Personal forced air climate control device

Abstract

The invention involves a personal climate control system for heating and cooling the body of a user, and method for providing personal comfort in the form of body heating or cooling to a user of the device. The personal climate control system includes a heat exchanger assembly and a robe assembly coupled together with a tubing assembly. A heat exchanger assembly is utilized to provide conditioned air under pressure to a tortuous path of internal tubing embedded within a piece of clothing worn by the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fabric article for heating and cooling comprising:
 a first fabric panel;   a second fabric panel, secured to the first panel;   a length of hollow tubing passing between the first panel and the second panel, the hollow tubing defining an inlet adapted for connecting to a pressurized air supply, the tubing further comprising a plurality of opening allowing for the passage of air in a space defined between the first and the second fabric panels;   wherein, when a supply of pressurized non-ambient temperature air is introduced into the tubing inlet, the pressurized air flows through the interior of the hollow tubing and passes through the plurality of openings, thereby providing a temperature adjusting airflow through the fabric article.   
     
     
         2 . The fabric article according to  claim 1  wherein the'first fabric panel and the second fabric panel for permeable air. 
     
     
         3 . The fabric article according to  claim 1  wherein the first fabric panel is impermeable to air in the second fabric panel is permeable, to air. 
     
     
         4 . The fabric article according to  claim 1  wherein the first fabric panel and second fabric panel are detachable thereby allowing removable of the weight of the hollow tube. 
     
     
         5 . The fabric article according to  claim 1  wherein the openings defined in the length of hollow tubing are uniformed inside along the length of the tube. 
     
     
         6 . The fabric article according to  claim 1  wherein a portion of the tube defines a surface and a greater surface area of defined openings and other portions of the tubing. 
     
     
         7 . The fabric article according to  claim 1  wherein apertures defined by the tubing are positioned only on one side of the tubing, thereby directing pressurized air against length one of the first or the second fabric panel. 
     
     
         8 . The fabric article according to  claim 1  wherein the tubing is bifurcated. 
     
     
         9 . The fabric article according to  claim 1  wherein the fabric article is further configured into an article selected from the group consisting of a blanket, a sleeping bag, a robe, a mattress, a mattress pad, a pet bed, an article of upholstered furniture, and a comforter. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for regulating a user's temperature comprising:
 a first fabric panel;   a second fabric panel secured to the first panel;   a length of hollow tubing positioned between the first panel and the second panel, the hollow tubing defining an air inlet connecting to a pressurized air supply, the tubing further comprising of the plurality of opening allowing the passage of air from the interior of the tubing to an exterior of the tubing;   a peltier apparatus for providing a source of pressurized air at a desired temperature, the pettier apparatus directing the selected temperature of pressurized air to the inlet;   wherein, when a supply of pressurized air is introduced into the tubing inlet, the pressurized air flows the length of the hollow tubing and passes through the plurality of openings, and by providing a temperature adjusting airflow through the fabric article.   
     
     
         11 . A process relating an individual temperature comprising steps of:
 supplying a first fabric panel;   supplying a second fabric panel reversibly secured to the first fabric panel;   placing a length of hollow tubing between the first panel and the second panel, the hollow tubing defining inlet connecting, to a pressurized and temperature control air supply, the tubing further comprising a plurality of openings while at least a portion of the tubing to allow for the flow of air from the interior of the tubing to an exterior of the tubing;   supply a peltier apparatus for providing a source of pressurized and temperature controlled air at a desired temperature to the length of hollow tubing;   wherein when a supply of pressurized air is introduced into the tubing,   the pressurized air flows along he length of the hollow tubing and passes through the pluralities of openings, thereby providing a temperature adjusted airflow through the fabric article formed by the first and second fabric panels.   
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 11  wherein the first fabric panel and the second fabric panel are configured into a fabric particle, the fabric particle selected from the group consisting of a blanket, sleeping bag, a robe, a mattress, mattress pad, a pet bed, an article of upholstered furniture, and a comforter.