Cooling blanket for humans and animals

Abstract

A cooling blanket, singularly or in plurality, which covers the core body of humans or animals to facilitate immediate, rapid cooling through sweat evaporation and radiant heat exchange by means of an integrated ventilation system and maximum body surface contact via an incorporated cooling medium contained within multiple, sealed compartments within the embodiment.

Claims

1. A cooling blanket, singularly or in plurality, that covers a human's or animal's core body, incorporating a non-mechanical ventilation system allowing for evaporation of sweat and body heat in conjunction with radiant heat transfer, whereby immediate, rapid cooling is facilitated in overheated humans or animals, or humans suffering a deleterious cardiac event such as cardiac arrest or other medical event, comprising a. The embodiment of claim 1, wherein two layers of material large enough to cover the body core of an adult and made up of one or more sheets of various materials are connected at the edges and at intervals to form seams, bonds, or welds and individualized compartments in plurality b. The embodiment of claim 1 and 1a, wherein said ventilation system consists of openings within said seams to facilitate the escape of body heat and sweat c. The embodiment of claim 1, 1a, and 1b, wherein the series of said seams are made wide enough to support said openings without compromising the integrity of said compartments d. The embodiment of claim 1 and 1a, wherein said compartments encapsulate a non-reagent cooling medium which remains pliable at temperatures below 32 F and through many re-cooling cycles e. The embodiment of claim 1 and 1a, wherein the said cooling medium consists of reagents within said compartments that, when mixed within the compartments, produce an endothermic reaction and remain pliable

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1A top view of the cooling blanket

[0013] FIG. 1AA top view of a cooling blanket in a different configuration

[0014] FIG. 2Close up of the ventilation system

[0015] FIG. 3The construction layers of the cooling blanket

[0016] FIG. 3AConstruction layers made of one or more layers of material

[0017] FIG. 4Cross section of the cooling blanket showing the individualized compartments and seams

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 & 4, the cooling blanket is made up of a top layer of material 17, a layer of cooling medium 19, and a bottom layer of material 17.

[0019] As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the layers 17 and 17a can be any number of layers of materials 17b, 17c, and 17d.

[0020] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 & 4, the cooling medium 19 can be any type of cooling medium which remains pliable enough at temperatures below 32 F to conform to the core body of a human or animal.

[0021] As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 & 4, the cooling blanket is constructed via a plurality of seams, welds, or bonds 11.

[0022] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the seams 11 within the body and around the edges of the cooling blanket form individualized compartments 15 for holding said cooling medium.

[0023] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the seams in the cooling blanket are in widths, which allow the integrity of the embodiment to be maintained, and in which a series of ventilations openings 13a of any size or shape are incorporated in the seams 11.

[0024] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the combination of the ventilation openings 13a in the seams 11 produce a ventilation system whereby air can pass through unhindered. The seams 11 become the bases for the easy folding of the embodiment to a compact size for cooling, transport, and/or storage.

[0025] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 & 1A, the embodiment can be made in any size suitable for cooling the body core, or entire body, of any human or animal.

[0026] The embodiment is cooled in a refrigerator, freezer, or in an ice chest with ice, dry ice, or other cooling capable medium. Cooling and storing the embodiment in an insulated container allows it to be transported to any location where immediate cooling of a person or animal may be needed. The embodiment may be left in any continuous cooling device for an indefinite amount of time or stored in an insulated container for use within a few hours or a few days, depending on the type of insulated container used.

[0027] While my description contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope, but rather as an exemplification of several embodiments. Many other variations are possible. For example, the series of said seams can take a configuration of curves instead of right angles, or the shape of the embodiment may change to allow for a continuous section to be drawn together around the head as well as to extend beneath the body with a separate embodiment draped over the body.