Piercing Protection Cover with Permeable Air Circulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Body and facial piercings are prone to bacterial and viral infections, as well as trauma from contact with dirt, contaminated substances, and unintended entanglement with objects during the healing period, which existing methods fail to adequately protect.

Innovation Solution

A protective apparatus comprising a body assembly made of soft resilient material with a permeable cover for air circulation and a removable cover to prevent foreign matter accumulation, designed to house the piercing and prevent contact with unwanted objects and substances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a protective covering is applied to the piercing, then protection from infections and trauma is improved, but air circulation is blocked preventing healing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from infections and traumaVSAvoidlack of air circulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protective cover is made from a porous material that allows air circulation through its structure while maintaining protection from contaminants. The porosity enables gas permeability, allowing oxygen and other gases to pass through to support the healing process while the material structure blocks bacteria, viruses, and foreign matter.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

2Reliability

If a protective covering is applied to the piercing, then protection from foreign matter is improved, but accumulation of foreign matter within the covering occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from foreign matterVSAvoidaccumulation of foreign matter

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protective cover is designed to be disposable, allowing it to be discarded after a single use or when it becomes contaminated. This eliminates the problem of foreign matter accumulation by replacing the cover rather than attempting to clean and reuse it, ensuring continuous protection without contamination risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The protective cover is made from inexpensive materials and designed for single-use, allowing frequent replacement to maintain hygiene. The low cost enables users to discard the cover when it becomes contaminated rather than attempting to clean it, preventing foreign matter accumulation and maintaining effective protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Strength

If a rigid protective structure is used, then protection strength is improved, but comfort and adaptability to the piercing area is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection strengthVSAvoidcomfort and adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protective cover is made from a flexible, thin material that can conform to the contours of the piercing area and surrounding skin. This flexibility provides comfort and adaptability while the material structure maintains sufficient protective strength against contaminants and minor trauma.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The protective cover is designed with a curved or contoured shape that matches the natural curvature of the piercing area on the body. This curvature allows the cover to fit comfortably against the skin contours while maintaining its protective function, eliminating gaps and ensuring complete coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 apparatus effectively protects piercings from infections and trauma by allowing air circulation and preventing foreign matter accumulation, while being inexpensive to manufacture and maintain.

Implementation Method 1

The permeable cover covers the cavity to allow ambient-air to enter and circulate therethrough

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir circulation: Convection

Implementation Method 2

The permeable cover is fixedly secured to the top face, whereby the top face has a first adhesive to keep the permeable cover fixedly secured thereon

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentUS7726317B1Apparatus to protect a piercing

Publication Date: 2010.06.01 INSLY IP LLC

AI summary

An apparatus to protect a body and facial piercing and its affected area during a healing period, has a body assembly. The body assembly has top and bottom faces, an exterior wall, and an interior wall. The body assembly further defines a cavity that extends inwardly from the interior wall. A permeable cover covers the top face and the cavity to allow ambient-air to enter and circulate therethrough. This allows healing of a body or facial piercing, and specifically the opening created by the piercing, and the surrounding area around the piercing. A removable cover covers the bottom face and the cavity. The bottom face has an adhesive, and the removable cover is removably attached to the bottom face.