US Patent 11273241 Breast flange for direct coupling to breast pump fitting

A breast flange has a cup portion shaped to receive a lactating female breast, a funnel portion coupled to the cup portion and shaped to receive areola and nipple regions of the lactating female breast and to be in contact with the areola region, and a neck portion coupled to the funnel portion and configured to be coupled directly to a breast pump fitting. At least the funnel portion is made of a pliable and resilient material, the material having a thickness. The funnel portion has a set of windows, each window defined by a reduction in thickness of the material and configured to deflect in the presence of suction so as to mimic action of a tongue of a nursing baby.