An article of clothing for thermal comfort of a wearer thereof
The ventilation controller in clothing alternates airflow rates to maintain thermal comfort and reduce energy consumption by intermittently enhancing the cooling effect, addressing habituation and inefficiency in existing designs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- INUTEQ BV
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-09
AI Technical Summary
Existing clothing designs require very high airflows for thermal comfort, leading to habituation and inefficient energy consumption due to continuous airflow, which diminishes the perceived cooling effect over time.
Incorporating a ventilation controller to alternate airflow between high and low flow rates, with periods ranging from 10-40 seconds each, to prevent habituation and optimize energy usage.
The alternating airflow system maintains thermal comfort by intermittently enhancing the cooling sensation and reduces energy consumption, preventing habituation and optimizing energy efficiency.
Smart Images
Figure NL2025150036_09072026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] An article of clothing for thermal comfort of a wearer thereof
[0002] In a first aspect the invention relates to an article of clothing for thermal comfort of a wearer thereof, which article of clothing comprises a ventilation provision which is provided with at least one airflow generator for ventilating the article of clothing by means of an airflow generated by the at least one airflow generator .
[0003] Such clothing is known for actively cooling a wearer of the article of clothing, for instance in order to still be able to carry out physically strenuous labour in a high ambient temperature . By guiding the generated airflow through the clothing along an area in the vicinity of the body of the wearer a cooling effect is obtained by the evaporation of sweat . A cooling effect can also be obtained in that heated air inside the clothing is replaced by air from outside the clothing .
[0004] A drawback of the known clothing is that very great airflows are necessary for the wearer to achieve a feeling of comfort . This is the result of, among other things, habituation to the cooling effect of the airflow.
[0005] It is now an obj ect of the invention to reduce or even wholly obviate the above stated drawback.
[0006] This obj ect is achieved according to the invention with an article of clothing according to the preamble, characterized in that the ventilation provision also comprises a ventilation controller which is configured to control the flow rate of the generated airflow of the at least one airflow generator between a maximum flow rate and a minimum flow rate, wherein a high-flow-rate period, in which the airflow has a high flow rate, is applied alternately with a low-flow-rate period, in which the airflow has a low flow rate, which low flow rate is smaller than the high flow rate .
[0007] Providing the ventilation provision with a ventilation controller for controlling the flow rate of theairflow generated by the airflow generator enables the flow rate of the generated airflow to be controlled for the purpose of improving the comfort for the wearer . Instead of a continuous flow rate, a high flow rate is according to the invention periodically alternated with a low flow rate . An advantage thereof is that, following a low-flow-rate period, the transition to a high-flow-rate period results in a renewed cooling sensation in a wearer of the article of clothing. When the flow rate is continuous, habituation will occur after some time, which has the result that, although adequate cooling is taking place, the level of comfort still leaves something to be desired.
[0008] An airflow generator can bring about an airflow. An airflow generator is for instance and preferably a fan. Other airflow generators can also be applied according to the invention, such as for instance an air pump or a pressure reservoir provided with outflow openings .
[0009] An additional advantage of applying a low-flow-rate period can be that, such as for instance in the case of a fan, the energy consumption for generating an airflow with a low flow rate is lower than in the case of a high-flow-rate period. Because it has been found that, with an article of clothing according to the invention, a continuous high flow rate of the airflow is not required for the comfort of the wearer, energy can also be saved without losing comfort . This is particularly important for an article of clothing that has to be suitable for mobile use, since the mobile energy source will then become depleted less rapidly and / or can take a less heavy form.
[0010] In the high- and low-flow-rate period there need not be respectively a continuous high or continuous low flow rate . During the high-flow-rate period the flow rate can thus for instance also be increasing, or be temporarily increasing until a flow rate set for the high-flow-rate period by the ventilation controller has been reached.
[0011] Because the high flow rate is greater than the lowflow rate, the high flow rate naturally lies closer to the maximum flow rate than the low flow rate . Vice versa, the low flow rate lies closer to the minimum flow rate than the high flow rate .
[0012] At the minimum flow rate of the airflow generator there is preferably still an airflow that is actively generated by the airflow generator, so with a flow rate greater than zero .
[0013] In an embodiment of an article of clothing according to the invention at least the high flow rate, preferably the high flow rate and the low flow rate, is set by the fan controller depending on a ventilation requirement .
[0014] A ventilation requirement can for instance be set by the wearer, just as it can for instance normally also be set on a fan by selecting a ventilation setting. According to this embodiment, this ventilation requirement is not translated directly into a continuous flow rate, but is converted by the ventilation controller into a corresponding high flow rate which is applied during the high-flow-rate period and can be alternated with a low flow rate in the low-flow-rate period. A fan can for instance run at 70% of the maximum in the high-flow-rate period and at 10% of the maximum in a low-flow-rate period. The minimum is optionally also varied on the basis of the set ventilation requirement . There can thus for instance be a constant delta between the high and the low flow rate, but a proportional adjustment of the low flow rate relative to the higher flow rate is also possible .
[0015] In another embodiment of an article of clothing according to the invention the flow rate is proportionally controllable between the maximum flow rate and the minimum flow rate .
[0016] Applying a proportionally controllable airflow generator enables the ventilation controller to control the flow rate in wholly variable manner between the minimum flow rate and the maximum flow rate .
[0017] In a preferred embodiment of an article of clothingaccording to the invention the duration of the high-flow-rate period is limited in order to prevent acclimatization to cold on the part of the wearer .
[0018] The advantage of an article of clothing according to the invention is that it can thereby be prevented that a user becomes accustomed to the cooling effect of the generated airflow, which makes it seem to the wearer as if the cooling is no longer sufficient . Limiting the duration of the high-flow-rate period, such that the chances of cold acclimatization, i . e . habituation, occurring can be minimized, will make each subsequent high-flow-rate period feel like an intensified cooling action again.
[0019] Another embodiment of an article of clothing according to the invention is an article of clothing wherein the duration of the high-flow-rate period lies in the range of 10-40 seconds, preferably lies around 15 seconds .
[0020] It has been found that with a relatively short high-flow-rate period in the range of 10-40 seconds an adequate cooling can be obtained without habituation occurring on the part of the wearer . The period is preferably around 15 seconds .
[0021] Also according to the invention is an embodiment of an article of clothing wherein the duration of the low-flow-rate period lies in the range of 10-40 seconds, preferably lies around 15 seconds .
[0022] It has been found that with a relatively short low-flow-rate period in the range of 10-40 seconds the wearer comfort is not lost by excessively rapid heating due to the reduced cooling capacity of the low flow rate . The period is preferably around 15 seconds .
[0023] When both the high and the low flow rate period have a duration of around 15 seconds, the overall cycle time is about 30 seconds .
[0024] Yet another embodiment of an article of clothing according to the invention is an article of clothing wherein the ventilation provision comprises at least a first and asecond ventilation zone, wherein the ventilation controller is also configured to control the flow rate of the generated airflow in each of the ventilation zones .
[0025] Providing at least two ventilation zones enables the ventilation of the article of clothing to be varied in the different zones . The ventilation provision can thus be adapted even better to effective ventilation for increasing the wearer comfort .
[0026] Preferably herein, at least one first airflow generator forms part of the first ventilation zone and at least one second airflow generator forms part of the second ventilation zone and the ventilation controller drives the airflow generators, it preferably drives them independently, for the purpose of controlling the flow rate of the generated airflow in each of the ventilation zones .
[0027] Varying the generated airflow in the different stones wholly independently of each other makes it possible to adjust the zones independently of each other to the cooling requirement associated with the zones .
[0028] Also according to the invention is an embodiment of an article of clothing wherein a phase of the high-flow-rate period in the first ventilation zone is shifted relative to a phase of the high-flow-rate period in the second ventilation zone .
[0029] By shifting the phase of the high-flow-rate periods in different ventilation zones, preferably shifting them through 180° , it can be prevented that a low-flow-rate period creates the sensation that the ventilation provision has stopped working. This is particularly effective when the duration of the low-flow-rate period corresponds with the duration of the high-flow-rate period or when, in the case of a plurality of ventilation zones, at least one ventilation zone is in the high-flow-rate period at all times .
[0030] Yet another embodiment of an article of clothing according to the invention is an article of clothing wherein the first and the second ventilation zone are positionedrespectively on the left and the right or at the front and the rear relative to the wearer .
[0031] When a front and a rear ventilation zone are applied, the two ventilation zones can be adapted to differences in ventilation requirement between the back and a stomach of a wearer . The zones can also be applied on the left and on the right . An advantage hereof is that the zones then correspond with the reaction of the skin to temperature fluctuations caused by the sympathetic nervous system, which regulation is also divided substantially into left and right in normal wearer individuals .
[0032] In a second aspect the invention also relates to a method for controlling a ventilation provision of an article of clothing for thermal comfort of a wearer thereof, which ventilation provision is provided with at least one airflow generator for generating an airflow and which ventilation provision also comprises a ventilation controller which is configured to control the flow rate of the generated airflow of the at least one airflow generator between a maximum flow rate and a minimum flow rate, which method comprises the steps of alternately:
[0033] - driving the at least one airflow generator during a high-flow-rate period by means of the ventilation controller for the purpose of generating an airflow with a high flow rate ;
[0034] - driving the at least one airflow generator during a low-flow-rate period by means of the ventilation controller for the purpose of generating an airflow with a low flow rate, which low flow rate is smaller than the high flow rate .
[0035] With such a control of the flow rate of an airflow generator a high flow rate is periodically alternated with a low flow rate, this instead of a continuous flow rate . After a low-flow-rate period an individual experiencing the cooling power of the airflow will once again experience a stronger cooling sensation in the transition to a high-flow-rate period. The habituation that is common with a continuous flowrate therefore does not occur as time goes by.
[0036] In a preferred embodiment of a method according to the invention the method also comprises the step of :
[0037] - determining a ventilation requirement;
[0038] - the ventilation controller determining the high flow rate, preferably the high flow rate and the low flow rate, depending on the ventilation requirement .
[0039] Hereby, control of the ventilation requirement still relates to only a single parameter, wherein the ventilation controller provides for a corresponding setting of the high flow rate and preferably also the low flow rate . This simplifies use by a user .
[0040] In another embodiment of a method according to the invention the duration of the high-flow-rate period lies in the range of 10-40 seconds, preferably around 15 seconds .
[0041] In another embodiment of a method according to the invention the duration of the low-flow-rate period lies in the range of 10-40 seconds, preferably around 15 seconds .
[0042] It is highly preferable that an embodiment of a method according to the invention is applied in an article of clothing according to the first aspect of the invention.
[0043] These and other features of the invention are further elucidated with reference to the accompanying drawings .
[0044] Figure 1 shows an article of clothing according to the invention.
[0045] Figure 2 shows a diagram of a control according to the invention for the flow rate of an air generator .
[0046] Figure 3 shows a flow diagram of a method according to the invention.
[0047] Figure 1 shows an article of clothing 1 according to the invention. The article of clothing 1 is provided with a ventilation provision. A first fan 2 is arranged in a first ventilation zone 3. The fan 2 can generate an airflow for ventilating the article of clothing 1. A second fan 5 is arranged in a second ventilation zone 4. A ventilationcontroller 6 is connected to the fans 2, 5 and is configured to control the flow rate of the generated airflow of the fans 2, 5.
[0048] Figure 2 shows a diagram 7 of a control according to the invention for the flow rate of an air generator, such as for instance a fan. In a high-flow-rate period 8, which has a duration of ~15 seconds in the example, the airflow has a high flow rate . The high-flow-rate period 8 is immediately alternated with a low-flow-rate period 9, which also has a duration of ~15 seconds in the example, wherein the airflow has a low flow rate . This control is preferably repeated in each case . The flow rate of the air generator is controlled by the ventilation controller between the maximum flow rate 10 and the minimum flow rate 11. In the shown example the relevant maximum flow rate 10 and minimum flow rate 11 of the air generator is not used in any of the flow rate curves 12, 13 and 14.
[0049] It is clearly visible in the different flow rate curves 12, 13 and 14 that the flow rate in the low-flow-rate period 9 is also proportionally reduced relative to the flow rate in the high-flow-rate period. A flow rate curve 12 can for instance correspond with a high ventilation requirement, as set by a wearer of an article of clothing according to the invention. The flow rate curve 13 corresponds with an average ventilation requirement and flow rate curve 14 with a low ventilation requirement . The duration of the ascending flank of curves 12, 13 and 14 is included in the high-flow-rate period 8 and, vice versa, the same applies to the descending flank and the low-flow-rate period 9.
[0050] The flow diagram 15 in figure 3 shows schematically an embodiment of a method according to the invention. In a first step 16 an airflow generator is driven by the ventilation controller during the high-flow-rate period for the purpose of generating an airflow with a high flow rate . Subsequently, an airflow generator is in a second step 17 driven by the ventilation controller during the low-flow-rateperiod for the purpose of generating an airflow with a low flow rate . These steps 16, 17 are alternately repeated. The steps can optionally be preceded by a step 18 in which a ventilation requirement is determined. Depending thereon, the high flow rate and optionally the low flow rate are determined by the ventilation controller in a subsequent step 19 for application during respectively step 16 and step 17. The high and low flow rate can for instance be determined on the basis of preprogrammed curves .
Claims
Claims1. An article of clothing for thermal comfort of a wearer thereof, which article of clothing comprises a ventilation provision which is provided with at least one airflow generator for ventilating the article of clothing by means of an airflow generated by the at least one airflow generator, characterized in that the ventilation provision also comprises a ventilation controller which is configured to control the flow rate of the generated airflow of the at least one airflow generator between a maximum flow rate and a minimum flow rate, wherein a high-flow-rate period, in which the airflow has a high flow rate, is applied alternately with a low-flow-rate period, in which the airflow has a low flow rate, which low flow rate is smaller than the high flow rate .
2. Article of clothing according to claim 1, wherein at least the high flow rate, preferably the high flow rate and the low flow rate, are set by the fan controller depending on a ventilation requirement .
3. Article of clothing according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flow rate is proportionally controllable between the maximum flow rate and the minimum flow rate .
4. Article of clothing according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the duration of the high-flow-rate period is limited in order to prevent acclimatization to cold on the part of the wearer .
5. Article of clothing according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the duration of the high-flow-rate period lies in the range of 10-40 seconds, preferably lies around 15 seconds .
6. Article of clothing according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the duration of the low-flow-rate period lies in the range of 10-40 seconds, preferably lies around 15 seconds .
7. Article of clothing according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the ventilation provision comprisesat least a first and a second ventilation zone, wherein the ventilation controller is also configured to control the flow rate of the generated airflow in each of the ventilation zones .
8. Article of clothing according to claim 7, wherein at least one first airflow generator forms part of the first ventilation zone and at least one second airflow generator forms part of the second ventilation zone and wherein the ventilation controller drives the airflow generators, preferably drives them independently, for the purpose of controlling the flow rate of the generated airflow in each of the ventilation zones .
9. Article of clothing according to claim 7 or 8, wherein a phase of the high-flow-rate period in the first ventilation zone is shifted relative to a phase of the high-flow-rate period in the second ventilation zone .
10. Article of clothing according to any one of the claims 7-9, wherein the first and the second ventilation zone are positioned respectively on the left and the right or at the front and the rear relative to the wearer .
11. A method for controlling a ventilation provision of an article of clothing for thermal comfort of a wearer thereof, which ventilation provision is provided with at least one airflow generator for generating an airflow and which ventilation provision also comprises a ventilation controller which is configured to control the flow rate of the generated airflow of the at least one airflow generator between a maximum flow rate and a minimum flow rate, which method comprises the steps of alternately:- driving the at least one airflow generator during a high-flow-rate period by means of the ventilation controller for the purpose of generating an airflow with a high flow rate ;- driving the at least one airflow generator during a low-flow-rate period by means of the ventilation controller for the purpose of generating an airflow with a low flow rate,which low flow rate is smaller than the high flow rate .
12. Method according to claim 11, also comprising the step of :- determining a ventilation requirement;- the ventilation controller determining the high flow rate, preferably the high flow rate and the low flow rate, depending on the ventilation requirement .
13. Method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the duration of the high-flow-rate period lies in the range of 10-40 seconds, preferably lies around 15 seconds .
14. Method according to any one of the claims 11-13, wherein the duration of the low-flow-rate period lies in the range of 10-40 seconds, preferably lies around 15 seconds .
15. Method according to any one of the claims 11-14, applied in an article of clothing according to any one of the claims 1-10.