Method and apparatus for burning calories

• US 6,527,796 B1
• Filed: 01/24/2000
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James A. Magovern
• Original Assignee: James A. Magovern
• Inventors: Magovern, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): VRETTAKOS, PETER J
• Application Number:
  US09/490,300
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 607/96, 607/114, 607/104, 607/107, 607/112, 607/81
• US Class Current: 607/81
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/0053 Cabins, rooms, chairs or units for treatment with a hot or cold circulating fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/0095 Arrangements for varying the temperature of the liquid

Abstract

An apparatus for burning calories of an individual. The apparatus includes a cooling mechanism adapted to cool the individual'"'"'s temperature. The apparatus includes a controlling mechanism for controlling the rate at which the cooling mechanism cools the individual. A method for burning calories in an individual. The method includes the steps of applying a fluid in regard to the individual. Then there is the step of cooling the individual at the controlled rate with the fluid.

Claims

1. An apparatus for burning calories of an individual comprising:

a cooling mechanism adapted to cool the individual'"'"'s temperature by immersing the individual in fluid; and

a controlling mechanism for controlling the rate at which the cooling mechanism cools the individual to cause the individual to shiver, the controlling mechanism includes a thermometer adapted to monitor the individual'"'"'s temperature and an alarm which is sounded after the individual'"'"'s temperature reaches a predetermined temperature.

2. An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the cooling mechanism includes a temperature mechanism for controlling the temperature of the fluid.

3. An apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein the temperature mechanism causes the cooling mechanism to bring the fluid temperature to be greater than 78 degrees Fahrenheit when the fluid is initially used for the individual and then causes the cooling mechanism gradually reduces the temperature of the fluid to below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature mechanism causes the cooling mechanism to raise the temperature of the fluid to heat the individual before causing the cooling mechanism to gradually reduce the temperature of the fluid, the cooling mechanism includes a Jacuzzi connected to the controlling mechanism having a tub, heating mechanism for heating fluid, a refrigerator mechanism for cooling fluid, a fluid supply for filling the tub, a flow mechanism for moving the fluid through the tub and the heating mechanism and the cooling mechanism, and a fluid thermometer for measuring the temperature of the fluid.

4. An apparatus has described in claim 2 wherein the temperature mechanism causes the cooling mechanism to bring the fluid temperature to be greater than 78 degrees Fahrenheit when the fluid is initially used for the individual and then causes the cooling mechanism gradually reduces the temperature of the fluid to below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature mechanism causes the cooling mechanism to raise the temperature of the fluid to heat the individual before causing the cooling mechanism to gradually reduce the temperature of the fluid, the cooling mechanism includes a fluid bed or seat which is filled with fluid, a heating mechanism for heating fluid, a refrigerator mechanism for cooling fluid, a fluid supply for filling the bed or seat, a flow mechanism for moving the fluid through the bed or seat and the heating mechanism and the cooling mechanism, and a fluid thermometer for measuring the temperature of the fluid.

5. An apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein the temperature mechanism causes the cooling mechanism to bring the fluid temperature to be greater than 78 degrees Fahrenheit when the fluid is initially used for the individual and then causes the cooling mechanism gradually reduces the temperature of the fluid to below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature mechanism causes the cooling mechanism to raise the temperature of the fluid to heat the individual before causing the cooling mechanism to gradually reduce the temperature of the fluid, the cooling mechanism includes a fluid suit which is adapted to fit the individual, said suit filled with fluid, said cooling mechanism includes a heating mechanism for heating fluid, a refrigerator mechanism for cooling fluid, a fluid supply for filling the suit, a flow mechanism for moving the fluid through the suit and the heating mechanism and the cooling mechanism, and a fluid thermometer for measuring the temperature of the fluid.

6. An apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein the temperature mechanism causes the cooling mechanism to bring the fluid temperature to be greater than 78 degrees Fahrenheit when the fluid is initially used for the individual and then causes the cooling mechanism gradually reduces the temperature of the fluid to below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature mechanism causes the cooling mechanism to raise the temperature of the fluid to heat the individual before causing the cooling mechanism to gradually reduce the temperature of the fluid, the cooling mechanism including a fluid tunnel through which fluid is blown and in which the individual is adapted to be disposed, said cooling mechanism includes a heating mechanism for heating fluid, a refrigerator mechanism for cooling fluid, a fluid supply for tunnel, a flow mechanism for moving the fluid through the tunnel and the heating mechanism and the cooling mechanism, and a fluid thermometer for measuring the temperature of the fluid.

7. An apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein the fluid includes a water mist.

8. An apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein the temperature mechanism causes the cooling mechanism to bring the fluid temperature to be greater than 78 degrees Fahrenheit when the fluid is initially used for the individual and then causes the cooling mechanism gradually reduces the temperature of the fluid to below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature mechanism causes the cooling mechanism to raise the temperature of the fluid to heat the individual before causing the cooling mechanism to gradually reduce the temperature of the fluid, the thermometer is adapted to attach to the ear of the individual.

9. A method for burning calories in an individual comprising the steps of:

immersing the individual in a body of fluid; and

cooling the individual at the controlled rate with the fluid.

10. A method as described in claim 9 wherein before the cooling step, there is the step of placing a thermometer in contact with the individual to monitor the temperature of the individual.

11. A method as described in claim 10 wherein before the immersing step, there is the step of monitoring the temperature of the fluid.

12. A method has described in claim 11 wherein the immersing step includes the step of causing the fluid temperature to be greater than 78 degrees Fahrenheit when the fluid is initially applied to the individual and the cooling step includes the step of reducing gradually the temperature of the fluid to below 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

13. A method as described in claim 12 wherein before the cooling step, there is the step of raising the temperature of the fluid to heat the individual before reducing gradually the temperature of the fluid.

14. A method as described in claim 13 wherein the cooling step includes the step of cooling the individual at the controlled rate with the fluid to cause the individual to shiver.

15. A method as described in claim 14 wherein the immersing step includes the step of flowing the fluid across the body of the individual.

16. A method as described in claim 9 wherein the cooling step includes the step of cooling the individual at the controlled rate with the fluid to cause the individual to shiver.

17. A method as described in claim 16 wherein the immersing step includes the step of flowing the fluid across the body of the individual.

18. A method as described in claim 9 including the step of the individual putting on a fluid suit;

and wherein the immersing step includes the step of introducing the fluid into the suit.

19. A method for burning calories in an individual comprising the steps of:

blowing fluid across the individual; and

cooling the individual at the controlled rate with the fluid.

20. A method as described in claim 19 wherein before the cooling step, there is the step of placing a thermometer in contact with the individual to monitor the temperature of the individual.

21. A method as described in claim 20 wherein before the blowing step, there is the step of monitoring the temperature of the fluid.

22. A method has described in claim 21 wherein the blowing step includes the step of causing the fluid temperature to be greater than 78 degrees Fahrenheit when the fluid is initially applied to the individual and the cooling step includes the step of reducing gradually the temperature of the fluid to below 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

23. A method as described in claim 22 wherein before the cooling step, there is the step of raising the temperature of the fluid to heat the individual before reducing gradually the temperature of the fluid.

24. An apparatus for burning calories of an individual comprising:

a cooling mechanism adapted to cool the individual'"'"'s temperature by immersing the individual in fluid, the cooling mechanism includes a fluid for cooling the individual, the cooling mechanism includes a temperature mechanism for controlling the temperature of the fluid, the temperature mechanism causes the cooling mechanism to bring the fluid temperature to be greater than 78 degrees Fahrenheit when the fluid is initially used for the individual and then causes the cooling mechanism gradually reduces the temperature of the fluid to below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature mechanism causes the cooling mechanism to raise the temperature of the fluid to heat the individual before causing the cooling mechanism to gradually reduce the temperature of the fluid, the cooling mechanism includes a Jacuzzi connected to the controlling mechanism having a tub, heating mechanism for heating fluid, a refrigerator mechanism for cooling fluid, a fluid supply for filling the tub, a flow mechanism for moving the fluid through the tub and the heating mechanism and the cooling mechanism, and a fluid thermometer for measuring the temperature of the fluid; and

a controlling mechanism for controlling the rate at which the cooling mechanism cools the individual to cause the individual to shiver, the controlling mechanism includes a thermometer adapted to monitor the individual'"'"'s temperature and an alarm which is sounded after the individual'"'"'s temperature reaches a predetermined temperature.

25. An apparatus for burning calories of an individual comprising:

a cooling mechanism adapted to cool the individual'"'"'s temperature by immersing the individual in fluid, the cooling mechanism includes a fluid for cooling the individual, the cooling mechanism includes a temperature mechanism for controlling the temperature of the fluid, the temperature mechanism causes the cooling mechanism to bring the fluid temperature to be greater than 78 degrees Fahrenheit when the fluid is initially used for the individual and then causes the cooling mechanism gradually reduces the temperature of the fluid to below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature mechanism causes the cooling mechanism to raise the temperature of the fluid to heat the individual before causing the cooling mechanism to gradually reduce the temperature of the fluid, the thermometer is adapted to attach to the ear of the individual; and

a controlling mechanism for controlling the rate at which the cooling mechanism cools the individual to cause the individual to shiver, the controlling mechanism includes a thermometer adapted to monitor the individual'"'"'s temperature and an alarm which is sounded after the individual'"'"'s temperature reaches a predetermined temperature.

26. An apparatus for burning calories of an individual comprising:

a cooling mechanism adapted to cool the individual'"'"'s temperature by immersing the individual in fluid, the cooling mechanism includes a fluid for cooling the individual, the cooling mechanism includes a temperature mechanism for controlling the temperature of the fluid, the temperature mechanism causes the cooling mechanism to bring the fluid temperature to be greater than 78 degrees Fahrenheit when the fluid is initially used for the individual and then causes the cooling mechanism gradually reduces the temperature of the fluid to below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature mechanism causes the cooling mechanism to raise the temperature of the fluid to heat the individual before causing the cooling mechanism to gradually reduce the temperature of the fluid, the cooling mechanism including a fluid tunnel through which fluid is blown and in which the individual is disposed, said cooling mechanism includes a heating mechanism for heating fluid, a refrigerator mechanism for cooling fluid, a fluid supply for tunnel, a flow mechanism for moving the fluid through the tunnel and the heating mechanism and the cooling mechanism, and a fluid thermometer for measuring the temperature of the fluid, the fluid includes a water mist; and

a controlling mechanism for controlling the rate at which the cooling mechanism cools the individual to cause the individual to shiver, the controlling mechanism includes a thermometer adapted to monitor the individual'"'"'s temperature and an alarm which is sounded after the individual'"'"'s temperature reaches a predetermined temperature.