Apparel with integral heating and cooling device
AssigneeDhama Innovations PVT. Ltd.
InventorKranthi K. Vistakula
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for heating or cooling a body of a user is provided. The device includes a thermoelectric module, a heat sink thermally coupled to the thermoelectric module, a wetting material in thermal communication with the heat sink, and a controller for cycling the thermoelectric module in accordance with a duty cycle. Additionally, a method of heating or cooling a portion of a body of a user is provided. The method includes cycling electrical power to a thermoelectric module at a duty cycle, transferring heat from the thermoelectric module to a heat sink, and evaporating a liquid from a wetting material disposed on the heat sink. The evaporated liquid enters the surrounding atmosphere.
Claims30
A device for heating or cooling a body of a user, the device comprising:
- a thermoelectric module;
- a heat sink thermally coupled to a surface of the thermoelectric module;
- a wetting material in thermal communication with the heat sink;
- and
- a controller for cycling the thermoelectric module in accordance with a duty cycle greater than 10% and a cycle time from about 1 minute to about 10 minutes, the cycle time enhancing the user's perception of the heating or cooling.
A method of heating or cooling a portion of a body of a user, the method comprising the steps of:
- cycling electrical power to a thermoelectric module at a duty cycle of at least 10% and a cycle time from about 1 minute to about 10 minutes, the cycle time enhancing the user's perception of the heating or cooling;
- transferring heat from the thermoelectric module to a heat sink;
- and
- evaporating a liquid from a wetting material disposed on the heat sink, wherein the evaporated liquid enters the surrounding atmosphere.
A method of manufacturing a device for heating or cooling a portion of a body of a user, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a heat sink;
- etching a surface of the heat sink to increase an effective surface area thereof;
- attaching the heat sink to a thermoelectric module;
- disposing a wetting material over the heat sink;
- securing the wetting material to the heat sink with a binding layer;
- and
- providing a controller for the thermoelectric module, the controller configured to cycle the thermoelectric module in accordance with a duty cycle greater than 10% and a cycle time from about 1 minute to about 10 minutes, the cycle time enhancing the user's perception of the heating or cooling.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.