Spacer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spacers are not adequately versatile for various applications beyond their original use in fan-equipped garments and mats, lacking flexibility and adaptability in shape and structure.
Innovation Solution
A spacer design featuring projections with frames, standing portions, and flexible connectors that are elastically deformable, with varying shapes, lengths, heights, and flexibility levels across different parts of the spacer, allowing for customizable bending and airflow properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional spacers with uniform structure are used, then manufacturing is simple, but adaptability to various applications is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer employs local quality by varying the shape, size, and flexibility characteristics of different regions within the spacer structure. Specifically, the flexible connectors have different curvature radii and cross-sectional shapes at different locations, allowing certain areas to be more flexible while others maintain structural integrity. This enables the spacer to adapt to various application requirements without requiring completely different designs for each use case.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer is segmented into multiple flexible connectors with different properties rather than using a uniform structure. Each flexible connector can be independently designed with specific curvature, flexibility, and dimensional characteristics to meet local requirements. This segmentation allows the overall spacer to achieve versatility while maintaining manufacturability through modular design elements.
2Ease of operation
If flexible connectors with high flexibility are used, then ease of bending is improved, but structural stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the spacer have different flexibility characteristics achieved through varying the curvature radius and cross-sectional shape of flexible connectors. Areas requiring easy bending have flexible connectors with larger curvature radii and more flexible cross-sections, while areas requiring stability have connectors with smaller curvature radii and stiffer cross-sections. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between ease of bending and structural stability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If uniform flexible connectors are used throughout the spacer, then manufacturing is easier, but airflow characteristics cannot be tailored for different applications
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible connectors are designed with different cross-sectional shapes and dimensions at different locations to create tailored airflow characteristics. For example, connectors in regions requiring higher airflow may have larger cross-sectional areas or more open geometries, while connectors in regions requiring structural support have smaller, stiffer cross-sections. This local variation enables customized airflow control while maintaining a relatively simple overall manufacturing process.
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 spacer provides enhanced flexibility and adaptability, enabling it to be applied to a variety of uses, including mats that can be easily bent or folded, with tailored airflow characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
the flexible connectors are elastically deformable
Data Source
AI summary
A spacer includes: projections each of which has a frame; multiple standing portions each of which has one end connected to the frame and that stand on the frame; and a standing-end connector that connects other ends of the standing portions, the frames being disposed close to each other such that the projections are connected; and flexible connectors that connect the frames. The projections have a three-dimensional shape. The flexible connectors are elastically deformable. At least either the projections or the flexible connectors have different shapes depending on a part of the spacer.