MICROCLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20100084125A1
• Filed: 08/18/2009
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: VTM Corporation
• Original Assignee: VTM Corporation
• Inventors: Goldstein, Albert M., Nickel, Theodore W., Paige, Michael G., Quaglia, Vincent F.
• Application Number:
  US12/543,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20100084125A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/287
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0051 Heated garments heated divers' suits B63C11/28
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0053 Cooled garments
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 11/00 Use of gas-solvents or gas-sorbents in vessels absorbing compositions for acetylene C10L3/04; absorbing compositions for hydrogen C01B3/0005
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/02 using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A heating/cooling garment is provided that comprises a microclimate system, as well as methods of manufacturing and using same.

Claims

3-1. The system of claim 1 wherein the first medium is selected from the group consisting of water, carbon nanotube (CNT) material dispersed in a liquid vehicle, or air.

5. A method of manufacturing a heating/cooling garment, the method comprising:

providing a garment comprising internal tubing;

installing a microclimate system into a garment by connecting the system to the tubing, the microclimate system comprising;

a chiller/heater assembly comprising at least two porous members with a thermoelectric device therebetween;

connection portals configured for tubing to be in selective fluid communication with at least one porous member of the chiller/heater assembly to form a first closed loop;

a radiator assembly in selective fluid communication with at least one porous member of the chiller/heater assembly, exclusive of porous members in the first closed loop, in a second closed loop; and

wherein heat is transferable between a medium in the first closed loop and a medium in the second closed loop.

6. A method of heating/cooling a garment, the method comprising:

sensing the temperature of a mammal wearing the garment in fluid communication with a microclimate system;

using, at least, the sensed temperature to automatically adjust a microclimate system, the microclimate system comprising;

a chiller/heater assembly comprising at least two porous members with a thermoelectric device therebetween;

connection portals configured for tubing to be in selective fluid communication with at least one porous member of the chiller/heater assembly to form a first closed loop;

a radiator assembly in selective fluid communication with at least one porous member of the chiller/heater assembly, exclusive of porous members in the first closed loop, in a second closed loop; and

wherein heat is transferable between a medium in the first closed loop and a medium in the second closed loop.