Active Cooling Knee Pad with Peltier Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing knee pads fail to provide effective cooling and comfort during extended kneeling periods, leading to discomfort and potential long-term knee issues due to heat retention and sweat buildup, and often have design flaws such as non-adjustable padding, durability issues, and lack of active cooling mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A knee pad with a housing containing a Peltier cooling unit, adjustable fasteners, and a removable pad for customizable support, which actively cools the knee area using a power supply and thermoelectric cooling, allowing for extended comfortable use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a padded surface or knee pad is used to support the knees, then comfort and pain relief are improved, but heat retention increases and sweat production increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase change materials (ice packs) that transition from solid to liquid state, absorbing heat from the knee area through melting. This phase transition provides active cooling to counteract the heat retention problem of traditional padding, while the gel material distributes the cooling effect evenly across the knee surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the cooling function from the padding structure itself by incorporating removable ice packs as separate cooling elements. This allows the padding to provide support while the extracted ice packs provide active cooling, separating the support function from the thermal management function to avoid heat retention issues.
2Ease of operation
If increased padding is used to improve comfort, then support is improved, but heat retention increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different material properties to different regions: the padding provides localized support where needed, while the gel-filled ice packs provide localized cooling in the areas that generate heat. This spatial differentiation of functions allows simultaneous support and cooling without heat retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The knee pad combines multiple materials with different thermal properties: insulating padding materials for support, gel materials for heat conduction and distribution, and phase change materials for active cooling. This composite structure enables both support and cooling functions to coexist effectively.
3Duration of action of moving object
If traditional knee pads are used for extended kneeling, then support is provided, but skin irritation and discomfort increase due to moisture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of body heat (which causes sweating and irritation) into a beneficial cooling effect by using phase change materials that absorb this heat through melting. The heat that would normally cause discomfort is instead utilized to drive the cooling process, reducing sweat and skin irritation.
Solution Approach 2:
The gel materials undergo phase transition from solid to liquid, actively absorbing moisture and heat from the skin surface. This phase change process continuously manages moisture levels, preventing the sweat buildup that leads to skin irritation during extended kneeling periods.
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 knee pad effectively supports and cools the knee area, reducing discomfort and moisture buildup, enabling users to kneel for extended periods without the drawbacks of traditional pads.
Implementation Method 1
A power supply is operably connected to a cooling mechanism disposed within the interior volume of the housing, such that the cooling mechanism cools the pad
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling knee pad includes a housing having a base, a perimeter wall extending upwardly from the base, and an upper end defining an interior volume. A pad is affixed to the upper end of the housing. A power supply is operably connected to a cooling mechanism disposed within the interior volume of the housing. The cooling mechanism may include a Peltier cooling unit including a radiator, an electric fan, a water pump, and at least one buck converter. A pair of adjustable fasteners affixed to the housing is configured to secure the housing to a user such that the pad contacts a knee of the user. In this way, the user can kneel on the pad to comfortably support the knee and cool the knee with the cooling mechanism.