Wearable Heat Pack Using Phase-Change Material and Silicone Envelope
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current personal heating and cooling devices lack a safe and comfortable temperature range, durability, and are not made from soft, flexible, and non-toxic materials, limiting their therapeutic effectiveness and usability.
Innovation Solution
A wearable heat pack using a sealed silicone envelope filled with phase-change material, providing a desired temperature range, made from skin-safe, flexible, and durable silicone that can be reused, and integrated into garments for targeted heat application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional heating pads are used, then heating function is provided, but they lack safety and comfort for skin contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible silicone envelope to enclose the phase-change material, providing a soft, skin-safe barrier that maintains comfort during therapeutic application while ensuring safety through material selection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs phase-change material that undergoes phase transition at specific temperatures to maintain a safe and comfortable temperature range for skin contact, dynamically adjusting thermal parameters to prevent harm
2Reliability
If reusable durable material is used, then device longevity is improved, but flexibility and softness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines phase-change material with silicone envelope to create a composite structure that integrates the reusability and durability of silicone with the thermal properties of phase-change material, achieving both longevity and flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The silicone envelope serves as a flexible, durable containment structure that can be reused multiple times while maintaining its softness and flexibility for comfortable skin contact during each use
3Temperature
If phase-change material is used, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase-change material that automatically transitions between solid and liquid phases at specific temperatures, providing passive temperature control without complex electronic systems or additional components
Solution Approach 2:
The phase-change material self-regulates temperature through its inherent phase transition properties, eliminating the need for external control mechanisms, sensors, or power sources, thereby simplifying the overall device structure
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 heat pack offers a safe and comfortable temperature range for therapeutic use, providing effective pain relief by maintaining heat transfer while being durable and non-toxic, with the silicone envelope ensuring safety and comfort against the skin.
Implementation Method 1
The heat pack uses phase-change material to provide a desired temperature
Implementation Method 2
the heating creates a phase-change of the phase-change material
Data Source
AI summary
A device and method for a wearable heat pack is presented. The heat pack provides a therapeutic application of heat or cold to a user using phase-change material to provide a desired temperature and is made of a soft and flexible material that is comfortable and pleasant to use, but is strong enough to be reused multiple times. The heat pack device includes a sealed silicone envelope. An infill is contained in the envelope and includes a phase-change material for providing a temperature range over a period of time. The method includes heating the heat pack device, placing the heat pack device in a pocket of a garment, and placing the garment on a user to position the heat pack device in contact with the user, wherein the heat pack device includes a phase change material and further wherein the heating creates a phase-change of the phase-change material.