WO2006070950A1

WO2006070950A1 - Heat water distributer and heating mat using said distributer

Info

Publication number: WO2006070950A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/003473
Authority: WO
Inventors: Young-Gyu Rho
Original assignee: Cntek, Corp.
Priority date: 2004-12-27
Filing date: 2004-12-27
Publication date: 2006-07-06

Abstract

Disclosed herein are a hot water distributor and a heating mat using said hot water distributor, which can heat locally. The hot water distributor includes: a hollow case having a hose arranged therein and a hole formed on the upper portion for communicating the hot water distributor with the outside; a Y-shaped nipple fixed inside the case for diverging a hot water hose introduced into the case into two parts; and a cam valve rotatably coupled to the case, a portion of the cam valve being exposed to the outside through the hole of the case, the cam valve rotating forwardly or backwardly in order to selectively open and close one of the diverged hot water hoses.

Description

[DESCRIPTION] [Invention Title]

HEAT WATER DISTRIBUTER AND HEATING MAT USING SAID DISTRIBUTER [Technical Field]

<i> The present invention relates to a hot water distributor, which can selectively heat only a desired area by controlling a supply amount of hot water and distribute hot water by a simple manipulation without needing additional energy source.

<2> In addition, the present invention relates to a heating mat using the hot water distributor. [Background Art]

<3> A heating mat is a product for heating by emitting heat. A conventional heating mat includes a heating wire arranged therein, and is heated by the heating wire heated when electricity is applied. However, the conventional heating mat has a disadvantage in that a user is exposed to harmful electromagnetic waves since the heating mat generally uses electric resistance heat. So, recently, a heating mat using hot water has been used in order to prevent generation of electromagnetic waves.

<4> Korean Patent Publication No. 1999-37860 discloses a hot water circulation bed. In Korean Patent Publication No. 1999-37860, the hot water circulation bed functions by the steps of locating a conductive hose at a pocket formed along a sewed line formed in zigzag on a cover cloth, inserting a filler of the same material as the conductive hose into the pocket, connecting a heating tank to both ends of the hose in order to circulate heated water, and circulating the heated water from the heating tank through the hose. The hot water circulation bed disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 1999-37860 can be divided and folded equally in a fixed width without inclination of pipe laying, so that a user can easily carry and keep it in safe. Moreover, the hot water circulation bed may use various water heating methods.

<5> Besides the above, there are various functional heating mats, but most of them provide an omnidirectional heating function. Therefore, the conventional heating mat has a problem in that the entire area of the heating mat is heated at equal temperature without regard to the user's taste in the case of a twin bed type heating mat since heated water circulates the entire mat.

<6> To solve the above problem, a method for diverging a hot water hose into at least two parts as a hot water distributor has been proposed. However, the typical hot water distributor cannot control heating temperature since it does not includes means for controlling a supply amount of hot water. That is, in fact, it is impossible to control temperature if the diverged hoses have different lengths from each other or one of the diverged hoses is pressed or curved. Therefore, when two persons use the twin bed type heating mat at the same time, the heating mat cannot be heated locally since it cannot provide hot water of desired temperature required by each of the persons.

<7> As an example for solving the above problem, Korean Utility Model Registration No. 325449 discloses a hot water distributor for a hot water mattress capable of providing a local heating by separately supplying hot water. In Korean Utility Model Registration No. 325449, the hot water distributor for the hot water mattress includes a control board inside a pipe, and a round grip connected to the control board via a rotating shaft. The user can control the supply amount of hot water by rotating the round grip.

<8> However, the hot water distributor for the hot water mattress has a problem in that it is very expensive and frequently causes malfunction or errors since its structure is complicated. Moreover, when excessive torque is applied to the rotating shaft, which connects the control board with the round grip, the distributor may be damaged. In addition, the hot water distributor has additional problem in that leakage of hot water may be occur at a coupling portion between the rotating shaft and the pipe since the rotating shaft passes through a section of the pipe. [Disclosure] [Technical Problem]

<9> Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hot water distributor and a heating mat using said distributor, which can effectively and selectively provide a local heating function through a simple structure.

<io> It is another object of the present invention to provide a hot water distributor and a heating mat using said distributor, which is easy to manipulate, does not need additional energy, and reduces expenses.

<π> The objects and features of the present invention may be understood to those skilled in the art with reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. [Technical Solution]

<12> To achieve the above objects, in an aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a hot water distributor includes: a hollow case having a hose arranged therein and a hole formed on the upper portion for communicating the hot water distributor with the outside! an Y-shaped nipple fixed inside the case for diverging a hot water hose introduced into the case into two parts; and a cam valve rotatably coupled to the case, a portion of the cam valve being exposed to the outside through the hole of the case, the cam valve rotating forwardly or backwardly in order to selectively open and close one of the diverged hot water hoses.

<i3> The hot water distributor further includes a T-shaped nipple fixed inside the case for diverging a recovery hose introduced into the case into two parts.

<14> The hot water distributor further includes a pressing member rotatably connected to the case, being in contact with the cam valve, and rotating according to the rotation of the cam valve in order to selectively open and close one of the diverged hot water hoses.

<i5> The case includes-^' a hollow body having a number of partitions formed therein for partitioning the inside space into several spaces, and a number of holes formed on side portions thereof for permitting going-in and going- out of the hoses; and a cover detachably mounted on the upper portion of the body and having the hole for exposing the cam valve to the outside.

<i6> The cam valve includes: a gear portion formed at a side thereof and having a number of teeth; and a rotatable grip formed on the upper portion thereof and having an indication needle.

<i7> The hot water distributor further includes a latch plate fixed inside the case adjacently to the cam valve and having a stopper elastically caught to the teeth of the gear portion of the cam valve.

<18> The cover has a rotatable scale formed around the outer circumference of the hole thereof.

<i9> A rectangular heating mat includes: long sides! short sides; a first heating part formed at the left side thereof from the central line thereof in the long side direction; a second heating part formed at the right side thereof from the central line thereof in the long side direction; and a hot water distributor mounted on the short side of the heating mat for selectively supplying fluid to the first heating part or the second heating part, wherein the hot water distributor includes: a hollow case having a hose arranged therein and a hole formed on the upper portion for communicating the hot water distributor with the outside; an Y-shaped nipple fixed inside the case for diverging a hot water hose introduced into the case into two parts; and a cam valve rotatably coupled to the case, a portion of the cam valve being exposed to the outside through the hole of the case, the cam valve rotating forwardly or backwardly in order to selectively open and close one of the diverged hot water hoses.

<20> The present invention can provide a local heating by a simple manipulation, and simply control a supply amount of hot water. Moreover, the present invention can gather circulated hot water, and have a structure that intervals of diverged hot water hoses are different from each other in the case where hoses are arranged in a twin bed type heating mat. Additionally, it is preferable that the hot water distributor is mounted at the central part of a short side of the heating mat in the case where the hot water distributor is applied to a rectangular heating mat. A user can obtain an effect of keeping the head cool and the feet warm since hot water is circulated from the user's feet area to the head area when the user puts the feet at the short side part, in which the hot water distributor is mounted, and puts the head at the other short side part.

[Advantageous Effects] <2i> The hot water distributor according to the present invention has a simple structure, does not cause an error or malfunction, and is easy to manipulate. <22> Furthermore, the hot water distributor according to the present invention can reduce expenses since it can locally and selectively heat the mat and does not need additional energy.

[Description of Drawings] <23> FIGS. 1 and 2 are a perspective view and an exploded perspective view of a hot water distributor according to the present invention; <24> FIG. 3 is a plan view of a case body according to the present invention; <25> FIGS 4 to 6 are a perspective view, a plan view and a side view of a cam valve according to the present invention; <26> FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a pressing member according to the present invention; <27> FIGS. 8 to 11 are a perspective view, a front view, a rear view and a plan view of a latch plate according to the present invention; <28> FIG. 12 is a plan view of a hot water distributor according to the present invention; <29> FIG. 13 is a perspective view and a plan view of a heating mat according to the present invention; and <3o> FIG. 14 is an exemplary view showing a relation between the rotation of a cam valve and the closing of a hot water hose according to the present invention. [Mode for Invention]

<3i> Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The structure and operation of the present invention illustrated in the drawings and described in the following embodiment are just one embodiment, but spirits, the structure and operation of the present invention are not restricted to the drawings and embodiments. In the drawings, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Furthermore, if relevant technology of prior arts make the points of the present invention obscure, its detailed description will be omitted.

<32> FIGS. 1 and 2 are a perspective view and an exploded perspective view of a hot water distributor according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of a case body according to the present invention.

<33> The case of the present invention may be an integrated type, which has a hollow inside and a hole formed on the upper portion thereof. However, preferably, the case includes a body 10 and a cover 50 detachably mounted on the body 10.

<34> The body 10 is made of synthetic resin material, and in the form of a rectangular box. Moreover, the body 10 has rounded edges 10a in order to prevent damage of the heating mat and a user's injury when the heating mat is mounted on the body 10. Furthermore, the body 10 has the hollow inside, but includes a number of partitions 11 extending upwardly from the bottom surface thereof in order to fix each component of the hot water distributor and support load of each component. The body 10 is divided into large and small spaces by the partitions 11.

<35> The body 10 has a number of guide holes formed on the outer surface for guiding going-in and going-out of a hot water hose 80 and a recovery hose 90. Preferably, three guide holes 12a, 12b and 12c are formed on the front side of the body 10, one guide hole 12d is formed on the left side or right side of the body 10, and the other two guide holes 12e and 12f are formed on the rear side of the body 10.

<36> Furthermore, the body 10 has screw poles lib extendably formed around four edges inside the body 10, and each of the screw poles lib has a screw hole (not shown) downwardly formed at the center thereof.

<37> The hot water hose 80 and the recovery hose 90 are preferably made of a vinyl resin material in order to secure softness, thermal resistance and elasticity, and have a sufficient thickness. For instance, the reason is to provide restoring force to be returned into their original forms when they are transformed by pressing force. The hot water hose 80 and the recovery hose 90 may respectively have protective bellows parts (not shown) formed at a portion thereof in order to prevent damage of the hoses due to repeated bending.

<38> A nipple is fixed to the body 10 by one of the partitions 11 formed inside the body 10. Preferably, the body 10 includes an Y-shaped nipple 61 and a T-shaped nipple 62. The Y-shaped nipple 61 is connected with the hot water hose 80 in order to diverge the hot water hose 80, and the diverged hot water hoses 80 direct toward the front of the body 10 so as to pass through the guide holes 12a and 12b formed on the front side of the body 10. The T- shaped nipple 62 is to unite the diverged hot water hoses 80 introduced from the heating mat 100 into one. The opposite ends of the T-shaped nipple 62 respectively direct toward the guide hole 12c of the front side of the body 10 and the guide hole 12e of the rear side of the body 10, and the other end of the T-shaped nipple 62 directs toward the guide hole 12d of the left side or the right side of the body 10.

<39> FIGS. 4 to 6 are a perspective view, a plan view and a side view of a cam valve according to the present invention.

<40> The cam valve 20 is located between the two hot water hoses 80 diverged by the Y-shaped nipple 61 inside the body 10, and rotatably connected to the body 10. In more detail, a rotating shaft 21 protrudes from the bottom of the cam valve 20, and a cylindrical projection lie, which is fit to the rotating shaft 21, is formed on the lower surface of the body 10. The cam valve 20 is located between the two diverged hot water hoses 80, and a semicircular groove Hd is formed in front of the projection Hc and on the lower surface of the body in low depth. Additionally, the cam valve 20 has a rotatable guide rod 22 formed on the lower surface thereof in such a way that the guide rod 22 is fit into the groove Hd and slides on the groove Hd. By the above technical structure, the guide rod 22 is inserted into the groove Hd the moment the rotating shaft 21 of the cam valve 20 is inserted into the cylindrical projection lie, whereby each component can be rotated. Here, the cam valve 20 is rotated at an angle of 180° if both end portions of the semicircular groove lid are located in a straight line, and the hot water hose 80 is closed to the maximum when the cam valve 20 is rotated to the maximum. The above operation will be described later. An eccentric projection 23 extends from a side of the cam valve 20. The eccentric projection 23 defines the front part of the cam valve 20, and preferably, as shown in the drawing, has a soft round form without having a pointed end. The cam valve 20 includes a gear portion 24 formed at the rear side portion thereof and having a number of geared teeth 24a, and a rotatable grip 25 projecting from the upper portion thereof. It is preferable that the rotatable grip 25 includes a slender indication rod and an indication needle 25a formed at a side of the indication rod.

<4i> FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a pressing member according to the present invention.

<42> The pressing member 30 may be selectively used, but it is preferable that a pair of the pressing members 30 are interposed between the cam valve 20 and the diverged hot water hoses 80. The pressing member 30 is pivotably mounted on the body 10 at a predetermined angle. At this time, the pressing member 30 is pivotably mounted on the body 10 in such a way that a round hinge hole 31 formed at an end portion thereof is fit on a pivot pin 11a of the body 10. Moreover, the pressing member 30 includes a round pressing portion 32 formed at the other end thereof.

<43> FIGS. 8 to 11 are a perspective view, a front view, a rear view and a plan view of a latch plate according to the present invention.

<44> The latch plate 40 is adjacent to the rear portion of the cam valve 20, and interposed between the Y-shaped nipple 61 and the cam valve 20 at a position where the hot water hose 80 is diverged. The partitions for fixing the latch plate 40 are in the form of "[" and "]" as shown in the drawings, and the latch plate 40 is fit and fixed to the partitions. The latch plate 40 includes a stopper 41 formed at a portion thereof. The stopper 41 is closely linked with a tooth 24a of the gear portion 24. The reason is to maintain the rotated state of the cam valve 20 by the tooth 24a of the gear portion 24 caught by the stopper 41.

<45> The cover 50 is opened and closed at the upper portion of the body 10, and detachably mounted on the body 10. It is preferable that the cover 50 is made of the same material with the same shape and color as the body 10. Moreover, the cover 50 includes a hole, preferably, formed at the same position as the rotatable grip 25 of the cam valve 20. That is, when the cover 50 is coupled with the body 10, the rotatable grip 25 of the cam valve 20 is exposed to the outside through the hole 52. Additionally, it is preferable that the rotatable grip 25 protrudes from the cam valve 20 to a sufficient height in such a way that it protrudes upwardly from the plane surface of the cover 50. Moreover, the cover 50 has a rotatable scale 53 formed on the outer circumference of the hole 52 for indicating a rotating angle of the rotatable grip 25. It is shown in FIG. 12.

<46> In addition, the cover 50 includes assembly holes 51 formed around four edges thereof, and the assembly holes 51 are coupled with the screw holes of the body 10. As fixing means for fixing the coupled state between the cover 50 and the body 10, preferably, screws 70 may be used.

<47> In the case where the present invention is applied to a twin-bed type heating mat 100, the user can control right and left heating temperature of the heating mat 100 by adjusting the cam valve 20. For instance, in the case where the hot water distributor 10 according to the present invention is applied to a bed pad, a physically therapeutic apparatus, a fomentation pack or pad, or a small-sized hot pad, which is used to patients in hospitals, the heating mat 100 can locally heat a necessary body part such as an arm or a leg by connecting one of the hoses to the bed pad and the other to the fomentation pack or the small-sized hot pad. Moreover, since the hot water supply amount can be controlled by the hot water distributor, the hot water can be supplied to the entire mat or supplied only to the physically therapeutic apparatus, the fomentation pack or pad, or the small-sized hot pad by stopping the supply of hot water to the entire mat when the user wants a local heating on the user's waist, shoulders or others.

<48> FIG. 13 is a perspective view and a plan view of a heating mat according to the present invention, and FIG. 14 is an exemplary view showing a relation between the rotation of a cam valve and the closing of a hot water hose according to the present invention.

<49> The rectangular heating mat 100 according to the present invention includes short sides 100a and long sides 100b, and a first heating part 110 and a second heating part 120 which are respectively formed at right and left sides of the heating mat 100 from the central line in the long side direction thereof. Moreover, the hot water distributor is mounted at the short side of the heating mat 100, and omnidirectionally supplies fluid to the heating mat 100, or selectively supplies fluid to the first heating part 110 or the second heating part 120.

<50> The first and second heating parts 110 and 120 respectively have the hot water hoses 80 arranged therein equally. The hot water hoses 80 arranged in the first and second heating parts 110 and 120 can be arranged in the same width, but preferably, in different widths from each other. The reason is to provide different heating environments at right and left sides of the heating mat.

<5i> When the indication needle 25a of the rotatable grip 25 directs to the front of the body 10, the hot water supplied through the body 10 is equally diverged into the right and left hot water hoses 80 so as to uniformly heat the entire heating mat 100. If the user does not want to heat the second heating part 120 of the heating mat, when the user rotates the cam valve 20 in a clockwise direction, the pressing member 30 is rotated and presses the right side hot water hose 80, whereby the hot water hose 80 is closed and reduced in its section, and the supply of hot water is stopped. For an example, FIG. 14 shows a state where the right side hot water hose is pressed, but if the user wants to heat only the first heating part 110 located at the left side of the heating mat 100, the user rotates the cam valve 20 in the counterclockwise direction, then heating of the first heating part 110 is stopped in the same principle as the above. If the user wants to stop the flow of hot water, the user rotates the cam valve 20 to an angle of 90° from its original position, then the inner end area of the hot water hose 80 is minimized and the flow of hot water is stopped. When the cam valve 20, which rotates forwardly or backwardly, is returned to its original position, the hot water hose 80 is opened. At this time, the pressing member 30 is returned to its original position by elasticity of the hot water hose 80.

<52> According to the present invention, the heating temperature of the heating mat can be controlled fixed-quantitativeIy since the pressing member 30 varies an opened-and-closed volume of the hot water hose 80 according to the rotational angle of the cam valve 20. Moreover, the right and left heating temperatures of the heating mat 100 can be controlled more precisely if the user precisely adjusts the rotational angle of the cam valve 20 sing the rotatable scale 53 formed around the outer circumference of the hole 52 of the cover 50.

<53> Hot water transferring heat to the heating mat 100 is recovered to the hot water distributor through the recovery hose 90. Referring to the drawings, hot water circulating the right side of the heating mat 100 is introduced into the front guide hole 12c of the hot water distributor, and hot water circulating the left side of the heating mat 100 is introduced into the left guide hole 12d of the hot water distributor. After that, hot water is all gathered into one by the T-shaped nipple 61, and discharged to the outside through the guide hole 12e and the recovery hose 90.

<54> While the hot water distributor according to the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention since the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein. In addition, words designating the parts of the present invention are defined in consideration of functions of the parts, and so, they can be changed according to intention of those skilled or custom of the relevant technical field.

Claims

[CLAIMS] [Claim 1]

<56> A hot water distributor comprising: <57> a hollow case having a hose arranged therein and a hole formed on the upper portion for communicating the hot water distributor with the outside; <58> a Y-shaped nipple fixed inside the case for diverging a hot water hose introduced into the case into two parts; and <59> a cam valve rotatably coupled to the case, a portion of the cam valve being exposed to the outside through the hole of the case, the cam valve rotating forwardly or backwardly in order to selectively open and close one of the diverged hot water hoses.

[Claim 2] <60> A hot water distributor according to claim 1, further comprising a T- shaped nipple fixed inside the case for diverging a recovery hose introduced into the case into two parts.

[Claim 3] <6i> A hot water distributor according to claim 1, further comprising a pressing member rotatably connected to the case, being in contact with the cam valve, and rotating according to the rotation of the cam valve in order to selectively open and close one of the diverged hot water hoses.

[Claim 4] <62> A hot water distributor according to claim 1, wherein the case includes: <63> a hollow body having a number of partitions formed therein for partitioning the inside space into several spaces, and a number of holes formed on side portions thereof for permitting going-in and going-out of the hoses; and <64> a cover detachably mounted on the upper portion of the body and having the hole for exposing the cam valve to the outside.

[Claim 5]

<65> A hot water distributor according to claim 1, wherein the cam valve includes: <66> a gear portion formed at a side thereof and having a number of teeth; and <67> a rotatable grip formed on the upper portion thereof and having an indication needle.

[Claim 6] <68> A hot water distributor according to claim 5, further comprising a latch plate fixed inside the case adjacently to the cam valve and having a stopper elastically caught to the teeth of the gear portion of the cam valve.

[Claim 7] <69> A hot water distributor according to one of claims 1 to 6, the cover has a rotatable scale formed around the outer circumference of the hole thereof.

[Claim 8]

<70> A rectangular heating mat comprising: <7i> long sides; <72> short sides; <73> a first heating part formed at the left side thereof from the central line thereof in the long side direction; <74> a second heating part formed at the right side thereof from the central line thereof in the long side direction; and <75> a hot water distributor mounted on the short side of the heating mat for selectively supplying fluid to the first heating part or the second heating part,

<76> wherein the hot water distributor includes: <77> a hollow case having a hose arranged therein and a hole formed on the upper portion for communicating the hot water distributor with the outside; <78> a Y-shaped nipple fixed inside the case for diverging a hot water hose introduced into the case into two parts; and <79> a cam valve rotatably coupled to the case, a portion of the cam valve being exposed to the outside through the hole of the case, the cam valve rotating forwardly or backwardly in order to selectively open and close one of the diverged hot water hoses.