I have a problem with many, if not most of the nipple clamps sold. They just don't work right.
Let me explain. There are some that work exceptionally well, clover clamps are one example but in fact they are in reality based on the old Japanese silk drying clamps. These work using a compound lever action to tighten the grip when you pull on the tab. This allowed a strong grip on the silk when it is wet and heavy and loosens as it dries and gets lighter.
So to recap, here are the most commonly sold and used clamps.
The first of these are the basic alligator clips with plastic covers on the jaws, most have adjustment screws like these to allow for varying pressure. Next are the tweezer style, again with platic coated tips and finally the venerable clover clamps. Yes, there are several more styles around including some screw type clamps, such as these but they are not ideal either.
The problem I have with all these is that they aren't made with the physiology of the nipple in mind.
Most use two contact points or jaws to clamp, in the case of the alligator and tweezer style this is especially problematic. The V shape formed by the jaws tends to be squeezing the nipple out as they close up. And this is the heart of the issue as I see it, none of them work to actively capture the nipple in an easy and simple manner. The two circular clamps in the second row of photos do address the capture part but are fiddly and tricky to use, especially solo.
What to do about this conundrum? Well as the proverb goes, idle hands are the devil's playground, and currently my hands are idle as I am on an enforced break from my travels and messing about in my workshop. More specifically I'm messing around with my 3D printer to see if I can solve this kinky engineering challenge.
Over the next few days (weeks?) I'll be posting on my progress and I'm interested in getting feedback and ideas as I go. I have already made up a few prototypes and I'm going to be sending a few to my local tester as soon as possible. I'm also happy to share STL files for these with anyone who has a 3D printer themselves to try out.
As a preview, here are just a few of the vertical designs I'm working on. These are meant to work with a frame to allow for nipple stretching, not all of these will make the cut but the process is illuminating...
Let me explain. There are some that work exceptionally well, clover clamps are one example but in fact they are in reality based on the old Japanese silk drying clamps. These work using a compound lever action to tighten the grip when you pull on the tab. This allowed a strong grip on the silk when it is wet and heavy and loosens as it dries and gets lighter.
So to recap, here are the most commonly sold and used clamps.
The first of these are the basic alligator clips with plastic covers on the jaws, most have adjustment screws like these to allow for varying pressure. Next are the tweezer style, again with platic coated tips and finally the venerable clover clamps. Yes, there are several more styles around including some screw type clamps, such as these but they are not ideal either.
The problem I have with all these is that they aren't made with the physiology of the nipple in mind.
Most use two contact points or jaws to clamp, in the case of the alligator and tweezer style this is especially problematic. The V shape formed by the jaws tends to be squeezing the nipple out as they close up. And this is the heart of the issue as I see it, none of them work to actively capture the nipple in an easy and simple manner. The two circular clamps in the second row of photos do address the capture part but are fiddly and tricky to use, especially solo.
What to do about this conundrum? Well as the proverb goes, idle hands are the devil's playground, and currently my hands are idle as I am on an enforced break from my travels and messing about in my workshop. More specifically I'm messing around with my 3D printer to see if I can solve this kinky engineering challenge.
Over the next few days (weeks?) I'll be posting on my progress and I'm interested in getting feedback and ideas as I go. I have already made up a few prototypes and I'm going to be sending a few to my local tester as soon as possible. I'm also happy to share STL files for these with anyone who has a 3D printer themselves to try out.
As a preview, here are just a few of the vertical designs I'm working on. These are meant to work with a frame to allow for nipple stretching, not all of these will make the cut but the process is illuminating...