Ventilator units, methods for providing ventilation in response to humidity levels, and wall units

Abstract

Ventilator units, and methods for their use, are provided. Each of the ventilator units comprises a first flexible film, a second flexible film disposed opposite the first flexible film and attached to the first flexible film at at least two points, a first swellable portion attached to the first flexible film, and a second swellable portion attached to the second flexible film.

1 . A ventilator unit comprising:
 a first flexible film;   a second flexible film disposed opposite the first flexible film and attached to the first flexible film at at least two points;   a first swellable portion attached to the first flexible film; and   a second swellable portion attached to the second flexible film.   
     
     
         2 . The ventilator unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first swellable portion is configured to swell in response to an increase in humidity, and the second swellable portion is configured to swell in response to an increase in humidity. 
     
     
         3 . The ventilator unit of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first flexible film and the second flexible film increases when the first swellable portion and the second swellable portion swell in response to an increase in humidity. 
     
     
         4 . The ventilator unit of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first flexible film and the second flexible film decreases when the first swellable portion and the second swellable portion contract in response to a decrease in humidity. 
     
     
         5 . The ventilator unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible film is attached to the second flexible film through at least one hinge. 
     
     
         6 . The ventilator unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible film comprises shape memory material and is configured to bend away from the second flexible film when the first swellable portion swells in response to an increase in humidity. 
     
     
         7 . The ventilator unit of  claim 1 , wherein the second flexible film comprises shape memory material and is configured to bend away from the first flexible film when the second swellable portion swells in response to an increase in humidity. 
     
     
         8 . The ventilator unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible film is configured to not swell in response to an increase in humidity, and the second flexible film is configured to not swell in response to an increase in humidity. 
     
     
         9 . The ventilator unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible film comprises at least one metal portion, and the second flexible film comprises at least one metal portion. 
     
     
         10 . The ventilator unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first swellable portion is configured to swell upon absorbing water, and the second swellable portion is configured to swell upon absorbing water. 
     
     
         11 . The ventilator unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible film and the first swellable portion facially contact, and wherein the second flexible film and the second swellable portion facially contact. 
     
     
         12 . The ventilator unit of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the first flexible film is about 0.1 mm to about 1.0 mm, and the width of the second flexible film is about 0.1 mm to about 1.0 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The ventilator unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first swellable portion and the second swellable portion comprise polysaccharide, cellulose derivative, polyacrylic acid, polyacrylate, polyalkylene oxide, polyvinylpyrrolidone, or inorganic material. 
     
     
         14 . The ventilator unit of  claim 13 , wherein the first swellable portion and the second swellable portion further comprise ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, polymethyl methacrylate, or polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         15 . The ventilator unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible film and the second flexible film comprise polyethylene. 
     
     
         16 . A method for providing ventilation in response to humidity levels, the method comprising:
 providing a ventilator unit comprising a first flexible film, a second flexible film disposed opposite the first flexible film and attached to the first flexible film at at least two points, a first swellable portion attached to the first flexible film, and a second swellable portion attached to the second flexible film, wherein the first flexible film and the second flexible film define a gap;   increasing a distance between the first flexible film and the second flexible film by swelling the first swellable portion and the second swellable portion in response to an increase in humidity; and   passing air through the gap.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising decreasing a distance between the first flexible film and the second flexible film in response to a decrease in humidity. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first flexible film is attached to the second flexible film through at least one hinge. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first flexible film comprises shape memory material and is configured to bend away from the second flexible film when the first swellable portion swells in response to an increase in humidity. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the second flexible film comprises shape memory material and is configured to bend away from the first flexible film when the second swellable portion swells in response to an increase in humidity. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first flexible film is configured to not swell in response to an increase in humidity, and the second flexible film is configured to not swell in response to an increase in humidity. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first flexible film comprises at least one metal portion, and the second flexible film comprises at least one metal portion. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first flexible film and the first swellable portion facially contact, and wherein the second flexible film and the second swellable portion facially contact. 
     
     
         24 . A wall unit comprising a plurality of ventilator units, wherein each of the plurality of ventilator units comprises:
 a first flexible film;   a second flexible film disposed opposite the first flexible film and attached to the first flexible film at at least two points;   a first swellable portion attached to the first flexible film; and   a second swellable portion attached to the second flexible film.   
     
     
         25 . The wall unit of  claim 24 , wherein the first swellable portion is configured to swell in response to an increase in humidity, and the second swellable portion is configured to swell in response to an increase in humidity. 
     
     
         26 . The wall unit of  claim 24 , wherein a distance between the first flexible film and the second flexible film increases when the first swellable portion and the second swellable portion swell in response to an increase in humidity. 
     
     
         27 . The wall unit of  claim 24 , wherein a distance between the first flexible film and the second flexible film decreases when the first swellable portion and the second swellable portion contract in response to a decrease in humidity. 
     
     
         28 . The wall unit of  claim 24 , wherein the first flexible film is attached to the second flexible film through at least one hinge. 
     
     
         29 . The wall unit of  claim 24 , wherein the first flexible film comprises shape memory material and is configured to bend away from the second flexible film when the first swellable portion swells in response to an increase in humidity. 
     
     
         30 . The wall unit of  claim 24 , wherein the second flexible film comprises shape memory material and is configured to bend away from the first flexible film when the second swellable portion swells in response to an increase in humidity. 
     
     
         31 . The wall unit of  claim 24 , wherein the first flexible film is configured to not swell in response to an increase in humidity, and the second flexible film is configured to not swell in response to an increase in humidity. 
     
     
         32 . The wall unit of  claim 24 , wherein the first flexible film comprises at least one metal portion, and the second flexible film comprises at least one metal portion. 
     
     
         33 . The wall unit of  claim 24 , wherein the first swellable portion is configured to swell upon absorbing water, and the second swellable portion is configured to swell upon absorbing water. 
     
     
         34 . The wall unit of  claim 24 , wherein the first flexible film and the first swellable portion facially contact, and wherein the second flexible film and the second swellable portion facially contact. 
     
     
         35 . The wall unit of  claim 24 , further comprising a panel having a plurality of holes, wherein the plurality of ventilator units are disposed on the panel to align with or cover the plurality of holes.