Paper Ice Pack Structure for Low-Weight Perishable Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice packs made of plastic and freezable gels are not environmentally friendly and can be expensive, posing challenges in shipping and storage of perishable items.
Innovation Solution
Development of ice packs using paper-based materials with absorbent properties, allowing water to be added at the point of use, reducing initial weight and shipping costs, and featuring a paper body that resists degradation when exposed to water, along with super absorbent polymers and fluff pulp for effective thermal management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If plastic containers with freezable gels are used, then thermal management effectiveness is improved, but environmental friendliness deteriorates and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters from plastic and gel to paper and absorbent materials, transforming the ice pack from a sealed container system to an open absorbent system that achieves thermal management through capillary action and phase change of water
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable paper-based ice packs that are inexpensive to manufacture and discard, replacing expensive reusable plastic ice packs. The paper body with absorbent material can be manufactured at low cost and used once for thermal management before disposal
2Temperature
If plastic containers with freezable gels are used, then thermal management effectiveness is improved, but shipping cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-freezing the water-filled paper ice packs before shipping. The ice packs are prepared in their functional frozen state at the manufacturing location, eliminating the need for continuous refrigeration during transport and reducing shipping energy costs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the thermal medium from gel to water, which has higher specific heat capacity and latent heat of fusion, improving thermal management effectiveness while reducing manufacturing and shipping costs
3Object-affected harmful factors
If paper material is used, then environmental friendliness is improved, but liquid resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by combining paper with absorbent materials such as superabsorbent polymers or cellulose fibers. This composite structure allows the paper body to maintain structural integrity while the absorbent material manages liquid through capillary action and absorption, compensating for paper's natural liquid permeability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs porous absorbent materials within the paper structure that utilize capillary action to control liquid distribution. The porous structure allows controlled liquid movement through the ice pack while maintaining overall structural stability during freezing and thawing cycles
4Weight of moving object
If water is added at point of use, then shipping weight is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-freezing the water in the paper ice packs before shipping. The ice packs are prepared in their functional frozen state at the manufacturing location, eliminating the need for continuous refrigeration during transport and reducing shipping energy costs
Solution Approach 2:
The ice pack structure is designed to be self-filling through capillary action. When the ice pack is opened at the point of use, water automatically fills the paper body through capillary forces without requiring pumps, valves, or complex filling mechanisms, thus adding minimal complexity
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 paper-based ice packs are more environmentally friendly, reduce shipping costs, and provide effective thermal management for perishable items while maintaining structural integrity in wet and frozen states.
Implementation Method 1
an absorbent material disposed in the interior chamber
Implementation Method 2
the paper configured to resist degradation when exposed to water; the paper includes sizing that increases hydrophobic properties of the paper
Implementation Method 3
freezing ice packs, shipping ice packs
Implementation Method 4
As such, the opened ice packs can be placed in proximity to perishable or otherwise temperature-sensitive items in order to maintain a desired temperature
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure includes ice packs that comprise paper and absorbent material, and also includes various methods of making, adding liquid to, freezing, shipping, and/or using such ice packs. This disclosure also includes assemblies that include one or more such ice packs, such as, for example, a container of a plurality of such ice packs in dry, wet, and/or frozen states, or a container that includes an ice pack in a hydrated, frozen state and one or more perishable items.