Development of Rechargeable Thermo Jackets
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Date
2017
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Publisher
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
The present investigation was carried out for developing the rechargeable thermo
jackets using heating gel packs. The principle and working of heating gel packs were
reviewed from secondary sources. Ten gel pack manufacturing industries were surveyed for
collecting information regarding fabricS used by them for manufacturing gel packs and it was
found that PVC fabric and casement were most popularly used. Different combinations of
selected fabrics were used to develop three cervical collars (as a technology miniature) and
their heat retention was recorded. The collar made up of PVC fabric in outer layer and
casement fabric in inner layer showed the maximum heat retention. Six experts including
three orthopedicians and three physiotherapists were consulted for collecting information on
upper quadrant pains commonly found amongst their patients. The collected data was used for
creating two functional designs for thermo jackets. The better design of jacket according to
experts was finally developed using suitable fabrics. Ten respondents (five male and five
females) who were suffering from upper quadrant pains were selected purposively and an
interview schedule was used to collect preliminary information about them. The respondents
were given the jackets to use for five days after which impact of developed jacket was studied
with the help of an evaluation performa. It was found that maximum of the respondents found
jacket to be extremely comfortable. None of them faced any problem in heating and placing
gel packs in jacket gloves and majority of them were relieved from their pain after using the
jackets. The jacket was considered to be functionally as well as cost effective by majority of
the respondents.
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