Breast cup

Abstract

A breast cup for obtaining breast milk is provided that has flexible regions integrally molded with the rest of the inner part of the breast cup which provide massaging or stimulating action to selected areas of the breast and nipple.

1 . A breast cup comprising: 
 an outer part substantially shaped as a truncated cone with a conical portion and a substantially cylindrical portion downstream of the conical portion;    an inner part having a first flexible region, a rigid remainder and a shape that substantially corresponds to said outer part; and    a pressure conduit in communication with a pressure source, wherein a first cavity is formed between said first flexible region and said outer part when said outer part is connected to said inner part, wherein said first cavity is in communication with said pressure conduit to provide a massaging pressure through flexure of said first flexible region, wherein said first flexible region overlies said conical portion of said outer part, and wherein said first flexible region and said rigid remainder are integrally formed during a molding process of the breast cup.    
     
     
         2 . The breast cup of  claim 1 , wherein said first flexible region and said rigid remainder are made from a single material having different grades of hardness.  
     
     
         3 . The breast cup of  claim 2 , wherein said single material is injection molded to form said inner part via a single shot process.  
     
     
         4 . The breast cup of  claim 2 , wherein said single material is injection molded to form said inner part via a double shot process.  
     
     
         5 . The breast cup of  claim 2 , wherein said single material is taken from the group consisting essentially of silicone, thermoplastic elastomers, or elastomeric rubbers.  
     
     
         6 . The breast cup of  claim 1 , wherein said inner part further comprises a second flexible region that is integrally formed with said first flexible region and said rigid remainder during said molding process of the breast cup, wherein a second cavity is formed between said second flexible region and said outer part when said outer part is connected to said inner part, wherein said second cavity is in communication with said pressure conduit to provide a massaging pressure through flexure of said second flexible region, and wherein said second flexible region overlies said cylindrical portion of said outer part.  
     
     
         7 . The breast cup of  claim 6 , wherein said second flexible region has a wave-like shape.  
     
     
         8 . The breast cup of  claim 6 , further comprising sealing rings that provide for a sealing engagement of the outer part with the inner part and fluid isolation of said first and second cavities.  
     
     
         9 . The breast cup of  claim 6 , wherein said second flexible region is divided into a plurality of second regions by a portion of the rigid remainder.  
     
     
         10 . The breast cup of  claim 1 , wherein said first flexible region is divided into a plurality of first regions by a portion of the rigid remainder.  
     
     
         11 . The breast cup of  claim 1 , wherein said first flexible region has a wave-like shape.  
     
     
         12 . The breast cup of  claim 1 , wherein said outer and inner parts are selectively removable.  
     
     
         13 . A method of making a breast cup comprising: 
 molding an outer part substantially shaped as a truncated cone with a conical portion, a substantially cylindrical portion downstream of the conical portion and a pressure conduit; and    molding an inner part having a first flexible region, a rigid remainder and a shape that substantially corresponds to said outer part by integrally forming said first flexible region and said rigid remainder during said molding, wherein said first flexible region overlies said conical portion of said outer part when said outer part is connected with said inner part, and wherein a first cavity is formed between said outer and inner parts when connected that is in communication with said pressure conduit.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said first flexible region and said rigid remainder are made from a single material having different grades of hardness.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said single material is injection molded to form said inner part via a single shot process.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said single material is injection molded to form said inner part via a double shot process.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said single material is taken from the group consisting essentially of silicone, thermoplastic elastomers, or elastomeric rubbers.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising integrally forming a second flexible region with said first flexible region and said rigid remainder during said molding, wherein said second flexible region overlies said cylindrical portion of said outer part when said outer part is connected with said inner part, and wherein said first cavity is formed between said outer and inner parts when connected that is in communication with said pressure conduit.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said first flexible region has a wave-like shape.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said second flexible region has a wave-like shape.