Wipe warmer and humidifying device thereof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wipe warmers fail to maintain the wetness and prevent drying or yellowing of baby wipes over a prolonged period, as existing designs often lead to uneven heating and damage to components like sponges.
Innovation Solution
A humidifying device with a portable container having a partitioner and support that creates separate spaces for a liquid reservoir and free-flowing liquid, allowing moisture to pass through, is integrated into the wipe warmer to maintain humidity and prevent drying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a sponge is disposed on the bottom of the thermal tank to support the tray, then the tray is supported and positioned, but the sponge acts as a thermal buffer decreasing heating effect to the baby wipes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the sponge from between the thermal tank and tray, extracting the thermal buffering element that was preventing effective heat transfer. The tray is supported by alternative means (container walls or rigid support structures) that do not interfere with thermal conduction, allowing direct heating of wipes while maintaining tray support functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a heat-conductive intermediary structure (such as a metal support frame or direct thermal contact points) between the thermal tank and tray that facilitates heat transfer while still providing mechanical support. This intermediary allows thermal energy to pass through efficiently without the insulating effect of the sponge.
2Temperature
If a net is heated when the thermal tank heats the water, then the air temperature in the inner room is stabilized, but the heated net adjacent to the tray causes the lower baby wipes to dry up faster
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes or repositions the net from its location adjacent to the tray, eliminating the source of excessive localized heating that caused wipes to dry out. The net is either extracted entirely or relocated to a position where it does not create harmful thermal gradients near the wipes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates different thermal zones within the inner room: a warmer area for overall air temperature stability and a cooler area near the tray where wipes are stored. This local quality differentiation ensures that while the air remains warm for comfort and vapor generation, the wipes themselves are not subjected to excessive localized heating that would cause drying.
3Temperature
If a sponge is soaked in water and disposed between the thermal tank and the tray, then it can serve as a thermal buffer, but the sponge may be damaged by heat over an extended period of time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the sponge from the high-temperature zone between the thermal tank and tray, extracting it from the environment that causes thermal degradation. By eliminating the sponge's exposure to prolonged heat, the material's lifespan is extended while its thermal buffering function is either removed entirely or replaced with a heat-resistant alternative.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent acknowledges that sponges are inexpensive, replaceable components and designs the system to allow easy replacement of the sponge when it does deteriorate. This disposable approach treats the sponge as a consumable part that can be periodically replaced rather than designed for long-term durability, simplifying the overall system design.
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 solution effectively prolongs the moistened state of baby wipes by allowing gradual heating and maintaining humidity, improving the longevity and effectiveness of the wipes.
Implementation Method 1
a heater arranged in the main housing so as to heat the liquid received in the container
Implementation Method 2
The support has at least one through hole extending from its one surface to its other surface, allowing fluid communication of moisture and/or other liquid (e.g., water) therethrough
Data Source
AI summary
A wipe warmer having a container to receive liquid and sponge pad therein, where the container is placed under the wipes to keep the wipes moist. The container has a top and a support plate within, both of which are perforated allowing moisture to pass through. These perforations offset each other to facilitate efficient saturation of the sponge pad, when the sponge pad is placed between the perforated top and the perforated plate. Further, the container can be a removable basket-like structure. Alternatively, all or part of the container can be an integral part of the wipe warmer. While the wipes can be placed on top of the container, an alternative design is to place the wipes and the container side-by-side.