Patent Publication Number: US-2004059400-A1

Title: Electric fever relief device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to a fever relief device that uses a Peltier effect-thermoelectric cooler and the temperature can be adjusted by regulating direct current powering the cooler so as to relieve fever of patients.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] A conventional way to relieve fever of a patient is to put a bag on the forehead of the patient and ice cubes or cool water is retained in the bag so as to absorb the heat from the patient to achieve the purpose of fever relief. There are water drops flowing from the forehead of the patient and is uncomfortable for the patient. The temperature of the bag can only last for a short period of time so that the bag has to be refill with ice cubes or water and this takes a lot of time and efforts. A fever relief pad was developed and can be conveniently adhered on the forehead of the patient. Nevertheless, this pad contacts the skin of the patent who could be sensitive to the pad or the adherent on the pad. Children peel the pads so often during using the pads and prolong the period of the fever.  
       [0003] The present invention intends to provide a fever relief device that is mounted to the head of a patient and the temperature can be adjusted and kept.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fever relief device which comprises a body having a curve inside so as to contact a forehead of a patient and a Peltier effect-thermoelectric cooler is connected to the body. A cooling surface of the cooler is exposed to the inside of the body and in contact with the forehead of the patient. A heat transferring plate is connected to the cooler and an electric power supply received in the body is to power the cooler. A variable resistor is connected between the electric power supply and the cooler.  
       [0005] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a fever relief device that provides fever relief feature continuously.  
       [0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a fever relief device that can be used repeatedly.  
       [0007] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a fever relief device wherein the temperature can be adjusted.  
       [0008] A further object of the present invention is to provide a fever relief device that provides a comfortable fabric for the skin of the patient.  
       [0009] The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show the fever relief device of the present invention;  
     [0011]FIG. 2 is an exploded view to show the fever relief device of the present invention;  
     [0012]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view to show the fever relief device of the present invention;  
     [0013]FIG. 4 shows the fever relief device of the present invention is mounted to the head of a patient, and FIG. 5 shows the fever relief device of the present invention can be attached to an inside of a hat by hook-loop strips. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0014] Referring to FIGS.  1  to  3 , the fever relief device of the present invention comprises a hollow body  10  which has a curve inside so as to contact a forehead of a patient and two securing bands  14  are connected to two ends of the body  10 . The body  10  is easily mounted to the head of the patient as shown in FIG. 4 by the securing bands  14 . A plurality of ventilation slots  11  and a recess  12  are defined in an outside of the body  10 . An electric power supply  120  which can be batteries are received in the recess  12  and a cap  13  is engaged with the recess  12 .  
     [0015] A Peltier effect-thermoelectric cooler  21  is received in the body  10  and a cooling surface of the cooler  21  is exposed to the inside of the body  10 . A metal heat transferring plate  23  is connected to the cooler  21  so that the cooling surface of the cooler  21  and the metal heat transferring plate  23  are in contact with the forehead of the patient. The electric power supply  120  in the body  10  powers the cooler  21  and a plurality of heat dispensing fins  22  are connected to the cooler  21  and located in opposite to the cooling surface of the cooler  21 . The ventilation slots  11  are located in correspondence with the heat dispensing fins  22  so as to allow the heat generated from the cooler  21  to escape from the ventilation slots  11 .  
     [0016] A board is located between the outside of the body  10  and the metal heat transferring plate  23 . A variable resistor  25  and a switch  24  are connected to the board and located between the electric power supply  120  and the cooler  21 . An adjusting switch  250  is connected to the variable resistor  25  so as to adjust the direct current to control the temperature of the cooler  21 . The switch  24  and the adjusting switch  250  can be accessed via holes defined through the outside of the body  10 . A fabric  26  made of soft material is connected to the heat transferring plate  23  such that the skin of the patient does not contact the cooling surface of the cooler  21  and the metal heat transferring plate  23  directly.  
     [0017] The cooler  21  can be controlled at a desired temperature by operating the adjusting switch  250  so that the cooler  21  is able to be operated continuously and the fabric  26  is friendly to the skin so that the device can be used by the patient who has sensitive skin.  
     [0018] Referring to FIG. 5, the fever relief device can be attached to an inside of a hat  30  by hook-loop strips  15  so as to be hidden by the hat  30  while in use.  
     [0019] While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.