Inflatable temperature control system
OwnerJacobo Friasinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inflatable device has non-pressurized ducts and channels formed within the body of the inflatable device when inflated, wherein the inflation pressure of the inflatable device is maintained when the interior of the ducts and channels are exposed to atmospheric pressures allowing fluid to flow through the ducts and channels at substantially lower pressure levels than the inflation pressure of the inflatable device, a plurality of non-pressurized channels and pressurized support columns can be located in substantial proximity to the surface of the inflatable device in contact with the object to be heated or cooled.
Claims26
An inflatable device comprising:
- a first surface;
- a second surface, opposite said first surface;
- a first side wall between said first and second surfaces;
- a second side wall opposite said first side wall and between said first and second surfaces;
- a plurality of columns extending from the interior of said first surface toward the interior of said second surface and extending along said interior of said first surface for a substantial portion of the distance between said first side wall and said second side wall;
- and
- a plurality of channels, wherein each of said channels substantially occupies the space between two of said columns and said interior of said first surface and extending along said interior of said first surface for a substantial portion of said distance between said first side wall and said second side wall,
- wherein said columns are capable of containing the inflation pressure of said inflatable device in such a way as to allow a fluid to flow through each of said channels at substantially lower pressure levels than said inflation pressure,
- wherein said plurality of said channels is configured to form a single path capable of allowing each of said channels to carry said fluid with equal flow rate.
An apparatus used for providing heating and cooling through at least one of the external surfaces of said apparatus, the apparatus consisting of an inflatable device comprising means to allow a fluid to flow at substantially lower pressure levels than the inflation pressure of said inflatable device, the means comprising a plurality of channels located in substantial proximity to the interior of said external surface of said inflatable device, and each of said channels substantially extending between two sides defining the perimeter of said external surface, and
- wherein the volume of each of said channels substantially occupies the space between two columns and said interior of said external surface,
- wherein each of said columns is capable of containing said inflation pressure of said inflatable device,
- wherein the interconnection among said channels is configured in such a way as to form a path capable of allowing said fluid to move with equal flow rate through each of said channels,
- wherein said channels and said columns form an array of alternating columns and channels substantially extending between said the perimeter of said external surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.