Breast Pump Shock Absorbing Section for Leakage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional breast pumps with trumpet-shaped enlarged-diameter milk expressing sections made from hard synthetic resin cause discomfort and inefficiencies in milk expression due to inadequate shock absorption and varying breast sizes, leading to milk leakage and reduced negative pressure retention.
Innovation Solution
A breast pump design featuring a detachable shock absorbing section with a circular trumpet shape, including a through hole for the nipple, an areola abutting section, and a breast tight contact section to create a seal and improve milk flow, while a cover section can extend along the outer edge to prevent leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a hard synthetic resin is used for the milk expressing section, then the structural strength is improved, but the user comfort deteriorates due to shock and pain during breast abutment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a flexible shock-absorbing cover made of elastomeric material that lines the interior surface of the rigid milk expressing section. This flexible layer absorbs shock during breast abutment while maintaining the structural integrity of the rigid outer shell, thereby resolving the contradiction between strength and user comfort.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a broad shock absorbing cover is provided from the opening section over the entire inner surface, then the shock absorption is improved, but the milk expression efficiency deteriorates due to strong suction on areola and breast skin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the shock-absorbing cover to have different functional zones: a first region with reduced shock absorption near the opening section to prevent strong suction on the areola and breast skin, and a second region with normal shock absorption further inside. This local differentiation allows the cover to absorb shock where needed while avoiding interference with milk expression at critical areas.
3Reliability
If the shock absorbing cover makes tight contact with a broad range from areola to breast main portion, then the seal is improved, but the user comfort deteriorates due to strong negative pressure on areola and breast skin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a differentiated seal arrangement where the shock-absorbing cover makes tight contact in certain regions to maintain seal quality, while having reduced contact or different contact characteristics in regions near the areola and breast skin to avoid strong negative pressure on sensitive areas. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between seal reliability and user comfort.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a conventional shock absorber is detachably attached inside the milk expressing section, then the user comfort is improved by preventing pain, but the milk expression efficiency deteriorates due to inadequate shock absorption and milk leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional discrete shock absorber with a flexible shock-absorbing cover made of elastomeric material that lines the entire interior surface of the milk expressing section. This flexible cover provides comprehensive shock absorption while maintaining proper seal and milk expression efficiency, overcoming the limitations of conventional shock absorbers.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design effectively prevents milk leakage and enhances milk expression efficiency by providing a comfortable, secure fit for various breast sizes and shapes, maintaining negative pressure and reducing user discomfort.
Implementation Method 1
a shock absorbing section is disposed attachably and detachably with respect to the enlarged-diameter milk expressing section
Implementation Method 2
a breast pump main body which is attached to and detached from the accommodating vessel and which generates a negative pressure for expressing milk
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a breast pump capable of effectively preventing the occurrence of leaking of breast milk from a milk expressing section having an enlarged diameter during expression of milk, and also effectively preventing the loss of negative pressure due to leaking. A breast pump has an accommodating vessel for collecting breast milk; a breast pump main body which generates negative pressure for expressing milk; an enlarged-diameter milk expressing section having an enlarged diameter for abutting against a breast of a user; and a shock absorbing section, at least a portion of which abuts against a breast of a user by being formed in a substantially circular trumpet shape following an opening section of the enlarged-diameter milk expressing section, wherein the shock absorbing section includes an abutting section which abuts against an areola of the user and a tight contact section which makes tight contact with the user's breast.