Latch-assist tool
View Patent ↗Devices and methods for assisting a mother to ensure correct latching of an infant onto the breast or bottle during feeding. A latch-assist tool may include a hands-free warm, soft light that can be directed towards the baby's mouth so as to provide light for the mother to see to help with successful feeding, along with a spatula-like tip designed to help flange the baby's lips out for proper latch positioning. Optionally, the latch-assist tool can be used with a magnetic storage device and/or a magnetic holder that may also serve as a breast-feeding reminder clip.
1 . A wearable latch-assist tool comprising:
an elongate body made of a BPA-free plastic and having a flattened tip at one end, the tip being configured to open an infant's lips and also adjust positioning of the infant's lips for latching to assist in breastfeeding or bottle-feeding the infant, wherein the flattened tip is thinner than the body;
a light source accommodated in the body and configured to emit a low-intensity light comprising an amber or red wavelength;
a power source accommodated in the body, the power source configured to supply operating power to the light source;
a power button accommodated in the body and electrically connected to the power source, the power button being configured to activate and deactivate the light source; and
an attachment mechanism coupled to the elongate body and positioned away from the tip, the attachment mechanism configured to attach the wearable latch-assist tool to an item of clothing.
2 . The wearable latch-assist tool of claim 1 , wherein the light source is a light emitting diode (LED) light source.
3 . The wearable latch-assist tool of claim 2 , wherein the light source is a blue-reducing LED light source that emits the light having a color temperature in a range of 2700-3300 Kelvin.
4 . The wearable latch-assist tool of claim 1 , wherein the power button is positioned proximate an opposite end of the body relative to the tip.
5 . The wearable latch-assist tool of claim 1 , wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery.
6 . The wearable latch-assist tool of claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes a magnet accommodated in the body.
7 . The wearable latch-assist tool of claim 6 , wherein the magnet is positioned proximate the power button on an opposing side of the body from the power button.
8 . The wearable latch-assist tool of claim 1 , wherein the tip has the form of a spatula.
9 . The wearable latch-assist tool of claim 1 , wherein the body includes a luminescent pigment.
10 . The wearable latch-assist tool of claim 1 , wherein the tip is made of silicone.
11 . A latch-assist kit comprising:
a latch-assist tool including
a body having a flattened, rounded tip at one end, the body being made of a BPA-free plastic and the tip configured to open and adjust positioning of an infant's lips for latching to assist in breastfeeding or bottle-feeding the infant, the flattened tip being thinner than the body,
a light source accommodated in the body and positioned between the tip and an opposite end of the body, the light source configured to emit a low-intensity light towards the tip, the light comprising an amber or red wavelength;
a battery accommodated in the body and configured to supply operating power to the light source, and
a power button accommodated in the body and electrically connected to the battery, the power button being configured to activate and deactivate the light source, and
a magnet accommodated in the body; and
a magnetic holder configured to be attached to an item of clothing and including at least one holder magnet, wherein the latch-assist tool is configured to be magnetically attached to the magnetic holder via magnetic engagement between the magnet and the at least one holder magnet.
12 . The latch-assist kit of claim 11 , wherein the magnetic holder comprises a silicone material, the holder magnet being embedded in the silicone material.
13 . The latch-assist kit of claim 11 , wherein the magnetic holder includes a mating pair of fasteners to attach the magnetic holder to the item of clothing.
14 . The latch-assist kit of claim 11 , wherein the magnetic holder includes a luminescent pigment.
15 . The latch-assist kit of claim 11 , wherein the body includes a luminescent pigment.
16 . The latch-assist kit of claim 11 , further comprising:
a magnetic storage device including a housing and at least one storage magnet accommodated in the housing,
wherein the latch-assist tool is configured to be magnetically attached to the magnetic storage device via magnetic engagement between the magnet and the at least one storage magnet.
17 . The latch-assist kit of claim 16 , wherein the housing of the magnetic storage device includes a luminescent pigment.
18 . The latch-assist kit of claim 11 , wherein the light source is a blue-reducing light emitting diode (LED) light source that emits the light having a color temperature in a range of 2700-3300 Kelvin.
19 . A wearable latch-assist tool for use in assisting breastfeeding or bottle-feeding of an infant, the wearable latch-assist tool comprising:
a body having a flattened tip and an opposing end, the body being made of at least one of a BPA-free plastic or silicone, and the body including a luminescent pigment, wherein the flattened tip is thinner than the body and is configured to open and adjust positioning the infant's lips for latching to assist in breastfeeding or bottle-feeding the infant;
a light source accommodated in the body and positioned along a length of the body between the tip and the opposing end of the body, the light source configured to emit a low-intensity light towards the tip, the light comprising an amber or red wavelength;
at least one battery accommodated in the body and configured to supply operating power to the light source;
a power button accommodated in the body and electrically connected to the at least one battery, the power button being configured to activate and deactivate the light source; and
an attachment mechanism coupled to the body and positioned away from the tip, the attachment mechanism configured to attach the wearable latch-assist tool to an item of clothing.
20 . The latch-assist tool of claim 19 , wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery.