Hands-Free Breast Pump Support with Elastic Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current breast pumps require mothers to manually hold the breast flange or shield, limiting their ability to use both hands for other tasks and preventing simultaneous massage or engagement in other activities during milk expression.
Innovation Solution
A stylish bustier with adjustable side panels and straps creates a tight seal for the breast pump flange, allowing hands-free operation by securing the pump in place and accommodating varying breast sizes and shapes through elastic edges, VELCRO attachments, and adjustable straps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a breast pump requires manual holding of the breast flange or shield, then the pump can be operated, but the mother cannot use both hands for other tasks and must hold an awkward position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a support device as an intermediary between the mother's body and the breast pump. This support device includes a chest piece with openings that receive the breast pump, transferring the holding function from the mother's hands to the support structure, thereby enabling hands-free operation while maintaining pump stability
Solution Approach 2:
The support device is designed to be self-supporting through elastic bands and adjustable straps that secure the chest piece to the mother's body. The structure uses its own components (elastic bands, straps, chest piece) to maintain the breast pump in position without requiring external support or manual holding, allowing the mother to engage in other activities
2Reliability
If the support device must be worn beneath and attached to the nursing bra, then the breast pump can be secured, but the device complexity increases with multiple attachment points
Solution Approach 1:
The support device is segmented into distinct functional components: a chest piece with openings for the breast pump, elastic bands for securing to the body, and adjustable straps for additional support. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while contributing to the overall reliability of pump securing
Solution Approach 2:
The support device incorporates adjustable straps and elastic bands that can be dynamically adjusted to fit different body sizes and shapes. The adjustable straps allow the mother to modify the fit and securing force, while the elastic bands provide flexible adaptation to body movements, maintaining reliable pump securing without requiring complex fixed attachment mechanisms
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
Enables mothers to use a breast pump with both hands free, facilitating simultaneous tasks and enhancing milk expression by maintaining a snug fit throughout changes in breast size and weight post-pregnancy.
Implementation Method 1
two side panel portions, each having top and bottom elastic edges to prevent the bustier from slipping down
Implementation Method 2
VELCRO attachments
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus allowing a woman to pump milk from her breasts without the necessity of the woman's hands holding the breast pumps utilizes at least one band of material encircling the woman's chest, the band of material provided with two openings corresponding to the woman's breasts. A center panel would be provided to adjust the fit of the band. Additionally, in another embodiment, a back panel would be used in conjunction with the center panel to connect left and right panels together, the left and right panels including openings for a woman's breast. In all of the embodiments, semicircular pieces would cover each of the openings.