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US 12,733,697 B2Granted
Apparel thermo-regulatory system
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsHoonjoo Lee, Matthew D. Nordstrom
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Aspects herein are directed to an apparel thermo-regulatory system that actively heats or cools a wearer. The apparel thermo-regulatory system comprises an apparel item, a dimensionally stable frame comprising at least one aperture that is affixed to an outer-facing surface of the apparel item at a predetermined location, an absorbent material applied to an exposed face of the dimensionally stable frame, and at least one thermoelectric module that is releasably positioned within the aperture of the dimensionally stable frame.
Claims21
Thermoelectric module array comprising:
- a plurality of thermoelectric modules, each having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first surface positioned directly adjacent to an inner-facing surface of an apparel item and releasably coupled thereto, and the second surface positioned directly adjacent to a skin-surface of a user;
- and
- a flexible substrate having an electronic circuit applied thereto, wherein the flexible substrate is physically and electrically coupled to each of the plurality of thermoelectric modules,
- wherein the thermoelectric module array is releasably mated to a dimensionally stable frame affixed to an outer-facing surface of the apparel item, the dimensionally stable frame comprising a plurality of apertures each operable to receive a respective thermoelectric module,
- wherein each thermoelectric module comprises a base portion having the first surface and a flange portion having the second surface, the flange portion having a larger diameter or width than the base portion, and wherein an absorbent material is applied to a second surface of the dimensionally stable frame and adjacent to an outer-facing surface of the apparel item.
2 more elements
A thermoelectric module array comprising:
- a plurality of thermoelectric modules, each of the plurality of thermoelectric modules having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first surface positioned directly adjacent to an inner-facing surface of an apparel item and releasably coupled thereto, and the second surface positioned directly adjacent to a skin-surface of a user;
- and
- a flexible substrate physically and electrically coupled to each of the plurality of thermoelectric modules;
- the flexible substrate comprising an electrically insulating layer having an electronic circuit applied thereto,
- wherein the thermoelectric module array is releasably mated to a dimensionally stable frame affixed to an outer-facing surface of the apparel item, the dimensionally stable frame comprising a plurality of apertures each operable to receive a respective thermoelectric module,
- wherein each thermoelectric module comprises a base portion having the first surface and a flange portion having the second surface, the flange portion having a larger diameter or width than the base portion, and
- wherein an absorbent material is applied to a second surface of the dimensionally stable frame and adjacent to an outer-facing surface of the apparel item.
4 more elements
An apparel thermo-regulatory system comprising:
- an apparel item formed from a flexible material and having an outer-facing surface and an inner-facing surface;
- and
- a thermoelectric module array positioned adjacent to the inner-facing surface of the apparel item and releasably coupled thereto, the thermoelectric module array comprising:
- a plurality of thermoelectric modules, each of the plurality of thermoelectric modules having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface positioned directly adjacent to a skin-surface of a user;
- a flexible substrate having an electronic circuit applied thereto, wherein the flexible substrate is physically and electrically coupled to each of the plurality of thermoelectric modules;
- and
- a power supply unit comprising a battery electrically coupled to the flexible substrate,
- wherein the thermoelectric module array is releasably mated to a dimensionally stable frame affixed to an outer-facing surface of the apparel item, the dimensionally stable frame comprising a plurality of apertures each operable to receive a respective thermoelectric module,
- wherein each thermoelectric module comprises a base portion having the first surface and a flange portion having the second surface, the flange portion having a larger diameter or width than the base portion, and wherein an absorbent material is applied to a second surface of the dimensionally stable frame and adjacent to an outer-facing surface of the apparel item.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.