Garment-Attached Funnel Support for Hands-Free Breast Pumping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Women face challenges in using breast pumps hands-free, especially when multitasking or pumping both breasts simultaneously, as they need to hold the funnel tightly against the nipple area to maintain a seal.
Innovation Solution
A funnel support accessory that attaches to a breastfeeding garment, such as a nursing bra or tank top, using a flexible panel with a central opening and engagement elements to secure the breast pumping funnel in place, allowing for hands-free operation and concealment of the breasts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the woman holds the funnel tightly against the nipple area to ensure a seal, then the suction effectiveness is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates because she cannot perform other tasks or pump both breasts simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a funnel support device as an intermediary between the woman's body and the funnel. This device includes a support structure that attaches to the woman's clothing or body, and a funnel holder that secures the funnel in position, allowing the funnel to be held firmly against the nipple area without requiring the woman's hands
Solution Approach 2:
The funnel support device creates a mechanical copy of the hand-holding function. Instead of using the woman's hand to hold and position the funnel, the support device replicates this positioning and holding function through its structural components, including support arms and securing mechanisms
2Reliability
If the funnel is held tightly against the nipple area, then the seal quality is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for additional support mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The funnel support device is designed to perform multiple functions: it holds the funnel in position, applies pressure to maintain the seal, and can be adjusted to accommodate different breast sizes and shapes. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple separate devices
Solution Approach 2:
The support device incorporates adjustable and flexible elements that can adapt to different users and conditions. The support structure can be adjusted in position and tension, and the funnel holder can accommodate variations in funnel size and shape, allowing the device to maintain effective sealing without requiring a completely different device for each scenario
Data Source
AI summary
A funnel support accessory attaches to a breastfeeding garment, such as a nursing bra, to support a funnel of a breast pumping system at a nipple area of the wearer's breast, so as to generally conceal the wearer's breasts and allow the wearer to perform other tasks while pumping in a hands-free manner. The funnel support accessory includes a fabric panel having at least one central opening configured to engage the funnel of the breast pumping system. The funnel support accessory also includes an engagement element disposed at an upper portion of the fabric panel to attach to an attachment feature of a breastfeeding garment. The fabric panel supports the engaged funnel of the breast pumping system generally over an exposed nipple area, such that the funnel seals against the nipple area without using a hand to support the funnel.