U.S. patent application number 11/849144 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-12 for infant and child car seat for thermally conditioning a body.
Invention is credited to Brian Doherty.
Application Number | 20080136231 11/849144 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39497107 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080136231 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Doherty; Brian |
June 12, 2008 |
INFANT AND CHILD CAR SEAT FOR THERMALLY CONDITIONING A BODY
Abstract
Disclosed is both an apparatus and method for thermally
conditioning a body in an infant or child car seat. The apparatus
includes an envelope containing a phase change material and an
insert compartment residing within the car seat adapted to receive
the envelope wherein the envelope resides within the insert. The
method providing an envelope containing a phase change material and
inserting the envelope into a compartment residing within the car
seat adapted to receive the envelope for conditioning the body.
Inventors: |
Doherty; Brian; (West
Melbourne, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STEVEN L. SCHMID
1824 HICKORY TRACE DRIVE
FLEMING ISLAND
FL
32003
US
|
Family ID: |
39497107 |
Appl. No.: |
11/849144 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60824354 |
Sep 1, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
297/219.12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/2881
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/219.12 |
International
Class: |
A47C 31/00 20060101
A47C031/00 |
Claims
1. An infant or child car seat for thermally conditioning a body
comprising: an envelope containing a phase change material; and an
insert compartment residing within the car seat adapted to receive
the envelope whereby the envelope resides within the insert.
2. The car seat of claims 1, wherein the envelope further comprises
baffling.
3. The car seat of claim 1, wherein the phase change material is
exothermic between the temperatures of about 50 to about 60 degrees
Fahrenheit.
4. The car seat of claim 1, wherein the phase change material is
endothermic between the temperatures of about 90 to about 105
degrees Fahrenheit.
5. The car seat of claim 1, wherein the insert compartment further
includes padding whereby additional support and comfort is provided
to a user of the seat.
6. A method of thermally conditioning a body in an infant or child
seat comprising the steps of: providing an envelope containing a
phase change material; and inserting the envelope into a
compartment residing within the car seat adapted to receive the
envelope for conditioning the body.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the envelope further comprises
baffling.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the phase change material is
exothermic between the temperatures of about 50 to about 60 degrees
Fahrenheit.
9. The method of claim 6, wherein the phase change material is
endothermic between the temperatures of about 90 to about 105
degrees Fahrenheit.
10. The method of claim 6, wherein the insert compartment further
includes padding whereby additional support and comfort is provided
to a user of the seat.
11. An infant or child car seat cover for thermally conditioning a
body comprising: a cover body; an envelope containing a phase
change material; and an insert compartment formed within the cover
body and adapted to receive the envelope whereby the envelope
resides within the insert.
12. The car seat of claims 11, wherein the envelope further
comprises baffling.
13. The car seat cover of claim 11, wherein the phase change
material is exothermic between the temperatures of about 50 to
about 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
14. The car seat cover of claim 11, wherein the phase change
material is endothermic between the temperatures of about 90 to
about 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
15. The car seat cover of claim 11, wherein the phase change
material is exothermic between the temperatures of about 45.degree.
F. to 65.degree. F. degrees Fahrenheit.
16. The car seat cover of claim 11, wherein the phase change
material is endothermic between the temperatures of 85.degree. F.
to 110.degree. F. degrees Fahrenheit.
17. The car seat cover of claim 11, wherein the phase change
material is exothermic between the temperatures of about 50.degree.
F. to 59.degree. F. degrees Fahrenheit.
18. The car seat cover of claim 11, wherein the phase change
material is endothermic between the temperatures of 91.degree. F.
to 105.degree. F. degrees Fahrenheit.
19. The car seat cover of claim 11, wherein the insert compartment
further includes padding whereby additional support and comfort is
provided to a user of the seat.
20. The car seat cover of claim 11, wherein the car seat cover
further includes a securing means for closing the insert
compartment.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application relies upon U.S. Provisional Application
Ser. No. 60/824,354 filed Sep. 1, 2006, the content of which is
hereby incorporated in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a personal cooling and/or
warming device to be adapted, used or integrated into an
infant/child car seat as an insert to prevent the child from
overheating and to reduced sweating which results in less body
fluid loss while the child is seated or strapped into the car seat
itself in hot weather or to provide added body warmth in cold
weather.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Child car seats are a critical part of the lives of millions
of families with babies and small children. Virtually all U.S.
states and Canadian provinces require these seats by law. Most
modern child car seats, while suitable for providing safety, are
not particularly comfortable for the child or baby. Many have rough
edges and have hard surfaces. Moreover, they often do not match the
upholstery of the rest of the vehicle.
[0004] There are many known baby seat covers. One example includes
a covering for children's seating devices such as car seats,
strollers, swings, infant carriers or the like includes a main body
portion forming a pocket that fits over a seating device, and at
least one blanket flap portion provided inset from a side of the
main body portion. The blanket flap portion is foldably coupled to
the main body portion to cover a child seated in the seating device
when inwardly folded. Once the covering has been fastened to the
seating device, a child is placed thereon so that the rear of the
child comes into contact with the main body portion, which covers
the seating device. Harness straps of the seating device, which
serve to secure the child within the seating device, can be engaged
through a divided opening through the main body portion prior to
fitting it over the seat. The blanket flap portion is then folded
over the body of the child so as to insulate the child in the
manner of a blanket.
[0005] A further example includes a seat pad is formed of isotonic
foam or encapsulated gel material to insulate an infant or small
child from the hard surface of the safety seat. The pad includes a
back portion and a hingedly joined seat portion. The back portion
includes a number of slots designed to accommodate the seat belt
webbing of the child safety seat. The seat portion includes a notch
to provide space for the buckle of the seat belt. A removable
washable cover is provided for the seat pad. The cover includes
reinforced openings aligned with the slots in the back portion of
the pad. In versions of the seat pad designed for larger children,
a lumbar support pas is attached to the lower end of the back
portion and an additional seat pad is attached to the upper end of
the seat portion. The side edges of the back and seat portions are
tapered to eliminate additional padding material from accumulating
in the safety seat when the seat pad is fold to fit within the
seat.
[0006] A further example uses sheepskin or other animal hide which
is very popular in vehicle adult seat covers. Such skins provide
warmth in the winter and provides insulation from heat in the
summer. However, animal skins only provide a small degree of
protection against warm summer temperatures.
[0007] What is needed is an apparatus and method which can both
cool and heat a child residing in a child car seat from extreme
temperature changes.
SUMMARY
[0008] The present invention includes an apparatus and method for
thermally conditioning a human body in an infant or child car seat.
The apparatus includes an envelope containing a phase change
material and an insert compartment residing within the car seat
adapted to receive the envelope wherein the envelope resides within
the insert. The method of thermally conditioning a body in an
infant or child seat includes the steps of providing an envelope
containing a phase change material and inserting the envelope into
a compartment residing within the car seat adapted to receive the
envelope for conditioning the body.
[0009] In greater detail the present invention includes an infant
or child car seat for thermally conditioning a body comprising an
envelope containing a phase change material and an insert
compartment residing within the car seat adapted to receive the
envelope whereby the envelope resides within the insert. The
envelope may further include baffling. The phase change material is
exothermic between the temperatures of about 50 to about 60 degrees
Fahrenheit and endothermic between the temperatures of about 90 to
about 105 degrees Fahrenheit. The insert compartment may also
further include padding whereby additional support and comfort is
provided to a user of the seat.
[0010] An additional embodiment includes a method of thermally
conditioning a body in an infant or child seat comprising the steps
of providing an envelope containing a phase change material; and
inserting the envelope into a compartment residing within the car
seat adapted to receive the envelope for conditioning the body. The
may also include baffling the envelope.
[0011] A further embodiment includes an infant or child car seat
cover for thermally conditioning a body comprising a cover body and
an envelope containing a phase change material. The seat cover
further includes an insert compartment formed within the cover body
and adapted to receive the envelope whereby the envelope resides
within the insert. The envelope also includes baffling. The car
seat cover may further include a securing means for closing the
insert compartment.
[0012] The phase change material may be exothermic between the
temperatures of about 50 to about 60 degrees Fahrenheit and
endothermic between the temperatures of about 90 to about 105
degrees Fahrenheit. Furthermore the phase change material is
exothermic between the temperatures of about 45.degree. F. to
65.degree. F. degrees Fahrenheit and endothermic between the
temperatures of 85.degree. F. to 110.degree. F. degrees Fahrenheit.
An additional embodiment includes the phase change material is
exothermic between the temperatures of about 50.degree. F. to
59.degree. F. degrees Fahrenheit and endothermic between the
temperatures of 91.degree. F. to 105.degree. F. degrees
Fahrenheit.
DRAWINGS
[0013] In the drawings:
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates the infant or child seat having an insert
compartment for receiving and containing an envelope of a phase
change material;
[0015] FIG. 2 depicts the infant or child seat having an insert
portion for containing a phase change material within the insert
compartment; and
[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates the infant or child seat cover embodiment
of the present invention having an insert portion for containing a
phase change material within the insert compartment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Disclosed is an apparatus and method for thermally
conditioning a human body in an infant or child car seat. The
apparatus includes an envelope containing a phase change material
and an insert compartment residing within the car seat adapted to
receive the envelope wherein the envelope resides within the
insert. The method of thermally conditioning a body in an infant or
child seat includes the steps of providing an envelope containing a
phase change material and inserting the envelope into a compartment
residing within the car seat adapted to receive the envelope for
conditioning the body.
[0018] When used for cooling, this personal cooling device will be
especially effective in preventing heat related illnesses or death
caused from prolonged exposure to excessive heat as in a vehicle in
hot weather. During cold weather, this device can be used to
provide additional body warmth to prevent overcooling and
hypothermia.
Phase Change Material
[0019] The temperature range may be between 50.degree. F. to
59.degree. F. and 91.degree. F. to 105.degree. F. in one embodiment
and in a further embodiment the temperature range may be between
53.degree. F. to 57.degree. F. and 95.degree. F. to 100.degree. F.
Additionally, the temperature range of the phase change material
may be between about 45.degree. F. to 65.degree. F. and 85.degree.
F. to 110.degree. F. A further embodiment includes a temperature
range may be between 50.degree. F. to 60.degree. F. and 90.degree.
F. to 105.degree. F.
[0020] The pouch or envelope that encapsulates the cooling and/or
warming material (e.g. phase change materials such as water, gels,
n-tetradecane, n-pentadecane, n-hexadecane, n-heptadecane,
n-octadecane, n-eicosane) is placed in a polymer bladder/pack or
envelope comprised of a fire retardant material that will hold the
Heat Transfer Formula which will keep the infant/child either cool
or warm.
[0021] For cooling, the pack containing the HTF formula would be
placed in a low temperature environment (e.g. refrigerator, freezer
or suitable container filled with ice and water) to cause the
formula to gain energy or make a phase change to a solid "charged"
state. After charging this cool pack or envelope is inserted into
the pocket or compartment of the infant/child cool car seat insert.
This insert is placed against the back of the car seat exposing the
cool pack to the front to allow thermal communication of the back
of the infant or child's torso to be exposed to and resting against
the cooling pack.
[0022] The infant/child car seat cooling or warming insert
compartment is comprised of a foam or polyfoam for additional
comfort inside a nylon fabric outershell that is washable and water
repellant. The foam inside provides additional comfort to the
infant/child's back and upper torso.
[0023] The cooling pack or envelope is formed with a plurality of
separate or sealed chambers and are formed by heat sealing the
periphery of two sheets of proprietary polymer of the same
peripheral shape to form a bag or pouch and then filling this pouch
or pack with the desired HTF exotherm-type phase change formulation
(cooling or warming) and sealing the pouch along predetermined
lines to form a sealed bladder. The baffling or sealing or partial
sealing or dimpling of the pouch prevents the HTF exotherm-type
phase change material from slumping to the lowermost part of the
pouch under the force of gravity when it is in its liquid or
uncharged state for cooling. The dimpling and baffling also provide
a more anatomic or ergonomic shape to the pack to provide more
comfort for the infant/child. While the pouch/pack is typically in
a rectangular shape, other shapes such as egg shape, triangular,
octagonal, trapezoidal, oval and/or square shapes also will provide
the same amount of cooling and/or warming. The pocket that holds
the HTF cool or warm pack formulation will preferably be closed by
use of velcro, or zipper or snaps. It will be understood that
different HTF exotherm type phase change material blends may be
used with different melting/freezing points). It is also understood
that larger packs or the entire seat could be filled with HTF
materials.
[0024] Referring now in greater detail to the drawings in which
like numerals indicate like items throughout the several views,
FIGS. 1-3 depict the present apparatus and method of for regulating
and thermally conditioning the body of a child residing in a child
seat, in the various embodiments of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates the infant or child seat 2 having an
insert compartment 4 for receiving and containing an envelope
housing a phase change material. The child seat 2 may take on any
form and is not limited to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1. The
inset compartment 4 may be comprised of most any dimension so long
as it is able to house or secure the envelope housing a phase
change material 6. The inset compartment 4 may be open at one end
and closed at the other as shown or may have both ends open wherein
the envelope housing a phase change material 6 is simply held in
place by friction.
[0026] The inset compartment 4 housing a phase change material 6
may be formed integral with the car seat 2 or formed separately
there from. Additionally, it is contemplated the inset compartment
4 may be comprised of straps securing the envelope housing a phase
change material 6. Furthermore, it is contemplated the inset
compartment 4 includes an attachment means for securing the
envelope housing a phase change material 6 to the child car seat
2.
[0027] FIG. 2 depicts the infant or child seat 2 having an insert
portion or compartment 4 for housing an envelope containing a phase
change material 6 within the insert compartment 4. The envelope 6
housing the phase change material may be comprised of a polymeric
material or similar material. Additional, the envelope 6 may be
formed form a woven or nonwoven material. The envelope 6 is closed
at all ends to contain the phase change material. The envelope
containing a phase change material 6 may be totally or partially
housed within the insert compartment 4.
[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates the infant or child seat cover 8
embodiment of the present invention having an insert portion or
compartment 4 for containing the envelope of phase change material
6 within the insert compartment 4. The seat cover 8 may take on any
form to fit any desired child or baby car seat. The seat cover 8
may also be formed from any suitable material.
[0029] While Applicant has set forth embodiments as illustrated and
described above, it is recognized that variations may be made with
respect to disclosed embodiments. Therefore, while the invention
has been disclosed in various forms only, it will be obvious to
those skilled in the art that many additions, deletions and
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of this invention, and no undue limits should be imposed
except as set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *