Soaking Device Neck Gasket and Breathing Apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing soaking devices for thermal therapies and cryotherapies face challenges in efficiently transferring heat or cold to the face without causing discomfort, such as neck strain and difficulty breathing when submerged.

Innovation Solution

A soaking device with a wettable-subassembly that holds a volume of immersion liquid, featuring a neck-gasket to alleviate neck strain and a breathing apparatus to allow for breathing while submerged, along with options for hydrotherapy, thermal therapy, cryotherapy, light therapy, and bubble therapy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a solid material is used for heat transfer, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but the device becomes difficult and expensive to shape to fit unique facial dimensions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidease of shaping

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a liquid-based hydrotherapy system instead of solid heat transfer materials. The liquid medium (water or other fluids) is contained in a flexible or rigid vessel that can be shaped to fit the user's face, eliminating the manufacturing difficulties associated with custom-molding solid thermal transfer devices while maintaining effective heat transfer through conduction and convection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical state of the heat transfer medium from solid to liquid. This parameter change allows the medium to adapt to unique facial geometries without requiring complex manufacturing processes, while still providing effective thermal therapy through the liquid's ability to conform to body contours.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of energy

If the face is submerged in liquid for thermal therapy, then thermal contact is improved, but neck strain and breathing difficulty occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal contact efficiencyVSAvoidneck strain and breathing difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into functional segments: a face-support structure that holds the face above the liquid level, a breathing apparatus that provides respiratory support, and a liquid-containing vessel. This segmentation allows the face to be positioned optimally for thermal contact while preventing submersion that would cause neck strain and breathing difficulty.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary face-support structure between the liquid and the user's face. This intermediary component enables thermal contact through the liquid while preventing direct submersion of the face, thereby eliminating neck strain and breathing difficulty associated with complete submersion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If a custom diecast mold is created for each person's face, then heat transfer fit is improved, but the cost and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer surface fitVSAvoiddevice complexity and cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs a universal liquid-containing vessel that can accommodate different face shapes and sizes through adjustable or flexible design features. The liquid medium itself adapts to each user's unique facial contours, eliminating the need for expensive custom diecast molds for each person while maintaining effective heat transfer contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 effectively delivers thermal therapies without causing neck strain or breathing difficulties, allowing for targeted and comfortable treatment of the face or head.

Implementation Method 1

a liquid material may generally provide more efficient heat transfer over a gas material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

liquids, such as, but not limited to, water are particularly useful for heat transfer, for heating something or for cooling something that may be direct physical contact with the given liquid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

the volume of the immersion liquid may be heated or cooled away from and/or separately from the wettable-subassembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCooling: Cooling

Data Source

PatentUS20250057725A1Methods, systems, and/or devices for thermal treatments

Publication Date: 2025.02.20 TAYLOR JOHN RICHARD

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.