US20130233531A1

US20130233531A1 - Temperature conditioning device

Info

Publication number: US20130233531A1
Application number: US13/416,101
Authority: US
Inventors: Gary Chiu; Naijian FU
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-03-09
Filing date: 2012-03-09
Publication date: 2013-09-12

Abstract

A temperature conditioning device has a connection tube assembly, a heat exchange unit, a system controller, and a wrap assembly connected to the connection tube assembly. The wrap assembly has a water bag, an air bag and a sleeve wrapped around the air bag and the water bag. The system controller has a water pump for drawing liquid from the heat exchange unit to the water bag to cool or warm a body part of a user, and a pneumatic pump for inflating the air bag to provide holding force. The temperature conditioning device forms a water cycle between the heat exchange unit and the water bag so the water bag is able to keep a cool or warm temperature to comfort a user continuously.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a temperature conditioning device, especially to a temperature conditioning device that regulates human body temperature or animal body temperature.
2. Description of the Prior Art(s)
When a person has a fever or hyperthermia, an ice pack is used to lower body temperature and ease discomfort. When the person is injured or exercises strenuously, a compression wrap that is filled with ice cubes and cool liquid or is filled with hot liquid is used to comfort uncomfortable body parts.
However, as temperature of the ice pack or the compression wrap reaches a normal human body temperature, the user has to resume the temperature of the ice pack or the compression wrap to a lower or a higher temperature by replacing contents in the ice pack or the compression wrap, which is troublesome. As the replacement of contents takes place, the relieving of discomfort for the user must be interrupted.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a temperature conditioning device to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a temperature conditioning device. The temperature conditioning device has a connection tube assembly, a heat exchange unit, a system controller and a wrap assembly connected to the connection tube assembly. The wrap assembly has a water bag, an air bag and a sleeve wrapped around the air bag and the water bag. The system controller has a water pump for drawing liquid from the heat exchange unit to the water bag to cool or warm a body part of a user, and a pneumatic pump for inflating the air bag to provide holding force.
The temperature conditioning device forms a water cycle between the heat exchange unit and the water bag so the water bag is able to keep a cool or warm temperature to comfort a user continuously.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a temperature conditioning device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the temperature conditioning device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a container of the temperature conditioning device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an operational top view of the temperature conditioning device in FIG. 1, showing one temperature conditioning device is stored in a bag; and

FIG. 5 is another operational top view of the temperature conditioning device in FIG. 1, showing two temperature conditioning devices are stored in the bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1, a temperature conditioning device 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises a connection tube assembly 40, a heat exchange unit 10, a system controller 20, a wrap assembly 30, a temperature gauge 51 and a water filter 52.
With further reference to FIG. 2, the connection tube assembly 40 has a first water output tube 41, a second water output tube 42, a water input tube 43 and an air input tube 44.
With further reference to FIG. 3, the heat exchange unit 10 has a container 11, a cap 12, a water exit connector 14, a water return connector 15, a pressure limit valve 16 and a check valve 17.
The container 11 is filled with ice cubes and cool liquid or is filled with hot liquid, and has an opening 111 formed through the container 11. The cap 12 is mounted on the container 11 and is mounted around the opening 111 of the container 11.
The water exit connector 14 is mounted through the container 11, is mounted through the cap 12, is connected to the first water output tube 41 and has an outer end, an inner end and a duct 13. The outer end of the water exit connector 14 protrudes out of the container 11 and is connected to the first water output tube 41. The inner end of the water exit connector 14 protrudes into the container 11. The duct 13 is mounted on the inner end of the water exit connector 14 and protrudes inward into the container 11. Thus, the first water output tube 41 communicates with the container 11. The water return connector 15 is mounted through the container 11, is mounted through the cap 12 and is connected to the water input tube 43.
The pressure limit valve 16 is mounted in the water return connector 15. The check valve 17 is mounted through the container 11, is mounted through the cap 12 and automatically allows air outside the container 11 to flow into the container 11.
The system controller 20 has a casing 21, a water pump 22 and a pneumatic pump 23. The water pump 22 is mounted in the casing 21 and is connected to the first water output tube 41 and the second water output tube 42. The pneumatic pump 23 is mounted in the casing 21 and is connected to the air input tube 44.
The wrap assembly 30 has an air bag 31, a water bag 32, a sleeve 33 and an air release valve 34. The air bag 31 is connected to the air input tube 44. The water bag 32 overlaps the air bag 31 and is connected to the second water output tube 42 and the water input tube 43. The sleeve 33 is wrapped around the air bag 31 and the water bag 32. The air release valve 34 is mounted through the air bag 31 and automatically releases air overcharged in the air bag 31 to prevent the air bag 31 from blowing up.
The temperature gauge 51 is mounted on the second water output tube 42 and the water input tube 43, is disposed adjacent to the wrap assembly 30 and detects temperatures of the liquids that flow into and flow out of the water bag 32. Thus, the user is able to observe the difference between the temperature of the liquid flowing into the water bag 32 and the temperature of the liquid flowing out of the water bag 32.
The water filter 52 is mounted on the first water output tube 41 and filters out impurities in the liquid.
With further reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, one, two or more temperature conditioning devices 1 may be stored in a bag 60 for the convenience of transportation.
The wrap assembly 30 is wrapped around a body part of a user. When the water pump 22 is activated, the water pump 22 draws liquid in the container 11 and pumps the liquid into the water bag 32. Then the liquid in the water bag 32 is pushed out of the water bag 32, flows through the water input tube 43, opens the pressure limit valve 16 in the water return connector 15 and then flows back into the container 11. The pneumatic pump 23 inflates or deflates the air bag 31 to allow the air bag 31 to tighten or loosen the hold on the body part of the user.
As the container 11 is airtight and the water pump 22 draws the liquid out of the container 11, interior of the container 11 becomes a partial vacuum. The check valve 17 mounted on the cap 12 allows air outside the container 11 to flow into the container 11 to relieve vacuum state. Thus, the water pump 22 is able to keep working without being overloaded.
The pressure limit valve 16 allows the liquid to flow back into the container 11 whenever the water pump 22 is activated, and stops the liquid from entering the container 11 whenever the water pump 22 stops working. Therefore, as the water pump 22 stops working, even if the liquid expands or the water bag 32 shrinks, the liquid in the water bag 32 does not flow back into the container 11. Consequently, cooling or warming effect of the temperature conditioning device is maintained. Moreover, since the water pump 22 does not need to keep working continuously, electric power supply to the water pump 22 is saved and temperature of the water bag 32 does not become too low or too high causing discomfort of the user.
Preferably, the system controller 20 further has a pressure detector 24, an air guiding tube 25 and a solenoid valve 26. The pressure detector 24 is mounted in the casing 21. The air guiding tube 25 has two ends respectively connected to the pneumatic pump 23 and the pressure detector 24. The solenoid valve 26 is electrically connected to and is controlled by the pressure detector 24, and controls communication between the air guiding tube 25 and the air input tube 44. The air input tube 44 is connected to the pneumatic pump 23 via the solenoid valve 26 and the air guiding tube 25.
Thus, the pressure detector 24 detects air pressure of pressurized air that is pumped out of the pneumatic pump 23 and controls the solenoid valve 26 to stop the pressurized air from entering the air input tube 44 when the pressurized air is over pressurized, or to allow the pressurized air to enter the air input tube 44 when the pressurized air has normal air pressure.
The temperature conditioning device 1 as described has the following advantage. The container 11, the connection tube assembly 40 and the water bag 32 form a water cycle between the container 11 and the water bag 32. Therefore, the water bag 32 is able to keep a cool or warm temperature to comfort the user continuously.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A temperature conditioning device comprising:

a connection tube assembly having:

a first water output tube;

a second water output tube; and

a water input tube;

a heat exchange unit having:

a container;

a water exit connector mounted through the container and connected to the first water output tube; and

a water return connector mounted through the container and connected to the water input tube;

a system controller having a water pump connected to the first water output tube and the second water output tube; and

a wrap assembly having a water bag connected to the second water output tube and the water input tube.

2. The temperature conditioning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the connection tube assembly further has an air input tube;

the system controller further has a pneumatic pump connected to the air input tube; and

the wrap assembly further has

an air bag overlapping the water bag and connected to the air input tube; and

a sleeve wrapped around the air bag and the water bag.

3. The temperature conditioning device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the wrap assembly further has an air release valve mounted through the air bag and automatically releasing air overcharged in the air bag.

4. The temperature conditioning device as claimed in claim 3, wherein

the system controller further has

a pressure detector;

an air guiding tube having two ends respectively connected to the pneumatic pump and the pressure detector; and

a solenoid valve electrically connected to and controlled by the pressure detector, and controlling communication between the air guiding tube and the air input tube; and

the air input tube is connected to the pneumatic pump via the solenoid valve and the air guiding tube.

5. The temperature conditioning device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the heat exchange unit further has a check valve mounted through the container and allowing air outside the container to flow into the container.

6. The temperature conditioning device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the heat exchange unit further has a pressure limit valve mounted in the water return connector and allowing pressurized liquid to flow into the container.

7. The temperature conditioning device as claimed in claim 6 further having a temperature gauge mounted on the second water output tube and the water input tube and disposed adjacent to the wrap assembly.

8. The temperature conditioning device as claimed in claim 7 further having a water filter mounted on the first water output tube.

9. The temperature conditioning device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the water exit connector has

an outer end protruding out of the container and connected to the first water output tube;

an inner end protruding into the container; and

a duct mounted on the inner end of the water exit connector and protruding inward into the container.

10. The temperature conditioning device as claimed in claim 9, wherein

the container of the heat exchange unit has an opening formed through the container;

the heat exchange unit further has a cap mounted on the container and mounted around the opening of the container; and

the water exit connector, the water return connector and the check valve are mounted through the cap on the container.