Abstract:
Disclosed is an apparatus for regulating the body temperature of a human by including a clip on portable apparatus for cooling and heating the core of the human. The present personal climate control device provides a hands free cooling and heating device which may be clipped to the belt or pant of a wearer. In cooling the body, the device amplifies evaporation and decreases the chances of shirt to skin contact.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application relies upon U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/830,430, filed Jul. 13, 2006, the content of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to an apparatus for regulating the body temperature of a human and in greater detail the present invention includes a portable apparatus for cooling and heating the core of the human body.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     A person working in a warm environment or performing tasks for which protective clothing is required may find the working conditions uncomfortable and may even experience a deterioration in performance or increased fatigue due to the build-up of body heat. Additionally construction workers also experience the same heat discomfort. This may result in elevated body temperatures and increased stress.  
         [0004]     One technique for keeping the body cool in such situations has been to employ a coolant-chilled garment. A coolant liquid such as chilled water is pumped through tubes which are attached to the garment to chill the garment. Such systems are typically closed systems in which the coolant is circulated through a cooling unit to maintain the garment and coolant at a chilled temperature.  
         [0005]     Although the entire system may be self contained, a person wearing the chilled garment must be tethered at all times to the cooling unit. The tether, of course, restricts the mobility of the wearer of the garment. Cooling by means of a liquid increases the weight the cooling garment and also the complexity and cost of the system. In addition, the cooling and tank units that are required for the liquid coolant may impede the movements of the wearer or others when the system is used in confined areas or when movement in the work area is necessary.  
         [0006]     Additionally, there have been systems employing air or refrigerated air for cooling individuals. However, these systems have been uncomfortable to wear, cumbersome to use, and frequently have the same disadvantages as the liquid cooling systems.  
         [0007]     Thus, what is needed is an apparatus for regulating the body temperature of a human that is both portable and easy to use while providing comfort to the user.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0008]     The present invention comprises an apparatus for regulating the body temperature of a human by including a portable apparatus for cooling and heating the core of the human. The present personal climate control device provides a hands free cooling and heating device which may be clipped to the belt or pant of a wearer. In cooling the body the device amplifies evaporation and decreases the chances of shirt to skin contact.  
         [0009]     In greater detail, the present invention includes a personal climate control device comprising a housing for venting and directing an airflow upward and across a core of a human body. The housing includes a first and second opposed opening formed within the housing and a fan located within the housing. The fan is capable of directing an air stream from the first opening and towards the second opening of the housing so that the air stream is directed across the core of the human body. An electric motor operatively connected to the fan with a power supply connected to the electric motor. A clip is further included and connected to the housing for securing the housing to the human body.  
         [0010]     The motor may be a piezoelectric motor with the fan selected from the group consisting essentially of a tube-axial fan, a centrifugal radial fan and combinations thereof. The device may further include a pre-chilled element located within the housing and operatively located such that air passes over the pre-chilled element to produce a cooled air stream. The device may also include a pre-heated element located within the housing and operatively located such that air passes over the pre-heated element to produce a heated air stream.  
         [0011]     In a further embodiment, the personal climate control device includes a heating element located within the housing and operatively located such that air passes over the heating element to produce a heated air stream. An additional embodiment includes a mechanical heating and cooling apparatus located within the housing for cooling and heating the air stream for heating and cooling the core of the human body.  
     
    
     DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     In the drawings:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  depicts an embodiment of the present personal climate control device including the electric motor, housing, power source and an axial fan;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  further illustrates an embodiment of the present personal climate control device including a centrifugal radial fan;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates a further of the present personal climate control device comprising a piezoelectric motor and fan blade that oscillates back and forth;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  depicts an additional embodiment of the climate control device illustrating the pre-chilled and/or pre-heated element located in the housing of the device;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  illustrates the heating coil embodiment of the present device wherein the heating coil is located in the housing;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  depicts an embodiment of the mechanical heating and cooling element located within the housing including an axial fan; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  shows an embodiment of the mechanical heating and cooling element located within the housing including a centrifugal fan. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]     The present invention comprises an apparatus for regulating the body temperature of a human by including a portable apparatus for cooling and heating the core of the human. In greater detail the present invention includes a personal climate control device comprising a housing for venting and directing an airflow upward and across a core of a human body. The housing includes a first and second opposed opening formed within the housing and a fan located within the housing. The fan is capable of directing an air stream from the first opening and towards the second opening of the housing so that the air stream being directed across the core of the human body. An electric motor operatively connected to the fan with a power supply connected to the electric motor. A clip is further included and connected to the housing for securing the housing to the human body.  
         [0021]     Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views,  FIGS. 1-7  depict the present apparatus for regulating the body temperature of a human.  
         [0022]      FIG. 1  depicts the personal climate control device  2  comprising a housing  8  for venting and directing an airflow upward and across a core of a human body. The housing may be made of any material and take on most any shape. As illustrated, the housing  8  may be cylindrical and may be sized to fit comfortably to a human. In one embodiment, the housing  8  is sized such that it may attach to the belt of a user or the pant and fit comfortably under the shirt of a user.  
         [0023]     The housing  8  includes a first opening  4  and second  6  opposed opening formed within the housing  8 . The first opening  4  receives air intake and directs it up the housing  8  and then out the second opening  6  to cool or heat the core of a human. The second opening  6  may fit under the shirt of the user for directing the cooled or heated air stream. A fan  12  is located within the housing. The fan is capable of directing an air stream from the first opening and towards the second opening of the housing so that the air stream is directed across the core of the human body. The fan  12  may be mounted at various positions within the housing  8 , including vertically and horizontally within the housing  4 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the fan  12  is illustrated as an axial fan/blower blade.  
         [0024]     An electric motor  16  is operatively connected to the fan  12 , typically via a drive shaft. Typically, the motor  16  is located within the housing  8 . However, it is contemplated that the motor  18  may be located outside of the housing  8 . The motor  16  may be any type of motor capable of powering the fan  12 . The motor  16  is connected to a power supply  14 . The power supply  14  may be any device capable of providing power or electricity to the motor  16 , including a solar cell, battery and rechargeable battery. Additionally connected to the housing is a clip  10  for attaching the device  2  to the human user. The term “clip” is used herein to mean a singular non-belt type attachment means used to secure the device  2  to the user. In one embodiment, the clip  10  is as shown in  FIG. 1  as a pincher mechanism.  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of an additional embodiment of the present personal climate control device  2  including a centrifugal radial fan  12 .  FIG. 3  illustrates a further embodiment of the present personal climate control device  2  comprising a piezoelectric motor  16  and fan blade  12 .  FIG. 4  adds the further element of a pre-chilled and/or pre-heated element  18 . The pre-chilled and/or pre-heated element  18  is typically an element capable retaining heat or cold for a duration and is placed in the housing  8  as a cold or heated element. In one embodiment, the pre-chilled and/or pre-heated element  18  is placed within the housing  8  near the second opening  6 .  FIG. 5  illustrates the present device  2  having a heating element  20  for heating an air stream as it is directed to the core of a human body.  
         [0026]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate the mechanical cooling and heating embodiment of the present invention. The mechanical cooling mechanism includes a condenser  22  and a filter  26 , battery  14 , fan  12 , compressor  24  and motor  16 . Various configurations of mechanical cooling may be used or contemplated in the present invention. One embodiment is known as a heat pump. The device  2  does not utilize a moisture stream to aid in cooling and is substantially free of such, including being substantially free of a water reservoir.  
         [0027]     While applicant has set forth embodiments as illustrated and described above, it is recognized that variations may be made with respect to disclosed embodiments. Therefore, while the invention has been disclosed in various forms only, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many additions, deletions and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, and no undue limits should be imposed except as set forth in the following claims.