Patent Publication Number: US-2007100404-A1

Title: Pad for cooling or heating

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to pads and more particularly to such a pad adapted to be in fluid communication with a cooling device or a heating device so as to comfortably cool or heat the body of a person with the pad applied thereon.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Taiwanese Utility Model Patent Application, filed Nov. 13, 2003, entitled “Pad Structure For Cooling Or Heating”, now Taiwanese Utility Model Patent No. M243,119 discloses the following characteristics. A pad includes a plurality of curve channels connected together. A first coupling and a second coupling are provided at one side of the pad and they are connected to the channels. A third coupling is provided at the other side of the pad and it is connected to the channel. Also, a second channel is provided across top of the pad. The second channel has one end connected to the first coupling. A fourth coupling is connected to the other end of the second channel. In use of the pad, a user may insert plugs in the first coupling and the fourth coupling for sealing respectively. Next, connect inlet pipe or outlet pipe of a cooling device or a heating device to the second coupling and the third coupling respectively. Thus, fluid (e.g., water) may flow from the cooling device or the heating device to the channels via the second coupling. After cooling or warming the body, fluid may flow back to the cooling device or the heating device via the third coupling. Again, fluid is cooled or heated by the cooling device or the heating device prior to flowing to the pad. Surfaces of the pad thus may maintain at an optimum temperature by continuously performing the above cycle. As an end, a user may not have the feeling of too hot or too cold when using the pad. Advantageously, a product having the above characteristics of pad structure for cooling or heating have had market acceptance.  
      The present inventor is also aware that the only way for a manufacturer to survive in the competitive market is to produce products with novel and/or improved features by continuously dedicating to development. With respect to the above pad, it is comprised of an upper member and a lower member glued to the upper member. Also, each channel has a section of U formed integrally with the lower member.  
      However, the U-shaped channels are not easy to bend. Also, the channels may deform in response to applied pressure. As such, fluid may not flow smoothly. And in turn, surface temperature of the pad may not maintain at its predetermined value. This may greatly lower the desired cooling or heating performance of the pad. Thus, it is desirable to provide a pad for cooling or heating with improved channels in order to overcome the inadequacies of the prior art, increase market acceptance of the improved pad for cooling or heating, and provide a high quality pad for cooling or heating to the vast consumers.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      After considerable research and experimentation, a pad for cooling or heating according to the present invention has been devised so as to overcome the above drawbacks of the prior channel structure of the pad for cooling or heating discussed in the above background section and thereby meeting an increasing demand to the features and quality of the pad by the market and people.  
      It is an object of the present invention to provide a pad adapted to apply to the body of a person and thus the body temperature can be maintained at a predetermined optimum value for providing a degree of comfort to the body. The pad with improved channels provided on its top surface has the following advantages. Bending of the pad surface is easier. The channels may not deform in response to applied pressure. Further, fluid may flow smoothly in the channels. The characteristics of the present invention are that the pad has a top surface provided with a plurality of elongate, curve channels connected together. One end of the channel is formed as an inlet and the other end thereof is formed as an outlet. Both the inlet and the outlet are provided at the same side of the pad. The channel has an arc-shaped periphery and a flat bottom formed on the top surface of the pad. A lengthwise rib is formed along an inner surface of the channel facing the flat bottom. A covering member is provided on the top surface of the pad with the channels formed thereon for providing a flat top to the pad. An inlet coupling and an outlet coupling are provided at the inlet and the outlet of the channel respectively such that a cooling or heating fluid (e.g., water) may flow into the channels via the inlet coupling at the inlet. Next, the cooling or heating fluid flows out of the channels via the outlet coupling at the outlet after traveling the channels. Finally, the cooling or heating fluid returns to a cooling device or a heating device for cooling or heating again. Thereafter, the cooling or heating fluid may flow to the channels again. By utilizing this pad for cooling or heating, the top surface of the pad thus may maintain at an optimum temperature by continuously performing the above cycle. As an end, a user may not have the feeling of too hot or too cold when using the pad.  
      It is another object of the present invention to connect one pad having the above construction to the other identical pad side by side. A T inlet coupling is fitted in the inlet of one pad and the inlet of the other pad and a T outlet coupling is fitted in the outlet of one pad and the outlet of the other pad respectively. As a result, use area is increased and thereby maintain the top surfaces of the pads at an optimum temperature.  
      The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a portion of a preferred embodiment of pad for cooling or heating according to the invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the pad;  
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of two pads coupled together side by side; and  
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the  FIG. 3 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a structure for cooling or heating in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The structure is adapted to apply to the body of a person and thus maintains the body temperature at a predetermined optimum value for providing a degree of comfort to the body. The structure comprises a pad  10  having a top surface  11  provided with a plurality of elongate, curve channels  12  of U-section connected together (see  FIG. 2 ). One end of the channel  12  is formed as an inlet  121  and the other end thereof is formed as an outlet  122 . Both the inlet  121  and the outlet  122  are provided at the same side of the pad  10 . The channel  12  has an arc-shaped periphery  123  and a flat bottom  124  formed on the top surface  11  of the pad  10  (see  FIG. 1 ).  
      Moreover, a lengthwise rib  125  is formed along an inner surface of the channel  12  facing the flat bottom  124 . The arc-shaped periphery  123  is adapted to facilitate bending the channel  12  on the top surface  11  of the pad  10 . Also, the flat bottom  124  is adapted to increase a contact area of the channel  12  and the top surface  11  of the pad  10 . Further, the rib  15  on the inner surface of the channel  12  is adapted to increase a structural strength of the channels  12  so as to resist pressure applied on the channels  12 . As an end, the channels  12  are prevented from being deformed. Otherwise, fluid flow in the channels  12  may be hindered or even blocked.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2  again, an inlet coupling  20  and an outlet coupling  30  are provided at the inlet  121  and the outlet  122  of the channel  12  in the pad  10  respectively. The inlet coupling  20  is identical to the outlet coupling  30  (see  FIG. 1 ). Outer diameter of one end of the inlet coupling  20  is smaller than an inner diameter of each of the inlet  121  and the outlet  122 . A flat bottom  21  and an upper groove  211  are formed at periphery of one end of the inlet coupling  20  and a flat bottom  31  and an upper groove  311  are formed at periphery of one end of the outlet coupling  30  respectively. The flat bottom  21  and the upper groove  211  are dimensioned and shaped to snugly insert into the flat bottom  124  and the rib  125  respectively for connecting the inlet coupling  20  and the channel  12  together. Also, the flat bottom  31  and the upper groove  311  are dimensioned and shaped to snugly insert into the flat bottom  124  and the rib  125  respectively for connecting the outlet coupling  30  and the channel  12  together. Further, the other end of the inlet coupling  20  is formed as a hollow, cylindrical section  22  and the other end of the outlet coupling  30  is formed as a hollow, cylindrical section  32  respectively for permitting cooling or heating fluid (e.g., water) to flow therethrough.  
      In addition, a covering member (e.g., sponge)  33  is formed on the top surface  11  of the pad  10  with the channels  12  formed thereon. The covering member  33  is adapted to not only cover the channels  12  for providing a flat top thereto but also provide softness and flexibility to the pad  10 .  
      Additionally, a pattern (not shown) is printed (or painted) on a bottom surface  13  of the pad  10  opposite the channels  12 . The pattern is adapted to increase aesthesia to the pad&#39;s external appearance so as to attract more people to buy it.  
      In view of the above configuration it is clear that the cooling or heating fluid may flow into the channels  12  via the inlet coupling  20  at the inlet  121 . Next, the cooling or heating fluid flows out of the channels  12  via the outlet coupling  30  at the outlet  122  after traveling the channels  12  on the top surface  11  of the pad  10 . Finally, the cooling or heating fluid returns to a cooling device or a heating device (not shown) for cooling or heating again. Thereafter, the cooling or heating fluid may flow to the channels  12  in the pad  10  again. Top surface  11  of the pad  10  thus may maintain at an optimum temperature by continuously performing the above cycle. As an end, a user may not have the feeling of too hot or too cold when using the pad  10 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , a practical arrangement of the invention is illustrated. One pad  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  and the other pad  10 ′ are connected together side by side. The pad  10 ′ is identical to the pad  10 . The pad  10 ′ has a top surface  11 ′ provided with a plurality of elongate, curve channels  12 ′ of U-section connected together. One end of the channel  12 ′ is formed as an inlet  121 ′ and the other end thereof is formed as an outlet  122 ′. Both the inlet  121 ′ and the outlet  122 ′ are provided at the same side of the pad  10 ′.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a T inlet coupling  20 ′ is fitted in the inlet  121  of the pad  10  and the inlet  121 ′ of the pad  10 ′ and a T outlet coupling  30 ′ is fitted in the outlet  122  of the pad  10  and the outlet  122 ′ of the pad  10 ′ respectively. As a result, the pad  10  and the pad  10 ′ are connected together. The T inlet coupling  20 ′ is identical to the T outlet coupling  30 ′. Outer diameter of either one of first and second ends of the T inlet coupling  20 ′ is smaller than an inner diameter of each of the inlet  121 ′ and the outlet  122 ′. A flat bottom  21 ′ and an upper groove  211 ′ are formed at periphery of either one of first and second ends of the T inlet coupling  20 ′ and a flat bottom  31  and an upper groove  311  are formed at periphery of either one of first and second ends of the T outlet coupling  30 ′ respectively. The flat bottom  21 ′ and the upper groove  211 ′ are dimensioned and shaped to snugly insert into the flat bottom  124 ′ and the rib  125 ′ respectively for connecting the T inlet coupling  20 ′ and the channel  12 ′ together. Also, the flat bottom  31 ′ and the upper groove  311 ′ are dimensioned and shaped to snugly insert into the flat bottom  124 ′ and the rib  125 ′ respectively for connecting the T outlet coupling  30 ′ and the channel  12 ′ together. Further, the third end of the T inlet coupling  20 ′ is formed as a hollow, cylindrical section  22 ′ and the third end of the T outlet coupling  30 ′ is formed as a hollow, cylindrical section  32 ′ respectively.  
      By configuring as above, the cooling or heating fluid may flow into the pad  12  of the pad  10  and the pad  12 ′ of the pad  10 ′ via the first and second ends of the T inlet coupling  20 ′ respectively after entering the hollow, cylindrical section  22 ′ thereof. Next, one branch of the cooling or heating fluid flows out of the channels  12  via the T outlet coupling  30 ′ at the outlet  122  after traveling the channels  12  and the other branch of the cooling or heating fluid flows out of the channels  12 ′ via the T outlet coupling  30 ′ at the outlet  122 ′ after traveling the channels  12 ′. Finally, the cooling or heating fluid returns to the cooling device or the heating device for cooling or heating again via the hollow, cylindrical section  32 ′. Thereafter, in another cycle the cooling or heating fluid may flow to the channels  12  in the pad  10  and the channels  12 ′ in the pad  10 ′ again. The cycle may continue for cooling or heating the pad as desired.  
      In view of above, a simple construction incorporating a pad  10  having channels  12  and another pad  10 ′ having channels  12 ′ as contemplated by the invention is embodied. The invention thus has the following advantages. Bending of the pad  10  (or  10 ′) is easier. The channels  12  (or  12 ′) may not deform in response to applied pressure. Otherwise, fluid may not flow smoothly. And in turn, temperature at top surface  11  (or  11 ′) of the pad  10  (or  10 ′) may not maintain at its predetermined value.  
      While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.