Breast Wrap With Segmented Absorbent Panels And Adjustable Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breast wraps fail to effectively absorb lactation fluid, provide comfort, and accommodate different body shapes and sizes, often causing inconvenience and discomfort during showering and personal grooming, and can be messy and embarrassing.
Innovation Solution
A breast wrap with absorbent regions, adjustable fastening systems, and elastic regions that wrap around the chest to cover the nipples, providing support and flexibility, allowing for comfortable use and easy adjustment to fit various body shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a towel is wrapped around the breasts to absorb lactation fluid, then absorbency is improved, but the towel can easily come loose and requires one hand to hold it in place, making drying and dressing difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The breast wrap is divided into multiple panels (first panel, second panel, third panel) that can be independently positioned and fastened. This segmentation allows the wrap to be secured around the chest without requiring hands to hold it in place, while the absorbent panels are strategically positioned to cover the breasts and absorb lactation fluid effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
Fastening members (such as hooks, eyes, or Velcro) are introduced as intermediary elements to secure the wrap panels to each other or to the clothing underneath. These fastening mechanisms eliminate the need to manually hold the towel in place while maintaining absorbency through proper positioning of the absorbent panels.
2Ease of operation
If a towel is tucked into itself to keep hands free, then ease of operation is improved, but the towel can easily come loose and removes pressure from the breast
Solution Approach 1:
The wrap is segmented into multiple panels that can be independently fastened at different locations (front, back, sides). This segmentation provides multiple anchor points that distribute the holding force and prevent the wrap from coming loose, while maintaining stable pressure on the breasts to control milk ejection.
Solution Approach 2:
The breast wrap combines multiple functional elements into a single integrated garment: absorbent panels for fluid absorption, fastening members for secure attachment, and support panels for breast stabilization. This merging ensures the wrap remains reliably in place without requiring manual adjustment.
3Device complexity
If a towel wrap is used without support underneath the breasts, then simplicity is improved, but comfort is reduced particularly when breasts are engorged or tender
Solution Approach 1:
The breast wrap merges multiple functions into one garment: the support panel provides underneath breast support for comfort during engorgement, while the absorbent panels and fastening members maintain the wrap's simplicity and effectiveness. The integrated design eliminates the need for separate support devices.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the wrap have specialized qualities: the support panel underneath the breasts provides cushioning and comfort for tender or engorged breasts, while the absorbent panels are positioned to cover the breasts for fluid absorption. This local specialization of material properties enhances comfort without complicating the overall design.
4Ease of operation
If VELCRO fastening is used to hold the wrap in place, then ease of operation is improved, but pressure is applied around the middle of the garment across the nipples which may be sore
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening members are segmented and distributed across multiple locations on the wrap (front, back, and sides) rather than concentrated in one area. This segmentation distributes the holding pressure away from the sore nipples while maintaining secure attachment. The absorbent panels are positioned to cover the breasts without requiring direct pressure on the nipples for fastening.
5Device complexity
If a single tightness adjustment is used for the band, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different body shapes and sizes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is segmented into multiple independent adjustment regions with separate fastening members positioned at different locations on the wrap. This segmentation allows each region to be independently adjusted to accommodate different body shapes and sizes, providing versatility without requiring a complex centralized adjustment system.
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 wrap effectively absorbs lactation fluid, allows for hands-free grooming, and provides comfort and support, reducing mess and embarrassment, while accommodating different body shapes and sizes.
Implementation Method 1
one or more absorbent regions on a first side of the panel
Implementation Method 2
the wrap comprises an elastic region along the bottom of the panel
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a breast wrap for absorbing fluid secreted from a wearer's breasts. In one embodiment the breast wrap comprises a panel of material, means for fastening the panel in a continuous band, one or more absorbent regions on a first side of the panel, and first and second adjustment means independently operable to adjust the tightness of the band along first and second adjustment regions proximate the top and bottom of the band respectively. In use, the wrap is configured to wrap around a wearer's chest and substantially cover the wearer's breasts with the one or more absorbent regions covering the wearer's nipples and the first and second adjustment regions positioned above and below the wearer's breasts respectively. In another embodiment, the breast wrap comprises one or more absorbent panels removably attached to a first side of the first panel and, in use, the one or more absorbent panels cover the wearer's nipples.