Patent Publication Number: US-2022218515-A1

Title: Hyperthermic conditioning capsule

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/521,802, filed Jun. 19, 2017, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to an individual capsule in which a person can lie in for various treatments. The capsule includes the ability to provide a hyperthermic conditioning environment by providing a heated capsule. The capsule may have exercise equipment therein for use in a temperature controlled environment. 
     In the prior art, various environmental capsules have been advanced, including for example, the structure shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,101,809 and 6,497,717. The treatments that are present in the prior art devices include steam therapy, heat therapy, infrared heat and light exposure, pleasing sound sources, aroma therapy and some capsules provide a shower mounted in the cover or base of the capsule. 
     The capsules generally have a base that is large enough to accommodate a support or bed in a lower portion, and a hinged cover that can be opened so that a person can get in and out of the lower part or base of the capsule. The cover usually has individual controls to provide therapy source such as a shower, heat, steam, sound, aroma or other therapy source can be mounted in a position where a person lying on the bed can reach and operate the controls. In addition, it has long been known to have a vibrator on the bed to provide a relaxing, massage type vibration. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure relates to a self-contained, personal exercise unit where conditions such as temperature can be selectively controlled to provide one or more controllable environments within the unit. The unit is configured for providing a controlled hyperthermic conditioning environment and/or optionally a controlled hypothermic conditioning environment. The unit includes a capsule configured to provide two independently controllable environments. The capsule includes an upper body (i.e. head/neck and in some cases the upper shoulders) area which is selectively enclosable and an internal bed component adapted with various physical exercise equipment for use by a human user within the capsule. The capsule includes sources of heat including a heater and LED and/or infrared lighting and/or cooling, such as an air conditioner. The capsule may also optionally include one or more shower heads, air control, light, steam, and/or misting spray devices to provide complimentary conditions for the human user before, during or after exercise in the capsule. This is in addition to the hyperthermic conditioning environment and optionally the hypothermic conditioning environment. 
     The personal capsule includes a base supporting a bed and has a movable cover adapted with a pop-up translucent hood and dome. The cover, and hood and dome are selectively closeable to separate an upper body, or head chamber from a main body chamber, wherein an environment of both chambers is selectively controllable. The main body chamber comprises the bed, which may be a fitness or exercise bed configured to receive a person lying down and adapted with connections for various exercise equipment such that the user is able to utilize the exercise equipment within the bed and thus within the capsule. The various exercise equipment may be positioned in, on, or around the perimeter of the bed at selected locations appropriate for the specific use of the equipment by the user. For example, the individual pieces of exercise equipment are positioned within reach of the user&#39;s hands or feet within the capsule. 
     The movable cover and pop-up hood and dome are configured to allow the upper body area and the main body area to be one continuous chamber having a selectively controllable environment, or to be two individual and adjacent chambers, each having a separately controllable environment. The bed and cover combine to provide a personal compartment having a controllable internal environment, where for example, the temperature and humidity of the environment can be selected and controlled to provide a controllable hyperthermic or hypothermic conditioning environment for the user. However, the capsule allows the user to select a single (the same) environment for their entire body or select an environment for their head and face that is different than the environment for the user&#39;s body. For example, misting may be including one or both chambers and/or the chambers may have varying humidity levels or temperatures. 
     The capsule is of dimensions sufficiently large to allow the user to move within the personal compartment when utilizing the various exercise equipment therein or partially therein. 
     Infrared heaters or dry heat sources are also be provided along the internal sides of the cover to direct heat onto the person lying on the bed. 
     Exercise resistance bands are also provided and are attached along the sides of the bed. The resistance bands can be utilized to provide resistance training and physical exercise to the person within the capsule. The bands can be used when heat is directed down onto the person lying on the bed, and/or when the temperature of the compartment is elevated. 
     The device may include a stack of weights that are coupled to hand or foot grips with a cable. The stack of weights allow for resistant weight training within the thermally controlled environment. The stack of weight can be located within the capsule or external to the capsule while the hand or foot grips are located within the capsule. 
     A push pedal stepper system or a stationary cycle may also be provided and attached to the foot area of the bed. The push pedal stepper system or the stationary cycle can be utilized to provide resistance movement and physical exercise to the lower body and legs of the person within the capsule. The stepper system or the stationery cycle can be used when heat or cooling is directed down onto the person lying on the bed, and/or when the temperature of the compartment is elevated or depressed. 
     Hand stirrups or other handles may also be provided and attached along the sides of the bed. The hand stirrups can be utilized to provide isometric exercise options, including allowing the person within the capsule and lying in the bed to do stomach crunches, core workouts, sit-up, pull-ups and/or shoulder shrugs. The hand stirrups can be used when heat or cooling is directed onto the person lying on the bed, and/or when the temperature of the compartment is elevated. 
     A removable pull up bar may also be provided and attached over the open hood area of the cover. The pull up bar allows the person within the capsule to do upper body strength exercises such as pull-ups, curls and/or other strength training. The pull up bar can be used when heat is directed down onto the person lying on the bed, and/or when the temperature of the compartment is elevated. 
     Directed air flow is also provided near the shoulder portion of the bed area for preventing heat loss in the personal compartment when the user selects to open, or pop up, the hood and dome portion of the cover. This allows the conditions within the personal compartment to be controlled or substantially maintained while allowing the user to expose their head and face to the outside or ambient environment. 
     Additional exercise equipment such as, but not limited to, stretching bands and/or cords, free weights and/or wrist or ankle weights may also be provided in the bed portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a sectional view of a conditioning capsule with a hood in a closed position. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the capsule. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the capsule with the hood in the closed position. 
         FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of the capsule with an open hood section. 
         FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of a bed and cover portion of the capsule in an open position where the hood and dome section are removed. 
         FIG. 6  is a simplified sectional view of the conditioning capsule in a closed view to show conditioning equipment within the capsule. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of an embodiment of the capsule showing both the cover in an open and closed position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A conditioning unit  10  is illustrated generally in the figures. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a full body compartment assembly is generated at  10  in cross-section, to show an interior cavity  11  of the conditioning unit  10 . The conditioning unit  10  includes a base compartment  12  and a cover  14 . The cover  14  is operably secured to the base compartment  12  by a hinged connection at a hinge axis  16 . The hinge axis  16  can be positioned at the foot end  17  of the base compartment  12 . Alternatively, the hinge axis  16  can be positioned along a side length of the base compartment  12 . The base compartment  12  is supported on a leg system, such as a three-point leg system preferably including a pedestal  12 A, and forward legs  12 C as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     The three-legged arrangement provides stability of support without rocking or problems with unevenness of a support floor. Other forms of support for the base can be utilized and are contemplated. 
     The base  12  is provided with a bed  18  therein which can be constructed of a clear acrylic or other clear plastic material, so that it may be transparent to light of different wavelengths. Upper surfaces  18 A of the bed  18  are positioned at various angles and the bed  18  includes an upper body portion  18 B that supports the shoulder and upper back region of a person lying on the bed  18 . The bed  18  also includes a lower back panel or portion  18 C, that is at a comfortable angle relative to the upper body portion  18 B, and a leg panel or support  18 D that is at the foot end  17  of the bed  18 . 
     Schematically represented at  54  are brackets for holding the bed panel  18  in position relative to the base  12 . These mounts can be of any desired type. 
     The base compartment  12  includes a lower compartment  20  that can house various components for selecting the environment conditions within the unit  10 . The lower compartment  20  can operably house components including but not limited to a steam generator  22  that is mounted to provide for steam therapy, if desired, through steam outlets represented generally at  22 A. The compartment  20  also can hold a water tank  24  having a pump and supply lines connected to showerheads  24 A. By way of example, a showerhead  24 A is shown in the cover  14  in  FIG. 1 . The showing of the shower head is not limited to any particular placement. If desired, showerheads can be placed in other locations along the sides of the cover or in the base. Suitable drainage troughs will be provided and this can easily be done because the base  12  is made generally of molded plastic or fiberglass material that can be shaped as desired. 
     The lower compartment  20  may also house a plurality of salt blocks  21 . Additional salt blocks  21  may be positioned on an inner surface of the cover  14 . Each block  21  will have corresponding LED clusters  25  and infrared bulbs  27  to provide supplemental energy to the salt blocks in addition to heat provided by a heater  31 . 
     The base  12 , bed  18  and cover  14  form an open interior space referred to as a personal compartment  11 . The bed  18  is a user platform within the personal compartment  11 . The personal compartment  11  is configured to receive a human user and to allow the user to lie on the bed  18  while also allowing sufficient space for the user to move, such as sit up, move arms and/or legs within the personal compartment when utilizing various physical exercise equipment. 
     The personal compartment  11  is temperature controlled and is thus a heated or cooled personal compartment  11 . What is meant by hyperthermic in this disclosure is that hot air can be introduced to the compartment  11  to elevate the temperature within the compartment, thus elevating the body temperature of the user therein. Conversely, what is meant by hypothermic in this disclosure is that cool air can be introduced into the compartment  11  to reduce the temperature within the compartment  11 , thus lowering the body temperature of the user therein. 
     The personal compartment  11  is configured to provide a first controlled environment, which substantially covers the user&#39;s main body (for example, depending on user size, covering shoulders to feet) and is also referred to as a body chamber  56 . The personal compartment  11  incorporates various fitness and rehabilitation exercise apparatuses, and/or electrical exercise stimulation devices, inside the controllable temperature body chamber  56 . As discussed herein, the temperature may be elevated or reduced (cooled chamber) for relief or various therapies and the temperature may be manipulated and controlled by convection, radiance or conduction means. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3-5 , the cover  14  can be further adapted with a pop-up hood  13  and dome  15 . The dome  15  may be made of a translucent or transparent acrylic or other plastic material. The hood  13  and dome  15  are removable, but when in use are portions that extend along a width and a length of an opening in the upper surface of the cover  14 . The dome  15  is positioned near the head end  19  of the capsule with the hood  13  extending from the dome  15  towards the foot end  17  of the capsule. The hood  13  can be pivotally connected to the cover  14  at one or more points along the opening or can otherwise be removable and selectively secured to enclose the capsule and the personal compartment  11 . 
     The hood  13  allows the user to open an upper portion  50  of the cover  14  to further open up or enlarge the personal compartment  11 . The dome  15 , which is also removably secured to the head end  19  of the hood  13  and/or cover  14  is further removable to allow the user to select whether their head and face is covered within the personal compartment  11  or uncovered and exposed to the ambient environment. 
     The hood  13  and dome  15  may also provide a separate head chamber  52  to the personal compartment  11 . As the face of the user (head and neck) generally extends beyond or outside of the open interior space that is the body chamber  56  of the personal compartment  11 , the hood  13  and dome  15  are configured to enclose the upper portion  50  as a second separate personal compartment also referred to as the head chamber  52 . The head chamber  52  is also configured such that the user can selectively control the environment in the head chamber  52 , including for example humidity and temperature. 
     The dome  15  is closeable to thereby isolate the upper portion  50  from the main body of the personal compartment  11 . Thus, the upper portion  50 , or head chamber  52 , can also be environmentally controlled for temperature (hot or cold) by any temperature control methods described herein or otherwise capable of heating and/or cooling the capsule. Further, the head chamber  52  is also configured with controllable air content (hypo or hyper enriched oxygen, aromas, medical gases, etc.). The environment of the head chamber  52  may be configured with combinations of controllable features also including, but not limited to, humidity, light control or electrical impulse stimulation and/or media stimulation, all of which can be controlled independently from the same or similar controllable features of the body chamber  56  of the personal compartment  11 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , removal of the hood  13  allows the upper portion  50  of cover  14  to be opened for additional exercise space. For example, a removable pull up bar  90  may be secured to the capsule cover  14 . The removable pull up bar  90  extends across the upper portion  50  of the cover  14 , allowing the user additional space and access to the pull up bar  90  from within the personal compartment. The removable pull up bar  90  may be provided and attached over the open area of the upper portion  50  by way of suitable fasteners. Examples of suitable fasteners include but are not limited to bolts, hooks and/or clamps. The pull up bar  90  allows the person within the capsule to perform upper body strength exercises such as pull-ups, curl ups and/or other strength training. The pull up bar  90  can be used when heat is directed down onto the person lying on the bed  18 , and/or when the temperature of the compartment is elevated. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , various types of exercise equipment, such as resistance equipment such as a recumbent stationary cycling device and/or weights may be installed along the bed  18  and/or inner surface of the cover  14  to provide the personal compartment  11  with exercise equipment therein. 
     One or more exercise resistance bands  92  are also provided and are attached along the sides of the bed within the capsule. The one or more bands  92  may be usably secured to the sides of the bed, or alternatively to the inside surface of the cover  14 . The bed  18  and/or cover  14  are configured for securely receiving the bands  92  in one or more spaces adapted for securing the bands  92  to the bed  18  and/or cover  14  by way of suitable fasteners, examples of which include but are not limited to, bolts, hooks, carabiners, or clamps. The bands  92  are positioned such that a user within the capsule may access, reach and use the bands for stretching and/or strength training. The bands  92  can be used when heat is directed down onto the person lying on the bed  18 , and/or when the temperature of the compartment is elevated and/or maintained. 
     A push-pedal stepper system  94  may also be provided in the foot end  17  of the bed  18 . The bed  18  is configured with a space for securably receiving a push-pedal stepper system  94  generally indicated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the stepper system  94  may be usably secured using one or more suitable fasteners or clamps in the foot end  17  of the bed  18 . The push-pedal stepper system  94  can be utilized to provide resistance movement and physical exercise to the lower body and legs of the person within the capsule. The stepper system  94  is usably secured to the bed  18  and is oriented for use when the user is sitting or lying down. That is, the stepper system  94  can be used when the personal compartment is enclosed, the hood  13  is secured to the cover  14  or when the compartment is opened removing the hood  13  and dome  15 . The stepper system  94  can be used when heat is directed down onto the person lying on the bed  18 , and/or when the temperature of the compartment  11  is elevated and/or maintained. 
     Hand stirrups  96  or other handles may also be provided and usably secured along both sides of the bed  18  or along the inner surface of the cover  14 . The bed  18  and/or cover  14  are configured for securably receiving hand stirrups  96  or other handles by way of suitable fasteners, examples of which include but are not limited to, bolts, hooks, carabiners, or clamps The hand stirrups  96  can be utilized to provide isometric exercise options, including allowing the person within the capsule and lying in the bed to do stomach crunches, core workouts, sit-up, pull-ups and/or shoulder shrugs. The hand stirrups can be used when heat is directed down onto the person lying on the bed, and/or when the temperature of the compartment is elevated. 
     The capsule may also include a system configured for feedback monitoring. Appropriate sensors may be incorporated into either the head chamber  52 , the body chamber  56  or both to sense user conditions including, but not limited to, heart rate, blood oxygen content, blood pressure, body temperature, chamber temperature and/or chamber atmospheric content. Further sensors may also be incorporated to monitor and provide exercise apparatus feedback such as reps, resistance, pounds and/or range of motion. The individual sensors may be in wired or wireless connection with a monitor and/or display system positioned adjacent to or outside of the chamber or in or on display panels near the upper portion  50  of the capsule. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the cover  14  is shown as supporting a light panel assembly  60  on the upper portions of the cover  14  in a suitable manner, and which contains myriad of LEDs or infrared lights forming light arrays. The light arrays may be tailored for providing colored lights and/or heating the personal compartment of the capsule. 
     A tunnel member  62  has light panels positioned along its length. If desired, the tunnel member  62  can carry heated air. An array  60  of LEDs or other lights extends along one or both side lengths of the cover such that the length and width of the LED panel can be made as desired and then supported on the interior upper sides of the cover  14 . The infrared light sources can be small bulbs arranged in an array, or larger forms as desired. Infrared light arrays for heat therapy may be directed along the shoulders, along the buttock or back portions, or other areas of the bed as positioned within the capsule. 
     The cover  14  not only also supports the removable hood  13  and dome  15 , but may also support showerheads and/or steam outlets  24 A. Steam outlets  24 A are illustrated at the forward end of the unit and these can be placed at any desired location. The dome  15  has a panel  64  provided at the head end  19 , and this includes the region  66  for supporting a control panel display for the controls shown schematically at  42 . The bed  18  provides a recessed area at  68  to permit the neck of the person lying in the compartment to cross the bed  18  so the user&#39;s head is positioned under the optional dome  15  and thus to the exterior of the personal compartment. 
     The capsule also includes an air stream  39  that forces air onto the person&#39;s face when within the personal compartment  11  and when the dome  15  is positioned on the cover  14  to enclose the user. Also, oxygen can be injected into the capsule to raise the oxygen concentration within the personal compartment  11 . 
     A water tank  24  can be used for providing a humidifying vaporization and/or misting system through the outlets shown at  24 . This system can also be used to allow the application and spray or envelopment of the body of the user of different solutions that are photosensitive and/or photoactive for different therapies. Photosensitive agents can be placed in the tank  24  and then misted onto the body of a person on the bed at desired times. 
     A facial panel  79  supports an array of a plurality of LEDs. This facial panel  79  can be suspended on or from the hood  13  or dome  15 , or adjacent the panel  64 . The facial panel  79  can also include adjustable LEDs, of various colors as outlined, and can include infrared lights as well. 
     Further, directed air provides a curtain along the opening of the cover  14  where the hood  13  and dome  15  are removed. Directed air, by way of air knives or other vents  70  allows for maintaining conditions within the bed  18  when the hood  13  and/or dome  15  is removed or open such that the user&#39;s head and face and/or upper body are exposed (for example, the hood  13  and dome  15  are removed when using the removable pull up bar  90 ). The air flow may be directed by air knives  70  in the sides of the cover proximate the opening and/or other air knives or vents  70  positioned to direct air flow across the neck opening of the personal compartment to prevent significant heat and/or moisture loss in the capsule. The air knives or vents may also be used when the dome  15  is removed but the hood  13  is in use on the cover  14 . These air knives are directed to provide a curtain around the user&#39;s neck for maintaining the environmental conditions in the otherwise enclosed capsule. 
     Alternatively, when the cover  14  is positioned on the capsule and the hood  13  and dome  15  are secured on the upper portion  50 , the capsule effectively provides two adjacent independently controllable environments. As the user&#39;s body extends from the head chamber  52  to the body chamber  56 , a panel may extend into the capsule between chambers to further separate the individual environments, where this panel may be configured with a shape to close off the two chambers while allowing the person&#39;s neck or shoulders to pass through the area where the two chambers meet. This panel may be comprised of translucent plastic or other lightweight materials to maintain the adjacent independent environments. Additionally, the directed air by way of air knives or other vents  70  also allows for further maintaining of the environments when the hood  13  and dome  15  are closed such that head chamber  52  and body chamber  56  have separate environments that may be independently controlled. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an additional arrangement of elements described herein. The elements described herein can be combined in any manner and elements described in reference to  FIGS. 1-6  can be combined with elements or arrangements described in reference to  FIG. 7  or vice versa.  FIG. 7  shows the infrared emitters  74  which are positioned on the cover section  14  and provide light therapy and additional controllable heat therapy. The personal compartment  11  can also be equipped with one or more ports  72  which provide dry heat to the body chamber  56  and/or head chamber  52  for controlling the temperature and humidity in the personal compartment  11 . The chamber  11  can be heated using convection technology to provide circulating dry heat within the personal compartment  11 . Additionally or alternatively, infrared radiation through emitters  74  can be used for heating the personal compartment  11 . The personal compartment  11  can be heated in a dual manner. 
     The personal compartment  11  is further configured controlled environmental conditions by way of one or more cooling fans  29  positioned for directing cooled air towards the head chamber  52  to cool the user&#39;s face. Further, purified air can be directed into the personal compartment by a purified fresh air intake fan  23  held in the base  12  or operably secured in the base compartment  20 . Pure oxygen can also be provided to the personal compartment  11  or head chamber  52  to assist the user when utilizing exercise equipment in the personal compartment  11 . 
     In addition to providing an environment for hyperthermic conditioning, the capsule  10  can also provide other therapies, such as light therapy. This therapy can be provided by the transparent bed  18  on which a person can lie, in connection with LED lights and infrared light sources comprising small bulbs mounted in an array on a light support panel  26  for the upper back portion of the bed. A light support panel  28  is provided for the lower back, immediately below the lower back panel  18 C of the bed, and a pair of leg light panels  30 A and  30 B are provided (see  FIG. 3 ) that are individually controlled so that one leg or the other or both can be provided with light therapy through the transparent bed which is represented in  FIG. 3  by the outline. 
     In some embodiments, the temperature in the body chamber  56  can be varied by the controller to correspond the temperature with a training routine. For instance, in some routines an elevated temperature body chamber  56  provides beneficial effects as the person exercises. This phenomenon is referred to as hyperthermic training. While the body chamber  56  is at an elevated temperature, the head chamber  52  can be either heated or cooled to provide the desired effects to the head, neck and shoulder region. After the portion of the routine is completed, the person may rest, and the temperature in the body chamber  56  may be lowered to provide cooling. 
     The temperature of the head chamber  52  can also be adjusted as the temperature of the body chamber  56  is lowered. In some instances, the temperature in the head chamber  52  tracks with the temperature in the body chamber  56 . In other instances, the temperature in the head chamber  52  is controlled opposite that of the body chamber  56 , meaning if the temperature in the body chamber  56  is elevated, the temperature in the head chamber  52  is suppressed, and vise versa. 
     In other programs, the temperature in the head chamber  52  and the body chamber  56  track each other, meaning the temperatures rise and fall together. However, the chambers  52  and  56  may be at different temperatures or the same temperature. 
     In some instances, the body chamber  56  is elevated when the user is exercising to provide hyperthermic conditioning. When the user is not exercising, the temperature in the body chamber  56  may be reduced and is re-elevated as the user exercises. The cycling of the temperature is controlled by a control, where the routine may be preprogrammed or manually controlled by the user. 
     In other alternatives, hypothermic conditioning may be utilized where cooling is supplied to the body chamber  56  as the user exercises. The head chamber  52  can be cooled or heated, depending upon the desired effect. The user can cycle the temperature for hypothermic conditioning similar to that described with respect to hyperthermic conditioning where the head chamber  52  and the body chamber  56  may be cycled together or inversely. 
     Additional features such as dry heat air, steam, ceramic and/or course midrange and far-range infrared heaters can be added in the cover. A mist source, a shower, a humidifier, a hydrotherapy source, electrical stimulation and various entertainment sources can be used. Entertainment sources include, without limitation, DVD players, music sources and the like. These features can be selectively applied to either or both the head chamber and the body chamber, separately or concurrently as each of the head chamber and body chamber environments can be independently selected. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.