Ventilating grid structure

Oct. 1, 1957 o. a. kottemann 2,807,809

VENTILATING GRID STRUCTURE

Filed Aug. 25, 1953

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2,807,809

Patented Oct. 1, 1957

United States Patent Office

2,807,809

VENTILATING GRID STRUCTURE

Otto A. Kottemann, Charlotte, N. C., assignor to Kushion Kooler Corporation, Charlotte, N. C., a corporation of North Carolina

Application August 25,1953, Serial No. 376,286

Claims. (CL 5—347)

This invention relates to a device designed primarily for ventilating and regulating the surface temperature of the human body. In a relatively cool atmosphere, for example, the said regulation may be accomplished by use of relatively warm air, and where the ambient air is warm, by relatively cool air or by evaporation resulting from the circulation of air over the moist surface of the body.

The primary object of the invention, therefore, is to provide an improved device for ventilating the surface of the human body for the purpose of regulating the temperature of said surface by direct thermal transfer between the surface and a fluid ventilating medium or by evaporation of moisture from the surface by action of said medium.

More specifically, the invention contemplates the provision of an air duct structure of substantial surface area adapted for surface contact with the human body and having sufficient inherent flexibility to permit the structure to conform readily and accurately to the contour of the confronting body surface, said structure having at the contact surface thereof, a plurality of openings communicating with the duct system and preferably embracing substantially the entire area of the said surface so as to reduce to a practical minimum “dead-spot” areas between the said system and the work surface and to obtain a maximum exposure of the work surface through said openings to the interiors of said ducts.

The invention contemplates also provision of effective means for obtaining a desirable flow of the ventilating medium over and in intimate contact with the work surface in substantially uniform distribution, as hereinafter fully described.

It is a further object to provide a structure of the stated character having sufficient inherent structural strength to maintain its essential basic form under pressure and regardless of distortion due to the flexures of the bodyconforming character described above.

While having a primary application to ventilation and the regulation of the temperature of surfaces of the human body, the device is applicable in principle to the ventilation and regulation of temperature of, and evaporation of moisture from, surfaces generally as will be apparent from the following description.

In the attached drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary face view showing a basic grid structure forming the body portion of a device according to the invention together with a top facing element of preferred type;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the structure taken on the line 2—2, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the structure on the line .3—3, Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged face view of a fragment of the top facing element showing the essential physical characteristics of the latter;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5—5, Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing a modification of the grid structure within the scope of the invention, and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section perspective view showing details of the structure.

With reference to the drawing, my invention in a preferred embodiment may comprise a basic grid structure of the general form illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive. This structure comprises in effect two sets of parallel elements 1 and 2 which intersect each other at right angles to form a grid body having at one face rectangular openings 3. In the present instance, the width of the elements 1 and 2 is approximately %i and the openings 3 are approximately %g square. The elements 1 and 2 in the present instance are integral parts of a grid structure formed by moulding or other suitable process from a suitable material such as rubber or plastic. The preferred cross-sectional shape of the elements 1 and 2 is illustrated in Figure 3 wherein it will be noted that the sides of these elements converge toward their upper or outer edges and terminate at this edge in a radius of approximately %2.

As shown in Figure 3, the parallel elements 2 of this grid structure are approximately %,i in height whereas the elements 1 as indicated in Figure 2 have a height of approximately ³%4''. Since the upper slightly rounded edges of these elements lie normally in a common plane, it will be apparent, as shown in Figure 2, that the elements 1 extend downwardly below the bottoms of the elements 2 to the extent of approximately % so that the adjoining pairs of the elements 1 define longitudinal channels 4 which extend continuously over one dimension of the grid structure and which open to the lipper surface of the structure through the aforesaid openings 3.

By reference to Figure 2, it will be noted that the channels 4 are closed at the underside of the grid by a lower facing sheet 5 which may be composed of plastic or rubber or other flexible sheet material impermeable to air. This facing sheet may be secured to the bottoms of the elements 1 by vulcanization or by other suitable means or may constitute an integral part of the latter. In the present instance, an upper facing sheet 6 overlies the upper surface of the grid structure and may be secured to the latter at the edges or throughout to the upper rounded edges of the elements 1 and 2. Unlike the sheet 5, however, the sheet 6 is permeable to air and may consist, for example, of an open textile fabric whereof the individual strands are sufficiently coarse and of sufficient diameter to establish interstices running parallel to the face of the fabric so as to provide for passage of air through this facing sheet in the transverse direction or parallel to said face. The function of this facing sheet will be described below.

As previously indicated, this entire structure is of sufficient flexibility to permit ready conformity thereof under pressure to the surface contour of any object against which it might be placed. When applied in face confronting relation to a work surface, i. e. the surface which is to be ventilated, etc., the upper facing sheet 6 will constitute in effect an air-permeable spacer between the work surface and the upper narrow edges of the elements 1 and 2 of the basic grid structure. If under these conditions air pressure is applied by suitable means to the ends of the channels 4, or if these channels are evacuated by suitable means, air will be forced or drawn through the upper facing sheet and between the work surface and the confronting edges of the elements 1 and 2 to or from the openings 3 of the grid structure. It will be noted particularly that with a porous upper facing strip of the character described above, the individual openings 3 will not be sealed by the confronting work surface so that there may be a continuous movement of air between the

2,807,809 required by the conditions of use. When left open, the effect will be in large part that which results from the rapid flow of the air through the channels. In this connection, it will be noted that while generally desirable 5 for the reasons set forth above, the upper cover 6 is not essential to the operation of the device for some purposes, and may in some cases be deleted to advantage. It may be desirable also, as a means for air dissemination over the work surface, particularly in the absence of an 10 upper cover, to provide the upper edges of the grid elements 1 and 2 with shallow notches at their intersections, as illustrated at 8 in Figure 6, affording passages for air between the adjoining openings 3. Similar notches 9 may also be provided in the elements at points between the 15 intersections. In some cases also, clothing or other covering for the work surface may function in lieu of the cover 6. When the ends of the channels are closed, more air will be brought into intimate contact with the work surface. It will be apparent also that in cases 20 where the work surface is flat or of specific contour other than flat, the grid structure if flat or if conformed in shape originally to the said specific contour may be more or less inflexible or even rigid.

The term “ventilating” as used herein is intended to 25 embrace broadly any function related to the passage of fluid over a work surface and is not to be construed as imposing a limitation in the uses to which the grid structure may be placed.