Flexible Neck Fan Shell With Multi-Outlet Cooling Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fans, both fixed and portable, fail to provide comfortable and efficient cooling for prolonged use due to their fixed shape, leading to discomfort when worn around the neck.
Innovation Solution
A neck fan design featuring a tubular body portion with adjustable ends, multiple air outlets, and independently operable fan assemblies that allow for balanced weight distribution and adjustable airflow direction, enhancing user comfort and cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a fixed-shaped portable fan is designed, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the user comfort and wearing experience deteriorate when used for a long period
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the shell flexible and capable of deformation. The shell can be adjusted from an extended state to a folded state, allowing it to adapt to different neck sizes and shapes. This dynamic flexibility enables the fan to conform to the user's neck contour, significantly improving wearing comfort while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by modifying the shape and size parameters of the shell through flexible material properties. The shell can change its curvature and dimensions to match different neck geometries, transforming from a fixed rigid structure to an adaptable form that enhances user comfort without complicating the manufacturing process.
2Productivity
If multiple air outlets are added to provide cooling from multiple directions, then the cooling efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the air outlet function into multiple distributed outlets across different surfaces of the shell. Instead of a single centralized outlet, air exits through multiple locations including the front surface and side surfaces, providing multi-directional cooling. This segmentation achieves enhanced cooling efficiency while maintaining structural simplicity by integrating outlets directly into the shell geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The shell structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the structural housing, defines the air flow paths, and incorporates multiple air outlets for cooling. By integrating these functions into a single flexible shell component, the patent achieves multi-directional cooling capability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the fan is designed to be portable and wearable, then the portability is improved, but the weight distribution and balance may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible shells to create a lightweight, adaptable structure that can be worn around the neck. The flexible material allows the shell to conform to the neck shape while maintaining low weight. This approach enhances portability and wearability while the distributed component layout helps achieve balanced weight distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies nesting by placing the fan assembly and battery within the hollow cavity of the shell structure. This nested arrangement optimizes space utilization, ensures balanced weight distribution around the neck, and maintains portability. The components are integrated within the shell's three-dimensional space, creating a compact and balanced wearable device.
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 neck fan provides effective cooling from multiple directions, maintains user comfort by balancing weight and reducing noise, and allows for convenient portability and easy maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a centrifugal fan comprising a motor, a plurality of blades and a vortex tongue structure
Data Source
AI summary
A neck fan is provided and is configured to be worn around a neck of a user. The neck fan includes: an outer shell, disposed away from the neck; an inner shell, connected to the outer shell and disposed near the neck, wherein the inner shell and the outer shell cooperatively define a receiving space. A plurality of air outlets are defined in the inner shell.