Branched tube network and temperature regulating garment with branched tube network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10980292-B2
Application number	US-201716073700-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 30, 2017
Priority date	Jan 28, 2016
Publication date	Apr 20, 2021
Grant date	Apr 20, 2021

Abstract

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a garment for regulating a temperature of a wearer is provided. The garment includes a fabric configured to be worn by the wearer. The fabric includes channels parallel to a primary surface of the fabric. The garment includes a branched tube network for circulating a working fluid. The branched tube network is disposed in the channels of the fabric. The branched tube network includes a plurality of tubes wherein at least one end of each tube of the plurality of tubes is branched and connected to two daughter tubes, or more, the connection having a branch angle of between 1 and 359 degrees, inclusive. The tube network has at least two levels of branches.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A garment for regulating a temperature of a wearer, comprising:
a fabric configured to be worn by the wearer, the fabric having channels parallel to a primary surface of the fabric; and
a branched tube network for circulating a working fluid, wherein the branched tube network is disposed in the channels of the fabric, the branched tube network comprising:
a plurality of tubes wherein at least one end of each tube of the plurality of tubes is branched and connected to at least two daughter tubes, the connection having a branch angle of between 1 and 359 degrees, inclusive;
wherein the tube network has at least two levels of branches; and
wherein:
each tube is branched and connected to two daughter tubes, the branch angle being between 30 degrees and 60 degrees, inclusive; or
a diameter of the branched tube is greater than a diameter of the daughter tubes.

2. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the each tube is branched and connected to two daughter tubes.

3. The garment of claim 2 , wherein the branch angle is between 30 degrees and 60 degrees, inclusive.

4. The garment of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the branched tube is greater than a diameter of the daughter tubes.

5. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the diameter of each daughter tube is between 60% and 80% of the branched tube.

6. The garment of claim 1 , further comprising:
an energy conversion device for heating and/or cooling the working fluid; and
a blower in fluidic communication with the energy conversion device and the branched tube network for moving the working fluid.

7. The garment of claim 6 , wherein a portion of the garment includes a mesh configured to cooperate with an intake of the blower.

8. The garment of claim 7 , wherein the garment includes a pocket and the blower is disposed within the pocket.

9. The garment of claim 6 , further comprising a controller in electronic communication with the blower, wherein the blower is controllable by the controller.

10. The garment of claim 9 , further comprising one or more sensors in electronic communication with the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to regulate the blower according to a signal received from the one or more sensors.

11. The garment of claim 10 , wherein a sensor of the one or more sensors is a temperature sensor.

12. The garment of claim 11 , wherein the temperature sensor is configured to be positioned near the skin of the wearer.

13. The garment of claim 11 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises a passive circuit wirelessly energized using radio frequency (RF) energy.

14. The garment of claim 13 , wherein the passive circuit includes an RF antenna affixed to the fabric.

15. The garment of claim 14 , wherein the RF antenna is embroidered onto the fabric.

16. The garment of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to communicate with an environmental system.

17. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the branched tube network is formed by 3D printing.

18. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the tubes are perforated.

19. A branched tube network for a temperature regulating garment, comprising:
a parent tube having a branched end;
at least two daughter tubes, each daughter tube having a first end and a branched end, wherein the first end of each daughter tube is connected to the branched end of the parent tube;
at least two sets of at least two granddaughter tubes, each granddaughter tube having a first end connected to the branched end of a respective daughter tube such that the branched end of each daughter tube is connected to a set of at least two granddaughter tubes; and
wherein a diameter of the parent tube is greater than a diameter of the daughter tubes.

20. The branched tube network of claim 19 , wherein the parent tube is connected to two daughter tubes, and each daughter tube is connected to two granddaughter tubes.

21. The branched tube network of claim 20 , wherein the first end of each daughter tube is connected to the parent tube to form a branch angle between the daughter tubes, and the branch angle is between 1 and 359 degrees.

22. The branched tube network of claim 19 , wherein a diameter of the daughter tubes is greater than a diameter of the granddaughter tubes.

23. The branched tube network of claim 19 , wherein the granddaughter tubes are perforated.

24. A garment for regulating a temperature of a wearer, comprising:
a fabric configured to be worn by the wearer, the fabric having channels parallel to a primary surface of the fabric; and
a branched tube network according to claim 19 for circulating a working fluid, wherein the branched tube network is disposed in the channels of the fabric.

25. A garment for regulating a temperature of a wearer, comprising:
a fabric configured to be worn by the wearer, the fabric having channels parallel to a primary surface of the fabric;
a branched tube network for circulating a working fluid, wherein the branched tube network is disposed in the channels of the fabric, the branched tube network comprising:
a plurality of tubes wherein at least one end of each tube of the plurality of tubes is branched and connected to at least two daughter tubes, the connection having a branch angle of between 1 and 359 degrees, inclusive; and
wherein the tube network has at least two levels of branches;

an energy conversion device for heating and/or cooling the working fluid; and
a blower in fluidic communication with the energy conversion device and the branched tube network for moving the working fluid.

Assignees

• Univ Cornell

Inventors

• Fan Jintu
• Shou Dahua
• Park Huiju

Classifications

• A61F2007/0233

  connected to or incorporated in clothing or garments (A61F2007/023 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61F7/007

  characterised by electric heating · CPC title

• A41D13/0058

  having pockets for heated or cooled elements · CPC title

• A61F2007/006

  of gas · CPC title

• A61F2007/0086

  with a thermostat · CPC title