Expandable Polymer Rings with Inner Grooves for Breathability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rings lack breathability and expandability, leading to issues such as moisture accumulation, bacterial growth, and discomfort due to tight fits, while also posing risks in environments where rigid materials can cause injury.
Innovation Solution
The development of a toroid ring formed from an expandable polymer with an elastic modulus of no greater than 5 GPa, incorporating a plurality of grooves on the inner surface for breathability and antimicrobial particles for infection control, along with precious material particles for aesthetic and antimicrobial properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional rigid materials are used for rings, then strength and durability are improved, but breathability and comfort deteriorate due to moisture accumulation and tight fits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by using a flexible polymer material with an elastic modulus of no greater than 5 GPa to replace conventional rigid materials. The flexible polymer allows the ring to conform to digit contours and accommodate size fluctuations, providing comfort and breathability while maintaining sufficient strength through the incorporation of antimicrobial and precious material particles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies this principle by creating a composite material system consisting of a flexible polymer matrix reinforced with antimicrobial particles (such as silver or zinc oxide) and precious material particles (such as gold or platinum). This composite structure provides both the flexibility needed for comfort and the strength required for durability, while also incorporating antimicrobial properties.
2Stability of the object's composition
If rigid materials are used for rings, then structural integrity is improved, but safety deteriorates due to injury risks in certain environments
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible polymer material allows the ring to deform under stress rather than fracture, significantly reducing injury risk in environments where rigid rings could cause harm. The material maintains structural integrity through its composite composition while providing inherent safety through flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the key parameter of elastic modulus to be no greater than 5 GPa, which is significantly lower than conventional rigid materials. This parameter change transforms the ring from a rigid structure that could cause injury to a flexible structure that deforms safely, while maintaining sufficient structural integrity through the composite material design.
3Ease of operation
If expandable polymer with low elastic modulus is used, then comfort and breathability are improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By setting a specific parameter threshold (elastic modulus ≤ 5 GPa), the patent defines a material class that balances flexibility for comfort with manufacturability. This parameter constraint guides material selection and processing to achieve both comfort and manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite material system provides structural definition and precision through the reinforcing particles (antimicrobial and precious material particles) embedded in the flexible polymer matrix, enabling manufacturing precision while maintaining the comfort benefits of low elastic modulus material.
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 ring provides enhanced breathability, comfort through expandability, and antimicrobial protection, reducing the risk of bacterial growth and injury by allowing moisture and dirt to escape easily and accommodating fluctuations in digit size without compromising fit or safety.
Implementation Method 1
an expandable polymer having an elastic modulus of no greater than 5 gigapascals (GPa)
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of grooves formed on an inner surface of the ring and extending from proximate a top of the ring to proximate a bottom of the ring
Data Source
AI summary
Rings disclosed herein include a toroid formed of an expandable polymer, the expandable polymer having an elastic modulus of no greater than 5 gigapascals (GPa), the expandable polymer forming at least 80 weight percent of the toroid, the toroid sized to fit snugly over a digit of a user. In implementations a plurality of precious material particles are disposed within the expandable polymer, wherein the precious material particles include one or more of gold particles, non-ionic silver particles, copper particles, platinum particles, and crushed pearl particles. In implementations a plurality of grooves are formed on an inner surface of the ring and extend from proximate a top of the ring to proximate a bottom of the ring. In implementations no portion of the ring has an elastic modulus greater than 5 GPa.