Breast Shield Flexible Edge Integrally Moulded Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breast shields for breast pumps face challenges in adapting to individual breast sizes and shapes, particularly during the expressing process, and are often costly to produce due to complex designs and material usage.
Innovation Solution
A breast shield with a rigid base and a flexible collar, integrally moulded in a two-component injection process, featuring a circumferential connecting joint that allows for a snug, sealing fit with minimal pressure, and an ergonomic three-dimensional curve for optimal positioning and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a soft insert or collar is added to a rigid breast shield to improve comfort and sealing, then comfort and sealing are improved, but production cost increases due to additional materials and complex manufacturing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the rigid funnel and soft collar into a single integrally moulded component using a two-component injection moulding process. This merging eliminates the need for separate assembly steps and reduces overall production complexity despite using multiple materials, thereby improving comfort while controlling manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The breast shield utilizes composite materials by integrating a rigid plastic funnel with a soft silicone collar in a single component. This composite structure allows the product to exhibit both the structural integrity of rigid materials and the comfort properties of soft materials, resolving the contradiction between comfort and manufacturability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a large soft collar is used to accommodate various breast sizes, then adaptability is improved, but production cost increases due to excessive material usage
Solution Approach 1:
The soft collar is designed with elastic properties that allow it to dynamically adapt to different breast sizes and shapes. The collar can stretch and conform to the breast contour, providing versatility across different breast types without requiring multiple sizes or excessive material, thus maintaining adaptability while controlling material consumption.
3Strength
If a rigid breast shield is used to maintain structural integrity, then strength is improved, but comfort deteriorates due to pressure points on the breast
Solution Approach 1:
The breast shield applies local quality by using different materials in different regions: the funnel portion is made of rigid plastic to maintain structural integrity and positioning, while the collar portion is made of soft silicone to provide comfort and conform to the breast surface. This spatial differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between strength and comfort.
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 breast shield effectively adapts to changing breast shapes during expression, reduces production costs, and provides a comfortable, sealing fit with minimal pressure sensitivity, making it suitable for various breast sizes and shapes.
Implementation Method 1
The breast shield with flexible edge... integrally moulded in a two-component injection process
Implementation Method 2
a flexible collar which is arranged on the funnel... and which is realized to be placed on the mother's breast
Data Source
AI summary
A breast shield for a breast pump for expressing human breast milk comprises a rigid base part (1) with a tubular connection piece (10) and with a funnel (11), which is integrally moulded in one piece thereon and widens away from the connection piece (10), for receiving a breast. The breast shield additionally comprises a flexible collar (2) which is arranged on the funnel (11) at an end of the funnel (11) remote from the connection piece (10) and which is realized to be placed onto the mother's breast. The named end of the funnel (11) forms a first contact surface (12) and an end of the collar (2) which faces the funnel (11) forms a second contact surface (22) and they both adjoin one another in an obtuse manner in a circumferential connecting joint (4), wherein the connecting joint is a butt joint. The funnel (11) comprises a first wall thickness (14) and the collar (2) comprises a second wall thickness (24), wherein said second wall thickness (24) is approximately the same size as the first wall thickness (14). The breast shield according to the invention can be produced in a simple and cost-efficient manner and nevertheless is very comfortable to wear and can be placed in position on the breast in a sealing manner.