Ventilation and temperature adjustment opening for outdoor equipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Outdoor equipment such as sleeping bags, clothing, and blankets often fail to adjust to changing temperature conditions, leading to overheating in warmer environments, necessitating the use of multiple items rated for different temperatures, which is expensive and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating ventilation or temperature adjustment openings with a fastening mechanism, such as zippers or hook and loop fasteners, in outdoor coverings like sleeping bags, jackets, and blankets, allowing for adjustable breathability and temperature regulation without fully opening the equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If outdoor equipment is designed with fixed insulation for cold weather, then warmth is improved, but overheating occurs in warmer environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the insulation system adjustable rather than fixed. The insulation panels can be independently opened or closed to change the amount of insulation, allowing the equipment to adapt to varying temperature conditions. This transforms a static thermal system into a dynamic one that can respond to environmental changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the insulation into separate, independently controllable panels located at different regions (head, torso, legs). This segmentation allows selective adjustment of insulation in different body zones, enabling fine-tuned temperature regulation and preventing overheating while maintaining warmth where needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sleeping bags are used for different temperatures, then temperature coverage is improved, but cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal sleeping bag that can function across multiple temperature ranges through adjustable insulation panels. A single bag with configurable insulation replaces the need for multiple specialized bags, achieving multi-functionality while reducing equipment quantity and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables temperature range coverage by allowing users to change the insulation parameter dynamically. By adjusting the open/closed state of insulation panels, the same sleeping bag can adapt to different temperature conditions, eliminating the need for multiple bags with fixed insulation levels.
3Adaptability or versatility
If ventilation openings are added for temperature regulation, then breathability is improved, but insulation effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making ventilation openings adjustable rather than fixed. Users can open or close ventilation panels independently of insulation panels, dynamically controlling airflow and breathability. This allows the system to provide ventilation when needed while maintaining insulation effectiveness when closed.
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
Enables users to regulate temperature effectively in varying conditions without needing multiple items, preventing overheating and providing flexibility in temperature management for outdoor gear.
Implementation Method 1
The fastening mechanism is configured for opening and closing the at least one ventilation/temperature adjustment opening
Implementation Method 2
an insulative material disposed between the top and bottom layers
Data Source
AI summary
An outdoor item such as a sleeping bag, jacket, hat or blanket with one or more ventilation/temperature adjustment openings. Each ventilation/temperature adjustment opening includes, in one embodiment, a mechanism that serves to either form an opening in one or both of the outer layer, and the inner layer of the outdoor item. In another embodiment, the one or more ventilation/temperature adjustment mechanism includes an air bladder which, when inflated, serves to push aside any insulation adjacent the deflated air bladder while in both embodiments, allowing the outdoor item to vent better, thereby cooling an occupant using or wearing the outdoor item thereby offering temperature regulation.