Means for cooling and heating a seat structure

Claim 2

A seat structure including a body support having a portion elevated in relation to other portions, means defining a chamber therein extending to said elevated portion and said other portions and being in thermal communication with the ambient environment in said elevated portion and with the body of an occupant in the seat structure in a portion of said other portions, said chamber containing a fluid having a boiling temperature below the temperature of said other portions when the seat is occupied and above ambient temperature whereby boiling vapors rise in said chamber to said elevated portion where they condense into a liquid and return flow to said other portions for reheating by the body of the occupant, the heating of said other portions and the cooling at said elevated portion being continuously effective to remove heat added to the fluid as long as a temperature differential exists between said other portions and said elevated portion thereby continuously cooling the occupant.

Claim 3

A seat structure including a body support having a portion elevated in relation to other portions, a heat transfer unit therein extending to said elevated portion and said other portions in a sinuous path and being in thermal communication with the ambient environment at said elevated portion and with the body of an occupant in the seat structure in a portion of said other portions, said heat transfer unit containing a fluid having a boiling temperature below the temperature of said other portions when an occupant of the seat supplies heat thereto and above ambient temperature, and a selectively energized heater adjacent said other portions whereby heat supplied by an occupant and heat supplied by said heater when energized boils the fluid generating vapors rising to said elevated portion where they discharge heat and condense into a liquid return flowing to said other portions for reheating, the boiling of the fluid by heat of the body of an occupant cooling the occupant by virtue of heat removed at said elevated portion and the boiling of the fluid by heat added by said heater warming the occupant as the fluid temperature increases above body temperature.

Claim 4

A seat structure including a body support having a portion elevated in relation to other portions, a heat transfer unit therein extending to said elevated portion and said other portions in a sinuous path and being in thermal communication with the ambient environment at said elevated portion and with the body of an occupant in the seat structure in a portion of said other portions, said heat transfer unit containing a fluid having a boiling temperature below the temperature of said other portions when an occupant of the seat supplies heat thereto and above ambient temperature, and a selectively energized heater adjacent said other portions whereby heat supplied by an occupant and heat supplied by said heater when energized boils the fluid generating vapors rising to said elevated portion where they discharge heat and condense into a liquid return flowing to said other portions for reheating, the boiling of the fluid by heat of the body of an occupant cooling the occupant by virtue of heat removed at said elevated portion and the boiling of the fluid by heat added by said heater warming the occupant as the fluid temperature increases above body temperature.

Claim 5

A seat structure composed of plastic materials including a body support having a portion elevated in relation to other portions, a heat pipe assembly within said support adjacent body engaged surfaces, said heat pipe including a sinuous passage formed between sealed plastic members of said seat structure, said heat pipe including a condenser in thermal communication with the ambient environment at said elevated portion and a boiler in thermal communication with an occupant at a portion of said other portions, a return passage in said seat structure connecting said condenser with said boiler, a selectively energized electric heater also in thermal communication with said boiler, said heat pipe containing a fluid having a boiling temperature below the temperature of said other portions when an occupant of the seat supplies heat and above ambient temperature, heat supplied by said heater and an occupant of said seat boiling the fluid generating vapors rising to said condenser where they discharge heat to the ambient environment and condense into a liquid return flowing to the boiler for reheating, the boiling of the fluid by heat of the body of an occupant cooling the occupant by virtue of heat being removed at said condenser, the selective boiling of the fluid by said heater warming the occupant as the fluid temperature increases above body temperature, and a shut off valve in said return passage operable to discontinue cyclic operation of the heat pipe assembly at the option of an occupant.

Claim 6

A seat structure composed of plastic materials including a body support having a portion elevated in relation to other portions, a heat pipe assembly within said support adjacent body engaged surfaces, said heat pipe including a sinuous passage formed between sealed plastic members of said seat structure, said heat pipe including a condenser in thermal communication with the ambient environment at said elevated portion and a boiler in thermal communication with an occupant at a portion of said other portions, a return passage in said seat structure connecting said condenser with said boiler, a selectively energized electric heater also in thermal communication with said boiler, said heat pipe containing a fluid having a boiling temperature below the temperature of said other portions when an occupant of the seat supplies heat and above ambient temperature, heat supplied by said heater and an occupant of said seat boiling the fluid generating vapors rising to said condenser where they discharge heat to the ambient environment and condense into a liquid return flowing to the boiler for reheating, the boiling of the fluid by heat of the body of an occupant cooling the occupant by virtue of heat being removed at said condenser, the selective boiling of the fluid by said heater warming the occupant as the fluid temperature increases above body temperature, and a shut off valve in said return passage operable to discontinue cyclic operation of the heat pipe assembly at the option of an occupant.