Piezo fan for ventilated garment

• US 20030182711A1
• Filed: 03/26/2002
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: DePuy Orthopaedics Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Diaz, Rudy, Klotz, Conrad Lee, Clupper, Christian H.
• Granted Patent: US 6,751,807 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/171.3
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0025 by means of forced air circulation
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/286 with forced flow, e.g. by a fan
• CPC Class Codes: A42C 5/04 Ventilating arrangements for head coverings for helmets A42B3/28
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/045 with fans for delivering air for breathing mounted in or on the helmet

Abstract

A ventilated garment includes a head cover and a ventilation system associated with the head cover. The ventilation system can include a helmet supported by the wearer of the garment and a number of piezo fan assemblies mounted on the helmet. The piezo fan assemblies includes a number of piezo blades that generate airflow from piezo-induced oscillation of the blades. In certain embodiments, the piezo fan assemblies can include multiple outlet ducts to provide directed airflow in multiple directions.

Claims

1. A ventilated garment comprising:

a head cover defining an airspace for receiving the head of a wearer therein;

an air-moving system including a piezo fan assembly including at least one piezo element having an oscillating blade operable to generate airflow; and

means for supporting said piezo fan assembly within said airspace.

2. The ventilated garment according to claim 1, wherein said means for supporting includes a helmet to be worn on the head of the wearer.

3. The ventilated garment according to claim 1, wherein said means for supporting said piezo fan assembly includes at least one piezo element carried by said head cover.

4. The ventilated garment according to claim 3, wherein said piezo fan assembly includes a plurality of piezo elements.

5. The ventilated garment according to claim 4, wherein said piezo fan assembly includes a common housing supporting each of said plurality of piezo elements.

6. The ventilated garment according to claim 4, wherein said piezo fan assembly includes a first number of said plurality of piezo elements oriented to generate airflow in a first direction and a second number of said plurality of piezo elements oriented to generate airflow in a second direction different from said first direction.

7. The ventilated garment according to claim 6, wherein said piezo fan assembly includes a common housing supporting each of said plurality of piezo elements.

8. The ventilated garment according to claim 6, wherein said first number is different from said second number.

9. The ventilated garment according to claim 1, wherein said piezo fan assembly includes a power supply.

10. The ventilated garment according to claim 9, wherein said power supply includes a battery carried by said means for supporting.

11. The ventilated garment according to claim 1, wherein:

said means for supporting includes a helmet to be worn on the head of the wearer; and

said air-moving system includes a plurality of piezo fan assemblies supported on said helmet.

12. The ventilated garment according to claim 1, wherein:

said piezo fan assembly includes a housing defining an inlet opening and a number of outlet ducts; and

said number of piezo elements are mounted within said housing between said inlet opening and said number of outlet ducts.

13. The ventilated garment according to claim 12, wherein said inlet opening is arranged relative to said number of outlet ducts so that airflow into said inlet opening is substantially perpendicular to airflow discharged from said number of outlet ducts.

14. The ventilated garment according to claim 12, wherein:

each of said number of piezo elements includes an inlet end; and

at least some of said piezo elements are mounted within said housing so that said inlet end is substantially aligned with said inlet opening.

15. The ventilated garment according to claim 12, wherein at least some of said number of piezo elements are disposed within a corresponding one of said number of outlet ducts.

16. A ventilated garment comprising:

a head cover defining an airspace for receiving the head of a wearer therein;

a ventilation component having a housing defining an air inlet and at least two air outlets and an air-moving member disposed between said inlet and said outlets; and

means for supporting said ventilation component within said airspace.

17. The ventilated garment according to claim 16, wherein said air-moving member includes at least one piezo fan component.

18. The ventilated garment according to claim 16, wherein said ventilation component includes an air-moving member associated with each of said at least two air outlets.

19. The ventilated garment according to claim 18, wherein said air-moving member includes at least one piezo fan component.

20. The ventilated garment according to claim 19, wherein said air-moving component includes a first number of piezo fan components associated with one of said at least two air outlets, and a second number of piezo fan components associated with another of said at least two air outlets.