Liquid Face Soaking Vessel for Thermal Therapy and Neck Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal therapy devices face challenges in efficiently delivering heat or cold to specific body parts like the face without causing discomfort, breathing difficulties, and neck strain, while also requiring complex assembly and mechanical fasteners.
Innovation Solution
A soaking device using a liquid medium with a neck-gasket and headrest to alleviate neck strain, a breathing apparatus for submerged breathing, and a tower for light or bubble therapy, assembled without mechanical fasteners for ease and robustness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If solid materials like copper are used for heat transfer, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase due to the need for precise shaping to fit unique body contours
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a liquid medium (water or other liquids) instead of solid materials for heat transfer. The liquid is contained in a flexible vessel that can conform to the body contour, eliminating the need for complex solid heat transfer surfaces while maintaining efficient heat transfer through conduction and convection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the heat transfer medium from solid to liquid. This parameter change allows the heat transfer medium to adapt to different body contours without requiring complex shaping, reducing device complexity while maintaining thermal therapy effectiveness.
2Reliability
If solid heat transfer surfaces are shaped to fit unique body contours, then thermal therapy effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state from solid to liquid, allowing the heat transfer medium to conform to body contours through fluidity rather than precise manufacturing. The liquid can adapt to individual body shapes without requiring high manufacturing precision for the container.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a flexible vessel or bag to contain the liquid heat transfer medium. This flexible container can be easily formed and will conform to the body contour when filled, eliminating the need for precision-machined solid surfaces while maintaining thermal therapy effectiveness.
3Reliability
If the face is submerged in liquid for thermal therapy, then thermal contact with the face is improved, but breathing difficulties occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the thermal therapy system into separate functional components: the liquid-filled vessel for thermal contact and a separate breathing mechanism. This segmentation allows the face to be submerged for thermal therapy while providing an independent pathway for breathing, eliminating the harmful effect of breathing difficulties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary breathing mechanism (such as a tube or mask) that allows air to pass through the liquid medium. This intermediary structure enables simultaneous thermal contact through the liquid and breathable air passage, resolving the conflict between thermal therapy effectiveness and breathing capability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the head is bent to submerge only the face, then thermal therapy targeting is improved, but neck strain increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a headrest support structure that provides counterbalancing support for the head and neck. This support reduces the strain on neck muscles and joints when the head is positioned at angles required for face submersion, allowing targeted thermal therapy without causing neck strain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a headrest that provides cushioning and support before the user begins the thermal therapy procedure. This pre-positioned support structure prevents neck strain by maintaining proper head and neck alignment throughout the treatment, eliminating the need to bend the head to achieve facial submersion.
5Strength
If hard surfaces are used in the soaking device, then structural strength is improved, but comfort decreases due to pressure on soft neck tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible materials for the portions of the device that contact the body, particularly the neck area. The flexible material conforms to the body contour and distributes pressure evenly, providing comfort while maintaining sufficient structural strength through the flexible material's inherent properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials that combine different properties: rigid materials for structural strength in non-contact areas and flexible materials for comfort in body-contact areas. This composite approach allows the device to simultaneously achieve structural integrity and comfort, preventing pressure on soft neck tissues.
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 device efficiently delivers thermal therapy to targeted body parts like the face, ensuring comfort and ease of use, while minimizing assembly complexity and mechanical fastener usage.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid material may generally provide more efficient heat transfer over a gas material
Implementation Method 2
where heat or cool may be delivered to a particular body or portion of a body
Implementation Method 3
prior to intended soaking use, the volume of the immersion liquid may be heated or cooled
Data Source
AI summary
A soaking-device is usable to soak a given body part of a user. The body part may be a face or a portion of the face of the user. The user may be a person or other animal. The soaking-device includes a vessel-subassembly. The vessel-subassembly includes a wettable-subassembly. The wettable-subassembly itself and/or interaction of the wettable-subassembly with a part of the vessel-subassembly, its outermost-shell, may not utilize screws or the like mechanical fasteners. The wettable-subassembly may include a neck-gasket for removable physical contact with a neck portion of the user. The wettable-subassembly is configured to hold a volume of an immersion-liquid for the soaking of the body part. Prior to use, the volume of the immersion-liquid may be heated or cooled. A breathing-apparatus may be used. A tower may be placed next to the wettable-subassembly to shine light into and/or to release bubbles into the immersion-liquid.