U.S. patent application number 14/695909 was filed with the patent office on 2015-10-15 for pressure activated recharging cooling platform.
This patent application is currently assigned to THE GREEN PET SHOP ENTERPRISES, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is Gerard Prendergast. Invention is credited to Gerard Prendergast.
Application Number | 20150289474 14/695909 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44787089 |
Filed Date | 2015-10-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150289474 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Prendergast; Gerard |
October 15, 2015 |
PRESSURE ACTIVATED RECHARGING COOLING PLATFORM
Abstract
A pressure activated recharging cooling platform for cooling an
object is provided. The cooling platform comprises a temperature
regulation layer, a support layer, and a channeled covering layer.
The temperature regulation layer is adapted to hold a composition.
The temperature regulation layer has a plurality of angled
segments, wherein angled segments within a sealed perimeter of the
temperature regulation layer are formed by a top side and a bottom
side at a predefined distance, and channels, wherein the channels
substantially form sides by contacting the top side with the bottom
side at a distance lesser than the predefined distance. The support
layer is substantially bonded to the bottom side of the temperature
regulation layer and is comprised of material sufficiently pliable
to deform and sufficiently rigid to withstand collapse in response
to the weight of the object. The channeled covering layer
encompasses the support and temperature regulation layers.
Inventors: |
Prendergast; Gerard;
(Chicago, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Prendergast; Gerard |
Chicago |
IL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
THE GREEN PET SHOP ENTERPRISES,
INC.
Northbrook
IL
|
Family ID: |
44787089 |
Appl. No.: |
14/695909 |
Filed: |
April 24, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14226393 |
Mar 26, 2014 |
|
|
|
14695909 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/259.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K 1/0353 20130101;
F25D 3/02 20130101; F25D 2303/08 20130101; F25D 2303/085 20130101;
A01K 1/0158 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A01K 1/015 20060101
A01K001/015; A01K 1/035 20060101 A01K001/035 |
Claims
1. A pressure activated recharging cooling platform for cooling an
object, the platform comprising: a temperature regulation layer,
the temperature regulation layer having a plurality of angled
segments, wherein angled segments within a sealed perimeter of the
temperature regulation layer are formed by a top side and a bottom
side at a predefined distance, and channels, wherein the channels
substantially form sides by contacting the top side with the bottom
side at a distance lesser than the predefined distance; and a
support layer within the temperature regulation layer, the support
layer comprised of an elastic material capable of deforming and
withstanding the application and release of pressure,
respectively.
2. A pressure activated recharging cooling platform for cooling an
object, the platform comprising: a temperature regulation layer,
the temperature regulation layer having an angled segment formed by
a top side and a bottom side at a predefined distance, and
channels, wherein the channels form sides by contacting the top
side with the bottom side; and a support layer within the
temperature regulation layer, the support layer comprised of an
elastic material capable of deforming and withstanding the
application and release of pressure, respectively.
3. A pressure activated recharging cooling platform for cooling an
animal, the platform comprising: a temperature regulation layer,
the temperature regulation layer having a plurality of angled
segments, wherein angled segments within a sealed perimeter of the
temperature regulation layer are formed by a top side and a bottom
side at a predefined distance, and channels, wherein the channels
substantially form sides by contacting the top side with the bottom
side at a distance lesser than the predefined distance; and a
support layer within the temperature regulation layer, the support
layer comprised of an elastic material capable of deforming and
withstanding the application and release of pressure,
respectively.
4. A pressure activated recharging cooling platform for cooling an
animal, the platform comprising: a temperature regulation layer,
the temperature regulation layer having an angled segment formed by
a top side and a bottom side at a predefined distance, and
channels, wherein the channels form sides by contacting the top
side with the bottom side; and a support layer within the
temperature regulation layer, the support layer comprised of an
elastic material capable of deforming and withstanding the
application and release of pressure, respectively.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This United States Non-Provisional Patent Application is a
continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/226,393 entitled
"Pressure Activated Recharging Cooling Platform," filed on Mar. 26,
2014, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.
12/760,045 entitled "Pressure Activated Recharging Cooling
Platform," filed on Apr. 14, 2010, claiming priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.120, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety as if fully set forth within.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1) Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to temperature controlled platforms,
particularly, cooling platforms for animals.
[0004] 2) Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] Pet beds serve as a place to rest or sleep, for pets such as
cats and dogs. Many times, depending on the application, these pet
beds are directed towards cooling or heating pets. These beds can
be used during post-surgery recovery, dysplasia, or
post-chemotherapy. Generally, these pet beds aid in the comfort and
safety of the pet.
[0006] Many pet beds are known to have cooling mechanisms. Some pet
beds provide a centralized cooling plate with no mechanism to
circulate. These pet beds are electrically connected to a power
source. Power sources often times fail, negating the "portable"
aspect of a product. Further, such systems require heavy and
complex equipment, and are not typically portable or user
friendly.
[0007] There are other pet beds available which use alternative or
"non-electric" means to cool a pet. These pet beds generally use
ice packs. However, these ice packs eventually melt and need to be
replaced. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an improved
cooling bed for pets.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The invention is described by way of example with reference
to the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a top angled perspective of a cooling
platform.
[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of a temperature regulation
layer of the cooling platform.
[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the cooling
platform.
[0012] FIG. 4 illustrates a detailed cross-sectional view of the
cooling platform.
[0013] FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a channeled
covering layer of the cooling platform.
[0014] FIG. 6 illustrates a detailed cross-sectional view of an
alternative embodiment of the cooling platform.
[0015] FIG. 7 illustrates a detailed cross-sectional view of the
alternative embodiment of the cooling platform.
[0016] FIG. 8 illustrates a top angled perspective of an
alternative embodiment of the cooling platform.
[0017] FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional perspective of the
alternative embodiment of the cooling platform.
[0018] FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional perspective of an
alternative embodiment of the cooling platform.
[0019] FIG. 11 illustrates a detailed cross-sectional view of the
alternative embodiment of the cooling platform.
[0020] FIG. 12 illustrates a cross-sectional perspective of an
alternative embodiment of the cooling platform.
[0021] FIG. 13 illustrates a detailed cross-sectional view of the
alternative embodiment of the cooling platform.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] The present invention is now described with reference to
figures where like reference numbers indicate identical or
functionally similar elements. While specific configurations and
arrangements are discussed, it should be understood that this is
done for illustrative purposes only. A person skilled in the
relevant art will recognize that other configurations and
arrangements can be used without departing form the spirit and
scope of the invention.
[0023] The invention described herein is multilayered. Each layer,
in an embodiment, is bonded to the next layer in some fashion, in
that, each layer is comprised of a first and a second side and is
bonded to the respective side accordingly. As such, the term
"bonded" refers to the joining, adhering, affixing, connecting,
attaching, threading or the like, through chemical, mechanical or
electrical avenues, of at least two elements of a cooling platform,
such that the elements tend to be and remain bonded during normal
use conditions of the cooling platform.
[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates a cooling platform 100. The cooling
platform 100 is comprised of a temperature regulation layer 110
(illustrated in FIG. 2), a support layer 140 (illustrated in FIG.
3), and a channeled covering layer 150.
[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates the temperature regulation layer 110 in
more detail. The temperature regulation layer 110 is adapted to
hold a composition 110A (illustrated in FIG. 3) and provides
temperature regulation to the cooling platform 100. The temperature
regulation layer 110 has an angled segment 120, which includes a
top side and a bottom side (illustrated FIG. 8 and FIG. 9). The
angled segment 120 is formed by channels 130 and includes a sealed
perimeter.
[0026] In an embodiment, and as illustrated in FIG. 2, the
temperature regulation layer 110 includes a plurality of angled
segments 120 formed by a plurality of channels 130. The channels
130 effectively space the top and bottom sides of each angled
segment 120 at a predefined distance. In an embodiment, the
predefined distance can equal zero, thus completely forming each
angled segment 120 and cutting off any interconnection or
communication therein.
[0027] In another embodiment, that predefined distance can be
measured depending on the object using the cooling platform 100. In
this embodiment, the predefined distance allows for interconnection
between the angled segments 120 of the composition 110A (including
pressure portions 110B as seen in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7). In this
embodiment, the interconnection would apply to those angled
segments 120 within the perimeter of the temperature regulation
layer 110, as the perimeter is sealed.
[0028] The cooling platform 100 is adapted to provide cooling to a
wide variety of objects. As used herein, the term "object" can mean
a variety of things including but not limited to domestic animals,
such as cats and dogs. The use of the cooling platform 100 can
extend to human use in vehicles or similar circumstances calling
for such regulation. Generally, the cooling platform 100 can be
used for anything that needs or requires either heat, cool or
temperature regulation.
[0029] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 illustrate a cross-section of the cooling
platform 100, which includes the support layer 140. The support
layer 140 is substantially bonded to the bottom side of the
temperature regulation layer 110. The support layer 140 comprised
of material sufficiently pliable to deform and sufficiently rigid
to withstand collapse in response to the weight of the object.
[0030] In an embodiment, the support layer 140 can be made from
polyurethane foam, elastomer foam, memory foam, or other suitable
material. In another embodiment, the support layer 140 is made of
an orthopedic foam, of a consistency designed to protect joints and
provide appropriate support to the skeletal system.
[0031] In an embodiment, the support layer 140 can include soft,
pliable, and removable stuffing material to provide cushioning,
allowing a user to establish the firmness or softness desired. Such
material can include synthetic pillow stuffing such as polyester
filling, or can include feathers such as goose or duck down. As a
further embodiment, the support layer 140 can include a combination
of dense foam and softer pillow stuffing. It is contemplated that
different types of cushioning can be utilized for different types,
sizes, and weight of objects.
[0032] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 further illustrate the composition 110A
within the temperature regulation layer 110. The composition 110A
serves to control the temperature of the cooling platform 100. The
cooling platform 100 can handle a range of different temperatures
depending on the object in use. This can mean that the composition
110A can encompass a variety of cooling and heating compounds.
[0033] In an embodiment, the composition 110A can be activated by a
wide variety of means, e.g. the addition of water. In this
embodiment, the composition 110A can include ammonium nitrate and
distilled water.
[0034] In another embodiment, the composition 110A can be activated
by pressure, wherein the pressure of a object sitting on the
cooling platform 100 activates the composition 110A, triggering an
endothermic process and subsequent cooling. Upon the release of
that pressure, the composition 110A undergoes a subsequent
recharge, essentially the reverse of the initial reaction. The
above is consistent with Le Chatelier's principle, in that, the
reaction reverses upon the application or absence of pressure. In
this embodiment, the composition 110A is comprised of: thirty
percent carboxmethyl cellulose; twenty percent water; thirty-five
percent polyacrylamide; and at least fifteen percent alginic acid.
The aforementioned composition 110A also provides a cooling effect
for an increased duration over other known compositions.
[0035] FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-section of the channeled covering
layer 150. The channeled covering layer 150 can encompass both the
support 140 and temperature regulation layers 110. The channeled
covering layer 150 can comprise a piece of fabric or netting, which
can include, but is not limited to, plastic, nylon or cloth
netting, or a micro-fiber material with a waterproof layer.
[0036] The fabric or netting can allow circulated air to penetrate
and escape to the surface, effectuating the cooling process. The
fabric or netting can be air tight or resistant to air penetration,
to provide indirect cooling. In another embodiment, the channeled
covering layer 150 can be made of a firm material, such as plastic,
which retains its shape when sat upon by an object. Additionally,
the channeled covering layer 150 can include padding to provide a
comfortable seating surface.
[0037] In an embodiment, the channeled covering layer 150 can be
easily removed via a bottom and/or zipper or any other similar
means attached thereto. The channeled covering layer 150 can be
made of material such that it can be easily replaced with a
different top portion made of another material (and/or having
different thickness) as desired. Further, in an embodiment, the
channeled covering layer 150 can contain antibacterial, stain
resistant, chew resistant, and/or anti flea materials.
[0038] FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate an alternative embodiment of
the invention. In this embodiment, the temperature regulation layer
110 includes a pressure portion 110B. The pressure portion 110B
allows for the ability to increase or decrease the firmness of the
temperature regulation layer 110 and thus the cooling platform 100
by the addition of gases such as oxygen. This feature can be
predetermined or varied as set forth below.
[0039] In an embodiment, the pressure portion 110B can include a
means for inflating or deflating 115 the pressure portion 110B and
the temperature regulation layer 110. The means for inflating and
deflating 115 can include a variety of structures designed for air
intake and out take. Often, the structures involved in such means
include a protruding valve stem and a cap. The valve stem can be
connected or coupled with a threaded portion for attachment to a
mechanical or electrical pump, or can be comprised of a plastic
valve allowing for human pressure inflation.
[0040] In an embodiment, the means for inflating or deflating can
interconnect the pressure portions 110B held within the plurality
of angled segments 120. In another embodiment, each pressure
portion 110B can be provided for individually within each angled
segment 120 at either a fixed pressure or established using the
above mentioned interconnected means.
[0041] FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 illustrate an alternative embodiment of
the invention. In this embodiment, the temperature regulation layer
110 is adapted to hold a composition 110A in a single angled
segment 120. Therefore, the temperature regulation layer 110
becomes the single angled segment 120. The perimeter of the angled
segment 120, which includes a top side and a bottom side, is sealed
preventing the composition 110A from leaking.
[0042] FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate another alternative embodiment of
the invention. In this particular embodiment, the temperature
regulation layer 110/120 is adapted to hold the composition 110A.
In this embodiment, the temperature regulation layer 110/120 has an
angled segment 120 formed as described herein. However, this
embodiment does not include the channeled covering layer 150 as
well as support layer 140.
[0043] FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate another embodiment of the
invention. In this embodiment, the temperature regulation layer 110
adapted to hold the composition 110A, has a plurality of angled
segments 120. And as already described herein, the angled segments
120 are formed by a top side and a bottom side at a predefined
distance, and by channels 130. In an embodiment, the channels 130
may completely segment the plurality of angled segments 120.
[0044] As mentioned in conjunction with the channeled covering
layer 150, the temperature regulation layer 110 may be comprised of
similar materials making up the channeled covering layer 150. The
temperature regulation layer 110, in an embodiment, may also be
plastic or of similar material, and in another embodiment be such
that the composition 110A is viewable through clear material.
[0045] In use, the cooling platform 100 is able to regulate the
temperate of an object. The object contacts the channeled covering
layer 150 exerting pressure over the cooling platform 100. The
support layer 140 is designed to be sufficiently pliable to deform
and sufficiently rigid to withstand collapse in response to the
weight of the object. As stated herein, the support layer 140 can
be comprised of a wide variety of components.
[0046] Depending on the composition 110A used, the temperature
regulation layer 110 transfers heat from the object. In further
effectuating heat transfer, the channels 130 have at least two
advantages. First, the channels 130 are designed to mix air with
the cooling process between the object and the channeled covering
layer 150. Second, the channels 130 substantially prevent or
minimize the composition 110A from being pushed out of the angled
segment 120. Obviously, in other embodiments presented herein, the
angled segments 120 can be completely segmented, fully preventing
such an issue. The channeled covering layer 150 also aids in
effectuating heat transfer from the object by its composition of
channels. Of course, the degree of such aid depends in large part
on the type of material used with the cooling platform 100.
[0047] In adjusting to accommodate the object, the pressure
portions 110B are used. As stated above, the pressure portions 110B
can be individual and predetermined or variable and interconnected.
Thus, the interconnected pressure portions 110B can be varied
through the means for inflating and deflating 115. Also, as stated
herein, the channeled covering layer 150 can provide a degree of
comfort and firmness depending on the material used, lending to the
overall versatility of the cooling platform 100.
[0048] The invention contains a large amount of advantages. An
advantage of the invention is the composition 110A. The composition
110A is able to be re-used without the need for electricity,
refrigeration, additional treatments, or extraneous equipment. The
advantage stems from the components within the composition 110A,
which effectively keep a temperature of 3-4 degrees Fahrenheit
lower than body temperature. This particular composition 110A is
able to recharge after the alleviation of pressure (after the
object moves). This particular advantage further allows for
low-cost and eco-friendly solutions to temperature regulating and
aids in the "mobility" aspect of the invention by not requiring
input from other sources and by virtue of being a non-toxic
substance.
[0049] Another advantage of the invention is the unique design. The
design enhances and optimizes the cooling performance. The channels
130 allow for a mixture of air flow between the object and the
cooling platform 100, effectively cooling the object at a quicker
rate. Furthermore, the presence of the predefined distance from the
top and bottom of the angled segment 120, essentially prevents the
dispersion of the composition 110A from the pressure the object
exerts on the cooling platform 100. The overall effect increases
the rate of cooling on the targeted object.
[0050] Another advantage of the invention is the interconnected
pressure portions 110B. The pressure portions 110B provide the
ability to increase or decrease the overall pressure of the cooling
platform 100. This feature is particularly advantageous given the
large variation in object weight.
[0051] While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and
shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that
such embodiments are merely illustrative and not restrictive of the
current invention, and that this invention is not restricted to the
specific constructions and arrangements shown and described since
modification can occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art.
* * * * *