Thermoelectric pillow

Claim 2

A thermoelectric pillow comprising: a plurality of semiconductor junCtions which function in accordance with the Peltier effect; electrical insulation means for electrically insulating the semiconductor junctions; thermal insulation means for restricting heat transfer between the opposite sides of said semiconductor junctions; padding material of low thermal conductivity located adjacent the semiconductor junctions on opposite sides thereof; material of high thermal conductivity interspersed with the padding material; and exterior cover means for supporting and protecting the padding material.

Claim 3

The thermoelectric pillow of claim 1 wherein said material of high thermal conductivity comprises small particles.

Claim 4

The thermoelectric pillow of claim 1 wherein said material of high thermal conductivity comprises a powder.

Claim 5

A thermoelectric pillow comprising: a thermoelectric unit operating according to the Peltier effect to provide the pillow with a warm side and a cool side; thermal insulation means thermally separating the cool side of the pillow from the warm side of the pillow; electrical insulation means for electrically insulating the thermoelectric unit; padding means of relatively low thermal conductivity having material of relatively high thermal conductivity intermingled therewith located adjacent the thermoelectric unit on both the cool side and warm side; exterior cover means for providing an outer surface and hermetically sealing the internal parts of the pillow; and, control means for selectively regulating the surface temperatures of the pillow.

Claim 6

A thermoelectric pillow comprising: a thermoelectric unit operating according to the Peltier effect to provide the pillow with a warm side and a cool side; thermal insulation means thermally separating the cool side of the pillow from the warm side of the pillow; electrical insulation means for electrically insulating the thermoelectric unit; padding means of relatively low thermal conductivity having material of relatively high thermal conductivity intermingled therewith located adjacent the thermoelectric unit on both the cool side and warm side; exterior cover means for providing an outer surface and hermetically sealing the internal parts of the pillow; and, control means for selectively regulating the surface temperatures of the pillow.

Claim 7

The thermoelectric pillow of claim 4 wherein the control means includes means for converting alternating current power to a direct current of selected magnitude and polarity for application to said semiconductor junctions.

Claim 8

A thermoelectric pillow comprising: a plurality of semiconductor junctions forming a thermoelectric unit which operates in accordance with the Peltier effect; thermal insulation material filling the spaces between semiconductor junctions; electrical insulation material having high thermal conductivity surrounding the thermoelectric unit; padding material of low thermal conductivity intermingled with material of high thermal conductivity surrounding said electrical insulation material; relatively thin sheetlike plastic material surrounding said padding material and providing a seal; means for providing electrical connection between the thermoelectric element and a control means; control means for supplying a variable current of selected magnitude and polarity; means for providing electrical connection between the control means and a source of electrical power.

Claim 9

A thermoelectric pillow comprising: a plurality of semiconductor junctions forming a thermoelectric unit which operates in accordance with the Peltier effect; thermal insulation material filling the spaces between semiconductor junctions; electrical insulation material having high thermal conductivity surrounding the thermoelectric unit; padding material of low thermal conductivity intermingled with material of high thermal conductivity surrounding said electrical insulation material; relatively thin sheetlike plastic material surrounding said padding material and providing a seal; means for providing electrical connection between the thermoelectric element and a control means; control means for supplying a variable current of selected magnitude and polarity; means for providing electrical connection between the control means and a source of electrical power.

Claim 10

A thermoelectric pillow comprising: a plurality of semiconductor junctions arranged in series to provide a thermoelectric unit; thermal insulation material filling the spaces between semiconductor junctions in the thermoelectric unit; a relatively thin layer of electrical insulation material surrounding the thermoelectric unit; a relatively thick layer of polyurethane foam padding material surrounding the layer of electrical insulation material; particulate material of high thermal conductivity intermingled with the layer of padding material; a relatively thin layer of plastic material surrounding the padding material and providing a seal; means for providing electrical connection between the thermoelectric element and a temperature controlling means; control means for providing an electrical current of selected magnitude and polarity to the thermoelectric unit; means for providing an electrical connection between the temperature controller and the source of electrical power.

Claim 11

A thermoelectric pillow comprising: a plurality of semiconductor junctions arranged in series to provide a thermoelectric unit; thermal insulation material filling the spaces between semiconductor junctions in the thermoelectric unit; a relatively thin layer of electrical insulation material surrounding the thermoelectric unit; a relatively thick layer of polyurethane foam padding material surrounding the layer of electrical insulation material; particulate material of high thermal conductivity intermingled with the layer of padding material; a relatively thin layer of plastic material surrounding the padding material and providing a seal; means for providing electrical connection between the thermoelectric element and a temperature controlling means; control means for providing an electrical current of selected magnitude and polarity to the thermoelectric unit; means for providing an electrical connection between the temperature controller and the source of electrical power.

Claim 12

The thermoelectric pillow of claim 5 wherein the control means comprises a variac and a voltage controlled rectifier.

Claim 13

The thermoelectric pillow of claim 5 wherein the control means comprises a stepdown transformer, rectifier means for providing a direct curRent and a rheostat.

Claim 14

A thermoelectric pillow comprising a plurality of semiconductor elements electrically connected in series to form a thermoelectric unit having a first surface and a second surface; electrical insulation means for electrically insulating the thermoelectric unit; first and second sponge rubber padding means disposed adjacent the first and second surfaces of the thermoelectric unit for providing a cushion effect; thermal insulation material filling all spaces between the first and second surfaces of the thermoelectric unit and separating the first and second padding means to the extent that they extend beyond the thermoelectric unit; material of high thermal conductivity reduced to small granules and intermingled with the first and second padding means; a relatively thin layer of plastic material forming the exterior of the pillow; control means for providing a current of selected magnitude and polarity; terminal means for electrically connecting the control means between a source of electrical power and the thermoelectric unit.

Claim 15

A thermoelectric pillow comprising a plurality of semiconductor elements electrically connected in series to form a thermoelectric unit having a first surface and a second surface; electrical insulation means for electrically insulating the thermoelectric unit; first and second sponge rubber padding means disposed adjacent the first and second surfaces of the thermoelectric unit for providing a cushion effect; thermal insulation material filling all spaces between the first and second surfaces of the thermoelectric unit and separating the first and second padding means to the extent that they extend beyond the thermoelectric unit; material of high thermal conductivity reduced to small granules and intermingled with the first and second padding means; a relatively thin layer of plastic material forming the exterior of the pillow; control means for providing a current of selected magnitude and polarity; terminal means for electrically connecting the control means between a source of electrical power and the thermoelectric unit.

Claim 16

For use in a thermoelectric pillow which uses a thermoelectric unit operating in accordance with the Peltier effect, padding means of low thermal conductivity for providing a cushioning effect intermingled with particles of material having high thermal conductivity.

Claim 17

For use in a thermoelectric pillow which uses a thermoelectric unit operating in accordance with the Peltier effect, padding means of low thermal conductivity for providing a cushioning effect intermingled with particles of material having high thermal conductivity.