to a part of said bag so as to form a loop over said bag opening, said attachment element being sized and shaped to be supported by the breastpump structure and position said bag under the outlet to receive milk therefrom.

2. The bag of claim 1, further including a closable seal positioned adjacent said opening.

3. The bag of claim 2, wherein said closable seal is a reclosable seal.

4. The bag of claim 2, wherein said bag includes a tear line upstream from said closable seal.

5-26. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a breastmilk bag according to certain aspects of the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 1A is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 1B is a front view of another embodiment of a breastmilk bag according to certain aspects of the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the breastmilk bag prior to being mounted to a breastpump; and

[0015] FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of the breastmilk bag of FIG. 1 mounted to the breastpump.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The embodiments of the invention described hereinafter have been particularly adapted for use with a conventional, commercially available breastpump; it need not be conventional, however, so long as there is something from which the bag can be suspended by the strap in place around the milk outlet. The breastpump may be manual or motor driven.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 1, a bag 100 for containing breastmilk comprises a front sheet 102 and a back sheet 104 (See FIG. 2). The front and back sheets 102, 104 are made of a suitable liquid impervious food compatible plastic, such as polyethylene. Each of sheet 102, 104 may be made from a single ply of material or, in the alternate a suitable laminate. A polyethylene-polyester laminate can be advantageously used, with the polyethylene layer on the inside of the bag for flexibility, and also better sealability. Each of front sheet 102 and rear sheet 104 (See FIG. 2) may be formed of a laminate including 44 gauge polyester (PET) film and 200 gauge low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film.

[0018] Looking at FIG. 1A in particular, one notes that each sheet 102, 104 is generally rectangular with a pair of opposed parallel side edges 132 and a bottom edge 116 (FIG. 1) set at right angles to side edges 132 and a top edge 110, which is slightly scalloped around a center area of the sheets at the opening. Each of the front sheet 102 and rear sheet 104 is formed of a laminate 111 comprising a first side 150 of a 44 gauge polyester (PET) film and a second side 152 including a 200 gauge low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film, first side 150 and second 152 joined by a tie layer 154. The densities of the film, and even the type of film (or other material), is not limiting, and is merely descriptive of this one embodiment.

[0019] Front sheet 102 and rear sheet 104 are joined by seal 114, which is applied to side edges 132 and (referring back to FIG. 1) bottom edge 116 forming a pouch 112 (FIG. 2) with opening 180 defined at top edge 110. A gusset structure 118 is formed between bottom edge 116 and bottom of pouch 102, formed by seal line 113. This gusseted bottom is formed by conventional methods, e.g., providing a folded panel of pouch material adjacent the bottom edge 116 of the bag and sealing the material into a gusset structure. It lends further strength to the region, and even the ability to stand the bag when filled. Suitable materials for making such disposable milk bags are well known. The bag 100 can similarly be formed from a continuous tube of plastic, eliminating the need for lateral seals for the bag.

[0020] A resealable or reclosable seal 106 is provided to provide access to the bag interior (pouch 112) when in an open condition and seals the bag when in a closed condition.

[0021] In one embodiment, the reclosable seal is preferably a zip type closure 106 or an equivalent, formed by attaching to either front sheet 102 or rear sheet 104, an extended male element, above and essentially parallel to bottom edge 116, which male element is press fit into a corresponding female channel type element attached to the other of the front and back sheet 102, 104. A number of known designs exist for male/female zip-type closures. Some are designed to fasten together to merely hold a bag opening in a closed condition and some are designed to retain fluids within the bag in a leak proof fashion. Of course, other mechanisms of sealing the bag are contemplated for use in the present invention to seal the bag in a reclosable fashion.

[0022] Reclosable seal 106 extends between side edges 132 and is also located below top edge 110. Thereby, when reclosable seal 106 is closed, the combination of reclosable seal 106, sealed side edges 132 and sealed pouch bottom edge 113 define the generally rectangular bag pouch 112 suitable for retaining fluids therewithin through opening 180.

[0023] Because reclosable seal 106 is positioned below top edge 110, a portion of each of front sheet 102 and rear sheet 104 extends beyond reclosable seal 106. The extended portions of sheets 102 and 104 form two opposing tabs or flaps, respectively; front tab 122 and rear tab 124. Front tab 122 and rear tab 124 are used to aid in opening bag 100, but as will now be discussed, also in positioning the bag in use.

[0024] Bag 100 includes a strap 120 preferably attached to front sheet 102 (See FIG. 2) by adhesive 121 at one end thereof, by heat sealing or any other suitable method or material adjacent upper part of tab 122. The strap 120 may be attached in a releasable fashion as well, e.g., looped through a hole(s). The other end of the strap 120 may include adhesive 121, or an equivalent attachment mechanism or material for releasable or permanent attachment to the rear sheet 104 on tab 124 adjacent the upper end thereof. The strap 120 may be a single layer of material, such as plastic or paper configured as a rectangular strap, may be multiple plies of material, may be string-like or any suitable shape so as to provide an attachment to a breastpump as will be discussed in more detail below.

[0025] Referring now in particular to FIG. 1B, a breastmilk receptacle or bag 100 is shown, which is similar to that shown in FIG. 1. The bag 100 illustrates one preferred embodiment of providing the strap 120 in a stored or pre-deployed condition. In particular, the strap 100 may be coiled or folded into a compacted form on the outside of front tab 122 of front sheet 102. The strap 120 is held in the folded condition by a temporary adhesive (not shown) or a layer of material 123 overlaying the strap, which is removed before use of the strap.

[0026] Referring now in particular to FIGS. 2 and 3, a breastpump 200 includes a funnel-shaped hood 202 that is sized and shaped for engagement with at least a portion of a breast. Downstream from the hood 202 is a cylindrical extension 204 which is connected or connectable to a receiving portion of a pump housing 206. Upstream and downstream are used relative to milk flow in use of the invention. The pump housing 206 includes a conduit (not shown) for conveying expressed breastmilk from the hood 202, through extension 204 and out through an outlet 208. In the given example, this is a lever pump mechanism 210 connected to the housing 206 to provide a cyclical negative pressure at the hood 202. Further details of this pump mechanism 210 and associated components, including valving, as well as operation, can be gleaned from U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0039330. Again, the specific breastpump is incidental to the inventive bag.

[0027] In use, longitudinal strap 120 is directed over the extension 204 and housing 206 so as to suspend the bag 100 below the pump 200 with the outlet 208 inserted into the bag interior (pouch 112). It will be understood that the opening to the bag interior formed in part by the tabs 122, 124, is sized and shaped so as to fit with the outlet 208 of pump housing 206 such that milk conveyed through the outlet is directed into the bag interior without spillage. The present invention contemplates a variety of cooperating configurations of the outlet 208 and bag 100. While the strap 120 is depicted as encircling the extension 204 and housing 206 of pump 200, the strap may engage the pump in other ways, which are also within the scope of the invention.

[0028] Strap 120 uses an adhesive covered by a release paper or sheet, which is commonly known. The release paper is removed to expose the adhesive 121 and then to affix the free end of the strap 120 to the tab 124. The strap 120 need not be provided already affixed at one end to the bag, but could be supplied separately, although attaching one end to the bag is considered more advantageous.

[0029] Strap 120 can be formed from several types of material. No one material or form is critical to the present invention. Neither the means of affixing the strap 120 to the tabs 122, 124 nor the shape or type of adhesive are critical to the present invention so long as the basic object of the invention is satisfied.

[0030] Returning to FIG. 1, for instance, each of front sheet 102 and rear sheet 104 includes a line of perforation 130, located upstream of and parallel to reclosable seal 106 and extending between side edges 132. By tearing along line of perforation 130, after filling and sealing bag 100, those parts of bag 100 which are not required for storage (i.e., tabs 122, 124), may be detached and discarded.

[0031] Bag 100 may further include a label area 134, located on the outer side of front sheet 102, of sufficient dimensions to allow for some information to be provided on bag 100 regarding the contents in the bag, such as, for example, DATE, VOLUME and NAME, either by writing directly on front sheet 102, or indirectly by adhering an optional label at this location. Other locations for information may be provided. Calibrated markings 101 as for milk volume may additionally be provided.

[0032] The present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to specific embodiments; those skilled in the art will recognize that modifications and variations may be made without departing from the principles of the present invention as described hereinabove. For instance, while the strap of this invention has been described as forming a loop-shaped hanger, the strap piece or its equivalent could be adapted to simply hang from an end, as by a hook. It could be in two pieces which separately affix to a part of the pump, as by adhesive attachment, and for forth. This, the invention is not intended to be limited except as set forth in the following claims.