Collapsible Wearable Breast Pump Dynamics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wearable breast pumps are large in volume, heavy, and have low suction efficiency, making them inconvenient for public use and uncomfortable for users.
Innovation Solution
A wearable and hidden breast pump design featuring a small negative pressure chamber, adjustable suction, and a solenoid valve system that controls air volume within the chamber to achieve high suction efficiency, with a lightweight and compact structure that can be easily concealed under clothing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the wearable breast pump uses a large negative pressure chamber and cylinder to ensure sufficient suction, then the suction efficiency is improved, but the volume and weight of the device increase, making it inconvenient to carry and hidden
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the negative pressure chamber collapsible rather than rigid. The chamber can dynamically change its volume - expanding when needed for suction and compressing for compact storage. This is achieved through a flexible membrane structure that allows the chamber to be compressed to a small volume while maintaining the capability to expand to a larger volume during operation, thus resolving the contradiction between needing large volume for suction efficiency and small volume for portability.
2Productivity
If the wearable breast pump uses a large cylinder and air chamber, then the suction is sufficient, but the device becomes heavy and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a collapsible negative pressure chamber that can be compressed to minimal volume, dramatically reducing the weight of the device when not in use. The flexible membrane structure allows the chamber to collapse flat, eliminating the need for a heavy rigid container. This dynamic compression capability resolves the contradiction between maintaining sufficient suction capability and minimizing device weight.
3Ease of operation
If the wearable breast pump is designed to be compact and hidden, then the portability is improved, but the suction efficiency decreases due to reduced chamber volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by designing a negative pressure chamber that exists in two states: a compressed state for portability and a expanded state for operation. The flexible membrane structure allows the chamber to be compressed to a tiny volume for hiding in clothing, yet can be expanded during use to provide sufficient volume for effective milk expression. This dynamic transformation enables both high portability and high suction efficiency at different times.
4Volume of moving object
If the wearable breast pump uses a small negative pressure chamber, then the device is compact and lightweight, but the suction efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by creating a negative pressure chamber that is small in its stored state but can expand to a larger operational volume. The flexible membrane structure enables the chamber to dynamically adjust its volume based on operational needs. During milk expression, the chamber expands to provide sufficient volume for effective suction, while between uses it compresses to a minimal volume, thus resolving the contradiction between small size and sufficient suction capability.
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 design provides a comfortable and efficient milk expression experience with improved suction efficiency, making it suitable for public use and convenient for working mothers.
Implementation Method 1
the motor is used to control the cylinder to produce negative pressure at the horn cover so as to cause the breast to express the milk
Implementation Method 2
the solenoid valve intermittently inflates air into the negative pressure chamber, thus controlling an air volume in the negative pressure chamber, thereby controlling the lactation chamber in a negative pressure state or a positive pressure state
Implementation Method 3
The valve is a one-way valve, which is closed when the cylinder is in negative pressure state, and is open and connects the horn cover and the milk storage cup when the cylinder recovers its shape so as to drain the milk into the milk storage cup
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable and hidden breast pump includes a shell, a flange, a negative pressure chamber, a negative pressure pump, a milk container and a solenoid valve. The flange is arranged on a front surface of the shell; the negative pressure chamber is arranged in the shell and connected with the flange to form an lactation chamber; the negative pressure pump and the solenoid valve are arranged in the shell, the negative pressure pump, the solenoid valve and the negative pressure chamber are communicated; the negative pressure pump intermittently extracts air from the negative pressure chamber, and the solenoid valve intermittently inflates air into the negative pressure chamber, thus controlling an air amount in said negative pressure chamber, thereby controlling the lactation chamber to form a negative pressure or a positive pressure; the milk container is arranged under the shell and communicated with the lactation chamber.