Patent Application
20180071139
The present disclosure generally relates to a body temperature regulating device; and more particularly to a body temperature regulating device in the form of a band that conforms to a limb of the body.
The present disclosure provides a body temperature regulating device (referenced by the numeral 100 and hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as device 100), as illustrated in the embodiments of
The band 102 may be constructed in different sizes to fit different wrist sizes or different body parts of a user. Band 102 is constructed in a manner to be lightweight and efficient in nature. It may be understood that band 102 is designed to flex in order to conform to the shape of the wrist of the user, or any other limb or body part, to be worn. Further, it may be understood that the band 102 is designed to stretch to a limited amount. In some examples, band 102 may be constructed of any stretchable material such as nylon, spandex, stretchable plastic, etc. Further, in one example, some sections of band 102 may be constructed of elastic or stretchable material. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the disclosure, the elastic section includes a plurality of nylon strands to prevent stretching in a direction coaxial with the body part.
As better illustrated in
As illustrated in
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the body temperature regulating device 100 includes a plurality of pockets 116 formed along a length of the band 102. In one example, each of the pockets 116 is substantially rectangular in shape with the longer side being parallel to the length of band 102. Further, a width of the pocket 116 is approximately equal to or slightly smaller than the width of band 102. It may be understood that in other examples, the pocket 116 may have any other suitable shape and/or size, such as, but not limited to, circular, square, triangular or any other polygonal shape. In the illustrated embodiment of
It may be understood that pocket 116 is a hollow structure and is designed to be pre-filled/accommodate a source of thermal energy (not shown), hereinafter referred to as “thermal pack” (not shown). Basically, the thermal pack is any fluid or gel with high heat storing capacity. The in one embodiment, the thermal packs used in different embodiments of the present disclosure are such as, but not limited to, Propylene Glycol packs (or any similar material). Such thermal packs are manufactured by electro-sonic welding techniques for fusing plastic sheets together on three sides, and then filling the pack with the Glycol liquid and sealing the fourth side. Electronic welding of plastic seams is preferred over conventional “heat bar” welding because it provides a stronger, more leak-proof weld. Ultrasonic plastic welding is achieved by vibrating a metal horn at high frequency such that heat is generated throughout the material, which in turn gets welded by sheer friction. Since the vibrations saturate the plastic being welded, all of the plastic becomes equally and evenly hot providing a very uniform solid weld.
As more clearly illustrated in
In some examples, pocket 116 is made of same material as band 102. Another variation of general embodiment contemplates an insulating means between the thermal pack, and faces 118, 120 of pocket, and 116 which do not directly contact the body. That is, top face 118 and the side faces 120 of pocket 116 may be made of insulating material so that top face 118 and the side faces 120 may have a lower thermal conductivity, in order to reduce and thus minimizes the thermal loss from the thermal pack inside pocket 116 to external environment, whereas bottom face 121 may be made of breathable and conductive material, generally same as that of band 102. One insulating material contemplated is a type of semi-rigid foam plastic made from polystyrene, polyurethane or any other material known in the art.
In one embodiment of present disclosure, thermal packs are removably disposable in pockets 116, that is, thermal packs can be removed from pocket 116 for cleaning and/or for re-cooling. For this purpose, each pocket 116 is provided with a plastic zipper 122 (also known as “Ziploc™”) disposed along one of the side faces 120 and running parallel along the longer side of band 102. Such plastic zippers 122 are widely known in art and have not been described in detail herein for the brevity of present disclosure. It may be understood that the plastic zipper 122 allows for substantially and hermetic sealing of pocket 116 and thus prevent any leakage of fluid from thermal pack to outside of pocket 116. It may be contemplated that, in alternate examples, some other sealing means may be employed for sealing pocket 116 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
An alternative embodiment contemplates that pockets 116 may be permanently sealed after providing thermal packs inside pockets 116, and thus does not permit removal of thermal packs by the user. In this embodiment, the open end of pocket 116 is sealed once the thermal pack is inserted, thus eliminating the need for the plastic zipper 122 as discussed above. In such case, the thermal pack would be regenerated by heating or chilling the entire device 100 instead of the thermal pack itself. For example, pockets 116 can be filled with water and frozen to activate the cooling properties of device 100. Due to the permanent seal, pocket 116 holds the fluid in the interior thereof during the freezing and thawing of fluid. In yet other examples, pocket 116 may be made of water-proof materials such that the user can easily fill pocket 116 of the device 100 by removing the thermal pack from the pocket 116 and filling it with loose fluid, such as water from a pitcher, or faucet. The user can then place device 100, with pocket 116 full of fluid, in the freezer, and the fluid will freeze in a short amount of time, thereby freezing device 100.
In one example, two securing pads 108, 110 may be sewn to band 102 at its ends of 104, 106. In other example, as illustrated in
Device 100 is placed over the pulse of wrist by the user placing their hand through band 102. The device 100, with pockets 116 filled with the thermal packs, can be placed on the underside of the user's wrist at the base of the palm. In this position device 100 has significant cooling potential, due to the close proximity to the pulses. Device 100 of the present disclosure can be used by athletes, outdoor workers, and any user who is exposed to extreme heat. Device 100 helps a user keep cool and avoid heat exhaustion during exercise or strenuous work. This may allow a user to work in a hot or humid environment for longer time periods. A user can also take device 100 in a thermally insulating enclosure to keep device 100 cool as needed. Further, device 100 works like a regular wristband by absorbing sweat with its terrycloth structure. It may also be contemplated that the device 100 could alternatively be used for heating purposes without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.
While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad present disclosure, and that this present disclosure is not limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications and/or adaptations may occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is to be understood that individual features shown or described for one embodiment may be combined with individual features shown or described for another embodiment.
