WO2023031245A1

WO2023031245A1 - Cooling device

Info

Publication number: WO2023031245A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/074152
Authority: WO
Inventors: Markus Hintennach; Semira Daub
Original assignee: Markus Hintennach; Semira Daub
Priority date: 2021-09-01
Filing date: 2022-08-31
Publication date: 2023-03-09
Also published as: EP4395722A1; DE202021104701U1

Abstract

A cooling device (10) for cooling part of the skin is proposed. A cooling device (10) according to the invention has a shallow liquid reservoir (20), which is filled with a liquid (34) and has an outer wall (22) of a flexible form with a contact area (24) for placing in contact with the skin. It also has at least one electrical cooling element (40), which is provided on a cooling wall (26) of the liquid reservoir (20) facing away from the contact area (24) and by means of which the liquid (34) can be cooled.

Description

cooling device

FIELD OF APPLICATION AND PRIOR ART

The invention relates to a cooling device for cooling a skin area.

Cooling pads are known from the prior art, which are usually placed in a refrigerator or freezer in preparation for use, in order then to be placed on a person's skin in the cooled state. Such cooling of a skin area can be pleasant at high ambient temperatures for reasons of comfort. In many cases, however, cooling devices of the generic type are also used for medical reasons, for example to relieve swelling or burns, including sunburn.

The known cooling pads have the disadvantage that they heat up comparatively quickly and then have to be exchanged for new cooling pads. However, additional cooling pads or a refrigerator for cooling the cooling pads again are not always available.

TASK AND SOLUTION

The object of the invention is to provide a cooling device which is also suitable for the permanent cooling of a skin area.

According to the invention, a cooling device for cooling a skin area is proposed. A cooling device according to the invention is placed on a skin area of a wearer like a cooling pad mentioned at the outset and, if necessary, is fastened here by means of a fastening strap, for example, which is elastic and/or is provided with a Velcro fastener.

The cooling device has a liquid-filled flat liquid reservoir, which has a flexible outer wall that represents a contact surface for contact with the skin. The cooling device has at least one electrical cooling element, which is provided on a cooling wall of the liquid reservoir facing away from the contact surface. The liquid in the liquid reservoir is cooled as required by means of this electrical cooling device.

The combination of a liquid reservoir and at least one electric cooling element enables a permanent cooling of a skin area as long as the cooling element with electric energy is supplied. The direct cooling effect is caused by the liquid reservoir and the cool liquid contained therein. This liquid is cooled by the at least one cooling element from the side opposite the skin, with the cooling elements not having to be in continuous operation but being activated or deactivated or regulated depending on the heat to be dissipated.

The cooling element preferably comprises a Peltier element, which converts electrical current into a temperature difference on opposite sides of the Peltier element. The cooling element preferably has a heat sink with a rib structure. Furthermore, it is preferred if the cooling element has a fan that supplies cooling air and/or removes warm air.

The liquid reservoir is preferably designed in the form of a flat bag made of plastic, the opposite walls of which form the cooling wall and the outer wall with the contact surface. Preferably the bag is formed from PVC. The average thickness of the bag, ie the distance between the cooling wall and the outer wall, is preferably between 5 mm and 15 mm. The walls mentioned can be tightly connected to one another all around. A closable connection for filling and removing the liquid can be provided.

The liquid reservoir is particularly preferably filled with fresh water or salt water. Preferably, additives are included to help preserve the fluid and/or as antifreeze. The use of a fluid reservoir that is flexible in terms of shape means that the cooling device can lie flat against the skin. At the same time, the liquid reservoir ensures that the contact surface in contact with the skin has a largely identical temperature everywhere. Local warming is compensated by the liquid.

The electrical cooling element has a cooling surface facing the liquid, which is cooled by the cooling element and which accordingly absorbs heat from the liquid reservoir. This cooling surface can lie completely against the cooling wall of the liquid reservoir, with the cooling wall being able to be locally thinner in the region of the cooling surface for improved heat transfer. However, it can also be provided that the cooling wall is provided with at least one opening in the area of the at least one cooling element. As a result, the liquid in the liquid reservoir can lie directly against the cooling surface of the cooling element. This achieves an even better cooling performance. The cooling element can be connected to the cooling wall by gluing. However, since the adhesive layer required for this reduces the thermal conductivity, provision can alternatively or additionally be made for the cooling wall to have a holding structure, by means of which an outer edge of the cooling element is bordered. This holding structure can in particular be designed in one piece with the cooling wall and can be formed in particular by overmoulding the cooling element during production of the cooling wall. The cooling wall and the encapsulation of the cooling element can be made of plastic, in particular an elastomer. However, the holding structure can also be applied separately, for example by means of adhesive surrounding the edge of the cooling element or by means of resin or, for example, polyurethane surrounding the edge.

The number of cooling elements depends on their cooling capacity and the cooling requirement. A number of separate cooling elements are preferably used, which are particularly preferably attached to a common, unsegmented liquid reservoir. However, the liquid reservoir can also be designed with several separate liquid chambers. In such a case, each liquid chamber is preferably assigned at least one cooling element, which is attached to the cooling wall in the area of the liquid chamber.

In most conceivable configurations, the cooling elements only cover part of the cooling wall. Provision is preferably made for the cooling device to have a spacer structure which is located directly or indirectly on the cooling wall of the liquid reservoir, away from the cooling elements or covering them. This spacer structure, which preferably consists of a knitted textile fabric that forms a three-dimensional structure, has at least one depression or opening in the area of the at least one cooling element for receiving the cooling element. The thickness of the spacer structure is preferably between 15 mm and 40 mm. In particular, said heat sink and/or the fan can be arranged in the depression or opening. An alternative material for the spacer structure is a low density, porous material.

A uniform thickness of the cooling device and thus a pleasing overall appearance can be achieved by means of the spacer structure. Furthermore, the spacer structure protects the at least one cooling element. The spacer structure can also be covered with an air-permeable textile fabric on the side opposite the contact surface. The spacer structure preferably has as high an air permeability as possible, so that heat can be dissipated quickly from the cooling element. Even if the spacer structure has openings for the cooling element, the cooling capacity is further improved by a very air-permeable design of the spacer structure.

If several cooling elements are provided, it can be advantageous to provide a common waste heat conductor for at least two of the several cooling elements, for example in the form of a connecting sheet metal. A hose that can be designed in particular as a metal braided hose is considered to be a particularly advantageous waste heat conductor. Such a braided hose allows air to be exchanged between a hose interior and an environment through the hose wall. The waste heat conductor preferably consists at least partly of copper or a copper alloy.

The use of a flexible common waste heat conductor can also be expedient in particular because when using several cooling elements, these are preferably limitedly movable relative to one another, since they are attached to different points of the flexible cooling wall of the liquid reservoir.

If a hose is used as a common waste heat conductor, a design is advantageous in which the hose forms a closed hose ring, with a fan preferably being provided which sucks in or sucks off the air in the hose. In the case of a closed hose, the fan can thus allow the air to flow past the cooling elements in a circumferential manner, with air exchange to the outside also being possible through openings in the hose wall.

The at least one cooling element is operated electrically. To supply electrical energy, the cooling device can have a preferably rechargeable battery, in particular a lithium-ion battery. This battery is preferably provided on the heater separate from the liquid reservoir.

The cooling device preferably has a power connection for connecting an external energy source to supply the cooling element and/or to charge the battery, in particular a USB connection. If the cooling device is supplied with electrical energy directly via the connection, the skin close to the battery and thus the heat development taking place at the battery due to the internal resistance of the battery can be avoided. Furthermore, it is also possible to provide a solar panel, preferably only as an additional energy source in addition to a battery. If the cooling device has an integrated battery, it can be charged via the solar panel. However, the direct use of the electrical energy generated by the solar panel to operate the cooling elements can also be expedient.

The cooling element represents an electrical consumer of the cooling device provided according to the invention. Additional electrical consumers can optionally be provided, in particular a vibration element, by means of which a slight vibration that is pleasant for the wearer can be generated. It was found that the cooling capacity is subjectively higher when the mentioned vibration is generated at the same time as the cooling.

The vibration element is preferably attached to the cooling wall of the liquid reservoir. A depression or opening is preferably also provided in the spacer fabric for the vibration element.

The cooling device preferably has control electronics that can control the power supply from the battery to the cooling elements and/or the activation/deactivation of one or more cooling elements individually or jointly, thus enabling a cooling capacity that is variable over time and, if necessary, locally. The control electronics can have an automatic system in order to maintain a preset target temperature. In addition, direct manual activation or deactivation of the cooling device by means of a switch or controller can also be possible.

The control device can also be designed to activate a heating mode, so that the liquid in the liquid reservoir is heated, in particular by reversing the polarity of the Peltier element.

The cooling device can be designed as a generic cooling device for different parts of the body. For this purpose, the liquid reservoir can preferably have a round or approximately rectangular shape, preferably less than 30 cm×30 cm. At least one fastening strap of the type described is preferably provided on the edge of the liquid reservoir, which particularly preferably has a length of at least 30 cm.

However, the cooling device can also be adapted to specific areas of the skin. In particular, the configuration as a face cooling device is expedient. Such a face cooling The device is preferably designed as an eye mask for installation in the area around the eyes of a wearer. It can have a fastening strap that is intended to be guided around the head. A length adjustment mechanism can be provided in the area of the back of the head and/or on the side, in particular with a Velcro fastener. There may be see-through cutouts in the liquid reservoir.

Also advantageous is an embodiment of the cooling device as a neck cooling device to rest on the neck of a wearer. Such a neck cooling device preferably has a liquid reservoir with a length of more than 50 cm and a width of less than 15 cm. This can advantageously be divided into several liquid chambers.

It can also be designed as a chest cooling device for placement in the chest area of a wearer. Here the area of the liquid reservoir is preferably above 30 cm in one dimension and below 30 cm in the other dimension.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages and aspects of the invention result from the claims and from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are explained below with reference to the figures.

1 to 3 show two variants of a face cooling device.

4 shows a cooling element.

5 illustrates the arrangement of the cooling element in the layered structure of a cooling device.

6 shows a cooling structure with a common waste heat conductor for several cooling elements.

Fig. 7 shows a spacer structure of a face cooler from above.

8 shows another design of a face cooler.

9 shows a neck cooling device.

10 shows a breast cooling device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

1 shows a first embodiment of a cooling device 10 as a face cooling device 10. The cooling device has a flat liquid reservoir 20 filled with liquid. The liquid reservoir 20 has an elongated shape in order to be placed over the skin area in the area of the wearer’s eyes . A nose cutout is provided at a lower edge.

An inner outer wall 22 of the liquid reservoir 20 points in the direction of the eyes and forms a contact surface 24 for contact with the wearer's skin. An opposite cooling wall 26 carries cooling elements 40, which are shown in broken lines in FIG. These cooling elements 40 are surrounded by a three-dimensional spacer structure 60, which is designed as a very air-permeable textile structure.

Strap sections of a fastening strap 12 are provided on both sides of the liquid reservoir, which can be joined together in variable lengths by means of a Velcro fastener 14 . The strap sections of a fastening strap 12 are preferably designed to be elastically stretchable.

The wearer can put on the cooling device in a manner similar to ski goggles. He can then enjoy the beneficial effect of the liquid reservoir 20 cooled by the cooling elements 40 . Its temperature is kept at a uniform temperature, for example at 33° C., by means of the cooling elements 40 . The heat dissipated from the skin is first absorbed by the liquid reservoir and then passed on by means of the cooling elements 40.

The cooling elements 40 can be cooled by an internal battery of the cooling device 10 . However, the electrical energy is preferably obtained directly from a USB connection 90, so that an integrated battery can be dispensed with. Instead, for example, a USB power bank can be used, which is connected to the cooling device 10 via a USB cable.

Fig. 2 again shows the liquid reservoir 20 of a cooling device according to Fig. 1. The liquid reservoir 20 has two walls, an outer wall 22, which points in the direction of the face and forms an outside contact surface 24, and a cooling wall 26, on which the in Fig. 2 applied cooling elements 40 not shown. The two walls 22, 26 are welded around the edge in a region 28. The walls thus delimit an interior space 32 of the liquid reservoir 20 in which the liquid 34 is stored. FIG. 3 shows a part of a face cooling device 10 similar to FIG. 1, the basic form of the liquid reservoir being somewhat different here than in FIG. 1 and three cooling elements 40 being used instead of two. In FIG. 3, two of the three cooling elements 40 are shown in broken lines and transparently, in order to make it clear that the cooling wall (26) against which they rest is provided with nine openings 30 each in the region of the cooling elements. This allows the liquid 34 in the liquid reservoir 20 to rest directly on a cooling surface 44 of the cooling elements 40, which is preferably made of metal or ceramics, and thus to be able to absorb heat from the liquid 34 particularly well.

4 shows an example of a cooling element 40. This cooling element 40 has a number of components, namely a Peltier element 42 pointing in the direction of the liquid reservoir 20, a heat sink 46 with a rib structure placed thereon and a fan 48 placed thereon for supplying or removing air. In principle, elements can be used here that are known from the electronics and, in particular, the PC sector. This leads to low costs for the cooling elements 40.

5 shows a section through the cooling device. The following elements can be seen here from top to bottom: The uppermost structure in FIG. An adhesive layer 38 follows, by means of which a cooling surface 44 of the Peltier element 42 is attached to the cooling wall 26 . Additionally or alternatively, a peripheral holding structure 36 can also be provided, which surrounds the cooling element 40 . This may be an adhesive or resin structure 36 . Alternatively, the support structure 36 can be an integral part of the cooling walls.

The textile spacer structure 60 is provided surrounding the cooling element. It has a recess in the area of the cooling element 40, so that in this case the fan 48 is arranged directly on the outward-facing side of the cooling device 10 and can supply cold air or discharge warm air unhindered. The fan 48 preferably conveys air in the direction of the heat sink 46. The air heated by the heat sink can then escape laterally into the spacer structure in the manner illustrated by the arrows.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative design of the cooling elements 40 which can be used with the liquid reservoir 20 of FIG. The cooling elements 40 of FIG. 6 are attached to a common hose 50, which is a hose made of an air-permeable copper braid. This can be used openly or as a closed hose ring, in which case an electric fan 52 can be provided to move the air in the hose ring.

7 shows the spacer structure 60 from above. It can be seen that this is provided on the outside with two beads 64 to facilitate deformability, which allow greater curvature.

FIG. 8 shows an alternative design of a face cooling device 110. Deviating from the design of FIG. 1, this not only covers the area around the eyes as intended, but the majority of the face. Openings 16 can be provided for the mouth, nose and/or eyes, which are preferably formed both in the liquid reservoir 20 and in the spacer structure 60 . Another special feature of this design is that a total of four fastening straps 12 are provided.

8 shows a configuration of the cooling device as a neck cooling device 210. The cooling device 210 has an elongated shape and preferably comprises a plurality of liquid reservoirs 20 that are insulated from one another. A cooling element 40 is provided on each of the liquid reservoirs 20. The part of the liquid reservoir 20 not covered by the cooling elements 40 is preferably in turn covered with a spacer structure 60 .

FIG. 9 shows a configuration of the cooling device 310 for cooling a chest area/a cleavage area of a wearer. This cooling device 310 is placed on the corresponding area and preferably fastened by means of a fastening strap 12 (not shown). The cooling device 310 has three cooling elements 40 . Again, the part of the liquid reservoir 20 not covered by cooling elements 40 is preferably occupied by a spacer structure.

Claims

patent claims

1. Cooling device (10) for cooling a skin area with the following features: a. the cooling device (10) has a flat liquid reservoir (20) filled with a liquid (34) which has a flexible outer wall (22) with a contact surface (24) for contact with the skin, and b. the cooling device (10) has at least one electrical cooling element (40), which is provided on a cooling wall (26) of the liquid reservoir (20) facing away from the contact surface (24) and by means of which the liquid (34) can be cooled.

2. Cooling device (10) according to claim 1 with the following additional feature: a. the cooling wall (26) is designed with at least one local thinning of the wall thickness in the region of the at least one cooling element (40).

3. Cooling device (10) according to claim 1 with the following additional feature: a. at least one opening (30) is provided in the cooling wall (26), so that the liquid (34) in the liquid reservoir (20) lies directly against a surface of the cooling element (40).

4. Cooling device (10) according to claim 3 with the following further feature: a. the cooling element (40) has a metal or ceramic cooling surface (44) on which the liquid rests directly due to the at least one opening (30).

5. Cooling device (10) according to one of the preceding claims with the following further feature: a. the cooling wall (26) has a holding structure (36) by means of which an outer edge of the cooling element (40) is enclosed.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) Cooling device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, having the following additional feature: a. the cooling element (40) is connected to the cooling wall (26) by means of an adhesive bond (38) and/or by means of a resin structure (36). Cooling device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, having the following additional features: a. the cooling device (10) has a spacing structure (60) which is attached to the cooling wall (26) of the liquid reservoir (20), and b. the spacer structure (60) has at least one recess or opening (62) for accommodating the cooling element (40), in particular including a heat sink (46) and/or a fan (48). Cooling device (10) according to claim 7 with the following further feature: a. the spacer structure (60) is made of a textile fabric. Cooling device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, having the following additional feature: a. the cooling element (40) has a Peltier element (42). Cooling device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, having the following additional feature: a. the cooling element (40) has a cooling body (46) with a rib structure. Cooling device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, having the following additional feature: a. the cooling element (40) has a fan (48). Cooling device (10) according to one of the preceding claims with the following additional feature: a. several cooling elements (40) are provided, the cooling elements being connected by means of a common waste heat conductor (50). Cooling device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, having the following additional feature: a. the common waste heat conductor (50) is designed as a hose (50). Cooling device (10) according to claim 13 with the following additional feature: a. the hose (50) is designed as a metal braided hose (50) and in particular is at least partially made of copper. Cooling device according to Claim 14, having the following additional feature: a. the hose (50) is designed as a closed hose ring (50). Cooling device (10) according to one of Claims 13 to 15, having the following additional feature: a. a ventilator (52) is provided, which sucks in or sucks off the air in the hose (50). Cooling device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, having the following additional feature: a. the cooling device has a battery, in particular a rechargeable battery, for supplying the cooling element. Cooling device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, having the following additional feature: a. the cooling device (10) has a power connection (90) for connecting an external energy source for supplying the cooling element and/or for charging the battery, in particular a USB connection. Cooling device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, having the following additional feature: a. the cooling device has a solar panel operation for supplying the cooling element and/or for charging the battery. Cooling device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, having the following additional feature: a. the cooling device (10) has at least one fastening strap (12), by means of which the cooling device (10) can be fixed to a part of the body. Cooling device (10) according to claim 20 with the following additional feature: a. the fastening strap (12) is provided with a Velcro fastener (14). Cooling device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, having the following additional feature: a. the liquid (34) in the liquid reservoir (20) is water, in particular salt water. Cooling device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, having the following additional feature: a. the cooling device has at least one vibration element. Cooling device (10) according to one of the preceding claims with the following further

Feature: a. the cooling capacity of the at least one cooling element can be adjusted manually. Cooling device according to one of the preceding claims, having the following additional features: a. the cooling device has a plurality of cooling elements (40), and b. the cooling elements (40) could be activated and deactivated jointly and/or individually. Cooling device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, having the following additional feature: a. the at least one cooling element (40) can be switched so that the liquid reservoir (20) is heated, in particular by reversing the polarity of the cooling element (40). Cooling device (10, 110) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 26 with the following further feature: a. the cooling device (10, 110) is designed as a facial cooling device (10, 110) which, when in use, rests on part of the facial skin of a wearer. Cooling device (10) according to claim 27 with the following further feature: a. the face cooling device (10) is designed to rest in the eye area of a wearer and preferably has at least one cut-out for looking through. Cooling device (210) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 26 with the following further feature: a. the cooling device (210) is designed as a neck cooling device (210) for placement on the neck of a wearer. Cooling device (310) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 26 with the following further feature: a. the cooling device (310) is designed as a chest cooling device (310) for placement in the chest area of a wearer.