Lightweight portable cooling or heating device with multiple applications

• US 5,800,490 A
• Filed: 11/07/1996
• Issued: 09/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Herbert Samuel Patz, Leslie Hugh Ross
• Original Assignee: Herbert Samuel Patz, Leslie Hugh Ross
• Inventors: Patz, Herbert Samuel, Ross, Leslie Hugh
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahr, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARTER, RYAN CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US08/747,021
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 607/104, 607/108-112, 607/114, 607/96-99, 165/46, 219/212, 126/204, 2/905
• US Class Current: 607/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0042 Knee
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0078 with a battery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating

Abstract

A modular device with an injury pack holder (10) is shown for providing cooling and/or heating therapy to an injury, having a generally tubular shape and open first end (15) and an open second end (16). A plurality of module openings (55a, 55b and 55c) are cut through the injury pack holder (10) and covered with a retention mesh (60). A thermoelectric assembly (75) containing a Peltier device (85), fan (110), radiator (120), first plate (80) and second plate (88), transfers heat energy to a gel pack (95) which cools or heats an area, is installed in one of the module openings (55a, 55b, 55c). A battery pack (99) can be installed in another module opening (55a, 55b, 55c) or can be remotely located for operation of the thermoelectric assembly (75). The thermoelectric assembly (75) can be operated with other power supply devices such as a household adapter (160) or an auto adapter (170). The injury pack holder (10) has a plurality of attachment straps (70a, 70b and 70c) for affixing the injury pack to various human and animal body parts and is user adjustable to provide various levels of compression and immobility to a body part or joint.

Claims

1. A modular heating and cooling device comprising:

mounting means for mounting a thermoelectric assembly, said mounting means having an outer shell with at least one module opening, said outer shell being flexible radially and substantially rigid longitudinally, an attachment means for attaching the mounting means to a body part, said attachment means adjustable to provide adjustable variable compressive force to the body part; and

the thermoelectric assembly having at least one Peltier device with a radiator on one side and a second plate on an opposite side of said Peltier device, said radiator adjacent a fan for promoting air flow through said radiator, a control circuit affixed to said radiator controlling said Peltier device, a temperature sensor attached to said second plate for providing feedback to said control circuit which controls a power supply for supplying power to said thermoelectric assembly.

2. The modular heating and cooling device of claim 1 wherein:

said second plate is made from a high thermal conductivity material.

3. The modular heating and cooling device of claim 1 further including:

a five sided cover and a mating cover plate for encasing said thermoelectric assembly.

4. A heating and cooling device comprising:

a thermoelectric assembly comprising at least one Peltier device and a first plate attached to a Peltier warm surface and a second plate attached to a Peltier cool surface, said first plate and said second plate insulated from one another by insulating means for insulating and discouraging heat transfer between said first plate and said second plate, a radiator affixed to said first plate on a first surface, said radiator having a fan in close proximity for providing air flow and encouraging the transfer of heat energy from said radiator to ambient air, a control circuit for controlling said Peltier device, feedback means for reporting feedback signals to said control circuit for adjusting said Peltier device;

a gel pack for attachment to said second plate, said gel pack having a flexible shape and containing a filler material mixed with a high thermal conductivity heat transfer material, said heat transfer material for increasing the speed of heat transfer from said second plate through said gel pack; and

a power supply for providing electrical power to said thermoelectric assembly.

5. The heating and cooling device as recited in claim 4 wherein:

said second plate and said first plate are manufactured from a high thermal conductivity material such as copper.

6. The heating and cooling device as recited in claim 4 wherein:

said heat transfer material is in the form of flakes or pellets and is relatively inert in said filler material.

7. The heating and cooling device as recited in claim 4 further comprising:

a five sided cover and a mating cover plate for enclosing said thermoelectric assembly.

8. A modular cooling and heating device comprising:

a thermoelectric assembly having a Peltier device with a warm surface and a cool surface, a first plate having a second surface affixed to said warm surface to encourage heat transfer, a radiator affixed to said first plate first surface, a fan attached to said radiator for encouraging heat transfer from said radiator to ambient air, a second plate having a first surface affixed to said Peltier device cool surface to encourage heat transfer, a gel pack containing a viscous filler material and a high thermal conductivity heat transfer material, said gel pack adjacent said second plate for enhancing the transfer of heat energy from said second plate, a control circuit attached to said radiator and interconnected to said Peltier device, fan, and a feedback means, said feedback means for providing feedback to said control circuit;

a holder having at least one module opening for containing said thermoelectric assembly in a fixed position; and

power means for supplying power to said thermoelectric assembly.

9. The modular cooling and heating device as defined in claim 8 wherein:

said high thermal conductivity heat transfer material is in the form of flakes or pellets and said heat transfer material is not degraded by said filler material.

10. The modular cooling and heating device as defined in claim 8 further comprising:

a five sided cover and a mating cover plate each having air flow means for allowing air flow, said cover and said plate encasing the thermoelectric assembly.