Body ventilation system and method

Abstract

A body ventilation system for enhanced personal comfort. A gas distributor including a network of gas flow elements is disposed on a permeable substrate. The gas distributor defines at least one channel in fluid communication with the gas flow elements. The gas flow elements are configured to receive gas from a gas supply such that gas flows through the gas flow elements and exits to the channels substantially parallel to the surface of the permeable substrate. The gas from the gas supply may be conditioned. The permeable substrate may be a wicking material and may be a garment substrate. The gas distributor may be substantially incompressible. The gas flow elements may be selectively positioned to target the ventilation needs of a particular class of users.

1 . A body ventilation system, comprising: 
 a permeable substrate; and    a gas distributor comprising a network of gas flow elements disposed on the permeable substrate, and defining at least one channel in fluid communication with the gas flow elements.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the permeable substrate comprises a wicking material.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the wicking material comprises a substantially non-melt material.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gas flow elements are substantially incompressible.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the gas flow elements comprise a spacer textile.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein a weave of the spacer textile enables directional flow along a length of the gas flow elements.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the gas flow elements promote anisotropic gas flow.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the spacer textile comprises a gas-permeable layer proximate to the permeable substrate.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the spacer textile comprises a gas-impermeable outer layer.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the gas flow elements comprise a plurality of discrete spacer elements.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gas flow elements are constructed of a substantially non-melt material.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is flexible.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gas flow elements are arranged in a fan-shaped array.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the permeable substrate comprises a garment substrate.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a gas supply fluidly connected to the gas distributor.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a gas manifold positioned between the gas supply and the gas distributor.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the gas flow elements are configured to receive gas from the gas supply such that gas flows through the gas flow elements and exits to the channels substantially parallel to the surface of the permeable substrate.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the gas supply comprises a portable gas supply.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the gas supply comprises a vehicle air supply.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the gas supply comprises a supply of conditioned air.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gas flow elements are configured to exhaust gas from the channels.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second gas distributor.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising an air duct fluidly connecting the gas distributor to the second gas distributor.  
   
   
       24 . A body ventilation system, comprising: 
 a wicking layer proximate to the body;    a gas distributor comprising a network of gas flow elements disposed on the wicking layer, the gas flow elements including a permeable base layer, a substantially incompressible spacer constructed and arranged to enable directional flow within the gas flow elements, and a substantially impermeable outer layer;    at least one channel defined by a perimeter of the gas distributor, in fluid communication with the gas flow elements; and    a source of gas fluidly connected to the gas distributor.    
   
   
       25 . A body ventilation system, comprising: 
 a permeable substrate; and    a gas distributor comprising a network of gas flow elements constructed and arranged on the permeable substrate to provide airflow substantially parallel to a wearer's body, and defining at least one channel in fluid communication with the gas flow elements.    
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the gas distributor is connectable to a source of gas.  
   
   
       27 . A method of facilitating body ventilation for a class of users, comprising: 
 determining a ventilation requirement of the class of users; and    selectively disposing a network of gas flow elements on a permeable substrate based on the determined requirement to direct gas flow substantially parallel to targeted regions of a user's body.