Insulated cold pack

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cold packs are inadequate for maintaining prolonged cooling over extended periods, especially during long-distance shipping, as they often result in temperature fluctuations and may cause freezer burn, and lack environmental sustainability in disposal.

Innovation Solution

An insulated cold pack utilizing a viscous phase change material encapsulated in biodegradable flexible packages, combined with biodegradable loose-fill packaging, maintains temperature within narrow ranges for extended periods and decomposes environmentally, serving as a plant fertilizer upon disposal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If conventional cold packs are used for prolonged cooling during long-distance shipping, then cooling duration is extended, but temperature fluctuations occur and freezer burn may be caused

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling durationVSAvoidtemperature stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes phase change materials (PCMs) that undergo phase transition at specific temperatures to maintain stable cooling. The PCM absorbs heat during melting and releases heat during freezing, automatically regulating temperature within a narrow range and preventing temperature fluctuations and freezer burn while extending cooling duration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

Solution Approach 2:

The cold pack employs a composite structure combining phase change material with encapsulation materials and optional insulation layers. This composite design enhances the overall performance by maintaining temperature stability through the PCM while the encapsulation and insulation components extend the duration of action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Duration of action of moving object

If conventional cold pack materials are disposed of, then cooling function is completed, but environmental pollution is caused

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling durationVSAvoidenvironmental pollution

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts potentially harmful non-biodegradable materials into beneficial biodegradable components. The encapsulation materials and PCM containers are designed to biodegrade after use, transforming from environmental pollutants into environmentally friendly materials that can safely decompose, thus eliminating pollution while maintaining effective cooling duration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the material parameters of the encapsulation and containment components from non-biodegradable to biodegradable materials. This parameter change in material composition allows the cold pack to maintain its cooling function while ensuring that disposal does not cause environmental harm, as the materials break down naturally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If high latent heat phase change materials are used, then temperature stability is improved, but packaging complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature stabilityVSAvoidpackaging structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs flexible encapsulation materials and thin-film containers to hold the phase change material. These flexible structures simplify the packaging design compared to rigid containers, allowing the PCM to be contained in simple, adaptable forms that maintain temperature stability without adding significant structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 insulated cold pack effectively maintains temperature for several days, preventing freezer burn and ensuring environmental sustainability by using high latent heat phase change materials and biodegradable components, extending cooling duration and ensuring safe disposal.

Implementation Method 1

The phase change materials selected have high latent heats of fusion and maintain relatively constant temperatures as they change phase

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Implementation Method 2

The energy released/absorbed by phase transition from solid to liquid, or vice-versa, the heat of fusion is generally much higher than the sensible heat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLatent heat: Latent Heat

Implementation Method 3

The viscous cooling agent is a phase change material that can provide an extended transfer of heat away from the object or substance to be cooled

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11009280B1Insulated cold pack

Publication Date: 2021.05.18 FROSTY TECH LLC

AI summary

An insulated cold pack for cooling a product, the cold pack including a viscous cooling agent that may serve as a plant fertilizer when discarded. The cooling agent encapsulated in at least one sealed flexible walled package, the one or more flexible walled packages located on the first side of the insulated cold pack. In addition, the cold pack includes biodegradable loose-fill insulation covering the second side of the insulated cold pack. An encapsulating barrier surrounds both the viscous cooling agent on the first side of the insulated cold pack as well as the loose-fill insulation on the second side. The loose-fill insulation secured in position within the encapsulating barrier and the insulation positioned in contact with the product or optionally closely spaced from the product to be cooled.