COOLING VEST MODULE

Abstract

A cooling vest module includes a flexible back plate attachable to a garment and at least one thermoelectric cooler mounted thereon. An annular gasket on an inner surface of the back plate seals against a wearer's back to define a confined recirculation space. Each cooler draws ambient air through an external inlet, discharges cooled air into the recirculation space via a cold-air outlet, and exhausts waste heat through heat-dissipation apertures. A recirculation inlet returns part of the cooled air for further cooling, while mounting features, support pads, and optional twin coolers ensure secure installation and structural integrity. The module provides efficient, true recirculating cooling and is particularly suitable for safety vests worn by environmental sanitation workers.

Claims

1. A cooling vest module, comprising: a flexible back plate configured for connection to a garment and having an inner surface; and at least one cooler mounted on the flexible back plate and configured to generate cool air, wherein an annular gasket is molded on an inner surface of the flexible back plate so as to define, together with the inner surface, a channel; wherein, when the flexible back plate is placed against a wearer's back, the gasket contacts the wearer's back to form a sealed space between the channel and the wearer's back; wherein the cooler includes heat-dissipation apertures and an external air inlet communicating with an external environment, and further includes a cold-air outlet and a recirculation air inlet positioned on a side of the cooler that faces the sealed space, the cold-air outlet and the recirculation air inlet opening into the channel.

2. The cooling vest module according to claim 1, wherein the flexible back plate includes peripheral connection ports configured for attachment to the garment; the flexible back plate defines a mounting opening having a first stepped groove on a front edge and a second stepped seat on a rear edge; the cooler is fitted in the first stepped groove; and a locking frame is fitted in the second stepped seat and snap-engaged with the cooler so as to clamp the cooler to an edge of the mounting opening.

3. The cooling vest module according to claim 2, wherein multiple relief openings penetrate the first stepped groove and the second stepped seat along an edge of the mounting opening; the cooler is formed with multiple latch grooves; the locking frame is formed with multiple detent hooks which, after passing through the relief openings, engage the latch grooves.

4. The cooling vest module according to claim 2, wherein multiple support pads are molded on the inner surface of the flexible back plate inside the gasket and are flush with the gasket.

5. The cooling vest module according to claim 4, wherein support strips are provided on an inner side of the cooler to raise the inner side of the cooler so as to prevent blockage of the cold-air outlet and/or the recirculation air inlet.

6. The cooling vest module of any one according to claim 1, wherein two coolers are symmetrically mounted on the flexible back plate within the gasket.

7. The cooling vest module according to claim 1, wherein each cooler comprises: a housing defining an intake chamber communicating with the external air inlet and the recirculation air inlet; a thermoelectric cooling module including a thermoelectric element, a cold-side heat-conducting seat disposed on a cold side of the thermoelectric element, and a hot-side heat-sink seat disposed on a hot side of the thermoelectric element; a fan mounted in the intake chamber with an air outlet facing the heat-sink seat and the heat-conducting seat; and a partition plate disposed at a rear end of the housing, in contact with the thermoelectric element, and dividing a rear chamber of the housing into an exhaust channel and a cooling channel, wherein the heat-conducting seat is located at an inlet of the cooling channel, the heat-sink seat is located at an inlet of the exhaust channel, the heat-dissipation apertures communicate with the exhaust channel, and the cold-air outlet communicates with the cooling channel.

8. The cooling vest module according to claim 7, wherein the fan comprises a fan housing, a motor mounted in the fan housing, and a turbo impeller mounted to the motor; the fan housing has the air outlet disposed around the turbo impeller, a first air inlet corresponding to the recirculation air inlet, and a second air inlet corresponding to the external air inlet, the turbo impeller extending between the first and second air inlets.

9. The cooling vest module according to claim 8, wherein the turbo impeller comprises a hub and a plurality of blades integrally molded around the hub; a partition plate integrally connects adjacent blades at intermediate portions to divide each blade into a first blade body and a second blade body; a first airflow passage corresponding to the first air inlet is defined between adjacent first blade bodies and faces the heat-conducting seat; and a second airflow passage corresponding to the second air inlet is defined between adjacent second blade bodies and faces the heat-sink seat.

10. The cooling vest module according to claim 9, wherein the fan housing comprises a lower shell and an upper cover that are snap-fastened together; the motor is mounted on the lower shell below the upper cover; the second air inlet is formed in the upper cover; the first air inlet is formed in a bottom of the lower shell; and the air outlet is formed in side walls of the lower shell and the upper cover.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooling vest module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the cooling vest module;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a flexible back plate of the cooling vest module;

[0020] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the cooling vest module;

[0021] FIG. 5 is an assembled perspective view of a cooler and a locking frame;

[0022] FIG. 6 is another assembled perspective view of the cooler and the locking frame.

[0023] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cooler;

[0024] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a turbo impeller used in the cooler;

[0025] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the cooling vest module;

[0026] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the cooler and the locking frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0027] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1-10, a cooling vest module (A) comprises a flexible back plate 3 and two coolers 4 mounted symmetrically on the flexible back plate 3 within a gasket 31. The flexible back plate 3 is attachable to a garment such as a safety vest by means of peripheral connection ports 300 through which straps, snaps, or hook-and-loop fasteners can be connected.

[0029] The flexible back plate 3 is made of a pliable material so that it conforms closely to the wearer's back. An annular gasket 31 is molded on an inner surface of the back plate 3, and together with the inner surface defines a channel 30. When the back plate 3 contacts the wearer's back, the gasket 31 seals the channel 30 to create a sealed space that receives cooled air from the coolers 4.

[0030] Multiple support pads 33 are molded on the inner surface of the back plate 3 inside the gasket 31 and are flush with the gasket 31 to prevent collapse of the sealed space.

[0031] The back plate 3 defines, for each cooler 4, a mounting opening 32. Each mounting opening 32 has a first stepped groove 321 at a front edge and a second stepped seat 322 at a rear edge. A corresponding cooler 4 is fitted into the first stepped groove 321. A locking frame 5 is fitted into the second stepped seat 322 and snap-engaged with the cooler 4 so that the cooler 4 is clamped securely between the first stepped groove 321 and the locking frame 5. Multiple relief openings 323 penetrate the edge of the mounting opening 32. Detent hooks 51 on the locking frame 5 pass through the relief openings 323 and engage latch grooves 405 formed on the cooler 4.

[0032] Each cooler 4 has a housing 41 defining an intake chamber 411. An external air inlet 402 and a recirculation air inlet 404 both communicate with the intake chamber 411. A thermoelectric cooling (TEC) module 42 is arranged in the housing 41 and includes a TEC element 421, a cold-side heat-conducting seat 422 disposed on the cold side of the TEC element 421, and a hot-side heat-sink seat 423 disposed on the hot side of the TEC element 421.

[0033] A fan 100 is installed in the intake chamber 411 with an air outlet 101 facing the heat-sink seat 423 and the heat-conducting seat 422. A partition plate 414 is disposed at a rear end of the housing 41, in contact with the TEC element 421, and divides a rear chamber of the housing 41 into an exhaust channel 412 and a cooling channel 413. The heat-conducting seat 422 is located at an inlet of the cooling channel 413, and the heat-sink seat 423 is located at an inlet of the exhaust channel 412. Heat-dissipation apertures 401 communicate with the exhaust channel 412, and a cold-air outlet 403 communicates with the cooling channel 413.

[0034] The fan 100 comprises a fan housing 1, a motor mounted in the fan housing 1, and a turbo impeller 2 mounted to the motor. The fan housing 1 is provided with an air outlet 101 that surrounds the turbo impeller 2. A first air inlet 102 corresponding to the recirculation air inlet 404 and a second air inlet 103 corresponding to the external air inlet 402 are formed in the fan housing 1. The turbo impeller 2 spans between the first and second air inlets 102, 103 to draw air inward from opposite directions and discharge it radially through the air outlet 101.

[0035] The turbo impeller 2 comprises a hub 21 and a plurality of blades 22 integrally molded around the hub 21. A partition plate 23 integrally connects adjacent blades 22 at intermediate portions, thereby dividing each blade 22 into a first blade body 221 and a second blade body 222. A first airflow passage 201 corresponding to the first air inlet 102 is defined between adjacent first blade bodies 221 and faces the heat-conducting seat 422. A second airflow passage 202 corresponding to the second air inlet 103 is defined between adjacent second blade bodies 222 and faces the heat-sink seat 423. The inner side of the partition plate 23 is integrally connected to the hub 21, and the outer side of the partition plate 23 extends to outer ends of the blades 22.

[0036] In operation, ambient air is drawn simultaneously through the external air inlet 402 and the recirculation air inlet 404 into the intake chamber 411. The air is driven by the fan 100 toward the TEC module 42. Air passing through the heat-conducting seat 422 is cooled and then discharged through the cooling channel 413 and the cold-air outlet 403 into the sealed space between the back plate 3 and the wearer's back. Air passing through the heat-sink seat 423 absorbs heat and is exhausted through the exhaust channel 412 and the heat-dissipation apertures 401 to the environment. A portion of the cooled air in the sealed space is continuously drawn back into the cooler 4 through the recirculation air inlet 404 for further cooling, thereby realizing true recirculating cooling and enhancing wearer comfort.

[0037] The invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and equivalents may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.