Abstract:
Disclosed is a cooling mat in which an effective cooling effect can be promoted by a simple structure free from separate manipulation or external power sources, capable of increasing reliability in operation and portability, the cooling mat including: a plurality of cooling pads filled therein with a phase change material; an upper cover coupled to the cooling pad, lengthwise formed with a plurality of openings and exposing an upper surface of the cooling pad through the openings; a bottom cover coupled to the upper cover at an edge portion; and a folding unit formed between the openings of the upper cover to provide a bending flexibility.

Description:
[0001]    Pursuant to 35 U.S.C.§119 (a), this application claims the benefit of earlier filing date and right of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0074699, filed on Aug. 2, 2010, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a cooling mat, and more particularly to a cooling mat capable of accomplishing a cooling effect free from an external power source or a separate manipulation. Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to a cooling mat capable of providing flexibility for easy portability and storage. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    A cooling mat is literally a mat on which a person can lie or sit to get a cooling effect, and often such are used for providing cooling during hot days, such as in summer. 
         [0004]    Conventional cooling mats have a difficulty in producing a cooling effect. Their structure typically includes a voluminous member capable of filling with air that is embedded in a fluid passage formed on a floor to induce natural ventilation, which is a weak effect. 
         [0005]    To overcome such a disadvantage, various such mats include a cooling capability utilizing water within the mat, a thermoelectric element, or an active cooling cycle within the mat, for example. 
         [0006]    Mats, blankets and body wraps for cooling a person&#39;s body are known in the prior art. One example in the conventional art, a rechargeable water pad, has been disclosed in Korea Patent Publication No. 2008-101969 to Song, Sang Seuk in which, referring to the prior art perspective view in  FIG. 1 , junctions  21   a ,  21   b  are welded by high frequency in a state of interposing non-woven fabric pads made of a compression non-woven fabric between a top waterproof paper  20   a  and a lower waterproof paper  20   b . Water is injected into a hollow area formed by the junctions  21   a ,  21   b , and a vacuum lock  22  sealing the inside is formed at one side of the waterproof paper among the upper and lower waterproof papers  20   a ,  20   b . As such, cold water is injected into the hollow area for use as a cooling mat, not requiring the use of separate equipment to produce a cooling effect. 
         [0007]    However, such a rechargeable water pad has the disadvantage that often such sealing at the seams is incomplete, and there is an inconvenience during water injection and discharging processes. Another disadvantage is that portability is restricted due to the relatively heavy weight of water, and water must therefore be drained for storage or transportation of such a pad, such as in a folded state. 
         [0008]    Another cooling mat employing a separate cooling cycle is conventionally provided. Such a mat is also disadvantageous in that separate electric power is needed, making the mat structurally complicated and expensive and increasing the probability of generating a safety hazard and increasing failure rate. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0009]    The present disclosure is provided to solve at least one or more of the above problems and/or disadvantages in whole or in part and to provide at least the advantages in which an effective cooling effect can be promoted by a simple structure capable of increasing reliability in operation and portability. 
         [0010]    In order to achieve at least the above objects, in whole or in part, and in accordance with the purposes of the invention, as embodied and broadly described, and in one general aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooling mat, the mat comprising: a plurality of cooling pads filled therein with a phase change material; an upper cover coupled to the cooling pad, lengthwise formed with a plurality of openings and exposed at an upper surface of the cooling pad through the opening; a bottom cover coupled to the upper cover and an edge portion; and a folding unit formed between the opening of the upper cover to provide a bending flexibility, whereby there is an advantage in that the resulting cooling effect, portability and storage capability are excellent. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the cooling pad includes an upper cover, a bottom cover and a phase change material that is filled between the upper and bottom covers, wherein the upper and bottom covers are sealed at a seam therebetween by welding using high frequency, whereby the cooling mat is increased in sturdiness and reliability. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the cooling pad is formed with a plurality of dotted pattern adhesive units in which the upper cover and the bottom cover are sealed, whereby a fluid passage can be advantageously formed inside the cooling pad to provide a bending flexibility and pressure distribution effect. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the dotted pattern at the adjacent adhesive unit takes the shape of a zigzag, whereby bending flexibility is provided to horizontal, vertical and diagonal directions. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the cooling pad is formed with a plurality of adhesive units in which the upper cover and the bottom cover are adhered in a linear shape, and a plurality of sealing space is formed between each adhesive unit, whereby operational reliability can be increased. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the adhesive unit is formed with a plurality of horizontal and vertical lines, each line formed at an equidistance, and a plurality of square sealing spaces is formed by the adhesive unit, whereby droop by load or weight in any direction on the cooling mat can be minimized. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the cooling mat further include a cushion unit formed between a bottom surface of the cooling pad and an upper surface of the bottom cover and filled with a cushioning material, whereby comfort is provided to a lying or sitting person. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the cooling mat further includes a plurality of slip prevention lugs formed at a bottom surface of the bottom cover with a frictional material, whereby slip can be prevented when the cooling mat is laid on a floor. 
         [0018]    There is an advantage in the cooling mat according to the present disclosure in that a phase change material is filled therein to absorb heat, whereby a cooling effect can be increased and portability and storage capability can be increased by formation of a bending foldable area. 
         [0019]    There is another advantage in the cooling mat according to the present disclosure in that the cooling pad is formed with a predetermined pattern to allow forming a fluid passage inside the cooling mat, whereby bending flexibility is provided to increase operational reliability through effective distribution of pressure. 
         [0020]    Technical subjects to be solved by the present disclosure are not restricted to the above-mentioned description, and any other technical problems not mentioned so far will be clearly appreciated from the following description by those skilled in the art. 
         [0021]    Therefore, additional advantages, objects, and features of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the disclosure. The objectives and other advantages of the disclosure may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
         [0022]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present disclosure are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the disclosure as claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the disclosure. In the drawings: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a water pad according to prior art; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a plan view illustrating a cooling mat according to the present disclosure; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a lateral view illustrating a cooling mat according to the present disclosure; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a plan view illustrating a cooling pad of a cooling mat according to the present disclosure; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a plan view illustrating a cooling pad according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the cooling pad illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]    Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, sizes or shapes of constituent elements may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience. 
         [0031]    The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
         [0032]    Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “exemplary embodiment,” etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
         [0033]    In describing the present disclosure, detailed descriptions of constructions or processes known in the art may be omitted to avoid obscuring appreciation of the invention by a person of ordinary skill in the art with unnecessary detail regarding such known constructions and functions. 
         [0034]    Accordingly, particular terms may be defined to describe the disclosure in the best mode as known by the inventors. Accordingly, the meaning of specific terms or words used in the specification and the claims should not be limited to the literal or commonly employed sense, but should be construed in accordance with the spirit and scope of the disclosure. The definitions of these terms therefore may be determined based on the contents throughout the specification. 
         [0035]    Now, construction and operation of the cooling mat according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0036]      FIG. 2  is a plan view illustrating a cooling mat according to the present disclosure. 
         [0037]    A cooling mat  100  according to the present disclosure includes a head unit  110  formed at an upper side when viewed from a top view and having a predetermined area; a cooling pad  200  occupying most of an upper surface of the cooling mat  100 ; and an edge unit  130  arranged at a periphery of the cooling pad  200  to form an edge. 
         [0038]      FIG. 3  is a lateral view illustrating a cooling mat according to the present disclosure, where a cooling pad  200  is formed between an upper cover  111  forming an upper surface of the cooling mat  100  and a bottom cover  112  forming a bottom surface. 
         [0039]    Now, the head unit  110  where a head of a person lies when the person lies on the cooling mat  100  is defined as an upper side, and an opposite to the head unit is defined as a bottom side, left and right sides based on the upper and bottom sides are defined as left/right sides or both sides, a portion on which a person lies when viewed from a lateral view is defined as an upper surface, and a portion contacting a floor is defined as a bottom surface. 
         [0040]    According to the concept of the cooling mat, the cooling mat  100  is configured in such a manner that respective cooling pads  200  are coupled by the upper cover  111  and a bottom cover  112  to form a shape of a mat. Thus, the upper cover  111  and the bottom cover  112  are coupled at the edge unit  130 , wherein there is formed a space to arrange a cooling pad  200   
         [0041]    Preferably, the upper cover  111  is formed with an opening at a substantially corresponding position to that of a cooling portion of the cooling pad  200  to directly expose the cooling pad  200 , the shape and material of which will be described in detail later. 
         [0042]    According to the thus-described structure, each of the sealed cooling pad  200  is arranged at a center of each opening to be arranged in the space formed by the upper cover  111  and the bottom cover  112 , where an upper surface is exposed to the outside of the upper cover  111 . 
         [0043]    Although three cooling pads  200  are illustrated in  FIG. 3 , it should be apparent that more than three cooling pads or fewer than three cooling pads may be arranged as necessary. 
         [0044]    Furthermore, the cooling mat  100  according to the present disclosure is preferably formed with a cushioning unit  113  to provide a cushion between the bottom cover  112  and a bottom side of the cooling pad  200 , as the cooling mat  100  is to be laid or sat thereon by a person. The cushioning unit  113  is formed with a material excellent in cushioning capacity and restoring power like memory foam formed with synthetic resin of foamy material or latex. 
         [0045]      FIG. 4  is a plan view illustrating a cooling pad of a cooling mat according to the present disclosure, where the cooling pad  200  substantially takes the shape of a rectangle. In a case wherein the cooling pad  200  is arranged in a 3-tier formation as in  FIG. 3 , the cooling pad  200  takes the shape of a rectangle having a breath longer than a length, where a length of the length in the cooling pad  200  is a bit shorter than an overall length of the cooling mat  100 . 
         [0046]    The cooling pad  200  is configured in such a fashion that the cover members at upper and bottom sides are sealed at the edge unit wherein there is formed a space in which a phase change material (PCM) is filled to promote the cooling effect. 
         [0047]    The phase change material (PCM)  230  is a substance with a high heat of fusion which, melting and solidifying at a certain temperature, is capable of storing and releasing large amounts of energy. Heat is absorbed or released when the material changes from solid to liquid and vice versa. thus, PCMs are classified as latent heat storage (LHS) or latent heat accumulating materials. PCMs latent heat storage can be achieved through solid-solid, solid-liquid, solid-gas and liquid-gas phase change. The PCM  230  absorbs body temperature to provide a cooling effect by being changed to liquid. 
         [0048]    Particularly, a relatively small change in volume is realized when the PCMs are phased-changed from solid to liquid to allow heat to be introduced or discharged with no big change in internal pressure in a limited space, such that the cooling mat requires materials having a large amount of latent heat and having an appropriate phase-changing temperature capable of generating a phase change in a particular temperature scope that requires heat storage. 
         [0049]    Therefore, usable phase-changeable materials may include saturated hydrocarbons having 13 to 28 carbon numbers or inorganic materials of hydrated state, such as Fe2O3.4SO3.9H2O, NaNH4 SO4.2H2O, NaNH4HPO4.4H2O, FeCl3.2H2O, Na3PO4.2H2O, Na2SiO3.5H2O, Ca(NO3)2.3H2O, K2HPO4.3H2O, Na2SiO3.9H2O, Fe(NO3)3.9H2O, K3PO4.7H2O, Na2HPO4.12H2O, CaC12.6H2O, Na2SO4.10H2O, Na(CH3COO).3H2O, Zn(NO3)2.6H2O, Na2S3O3.5H2O, and Polyethylene Glycol, some acids and a eutectic mixture with acids such as n-Octanoic acid, n-octadecane, n-eicosane, Lacticacid, Chloroacetic acid-Cresol eutectic, singly or in a combination of two types or more. 
         [0050]    It should be apparent that the PCMs may exist as a gel type instead of liquid in a low temperature. 
         [0051]    An edge of the cooling pad  200  is formed with a sealing unit  210  for sealing the PCM filled inside the cooling pad  200 . The sealing may be performed by thermal fusion or fusion welding using high frequency, otherwise known as ultrasonic welding. That is, the cooling pad  200  is formed by an upper cover and a bottom cover (not shown), and a sealing unit formed at the periphery with PCM  230  filled thereinside. 
         [0052]    The sealing unit  210  is preferably formed with a predetermined width for being coupled to the upper cover  111 , and as a result, most of the sealing unit  210  is not exposed to the outside of the upper cover  111 , and only an upper surface of the cooling pad  200  except for the sealing unit  210  is exposed to the outside. 
         [0053]    Dots arranged at a predetermined distance in  FIG. 4  define an adhesive unit  220  at which the upper and bottom covers of the cooling pad  200  are adhered, and a fluid passage of the PCM detours around the adhesive unit  220 . 
         [0054]    The dots form a dot pattern in which a plurality of lines each arranged at a predetermined distance in parallel, and adjacent lines are arranged with dot arrangement in a zigzag way. However, it should be also appreciated that the dot pattern may be arranged in parallel vertically or horizontally based on selection. 
         [0055]    Thus, the adhesive unit  220  forms a trapezoidal shape when connected to an adjacent adhesive unit, and a fluid passage is formed at a portion except for the adhesive unit  220 . Therefore, the cooling pad  200  can be easily and advantageously bent to lengthwise direction, a crosswise direction and a diagonal direction according to the arrangement of the adhesive unit  220  thus described. In addition, the advantage is that even if a pressure is applied to a particular area, the pressure can be effectively distributed. 
         [0056]    Meanwhile,  FIG. 5  is a plan view illustrating a cooling pad according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the cooling pad illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0057]    As explained, each of the cooling pads  200  forming the cooling mat  100  includes an upper cover and a bottom cover where a phase change material is filled therein. The upper and bottom covers are sealed at the sealing unit  210  forming the edge of the cooling pad  200  and are formed with an adhesive unit. At this time, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the adhesive unit  220  may be formed in a dotted pattern, or in the shape of line as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0058]    The adhesive units  220  are formed therein with a fluid passage or a sealed space, such that load or pressure can be sustained even if the weight or load is partially applied. 
         [0059]    According to another concept of the present disclosure, a sealing space  240  is formed in a line shape between lines. It should be appreciated that an adhesive unit  250  may be left/right sides (horizontally), vertically or diagonally formed. 
         [0060]    For example, in a case the adhesive unit  250  is horizontally formed, the adhesive unit  250  can be extended to the sealing unit  210  formed at left/right sides of the cooling pad  200 . Thus, each adhesive unit  250  is formed therebetween with a sealing space  240 , and a PCM is formed in between the sealing spaces to prevent the PCM from being overflowed from one sealing space to the other sealing space. 
         [0061]    Preferably, the adhesive unit  250  is formed with a plurality of lines at left/right sides and up/down sides, whereby a square shaped sealing space  240  is formed between the adhesive units  250 . 
         [0062]    Each of the plurality of lines formed at left/right sides and up/down sides is preferably formed and spaced apart from the other at an equal distance. Thus, the sealing space  240  substantially takes the shape of a square, and the cooling pad  200  is formed with the plurality of sealing spaces evenly spaced apart at equidistance. 
         [0063]    The cooling mat according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure has an advantage in that unlike what is illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the PCM is not moved in between the sealing spaces  240 , such that even if any one of the sealing spaces  240  develops a failure, other remaining sealing spaces  240  are not affected by the failure to thereby provide an operational reliability. 
         [0064]    Now, a structure of coupling the cooling mat  100  will be described in detail with reference to the foregoing explanation. 
         [0065]    The upper cover  111  and the bottom cover  112  are mutually coupled at an edge to form a space therein. The space between the upper cover  111  and the bottom cover  112  is arranged with a cooling pad  200  filled therein with a PCM, where the cooling pad  200  is not fully covered by the upper cover  111 , but exposed to the outside. 
         [0066]    Based on the abovementioned concept, the upper cover  111  is formed with an opening at an appropriate position corresponding to that of the cooling pad  200 . Although  FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate three cooling pads  200  each substantially taking the shape of a square, the number and shape of the cooling pads  200  may be determined as necessary. 
         [0067]    The up/down and left/right sides of the cooling pad  200  are covered by the upper cover  111  as much as a predetermined area, and the cooling pad  200  and the upper cover  111  are mutually coupled at a portion overlapped thereby. The coupling of the cooling pad  200  and the upper cover  111  may be coupled by adhesive method, but is preferably realized by a sewing method for secured coupling. 
         [0068]    Therefore, a portion of the upper cover  111  wrapping each of the cooling pads  200  is formed with a sewed line  121 . It can be confirmed that a sewed line-formed portion, when laterally viewed, is formed, from the upper side, by going through the upper cover  111 , the sealing unit  210  of the cooling pad  200  and the bottom cover  112 . However, it should be appreciated that the sewed line  121  can be formed only between the upper cover  111  and the sealing unit  210 . 
         [0069]    As noted from the foregoing, due to the fact that the plurality of cooling pads  200  is coupled with the upper cover  111 , a bending unit  120  having a more flexibility can be formed between the cooling pads, whereby the cooling mat  100  can be advantageously reduced in volume to increase portability and storage capability, and to minimize load caused by pressure received by the cooling pad  200 , when the cool mat  100  is bent based on the bending unit  120 . 
         [0070]    Furthermore, as the cool mat  100  according to the present disclosure is placed on a floor for lying or sitting, the cooling mat  100  is formed with a cushioning unit  113  for cushioning as described above. 
         [0071]    Now, the structure thus explained is described again with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
         [0072]    From an upper surface of the cooling mat  100 , an upper cover  111 , a cooling mat  200  exposed through an opening of the upper cover, and coupled to the upper cover  111  at an edge, a cushioning unit  113  arranged at a bottom surface of the cooling pad  200  and made of cushioning material and a bottom cover  112  are arranged in that order, and the upper cover  111  and the bottom cover  112  are coupled by a sewing method at a portion adjacent to a periphery, an upper side of the cooling pad  200  is formed with a head unit  110  where a head is positioned when a person lies on the cooling mat  100 , and an edge unit  130  is formed at the bottom side and left/right sides. 
         [0073]    Meanwhile, as the cooling mat  100  can be arranged on various types of floor, preferably, the cooling mat  100  is further disposed with a slip prevention construction. 
         [0074]    Based on such a concept, a bottom surface of the bottom cover  112  is formed with a slip prevention lug  114  for preventing slippage. The slip prevention lug  114  may be arranged with various methods including a plurality of dotted patterns, a plurality of straight lines and a plurality of polygons. 
         [0075]    The slip prevention lug  114  is protruded further downward from the bottom cover  112 . The slip prevention lug may be variably shaped and selectively coupled with any material as long as the coefficient of friction therebetween can be increased such as with rubber or a silicone. 
         [0076]    As apparent from the foregoing, the cooling mat according to the present disclosure has an advantageous structure in that cooling can be effectively accomplished and provides for easy portability and storage capability. 
         [0077]    The above-mentioned cooling mat according to the present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Thus, it is intended that embodiment of the present disclosure may cover the modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. While particular features or aspects may have been disclosed with respect to several embodiments, such features or aspects may be selectively combined with one or more other features and/or aspects of other embodiments as may be desired. 
         [0078]    As apparent from the foregoing, the cooling mat according to the present disclosure has an industrial adaptability in that cooling can be effectively accomplished and easy portability and storage capability can be provided.