Apparatus and method for powering a garment
AssigneeGreen Industry Innovators, L.L.C.
InventorsSteffon Hoppel, Todd Pugh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lawn mower or stand-on powered drivable machine has an electrical port that receives current from an alternator powered by the engine or motor. The port receives a plug from a garment worn by the lawn mower operator. The garment includes one or more thermo-electric elements that are powered from current extending through the port. The thermo-electric (TEC) elements may be resistive heaters to warm the operator or TEC coolers to cool the operator. Furthermore, the garment may include a rechargeable battery that powers the thermo-electric elements when the plug is disconnected from the port.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a powered stand-on drivable machine including an electrical port operatively connected an electrical current source to provide electrical power therethrough when a plug is plugged into the port;
- a garment sized to be worn by an operator of the engine powered drivable machine, wherein the garment includes at least one electrically powered thermo-electric element electrically coupled to the plug;
- and
- wherein when the plug is connected to the electrical port, the at least one thermo-electric element draws power from the powered stand-on drivable machine to change temperature in order to warm or cool the operator wearing the garment.
A system comprising:
- a lawn mower including ground-engaging wheels and a region for a mower deck to be mounted between the ground-engaging wheels, and the lawn mower including an electrical port operatively connected an electrical current source to provide electrical power to a plug that is plugged into the electrical port;
- a garment sized to be worn by an operator of the engine powered drivable machine, wherein the garment includes at least one electrically powered thermo-electric element electrically coupled to the plug;
- and
- wherein when the plug is connected to the port, the at least one thermo-electric element draws power from the lawn mower to change temperature in order to warm or cool the operator wearing the garment.
A stand-on outdoor power unit comprising:
- a front end spaced form a rear end defining a longitudinal direction therebetween;
- a stand-on operator support adapted to support an operator in a standing position;
- an electric motor supported by a frame;
- a main battery connected to the electric motor;
- and
- a garment-powering electrical port in electrical communication with the main battery to provide electrical current through the port when an electrically powered garment, worn by an operator of the stand-on outdoor power unit, is connected to the garment-powering electrical port;
- and
- the outdoor power unit is free of an internal combustion engine and the stand-on outdoor power unit is one of an all-electric lawn mower and an all-electric snow thrower.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.