Inflatable Garment with Controllable Air Cells for Dynamic Thermal Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inflatable and non-inflatable garments lack adaptability to changing weather conditions, as they provide fixed temperature insulation, making it necessary to intermittently put on and take off clothing to adjust to varying temperatures and winds, and there is no technology that enables garments with controllable heat insulation suitable for a wide range of thermal conditions.
Innovation Solution
An inflatable garment with controllable air-filled cells using one or more valves and air pumps to adjust the volume of air within the padding material, allowing for dynamic regulation of thermal insulation based on external and internal conditions, user settings, and physical activity, using sensors and a control unit for automated inflation and deflation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional garments use fixed padding material, then they provide stable thermal insulation, but they cannot adapt to changing weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The garment incorporates inflatable and deflatable air chambers within the padding material, allowing the thermal insulation properties to dynamically adjust according to weather conditions. The chambers can be inflated to provide additional insulation when cold and deflated when warmer, transforming a static insulation system into a dynamic one that adapts to environmental changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and volume of air within the padding chambers through inflation and deflation processes. By controlling the volume of air in the chambers, the thermal insulation parameter of the garment can be adjusted continuously, enabling adaptation to different temperature conditions without changing the basic garment structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If inflatable chambers are used for thermal insulation, then adaptability improves, but the chambers become easily deformable and non-uniform when not fully inflated
Solution Approach 1:
The garment divides the padding into multiple separate chambers distributed throughout the structure. Each chamber can be independently controlled to maintain local uniformity and proper shape. This segmentation ensures that even when some chambers are partially inflated, the overall padding structure maintains stability and uniformity through the distributed network of chambers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides dynamic control over the inflation state of chambers, allowing them to transition smoothly between different volume states while maintaining structural integrity. The chambers are designed to remain stable and uniform in shape throughout the inflation/deflation cycle, preventing deformation and ensuring consistent thermal insulation properties.
3Ease of operation
If fixed insulation garments are used, then manufacturing is simple, but users must intermittently put on and take off clothing to adapt to temperature changes
Solution Approach 1:
The garment incorporates automated control systems with sensors that detect temperature changes and user physiological states, automatically adjusting the inflation level of thermal chambers without user intervention. This self-regulating capability eliminates the need for users to manually put on or take off clothing layers, providing continuous temperature adaptation and saving time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system includes sensors that continuously monitor environmental temperature and user physiological parameters, providing real-time feedback to the control system. Based on this feedback, the system automatically adjusts the thermal insulation level by controlling chamber inflation, creating a closed-loop system that responds dynamically to changing conditions without requiring user action.
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 inflatable garment provides universal thermal comfort across various seasons and conditions, allowing users to maintain optimal temperature without needing to change clothing, enhancing adaptability and user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
controllably changing volume of air accumulated in said padded cells (i.e., within the padding material), so as to regulate a thermal insulating property of the cells
Data Source
AI summary
The invention describes an inflatable item comprising one or more cells with a padding material, being inflatable and/or deflatable by controllably changing volume of air accumulated in said padded cells, so as to regulate a thermal insulating property of the cells. The invention further relates to techniques for providing and controlling of such an item.