Illuminated nipple shield

Abstract

A nipple shield having an attached illuminated element containing a luminescent agent that illuminates for placement of a conventional nipple shield on a breast in darkened conditions. The nipple shield has a nipple portion and a base portion having a convex outer-facing surface and a concave breast-contacting surface, and the attachable illuminated element comprises a transparent silicone resin material, a luminescent agent interspersed within a portion of the resin material, and a binding surface comprising an adhesive material. The luminescent agent is typically a photoluminescent pigment having a mean particle size of less than 2000 μm. The attachable illuminated element can either be releasably or permanently attached to the illuminated nipple shield. Methods for illuminating a nipple shield using attachable illuminated elements of the present invention are also provided.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An attachable illuminated element that can illuminate for placement of a nipple shield on a breast in darkened conditions, the nipple shield comprising a nipple portion and a base portion having a convex outer-facing surface and a concave breast-contacting surface, the attachable illuminated element comprising:
 a. a transparent silicone resin material,   b. a luminescent agent interspersed within a portion of the resin material and having a mean particle size of at less than about 2000 μm, and   c. a binding surface comprising an adhesive material, wherein the binding surface is configured for removably affixing the attachable illuminated element to the convex outer-facing surface of the base portion of the nipple shield.   
     
     
         22 . The attachable illuminated element according to  claim 21 , wherein the luminescent agent is a photoluminescent pigment. 
     
     
         23 . The attachable illuminated element according to  claim 22 , wherein the binding surface is formed into a concave shape having a curvature that is complementary to the convex outer-facing surface of the nipple shield. 
     
     
         24 . The attachable illuminated element according to  claim 22 , wherein the attachable illuminated element is in the form of an annular rim having an opening configured to accept the nipple portion of the nipple shield. 
     
     
         25 . The attachable illuminated element according to  claim 22 , wherein the attachable illuminated element further comprises a cover layer releasably affixed to the binding surface, thereby protecting the adhesive material from contamination prior to placement of the attachable illuminated element onto the nipple shield. 
     
     
         26 . The attachable illuminated element according to  claim 22 , wherein the adhesive material is selected from the group selected from a pressure sensitive adhesive, a glue, or an epoxy. 
     
     
         27 . A method for illuminating a nipple shield for placement of the nipple shield on a breast in darkened conditions, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a nipple shield comprising a nipple portion and a base portion, the base portion having a convex outer-facing surface and a concave breast-contacting surface;   b. providing an attachable illuminated element comprising:
 i. a transparent silicone resin material, 
 ii. a luminescent agent interspersed within a portion of the resin material and having a mean particle size of at less than about 2000 μm, 
 iii. an external surface, and 
 iv. a binding surface comprising an adhesive material; 
   c. aligning the attachable illuminated element with a portion of the convex outer-facing surface of the nipple shield;   d. contacting a portion of the binding surface of the attachable illuminated element with the aligned portion of the convex outer-facing surface of the nipple shield;   e. applying a force to the external surface of the attachable illuminated element to adhere the binding surface of the attachable illuminated element with the convex-outer facing surface of the nipple shield, thereby illuminating the nipple shield;   f. positioning the concave breast-contacting surface of the illuminated nipple shield over the breast so the nipple portion of the illuminated nipple shield is aligned with a nipple on the breast;   g. placing the concave-breast contacting surface of the illuminated nipple shield over the nipple and onto the breast, thereby facilitating the breastfeeding of an infant in darkened conditions.   
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the luminescent agent interspersed within a portion of the resin material comprising the attachable illuminated element is a photoluminescent pigment. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the attachable illuminated element further comprises a cover layer releasably affixed to the binding surface, and the method further comprises the step of removing the cover layer prior to contacting the binding surface of the attachable illuminated element to the convex outer-facing surface of the nipple shield. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the adhesive material for adhering the binding surface to the convex outer-facing surface of the nipple shield is selected from the group selected from a pressure sensitive adhesive, a glue, or an epoxy. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein the binding surface of the attachable illuminated element is releasably adherable to the convex outer-facing surface of the nipple shield, and the method further comprises the step of detaching the attachable illuminated element from the convex outer-facing surface of the nipple shield after breastfeeding has been completed. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein upon adhering the binding surface of the attachable illuminated element to the convex outer-facing surface of the nipple shield, the attachable illuminated element is permanently affixed to the nipple shield. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the binding surface is formed into a concave shape having a curvature that is complementary to the convex outer-facing surface of the nipple shield. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the attachable illuminated element is in the form of an annular rim having a central opening and the step of aligning the attachable illuminated element with a portion of the convex outer-facing surface of the nipple shield further comprises inserting the nipple portion of the nipple shield through the central opening of the attachable illuminated element. 
     
     
         35 . An illuminated nipple shield for placement on a breast in darkened conditions comprising:
 a. a nipple shield having a nipple portion and a base portion, the base portion having a convex outer-facing surface and a concave breast-contacting surface; and   b. an attachable illuminated element comprising:
 i. a transparent silicone resin material, 
 ii. a luminescent agent interspersed within a portion of the resin material and having a mean particle size of at less than about 2000 μm, 
 iii. an external surface, and 
 iv. a binding surface comprising an adhesive material, 
   
       wherein the binding surface of the attachable illuminated element is affixed to the convex outer-facing surface of the base portion of the nipple shield. 
     
     
         36 . The illuminated nipple shield according to  claim 35 , wherein the luminescent agent is a photoluminescent pigment. 
     
     
         37 . The illuminated nipple shield according to  claim 36 , wherein the attachable illuminated element is in the form of an annular rim having an opening configured to accept the nipple portion of the nipple shield. 
     
     
         38 . The illuminated nipple shield according to  claim 36 , wherein the adhesive material is selected from the group selected from a pressure sensitive adhesive, a glue, or an epoxy. 
     
     
         39 . The illuminated nipple shield according to  claim 38 , wherein the binding surface of the attachable illuminated element is releasably adhered to the convex outer-facing surface of the nipple shield. 
     
     
         40 . The illuminated nipple shield according to  claim 38 , wherein the binding surface of the attachable illuminated element is permanently attached to the convex outer-facing surface of the nipple shield.