Bra Flange Opening with Bar Tacks for Pump Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nursing bras either have weak openings prone to tearing or openings that are too small to accommodate larger breast pump intake components, making it difficult to securely and easily insert and remove these components.
Innovation Solution
A breast pump support garment with horizontal openings secured by bar tacks at both ends, providing structural support, and featuring an upper support with vertical bar tacks for better positioning, along with elastic panels for flexibility and a combination of single and multiple fabric configurations for accommodating various sizes of breast pump intake components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a simple unstitched opening is used to accommodate breast pump intake components, then ease of insertion and removal is improved, but structural strength deteriorates leading to tearing
Solution Approach 1:
The opening is segmented into multiple sections with stitching in some areas and without stitching in others. The unstitched portion allows easy insertion and removal of pump components, while stitched portions provide structural strength and prevent tearing. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by distributing different functional requirements to different segments of the same structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the opening have different stitching characteristics. The central region remains unstitched to facilitate easy insertion and removal, while the peripheral regions incorporate stitching to provide structural support and prevent tearing. This local differentiation of quality allows simultaneous achievement of ease of operation and structural strength.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a larger opening is created to accommodate larger breast pump intake components, then adaptability is improved, but structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The opening structure is divided into stitched and unstitched segments, where the unstitched central portion provides adaptability for various pump sizes while the stitched peripheral portions maintain structural stability. This segmentation allows the opening to be both adaptable and stable simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening structure combines stitched fabric regions with unstitched fabric regions, creating a composite structure that leverages the strengths of both approaches. The stitched regions provide stability while the unstitched regions provide adaptability, resolving the contradiction between these two properties.
3Strength
If multiple stitching lines are added to strengthen the opening, then structural strength is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to restricted movement
Solution Approach 1:
Stitching is applied locally only in regions where structural strength is needed, while leaving the central opening region unstitched to maintain ease of operation. This selective application of stitching resolves the contradiction by providing strength where necessary without restricting movement where it is needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a breast pump support garment. The garment secures a breast pump intake component to the breasts of a user with horizontal openings created by panels that are secured at one or both ends by bar tacks. The bar tacks resist further expansion of the opening by providing better structural support at its ends. An upper support is also provided with bar tacks extending vertically upward to provide better support and geometric positioning of the opening. An elastic band or ribbon can be sandwiched between two fabric panels around the periphery of the garment, and the panels of the garment can be a combination of single and multiple ply to provide more rigid and flexible portions.