Elastic Wire Heating Assembly for Washable Heated Clothing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric-heating garments face issues with durability due to frequent washing, mechanical damage, wire tangling, lack of elasticity, and connector failure, leading to discomfort and difficulty in maintenance.
Innovation Solution
An electric-heating assembly with conductive wires fixed on an elastic strip in a stretchable manner, a detachable power supply, and a wire organizer to reduce mechanical damage and improve flexibility, featuring a zigzag pattern for conductive wires and adjustable heating modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conductive wires are fixed rigidly to clothing, then electrical connection is stable, but the clothing lacks flexibility and comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing rigid wire fixation with elastic bands that can dynamically adapt to body movement. The elastic bands allow the conductive wires to maintain electrical connection while accommodating the flexibility and stretching of clothing, thus resolving the contradiction between connection stability and clothing flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the fixation medium from rigid to elastic. By using elastic bands with specific elasticity parameters, the system maintains reliable electrical connection during static conditions while allowing movement and stretching during dynamic use, thereby balancing connection stability with clothing flexibility.
2Ease of operation
If extra length is added to conductive wires to ensure flexibility, then clothing extensibility improves, but wire organization becomes complex and connectors suffer from intensive stretching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wire system by introducing separate elastic bands for each conductive wire. This segmentation allows each wire to be independently managed and stretched, reducing tangling and organizing complexity while maintaining clothing extensibility. The modular elastic band structure makes the system easier to organize compared to a single long wire approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses elastic bands as flexible elements to replace rigid wire extensions. These elastic bands provide the necessary extensibility for clothing movement while their flexible nature prevents wire tangling and reduces stress on connectors, thereby improving extensibility without significantly increasing organizational complexity.
3Reliability
If conductive wires are made rigid for stable connection, then electrical connection reliability improves, but the connectors break easily under frequent stretching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the mechanical parameter of the connection medium from rigid to elastic. The elastic bands reduce the stretching force transmitted to connectors by absorbing mechanical stress through their elasticity, thereby protecting connectors from breaking while maintaining reliable electrical connection during movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by using elastic bands as a buffer between the rigid conductive wires and the connectors. This elastic cushioning absorbs the mechanical stress of stretching before it reaches the connectors, preventing connector failure while ensuring stable electrical connection remains intact.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If power supply unit is fixed to clothing, then heating function is continuous, but the assembly suffers damage during machine washing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power supply system by making the power supply unit detachable rather than permanently fixed. This allows the power supply to be removed during machine washing to prevent damage, while enabling continuous heating operation when attached to the clothing, thus resolving the contradiction between heating continuity and washing durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a static fixed connection to a dynamic detachable connection. The power supply unit can be attached for heating operations and detached for washing, providing adaptability that resolves the contradiction between maintaining continuous heating function and ensuring durability during washing cycles.
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 assembly provides durability, ease of washing, enhanced comfort, and simplified organization of wires, while allowing for adjustable heating intensities and patterns, reducing mechanical stress on components.
Implementation Method 1
The electric-conductive module is electrically connected between the power supply module and heating module for transmitting electricity from the power supply to the heating module
Implementation Method 2
heating module, and an electric-conductive module... transmitting electricity from the power supply to the heating module
Data Source
AI summary
An electric-heating assembly adapted to be attached to an article of clothing including: a power supply module, a heating module, and an electric-conductive module. The electric-conductive module is electrically connected between the power supply module and heating module for transmitting electricity from the power supply module to the heating module. The electric-conductive module defining a first inlet terminal and a first outlet terminal is formed by fixing at least one pair of conductive wires on an elastic strip in a stretchable manner, and the conductive wires of the same pair respectively allowing electricity to flow in and out to form a closed circuit with other electrical elements are arranged together to be attached to the elastic strip simultaneously and extend in the same pattern. The electric-heating assembly is controlled by an operable controller to turn on or off.