Articles to manipulate the temperature of body extremities
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11986420-B2
Publication Date
2024-05-21
Expiration Date
Abstract
Temperature of the extremities is a significant factor in temperature control of the body due to the presence of thermal receptors in the extremities. The brain uses signals from these thermal receptors as an indication of environmental conditions, and responds accordingly. Thermal monitoring of extremities and adjustment of extremity temperature are valuable in controlling body temperature, leading to a more optimum body temperature in an array of environmental conditions. Devices, such as a wearable article, and an apparatus to monitor the temperature of extremities, adjust the temperature of the extremities in response to the monitored temperature.
Core Innovation
A wearable article includes a wearable article body with at least one temperature sensor positioned on or in the wearable article body to measure a temperature of a human extremity and to transmit a temperature signal indicative of the temperature of the human extremity. A processor receives the temperature signal, determines whether the human extremity requires heating or cooling, and controls temperature modification devices based at least in part on the temperature signal. The wearable article further includes one of a transceiver, receiver, or transmitter for communication with a separate electronic device, where the separate electronic device manually controls operation of the plurality of temperature modification devices.
The wearable article includes an ambient temperature sensor that provides an ambient temperature signal to the processor indicative of an ambient temperature of the wearable article. Control of the plurality of temperature modification devices is adjusted based on the ambient temperature signal. The wearable article also includes an interior space, and a plurality of air chambers positioned adjacent to the interior space, with some air chambers connected in series and the series-connected air chambers connected in parallel.
An air pump and a plurality of passages extend into and connect the air pump to each air chamber, and each temperature modification device is contained in each air chamber. The air pump is configured to pump air into the air chambers containing the temperature modification devices to move each temperature modification device contained in the air chambers in an inward direction toward the interior space, reducing the volume of the interior space. This inward motion causes each temperature modification device to move into contact with and become indented into different portions of the human extremity.
Claims Coverage
The document provides one independent claim: clm-00001. The inventive features cover extremity temperature sensing with processor-controlled heating or cooling, optional ambient temperature adjustment, communication with a separate electronic device for manual control, and an air-pump/air-chamber mechanism that moves temperature modification devices inward to contact and indent portions of the human extremity.
Extremity temperature sensing with processor-controlled heating or cooling
A wearable article body includes at least one temperature sensor to measure a temperature of a human extremity and transmit a temperature signal, and a processor that receives the temperature signal, determines whether the human extremity requires heating or cooling, and controls a plurality of temperature modification devices based at least in part on the temperature signal.
Manual control via a separate electronic device using wireless communication
The wearable article includes one of a transceiver, receiver, or transmitter configured for communication with a separate electronic device, where the separate electronic device is configured to manually control operation of the plurality of temperature modification devices.
Ambient temperature adjusted control
An ambient temperature sensor provides an ambient temperature signal to the processor indicative of an ambient temperature of the wearable article, and control of the plurality of temperature modification devices is adjusted based on the ambient temperature signal.
Air-pump driven inward motion of temperature modification devices to indent extremity portions
The wearable article includes an interior space, a plurality of air chambers adjacent to the interior space with series-connected and parallel-connected arrangements, an air pump connected to the air chambers via passages, and temperature modification devices contained within the air chambers, wherein the air pump pumps air into the air chambers to move the temperature modification devices in an inward direction toward the interior space to reduce the interior space volume and cause the temperature modification devices to move into contact with and become indented into different portions of the human extremity.
Independent claim coverage centers on a wearable extremity temperature control system with sensor-to-processor determination for heating or cooling, optional ambient-temperature-adjusted control, manual operation through a separate electronic device, and an air-pump/air-chamber mechanism that mechanically moves the temperature modification devices to contact and indent different portions of the human extremity.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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