Abstract:
The invention involves a personal climate control system for heating and cooling the body of a user, and method for providing personal comfort in the form of body heating or cooling to a user of the device. The personal climate control system includes a heat exchanger assembly and a robe assembly coupled together with a tubing assembly. A heat exchanger assembly is utilized to provide conditioned air under pressure to a tortuous path of internal tubing embedded within a piece of clothing worn by the user.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/894,329 filed on Jul. 26, 2013 and which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to personal comfort devices, and more particularly to a fabric panel such as a blanket or clothing having a forced air climate control system. 
       BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
       [0003]    Normal human body temperature, also known as normothermia or euthermia, depends upon the place in the body at which the measurement is made, the time of day and level of activity of the person. Under perfect conditions, this is typically 37.0° C. (98.6° F.). Variations in body temperature are part of the circadian rhythm. In healthy adults, body temperature fluctuates about 0.5° C. (0.9° F.) throughout the day, with lower temperatures in the morning and higher temperatures in the late afternoon and evening, as the body&#39;s needs and activities change. The time of day and other circumstances also affect the body&#39;s temperature. The core body temperature of an individual tends to have the lowest value in the second half of the sleep cycle; the lowest point, called the nadir, is one of the primary markers for circadian rhythms. The body temperature also changes when a person is hungry or sleepy. In addition to varying throughout the day, normal body temperature may also differ as much as 0.5° C. (0.9° F.) from one day to the next, so that the highest or lowest temperatures on one day will not always exactly match the highest or lowest temperatures on the next day. 
         [0004]    These variations in body temperature can cause comfort issues for many people, especially in circumstances where there are multiple people in the same location making it impossible to adjust the temperature to accommodate everyone. This results in some of the people feeling hot while others in the same room or area may feel cold or uncomfortable. 
         [0005]    In addition, body temperature and thus personal comfort, is sensitive to many hormones, causing women to have a temperature rhythm that varies with the menstrual cycle, called a circamensal rhythm. A woman&#39;s basal body temperature rises sharply after ovulation, as estrogen production decreases and progesterone increases. Fertility awareness programs use this predictable change to identify when a woman is able to become pregnant. During the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, both the lowest and the average temperatures are slightly higher than during other parts of the cycle. Hormonal contraceptives both suppress the circamensal rhythm and raise the typical body temperature by about 0.6° C. (1.1° F.). Hormones also affect women past menopause who suffer from hot and cold flashes. 
         [0006]    Air conditioning and heating systems have failed to address the needs of one or a few persons in a crowd as the temperature cannot be readily changed to comfort the few without affecting the others. 
         [0007]    Electric blankets are cumbersome and fail to provide cooling as well as heating. While cooling blankets absorb heat for dissipation to the surrounding air, they fail to provide heat. 
         [0008]    Therefore, what is needed is a personal climate control system for an individual that can be in the form of clothing, or fabric panel substrate blanket. The personal climate control system should also provide both heat and cooling through the clothing or blanket in the form of forced air. The climate-controlled air should be returned to the temperature control device for maintenance of the temperature, and the temperature should be controllable by the user for personalization. Finally, there are ergonomic needs that a personal climate control system must satisfy in order to achieve acceptance by the end user. The personal climate control system must be easily and quickly assembled using minimal hardware and requiring a minimal number of tools. Further, the system should not require excessive strength to assemble or include heavy component parts. Moreover, the personal climate control system must assemble together in such a way so as not to detract from the aesthetic appearance of the climate control system. 
         [0009]    While there are a number of patents directed to inflatable cooling or heating devices, such devices have limitations as to ease of use and capabilities such patents include, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,384,924, U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,439, U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,579, U.S. Pat. No. 5,300,102, U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,320, U.S. Pat. No. 5,300,100, U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,238, U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,802, U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,388 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,188 and which are all incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0010]    Thus, the present invention provides a personal climate control system that overcomes the disadvantages of prior art pertaining to heating and cooling systems. The personal climate control system of the present invention not only provides for relative ease in assembly and use, it also permits heating and cooling in the same device. The present invention also provides a personal climate control system that utilizes a peltier heating and cooling device, thereby eliminating the need for separate systems for the generation of cooling and heating. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The present invention involves a personal climate control system for heating and cooling the body of a user, and the method for providing personal comfort in the form of body heating or cooling to a user of the device. The personal climate control system includes a heat exchanger assembly and a fabric panel that may be in the form of a robe assembly coupled together with a tubing assembly, the heat exchanger assembly being positionable within the length of the tubing assembly to the robe assembly. The interior of the robe assembly includes a tortuous path of internal tubing having a pair of inlets for connection to the heat exchanger assembly or a bifurcated hose assembly, whereby conditioned air is forced under pressure to an article of clothing worn by the user. In one embodiment, the article of clothing is provided in the form of a robe assembly being wearable by the user in a typical fashion. The heat exchanger assembly includes a plurality of thermoelectric, e.g. peltier, devices operatively secured to an elongated heat exchanger tube. A fan is positioned at the distal end of the heat exchanger tube to force air through the heat exchanger for conditioning, and into the tubing assembly for transfer to the robe assembly. In some embodiments, air may be returned through the hose assembly for reconditioning, or alternatively, apertures may be provided in the tubing assembly to allow the conditioned air to be expelled into the robe assembly for dispersal into the atmosphere. 
         [0012]    Accordingly, it is an aspect of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a personal climate control system. 
         [0013]    It is a further aspect of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a personal climate control system suitable to provide both heating and cooling to an article of wearable clothing such as a jacket, parka, sleeping bag, robe, or providing climate control for a pet bed. 
         [0014]    It is yet a further aspect of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a personal climate control system that is incorporated into fabric layer of an article of furniture such as a sofa, an upholstered chair, a mattress pad, or supplied as an integral part of a mattress. 
         [0015]    It is yet a further aspect of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a heat exchanger for a personal climate control system that utilizes an elongated tubular heat exchanger having externally mounted thermoelectric devices. 
         [0016]    It is another aspect of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a personal climate control system that utilizes forced air to regulate heating and cooling of the device. 
         [0017]    It is another aspect of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a fabric article for heating and cooling comprising: a first fabric panel; a second fabric panel, secured to the first panel; a length of hollow tubing passing between the first panel and the second panel, the hollow tubing defining an inlet adapted for connecting to a pressurized air supply, the tubing further comprising a plurality of openings allowing for the passage of air in a space defined between the first and the second fabric panels; wherein, when a supply of pressurized non-ambient temperature air is introduced into the tubing inlet, the pressurized air flows through the interior of the hollow tubing and passes through the plurality of openings, thereby providing a temperature adjusting airflow through the fabric article. 
         [0018]    Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0019]    A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures in which: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view partially in section of one embodiment of the instant invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a partial top perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  illustrating the heat exchanger; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the heat exchanger assembly; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a left side view of the heat exchanger assembly; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a right side view of the heat exchanger assembly; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the heat exchanger assembly; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the heat exchanger assembly illustrating the temperature selector and the power control switch; 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is a plan view illustrating the outer surface of the robe assembly; 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the robe assembly illustrated in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 10  is an inside view of the robe assembly illustrated in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of the robe assembly illustrated in  FIG. 8 ; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 12  is an exploded perspective view of the heat exchanger assembly, 
       
    
    
       [0032]    Repeat use of reference characters in the present invention and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0033]    While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. 
         [0034]    Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield still a third embodiment. It is intended that that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations. 
         [0035]    It is to be understood that the ranges mentioned herein include all ranges located within the prescribed range. As such, all ranges mentioned herein include all sub-ranges included in the mentioned ranges. For instance, a range from 100-200 also includes ranges from 110-150, 170-190, and 153-162. Further, all limits mentioned herein include all other limits included in the mentioned limits. For instance, a limit of up to 7 also includes a limit of up to 5, up to 3, and up to 4.5. 
         [0036]    Referring generally to  FIGS. 1-12 , a personal climate control system  100  is illustrated. In general, the climate control system includes a heat exchanger assembly  10 , a hose assembly  12  and a robe assembly  14 . The heat exchanger assembly includes a tubular heat exchanger member  16 . The heat exchanger member is preferably constructed from an aluminum extrusion to include a plurality of elongated fins  18  extending inward from a continuous outer wall  22 . 
         [0037]    The outer wall and fins are constructed and arranged to absorb heating or cooling from at least one, and more preferably two or more peltier heating and cooling devices  20  secured to a side surface of the outer wall thereof. A heat sink member  24  is secured to an opposite side surface  26  of each peltier heating and cooling device  20 . The heat sink(s)  24  dissipate heat from the peltier devices when used for cooling the tubular heat exchanger  16 . 
         [0038]    A cooling fan  28  is secured to the heat sink  24  for providing airflow across the heat sink for increased efficiency. Heat transfer paste (not shown) or the like may be utilized between the peltier heating and cooling device as well as between the heat sink and the opposite side of the peltier heating and cooling device to increase transfer of heating or cooling therebetween. 
         [0039]    An airflow fan  30  is secured to the first distal end  32  of the tubular heat exchanger  16 . The airflow fan  30  is constructed and arranged to provide pressurized airflow through the tubular heat exchanger  16  for transfer of heat or cooling thereto. A second distal end  34  of the tubular heat exchanger  16  includes a flow baffle  36  for collecting and directing the pressurized air flow from the airflow fan  30  into an air plenum  38 . 
         [0040]    The air plenum routes the air to a flow divider  40 , which divides the conditioned air and routes it into a bifurcated hose assembly  12 . The first end  42  of the bifurcated hose assembly is preferably removably connected to the flow divider  40  for maintenance and/or replacement of the hose assembly  12 . The hose assembly may be of any suitable length to extend to the robe assembly  14  and includes a removable connection for securement to the robe assembly. 
         [0041]    A case assembly  44  is provided to enclose the components of the heat exchanger assembly  10  and provide an aesthetically appealing appearance to the finished product. The case assembly preferably includes an inner case  46  constructed from a rear inner panel  48 , a left inner panel  50 , a right inner panel  52 , a front inner panel  54  and a bottom inner panel  56 . 
         [0042]    The inner panels  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54  and  56  are secured together with fasteners to create a structural inner case  46  suitable for supporting the weight and dynamics of the inner components and include air apertures  58  and the like necessary for normal operation of the climate control system. A power supply  60  is secured to the bottom inner panel  56  along with a plurality of feet members  62 . The power supply is electrically connected to the control panel  64 . 
         [0043]    The control panel is positioned to be accessible on the outer portion  66  of the case assembly  44 . The outer portion of the case assembly  66  is preferably constructed from a polymeric material such as plastic to have an aesthetically pleasing appearance and may include amenities such as a handle  68  and hose storage reel  70  for storage of the bifurcated hose assembly  12  when not in use. The control panel  64  is positioned in the top portion of the outer case  66  for easy access to the user and preferably includes a power switch  71 , a temperature selector  72  and a temperature indicator  74 . The power switch connects and disconnects power from the power supply  60  to temperature selector  72  and the peltier heating and cooling device(s)  20 , while the temperature selector allows the user to select a desired temperature for the pressurized air to be heated or cooled to. 
         [0044]    Referring to FIGS.  1  and  8 - 11 , the robe assembly  14  is illustrated. The robe assembly preferably includes an inner panel  74  and an outer panel  76  enclosing a ducting network  78  of tubing. The ducting may be bifurcated and preferably includes a pair of inlets  80  which correspond to the bifurcated hose assembly  12 . This construction allows the conditioned air to be routed to different portions of the robe assembly and allows a portion of the conditioned air to be returned to the heat exchanger assembly  10 . 
         [0045]    The tubing includes perforations  82  sized to allow the pressurized air to be directed against the inner  74 , outer  76  or both panels of the robe assembly  14 . In this manner, the panels of the robe assembly may be constructed to be permeable or impermeable to the pressurized air as desired to provide comfort to the user, In a preferred embodiment, the inner panels  74  of the robe is permeable to the pressurized air to allow the air to be expelled toward the user&#39;s skin. The use of bifurcated tubing prevents the over-pressurization of the tubing and prevents the fabric panel from becoming pressurized or erect. 
         [0046]    As seen in reference to the Figures, the air inlets may be located on the lower portion of the fabric panel, particularly when in the form of a garment such as a robe. The tubing  78  can be held in position between the fabric panels through any number of securing mechanisms including Velcro loops or ties, plastic anchoring clips secured to moving inner surfaces of each fabric panels, fabric or ribbon ties, and other equivalent structures that will allow for the securement and removal of the tubing  78 . It is believed that a non-rigid securement of the tubing  78  within the interior space defined by the opposing facing surfaces of the fabric panels 
         [0047]    In another embodiment, the inner skin  74  is impermeable to the pressurized air while the outer panel  76  is permeable so that the robe is maintained at a desired temperature while the pressurized air is directed away from the user&#39;s skin. The impermeability of layer  74  can be either an inherent property of the fabric, an impermeable coating applied to a surface of fabric  74  or provided by a separate piece of material which may be sewn or attached to the fabric surface of panel  74  to render it impermeable. 
         [0048]    One or both of the fabric layers  74  and  76  can be provided by a wicking fabric layer. The wicking fabric layer may be placed in contact with a user&#39;s skin or body such that the wicking fabric helps direct moisture away from the user. 
         [0049]    The tubing  78  and perforations  82  defined by the tubing can be configured in several different and useful configurations. In one embodiment, the perforations  82  are substantially and uniformly spaced along the entire length and along the exterior surfaces of the tubing. In another embodiment, the perforations  82  may be positioned on only one side of the tubing such that the pressurized air is directed only against either the first fabric panel or the second fabric panel. 
         [0050]    Yet another embodiment can vary the density of the openings  82  to provide a greater or lesser amount of air flow through a specific region. In this manner, if the fabric panel is configured as a robe or other garment, a greater number of openings  82  can be provided to a selected region of the garment. For instance, increased airflow through the greater surface area of openings can be used to direct the pressurized air to a wearer&#39;s leg region, arm region, or back region. 
         [0051]    While one embodiment of the tubing  78  may be provided by plastic tubing and discrete perforations  82 , it is also within the scope of the present invention to provide a tubing material which is inherently permeable to the pressurized air source. In such an instance, discrete perforations are not needed but a fabric tube having a sufficiently tight need construction can be provided that “leaks” pressurized air along the length of the fabric tubing. One advantage of such a construction is that the fabric article can be more easily machine washed and dried than embodiments utilizing plastic tubing. 
         [0052]    While not set forth in the drawings, it is envisioned that the fabric panel can have one or more temperature sensors provided which can be linked in communication to the peltier device. The temperature sensors provide a way of providing an upper temperature limit and a lower temperature limit for the fabric article such that upon reaching an upper or a lower temperature limit, a signal can be sent to help the peltier device to regulate the air flow rate and/or the supply temperature of the air flow. 
         [0053]    Arm loops  84  are provided to allow the user to wear the robe similar to a standard bathrobe, whereby the arm loops are pulled over the user&#39;s arms and the robe is closed around the user&#39;s body. A tie, belt, or fastener may be utilized for holding the robe in a closed position. It should also be noted that while the personal climate controlled system is illustrated in the form of a robe, other types of clothing, blankets and the like may be utilized in a similar fashion without departing from the scope of the invention. 
         [0054]    All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. 
         [0055]    It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification. While the present invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the subject matter encompassed by way of the present invention is not to be limited to those specific embodiments. One the contrary, it is intended for the subject matter of the invention to include all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the following claims. 
         [0056]    Further, one skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. Any compounds, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention, which are obvious to those skilled in the art, are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.