Vented Elastomer Ring With Grooved Fluid Conduits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional metal rings pose injury risks due to their strength, and existing alternatives like silicone rings are uncomfortable and non-breathable, leading to sweating and potential infections.
Innovation Solution
A vented ring design featuring an outer and inner elastomer ring portion with anti-stretch elements and fluid conduits through lateral and inner grooves, allowing for airflow and comfort while being configured to break upon applied pressure, reducing injury risk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional metal rings are used, then durability and appearance are improved, but injury risk increases due to inherent strength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from rigid metal to flexible elastomer, fundamentally altering the ring's mechanical properties. This allows the ring to stretch and break under excessive force while maintaining normal wearability, thus reducing injury risk without sacrificing appearance
Solution Approach 2:
The ring is designed with segmented grooves that create flexible sections. These grooves allow the ring to bend and deform more easily, enabling it to break at controlled points rather than maintaining rigid structural integrity, thereby reducing the harmful effect of excessive strength
2Object-affected harmful factors
If silicone rings are used, then injury risk is reduced, but comfort deteriorates due to non-porous and occlusive nature causing sweating and potential infections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates grooves and channels into the elastomer ring structure that function as porous pathways. These grooves allow air and moisture to pass through the ring, providing breathability and preventing the occlusive effect that causes sweating and discomfort, while the elastomer material itself maintains the injury-reducing flexibility
3Object-affected harmful factors
If existing silicone rings are used, then injury risk is reduced, but device complexity increases due to bulky design that is uncomfortable and increases tendency to catch on objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin elastomer shell that is flexible and conforming to the finger shape. This thin-film approach eliminates the bulky design of traditional silicone rings, reducing the likelihood of catching on objects while maintaining the flexibility needed to prevent injury. The grooves are integrated into this thin structure rather than adding bulk
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 vented ring design minimizes injury risk, provides breathability and cooling, and is comfortable to wear, addressing the issues of traditional metal and silicone rings.
Implementation Method 1
The presently-disclosed subject matter is directed to flexible and/or elastic vented rings and methods of forming the same
Implementation Method 2
the inner ring portion includes lateral grooves connected to inner grooves, the connected lateral grooves and inner grooves forming at least one fluid conduit from a first side of the vented ring to a second side of the vented ring
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Vented ring 10 includes an outer ring portion 11, an inner ring portion 12, and an anti-stretch element 50 positioned between the outer ring portion 11 and the inner ring portion 12. The inner ring portion 11 includes lateral grooves 15a connected to inner grooves 16 to form at least one fluid conduit from a first side 12a to a second side 11a of the vented ring 10. The method includes injecting a first material into a first mold to form an outer ring portion, injecting a second material into a second mold to form an inner ring portion 12, and positioning an anti-stretch element 50 between outer and inner ring portions 11, 12. The second mold includes at least one feature on a surface thereof corresponding to connected lateral grooves 15a and inner grooves 16 on an inner surface of the inner ring portion 12.