Cooling blanket

• US 6,523,354 B1
• Filed: 03/08/2002
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Deborah Ann Tolbert
• Original Assignee: Deborah Ann Tolbert
• Inventors: Tolbert, Deborah Ann
• Primary Examiner(s): Doerrier, William C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHULMAN, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US10/094,177
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 62/35, 62/33, 622/593, 607/108, 607/114
• US Class Current: 62/3.5
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 9/0215 with cooling or heating means electric blankets H05B3/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0075 using a Peltier element, e.g. near the spot to be heated or cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0078 with a battery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/023 with pockets for receiving packs or pouches
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/10 Cooling bags, e.g. ice-bags
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/02 using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 25/00 Machines, plants or systems, using a combination of modes of operation covered by two or more of the groups F25B1/00 - F25B23/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/00 Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects integrated devices or assemblies of multiple devices H10N19/00

Abstract

The present invention essentially comprises a cooling blanket having multiple pockets to contain a heat sink with the heat sink provided in the pocket, the heat sinks being either a thermoelectric cooling unit or a cold pack.

Claims

1. A cooling blanket comprising:

a thermoelectric cooling unit;

a thermally conductive water barrier encasing said heat sink; and

a blanket having a plurality of pockets therein for holding said heat sink.

2. The cooling blanket of claim 1 further comprising:

a fastener along an edge of said blanket for connecting to an edge of said blanket.

3. The cooling blanket of claim 1 further comprising:

a temperature control unit, electrically connected to said thermoelectric cooling unit for controlling said thermoelectric cooling unit.

4. The cooling blanket of claim 1 further comprising:

an electrical power connection electrically connecting said temperature control to an electrical power source.

5. The cooling blanket of claim 1 further comprising:

an electrical jumper connection electrically connected to said electrical power source to allow additional cooling blankets to be electrically connected.

6. A cooling blanket comprising:

a thermoelectric heat sink;

a thermally conductive water barrier encasing said thermoelectric heat sink; and

a blanket having a plurality of pockets therein for holding said thermoelectric heat sink.

7. The cooling blanket of claim 6 further comprising:

a temperature control circuit, electrically connected to said thermoelectric cooling unit for controlling said thermoelectric cooling unit.

8. The cooling blanket of claim 6 further comprising:

a fastener along an edge of said blanket for connecting to an edge of said blanket.

9. The cooling blanket of claim 6 further comprising:

an electrical power connection electrically connecting said temperature control to an electrical power source.

10. The cooling blanket of claim 6 further comprising:

an electrical jumper connection electrically connected to said electrical power source to allow additional cooling blankets to be electrically connected.

11. A cooling blanket comprising:

a thermoelectric cooling unit;

a temperature control circuit, electrically connected to said thermoelectric cooling unit for controlling said thermoelectric cooling unit;

a thermally conductive water barrier encasing said thermoelectric cooling unit; and

a blanket having a plurality of pockets therein for holding said thermoelectric cooling unit.

12. The cooling blanket of claim 11 further comprising:

a temperature control switch connected to said temperature control circuit for setting the temperature of said cooling blanket.

13. The cooling blanket of claim 11 further comprising:

a fastener along an edge of said blanket for connecting to an edge of said blanket.

14. The cooling blanket of claim 11 further comprising:

an electrical power connection electrically connecting said temperature control to an electrical power source.

15. The cooling blanket of claim 11 further comprising:

an electrical jumper connection electrically connected to said electrical power source to allow additional cooling blankets to be electrically connected.