KR20210049749A - A Temperature Regulating Mat for a Pet - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a temperature control mat for pets. The temperature control mat for pets includes: a contact pad (11) having a flat area; a bottom pad (12) formed under the contact pad (11); a circulation unit formed between the contact pad (11) and the bottom pad (12) to flow a heat transfer medium; and a temperature control module (13) that regulates the temperature of the heat transfer medium and circulates the same through a circulation unit, wherein the circulation unit is formed in a mesh shape between two layers pressed against each other.

Description

A temperature regulating mat for a pet

The present invention relates to a temperature control mat for pets, and more particularly, to a temperature control mat for pets that automatically adjusts the temperature according to the surrounding situation so that the pet can rest or sleep.

Various types of pets or companion animals share a part of a person's living space, and pets such as dogs or cats are active indoors for many hours. For such pets, a house, a play area, or similar facilities for pets may be formed indoors. Equipment for pets needs to have an environment suitable for it. Pet products such as, for example, beds, mattresses or mats need to be made to maintain a suitable temperature or humidity for each pet, and various techniques related thereto are known in the art. Patent Registration No. 10-1839096 discloses a device for controlling cold or hot air to provide cold air or heat to a companion animal. In addition, Patent Publication No. 10-2018-0079538 discloses cold air and hot air to adjust the living environment of the companion animal to an appropriate temperature. Disclosed with respect to the companion animal cooling and heating cushion for providing. A bed, mattress, or mat in which a pet or companion animal can rest or sleep is advantageous in that the temperature changes gradually while keeping the entire heating and cooling area at a uniform temperature during the temperature control process. In addition, although it is advantageous to have a simple temperature control structure, the prior art or known art does not disclose a temperature control mat for a pet that satisfies such a condition.

The present invention has the following objects to solve the problems of the prior art.

Prior Art 1: Patent Registration No. 10-1839096 (Lee Sun-young, 2018.03.15. Announcement) Cooling and temperature control device for companion animals Prior Art 2: Patent Publication No. 10-2018-0079538 (Heejae Lee, published on July 11, 2018) Companion animal air conditioning cushion

It is an object of the present invention to provide a temperature control mat for pets that has a simple temperature control structure by applying a thermoelectric element method and allows uniform cooling and heating by moving a transmission medium along a flow path of a network structure.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a temperature control mat for a pet may include: a contact pad having a flat portion; A bottom pad formed under the contact pad; A circulation unit formed between the contact pad and the bottom pad to flow the heat transfer medium; And a temperature control module for circulating through the circulation unit by adjusting the temperature of the heat transfer medium, wherein the circulation unit is made in a network shape between the two layers compressed with each other.

According to another suitable embodiment of the present invention, the circulation unit 21 is formed in a high-frequency pressing method, and a conductive layer is disposed between the circulation unit and the contact pad.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plate-shaped thermoelectric module disposed on a temperature control module; And a conductive pipe in which at least a portion of the thermoelectric module is in contact.

According to another suitable embodiment of the present invention, it includes an elastic control unit for adjusting the expansion or contraction or expansion of the thermoelectric module.

According to another suitable embodiment of the present invention, the contact pad comprises a memory foam layer of low-elastic polyurethane material or viscose polyol material with open cells.

The temperature control mat for pets according to the present invention has a simple structure and easy operation by controlling cooling and heating by applying a thermoelectric element. The temperature control mat according to the present invention allows the temperature of the temperature control part to be uniformly controlled by the heat transfer medium flowing through the flow path of the mesh structure. In the temperature control mat according to the present invention, convenience of use and space efficiency are improved by making the control module in a structure that can be separated from the mat module. In addition, the temperature control mat according to the present invention prevents malfunction or damage of the thermoelectric element by automatically adjusting the pressure according to the expansion or expansion of the thermoelectric element module.

1 shows an embodiment of a temperature control mat for a pet according to the present invention.
2 shows an embodiment of a circulation unit applied to the temperature control mat according to the present invention.
3 shows an embodiment of a temperature control module applied to the temperature control mat according to the present invention.
4 shows an embodiment of a structure in which heat exchange is performed in a temperature control mat according to the present invention.
5 shows an embodiment of a transmission medium supply structure applied to the temperature control mat according to the present invention.
6 shows another embodiment of the temperature control mat according to the present invention.

In the following, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, but the embodiments are for a clear understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. In the following description, components having the same reference numerals in different drawings have similar functions, so if they are not necessary for the understanding of the invention, they will not be described repeatedly, and well-known components will be briefly described or omitted, but the present invention It should not be understood as being excluded from the embodiment of.

1 shows an embodiment of a temperature control mat for a pet according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a temperature control mat for a pet includes a contact pad 11 having a flat portion; A bottom pad 12 formed under the contact pad 11; A circulation unit formed between the contact pad 11 and the bottom pad 12 to flow a heat transfer medium; And a temperature control module 13 that adjusts the temperature of the heat transfer medium and circulates through the circulation unit, wherein the circulation unit is made in a network shape between the two layers compressed with each other.

The contact pad 11 may have a rectangular plate shape or a similar shape as a whole, and may be made of a synthetic resin material, a cotton material, a wood material, a leather material, a mixture material thereof, or a similar material. The contact pad 11 corresponds to a part where the body of a companion animal or pet is in contact, and may be made of various materials that are advantageous for contact with such animals, and may be made of a material having an appropriate level of warmth or thermal conductivity. have. Alternatively, it may be made of a material that rapidly absorbs or transmits heat from the body of a pet or companion animal. For example, a polyurethane material, a low-resilience polyurethane material, a neoprene material, a polyurethane rubber polymer A layer made of a corresponding sorbothane material, a mixture material thereof, or a similar material may be included. Alternatively, the contact pad 11 may include a memory foam layer having an open cell having a foam density of 10 to 80 kg/㎥, for example, polyurethane, polyether polyol, polyurethane foam polyether/polyester air It may include, but is not limited to, a memory foam layer in the form of a coalescence or high elasticity-viscose polyol foam.

The bottom pad 12 is disposed so as to face the contact pad 11 and may be coupled to each other by the finishing edge 111. The floor pad 12 may be made of various materials having heat insulation or durability, and an accommodation space may be formed between the contact pad 11 and the floor pad 12. A circulation unit may be disposed in the accommodation space, and a heat transfer medium may flow through the circulation unit. The circulation unit may form a flow path through which the heat transfer medium can flow, and the flow path may be formed in a net structure, for example. The circulating unit may be made in a manner in which, for example, a fiber layer made of a microfiber made of polyester, nylon or a mixture thereof or a similar fiber is bonded by a high-frequency adhesive method. For example, a network-shaped circulation unit pattern may be formed on one fiber layer. The circulating unit pattern may be formed by a synthetic resin adhesive, and a circulating unit may be formed by bonding the other fiber layers to each other and then applying a high frequency to combine the two fiber layers by the synthetic resin adhesive. The circulating unit thus formed may be combined with a plate-shaped conductive layer, and the conductive layer may be made of aluminum, copper, bronze, brass, or a metal material having a high thermal conductivity similar thereto. The circulation unit and the conductive layer may be bonded to each other, and the contact pad 11 may be bonded to the top of the conductive layer. The temperature of the contact pad 11 may be adjusted while a heat transfer medium such as water is circulated along the circulation unit thus formed. In addition, the temperature or circulation of the heat transfer medium may be controlled by a temperature control module. The bottom pad 12 may be made of a material having relatively low thermal conductivity compared to the circulation unit or the contact pad 11. Optionally, it may be disposed separately from the circulation unit, or may be disposed through, for example, a foam material, but is not limited thereto.

The temperature control module 13 may be made in an independent module structure, and may be detachably coupled to the contact pad 11 or the bottom pad 12. The temperature control module 13 may include a housing having a flat bottom surface and a sealing surface extending from the bottom surface in a semi-cylinder shape. Heat exchange means such as a circulation pump for circulation of the heat transfer medium inside the housing, a thermoelectric element for controlling the temperature of the heat transfer medium, a microprocessor for controlling the operation, information processing means for processing information transmitted from the detection means, power Means for regulating the power supply for regulating the supply or similar means for regulating the operation may be included. The temperature control module 13 may be detachably coupled to the contact pad 11 or the bottom pad 12 by the fastening connector 14, and the fastening connector 14 has a magnetic coupling structure, a pin coupling structure, or similar. It can be made into a bonding structure. Further, a circulation connection means 16 may be formed in the temperature control module 13, and the circulation connection means 16 may include an opening/closing means such as a valve. The heat transfer medium may be introduced into the circulation unit through the circulation connection means 16, and the heat transfer medium circulated through the circulation unit may be discharged through the circulation connection means 16.

As explained above, the floor pad 12 may be made of an insulating material, and it is advantageous to be separated from the placement ground. A support tam made of rubber, elastomer, or similar elastic synthetic resin material may be formed on the floor pad 12. In addition, the weight detection unit 15 may be installed on the support tab. The weight detection unit 15 may include, for example, a load cell, and may be installed on at least one support tab. Preferably, four weight detection units 15 are installed at four corners so that a change in the location, weight, or weight of the pet or companion animal can be detected.

The heat transfer medium may be introduced into the circulation unit and circulated by the operation of the temperature control module 13. The temperature control module 13 may detect and operate based on the surrounding environment, the location of the animal, or similar operating conditions. And according to the operation of the temperature control module 13, the heat transfer medium may be circulated along the circulation unit, and the circulation unit may be made in a structure suitable for heat exchange between the contact pad 11 and the heat transfer medium while circulating the heat transfer medium. have.

2 shows an embodiment of a circulation unit applied to the temperature control mat according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the circulation unit 21 may have a plate shape as a whole and may have a shape that can be disposed in an accommodation space formed between the contact pad and the floor pad. The mesh-shaped flow path 22 may cross each other while forming rows and columns, so that a structure in which a plurality of rectangular grids are continuously arranged as a whole may be formed, but is not limited thereto. Each flow path 22 can be a tube structure capable of transporting a fluid such as water, and as described above, formed by bonding two fiber layers with a flow path pattern formed on one fiber layer by a high frequency bonding method. Can be, but is not limited thereto. The circulation unit 21 may include an inlet region IA and an outlet region OA, and the inlet region IA and the discharge region OA may be formed in a symmetrical structure with respect to the length direction. A connection area CA connecting fluid movement between the inflow area IA and the discharge area OA may be formed at one end of the central portion along the length direction. In addition, the adjustment space 23 may be formed at a position facing the connection area CA. Polygonal circulation cells may be disposed in each of the inlet region IA and the discharge region OA, and the heat transfer medium guided to the inlet region IA is discharged through the flow path 22 formed in the connection region CA. It can be moved to the area OA. The inlet induction tube 241 and the outlet induction tube 242 may be disposed in the control space 23, and the inlet induction tube 241 may be connected to the flow path 22 disposed in the inlet region IA. In addition, the discharge induction tube 242 may be connected to the flow path 22 disposed in the discharge region OA. The inlet induction tube 241 and the outlet induction tube 242 may be connected to the flow path 22 formed in the inlet region IA and the discharge region IO in various ways, respectively, and are not limited to the exemplary embodiments presented. In addition, an induction path 22 having a network structure of various shapes may be formed in the inlet region IA and the discharge region IO, respectively.

The inlet induction tube 241 and the outlet induction tube 242 may be connected to a medium circulation unit in which a heat transfer medium is stored. In addition, the heat transfer medium may be circulated along the medium circulation unit, the inflow guide tube 241 and the discharge guide tube 242 by a circulation driving means such as, for example, a supply pump. The temperature of the heat transfer medium stored in the medium circulation unit may be controlled by the thermoelectric module.

3 shows an embodiment of a temperature control module applied to the temperature control mat according to the present invention.

3, a plate-shaped thermoelectric module 34 disposed on the temperature control module 13; And a conductive pipe 33 in which at least a portion of the thermoelectric module 34 is in contact.

The thermoelectric module 34 may include a thermoelectric element based on a Peltier effect in which one side absorbs heat and generates heat on the other side according to the flow of current. The thermoelectric element may be, for example, a semiconductor thermoelectric element made of bismuth, tellurium, or a semiconductor element similar thereto, but is not limited thereto. The polarity of the voltage applied to the thermoelectric module 34 may be switched, and accordingly, the heat transfer medium may be cooled or heated by the thermoelectric module 34. The thermoelectric module 34 may be made in a variety of structures that absorb heat or generate heat according to the flow of current, and is not limited to the presented embodiment. One side of the plate-shaped thermoelectric module 34 may be in contact with the heat dissipation module 32, and the heat dissipation module 32 may have a function of discharging heat generated from one side of the thermoelectric module 34 to the outside. have. The heat dissipation module 32 may be made of aluminum or a metal material having a high thermal conductivity similar thereto, and may be made of a plurality of fins or plates. One of each fin or plate is in contact with a conductive block, and the conductive block is a thermoelectric module. In contact with 34, heat conduction may be performed between the heat dissipation fin or the heat dissipation plate and the thermoelectric module 34. The heat dissipation module 32 may be coupled to the heat dissipation fan unit 31 by the fastening bracket 311, and heat conducted from the heat dissipation block 32 may be discharged to the outside by the heat dissipation fan unit 31. The heat dissipation fan unit 31 may be selectively installed, and the heat dissipation block 32 may be made in various structures and is not limited to the presented embodiment.

The conduction pipe 33 allows rapid heat conduction between the thermoelectric module 34 and the heat dissipation module 32. The conductive pipe 33 may be formed of a plurality of sub-conducting pipes, and one part of each sub-conducting pipe is in contact with the thermoelectric module 34, and the other part passes through the heat dissipation module 32, for example. Can be placed. Each of the sub-conducting pipes may be made of aluminum, copper, or similar metal material having high thermal conductivity, or may be made of a heat pipe structure. Thermal conduction between the thermoelectric module 34 and the heat dissipation module 32 may be rapidly performed by the conduction pipe 33 having such a structure.

A heat dissipation module 32 may be coupled to one side of the thermoelectric module 34, a medium circulation unit may be coupled to the other side, and a conductive block may be coupled to a fastening hole 341 formed in the thermoelectric module 34. have.

Referring to FIG. 4, the thermoelectric module 34 further includes an elastic adjustment unit 45 for controlling expansion or expansion of the thermoelectric module 34. The thermoelectric module 34 may be fixed to the sealing plate 42, and the conductive block 41 may be coupled to the thermoelectric module 34 to enable heat transfer. The sealing plate 42 may form one wall or a boundary wall of the medium storage housing 51 in which the heat transfer medium is stored, and the conductive block 41 is located inside the medium storage housing 51 and one side thereof is thermally transferred. It may be in contact with the module 34 or a fixed stone to enable heat conduction to the thermoelectric module 34. A heat transfer medium such as water may be stored inside the media storage housing 51, and a temperature-controlled heat transfer medium may be discharged or introduced through the inlet connector 431 and the discharge connector 432. The inlet connector 431 and the outlet connector 432 may form the purifying connection means (see 16 in FIG. 1) described above. By the operation of the thermoelectric module 34, the heat transfer medium stored in the medium storage housing 51 may be heated or cooled to a predetermined temperature level. In addition, the temperature-controlled heat transfer medium is circulated through the circulation unit connected to the inlet connector 431 and the outlet connector 432 to control the temperature of the contact pad. The thermoelectric module 34 may be operated and controlled by a control unit including, for example, a central processing unit, and the operation may be restricted by a control switch 46 such as bimetal so as to operate in a predetermined temperature range. .

Heat or cold air of the thermoelectric module 34 may be transferred to a heat transfer medium through a conductive block 41 having a rectangular cross section. The conductive block 41 may be made of aluminum, bronze, brass, stainless steel, or a metal material having a high thermal conductivity similar thereto, and may be positioned so as to be immersed in the heat transfer medium inside the medium storage housing 51. During the operation of the thermoelectric module 34, the thermoelectric module 34 may expand or expand, and an operation error of the thermoelectric module 34 may occur due to the repetition of such expansion and expansion, or the thermoelectric module 34 It can be damaged. Alternatively, the fastening means may be damaged, or a poor contact state of the conductive means may occur. In order to prevent this, at least one elastic adjustment unit 45 may be coupled to one side of the thermoelectric module 34. The elastic adjustment unit 45 may be a coil spring or similar elastic means having one part connected to the thermoelectric module 34 and the other part connected to a fixing means 451 such as a ranch bolt. The expansion or contraction of the thermoelectric module 34 may be buffered by the elastic control unit 45, thereby preventing malfunction or failure of the thermoelectric module 34.

The elastic adjustment means 45 may be coupled to the thermoelectric module 34 in various structures and is not limited to the presented embodiment.

5 shows an embodiment of a transmission medium supply structure applied to the temperature control mat according to the present invention.

5, the medium storage housing 51 has a box shape in which the heat transfer medium is accommodated, and a supply cap for supplying the heat transfer medium from the outside to the storage housing 51 above the storage housing 51 511 can be combined. The heat transfer medium, which is temperature-controlled inside the storage housing 51 by the operation of the thermoelectric module, is supplied through the supply conduit 53 and is a circulation unit disposed under the contact pad 11 through the circulation connection means 16. Can be supplied as The circulation pressure or circulation period of the heat transfer medium in the circulation unit may be adjusted by the supply pump 52. As described above, the temperature control module 13 may form an accommodation space, and a media storage housing 51 and a heat dissipation module 32 in the interior of the accommodation space; The heat dissipation fan unit 31 and the thermoelectric module may be disposed. Further, circulation walls 54a and 54b may be formed on both sides of the accommodation space, and circulation slits 541 capable of air flow may be formed on at least one of the circulation walls 54a and 54b.

The contact pad 11 or the bottom pad may be detachably coupled to the temperature control module 13, and may be detachably coupled by a fastening connector (see 14 in FIG. 1). The fastening connector may be, for example, magnetic connectors 55a and 55b, and the magnetic connectors 55a and 55b may have a structure in which a plurality of pins and holes are coupled to each other. The contact pad 11 or the temperature control module 13 may be connected to each other in various structures and is not limited to the exemplary embodiments presented.

The temperature control module 13 is made as an independent module, so that different contact pads 11 or a pair of contact pads 11 may be coupled to the temperature control module 13.

6 shows another embodiment of the temperature control mat according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, a pair of contact pads 11a, 11b and bottom pads 12a, 12b are formed on both sides of a temperature control module 13 on both sides of a temperature control module 13. , 14b) may be combined to be detachable, respectively. Circulation connecting means 16a and 16b for supplying or discharging a heat transfer medium to each circulation unit formed under each of the contact pads 13a and 13b may be coupled to the temperature control module 13. An inlet 61 for inputting a heat transfer medium may be installed above the temperature control module 13, and a power switch 62 may also be installed. An ultrasonic sensor that detects the presence of a pet or a companion animal on the contact pads 13a and 13b, respectively, with a weight detection means such as a load cell installed on the temperature control module 13, or on the different contact pads 11a and 11b on the temperature control module 13 , An infrared sensor or similar position detection means may be disposed. Information detected by the weight detection unit or the location detection means may be processed by the detection information processing means and transmitted to the control module. The control module may include an operating means or a display screen, and may control the temperature of each of the contact pads 11a and 11b by controlling the operation of the temperature control module 13. Floor pads 14a and 14b and weight detection units 15a and 15b may be installed below each of the contact pads 11a and 11b.

The temperature of each of the contact pads 11a and 11b can be independently controlled by the control module, and a display means such as a light emitting element for displaying the operation status of each of the contact pads 11a and 11b may be arranged as needed. I can. In addition, each of the contact pads 11a and 11b may have the same or different structures.

The contact pads 11a and 11b having various structures may be the same or may be coupled to the temperature control module 13 in different ways, and are not limited to the exemplary embodiments presented.

The temperature control mat for pets according to the present invention has a simple structure and easy operation by controlling cooling and heating by applying a thermoelectric element. The temperature control mat according to the present invention allows the temperature of the temperature control region to be uniformly controlled by the heat transfer medium flowing through the flow path of the lattice structure. In the temperature control mat according to the present invention, convenience of use and space efficiency are improved by making the control module in a structure that can be separated from the mat module. In addition, the temperature control mat according to the present invention prevents malfunction or damage of the thermoelectric element by automatically adjusting the pressure according to the expansion or expansion of the thermoelectric element module.

The present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the presented embodiments, but those of ordinary skill in this field will be able to make various modifications and modifications without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention with reference to the presented embodiments. . The present invention is not limited by such modifications and modifications, but is limited by the claims appended below.

11: contact pad 12: bottom pad
13: temperature control module 14: mating connector
15: weight detection unit 16: circulation connection means
22: flow path 23: adjustment space
31: heat dissipation fan unit 32: heat dissipation module
33: conduction pipe 34: thermoelectric module
41: conduction block 42: sealing plate 45: elastic adjustment unit
46: control switch
51: medium storage housing 52: supply pump
53: supply conduit 54a, 54b: circulation wall
55a, 55b: magnetic connector
61: inlet 62: power switch
111: finishing border 241, 242: induction tube
431, 432: connector

Claims (2)

A contact pad 11 comprising a memory foam layer made of a low-elastic polyurethane material or viscose polyol material having an open cell while having a flat portion;
A bottom pad 12 formed under the contact pad 11;
A circulation unit formed between the contact pad 11 and the bottom pad 12 to flow a heat transfer medium; And
It includes a temperature control module 13 for circulating through the circulation unit by adjusting the temperature of the heat transfer medium,
The circulation unit is made in a mesh shape between two layers that are pressed together,
The temperature control module 13 is made of an independent module structure, and a fastening connector 14 for detachably coupling to the contact pad 11 or the bottom pad 12, and a circulation connection means for introducing a heat transfer medium into the circulation unit. Including (16),
A plate-shaped thermoelectric module 34 disposed on the temperature control module 13; A heat dissipation module 32 in contact with one side of the thermoelectric module 34 and coupled with the heat dissipation fan unit 31; A conductive pipe 33 disposed in a form in which at least a portion of the thermoelectric module 34 is in contact and passes through the heat dissipation module 32; And an elastic control unit 45 including an elastic means in which one part is connected to the thermoelectric module 34 and the other part is connected to the fixing means so as to control the expansion or expansion of the thermoelectric module 34. Temperature control mat for pets. The temperature control mat for pets according to claim 1, wherein the circulation unit (21) is formed by a high-frequency pressing method, and a conductive layer is disposed between the circulation unit (21) and the contact pad (12).

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