Background of the Invention: [0002] Peltier devices are well known in the art. When a low voltage DC power source is applied to a thermoelectric module, heat can be moved through the module from one side to the other. One module face is therefore cooled while the opposite face is simultaneously heated. This phenomenon can also be reversed by changing the polarity of the voltage. Today's Peltier devices, first introduced in about 1960, make use of modern semiconductor technology substituting doped semiconductor material for the dissimilar metals used in early thermoelectric experiments.

[0003] Peltier devices are, therefore, solid-state components that cool a system by drawing heat from one side of the module to the other through the application of a small electrical charge. In its basic form, a Peltier device consists of four parts: a hot side exchanger, a cold side exchanger, the heat pump and a power source. Peltier devices are relatively small, lightweight solid-state devices with no moving parts. to wear out. In addition, reversing the polarity of the applied DC voltage reverses the direction of the heating and cooling, a feature that makes them ideal for controlling temperature or in processes which require both heating and cooling of a medium.

[0004] There have been in the prior art many attempts to use Peltier devices to provide heating or cooling to a garment wearer. For example, U. S. patent no. 4,470, 263 discloses the use of Peltier cooling in a garment. Peltier devices are attached to the inside of a garment with the cold plate of the Peltier device in thermal contact with the skin of the wearer of the garment. The preferred garments are headbands and neckbands carrying the Peltier devices. Heat generated by the Peltier device is dissipated to the ambient from cooling fins. Heat pipes are used to conduct the heat to the fins, or to distribute the cooling across the skin. In a preferred embodiment the Peltier devices are powered by solar batteries mounted on the brim of a wide-brimmed hat, thus providing a self-powered portable unit. Rechargeable batteries may also be used for powering the Peltier devices.

[0005] In U. S. patent no. 5,655, 374, a surgical suit is disclosed, which includes a hood and a gown portion. A housing is spaced above the user's head and underneath the hood. A fan is disposed in the housing, as well as an optional Peltier device, to provide a flow of air to cool the worker. Air is drawn into the hood, passed over the cold side of the Peltier device and then circulated into the gown portion.

[0006] U. S. patent no. 5,800, 490 teaches an injury pack holder for providing cooling and/or heating therapy to an injury. Incorporated into the pack holder is a thermoelectric assembly containing a Peltier device, a fan, a radiator, and first and second plates. The assembly transfers heat energy to a gel pack, which cools or heats an area requiring therapy.' [0007] A personal heat control assembly is disclosed in U. S. patent no. 5,970, 718. The assembly includes a cooling surface and a heating surface thermally insulated from the cooling surface and a Peltier device for cooling the cooling surface and heating the heating surface. The Peltier device is in a housing that can be attached to a part of a person's body with one of the surfaces in contact with the body.

[0008] U. S. patent no. 6,125, 636 discloses a self-contained personal cooling and/or heating device that includes a heat-dissipating member that fits around a portion of the user's body. A Peltier device is thermally coupled to the rear surface of the member and the rear surface of the Peltier device is provided with a large surface area, preferably augmented by a heat sink. A fan directs ambient air onto this rear surface or heat sink.

When the device is worn, the exposed surface of the heat-dissipating member is placed into contact with the body portion to be cooled or heated.

[0009] U. S. patent no. 6,382, 208 teaches a system for controlling the temperature and relative humidity in a respirator. The system includes a Peltier device having a first temperature plate that contacts the interior chamber of the respirator and a second temperature plate that contacts the external environment. Preferably, the plates of the Peltier device include heat exchangers and fans for maximizing its efficiency.

[0010] There, therefore, remains a need to provide a modular heating or cooling device that can be incorporated into garments to provide better heat management to the wearer.

[0011] The disclosures of all patents/applications referenced herein are incorporated herein by reference.

Summary of the Invention: [0012] The present invention provides a personal heat management system that includes a Peltier device, a radiator and a heat exchanger having one or more tubes.

[0013] According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a modular heating or cooling device, comprising: [0014] (a) a Peltier device having a first side and a second side, wherein the Peltier device can be operated in two modes: a first mode where the first side is colder and the second side is warmer, and a second mode where the first side is warmer and the second side is colder; [0015] (b) a radiator operatively connected to the second side for dissipating heat to the environment when the Peltier device is operated in the first mode; [0016] (c) a heat exchanger operatively connected to the first side, the heat exchanger comprising: [0017] (i) one or more tubes arranged in a side-by-side relationship; [0018] (ii) a heat exchange fluid in the tubes; and [0019] (iii) a pump operatively connected to inlets and outlets of the tubes for circulating the heat exchange fluid in the tubes; and [0020] (d) a power source for supplying D. C. electrical power to the Peltier device and the pump.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the tubes are in a side-by-side spaced apart relationship and are surrounded by and sealed to a first foil so as to maintain the tubes in the spaced apart relationship. In a further embodiment of the invention, the device is adapted for fitting on an interior side of a garment to provide cooling or heating to the interior side.

The garment is preferably a protective apparel such as a protective vest.

[0022] In a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a garment that provides cooling or heating to a wearer of the garment, comprising: [0023] (a) an outer layer and an inner layer defining a compartment ; [0024] (b) a Peltier device having a first side and a second side, wherein the Peltier device can be operated in two modes: a first mode where the first side is colder and the second side is warmer, and a second mode where the first side is a warmer and the second side is colder; [0025] (c) a radiator operatively connected to the second side for dissipating heat to the environment when the Peltier device is operated in the first mode; [0026] (d) a heat exchanger operatively connected to the first side, the heat exchanger comprising: [0027] (i) one or more tubes arranged in a side-by-side relationship; [0028] (ii) a heat exchange fluid in the tubes; and [0029] (iii) a pump operatively connected to inlets and outlets of the tubes for circulating the heat exchange fluid in the tubes; and [0030] (e) a power source for supplying D. C. electrical power to the Peltier device and the pump, [0031] wherein the Peltier device, heat exchanger and power source are located in the compartment and the radiator is located on an exterior surface of the outer layer.

[0032] Numerous other objectives, advantages and features of the process will also become apparent to the person skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, the examples and the claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings : [0033] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to the same parts in the several views and in which: [0034] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the - modular heating or cooling device of the present invention.

[0035] Fig. 2 illustrates the heating or cooling device of Fig. 1 as seen from the outside of a garment.

[0036] Fig. 3 illustrates the heating or cooling device of Fig. 1 as seen from the inside of a garment.

[0037] Fig. 4 illustrates from a top view the heating and cooling device of Fig. 1 as it is fitted onto a garment.

[0038] Fig. 5 illustrates the heat exchanger of the heating and cooling device of Fig. 1 from a side elevation view.

[0039] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional side view taken along lines B-B of Fig. 5.

[0040] Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the heating or cooling device of the present invention.

[0041] Fig. 8 is an illustration in perspective view of the sets of heat exchange tubes useful in the embodiments of Fig. 7.

[0042] Fig. 9 is a detailed end view of a cross section of the sets of heat exchange tubes of Fig. 8.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments: [0043] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0044] With reference to Fig. 1, there is shown in exploded perspective view one preferred embodiment of the modular heating or cooling device of the present invention. The heating or cooling device includes a Peltier device 10 operatively connected to a suitable source of direct current (DC) electrical power (not shown), such as rechargeable batteries, via conducting wires 12. The Peltier device 10 has two primary sides: a first side 14 and a second side 16. The Peltier device 10 is capable of being operated in two opposing modes depending on the polarity of the DC electrical power supplied to it. In the first mode, the first side 14 is relatively colder and the second side 16 is relatively warmer.. In the second mode, the first side 14 is relatively warmer and the second side 16 is relatively colder.

[0045] Adjacent to second side 16 is a radiator 18 preferably made of aluminum or other suitable material. Radiator 18 comprises a series of integral fins 20, and is operatively connected to second side 16 to act as a heat sink. When the Peltier device 10 is operated in the first mode, the heat generated at second side 16 can be more easily dissipated to the environment through radiator 18. A rubber shield 22 may be provided to house radiator 18.

[0046] Operatively connected to the first side 14 of Peltier device 10 is a heat exchanger, which is generally designated as item 24. Heat exchanger 24 comprises a set of tubes 26, which is shown as one tube arranged in a coil so that portions of tubes 26 are in a side-by- side relationship. Tubes 26 contain a suitable heat exchange fluid. A pump 28 is housed in an aluminum case 30. The pump 28 is powered by motor 32 and is in fluid communication with inlets and outlets of the tubes 26 to circulate the heat exchange fluid within the tubes 26. The heat exchange fluid is also caused to circulate in close proximity to first side 14 of the Peltier device 10 so that heat transfer between the heat exchange fluid and the first side 14 occurs. An aluminum case cover 34 is provided to fit over the case 30.

[0047] In a preferred embodiment, the personal heating or cooling. device is adapted for use with a garment 36. An opening 38 is provided in garment 36 through which the second side 16 is connected to radiator 18. As such, radiator 18 can be located on the outside of garment 36 to more efficiently dissipate heat to the environment while the Peltier device 10 and heat exchanger 24 are on the inside of the garment 36.

[0048] Fig. 2 illustrates the heating or cooling device as seen from the outside of garment 36. Radiator 18, which is housed in rubber shield 22, sits on the outside surface of garment 36 so as to better dissipate heat to the environment when the Peltier device 10 is operated in its first mode. The tubes 26 are on the inside of garment 36 and as heat exchange fluid is circulated within the tubes 26, either a heating or a cooling effect is provided inside the garment 36 depending on which mode the Peltier device 10 is operated.

[0049] Fig. 3 illustrates the heating or cooling device as seen from the inside of garment 36, showing the tubes 26, case 30 and case cover 34.

[0050] Fig. 4 shows from a top view the heating and cooling device as it is fitted onto garment 36. Radiator 18 and rubber shield 22 are on one side, typically the outside, of garment 36 whereas Peltier device 10 and tubes 26 are on the other side. The second side 16 of Peltier device 10 is connected to radiator 18 through an opening in garment 36.

When the Peltier device 10 is operated in its first mode, heat is generated at second side 16, which is dissipated to the outside environment via radiator 18. At the same time, first side 14 of Peltier device 10 is cool so that heat is transferred from the heat exchange fluid in tubes 26 to the first side 14, thereby cooling the fluid. As the cooled fluid circulates in the tubes 26, a cooling effect is provided on this side of garment 36.

[0051] Fig. 5 shows the heat exchanger 24 from a side elevation view. The pump in case 30 causes the heat exchange fluid to circulate in tubes 26. As shown in Fig. 6, which is a cross-sectional side view taken along lines B-B of Fig. 5, portions of tubes 26 are arranged in a side-by-side relationship, and are preferably arranged in a generally parallel configuration.

[0052] A second preferred embodiment of the heating or cooling device of the present invention is shown in exploded view in Fig. 7. This second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1-6 in that the Peltier device 10, radiator 18, fins 20, rubber shield 22, pump 28, case 30, motor 32 and case cover 34 are the same. Peltier device 10 includes a first side 14 and a second side 16, and Peltier device 10 and radiator 18 operate as described above.

[0053] Heat exchanger 40 shown in Fig. 7 is different from the embodiment of Fig. 1-6. It includes a pump 28, a motor 32, a case 30 and a case cover 34, which are also as described above. However, heat exchanger 40 comprises two sets of parallel, spaced apart tubes 42 and 44 that are in fluid communication with each other. One end of the sets of tubes 42 and 44 are in fluid communication via manifolds 46 and 48, and connecting tube 50, while the other end of the sets of tubes 44 and 46 are also in fluid communication via manifolds 52 and 54 and inlet tube 56 and outlet tube 58. Inlet and outlet tubes 56 and 58 are operatively connected to suitable ports on case 30 so that a heat exchange fluid is circulated by pump 28 through the two sets of tubes 44 and 46.

[0054] Fig. 8 and 9 illustrate the construction of the sets of tubes 44 and 46 useful in the present invention. The sets of tubes preferably comprise a plurality of polymeric tubes 70 arranged in parallel and placed at least 1-1/2 tube diameters apart measured center-to- center. The tubes 70 are held in place by, surrounded by and sealed to a laminated foil 72.

The foil 72 has two faces 74 and 76; face 74 facing toward the tubes 70, and face 76 facing away from the tubes 70. The foil 72 includes at least one layer of metal 78 with at least one polymer layer 80 on at least the side facing the tubes 70. The tubes 70 preferably have an inner diameter in the range of 0.5mm to 10 mm and a wall thickness in the range of 0.05 mm to 0.3 mm, while the foil 72 has a total thickness preferably in the range of 0.05 mm to 0.25 mm and a total metal thickness preferably in the range of 0.002 mm to 0.1 mm. The number of tubes 70 in each of the first and second sets of tubes 18 and 20 is preferably from 5 to 20 tubes. Each of the tubes 70 may comprise one or more layers of polymer, and preferably the polymer is polyamide. Optionally, the diameters of the tubes 70 are all in one plane. Examples of such sets of tubes and of how to make such tubes are provided in U. S. published patent application nos. 20030094264 and 20030070752, the specifications of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference.

[0055] Although the present invention has been shown and described with respect to its preferred embodiments and in the examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that other changes, modifications, additions and omissions may be made without departing from the substance and the scope of the present invention as defined by the attached claims.