Menstrual Cup Asymmetric V-Shape Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing menstrual cups face design trade-offs between comfort, capacity, and flexibility, often causing discomfort, shifting, or spillage due to their shape and stiffness, failing to meet the needs of most users.
Innovation Solution
A menstrual cup with a 'V'-shaped cross-section, varying wall thickness, and specific dimensions that balance comfort and capacity, including a rounded rim for resilience and a tapered transition for smooth insertion and removal, along with an array of sizes to accommodate different users, and a stem for easy extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the shape of a menstrual cup is rounder, then it will be easier to insert and remove, but it may push more on the bladder resulting in discomfort for a user
Solution Approach 1:
The cup employs an asymmetric cross-sectional geometry with a rounded rim portion and a tapered base portion. The rim has a larger diameter than the base, creating an asymmetric shape that facilitates easy insertion and removal while the tapered base reduces bladder pressure. This asymmetric design allows the cup to be gripped easily at the rim for operation while maintaining comfort during use.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the cup have different geometric properties optimized for their specific functions. The rim portion is rounded with a larger diameter for ease of gripping and insertion, while the base portion is tapered with a smaller diameter to reduce bladder pressure. The wall thickness also varies locally, being thicker at the rim for structural integrity during insertion and thinner at the base for comfort.
2Reliability
If cups are very stiff, then they open and seal to vaginal walls easily, but stiff cups can conform to the body less and may be less comfortable or may shift more during use
Solution Approach 1:
The cup utilizes controlled variations in wall thickness as a key parameter to balance stiffness and comfort. The wall is thicker at the rim portion to provide structural rigidity for easy opening and sealing, while being thinner at the base portion to allow flexibility and conformity to body contours. This parameter change in wall thickness distributes mechanical properties optimally throughout the structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cup is formed from elastomeric materials that combine rigidity and flexibility properties. The material selection and varying wall thickness create a composite-like structure where different regions have different effective mechanical properties, allowing the rim to be stiff for sealing while the base remains flexible for comfort and body conformity.
3Quantity of substance
If the capacity of the cup is increased, then it extends usage time, but it may push against the bladder and cause difficulty with urination
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric cross-sectional design with a rounded rim and tapered base allows the cup to achieve adequate capacity while maintaining a smaller base diameter. The rounded rim portion provides structural volume for fluid collection, while the tapered base portion reduces the footprint at the bladder interface, thereby extending usage time without causing bladder pressure or urination difficulty.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the cup is made more flexible, then it conforms better to the body, but it may not open as easily and may shift during use
Solution Approach 1:
The varying wall thickness creates local quality differences that optimize different regions for different functions. The thicker rim portion provides rigidity for easy opening and position stability, while the thinner base portion allows flexibility for body conformity. This local differentiation of material distribution resolves the contradiction between flexibility and structural reliability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A menstrual cup is described. The menstrual cup has a receptacle having an open top end and a closed base. The receptacle also includes a rim extending around the circumference of the top end and has an inner diameter Di across the top end of more than 35mm and a thickness Tr of between 3 mm and 5 mm. The length from the top end to the base of the receptacle is less than 53mm. An array of packages of menstrual cups and an array having at least one menstrual cup and one absorbent article or disposable wipe are also described.