Portable thermoelectric unit to adjust body's microclimate

Abstract

A portable thermoelectric unit has a face towards the user's body. The unit includes at least one flexible layer containing a non-woven fabric or a fabric and/or a polymeric membrane facing the body; a casing having a thermally active area and fixed to a distal face of the layer opposite the face so that the area is in thermal exchange with the layer towards the body; a thermoelectric heat pump device housed in the casing and configured to generate or absorb heat through the area and the layer; a fan housed in the casing and next to the device; a channel in the casing next to the device to receive an air flow generated by the fan in heat exchange with the device and to guide the air flow towards a distal opening from the fan; and a heat exchanger connected to the device on the opposite side of the area to receive the air flow towards the channel.

1 : A portable thermoelectric unit having a face towards the body of a user, the unit comprising:
 at least one flexible layer comprising a non-woven fabric or a fabric and/or a polymeric membrane facing the body;   a casing having a thermally active area and fixed to a distal face of the layer opposite the face towards the body so that the thermally active area is in thermal exchange with the layer towards the body;   a thermoelectric heat pump device housed in the casing and configured to generate or absorb heat through the thermally active area and the layer;   a fan housed in the casing and next to the thermoelectric device;   a channel in the casing next to the thermoelectric device to receive a flow of air generated by the fan in heat exchange with the thermoelectric device and to guide the air flow towards a distal opening from the fan;   a heat exchanger connected to the thermoelectric device on the opposite side of the thermally active area so as to receive the air flow generated by the fan towards the channel, wherein, between the thermally active area and the heat exchanger, only the heat exchanger is exposed to the air flow.   
     
     
         2 : The unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric device adheres to the thermally active area. 
     
     
         3 : The unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermally active area comprises a window facing a face of the thermoelectric device opposed to the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         4 : The unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the casing is substantially flattened and oblong so as to keep the fan, the heat exchanger and an intake of the channel arranged side by side and substantially aligned. 
     
     
         5 : The unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the casing is soft and elastically hand deformable and comprises a polymeric material based on silicone or thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         6 : The unit according to  claim 5 , wherein the polymeric material comprises an isocyanate and a polyol. 
     
     
         7 : The unit according to  claim 5 , wherein the channel comprises one or more spacing projections arranged in one or more cross sections of the channel to avoid or limit collapses of the channel in case of applied loads on the housing. 
     
     
         8 : The unit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the casing defines an intake opening to supply the fan, and   the intake opening and the distal opening are arranged on a face of the housing opposite to the thermally active area.   
     
     
         9 : A heat-resistant garment, comprising
 the unit according to  claim 1 ,   wherein the at least one flexible layer faces the body of the user and the casing is placed in a filling of the garment.   
     
     
         10 : The garment according to  claim 9 , which is a suit for an automobile driver.