Ear Warming Device Retainer Gap Burn Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing ear-warming devices are prone to causing burns due to the direct contact between the heat-generating portion and the ear, which is not adequately addressed by current configurations.
Innovation Solution
An ear-fitting device with a retainer portion that spaces the warming body from the contact portion by a gap, typically up to 1 mm, to prevent direct contact and reduce the risk of burns, while still allowing effective heat transfer to the auricle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the warming body is placed in direct contact with the contact portion, then heating efficiency is improved, but the risk of burns increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a retainer portion as an intermediary structure between the warming body and the contact portion. This retainer portion holds the warming body at a specific distance from the contact portion, allowing heat transfer while preventing direct contact that would cause burns. The retainer portion acts as a mediator that enables safe and effective heating simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the spatial dimension by creating a gap distance between the warming body and the contact portion. Instead of direct one-dimensional contact, the warming body is positioned in three-dimensional space at a controlled distance from the contact portion, enabling heat transfer through the gap while preventing harmful direct contact.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the warming body is spaced from the contact portion, then burn risk is reduced, but heating efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the gap distance parameter between the warming body and the contact portion. By carefully controlling this distance (not too close to cause burns, not too far to reduce heating efficiency), the system achieves the optimal balance between safety and heating performance through parameter optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer portion serves as a mediator structure that enables controlled heat transfer across the gap. It positions the warming body at an optimal distance that maintains heating efficiency while ensuring safety, acting as an intermediary that reconciles the contradiction between spacing and heating effectiveness.
3Productivity
If the warming body is retained close to the contact portion, then heating effectiveness is improved, but safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer portion acts as a mediator that enables the warming body to be positioned close to the contact portion for effective heating while simultaneously preventing direct contact that would compromise safety. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction between warming effectiveness and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes spatial positioning in three-dimensional space to achieve both close proximity for heating effectiveness and sufficient distance for safety. By controlling the vertical and horizontal positioning of the warming body relative to the contact portion, the system achieves both warming effectiveness and safety simultaneously.
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
This configuration effectively suppresses the occurrence of burns and maintains efficient warming by creating a gap between the warming body and the contact surface, ensuring a safer and more effective heating experience.
Implementation Method 1
a retainer portion for retaining a warming body configured to heat the predetermined site of the auricle through the contact portion
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an ear-fitting device and a warming device configured to suppress burn of an ear by a warming body. The ear-fitting device according to the disclosure is wearable on an ear and includes a contact portion for contacting a predetermined site of an auricle, and a retainer portion for retaining a warming body capable of warming the predetermined site of the auricle through the contact portion. The retainer portion serves to retain the warming body via the contact portion, in a state where it is spaced from the contact portion.