Article Temperature Control System

Abstract

An article temperature control system includes an article having flexible tubing through it for circulating a heat transfer fluid and an article coupling affixed to distal ends of the flexible tubing. The article coupling releasably couples to a heat exchanger having a thermoelectric cooling/heating unit having one or more TEC plates, an aluminum heat sink, a fan and a controller in electrical communication with the TEC plates, a heat exchanger coupling adapted to releasably connect to the article coupling, an outlet line fluidly connecting the thermoelectric cooling/heating unit and the heat exchanger coupling, a return line fluidly connecting the thermoelectric cooling/heating unit and the heat exchanger coupling, a fluid block in fluid communication with the outlet and return lines, the fluid block forming a housing for the TEC plates, a pump in fluid communication with at least one of the outlet and return lines, and a power supply in electrical communication with the controller and the pump.

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims: 
     
         1 . An article temperature control system comprising:
 a) a fluid conditioning system;   b) an article having flexible tubing running through the article for circulating a thermal agent throughout said article;   c) a coupling adapted to releasably connect to said article flexible tubing. and   d) flexible tubing to fluidly connect said coupling to the fluid conditioning system.   
     
     
         2 . The article temperature control system according to  claim 1 , wherein said fluid conditioning system comprises:
 a) a heat exchanger for moving thermal energy from or to a thermal agent circulating between the heat exchanger and the fluidly connect article;   c) a heat exchanger outlet line fluidly connecting said heat exchanger and said coupling;   d) a heat exchanger return line fluidly connecting said heat exchanger and said coupling;   e) a pump in fluid communication with at least one of said outlet line and said return line; and   f) a control module in electrical communication with a power source, TEC plates and pump with the control module providing for engaging and disengaging the fluid conditioning system and temperature selection.   
     
     
         3 . The article temperature control system according to  claim 2 , wherein said heat exchanger comprises:
 a) a fluid block having a housing with an inlet port and an outlet port with said fluid block forming receptacle for a thermal agent; and   b) TEC plates in electrical communication with a control module whereby said TEC plates can add thermal energy to said thermal agent and remove thermal energy from said thermal agent.   
     
     
         4 . The article temperature control system according to  claim 3 , wherein said article is selected from the group of wet suit, dry suit and space suit having a plurality of thermal fluid channels within the body enabling the user to raise or lower the temperature of the thermal agent through the control module. 
     
     
         5 . The article temperature control system according to  claim 3 , wherein said heat exchanger further provides a thermally conductive plate that is mounted to said fluid block providing a hermetically sealed fluid block with the TEC plates positioned over said thermally conductive plate for add thermal energy to said thermal agent and remove thermal energy from said thermal agent via said thermally conductive plate. 
     
     
         6 . The article temperature control system according to  claim 5 , wherein said heat exchanger further provides a heat sink fixedly positioned over said TEC plates to facilitate thermal exchange between ambient air and said TEC plates. 
     
     
         7 . The article temperature control system according to  claim 6 , wherein said heat exchanger further provides a fan mountable to said heat sink to accelerate thermal exchange between the heat sink and the ambient air. 
     
     
         8 . The article temperature control system according to  claim 7 , wherein said fluid block and said heat sink are manufactured from a material selected from metal, plastic and composite material. 
     
     
         9 . The article temperature control system according to  claim 8 , wherein said article is selected from the group of apparel, garments, blankets and seat covers. 
     
     
         10 . The article temperature control system according to  claim 9 , wherein said article is one or more garments selected from the group of jacket, hood, pants, gloves and vest. 
     
     
         11 . The article temperature control system according to  claim 10 , wherein said non-climate controlled motorized vehicle is selected from a motorcycle, a utility vehicle, an all terrain vehicle, a golf cart, a snowmobile, a construction vehicle, a tractor, a fork lift and a front loader. 
     
     
         12 . The article temperature control system according to  claim 11 , wherein said coupling is a quick disconnect coupling adapted to automatically disconnect at a predetermined or selectable force threshold. 
     
     
         13 . The article temperature control system according to  claim 12 , wherein predetermined force threshold is from about 10 to about 15 pounds. 
     
     
         14 . The article temperature control system according to  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger is portably contained within a carry case. 
     
     
         15 . The article temperature control system according to  claim 14 , further comprising a self-contained rechargeable battery pack. 
     
     
         16 . The article temperature control system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a) a coupling adapted to releasably connect said heat exchanger to distal ends of said flexible tubing;   b) said article is a primary garment worn by a user;   c) wherein said heat exchanger is used within a climate-controlled vehicle and non-climate controlled motorized vehicles; and   d) a secondary garment worn by a user, said secondary garment fluidly connectable to said primary garment, said secondary garment having flexible tubing running through said secondary garment for circulating a heat transfer fluid between said primary garment and through said secondary garment.   
     
     
         17 . The article temperature control system according to  claim 16 , further comprising secondary couplings adapted to connect said flexible tubing in said primary garment to said flexible tubing in said secondary garment. 
     
     
         18 . The article temperature control system according to  claim 17 , wherein said primary garment is selected from pants and a jacket, and said secondary garment is selected from jacket, headwear, pants, gloves vest and footwear. 
     
     
         19 . The article temperature control system according to  claim 18 , wherein said non-climate controlled motorized vehicle is selected from a motorcycle, a utility vehicle, an all terrain vehicle, a golf cart, a snowmobile, a construction vehicle, a tractor, a fork lift and a front loader. 
     
     
         20 . An article temperature control system comprising:
 a) an article selected from a garment and a blanket having flexible tubing running through said article for circulating a thermal agent through said article, and an article coupling affixed to distal ends of said flexible tubing; and   b) a fluid conditioning system having a fluid block with one or more TEC plates, a heat sink, a fan and a controller in electrical communication with said TEC plates, a heat exchanger coupling adapted to releasably connect to said article coupling, an outlet line fluidly connecting said fluid conditioning system and said heat exchanger coupling, a return line fluidly connecting said fluid conditioning system and said heat exchanger coupling, said fluid block in fluid communication with said outlet line and said return line, said fluid block forming a housing for said TEC plates, a pump for fluid communication with at least one of said outlet line and said return line, and a power supply in electrical communication with said controller and said pump.   
     
     
         21 . A method of controlling an individual's body temperature comprising the steps:
 a) providing an article temperature control system having an article selected from the group of garment, blanket and seat cover with flexible tubing running through said article for circulating a thermal agent through said article, and an article coupling affixed to distal ends of said flexible tubing; and a fluid block having one or more TEC plates, heat sink, a fan and a controller in electrical communication with said TEC plates, a heat exchanger coupling adapted to releasably connect to said article coupling, an outlet line fluidly connecting said fluid block and said heat exchanger coupling, a return line fluidly connecting said fluid block and said heat exchanger coupling, said fluid block forming a housing for said TEC plates, a pump in fluid communication with at least one of said outlet line and said return line, and a power supply in electrical communication with said controller and said pump;   b) placing said article against an individual's body;   c) connecting said article coupling with said heat exchanger coupling; and   d) controlling said article temperature control system with said controller.   
     
     
         22 . The method of controlling an individual's body temperature according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a) a carry case portably containing said heat exchanger;   b) said power supply is a self-contained rechargeable battery pack; and   c) said article is a blanket.