Wearable hydration/cooling system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wearable hydration devices do not provide the option to cool the user's neck with a cooling medium that can wet a water-permeable portion in contact with the neck, lacking the ability to utilize water from melting ice or condensate from cold packs.
Innovation Solution
A wearable apparatus with a holding tube and water-permeable membrane that allows users to opt for cooling by inserting a cooling medium into a compartment, which can be accessed through zippers to allow water to permeate and cool the neck, featuring compartments for beverage containers and a cooling medium reservoir with a water-repelling fabric and permeable membrane.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional wearable hydration devices are used, then beverage storage and portability are provided, but the ability to cool the user's neck with a cooling medium is not available
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional compartments: a water reservoir compartment, a cooling medium compartment (for ice or cold packs), and a beverage container compartment. This segmentation allows the cooling function to be added independently without redesigning the entire device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable device serves multiple functions: it stores beverages, carries water for hydration, and provides neck cooling through a cooling medium. The water permeable membrane allows the same water supply to serve both drinking and cooling purposes, enhancing versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Ease of operation
If a cooling medium compartment with zippers is added, then access control for cooling medium is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The zippers for the cooling medium compartment are integrated with the zipper system of the main device body. This merging allows the cooling compartment to be accessed and secured using the same zipper mechanism as the rest of the device, adding access control functionality without requiring entirely separate fastening systems.
3Temperature
If a water permeable membrane is used, then cooling efficiency is improved, but water repelling capability of the holding tube is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The water permeable membrane is placed specifically at the neck contact area where cooling is desired, while the rest of the holding tube maintains its water repelling properties. This localized application of different material properties allows the device to provide cooling where needed without compromising the overall water protection of the beverage storage portions.
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 choose whether to cool their neck with water from melting ice or condensate, providing enhanced cooling comfort while maintaining the ability to carry beverages, with the apparatus being comfortable and adaptable for various configurations.
Implementation Method 1
a water permeable membrane located below an underside of the cooling medium compartment
Implementation Method 2
the holding tube made of a water repelling fabric
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus comprises a cooling medium compartment between first and second beverage compartments, and a water permeable membrane. The cooling medium compartment comprises a topside zipper and underside zipper. When the underside zipper is closed, there is no opening between the cooling medium compartment and the water permeable membrane. When the underside zipper is at least a partially open, there is an opening between the cooling medium compartment and the permeable membrane to allow water to move from the cooling medium compartment to the permeable membrane. The apparatus provides the option of whether or not to cool the back of the user's neck with a cooling medium placed in the apparatus that wets a water permeable portion of the apparatus that is in contact with the neck of the user.