Integrated Cooling Hydration Vest with Gravity Drain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling and hydration solutions for outdoor events fail to provide simultaneous cooling and rehydration, often being bulky, costly, or limited in effectiveness, and do not integrate both functions into a single, affordable device.
Innovation Solution
An integrated cooling and hydration vest made of inexpensive polymer film with an upper compartment for frozen ice that melts and delivers fluid by gravity to a lower section, connected via a straw for consumption, allowing for both cooling and hydration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate cooling packs and hydration packs are used, then cooling and hydration functions are provided, but device complexity and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate cooling and hydration functions into a single integrated vest structure. The cooling chamber and hydration reservoir are merged into one device, allowing simultaneous cooling and hydration without requiring multiple separate packs or devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The vest is designed to perform multiple functions: cooling the upper body through the cooling chamber and providing hydration through the reservoir and straw mechanism. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate cooling packs and hydration packs.
2Reliability
If expensive reusable cooling devices are used, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vest is designed as an inexpensive, disposable device made from polymer film materials. Rather than creating expensive reusable cooling devices, this solution provides effective cooling and hydration at low cost, suitable for single-use at outdoor events.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameters by using inexpensive polymer films instead of expensive reusable materials. This allows the device to be manufactured at low cost while still providing effective cooling through the phase change of ice in the cooling chamber.
3Temperature
If ice is used for cooling, then cooling effect is achieved, but hydration function is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling chamber containing ice and the hydration reservoir are merged into a single integrated structure. As the ice melts, the resulting water flows into the reservoir, automatically providing hydration fluid without requiring separate water containers.
Solution Approach 2:
The melting ice automatically fills the hydration reservoir, creating a self-service system where the cooling process itself generates the hydration fluid. No separate water addition is needed - the ice melt provides the drinking water.
4Reliability
If reusable cooling vests are used, then cooling performance is improved, but portability and convenience decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable nature of the vest makes it extremely portable and convenient - no recharging, no maintenance, no bulk storage requirements. Each vest is lightweight and can be easily carried to outdoor events, discarded after use.
Solution Approach 2:
The vest is prepared in advance by freezing water in the cooling chamber. This preliminary action ensures the cooling and hydration functions are ready to operate immediately upon wear, without requiring power sources or complex setup during use.
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 vest effectively cools the upper body and provides hydration through melted ice water, offering a cost-effective, disposable solution for outdoor events, promoting comfort and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
when the ice melts, it delivers its fluid by gravity to a lower section of the vest
Implementation Method 2
when the ice melts, it delivers its fluid by gravity to a lower section of the vest
Implementation Method 3
providing for the transmission of a cool feeling to the upper regions of the wearer
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated cooling and hydration vest, incorporating a vest like structure made from liquid impervious material, the vest having at least one chamber formed therein, the chamber being structured into an upper section and a bottom section, a divider provided between the upper and bottom sections, at least one aperture provided through the divider to allow frozen material deposited within the upper section as it melts to gravitate into the bottom section during usage, and a syphoning device operative being associated with said chamber to allow the user to extract the melted liquid from the bottom section for consumption during usage.