Pump unit for expressing milk

1. A pumping unit for use in a device for expressing human breast milk wherein the pumping unit comprises a breast shield for resting against a mother's breast and a dimensionally stable or approximately dimensionally stable milk collection container for receiving the expressed milk, wherein the breast shield comprises a first axis, and the milk collection container comprises a second axis, wherein the milk collection container is removably attachable to the breast shield, and wherein in the attached state of the milk collection container the first axis is arranged at an angle to the second axis, wherein in the attached state the milk collection container is movable relative to the breast shield, and consequently the angle between the first axis and the second axis is variable, wherein the pumping unit comprises a first coupling part and a second coupling part, wherein the first coupling part and the second coupling part work together to enable the relative movement, wherein the first coupling part is arranged on the breast shield and the second coupling part is arranged on the milk collection container, wherein a connection channel between the breast shield and the milk collection container is provided to direct milk flow from the breast shield to the milk collection container, wherein the connection channel passes through the first and the second coupling parts and wherein there exists at least one position of the breast shield, where the connection channel extends in direction of the second axis.

2. The pumping unit according to claim 1 , wherein the milk collection container comprises a container part and a lid closing off the container part, and wherein the second coupling part is arranged on the lid.

3. The pumping unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first coupling part is formed in a single piece to a part of the breast shield and/or the second coupling part is formed in a single piece to a part of the milk collection container.

4. The pumping unit according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the two coupling parts is a part that is additional to the milk collection container and the breast shield, wherein the additional coupling part in the direction of the connection between the milk collection container and the breast shield comprises a length that is significantly shorter than the height of the milk collection container and of the breast shield.

5. The pumping unit according to claim 1 , wherein the milk collection container is connected to the breast shield by way of a ball joint.

6. The pumping unit according to claim 5 , wherein the ball joint comprises a the connection channel that connects the interior space of the breast shield to the interior space of the milk collection container in order to direct milk flow from the breast shield to the milk collection container.

7. The pumping unit according to claim 5 , wherein the ball joint comprises a joint ball that is formed to or arranged on the breast shield, and wherein the ball joint comprises a ball holder that is formed to or arranged on a lid of the milk collection container.

8. The pumping unit according to claim 5 , wherein the ball joint comprises a joint ball that is formed to or arranged on a lid of the milk collection container.

9. A pumping unit for use in a device for expressing human breast milk wherein the pumping unit comprises a breast shield for resting against a mother's breast and a dimensionally stable or approximately dimensionally stable milk collection container for receiving the expressed milk, wherein the breast shield comprises a first axis, and the milk collection container comprises a second axis, wherein the milk collection container is removably attachable to the breast shield, and wherein in the attached state of the milk collection container the first axis is arranged at an angle to the second axis, wherein in the attached state the milk collection container is movable relative to the breast shield, and consequently the angle between the first axis and the second axis is variable, wherein the milk collection container is movably connected to the breast shield by way of a hinge and wherein a milk line is connected to the breast shield, forming a through channel that connects an interior space of the breast shield to an interior space of the milk collection container and wherein the milk collection container comprises a lid with a passage opening, through which passage opening the milk line projects.

10. A pumping unit for use in a device for expressing human breast milk wherein the pumping unit comprises a breast shield for resting against a mother's breast and a dimensionally stable or approximately dimensionally stable milk collection container for receiving the expressed milk, wherein the breast shield comprises a first axis, and the milk collection container comprises a second axis, wherein the milk collection container is removably attachable to the breast shield, and wherein in the attached state of the milk collection container the first axis is arranged at an angle to the second axis, wherein in the attached state the milk collection container is movable relative to the breast shield, and consequently the angle between the first axis and the second axis is variable, wherein the milk collection container is connected to the breast shield by way of a flexible connection piece and wherein reinforcement elements are implemented in or on a wall of the flexible connection piece.

11. The pumping unit according to claim 1 , wherein the milk collection container comprises a kidney-shaped cross-section.

12. A breast shield for use in a pumping unit, wherein the pumping unit comprises the breast shield for resting against a mother's breast and a dimensionally stable or approximately dimensionally stable milk collection container for receiving the expressed milk, wherein the breast shield comprises a first axis, and the milk collection container comprises a second axis, wherein the milk collection container is removably attachable to the breast shield, and wherein in the attached state of the milk collection container the first axis is arranged at an angle to the second axis, wherein in the attached state the milk collection container is movable relative to the breast shield, and consequently the angle between the first axis and the second axis is variable, wherein the pumping unit comprises a first coupling part and a second coupling part, wherein the first coupling part and the second coupling part work together to enable the relative movement, wherein the first coupling part is arranged on the breast shield and the second coupling part is arranged on the milk collection container, wherein a connection channel between the breast shield and the milk collection container is provided to direct milk flow from the breast shield to the milk collection container, wherein the connection channel passes through the first and the second coupling parts and wherein there exists at least one position of the breast shield, where the connection channel extends in direction of the second axis.

13. A milk collection container for use in a pumping unit, wherein the pumping unit comprises the breast shield for resting against a mother's breast and the milk collection container for receiving the expressed milk, wherein the breast shield comprises a first axis, and the milk collection container comprises a second axis, wherein the milk collection container is removably attachable to the breast shield, and wherein in the attached state of the milk collection container the first axis is arranged at an angle to the second axis, wherein in the attached state the milk collection container is movable relative to the breast shield, and consequently the angle between the first axis and the second axis is variable, wherein the milk collection container is designed to be dimensionally stable or approximately dimensionally stable and wherein the pumping unit comprises a first coupling part and a second coupling part, wherein the first coupling part and the second coupling part work together to enable the relative movement, wherein the first coupling part is arranged on the breast shield and the second coupling part is arranged on the milk collection container, wherein a connection channel between the breast shield and the milk collection container is provided to direct milk flow from the breast shield to the milk collection container, wherein the connection channel passes through the first and the second coupling parts and wherein there exists at least one position of the breast shield, where the connection channel extends in direction of the second axis.

14. A coupling unit for use in a pumping unit, wherein the pumping unit comprises a breast shield for resting against a mother's breast and a milk collection container for receiving expressed milk, wherein the breast shield comprises a first axis and the milk collection container comprises a second axis, wherein the milk collection container is removably attachable to the breast shield, and wherein in the attached state of the milk collection container the first axis is arranged at an angle to the second axis, wherein in the attached state the milk collection container is movable relative to the breast shield, and consequently the angle between the first axis and the second axis is variable, wherein the pumping unit comprises a first coupling part and a second coupling part, wherein the pumping unit first coupling part and second coupling part work together to enable the relative movement, wherein the pumping unit first coupling part is arranged on the breast shield and the pumping unit second coupling part is arranged on the milk collection container, wherein a connection channel between the breast shield and the milk collection container is provided to direct milk flow from the breast shield to the milk collection container, wherein the connection channel passes through the pumping unit first and second coupling parts and wherein there exists at least one position of the breast shield where the connection channel extends in direction of the second axis.

15. A coupling unit for a breast pump kit comprising:

a first coupling part that is removably attachable to a breast shield; and

a second coupling part that is removably attachable to a collection container;

wherein the first coupling part and the second coupling part are pivotable in relation to each other and are configured to allow for fluid flow therethrough; wherein the first coupling part comprises a joint ball and the second coupling part comprises a ball holder, or vice versa.