Apparel with heating and cooling capabilities

Abstract

A process and system for heating or cooling comprising a ihermoelectric unit having a cooling surface and a heating surface, the cooling surface being thermally insulated from the heating surface is provided. A heat sink is thermally coupled the thermoelectric unit and a wicking material operatively coupled to the heat sink. The wicking material may be substantially saturated with a mixture of water and DNA to dissipate energy. An apparel item incorporating the system for heating and cooling is also provided.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION[0001]This patent application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 903,231, filed on Feb.23, 2007 wherein the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Technical Field[0003]The present disclosure generally relates to a system and process for heating and cooling the body or a portion of the body and more particularly to apparel with heating and cooling capabilities incorporating the system and process for heating and cooling the body.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]There are presently two groups of personal thermo-regulated apparel. These two groups are active and passive. Active thermo-regulated apparel is designed to maintain the temperature that the user has selected while passive thermo-regulated apparel is not capable of maintaining the selected temperature over time. Currently available products in the active thermo-regulated apparel group are only capable of single applicatio...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]Accordingly, the current disclosure relates to a system and process for heating or cooling the body that can be incorporated into a variety of

Problems solved by technology

Active thermo-regulated apparel is designed to maintain the temperature that the user has selected while passive thermo-regulated apparel is not capable of maintaining the selected temperature over time.

Likewise, passive cooling systems have included cooling with a phase change material, however, the systems currently available have not provided a system and process for heating and cooling that can be incorporated in wearable apparel for a wide variety of uses.

Thus, the apparel is rigid and inflexible making it uncomfortable to wear.

As in many other devices of this nature, the rigidity of the system along with the rigidity of the salt make the system difficult to incorporate into various apparel items.

Furthermore, this system is difficult to incorporate into apparel for heating and cooling the body.

These fibers do not allow absorption of enough phase change material into the containment material to be of practical use in heating or cooling.

Unfortunately, this system is rigid and must be completely closed.

Furthermore, even a small amount of damage to the system would render the system non-functional making it unsuitable for harsh working conditions.

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