Breastpump Bag Attachment Collar with Clamping Ears
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breastpump systems face challenges in attaching and detaching milk collection bags efficiently, requiring additional steps and potentially leading to unnecessary cleaning and inconvenience for users.
Innovation Solution
A breastpump attachment device with mounting ears or hooks that connects to standard breastpump assemblies, allowing for easy attachment and removal of milk collection bags with apertures, suspending the bag open beneath the breastpump conduit for direct milk flow collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a plastic bag is used as a receptacle for milk collection, then the need for transferring milk and cleaning containers is eliminated, but the attachment and detachment process becomes complex and inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a collar as an intermediary component that mediates between the breastpump and the plastic bag. The collar features a clamping mechanism with a first clamping surface and a second clamping surface that can securely hold the bag's opening without requiring direct attachment of the bag to the pump, thereby simplifying the attachment and detachment process while maintaining effective milk collection.
2Reliability
If a clamping mechanism is used to attach the bag to the pump, then secure attachment is achieved, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collar serves multiple functions: it acts as a mounting structure for the bag, provides a clamping mechanism for secure attachment, and interfaces with the breastpump's existing bottle attachment thread. This multi-functionality achieves reliable attachment without significantly increasing overall device complexity, as the collar integrates several roles into a single component.
3Ease of operation
If the bag is directly attached to the breastpump assembly, then the attachment process is simplified, but the bag cannot be easily removed and reused
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping mechanism incorporates a release feature that allows the collar to transition from a tightly clamped state to an open state. The first clamping surface and second clamping surface can be pressed together to secure the bag, and the release feature allows users to easily open the clamp to detach the bag, enabling both simple attachment and easy removal for reuse.
Data Source
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AI summary
An attachment arrangement is disclosed for attaching a milk collecting bag to a breastpump assembly. In one form this includes an adaptor having mounting ears upon which portions of a bag with apertures therein are hung to suspend the bag in place below the breastpump assembly.