Reusable Heat Exchanging Pack with Strap and One-Way Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cold or hot packs require continuous user contact for effective heat transfer, are cumbersome to use due to air barriers that reduce heat transfer efficiency, and are typically disposable, leading to waste and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A reusable heat exchanging pack with a strap system for secure body attachment and a one-way valve to remove excess air, allowing for efficient heat transfer and multiple uses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cold or hot pack is placed in continual contact with the body portion to provide adequate heat transfer, then the therapeutic effect is improved, but the user comfort and ease of operation deteriorate due to the need for active holding or repositioning
Solution Approach 1:
The pack is divided into a flexible bladder portion containing the thermal substance and a separate strap system with receiving portions. This segmentation allows the thermal pack to be secured to the body without requiring the user to actively hold it, while maintaining continuous contact for effective heat transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The strap acts as an intermediary element between the pack and the body, providing secure attachment without requiring direct manual holding. The strap system with receiving portions allows the pack to be firmly positioned against the body portion, ensuring continuous contact and effective heat transfer while improving user comfort.
2Stability of the object's composition
If excessive air is present within the pack, then the pack structure is maintained, but the heat transfer capabilities deteriorate due to air barriers between the thermal substance and outer surface
Solution Approach 1:
A one-way valve is incorporated into the seal to allow air to be removed from the interior of the pack while preventing thermal substance leakage. This extraction of excess air eliminates air barriers between the thermal substance and outer surface, significantly improving heat transfer capability while maintaining pack structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The one-way valve enables automatic air removal through a simple squeezing action by the user. The valve allows air to escape during compression but prevents thermal substance from leaking, providing a self-service mechanism that improves heat transfer without requiring complex external equipment.
3Device complexity
If a single-use pack is used, then the simplicity of design is maintained, but waste increases and additional costs are incurred requiring continual purchase
Solution Approach 1:
The pack is designed as a reusable system where the flexible bladder and strap components can be used multiple times. The resilient material allows the pack to be compressed for air removal and then returns to its original shape, enabling repeated use without disposal, thereby reducing waste and continual purchase requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The pack utilizes materials with specific resilient properties that allow repeated compression and expansion cycles. This parameter change in material selection enables the transition from single-use to reusable design, maintaining structural integrity and thermal performance across multiple uses while reducing waste.
4Reliability
If the user attempts to remove air by resealing the opening while forcing air out, then air removal is attempted, but the process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming with potential leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The one-way valve is integrated into the seal structure, allowing air to be extracted from the pack interior through a simple squeezing action. The valve opens during compression to allow air escape but closes during relaxation to prevent thermal substance leakage, eliminating the cumbersome manual air removal process.
Solution Approach 2:
The one-way valve acts as an intermediary mechanism between the pack interior and exterior, facilitating easy air removal during compression while preventing thermal substance leakage during normal use. This intermediary element transforms a complex manual air removal process into a simple squeeze operation.
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 pack provides convenient and efficient heat transfer without the need for continuous user contact, reduces waste, and allows for multiple uses, enhancing user comfort and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a one-way valve integrated into the seal of the heat exchanging pack configured to selectively allow air to exit from the interior of the heat exchanging pack when the heat exchanging pack is compressed
Implementation Method 2
The heat exchanging pack comprises a resilient flexible material formed into a container having an interior wherein a heat exchanging substance is disposed
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchanging pack comprises a substance receiving portion, a first strap receiving portion disposed adjacent a first side of the substance receiving portion, a second strap receiving portion disposed adjacent a second side of the substance receiving portion, and a strap configured for releasably coupling the heat exchanging pack to a portion of a body. The strap includes a first portion extending through the first strap receiving portion, a second portion extending between the first strap receiving portion and the second strap receiving portion, a third portion extending through the second strap receiving portion, and a fourth portion extending out from the first strap receiving portion. The second portion and the fourth portion of the strap are configured to extend at least partially around a portion of a user in need of treatment to releasably couple the heat exchanging pack to the portion of the user.