Flexible heater assembly
First Claim
1. A flexible heater comprising in combination:
- a flexible, conformal, thermally conductive container filled with thermally conductive gel, a thermoelectric element for heating the container, the thermoelectric element in contact with the outside of one or more flexible conformal containers filled with thermally conductive gel and heats the one or more flexible conformal containers filled with thermally conductive gel, wherein the thermally conductive gel does not change phase during the operation of the flexible heater and comprises a polymeric component and a particulate filler, a low voltage direct current electrical source, a sensor for determining the temperature of the thermally conductive gel, a solid state continuous temperature controller, and connectors for connecting the thermal element, solid state continuous temperature controller, sensor, and low voltage direct current electrical source.
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Abstract
A flexible heater or cooler which includes a flexible, conformal, thermally conductive container filled with thermally conductive material. A thermal element within the container or in contact with the outside of the container provides heat to the container or removes heat from the container. The thermal element is powered by a low voltage direct current electrical source. A sensor for determining the temperature of the thermally conductive material is also included. The thermal element, electrical source, and sensor are in communication by connectors with a solid state continuous temperature controller. In operation, the electrical source provides power to the thermal element, thereby heating or cooling the thermally conductive material within the container. The temperature in the container is determined by the sensor and the controller controls the power delivery to the thermal element in response to the setting on the controller and the temperature in the container.
26 Citations
2 Claims
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1. A flexible heater comprising in combination:
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a flexible, conformal, thermally conductive container filled with thermally conductive gel, a thermoelectric element for heating the container, the thermoelectric element in contact with the outside of one or more flexible conformal containers filled with thermally conductive gel and heats the one or more flexible conformal containers filled with thermally conductive gel, wherein the thermally conductive gel does not change phase during the operation of the flexible heater and comprises a polymeric component and a particulate filler, a low voltage direct current electrical source, a sensor for determining the temperature of the thermally conductive gel, a solid state continuous temperature controller, and connectors for connecting the thermal element, solid state continuous temperature controller, sensor, and low voltage direct current electrical source.
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2. A flexible cooler comprising in combination:
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a flexible, conformal, thermally conductive container filled with thermally conductive gel, a thermoelectric element for cooling the container, the thermoelectric element in contact with the outside of one or more flexible conformal containers filled with thermally conductive gel and cools the one or more flexible conformal containers filled with thermally conductive gel, wherein the thermally conductive gel does not change phase during the operation of the flexible cooler and comprises a polymeric component and a particulate filler, a low voltage direct current electrical source, a sensor for determining the temperature of the thermally conductive gel, a solid state continuous temperature controller, and connectors for connecting the thermal element, solid state continuous temperature controller, sensor, and low voltage direct current electrical source.
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeBruce Edward Jr. Jones, Partick V. Loyd Sr
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Original AssigneeBruce Edward Jr. Jones, Partick V. Loyd Sr
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InventorsLoyd, Partick V. Sr., Jones, Bruce Edward Jr.
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Primary Examiner(s)Walberg, Teresa
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Assistant Examiner(s)DAHBOUR, HENRY
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Application NumberUS09/835,202Publication NumberTime in Patent Office592 DaysField of Search219/530, 219/505, 219/528, 219/549, 219/730, 219/212, 206/524.8, 338/22.R, 338/210, 383/110, 392/346, 564/4, 542/1, 126/263.07, 126/263.01US Class Current219/530CPC Class CodesA61F 2007/0001 Body partA61F 2007/0074 PTCA61F 2007/0095 with a temperature indicatorA61F 2007/0247 Using a substance with high...A61F 7/007 characterised by electric h...F24H 1/201 using electric energy supplyF25B 21/04 reversibleH05B 1/025 For medical applicationsH05B 2203/011 Heaters using laterally ext...H05B 2203/014 Heaters using resistive wir...H05B 2203/017 Manufacturing methods or ap...H05B 2203/02 Heaters using heating eleme...H05B 3/34 flexible, e.g. heating nets...
