Segmented Ice Pack Design for Wrapping Square Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ice packs are not flexible enough to effectively wrap around square or smaller objects, such as prisma containers, and fail to maintain them in a cold state for extended periods outside of a refrigerator.
Innovation Solution
A flat storage ice pack with at least four columns of freezable liquid separated by heat seals, allowing the columns to bend and form right angles, enabling it to wrap around square containers, and optionally housed in a containment sleeve with fastening members for secure placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If ice packs are made as flat rectangular packs, then they are easy to store and manufacture, but they cannot effectively wrap around square objects like prisma containers
Solution Approach 1:
The ice pack is divided into multiple columns of freezable liquid separated by heat seals, allowing each column to independently bend and conform to the contours of square containers while maintaining the overall cooling function
Solution Approach 2:
The ice pack uses a flexible plastic pouch containing freezable liquid that can bend and wrap around square objects, replacing rigid rectangular structures with flexible conformable forms
2Adaptability or versatility
If ice packs are made with cubed pockets, then they become more flexible, but they are not flexible enough to effectively wrap around square objects
Solution Approach 1:
The ice pack is segmented into multiple columns of freezable liquid separated by heat seals, creating flexible sections that can independently bend and conform to square container corners while maintaining structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The ice pack transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible form that can adapt its shape to wrap around square containers, with columns that can bend at different angles as needed
3Reliability
If ice packs are designed to wrap around square containers, then they can maintain cold temperature effectively, but they require additional fastening mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The ice pack is combined with a containment sleeve that includes fastening members, integrating the cooling function with the securing mechanism into a single unified system that maintains both temperature and attachment
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 ice pack effectively maintains square containers, like prisma cartons, at a cold temperature for extended periods, providing flexibility and secure fit, suitable for various sizes and shapes, including those with cropped corners.
Implementation Method 1
The ice pack effectively maintains square containers, like prisma cartons, at a cold temperature for extended periods
Implementation Method 2
The columns are separated from one another at a distance that will allow the columns, when frozen, to bend toward one another
Data Source
AI summary
A flat storage ice pack is provided that is designed to effectively wrap around square containers, such as prisma containers. The ice pack is comprised of a container having at least four segments each including a column of freezable liquid. The segments are designed to separate the freezable liquid columns from each other at a distance that will allow the columns, when frozen, to create right angles relative to one another. In this manner, the ice pack is able to sizably fold around a square container by creating corners between the columns for received corresponding corners of square objects, such a prisma containers.