Semi-rigid heat transfer devices
First Claim
1. A heat transfer apparatus for placement proximate to an article to be thermally affected thereby, comprising:
- a flexible frame including an outwardly facing perimetric surface; and
a flexible film sealingly bonded to said perimetric surface of said flexible frame, said flexible film providing an external major surface of the heat transfer apparatus for contacting the article to be thermally affected;
wherein said flexible frame is elastically deformable in at least one direction by a significant amount but is more rigid than said flexible film, and said flexible frame and said flexible film define a first fluid cavity for containing a quantity of heat transfer fluid for thermally affecting the temperature of the article by heat transfer through said flexible film.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Semi-rigid heat transfer devices are provided for heating or cooling components, such as electrical components, wherein the heat transfer devices are sufficiently flexible to conform to the shapes of the components, but are sufficiently rigid to maintain its overall structual shape. Moreover, the heat transfer devices include at least a frame or support portion thereof and a layer of flexible film. The frame and film layer are advantageously heat sealable according to one aspect of the present invention. The degree of flexibility for a particular heat transfer device can be designed in accordance with the specific requirements of particular applications.
143 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A heat transfer apparatus for placement proximate to an article to be thermally affected thereby, comprising:
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a flexible frame including an outwardly facing perimetric surface; and a flexible film sealingly bonded to said perimetric surface of said flexible frame, said flexible film providing an external major surface of the heat transfer apparatus for contacting the article to be thermally affected; wherein said flexible frame is elastically deformable in at least one direction by a significant amount but is more rigid than said flexible film, and said flexible frame and said flexible film define a first fluid cavity for containing a quantity of heat transfer fluid for thermally affecting the temperature of the article by heat transfer through said flexible film. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A heat transfer apparatus for placement proximate to an article to be thermally affected thereby, comprising:
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a support member of heat sealable thermoplastic material having a heat sealing surface, and a first flexible film including a thermoplastic layer that is heat sealed to said heat sealing surface of said support member, said support member being more rigid than said flexible film, said flexible film providing an external major surface of the heat transfer apparatus for contacting the article to be thermally affected, and said flexible film and said support member together defining a first fluid cavity for containing a quantity of heat transfer fluid, wherein the temperature of the heat transfer fluid thermally affects the temperature of the article by heat transfer through said flexible film. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A semi-rigid heat transfer apparatus for placement proximate to an article to be thermally affected thereby, comprising:
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a flexible frame of heat sealable thermoplastic material including first and second outwardly facing perimetric surfaces; a first flexible film including a thermoplastic layer that is heat sealed to said first perimetric surface of said support member, said first flexible film providing a first external major surface of the heat transfer apparatus for contacting the article to be thermally affected; a second flexible film including a thermoplastic layer that is heat sealed to said second perimetric surface of said support member, said second flexible film providing a second external major surface of the heat transfer apparatus; wherein said flexible frame is elastically deformable in at least one direction by a significant amount but is more rigid than said first and second flexible films, said flexible frame and at least one of said first and second flexible films define a first fluid cavity for containing a quantity of heat transfer fluid for thermally affecting the temperature of the article by heat transfer through one of said first and second flexible films.
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Specification