Hands-Free Pumping Bra with Adjustable Support Straps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of breast pumps face challenges in simultaneously expressing milk from both breasts without having to manually hold the pump bodies, which is awkward and limits the ability to perform other tasks.
Innovation Solution
A garment, such as a bra, with adjustable support straps and engagement mechanisms that securely hold the breast pump in place, allowing users to pump milk from both breasts without manual assistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a user manually holds the breast pump body against the breast during milk expression, then the pump can be properly positioned and sealed, but the user cannot perform other tasks and must use both hands to hold both pump bodies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a garment as an intermediary device between the user and the breast pump. The garment includes support straps, engagement mechanisms, and panels that collectively serve as a mediator to hold and position the pump bodies, freeing the user's hands while maintaining reliable pump positioning through structured support elements
Solution Approach 2:
The garment is designed to automatically support and position the breast pump bodies without requiring continuous manual intervention. The engagement mechanisms and support straps are configured to self-maintain the pump position against the breasts, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring constant user adjustment
2Ease of operation
If a garment is designed with adjustable support straps and engagement mechanisms to hold the breast pump, then hands-free pumping is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The garment is designed with multi-functional elements that serve multiple purposes. The support straps provide both structural support and adjustability, the engagement mechanisms serve both to secure the pump and allow for easy attachment/detachment, and the panels provide both coverage and pump positioning. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function
Solution Approach 2:
The garment incorporates adjustable and movable elements such as adjustable support straps with engagement mechanisms that can be configured in different positions. This dynamic design allows the garment to adapt to different user needs and pump configurations, reducing complexity by providing flexibility rather than requiring multiple fixed-configuration garments
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus are described herein for providing a garment (e.g. a bra) that can be used by a wearer during extraction of breast milk using a breast pump, and/or during breast feeding. In some embodiments, a garment can include a support strap having an adjustable portion, a shoulder strap, and a back panel. The support strap can be coupled to the shoulder strap via an engagement mechanism. The adjustable portion of the support strap can be configured to be adjusted relative to the engagement mechanism to change a length of the support strap between the engagement mechanism and the back panel so that the support strap can be disposed over a flange of a breast pump to hold the flange against the breast of a user. An outer panel can be coupled to the back panel and the engagement mechanism. In another embodiment, an inner panel can be removably coupled to the inner panel and the engagement mechanism.