Inflatable Sleeping Mat Structure for Blocking Convection and Heat Radiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sleeping mats fail to effectively block air convection and temperature radiation, particularly in cold environments like the polar region, and are often heavy and cumbersome, making them unsuitable for outdoor activities such as camping and climbing.
Innovation Solution
A portable, inflatable mat with a structure comprising thin and light sheets, featuring connecting members with varying widths and corresponding blocking layers that create spaced spaces to block air convection and reduce temperature radiation, made from materials like polyester film with high reflectivity and low absorptivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a single-layer aluminum foil pad is used under the sleeping mat, then the low-temperature conduction of the ground is reduced, but the effect of keeping out the cold is poor and the structure is simple without blocking air convection and temperature radiation
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeping mat is divided into multiple layers (first outer covering layer, second outer covering layer, and multiple blocking layers) with connecting members creating spaced spaces between them. This segmentation creates multiple thermal barriers that collectively block heat conduction, air convection, and temperature radiation, significantly improving cold protection compared to a single-layer structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking layers are nested between the first and second outer covering layers, with connecting members positioned at different heights creating a nested multi-chamber structure. Each blocking layer with its corresponding connecting member forms a nested thermal barrier within the mat structure, maximizing space utilization and thermal insulation efficiency.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional sleeping mats are made with thick and heavy materials to improve cold protection, then the cold resistance is improved, but the weight increases and portability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeping mat uses thin film materials (first outer covering layer, second outer covering layer, and blocking layers) that are lightweight yet effective. The connecting members are designed as thin ring structures with varying widths. These thin film structures provide sufficient thermal insulation through their multi-layered spaced configuration without requiring heavy materials, achieving both cold protection and light weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeping mat employs a composite structure combining multiple layers of thin films (outer covering layers and blocking layers) with connecting members made of different width sections. This composite design creates a multi-functional structure that provides thermal insulation, blocks air convection, and maintains lightweight properties through the synergistic combination of different thin film components.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple blocking layers are fitted on connecting members with different widths to block air convection and temperature radiation, then the thermal insulation is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting members are designed with local quality variations, featuring different width sections at different heights (narrow upper portion, wide middle portion, narrow lower portion). Each blocking layer corresponds to a specific width section, creating localized thermal barriers at different heights. This local quality approach blocks air convection and temperature radiation effectively while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through standardized modular components.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the connecting members have different widths at different heights to position blocking layers, then the spaced spaces are formed effectively, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting members are pre-formed with specific width variations (narrow upper portion, wide middle portion, narrow lower portion) during the manufacturing process. The blocking layers are designed to correspond to these pre-defined width sections. This preliminary action of creating standardized width variations in the connecting members simplifies the assembly process and reduces the need for high-precision adjustments during final assembly, as the positioning is predetermined by the width variations.
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 mat effectively prevents hypothermia by significantly blocking air convection and temperature radiation, is lightweight and easy to manufacture, and meets the requirements of portability and ease of storage, enhancing safety and comfort in cold conditions.
Implementation Method 1
made from materials like polyester film with high reflectivity and low absorptivity
Implementation Method 2
blocking layers that create spaced spaces to block air convection and reduce temperature radiation
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of spaced spaces is formed in the mat, so that the mat can improve the functions of blocking air convection and reducing temperature radiation greatly
Data Source
AI summary
A portable mat capable of blocking air convection and temperature radiation is disclosed. The portable mat is an inflatable mat, and includes a first outer covering layer and a second outer covering layer that are connected by a plurality of connecting members each in the form of a thin and light ring. Side pieces of the connecting members each have different widths according to high and low positions. A plurality of blocking layers of a blocking unit is fitted on the connecting members. The block layers have openings with different widths. The openings of the blocking layers are different in size corresponding to the different widths of the connecting member, so that the blocking layers are positioned at different heights to form a plurality of spaced space inside the mate, thereby blocking air convection and reducing temperature radiation.