Articles of clothing and personal gear with on-demand power supply for electrical devices

• US 20050255349A1
• Filed: 05/06/2005
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ardica Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ardica Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Covington, Thomas C., Braithwaite, Daniel, Glassman, Jonathan L., Thomas, Jesse M., Fisher, Tobin J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,062,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/430
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0001 Body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0094 using a remote control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0233 connected to or incorporated in clothing or garments A61F2007/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/03 thermophore, i.e. self-heating, e.g. using a chemical reaction
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/006 Flat
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2404 Processes or apparatus for grouping fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/241 with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2475 Enclosures, casings or containers of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2483 characterised by internal manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/249 comprising two or more groupings of fuel cells, e.g. modular assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 2/905 Electric

Abstract

An article of clothing with an on-demand power supply for electrical devices is provided. The power supply includes stiff planar fuel cell devices that are distributed in a plane. The number of fuel cells is dependent on the power requirements for the electrical devices. The planar stiff fuel cells are flexibly interconnected in the plane by a flexible interconnecting means, which allows the fuel cells to move with respect to each other out of the plane. This further allows the power supply to be nicely integrated in an article of clothing and minimizes negative impact to a body region or to the article of clothing. The electrical and fuel connections between the fuel cells are integrated with the flexible interconnecting means. To further integrate and increase ease of operation a control system is included to control the on-demand power supply or control power levels for the electrical device.

Claims

1. An article of clothing with on-demand power supply for an electrical device, comprising:

(a) two or more stiff planar fuel cell devices distributed in a plane, wherein each of said planar fuel cell devices being an electro-chemical device capable of delivering electrical power to one or more electrical devices; and

(b) flexible interconnecting means for interconnecting said two or more stiff planar fuel cell devices, said flexible means allowing said stiff planar fuel cell devices to move with respect to each other out of said plane, and said flexible interconnecting means having integrated therein or therewith electrical connections and fuel connections for each of stiff planar fuel cell devices.

2. The article of clothing as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexible means comprises one or more flexible joints.

3. The article of clothing as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexible means comprises a flexible substrate onto which said two or more stiff planar fuel cell devices are affixed and distributed.

4. The article of clothing set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexible means comprises a lamination of fabric or flexible film over said two or more stiff planar fuel cells.

5. The article of clothing as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexible means comprises is an extension from one of the plates of said two or more stiff planar fuel cell devices and of a thickness to allow said movement.

6. The article of clothing as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexible means comprises a mold over said two or more stiff planar fuel cell devices.

7. The article of clothing as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexible means and said planar fuel cell devices are distributed and sized to minimize negative impact to a body region or to said article of clothing.

8. The article of clothing as set forth in claim 1, wherein said two or more stiff planar fuel cell devices are integrated in said article of clothing at the upper spine region of said person.

9. The article of clothing as set forth in claim 1, further comprises a control system to control said on-demand power supply or control a power level for said electrical device.

10. The article of clothing as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a control system integrated in said article of clothing.

11. The article of clothing as set forth in claim 1, further comprising wires passing through said article of clothing to said electrical device or to a control system.

12. An article of personal gear with on-demand power supply for an electrical device, comprising:

(a) two or more stiff planar fuel cell devices distributed in a plane, wherein each of said planar fuel cells devices being an electro-chemical device capable of delivering electrical power to one or more electrical devices; and

(b) flexible interconnecting means for interconnecting said two or more stiff planar fuel cell devices, said flexible means allowing said stiff planar fuel cell devices to move with respect to each other out of said plane, and said flexible interconnecting means having integrated therein or therewith electrical connections and fuel connections for each of stiff planar fuel cell devices.

13. The article of personal gear as set forth in claim 12, wherein said flexible means comprises one or more flexible joints.

14. The article of personal gear as set forth in claim 12, wherein said flexible means comprises a flexible substrate onto which said two or more stiff planar fuel devices are affixed and distributed.

15. The article of personal gear set forth in claim 12, wherein said flexible means comprises a lamination of fabric or flexible film over said two or more stiff planar fuel cells.

16. The article of personal gear as set forth in claim 12, wherein said flexible means comprises is an extension from one of the plates of said two or more stiff planar fuel cell devices and of a thickness to allow said movement.

17. The article of personal gear as set forth in claim 12, wherein said flexible means comprises a mold over said two or more stiff planar fuel cell devices.

18. The article of personal gear as set forth in claim 12, further comprising a control system to control said on-demand power supply or a power level for said electrical device.

19. The article of personal gear as set forth in claim 12, further comprising a control system integrated in said article of personal gear.

20. The article of personal gear as set forth in claim 12, further comprising wires passing through said article of personal gear to said electrical device or to a control system.

30. The integrated system set forth in claim 21 The integrated system as set forth in claim 18, further comprising a control system to control said on-demand power supply or a power level for said electrical device.

21. An integrated system of electrochemical devices, comprising:

(a) two or more stiff planar fuel cell devices distributed in a plane, wherein each of said planar fuel cell devices being an electrochemical device capable of delivering electrical power to one or more electrical devices; and

(b) flexible interconnecting means for interconnecting said two or more stiff planar fuel cell devices, said flexible means allowing said stiff planar fuel cell devices to move with respect to each other out of said plane, and said flexible interconnecting means having integrated therein electrical connections and fuel connections for each of stiff planar fuel cell or therewith devices.

22. The integrated system as set forth in claim 21, wherein said flexible means and said planar fuel cell devices are distributed and sized to be integrated with an apparel, integrated with a personal gear or placed nearby a body region.

23. The integrated system as set forth in claim 22, further comprising a control system integrated in said apparel or said article of personal gear.

24. The integrated system as set forth in claim 22, further comprising wires passing through said apparel or said article of personal gear to said electrical device or to a control system.

25. The integrated system as set forth in claim 21, wherein said flexible means comprises one or more flexible joints.

26. The integrated system as set forth in claim 21, wherein said flexible means comprises a flexible substrate onto which said two or more stiff planar fuel devices are affixed and distributed.

27. The integrated system set forth in claim 21, wherein said flexible means comprises a lamination of fabric or flexible film over said two or more stiff planar fuel cells.

28. The integrated system set forth in claim 21, wherein said flexible means comprises is an extension from one of the plates of said two or more stiff planar fuel cell devices and of a thickness to allow said movement.

29. The integrated system set forth in claim 21, wherein said flexible means comprises a mold over said two or more stiff planar fuel cell devices.