Method and device for preventing persons from falling asleep

• US 6,297,728 B1
• Filed: 08/19/1999
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gert Rippbauer
• Original Assignee: Gert Rippbauer
• Inventors: Rippbauer, Gert
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/367,808
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 340/575, 340/576, 340/573.1, 128/848
• US Class Current: 340/576
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

In order to prevent persons driving a vehicle from falling asleep, it is proposed to cool a specific location on the head of the related person. Preferably, the cooling is accomplished by means of a cooled, moving gas or by putting on a plate member (10) that is in thermal contact with a cooling assembly (6). Preferably, the cooling assembly (6) is in the form of a Peltier cell. By locally cooling the head, a sleepy person can be reliably kept awake over an extended period of time.

Claims

1. A method for preventing a person from falling asleep, particularly a person that drives a vehicle or guides a locomotive or an airplane, characterized in that a specific location on the head of the person is cooled temperature between −

10°

C. and 10°

C., said specific location on the head of the person having an area between 0.25 cm² and 5 cm².

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooling is accomplished by vaporization or by sublimation of a medium, under withdrawal of the ambient heat.

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooling is accomplished by means of a moving gas, by gluing on a cooling device (32) or by putting on a plate member (10) that is in thermal contact with a cooling assembly (6).

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the temperature of the moving gas or of the plate member (10) amounts to between −

10°

C. and +10°

C.

5. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a signal or an alarm is triggered after a cooling period that has exceeded a predetermined time interval.

6. Apparatus for performing the method described in claim 1, characterized in that a cooling assembly is provided that comprises a cooling aggregate (6, 21) or a closed container for receiving a cooling agent.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that a cooling aggregate in the form of a Peltier cell (6, 21) is provided.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the apparatus comprises a fan (8) that cools the warm side of the Peltier cell (6) by means of ambient air.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the apparatus comprises a heat exchanger that is operatively connected to the warm side of the Peltier cell (21) by means of a fluid medium.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that a plate member (10) is provided that is in thermal contact with the cold side of the Peltier cell (6), the plate member (10) being provided to be put onto the location of the head of the person that is to be cooled.

11. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the apparatus comprises an internal fan (23) that leads ambient air along the cooling assembly (21) and that blows that air towards the head of the person by means of an adjustable outlet nozzle (24).

12. Apparatus for performing the method according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a capsule member (32) defining a hollow space (34), a volatile medium being received in that hollow space (34).

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that a porous and/or absorbent material (36) adapted to receive the volatile medium is located in the hollow space (34) of the capsule member (32).

14. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that a container (37) for storing the volatile medium is received in the hollow space of the capsule member (32), said container (37) being adapted to be broken open by means of external mechanical influences.

15. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the housing (33) of the capsule member (32) is elastically deformable.

16. Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the inner side of the capsule member (32) is provided with elements (40) for breaking open the container (37).

17. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the housing of the capsule member (32) is designed to be thermally insulating and provided with at least one opening (35) for releasing heat from the interior (34) of the capsule member (32).

18. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooling is accomplished by means of a Peltier cell or a refrigerator.