Portable Heated Snow Blanket with Foldable Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing snow melting devices are not easily transportable, durable, or cost-effective, and often require frequent maintenance due to rust or deterioration when exposed to snowy conditions, posing safety concerns and inefficiencies in clearing snow from cars and walkways.
Innovation Solution
A portable, lightweight snow blanket with a heat-resistant polyurethane-coated nylon surface and integrated electrical heating element, rechargeable battery, and USB port, designed for easy deployment and maintenance, featuring multiple handles for easy transport and an accordion-style folding mechanism, ensuring durability and safety in snowy conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional snow melting devices are used, then snow melting function is achieved, but portability and ease of transport are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The snow blanket is designed as a flexible, foldable mat that can be divided into sections, allowing it to be easily rolled up and transported in a vehicle while maintaining its effectiveness when deployed on snow-covered surfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element is integrated into a flexible, thin blanket structure that can be easily transported and conformally applied to various surfaces such as car windshields, roofs, and walkways, improving portability without sacrificing melting functionality
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional materials are used for snow blankets, then manufacturing is simple, but rust and deterioration occur when exposed to snowy water and low temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The snow blanket utilizes rust-resistant materials such as stainless steel heating elements or electrically conductive polymer coatings combined with waterproof, freeze-resistant fabric layers, creating a composite structure that prevents rust and deterioration while maintaining manufacturing feasibility
Solution Approach 2:
The material selection shifts from conventional metal heating elements prone to rust to corrosion-resistant alternatives with modified physical and chemical properties, enabling the device to withstand prolonged exposure to snowy water and extreme temperatures without deteriorating
3Reliability
If heavy-duty materials are used for durability, then resistance to rust and deterioration improves, but weight increases reducing portability
Solution Approach 1:
The blanket employs thin, flexible heating elements and lightweight waterproof fabrics that provide adequate durability and rust resistance without adding significant weight, enabling easy portability while maintaining reliability in snowy conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The design transitions from heavy metal construction to lightweight materials with engineered properties that offer comparable or superior corrosion resistance and structural integrity, reducing overall weight while preserving durability
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 effectively melts snow and ice from cars and walkways without rusting or deteriorating, providing a safe, efficient, and cost-effective means of snow removal suitable for various surfaces and environments, enhancing user safety and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical heating element (2) contained between said two layers of waterproof outer covering
Implementation Method 2
The Snow Blanket or Snow Pad is a large flat blanket or pad (1) with a powerful heating coil (2)
Implementation Method 3
designed to melt away this unwanted snow off cars and from around cars as well as from stairs and walkways
Data Source
AI summary
The inventive device object of the present application is a Snow Blanket or Snow Pad which will melts away this unwanted snow off cars and from around cars as well as from stairs and walkways around homes and businesses.