Deformable thermal pack
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal treatment devices for pain or soreness, such as ice and heat packs, lack convenience and effectiveness in conforming to body contours and maintaining shape during application.
Innovation Solution
A thermal pack design featuring a bendable and deformable support structure that conforms to body contours, combined with a device for circulating hot or cold fluid, and additional features like straps and elastic bandages for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If traditional straps are used to hold thermal packs to the body, then the packs can be secured in place, but they fail to conform to body contours and maintain proper shape during application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible support structure comprising a flexible material with an inner surface and outer surface, which can be deformed to conform to body contours. This flexible shell approach allows the thermal pack to adapt to various body shapes while maintaining structural integrity for secure attachment via straps.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is designed to be deformable during application, allowing it to dynamically change shape to match body contours. Once applied, it maintains the deformed shape to provide consistent thermal contact, combining adaptability with stability.
2Shape
If the thermal pack is made rigid to maintain shape, then it can hold its form, but it cannot conform to body contours
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible support structure that acts as a shell, providing shape maintenance while allowing contour adaptation. The flexible material forms a shell that can be molded to body contours yet retains enough structural integrity to hold its shape during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure combines flexible materials with sufficient structural properties to create a composite system that exhibits both adaptability to contours and ability to maintain shape. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between rigidity and flexibility.
3Ease of operation
If the thermal pack uses simple attachment methods, then it is easy to apply, but it fails to provide secure attachment and consistent contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple attachment features including straps attached to the support structure, which integrate with the flexible body to provide both simple application and secure attachment. The merging of the flexible support with strap mechanisms achieves both ease of use and reliability.
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 solution provides enhanced comfort and effectiveness by maintaining the shape of the thermal pack on the body, ensuring consistent heat or cold distribution and improved user experience through secure attachment and contour matching.
Implementation Method 1
tubing having one end in fluid communication with the cavity and another end in fluid communication with the device such that the device circulates a hot or cold fluid through the cavity via the tubing
Implementation Method 2
a bendable and deformable support one of attached to or disposed within the body, the support being configured such that the body is deformed into a shape matching a contour of a body part and the body is maintained in the shape while applied to the body part by the support
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal pack including: a pouch having a thermal material; covers for covering the pouch. The covers having field portions and first and second bonding edges peripherally outside the first and second field portions. A bendable and deformable support ring formed of sheet metal is disposed between the first and second bonding edges. The pouch is retained between the first and second covers by: at least indirect bonding of a first inner surface of the first bonding edge to a first side surface of the support ring and at least indirect bonding of a second inner surface of the second bonding edge to a second side surface of the support ring; and/or sewing an inner periphery of the first bonding edge to an inner periphery of the second bonding edge and/or an outer periphery of the first bonding edge to an outer periphery of the second bonding edge.