EP2692256A1

EP2692256A1 - Breast pad

Info

Publication number: EP2692256A1
Application number: EP12005640.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Shu Feng Lee
Original assignee: Top Want Electronic Co Ltd
Current assignee: Top Want Electronic Co Ltd
Priority date: 2012-08-02
Filing date: 2012-08-02
Publication date: 2014-02-05

Abstract

A breast pad structure includes a flexible gas cushion or a bag body (10)which is defined with a reciprocally expandable and compressible chamber (21) and configured with a pump (20) and a relief valve (30). The pump includes a channel (26) communicated with the chamber of the gas cushion or the bag body.

The relief valve is configured with a concave compartment (31), a slot compartment (32) communicated with the concave compartment, and a movable valve rod (33).

A valve (34) is normally closed between the concave compartment and the slot compartment. When the valve rod is moved from a first position toward a second position, the valve is allowably to be pushed off by the valve rod, and the fluid located in the chamber is discharged from the concave compartment and the opening via the slot compartment, so that the gas cushion or the bag body is formed in a non-dilation state.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a structure design of a breast pad, in particular relates to a gas cushion (or a bag body) combined with a pump and a relief valve so as to control an expansion or compression state of the gas cushion (or the bag body).

Description of the Related Art

Underwear or brassieres utilized with woven fabrics to cover and support breasts are known as conventional skills. In order to increase visual artistic and shaping effects of brassieres or to promote conditions such as sagging breast or expansion breast, in conventional skills a combination of a breast pad and underwear or brassiere is disclosed to upwardly and concentratedly assist the underwear or the brassiere in supporting the breasts.
Besides, in conventional skills an inflatable breast pad structure is disclosed, capable of dimensionally adjusting the breast pad in accordance with users' actual requirements or positions.
Such an inflatable breast pad generally is a dilatable or compressible breast pad body disposed with a pump or a gas valve. A user can operate the pump or the gas valve to allow an external air to enter into an interior of the breast pad body, thereby forming the breast pad body in a dilation state. In other cases, a body is also configured with a gas bleed valve and a push-press bar disposed on the gas bleed valve, and the push-press bar is also combined with a spring, so that the spring drives a head upper end of the push-press bar to normally close a vent of the gas bleed valve, thereby preventing the air located inside the body from leakage. Besides, when the user holds the push-press bar to open the vent of the gas bleed valve for discharging the air located inside the body, the body is returned to an initial flat (or a compression) type.
Representatively speaking, the above-mentioned reference data reveal the conditions of usage and structural design of the inflatable breast pad or other components connected therewith. If the structure and above-described applications of the inflatable breast pad or other components (e.g., the pump and the gas bleed valve) connected therewith can be properly redesigned and reconsidered, the use pattern and the application conditions of the inflatable breast pad can be advancedly altered and therefore distinguished from conventional methods. In fact, the breast pad is not only provided with adjustable dimension and enhanced visual artistic effect to meet users' actual requirements, but also the breast pad can have efficacy of simplified structure or operation convenience.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of this, the main purpose of the invention is to provide an improved breast pad structure with efficacy of simplified structure and operation convenience. The breast pad structure includes a flexible gas cushion (or a bag body) which is defined with a reciprocally expandable and compressible chamber and configured with a pump and a relief valve. The pump includes a channel communicated with the chamber so that a fluid is allowed to enter into the chamber through the channel to form the gas cushion (or the bag body) in a dilation state. The relief valve is configured with a concave compartment, a slot compartment communicated with the concave compartment, and a valve rod movable between a first position and a second position. A valve is normally closed between the concave compartment and the slot compartment. When the valve rod is moved from the first position toward the second position, the valve is allowably to be pushed off by the valve rod, and the fluid located in the chamber is discharged from the concave compartment and the opening via the slot compartment, so that the gas cushion (or the bag body) is formed in a non-dilation (or compression) state.
According to the improved breast pad structure of the invention, the concave compartment of the relief valve comprises a first concave compartment and a second concave compartment, and a through hole is formed between the first concave compartment and the second concave compartment of the concave compartment, so that the first concave compartment and the second concave compartment are formed of a communication type. The valve rod, corresponding to the first concave compartment and the second concave compartment of the concave compartment, comprises a head portion, an elastic device and a shoulder portion, in which the head portion and the elastic device are combined in the first concave compartment of the concave compartment, and the shoulder portion located inside the second concave compartment of the concave compartment is utilized to normally close the through hole. A state of the through hole to be closed by the shoulder portion of the valve rod can be removed unless the valve rod is moved toward the second position, so that the through hole of the relief valve is formed of an open type.
The second concave compartment of the concave compartment is formed with a passage which enables the second concave compartment of the concave compartment and the slot compartment of the relief valve to form a communication type. An elastic body arranged in the slot compartment of the relief valve is utilized to drive the valve to normally close the passage of the concave compartment. Accordingly, the air or gas flow located in the chamber cannot be discharged from the slot compartment of the relief valve, the passage and the second concave compartment of the concave compartment, the through hole, and the first concave compartment of the concave compartment. The slot compartment of the relief valve and the passage of the concave compartment are formed in a passage-way state unless the valve is pushed off by the valve rod.
According to the improved breast pad structure of the invention, the slot compartment of the relief valve is configured with at least one slit, so that the fluid located in the chamber is allowed to enter into the slot compartment of the relief valve via the slit. The concave compartment (or the first concave compartment) is configured with at least one opening, so that the first concave compartment and an exterior are constantly formed of an open type (or a passage-way state) via the opening. When the slot compartment of the relief valve, the passage and the concave compartment are formed in the opening state, the air or the gas flow can be discharged from the opening of the concave compartment.
A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an outlook structure of the invention;
Fig. 2 is an exploded schematic view of the structure of Fig. 1, illustrating the structure of a sheathing sheet including an outer layer and an inner layer and the structure of a relief valve;
Fig. 3 is a sectional view along a line A-A in Fig. 1, illustrating a condition that an external air is drawn into a gas cushion (or a bag body), a reaction chamber is pressed to be in a compression state shown by dotted lines, and the reaction chamber is then returned to an initial dilation state shown by real lines;
Fig. 4 is a schematic view of an operational embodiment of the invention, illustrating a condition that air or gas flow is forced to enter into a chamber when a reaction chamber of a pump is operably pressed;
Fig. 5 is a sectional view along a line B-B in Fig. 1, illustrating a structure combination condition of a relief valve;
Fig. 6 is a schematic view of an operational embodiment of a relief valve of the invention, illustrating a condition that a valve is pushed off by a valve rod when the valve rod is operably pressed to move from a first position toward a second position;
Fig. 7 is a schematic view of a derivate embodiment, illustrating that a pump and a relief valve are formed of an integral type; and
Fig. 8 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention combined with underwear.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, an improved breast pad structure of the invention comprises a flexible gas cushion (or a bag body) which is generally denoted by a reference number 10. The gas cushion (or the bag body) 10 is a combination of two sheathing sheets 11 and 12, in which the sheathing sheet 11 includes an outer layer 11 a and an inner layer 11 b, and the sheathing sheet 12 includes an outer layer 12a and an inner layer 12b. The outer layer 11 a and the inner layer 11 b are combined to form the sheathing sheet 11, and the outer layer 12a and the inner layer 12b are combined to form the sheathing sheet 12. The two sheathing sheets 11 and 12 are commonly defined with a reciprocally expandable and compressible chamber 13. In this embodiment, the outer layers 11a and 12a of the sheathing sheets 11 and 12 are made of material selected from a textile woven fabric, and the inner layer 11 b and 12b of the sheathing sheet 11 and 12 is selected of a plastic film type.
In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it is also illustrated that the gas cushion (or the bag body) 10 is configured with a pump 20 and a relief valve 30. In the adopted embodiment, the pump 20 and the relief valve 30 are configured on the sheathing sheet 12. The pump 20 is defined with a reaction chamber 21 and a pumping hole 22 communicated the reaction chamber 21 to an exterior. Accordingly, with the operation between compression and releasing of the pump 20, the reaction chamber 21 can generate reciprocal contraction and expansion states, so that an external fluid can be drawn into the reaction chamber 21 through the pumping hole 22 of the pump 20.
Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 and in detailed description, the pump 20 further comprises a sub-chamber 23. The sub-chamber 23 communicated with the reaction chamber 21 is configured with a valve clack 24 and an elastic object 25 therein, in which the elastic object 25 enables the valve clack 24 to normally close the pumping hole 22.
Refer to Figs. 3 and 4, in Fig. 3 when the reaction chamber 21 situated in the compression state (shown by dotted lines) is returned to an initial dilation state (shown by real lines), the external fluid (e.g., air or gas flow) can be drawn into the reaction chamber 21 through the pumping hole 22. That is, the drawn external fluid pushes off the valve clack 24 to enter into the sub-chamber 23 and the reaction chamber 21 of the pump 20, thereby forcing the elastic object 25 to store energy therein.
In Fig. 4, when the pump 20 is operated or pressed by a user (e.g., a condition denoted by arrows in Figs.4), the elastic object 25 releases the stored energy to drive the valve clack 24 to close the sub-chamber 23 of the pump 20; meanwhile, the fluid located in the reaction chamber 21 of the pump 20 is forced to pass through the sub-chamber 23 of the pump 20 to enter into the chamber 13 of the gas cushion (or the bag body) 10, thereby forming the gas cushion (or the bag body) 10 (or the chamber 13) in the dilation state.
Concretely speaking, the pump 20 further comprises a channel 26 communicated with the chamber 13 of the gas cushion (or the bag body) 10. In the adopted embodiment, the channel 26 and the sub-chamber 23 of the pump 20 are formed of a communication type. When the user operates or presses the pump 20, the fluid located in the reaction chamber 21 is forced to open the channel 26 of the pump 20, so that the gas flow can enter into the chamber 13 of the gas cushion (or the bag body) 10 via the channel 26 of the pump 20 (as the condition illustrated in Fig. 4). Accordingly, with the operation of the pump 20, the dilation or expansion of the gas cushion (or the bag body) 10 can be controlled in accordance with the actual requirement from the user.
Referring to Figs. 2, 5 and 6, the relief valve 30 is configured with a concave compartment 31, a slot compartment 32 communicated with the concave compartment 31, a valve rod 33 movable between a first position and a second position, and a valve 34 normally closed between the concave compartment 31 and the slot compartment 32. When the valve rod 33 is moved from the first position toward the second position, the valve 34 is forcedly pushed off by the valve rod 33, and the fluid located in the chamber 13 is discharged from the concave compartment 31 by passing the slot compartment 32, thereby forming the gas cushion (or the bag body) 10 in a non-dilation state.
In detailed description, the concave compartment 31 of the relief valve 30 comprises a first concave compartment 31a and a second concave compartment 31 b, and a through hole 35 is formed between the first concave compartment 31a and the second concave compartment 31b of the concave compartment 31. Therefore, the first concave compartment 31a and the second concave compartment 31 b are formed of a communication type. The valve rod 33, corresponding to the first concave compartment 31 a and the second concave compartment 31b of the concave compartment 31, comprises a head portion 33a, an elastic device 36 and a shoulder portion 33b, in which the head portion 33a and the elastic device 36 are combined in the first concave compartment 31 a of the concave compartment 31, and the shoulder portion 33b is located inside the second concave compartment 31 b of the concave compartment 31. The elastic device 36 of the valve rod 33 keeps the shoulder portion 33b of the valve rod 33 to normally close the through hole 35. A state of the through hole 35 to be closed by the shoulder portion 33b of the valve rod 33 can be removed unless the valve rod 33 is moved toward the second position, so that the through hole 35 of the relief valve 30 is formed of an open type.
In Fig. 5, it is also illustrated that the second concave compartment 31 b of the concave compartment 31 is formed with a passage 31 c, forming the second concave compartment 31 b of the concave compartment 31 and the slot compartment 32 of the relief valve 30 of a communication type. An elastic body 37 is arranged in the slot compartment 32 of the relief valve 30 to drive the valve 34 to normally close the passage 31c of the concave compartment 31. Accordingly, the air or gas flow located in the chamber 13 cannot be discharged from the slot compartment 32 of the relief valve 30, the passage 31c and the second concave compartment 31 b of the concave compartment 31, the through hole 35, and the first concave compartment 31a of the concave compartment 31. The slot compartment 32 of the relief valve 30 and the passage 31c of the concave compartment 31 can be formed in a passage-way state unless the valve 34 is pushed off by the valve rod 33 of the relief valve 30.
In the adopted embodiment, the slot compartment 32 of the relief valve 30 is configured with at least one slit 32a, allowing the fluid located in the chamber 13 to enter into the slot compartment 32 of the relief valve 30 via the slit 32a. It is required to explain that, particularly shown in Fig. 2, the slot compartment 32 of the relief valve 30 is formed by two similar cylinders which are partially combined to each other.
Referring again to Figs. 5 and 6, the concave compartment 31 (or the first concave compartment 31 a) is configured with at least one opening 38, constantly forming the first concave compartment 31 a and the exterior as an open type (or a passage-way state) via the opening 38. When the slot compartment 32 of the relief valve 30, the passage 31c and the concave compartment 31 are formed in the opening state, the air or the gas flow can be discharged from the opening 38 of the concave compartment 31.
Concretely speaking, when the valve rod 33 operated by the user is moved from the first position toward the second position, the valve rod 33 forces the elastic device 36 to store energy therein and drives the shoulder portion 33b to remove the state of the through hole 35 to be closed by the shoulder portion 33b of the valve rod 33, so that the through hole 35 of the relief valve 30 is formed of an open type. Further, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the valve rod 33 downwardly presses on the valve 34, so that the elastic body 37 is equally formed in a stored-energy state. Therefore, when the valve rod 33 downwardly presses on the valve 34, the state of the passage 31 c to be closed by the valve 34 is equally removed, so that the slit 32a, the slot compartment 32, the passage 31 c, the second concave compartment 31b, the through hole 35, the first concave compartment 31a and the opening 38 are formed of a passage-way state. The user can press the gas cushion (or the bag body) 10 to discharge the air located inside the chamber 13 from the above-described passage ways and the opening 38, thus to adjust the dimension of the gas cushion (or the bag body) 10, or to return the gas cushion (or the bag body) 10 to an initial flat shape.
Referring to Fig. 7, a derivate embodiment of the invention is illustrated, in which the pump 20 and the relief valve 30 are formed of an integral type. It can be understood that the operations or motions of the gas cushion (or the bag body) 10, the pump 20 and the relief valve 30 are the same as that mentioned in the above description.
Referring to Fig. 8, an application of the invention combined with an underwear 40 (or a brassiere) is illustrated, in which the gas cushion (or the bag body) 10 is installed inside the underwear 40 through an opening 41 formed thereon.
Representatively speaking, the invention provides an improved breast pad structure with a size-adjustable breast pad. In comparison with conventional skills, the invention provides the considerations and advantages as follows.
Firstly, the structure design and configuration relation of the gas cushion (or the bag body) 10 or components (e.g., a pump, a relief valve, etc.) connected therewith have been redesigned and reconsidered, providing innovated use patterns and applications capable of being distinguished from conventional skills. Actually, the invention also provides various functions of simplified structures and visual artistic effect.
Secondly, the invention provides a simplified operation effect in accordance with the following conditions. For example, the gas cushion (or the bag body) 10 is combined with the pump 20 and the relief valve 30; the relief valve 30 is provided with components such as the first and second concave compartments 31 a and 31 b, the passage 31c and the slot compartment 32, etc.; and the concave compartment 31 and the slot compartment 32 are respectively provided with the opening 38 and the slit 32a in cooperation with components such as the valve rod 33, the valve 34 and the elastic body 37, etc., capable of controlling the passage-way state of the passage 31 c and the through hole 35.
Accordingly, the invention effectively provides an improved breast pad structure featuring of a unique spatial pattern and incomparable advantages and inventiveness, superior to conventional skills.
While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

An improved breast pad structure, comprising:
a flexible gas cushion or a bag body, defined with a reciprocally expandable and compressible chamber and configured with a pump and a relief valve, in which the pump comprises a channel communicated with the chamber so that a fluid is allowed to enter into the chamber through the channel to form the gas cushion or the bag body in a dilation state; and the relief valve is configured with a concave compartment, a slot compartment communicated with the concave compartment, and a valve rod movable between a first position and a second position, in which the valve rod comprises a head portion, the concave compartment comprises a first concave compartment combined with the head portion of the valve rod and configured with at least one opening and a second concave compartment, and the first concave compartment and an exterior are constantly formed in a passage-way state via the opening; and

a valve combined with an elastic body and arranged inside the slot compartment of the relief valve, normally to be closed between the concave compartment and the slot compartment, in which when the valve rod is moved from the first position toward the second position, the valve is allowably to be pushed off by the valve rod, and the fluid located in the chamber is discharged from the concave compartment and the opening via the slot compartment, so that the gas cushion or the bag body is formed in a non-dilation state.
The improved breast pad structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein a through hole is formed between the first concave compartment and the second concave compartment of the concave compartment.
The improved breast pad structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the head portion of the valve rod and an elastic device are combined in the first concave compartment of the concave compartment, the valve rod further comprises a shoulder portion located inside the second concave compartment of the concave compartment, and the elastic device keeps the shoulder portion of the valve rod to normally close the through hole, so that a state of the through hole to be closed by the shoulder portion of the valve rod can be removed when the valve rod is moved toward the second position.
The improved breast pad structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second concave compartment of the concave compartment is formed with a passage which enables the second concave compartment of the concave compartment and the slot compartment of the relief valve to form a communication type, and the valve cooperated with the elastic body is utilized to normally close the passage of the concave compartment.
The improved breast pad structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slot compartment of the relief valve is configured with at least one slit, so that the fluid located in the chamber is allowed to enter into the slot compartment of the relief valve via the slit.
The improved breast pad structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slot compartment of the relief valve is formed by two cylinders which are partially combined to each other.
The improved breast pad structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gas cushion or the bag body is a combination of two sheathing sheets which are commonly defined with the chamber, and each of the two sheathing sheets includes an outer layer and an inner layer combined with the outer layer.
The improved breast pad structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pump defined with a reaction chamber comprises a pumping hole which is utilized to draw the fluid into the reaction chamber.
The improved breast pad structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein the pump further comprises a sub-chamber which is communicated with the reaction chamber and configured with a valve clack and an elastic object therein, in which the elastic object enables the valve clack to normally close the pumping hole.
The improved breast pad structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sub-chamber and the channel of the pump are formed of a communication type.
The improved breast pad structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein the pump and the relief valve are configured on one of the two sheathing sheets.
The improved breast pad structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pump and the relief valve are formed of an integral type.
The improved breast pad structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein the outer layer of the sheathing sheet is textile woven fabric, and the inner layer of the sheathing sheet is formed of a plastic film type
The improved breast pad structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gas cushion or the bag body is installed inside an underwear through an opening formed thereon.