| abstract |
An improved portable apparatus for selectively heating and cooling a body portion comprises a unit having at least one flexible pad and tubing for being wrapped around a body portion and acting as an evaporator on cooling and a condenser on heating, a compressor, a condenser acting as an evaporator on heating, a fan for moving air through the condenser, conduits for directing refrigerant composition in the unit, valve means for selectively reversing the flow of refrigerant to alternately cool and heat the pad and tubing, and a carrying case for the apparatus having a lid, bottom, front, back and side panels cooperating to form a chamber in which the apparatus is received, and a port in both the front and back panels for directing air into and from the chamber when the fan is operating. Other embodiments of the apparatus also include quick-connect couplings between the apparatus and pad refrigerant conduits, an auxiliary heat exchanger and heater, means for recharging the refrigerant composition in the apparatus, and novel flexible pads, especially useful for wrapping around human or animal body portions for cooling or heating thereof. |