Breast Shield Hard Base Soft Layer Negative Pressure

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing breast pumps with soft material breast shields experience leakage and reduced massaging effect due to uneven pressure distribution and shrinkage, leading to inefficient milk extraction.

Innovation Solution

A breast shield with a hard base portion and flexible soft portions that prevent airflow through holes, maintaining negative pressure and distributing pressure effectively for enhanced massage and milk extraction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a soft material is used for the breast shield, then the breast shield can conform to the breast shape, but when negative pressure is applied the soft part shrinks and creates gaps causing breast milk leakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebreast shield conformity to breast shapeVSAvoidsealing performance preventing milk leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The breast shield is divided into multiple functional layers: a hard base portion for structural stability and pressure application, and a soft portion for conforming to the breast. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The breast shield uses a composite structure combining hard and soft materials. The hard base portion provides rigidity to maintain negative pressure and prevent shrinkage, while the soft portion provides adaptability to breast shape, resolving the contradiction between conformity and sealing reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If the entire breast shield shrinks when negative pressure is applied, then the breast shield conforms to the breast, but the pressurizing force is distributed to a large area reducing the massaging effect

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebreast shield conformity to breast shapeVSAvoidmassaging effect on breast

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The breast shield applies pressure locally through the hard base portion which maintains its shape under negative pressure, concentrating the pressurizing force on specific areas of the breast for effective massaging, while the soft portion only provides local conformity without shrinking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If a hard base portion is used, then negative pressure can be maintained and massaging effect is improved, but the breast shield cannot conform to the breast shape

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenegative pressure maintenanceVSAvoidbreast shield conformity to breast shape

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The breast shield is divided into multiple functional layers: a hard base portion for structural stability and pressure application, and a soft portion for conforming to the breast. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The breast shield uses a composite structure combining hard and soft materials. The hard base portion provides rigidity to maintain negative pressure and prevent shrinkage, while the soft portion provides adaptability to breast shape, resolving the contradiction between conformity and sealing reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 pressurizes and massages the breast, maintains negative pressure, and prevents milk leakage, improving the overall efficiency of breast milk pumping.

Implementation Method 1

when negative pressure is applied to the inside of the breast shield

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Vacuum

Implementation Method 2

a soft portion, surrounding an outer surface and an inner surface of the base portion, preventing an airflow through the through hole

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAirflow blocking: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS12059514B2Breast pump and breast shield used therein

Publication Date: 2024.08.13 HAENIM CO LTD

AI summary

The present invention relates to a breast shield used in a breast pump configured to pump human breast milk. The breast shield includes a hard base portion including both ends and a sidewall connecting the both ends to include a hollow in the base portion in which the both ends are open and a human mamma is accommodated in the hollow through any one of the both ends, through holes passing through the sidewall, and a soft portion configured to surround an outer surface and an inner surface of the base portion, prevent an airflow through the through holes, and have flexibility.