U.S. patent application number 10/974035 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-02 for ventilating gloves and methods.
Invention is credited to Shim, Christine Jeeyon, Shim, Youngtack.
Application Number | 20050114981 10/974035 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34623084 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050114981 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shim, Youngtack ; et
al. |
June 2, 2005 |
Ventilating gloves and methods
Abstract
The present invention generally relates to various gloves
capable of ventilating air in and out of themselves in response to
various user input forces. More particularly, the present invention
relates to a glove which, has a body arranged to define at least
one opening for receiving at least a portion of a hand of an user
therethrough and an interior arranged to extend from the opening
inwardly into the body and for retaining the received portion of
the hand of the user. Such a glove also include at least one
pumping module which couples with and/or disposed inside the body
and is capable of supplying air to the body and/or dispensing air
from the body through at least one input force applied by the user
and/or at least one movement of at least a portion of the body of
the glove which is effected by such an input force of the user.
Accordingly, the present invention also relates to various pumping
modules arranged to be incorporated into various gloves and/or
various actuator modules. coupling with such pumping modules and
converting various user input forces into various driving forces
which drive the pumping modules. The present invention also relates
to various methods of ventilating air in and out of various gloves,
incorporating such pumping modules and/or actuator modules into
such gloves, and/or converting various user input forces into
various driving forces. The present invention further relates to
various processes for providing such ventilating gloves and for
providing pumping modules and/or actuator modules for such gloves.
The pumping and/or actuator modules of the present invention may be
incorporated into various gloves designed for thermal insulation
and for protection of users hands from mechanical, chemical,
radiological, and/or electrical hazards by ventilating air into and
out of the gloves, thereby controlling humidity and/or temperature
inside such gloves.
Inventors: |
Shim, Youngtack; (Port
Moody, CA) ; Shim, Christine Jeeyon; (Port Moody,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Youngtack Shim
155 Aspenwood Drive
Port Moody
BC
V3H 5A5
CA
|
Family ID: |
34623084 |
Appl. No.: |
10/974035 |
Filed: |
October 27, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60518613 |
Nov 10, 2003 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/159 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 19/01529 20130101;
A41D 19/015 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/159 |
International
Class: |
A41D 019/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. GENERAL CONFIGURATIONS: VENTILATING GLOVES Pa1 a ventilating
glove having a body configured to define at least one opening to
receive at least a portion of a hand of an user therethrough and to
also define an interior configured to extend from said opening
inwardly into said body and to retain said portion of said hand of
said user therein comprising: Ba1.1 Pumping Module and Input Force
at least one pumping module coupling with said body and capable of
at least one of supplying air to said interior of said body and
dispensing air therefrom by an input force applied by said user.
Ba1.2 Pumping Module and Movement at least one pumping module
coupling with said body and capable of at least one of supplying
air to said interior of said body and dispensing air therefrom in
response to at least one movement of at least a portion of said
body. Ba1.3 Pumping Module and Actuator Module for Input Force at
least one pumping module coupling with said body and capable of at
least one of supplying air to said interior of said body and
dispensing air therefrom by a driving force; and at least one
actuator module operatively coupling with said pumping module and
configured to receive an input force applied by said user and then
to convert said input force into said driving force by changing at
least one of an amplitude, a direction, and a timing of application
of said input force. Ba1.4 Pumping Module and Actuator Module for
Movement at least one pumping module coupling with said body and
capable of at least one of supplying air to said interior of said
body and dispensing air therefrom by a driving force; and at least
one actuator module operatively coupling with said pumping module
and configured to to convert at least one movement of at least a
portion of said body into said driving force by changing at least
one of an amplitude, a direction, and a timing of application of an
input force which is applied by said user and configured to cause
said movement of said portion of said body. DCs Dependent Claims of
Ba1.1 to Ba1.4 D01. said pumping module may be any of the following
pumping modules. D02 said pumping module supplies air thereto in
response to said input force and/or movement. D03. said pumping
module dispenses air therefrom in response to said input force
and/or movement. D04. said actuator module may be any of the
following actuator modules. D05. said movement of said portion of
body may be any of the following movements of said body. D06. said
input force may be applied to any module of said glove. Pa2 A
ventilating glove including a body which has at least one mobile
portion and is configured to define at least one opening to receive
at least a portion of a hand of an user therethrough, to define an
interior extending from said opening inwardly into said body and
retaining said portion of said hand of said user therein
comprising: Ba2.1 Pumping Module with Positions and Input Force at
least one, pumping module coupled to said body, configured to
operate between at least one on-position and at least one
off-position, configured to move from one to the other of said
positions by an input force applied by said user, and capable of at
least one of supplying air to said interior of said body in one of
said positions and dispensing air therefrom in the other of said
positions. Ba2.2 Pumping Module with Positions and Movement at
least one pumping module coupled to said body, configured to
operate between at least one on-position and at least one
off-position, configured to move from one to the other of said
positions in response to at least one movement of said mobile
portion of said body, and capable of at least one of supplying air
to said interior of said body in one of said positions and
dispensing air therefrom in the other of said positions. Ba2.3
Pumping Module with Positions and Actuator Module for Input Force
at least one pumping module coupled to said body, configured to
operate between at least one on-position and at least one
off-position, configured to move from one to the other of said
positions by a driving force, and capable of at least one of
supplying air to said interior of said body in one of said
positions and dispensing air therefrom in the other of said
positions; and at least one actuator module operatively coupling
with said pumping module and configured to receive an input force
applied by said user and then to convert, said input force into
said driving force by changing at least one of an amplitude, a
direction, and a timing of application of said input force. Ba2.4
Pumping Module with positions and Actuator Module for Movement at
least one pumping module coupled to said body, configured to
operate between at least one on-position and at least one
off-position, configured to move from one to the other of said
positions by a driving force, and capable of at least one of
supplying air to said interior of said body in one of said
positions and dispensing air therefrom in the other of said
positions; and at least one actuator module operatively coupling
with said pumping module and configured to to convert at least one
movement of said mobile portion of said body to said driving force
by changing at least one of an amplitude, a direction, and a timing
of application of an input force which is applied by said user and
configured to cause said movement of said mobile portion of said
body. DCs Dependent Claims of Ba2.1 to Ba2.4 D01. said pumping
module may be any of the following pumping modules. D02. said
pumping module supplies air thereto in response to said input
and/or driving force. D03. said pumping module dispenses air
therefrom in response to said input and/or driving force. D04. said
actuator module may be any of the following actuator modules. D05.
said movement of said portion of body may be any of the following
movements of said body. D06. said input and/or driving force may be
applied to any module of said glove.
2. SPECIFIC CONFIGURATIONS: VENTILATION SYSTEMS Pa1 A ventilation
system for transporting air in and out of a glove including a body
which defines at least one opening for receiving at least a portion
of a hand of an user therethrough and which defines an interior
extending from said opening inwardly into said body and is
configured to retain said portion of said hand of said user, said
ventilation system comprising: at least one inlet module configured
to be one of directly and indirectly coupled to said body, to have
at least one inlet air pathway, and to define at least one inlet
opening disposed in one end of said inlet air pathway and capable
of being in fluid communication with one of said interior of said
body and an exterior of said body; at least one outlet module
configured to be one of directly and indirectly coupled to said
body, to have at least one outlet air pathway, and to define at
least one outlet opening disposed in one end of said outlet air
pathway and capable of being in fluid communication with the other
of said interior of said body and said exterior of said body; Ba1.1
Inlet, Outlet; Pumping Modules and Input Force+Valve at least one
pumping module configured to one of directly and indirectly couple
with said body, capable of being in fluid communication with the
other end of said inlet air pathway and with the other end of said
outlet air pathway, and capable of at least one of supplying air
from said exterior into said interior of said body and dispensing
air from said interior to said exterior of said body through an
input force applied by said user, and Ba1.2 Inlet, Outlet, Pumping
Module and Movement+Valve at least one pumping module configured to
one of directly and indirectly couple with said body, capable of
being in fluid communication with the other end of said inlet air
pathway and with the other end of said outlet air pathway, and
capable of at least one of supplying air from said exterior into
said interior of said body and dispensing said air from said
interior to said exterior of said body in response to at least one
movement of at least a portion of said body; and Ba1.3 Inlet,
Outlet, Pumping Modules with Positions and Input Force+Valve at
least one pumping module configured to one of directly and
indirectly couple with said body, to operate between at least one
on-position and at least one off-position, and to move from one to
the other of said positions by an input force applied by said user,
and capable of at least one of supplying air from said exterior
into said interior of said body in one of said positions and
dispensing said air out of said interior to said exterior of said
body in the other of said positions; and Ba1.4 Inlet, Outlet,
Pumping Modules with Positions and Movement+Valve at least one
pumping module configured to one of directly and indirectly couple
with said body, to operate between at least one on-position and at
least one off-position, and to move from one to the other of said
positions in response to at least one movement of at least a
portion of said body of said glove, and capable of at least one of
supplying air to said interior of said body in one of said
positions and dispensing air from said interior to said exterior of
said body in the other of said positions; and at least one valve
disposed in at least one of said modules and configured to direct
said air in a preset direction therealong. DCs Dependent Claims of
Ba1.1 to Ba1.4 D01. said pumping module may be any of the following
pumping modules. D02. said pumping module supplies air thereto in
response to said input, force and/or movement. D03. said pumping
module dispenses air therefrom in response to said input force
and/or movement. D04. any of the following actuator modules may be
incorporated. D05. said movement of said portion of body may be any
of the following movements of said body. D06. said input force may
be applied to any part of said pumping module. Pa2. A ventilation
system for transporting air in and out of a glove in response to at
least one input force applied thereto by an user and including a
body defining at least one opening to receive at least a portion of
a hand of an user therethrough and further defining an interior
configured to extend from said opening inwardly into said body and
to retain said portion of said hand of said user therein, said
ventilation system comprising: at least one inlet module configured
to be one of directly and indirectly coupled to said body, to have
at least one inlet air pathway, and to define at least one inlet
opening disposed in one end of said inlet air pathway and capable
of being in fluid communication with one of said interior of said
body and an exterior of said body; at least one outlet module
configured to be one of directly and indirectly coupled to said
body, to have at least one outlet air pathway, and to define at
least one outlet opening disposed in one end of said outlet air
pathway and capable of being in fluid communication with the other
of said interior of said body and said exterior of said body; Ba2.1
Inlet, Outlet, Pumping Modules, Actuator Module for Input
Force+Valve at least one pumping module configured to one of
directly and indirectly couple with said body, capable of being in
fluid communication with the other end of said inlet air pathway
and with the other end of said outlet air pathway, and capable of
at least one of supplying air from said exterior to said interior
of said body and dispensing air from said interior to said exterior
of said body by at least one driving force; at least one actuator
module operatively coupling with said pumping module and configured
to receive said input force and to convert said input force into
said driving force by changing at least one of an amplitude, a
direction, and a timing of application of said input force; and at
least one valve disposed in at least one of said modules and
configured to direct said air in a preset direction therealong.
Ba2.2 Inlet, Outlet, Pumping Modules, Actuator Module for
Movement+Valve. at least one pumping module configured to one of
directly and indirectly couple with said body, capable of being in
fluid communication with the other end of said inlet air pathway
and with the other end of said outlet air pathway, and capable of
at least one of supplying air from said exterior into said interior
of said body and dispensing air from said interior to said exterior
of said body by at least one driving force; at least one actuator
module operatively coupling with said pumping module and configured
to to convert at least one movement of at least a portion of said
body into said driving force by changing at least one of an
amplitude, a direction, and a timing of application of said input
force configured to effect said movement of said portion of said
body; and at least one valve disposed in at least one of said
modules and configured to direct said air in a preset direction
therealong. Ba2.3 Inlet, Outlet, Pumping Modules with Positions,
Actuator Module for Input Force+Valve at least one pumping module
configured to one of directly and indirectly couple with said body,
to operate between at least one on-position and at least one
off-position, and to move from one to the other of said positions
by at least one driving force, capable of being in fluid
communication with the other end of said inlet air pathway and with
the other end of said outlet air pathway, and capable of at least
one of supplying air from said exterior into said interior of said
body in one of said positions and dispensing air from said interior
to said exterior of said body in the other of said positions; at
least one actuator module operatively coupling with said pumping
module and configured to receive said input force and to convert
said input force into said driving force by changing at least one
of an amplitude, a direction, and a timing of application of said
input force; and at least one valve disposed in at least one of
said modules and configured to direct said air in a preset
direction therealong. Ba2.4 Inlet, Outlet, Pumping Modules with
Positions, Actuator Module for Movement+Valve at least one pumping
module configured to one of directly and indirectly couple with
said body, to operate between at least one on-position and at least
one off-position, and to move from one to the other of said
positions by at least one driving force, capable of being in fluid
communication with the other end of said inlet air pathway and with
the other end of said outlet air pathway, and capable of at least
one of supplying air from said exterior into said interior of said
body in one of said positions and dispensing air from said interior
to said exterior of said body in the other of said positions; at
least one actuator module operatively coupling with said pumping
module and configured to to convert at least one movement of at
least a portion of said body effected by said input force to said
driving force by modulating at least one of an amplitude, a
direction, and a timing of application of said input force; and at
least one valve disposed in at least one of said modules and
configured to direct said air in a preset direction therealong. DCs
Dependent Claims of Ba2.1 to Ba2.4 D01. said inlet and/or outlet
pathway may be tubular and/or planar. D02. said inlet and/or outlet
pathway may be rigid and/or deformable (or collapsible). D03. said
pumping module may be any of the following pumping modules. D04.
said pumping module supplies air thereto in response to said input
and/or driving force. D05. said pumping module dispenses air
therefrom in response to said input and/or driving force. D06. any
of the following actuator modules may be incorporated. D07. said
movement of said portion of body may be any of the following
movements of said body. D08. said input and/or driving force may be
applied to any any part of said pumping module.
3. SPECIFIC CONFIGURATIONS: PUMPING MODULES Pa1 A pumping module of
a ventilation system for ventilating air in and out of a glove in
response to at least one of at least one input force applied to at
least a portion thereof by an user and at least one movement of at
least a portion of said glove, wherein said glove has a body
forming at least one outer surface and at least one inner surface,
defining at least one opening which is configured to receive at
least a portion of a hand of said user therethrough, and also
defining an interior which is configured to extend inwardly into
said body from said opening so as to retain said portion of said
hand therein, said pumping module comprising: Ba1.1 Deformable Pump
and Input Force a chamber which defines at least one inlet for
receiving air therethrough and at least one outlet for dispensing
air therethrough, (1) wherein said chamber is configured to be
disposed between said outer and inner surfaces of said body, to
indirectly receive said input force through at least one of said
outer and inner surfaces, and to change its internal volume in
response to said input force and wherein said chamber is capable of
one of receiving air through said inlet and dispensing air through
said outlet as a result of a change in said internal volume. (2)
wherein a portion of said chamber is configured to be disposed
between said outer and inner surfaces of said body, wherein another
portion of said chamber is configured to be exposed through said
outer surface, wherein said chamber is configured to one of
directly and indirectly receive said input force by said another
portion and to change its internal volume in response thereto, and
wherein said chamber is capable of one of receiving air through
said inlet and dispensing said air through said outlet as a result
of a change in said internal volume. (3) wherein said body defines
at least one gap space between at least portions of said outer and
inner surfaces, wherein at least a portion of said body is
configured to undergo said movement and to alter at least one
configuration of said gap space in response to said movement, and
wherein at least a portion of said chamber is configured to be
disposed inside said gap space and is capable of one of receiving
air through said inlet and dispensing air through said outlet in
response to a change in said configuration of said gap space. Ba1.2
Bellow Pump and Input Force a chamber which defines at least one
inlet for receiving air therethrough, at least one outlet for
dispensing air therethrough, and a plurality of foldable pleats by
which said chamber is configured to deform; (1) wherein said
chamber is configured to be disposed between said outer and inner
surfaces of said body, to indirectly receive said input force
through at least one of said outer and inner surfaces, and to
change its internal volume as a result of deformation of said
chamber including at least one of said pleats effected by said
input force and wherein said chamber is capable of one of receiving
air through said inlet and dispensing air through said outlet as a
result of a change in said internal volume. (2) wherein a portion
of said chamber is configured to be disposed between said outer and
inner surfaces of said body, wherein another portion of said
chamber is configured to be exposed through said outer surface,
wherein said chamber is configured to one of directly and
indirectly receive said input force by said another portion and to
change its, internal volume as a result of deformation of said
chamber including at least one of said pleats effected by said
input force, and wherein said chamber is capable of one of
receiving and dispensing air through said inlet and outlet,
respectively, as a result of a change in said internal volume. (3)
wherein said body defines at least one gap space between at least
portions of said outer and inner surfaces, wherein at least a
portion of said chamber including at least one pleat is configured
to undergo said movement and to change at least one configuration
of said gap space as a result of said movement, and wherein at
least a portion of said chamber having at least one pleat is
configured to be disposed in said gap space and is capable of one
of receiving air through said inlet and dispensing air through said
outlet as a result of a change in said configuration of said gap
space. Ba1.3 Syringe Pump and Input Force at least one cylinder
which defines at least one inlet for receiving air therethrough, at
least one outlet for dispensing air therethrough, and a cavity
therein; and at least one piston configured to move inside said
cavity between at least one intake position and at least one
discharge position and capable of taking air into said cavity in
said intake position and dispensing air out of said cavity in said
discharge position, (1) wherein said cylinder and piston are
configured to be disposed between said outer and inner surfaces of
said body, wherein said piston is configured to indirectly receive
said input force through at least one of said outer and inner
surfaces, to reciprocate along said cavity between said positions
in response thereto, and to change an amount of air contained
inside said cavity to a maximum value in said intake position and
to a minimum value in said discharge position, and wherein said
cylinder is configured to receive air through said inlet in said
intake position and then to dispense air through said outlet
through said outlet in said discharge position due to of a change
in said volume thereof. (2) wherein at least a substantial portion
of said cylinder is configured to be disposed between said outer
and inner surfaces of said body, wherein at least a portion of said
piston is configured to be exposed through said outer surface and
to directly receive said input force thereby, to reciprocate along
said cavity between said positions in response thereto, and to
change a volume of said cavity to a maximum value in said intake
position and then to a minimum value in said discharge position,
and wherein said cylinder is configured to receive air through said
inlet in said intake position and then to dispense air through said
outlet in said discharge position due to a change in said internal
volume. (3) wherein said body defines at least one gap space
between at least portions of said outer and inner surfaces, wherein
at least a portion of said body is configured to undergo said
movement and to alter at least one configuration of said gap space
as a result of said movement, and wherein at least a portion of at
least one of said piston and cylinder is configured to be disposed
in said gap space and is capable of one of receiving air through
said inlet and dispensing air through said outlet as a result of a
change in said configuration of said gap space. D01. a single
opening serves as both of said inlet and outlet openings. D02. said
chamber has a recoil property and/or includes a recoil unit. D03.
said pumping module supplies air thereto in response to said input
force. D04. said pumping module dispenses air therefrom in response
to said input force. D05 said movement of said portion of body may
be any of the following movements of said body. D06. said input
force may be applied to any any part of said pumping module.
4. SPECIFIC CONFIGURATIONS: ACTUATOR MODULES Pa1 An actuator module
of a ventilating system for ventilating air in and out of a glove
in response to at least one movement of at least a portion of said
glove effected by at least one input force applied to at least a
portion of said glove by an user, wherein said system has at least
one pumping module configured to be coupled to said body of said
glove and to pump air into and out of itself, said actuator module
comprising: Ba1.1 General at least one actuator configured to be
operatively coupled to said pumping module, to at least one of
deform and move in response to said movement of said portion of
said glove, and to convert said input force into a driving force
which has at least one of an amplitude, a direction, and a timing
of application different from that of said input force and which is
delivered to said pumping module so as to at least one of pump air
thereinto and pump air therefrom. Ba1.2 Actuator Modules with
Positions at least one actuator configured to be operatively
coupled to said pumping module, to at least one of deform and move
between at least one on-position and at least one off-position in
response to said movement of said portion of said glove, and to
convert said input force into a driving force while moving from
said off-position to said on-position, wherein said driving force
is configured to have at least one of an amplitude, a direction,
and a timing of application different from that of said input force
and to be delivered to said pumping module in order to at least one
of pump air thereinto and pump air therefrom. Pa2 An actuator
module of a ventilation system for ventilating air in and out of a
glove in response to at least one movement of at least a portion of
said glove effected by at least one input force applied to at least
a portion of said glove by an user, wherein said glove includes a
body forming at least one finger portion configured to receive at
least one finger of a hand of said user, at least one backhand
portion, and at least one palm portion and wherein said system
includes at least one pumping module configured to be coupled to
said body of said glove and to pump air into and out of itself,
said actuator module comprising: Ba1.1 Fisting-Unfisting at least
one actuator configured to be operatively coupled to said pumping
module, to at least one of deform and move in response to at least
one of a fisting and unfisting movement of at least one of said
finger portion, and to convert said input force into a driving
force which has at least one of an amplitude, a direction, and a
timing of application different from that of said input force and
which is delivered to said pumping module so as to at least one of
pump air thereinto and pump air therefrom. Ba1.2
Stretching-Unstretching at least one actuator configured to be
operatively coupled to said pumping module, to at least one of
deform and move in response to at least one of a stretching and
unstretching movement of at least one of said finger portion, and
to convert said input force into a driving force which has at least
one of an amplitude, a direction, and a timing of application
different from that of said input force and which is delivered to
said pumping module in order to at least one of pump air thereinto
and pump air therefrom. Ba1.3 Bending-Unbending at least one
actuator configured to be operatively coupled to said pumping
module, to at least one of deform and move in response to at least
one of a bending and unbending movement of at least one of said
finger portion, and to convert said input force into a driving
force which has at least one of an amplitude; a direction, and a
timing of application different from that of said input force and
is delivered to said pumping module so as to at least one of pump
air thereinto and pump air therefrom. Ba1.4 Squeezing-Relaxing at
least one actuator configured to be operatively coupled to said
pumping module, to at least one of deform and move in response to
at least one of a squeezing and relaxing movement between said palm
portion and at least one of said finger portion, and to convert
said input force into a driving force which has at least one of an
amplitude, a direction, and a timing of application different from
that of said input force and which is delivered to said pumping
module to at least one of pump air thereinto and pump air
therefrom. Ba1.5 Interfinger Squeezing at least one actuator
configured to be operatively coupled to said pumping module, to at
least one of deform and move in response to at least one of a
squeezing and relaxing movement between a plurality of said finger
portions, and to convert said input force into a driving force
which has at least one of an amplitude, a direction, and a timing
of application different from that of said input force and which is
delivered to said pumping module in order to at least one of pump
air thereinto and pump air therefrom.
5. GENERAL METHODS Pm1 A method of ventilating air into and out of
a glove defining an interior comprising the steps of: Bm1.1
Simplest supplying fresh air from atmosphere into said interior of
said glove; and dispensing moist air inside said interior of said
glove out of said interior thereof. Bm1.2 Active Pumping module
providing a pumping module capable of pumping air thereinto and
therefrom; and supplying fresh atmospheric air into said interior
of said glove by said pumping module; and replacing moist air
inside said interior of said glove therefrom by said fresh air.
Bm1.3 Active Pumping module providing a pumping module capable of
pumping air thereinto and therefrom; and dispensing moist air in
said interior of said glove therefrom by said pumping module; and
allowing fresh air to flow into said interior of said glove. Pm2 A
method of ventilating air into and out of a glove defining an
interior comprising the steps of: Bm2.1 Active Pumping providing a
pumping module capable of pumping air thereinto and therefrom; and
manipulating said pumping module so as to pump fresh air from
atmosphere into said interior of said glove while pushing out moist
air inside said interior of said glove therefrom by said fresh air.
Bm2.2 Passive Pumping providing a pumping module capable of pumping
air thereinto and therefrom; and manipulating said pumping module
so as to pump out moist air inside said interior of said glove to
atmosphere, thereby allowing fresh air to move into said interior
of said glove. Pm3 A method of controlling humidity of air in an
interior of a glove comprising the steps of: Bm3.1 Active Pumping
providing a pumping module capable of pumping air thereinto and
therefrom; and manipulating said pumping module in order to pump
dry air from atmosphere into said interior of said glove while
pushing out moist air in said interior of said glove therefrom by
said dry atmospheric air, thereby controlling said humidity
approximately at a level of said atmosphere. Bm3.2 Passive Pumping
providing a pumping module capable of pumping air thereinto and
therefrom; manipulating said pumping module in order to pump out
moist air in said interior of said glove to atmosphere; and
allowing dry air in atmosphere to move into said interior of said
glove, thereby controlling said humidity approximately at a level
of said atmosphere. Pm4 A method of controlling temperature of air
ventilated into an interior of a glove comprising the steps of:
Bm4.1 Different Lengths providing a plurality of air pathways for
flowing air therethrough and having different lengths; disposing
said air pathways adjacent to said interior of said glove; allowing
air to absorb thermal energy from said interior while flowing
through said plurality of said air pathways for different temporal
durations due to said different lengths thereof; and selecting one
of said air pathways, thereby controlling said temperature of air
flowing through said one of said air pathways. Bm4.2 Heat Exchange
between Air providing at least one first air pathway for flowing
fresh air into said interior of said glove; providing at least one
second air pathway for flowing moist air out of said interior
thereof; and disposing said first and second air pathways adjacent
to each other, thereby allowing a heat exchange between said fresh
air and said moist air.
6. PRODUCTS-BY-PROCESSES Modify preambles of other apparatus claims
of the foregoing [1] to [4]Then use bodies of any method claims of
the foregoing [5]DCs Dependent Claims Same as those for the
apparatus claims and/or method claims of the foregoing [1] to [4]
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to various gloves
capable of ventilating air in and out of themselves in response to
various user input forces. More particularly, the present invention
relates to a glove which has a body arranged to define at least one
opening for receiving at least a portion of a hand of an user
therethrough and an interior arranged to extend from the opening
inwardly into the body and for retaining the received portion of
the hand of the user. Such a glove also include at least one
pumping module which couples with and/or disposed inside the body
and is capable of supplying air to the body and/or dispensing air
from the body through at least one input force applied by the user
and/or at least one movement of at least a portion of the body of
the glove which is effected by such an input force of the user.
Accordingly, the present invention also relates to various pumping
modules arranged to be incorporated into various gloves and/or
various actuator modules coupling with such pumping modules and
converting various user input forces into various driving forces
which drive the pumping modules. The present invention also relates
to various methods of ventilating air in and out of various gloves,
incorporating such pumping modules and/or actuator modules into
such gloves, and/or converting various user input forces into
various driving forces. The present invention further relates to
various processes for providing such ventilating gloves and for
providing pumping modules and/or actuator modules for such gloves.
The pumping and/or actuator modules of the present invention may be
incorporated into various gloves designed for thermal insulation
and for protection of user's hands from mechanical, chemical,
radiological, and/or electrical hazards by ventilating air into and
out of the gloves, thereby controlling humidity and/or temperature
inside such gloves.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Gloves have been used for centuries to provide thermal
insulation and to protect users' hands against cold weathers. With
the advent of material fabrication technologies, new materials have
been developed to provide a better thermal insulation so that users
may engage in various outdoor activities for hours without
suffering from frostbites. Gloves have also been used to protect
hands of workers from various job-related chemical, mechanical,
radiological or electrical hazards and are typically made of
materials which can provide insulation, resistance or protection
against toxic chemicals, mechanical impact, electromagnetic waves
or particle rays, electrical shocks, and so on. Gloves have also
been developed to be waterproof or airtight to prevent water or
toxic gas from getting thereinto.
[0003] Although conventional gloves may provide desirable thermal
insulation and protection against various work-related hazards,
they all suffer from a common defect, i.e., conventional gloves do
not and cannot provide satisfactory ventilation. As a result, a
moisture expired through a skin of the hand of the user tends to
accumulate in an interior of such a glove over time, which renders
the glove wet, allows fungi to grow therein to give off offensive
odors or breeds various microorganisms which may cause skin
diseases.
[0004] Accordingly, there is a need for gloves capable of
ventilating air thereinto and therefrom such that the user can
control humidity and/or temperature inside such gloves.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention generally relates to various gloves
capable of ventilating air in and out of themselves in response to
various user input forces. More particularly, the present invention
relates to a glove which includes at least one pumping module
coupling with or disposed inside a body of the glove and capable of
supplying air into and/or dispensing air out of the body through at
least one input force applied by the user and/or through at least
one movement of at least a portion of the body of the glove
effected by the input force. Accordingly, this invention also
relates to various pumping modules arranged to be incorporated into
various gloves and/or various actuator modules coupling with such
pumping modules and converting various user input forces into
various driving forces which drive the pumping modules. The present
invention also relates to various methods of ventilating air in and
out of various gloves, incorporating such pumping modules and/or
actuator modules into such gloves, and/or converting various user
input forces into various driving forces. The present invention
further relates to various processes for providing such ventilating
gloves and for providing pumping modules and/or actuator modules
for such gloves.
[0006] In one aspect of the present invention, a ventilating glove
is provided to have a body which is arranged to define at least one
opening to receive at least a portion of a hand of an user
therethrough and to also define an interior arranged to extend from
the opening inwardly into the body and to retain the portion of the
hand of the user therein. In one exemplary embodiment, such a glove
may include at least one pumping module coupling with the body and
capable of supplying air to the interior of such a body and/or
dispensing air out of such an interior of the body by an input
force applied by the user. In another exemplary embodiment, the
glove may include at least one pumping module which is coupled to
the body and capable of supplying air to the interior of the body
and/or dispensing air out of such a body in response to at least
one movement of at least a portion of such a body. In another
exemplary embodiment, the glove may include at least one pumping
module and at least one actuator module. The pumping module is
arranged to couple with the body and capable of supplying air to
the interior of the body and/or dispensing air out of the body by a
driving force, while the actuator module is arranged to operatively
couple with the pumping module and to receive an input force
applied by the user and then to convert the input force into the
driving force by changing an amplitude, a direction, and/or a
timing of application of the input force. In another exemplary
embodiment, the glove may include at least one pumping module and
at least one actuator module. The pumping module is arranged to
couple with the body and capable of supplying air to the interior
of the body and/or dispensing air out of the body by a driving
force, while the actuator module operatively couples with the
pumping module and is arranged to convert at least one movement of
at least a portion of the body into the driving force by changing
an amplitude, a direction, and/or a timing of application of an
input force which is applied by the user and arranged to cause such
a movement of such a portion of the body.
[0007] Embodiments of this aspect of the invention may include one
or more of the following features.
[0008] The pumping and/or actuator modules may be provided based on
any of the following pumping and/or actuator modules as will be
described in greater detail below. Such a pumping module may be
arranged to take air thereinto in response to the input force
and/or movement or, in the alternative, to dispense air therefrom
in response to the input force and/or movement. The foregoing
movement of the movable or deformable portion of body may be any of
the following movements of the body as will be described in greater
detail below. In addition, the input force may be applied to any
modules of the ventilating glove.
[0009] In another aspect of the present invention, a ventilating
glove is provided to have a body which includes at least one mobile
portion and is arranged to define at least one opening to receive
at least a portion of a hand of an user therethrough, to define an
interior arranged to extend inwardly from the opening into the body
and to retain the portion of the hand therein. In one exemplary
embodiment, the glove may also include at least one pumping module
which is coupled to the body, arranged to operate between at least
one on-position and at least one off-position, arranged to move
from one to the other of the positions by an input force applied by
the user, and capable of supplying air to the interior of the body
while moving to one of the such positions and/or dispensing air out
of the body while moving to the other of such positions. In another
exemplary embodiment, the glove may also include at least one
pumping module which couples with the body and which is arranged to
operate or move between at least one on-position and at least one
off-position, to move from one to the other of such positions in
response to at least one movement of the mobile portion of the
body, and capable of of supplying air to the interior of the body
while moving to one of the positions and/or dispensing air from
such a body while moving to the other of the positions. In another
exemplary embodiment, the glove may include at least one pumping
module and at least one actuator module. The pumping module may
couple with the body and may be arranged to operate or move between
at least one on-position and at least one off-position, to operate
or move from one to the other of the positions by a driving force,
and capable of supplying air to the interior of the body while
moving to one of the above positions and/or dispensing air out of
the body while moving to the other of the positions. The actuator
module operatively couples with the pumping module and may be
arranged to receive an input force applied by the user and then to
convert the input force into the driving force by changing an
amplitude, a direction, and/or a timing of application of such an
input force. In another exemplary embodiment, the glove may include
at least one pumping module and at least one actuator module. Such
a pumping module is coupled to the body and arranged to operate
between at least one on-position and at least one off-position, to
move from one to the other of such positions by a driving force,
and capable of supplying air to the interior of the body while
moving to one of such positions and/or dispensing air therefrom
while moving to the other of the positions. The actuator module is
operatively coupled to the pumping module and is arranged to
convert at least one movement of the mobile portion of the body
into the driving force by changing an amplitude, a direction,
and/or a timing of application of an input force which is applied
by the user and arranged to cause the movement of the mobile
portion of the body.
[0010] Embodiments of this aspect of the invention may include one
or more of the following features.
[0011] The pumping and/or actuator modules may be provided based on
any of the following pumping and/or actuator modules as will be
described in greater detail below. Such a pumping module may be
arranged to take air thereinto in response to the input and/or
driving force or, alternatively, to dispense air therefrom in
response to the input and/or driving force. The foregoing movement
of the movable or deformable portion of body may be any of the
following movements of the body as will be described in greater
detail below. In addition, the input and/or driving force may be
applied to any modules of the ventilating glove.
[0012] In another aspect of the present invention, a ventilation
system is arranged to transport air into and out of a glove
including a body which defines at least one opening to receive at
least a portion of a hand of an user therethrough and also defines
an interior extending inwardly from the opening to the body and
capable of retaining such a portion of the hand of the user. In
general, such a ventilation system has at least one inlet module
and at least one outlet module. The inlet module is arranged to be
directly or indirectly coupled to the body, to have at least one
inlet air pathway, and to define at least one inlet opening which
is disposed in one end of the inlet air pathway and which is
capable of being in fluid communication with one of the interior of
the body and an exterior of the body. Similarly, the outlet module
is arranged to directly or indirectly couple with the body, to
include at least one outlet air pathway, and to also define at
least one outlet opening disposed in one end of the outlet air
pathway and capable of being in fluid communication with the other
of the interior and exterior of the body. In one exemplary
embodiment, the ventilating system further includes at least one
pumping module which is arranged to directly or indirectly couple
with the body, capable of being in fluid communication with the
other end of the inlet air pathway and with the other end of the
outlet air pathway, and capable of supplying air from the exterior
into the interior of the body and/or dispensing air from the
interior to the exterior of the body through an input force applied
by the user. In another exemplary embodiment, the ventilating
system may further include at least one pumping module which is
arranged to be directly or indirectly coupled to the body, is
capable of being in fluid communication with the other end of the
inlet air pathway and with the other end of the outlet air pathway,
and is capable of supplying air from the exterior into the interior
of the body and/or dispensing air from the interior to the exterior
of the body in response to at least one movement (or deformation)
of at least one movable (or deformable) portion of the body. In
another exemplary embodiment, the ventilating system also includes
at least one pumping module which is arranged to be directly or
indirectly coupled to the body, to operate between at least one
on-position and at least one off-position, and to move from one to
the other of the positions by an input force applied by the user,
and capable of supplying air from the exterior to the interior of
such a body while moving to one of such positions and/or dispensing
the air out of the interior to the exterior of such a body while
moving to the other of such positions. In another exemplary
embodiment, such a ventilating system may include at least one
pumping module which is arranged to directly or indirectly couple
with the body, to operate between at least one on-position and at
least one off-position, and to move from one to the other of the
positions in response to at least one movement of at least a
portion of the body of the glove, and capable of supplying air to
the interior of the body while moving to one of such positions
and/or dispensing air out of the interior to the exterior of the
body while moving to the other of the positions. In any of such
embodiments, the ventilating system may further include at least
one valve disposed in or around at least one of the foregoing
modules and arranged to direct air in a preset direction
therethrough.
[0013] Embodiments of this aspect of the invention may include one
or more of the following features.
[0014] The pumping and/or actuator modules may be provided based on
any of the following pumping and/or actuator modules as will be
described in greater detail below. Such a pumping module may be
arranged to take air thereinto in response to the input force
and/or movements of such a portion of the body or, alternatively,
to dispense air therefrom in response to such an input force and/or
movements. The foregoing movements of the movable (or deformable)
portion of body may be any of the following movements of the body
as will be described in greater detail below. In addition, such an
input force may be applied to any modules of the ventilating
glove.
[0015] In another aspect of the present invention, a ventilation
system is provided to transport air into and out of a glove in
response to at least one input force which is applied thereto by an
user, where such a ventilating system includes a body which defines
at least one opening for receiving at least a portion of a hand of
an user therethrough and further defines an interior extending
inwardly from the opening into the body and capable of retaining
such a portion of the hand of the user. In general, the ventilation
system includes at least one inlet module and at least one outlet
module. The inlet module is arranged to be directly or indirectly
coupled to the body, to have at least one inlet air pathway, and to
define at least one inlet opening disposed in one end of the inlet
air pathway and capable of being in fluid communication with one of
the interior of the body and an exterior of the body. The outlet
module is arranged to directly or indirectly couple with the body,
to include at least one outlet air pathway, and to also define at
least one outlet opening disposed in one end of the outlet air
pathway and capable of being in fluid communication with the other
of the interior and exterior of the body. In one exemplary
embodiment, such a ventilating system may also includes at least
one pumping module and at least one actuator module. Such a pumping
module is arranged to be directly or indirectly coupled to the
body, capable of being in fluid communication with the other end of
the inlet air pathway and with the other end of the outlet air
pathway, and capable of supplying air from the exterior to the
interior of the body and/or dispensing air from the interior to the
exterior of the body by at least one driving force. Such an
actuator module is operatively coupled to the pumping module and is
arranged to receive the input force and to convert the input force
into the driving force by changing an amplitude, a direction,
and/or a timing of application of the input force. In another
exemplary embodiment, the ventilating system may have at least one
pumping module and at least one actuator module. The pumping module
is arranged to be directly or indirectly coupled to the body,
capable of being in fluid communication with the other end of the
inlet air pathway and with the other end of the outlet air pathway,
and capable of supplying air from the exterior into the interior of
the body and/or dispensing air from the interior to the exterior of
the body by at least one driving force. The actuator module is
arranged to operatively couple with the pumping module, to convert
at least one movement of at least a portion of such a body into the
driving force by changing an amplitude, a direction, and/or a
timing of application of the input force effecting such a movement
of the portion of the body. In another exemplary embodiment, the
ventilating system includes at least one pumping module and at
least one actuator module. The pumping module may be arranged to be
directly or indirectly coupled to the body, to operate between at
least one on-position and at least one off-position, and to move
from one to the other of the positions by at least one driving
force, capable of being in fluid communication with the other end
of the inlet air pathway and with the other end of the outlet air
pathway, and capable of supplying air from the exterior into the
interior of the body while moving to one of such positions and/or
dispensing air from the interior to the exterior of the body while
moving to the other of such positions. The actuator module is
operatively coupled to the pumping module and arranged to receive
the input force and then to convert such an input force into the
driving force by changing an amplitude, a direction, and/or a
timing of application of the input force. In another exemplary
embodiment, the ventilating system includes at least one pumping
module and at least one actuator module. The pumping module is
arranged to directly or indirectly couple with the body, to operate
between at least one on-position and at least one off-position, and
to move from one to the other of the positions by at least one
driving force, capable of being in fluid communication with the
other end of the inlet air pathway and with the other end of the
outlet air pathway, and also capable of supplying air from the
exterior into the interior of the body while moving to one of the
above positions and/or dispensing air from the interior to the
exterior of the body while moving to the other of such positions.
The actuator module is operatively coupled to the pumping module
and is arranged to convert at least one movement of at least a
portion of such a body effected by the input force into the driving
force by modulating an amplitude, a direction, and/or a timing of
application of the input force. In any of the foregoing
embodiments, the ventilating system may include at least one valve
disposed in at least one of the foregoing modules and arranged to
direct the air in a preset direction therealong.
[0016] Embodiments of this aspect of the invention may include one
or more of the following features.
[0017] The inlet and/or outlet air pathway may be shaped as a
tubular or planar conduit which defines an air path therein and may
be made of a rigid, elastic or deformable material and/or arranged
to have an elastic configuration. The pumping and/or actuator
modules may be provided based on any of the following pumping
and/or actuator modules as will be described in greater detail
below. The pumping module may be arranged to take air thereinto in
response to the input force and/or movements of such a portion of
the body or, alternatively, to dispense air therefrom in response
to the input force and/or movements. The foregoing movements of the
movable (or deformable) portion of body may be any of the following
movements of the body as will be described in greater detail below.
In addition, such an input and/or driving force may be applied to
any modules of the ventilating glove.
[0018] In another aspect of the present invention, a pumping module
may be provided for a ventilation system for ventilating air in and
out of a glove in response to at least one input force applied to
at least a portion thereof by an user and/or at least one movement
of at least a portion of the glove, where the glove includes a body
which forms at least one outer surface and at least one inner
surface, defines at least one opening arranged to receive at least
a portion of a hand of the user therethrough and also defining an
interior which is arranged to extend inwardly into the body from
the opening to retain such a portion of the hand therein. The
pumping module may include a chamber which defines at least one
inlet which is arranged to receive air therethrough as well as at
least one outlet which is arranged to dispense air
therethrough.
[0019] In one exemplary embodiment, such a chamber is arranged to
be disposed between the outer and inner surfaces of the body, to
indirectly receive the input force through at least one of the
outer and inner surfaces, and to change its internal volume in
response to the input force. The chamber is also capable of
receiving air through the inlet and/or dispensing air through the
outlet as a result of a change in the internal volume. In another
exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of such a chamber is
arranged to be disposed between the outer and inner surfaces of the
body, while another portion of the chamber is arranged to be
exposed through the outer surface. The chamber is also arranged to
directly or indirectly receive the input force by the another
portion and to change its internal volume in response thereto.
Thus, the chamber is capable of receiving air through the inlet
and/or dispensing the air through the outlet as a result of a
change in the internal volume of such a chamber. In another
exemplary embodiment, the body may also define at least one gap
space between at least portions of the outer and inner surfaces. At
least a portion of the body is arranged to undergo the movement and
to alter at least one configuration of the gap space in response to
such a movement, whereas at least a portion of the chamber is
arranged to be disposed inside the gap space and is capable of
receiving air through the inlet and/or dispensing air through the
outlet in response to a change in the configuration of such a gap
space.
[0020] In a related aspect of this invention, the pumping module
may include a chamber which defines at least one inlet which is
arranged to receive air therethrough, at least one outlet which is
arranged to dispense air therethrough, and multiple foldable pleats
by which the chamber is arranged to deform. In one exemplary
embodiment, the chamber is arranged to be disposed between the
outer and inner surfaces of the body, to indirectly receive the
input force through the outer and/or inner surfaces, and to change
its internal volume as a result of deformation of the chamber
involving at least one of such pleats effected by the input force.
Therefore, the chamber is capable of receiving air through the
inlet and/or dispensing air through the outlet due to a change in
the internal volume of such a chamber. In another exemplary
embodiment, a portion of such a chamber is arranged to be disposed
between the outer and inner surfaces of the body, while another
portion of the chamber is arranged to be exposed through the outer
surface. The chamber is arranged to directly or indirectly receive
the input force by the another portion and to change its internal
volume as a result of deformation of thereof including at least one
of the pleats effected by the input force. Therefore, such a
chamber is capable of receiving and/or dispensing air through the
inlet and outlet, respectively, as a result of a change in the
internal volume. In another exemplary embodiment, the body defines
at least one gap space between at least portions of the outer and
inner surfaces, and at least a portion of the chamber with at least
one pleat is arranged to undergo the movement and to change at
least one configuration of the gap space as a result of the
movement. By disposing at least a portion of the chamber having at
least one pleat in the gap space, such a chamber is capable of
receiving air through the inlet and/or dispensing air through the
outlet as a result of a change in the configuration of the gap
space.
[0021] In another related aspect of this invention, the pumping
module may include at least one piston and at least one cylinder,
where the piston defines at least one inlet for receiving air
therethrough, at least one outlet for dispensing air therethrough,
and a cavity therein, whereas the piston is arranged to move inside
the cavity between at least one intake position and at least one
discharge position and capable of taking air into the cavity while
moving to the intake position and/or dispensing air out of the
cavity while moving to the discharge position. In one exemplary
embodiment, the cylinder and piston are arranged to be disposed
between the outer and inner surfaces of the body, where the piston
is arranged to indirectly receive the input force through the outer
and/or inner surfaces, to reciprocate along the cavity between the
positions in response thereto, and to change an amount of air
contained inside the cavity to a maximum value in the intake
position while to a minimum value in the discharge position. The
cylinder is arranged to receive air through the inlet in the intake
position and to dispense air through the outlet through the outlet
in the discharge position resulting from a change in its volume. In
another exemplary embodiment, at least a substantial portion of the
cylinder may be arranged to be disposed between the outer and inner
surfaces of the body. At least a portion of the piston may be
arranged to be exposed through the outer surface and to directly
receive the input force thereby, to reciprocate along the cavity
between the positions in response thereto, and to change a volume
of the cavity to a maximum value in the intake position and then to
a minimum value in the discharge position. The the cylinder is,
therefore, arranged to receive air through the inlet in the intake
position and then to dispense air through the outlet in the
discharge position due to a change in the internal volume. In yet
another exemplary embodiment, the body defines at least one gap
space between at least portions of the outer and inner surfaces. At
least a portion of the body is arranged to undergo the movement and
to change at least one configuration of the gap space as a result
of the movement. At least a portion of the piston and/or cylinder
is arranged to be disposed in the gap space and capable of
receiving air through the inlet and/or dispensing air through the
outlet as a result of a change in the configuration of the gap
space.
[0022] Embodiments of this aspect of the invention may include one
or more of the following features. For example, a single opening
may serve as both of the inlet and outlet openings and multiple
inlet or outlet openings may also be used. The chamber may be
arranged to have a recoil property or, in the alternative, may
include at least one recoil unit capable of providing such a recoil
property. In addition, the pumping module may be arranged to supply
fresh air to the chamber in response to various input forces and/or
movements of the glove. Contrary to such an active ventilation
mechanism, a passive ventilation mechanism may be used such that
the pumping module dispenses air from the interior of the globe in
response to the input force and/or movements of the glove by
sucking the moist air from the interior of the glove and then
allowing the fresh air to replace the moist air.
[0023] In another aspect of the present invention, an actuator
module is provided for an air ventilating system to ventilate air
in and out of a glove in response to at least one movement of at
least a portion of the glove effected by at least one input force
applied to at least a portion of the glove by an user. Such a
ventilation system includes at least one pumping module arranged to
be coupled to the body of the glove and to pump air thereinto and
therefrom. In one exemplary embodiment, the actuator module
includes at least one actuator arranged to be operatively coupled
to the pumping module, to deform or move in response to the
movement of such a portion of such a glove, and to convert the
input force into a driving force which has an amplitude, a
direction, and/or a timing of application different from that of
the input force and which is delivered to the pumping module so as
to pump air thereinto and/or pump air therefrom. In another
exemplary embodiment, the actuator module has at least one actuator
arranged to be operatively coupled to the pumping module, to deform
and/or move between at least one on-position and at least one
off-position in response to the movement of the portion of the
glove, and to convert the input force into a driving force while
moving from the off-position to the on-position, where the driving
force has an amplitude, a direction, and/or a timing of application
different from that of the input force and to be delivered to the
pumping module to at least one of pump air thereinto and pump air
therefrom.
[0024] In yet another aspect of the present invention, an actuator
module is provided for a ventilation system to ventilate air in and
out of a glove in response to at least one movement of at least a
portion of the glove effected by at least one input force applied
to at least a portion of the glove by an user. Such a glove
includes a body which forms at least one finger portion arranged to
receive at least one finger of a hand of the user, at least one
backhand portion, and at least one palm portion, whereas the
ventilation system includes at least one pumping module arranged to
couple with the body of the glove and to pump air into and out of
itself. In one exemplary embodiment, the actuator module includes
at least one actuator arranged to be operatively coupled to the
pumping module, to deform and/or move in response to fisting and/or
unfisting movements of at least one of the finger portion, and to
convert the input force into a driving force which has an
amplitude, a direction, and/or a timing of application different
from that of the input force and which is delivered to the pumping
module in order to pump air thereinto and pump air therefrom. In
another exemplary embodiment, the actuator module includes at least
one actuator arranged to be operatively coupled to the pumping
module, to deform and/or move in response to stretching and/or
unstretching movements of at least one of the finger portion, and
to convert such an input force into a driving force which has an
amplitude, a direction, and/or a timing of application different
from that of the input force and which is delivered to the pumping
module in order to pump air thereinto or therefrom. In another
exemplary embodiment, the actuator module includes at least one
actuator arranged to be operatively coupled to the pumping module,
to deform and/or move in response to bending and/or unbending
movements of at least one of the above finger portion, and to
convert the input force into a driving force which may have an
amplitude, a direction, and a timing of application different from
that of the input force and may be delivered to the pumping module
so as to pump air thereinto and/or therefrom. In another exemplary
embodiment, the actuator module has at least one actuator arranged
to be operatively coupled to the pumping module, to deform and/or
move in response to squeezing and/or relaxing movements between the
palm portion and at least one of the finger portion, and to convert
the input force into a driving force which has an amplitude, a
direction, and a timing of application different from that of the
input force and which is delivered to the pumping module in order
to pump air thereinto and/or therefrom. In another exemplary
embodiment, the actuator module also includes at least one actuator
arranged to operatively couple with the pumping module, to deform
and/or move in response to squeezing and/or relaxing movements of
or between more than one finger portion, and to convert the input
force into a driving force having an amplitude, a direction, and a
timing of application different from that of the input force and
delivered to the pumping module in order to pump air thereinto
and/or therefrom.
[0025] In another aspect of the present invention, a method is
provided for ventilating air into and out of a glove defining an
interior. In one exemplary embodiment, such a method may include
the steps of supplying fresh air from atmosphere into the interior
of the glove and then dispensing moist air inside the interior of
the glove out of the interior thereof. In another exemplary
embodiment, such a method may include the steps of providing a
pumping module capable of pumping air thereinto and therefrom,
supplying a fresh atmospheric air into the interior of the glove by
the pumping module, and replacing a moist air inside the interior
of the glove therefrom by the fresh air. In another exemplary
embodiment, the method may include the steps of providing a pumping
module capable of pumping air thereinto and therefrom, dispensing
moist air in the interior of the glove therefrom by such a pumping
module, and allowing fresh air to flow into the interior of the
glove.
[0026] In another aspect of the present invention, another method
may be provided for ventilating air into and out of a glove
defining an interior. In one exemplary embodiment of an active
ventilation, the method includes the steps of providing at least
one pumping module capable of pumping air thereinto and therefrom
and manipulating such a pumping module so as to pump fresh air from
atmosphere into the interior of the glove while pushing out moist
air inside the interior of the glove therefrom by fresh air. In
another exemplary embodiment of a passive ventilation, the method
may include the steps of providing a pumping module capable of
pumping air thereinto and therefrom and manipulating such a pumping
module to pump out moist air inside the interior of the glove to
atmosphere, thereby allowing fresh air to move into the interior of
the glove.
[0027] In another aspect of the present invention, another method
is provided for controlling humidity of air in an interior of a
glove. In one exemplary embodiment, such a method may include the
steps of providing a pumping module capable of pumping air
thereinto and therefrom and manipulating such a pumping module in
order to pump dry air from atmosphere into the interior of the
glove while pushing out moist air in the interior of the glove
therefrom by the dry atmospheric air, thereby controlling such a
humidity approximately at a level of the atmosphere. In another
exemplary embodiment, such a method may include the steps of
providing a pumping module capable of pumping air thereinto and
therefrom, manipulating the pumping module so as to pump out moist
air in the interior of the glove to atmosphere, and allowing dry
atmospheric air to move into the interior of the glove, thereby
controlling the humidity approximately at a level of the
atmosphere.
[0028] In another aspect of the present invention, yet another
method may be provided for controlling temperature of air
ventilated into an interior of a glove. In one exemplary
embodiment, the method may include the steps of providing multiple
air pathways for flowing air therethrough and having different
lengths, disposing the air pathways adjacent to the interior of the
glove, allowing air to absorb thermal energy from the interior
while flowing through multiple air pathways for different temporal
durations due to the different lengths thereof, and selecting one
of the air pathways, thereby controlling such a temperature of air
flowing through the one of the air pathways. In another exemplary
embodiment, the method may include the steps of providing at least
one first air pathway for flowing fresh air into the interior of
the glove, providing at least one second air pathway for flowing
moist air out of the interior thereof, and disposing the first and
second air pathways adjacent to each other, thereby allowing a heat
exchange between the fresh air and the moist air.
[0029] In another aspect of the present invention, various
processes may be provided to provide the above ventilation systems
and/or their modules by various methods. Details of such processes
may be apparent and/or deducible from the following description and
appended claims.
[0030] As used herein, terms "on-position" and "off-position"
generally correspond to different states or positions of different
modules of a ventilating system of this invention. For example, the
on-position of a pumping module generally correspond to a deformed,
stressed or moved position thereof, while the off-position of the
pumping module generally corresponds to their opposite positions
such as, e.g., a normal, original, unstressed or unmoved position
thereof. In contrary, the on-position of an actuator module
generally corresponds to an actuated position thereof resulting
from an input and/or movement of at least a portion of a
ventilating glove of this invention, while the off-position
typically corresponds to an unactuated position which results from
a cessation of application or absence of the input force and/or
movement thereof.
[0031] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
be apparent from the following detailed description, and from the
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0032] FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of an exemplary ventilation
system for a glove according to the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of an exemplary insulation,
protection, and/or waterproof glove which incorporates the
exemplary ventilation system of FIG. 1A according to the present
invention;
[0034] FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams of an exemplary
pumping module which is arranged to deform in a vertical direction
and respectively in its unstressed and stressed positions according
to the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 2C is a schematic diagram of the exemplary pumping
module of FIGS. 2A and 2B having a cover thereon according to the
present invention;
[0036] FIGS. 2D and 2E show schematic diagrams of another exemplary
pumping module arranged to deform in a horizontal direction and
respectively in its unstressed and stressed positions according to
the present invention;
[0037] FIG. 2F is a schematic diagram of another exemplary
deformation-type pumping module having inlet and outlet modules
which are axially misaligned according to the present
invention;
[0038] FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams of another exemplary
pumping module which defines multiple pleats and deforms in a
vertical direction, disposed in its unstressed and stressed
positions, respectively, according to the present invention;
[0039] FIG. 3C is a schematic diagram of the exemplary pumping
module of FIGS. 3A and 3B having a cover thereon according to the
present invention;
[0040] FIGS. 3D and 3E show schematic diagrams of another exemplary
pumping module which also defines multiple pleats, deform in a
horizontal direction, and disposed in its unstressed and stressed
positions, respectively, according to the present invention;
[0041] FIG. 3F is a schematic diagram of the exemplary pumping
module of FIGS. 3D and 3E including inlet and outlet modules which
are axially misaligned according to the present invention;
[0042] FIG. 3G is a schematic diagram of another exemplary pumping
module having pleats defined in both of horizontal and vertical
directions and capable of deforming in both directions according to
the present invention;
[0043] FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams of another exemplary
pumping module having at least one cylinder and at least one
matching piston which translates through the cylinder respectively
in its unstressed (or intake) and stressed (or discharge) positions
according to the present invention;
[0044] FIGS. 4C and 4D are schematic diagrams of the pumping module
of FIGS. 4A and 4B including an inlet module coupled to the
cylinder and translating therewith according to the present
invention;
[0045] FIGS. 4E and 4F are schematic diagrams of the pumping module
of FIGS. 4A and 4B including an inlet module which is disposed
inside the cylinder and over which the piston translates according
to the present invention;
[0046] FIGS. 4G and 4H are schematic diagrams of the pumping module
of FIGS. 4E and 4F including a piston having multiple portions
coupled to each other according to the present invention;
[0047] FIGS. 41 and.4J are schematic diagrams of the pumping module
of FIGS. 4A and 4B including an opening In fluid communication with
both an inlet module and an outlet module according to the present
invention;
[0048] FIGS. 4K and 4L are schematic diagrams of another exemplary
pumping module similar to that of FIGS. 4A and 4B and disposed in
an upright arrangement according to the present invention;
[0049] FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary
ventilating glove which is disposed straight, which includes an
inlet module, a pumping module, and an outlet module, and which
also incorporates an actuator module arranged to convert a movement
of a finger of an user into a driving force to drive the pumping
module according to the present invention;
[0050] FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary
ventilating glove of FIG. 5B bent at about 90 degrees according to
the present invention;
[0051] FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic diagrams of an exemplary
actuator module operatively coupling with a deformation-type
pumping module, where the actuator module is arranged to transmit
an axial input force in the same direction and where the pumping
module is disposed in its unstressed position and stressed,
position, respectively, according to the present invention;
[0052] FIG. 6C is a schematic diagram of another exemplary actuator
module operatively coupling with a deformation-type pumping module,
where the actuator module is arranged to transmit an axial input
force in parallel but off-axis directions according to the present
invention;
[0053] FIGS. 6D and 6E show schematic diagrams of another exemplary
actuator module operatively coupling with a deformation-type
pumping module, where the actuator module is arranged to convert an
axial input force into a transaxial driving force normal or
transverse to the input force and where the pumping module is in
its unstressed position and stressed position, respectively,
according to the present invention;
[0054] FIG. 6F is a schematic diagram of another exemplary actuator
module operatively coupled to a deformation-type pumping module and
converting an off-axis input force to a transaxial driving force
normal or transverse to the input force according to the present
invention;
[0055] FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram of an exemplary actuator
module which is operatively-coupled to a bellow-type pumping module
and transmits, an axial input force in the same direction according
to the present invention;
[0056] FIG. 7B is a schematic diagram of another exemplary actuator
module operatively coupled to a bellow-type pumping module and
converting an axial input force into a transaxial driving force
normal or transverse to the input force according to the present
invention;
[0057] FIG. 7C is a schematic diagram of another exemplary actuator
module operatively coupled to a bellow-type pumping module and
converting an axial input force into another transaxial driving
force according to the present invention;
[0058] FIG. 7D is a schematic diagram of another exemplary actuator
module similar to that of FIG. 7C and including additional
actuators according to the present invention;
[0059] FIG. 7E is a schematic diagram of another exemplary actuator
module operatively coupled to a bellow-type pumping module and
arranged to transmit an axial input force along a parallel but
off-axis direction according to the present invention;
[0060] FIG. 7F is a schematic diagram of another exemplary actuator
module operatively coupled to a bellow-type pumping module and
converting an off-axis input force to a transaxial driving force
normal or transverse to the input force according to the present
invention;
[0061] FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram of an exemplary electric
pumping module arranged to pump air in a direction transverse to a
shaft thereof according to the present invention;
[0062] FIG. 8B is a schematic diagram of another exemplary electric
pumping module for pumping air in a direction parallel with a shaft
thereof according to the present invention;
[0063] FIG. 9A is a schematic diagram of an exemplary inlet and/or
outlet module having a temperature control unit according to the
present invention; and
[0064] FIG. 9B is a schematic diagram of another exemplary inlet
and/or outlet module having another temperature control unit
according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0065] The present invention generally relates to various gloves
capable of ventilating air in and out of themselves in response to
various user input forces. More particularly, the present invention
relates to a glove which includes at least one pumping module
coupling with or disposed inside a body of the glove and capable of
supplying air into and/or dispensing air out of such a glove by at
least one input force applied by the user and/or by at least one
movement of at least a portion of the body of such a glove effected
by the input force. Accordingly, this invention also relates to
various pumping modules arranged to be incorporated into various
gloves and/or various actuator modules coupling with such pumping
modules and converting various user input forces into various
driving forces which drive the pumping modules. The present
invention also relates to various methods of ventilating air in and
out of various gloves, incorporating such pumping modules-and/or
actuator-modules into such gloves, and/or converting various user
input forces into various driving forces. The present invention
further relates to various processes for providing such ventilating
gloves and for providing pumping modules and/or actuator modules
for such gloves. The pumping and/or actuator modules of the present
invention may be incorporated into various gloves which may be
designed for thermal insulation of user's hands, for protecting the
user's hands from mechanical, chemical, radiological, and/or
electrical hazards, and for preventing harmful or undesirable
liquid and/or gas from getting into the gloves. By incorporating
such modules ventilating gloves of the present invention allow air
to be pumped thereinto and/or therefrom, thereby allowing the user
to control humidity and/or temperature inside such gloves.
[0066] FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of an exemplary ventilation
system for a glove, and FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of an
exemplary insulation, protection, and/or waterproof glove
incorporating such an exemplary ventilation system of FIG. 1A
according to the present invention. As exemplified in both figures,
an exemplary ventilation system 10 typically includes an inlet
module 20, a pumping module 30, and an outlet module 50, in which
the pumping module 30 is disposed between the inlet module 20 and
the outlet module 50. The inlet module 20 is mainly an air pathway
21 having an inlet opening 22 in one end and another opening in an
opposite end arranged to be in fluid communication with one end of
the pumping module 30. The exemplary inlet module 20 also
incorporates a valve 23 such as an one-way valve so as to direct
air to flow from the inlet module 20 to the outlet module 50 but
not in an opposite direction. The exemplary pumping module 30 has a
body 31 which is mainly an air chamber having a curvilinear and
elastic top 31T and a curvilinear bottom 31B which may be either
rigid or elastic. More particularly, the top 31T of the body 31 may
be arranged to deform directly or indirectly in response to an
input force applied thereto by an user and to change an internal
volume of the body 31. That is, the top 31T (or another part of the
pumping module 30) is arranged to move and/or to operate between at
least one unstressed position and at least one stressed position
and to change the internal volume of the body 31 respectively from
its maximum value to its minimum value (or vice versa). When the
user ceases to apply the input force, the elastic top 31T may
return to its unstressed (or stressed) position by its recoil
force. In the alternative, at least one conventional recoil unit
(not shown in the figure) may be incorporated into the pumping unit
30 such that the recoil unit may develop and then store a recoil
energy while the input force is applied thereto and releases the
recoil energy in order to move the top 31T (or another movable part
of the pumping module 30) back to its unstressed (or stressed)
position. In addition, the exemplary outlet module 50 includes five
parallel outlet air pathways 51A-51E each of which has at least one
outlet opening 52A-52E in one end and and another opening in an
opposite end arranged to be in fluid communication with another end
of the pumping module 30. When desirable, at least one valve 23 may
be incorporated along one or more of the outlet air pathways
51A-51E in order to direct air from the inlet module 20 to the
outlet module 50 (or vice versa).
[0067] An exemplary ventilating glove 60 includes the foregoing
ventilation system 10 therein so that air may be pumped in and out
of itself in response to various input forces or to at least one
movement of at least one part of the glove 60. For example and as
exemplified in FIG. 1B, a ventilating glove 60 includes an upper
outer surface 61, a lower outer surface 62, an upper inner surface
(not shown in the figure), a lower inner surface (not shown in the
figure), and five finger portions 63A-63E. Such a glove 60 also
defines an opening 64 through which the user inserts his or her
hands thereinto and an interior arranged to receive and to retain a
portion of the user's hand inserted through the opening 64. The
foregoing ventilation system 10 may be incorporated into the glove
60 in various arrangements. In one exemplary embodiment, at least a
substantial portion of the inlet opening 22 of the inlet unit 20
may be exposed through the upper outer surface 61 of the glove 60
to become in fluid communication with atmosphere, while at least a
portion of the top 31T of the pumping module 30,is also exposed
through the upper outer surface 61 so as to receive the user input
force. The rest of the inlet module 20 such as, e.g., the inlet air
pathway 21 and valve 23 and the pumping module 30 may be disposed
inside the glove 60, e.g., between the upper outer and inner
surfaces and/or between the lower outer and inner surfaces of the
body 31. In addition, the outlet air pathways 51A-51E of the outlet
module 50 may be incorporated into the corresponding finger
portions 63A-63E of the glove 60, with their outlet opening 52A-52E
disposed at or near distal ends of such finger portions 63A-63E.
More particularly, the outlet openings 52A-52E are desirably
arranged to be in fluid communication with the interior of the
glove 60 such that air inside the interior of the glove 60 may be
in fluid communication with atmosphere through a pathway comprised
of the outlet openings 52A-52E, outlet air pathways 51A-51E,
pumping module 30, inlet air pathway 21, and inlet opening 22. The
outlet pathways 51A-51E and their openings 52A-52E may be
incorporated in different locations of the glove 60. In addition, a
different number of outlet pathways 51A-51E and/or outlet openings
52A-52E may be employed depending upon various criteria such as,
e.g., detailed configurations of the glove 60, design or
operational considerations of the inlet, pumping, and/or outlet
modules 20, 30, 50, and so on.
[0068] In operation, the user puts on the foregoing glove 60
including the exemplary ventilation system 10 of this invention.
When the user feels a buildup of moisture in the interior of the
glove 60, he or she applies various input forces to the top 31T of
the body 31 of the pumping module 30 by, e.g., pressing, pushing or
squeezing the top 31T with the other hand. Such an input force
deforms the top 31T of the body 31 of the pumping module 30 by
moving it to its stressed position, thereby decreasing an internal
volume of the body 31 accordingly. Because the one-way valve 23 of
the inlet module 20 is arranged to allow an anterograde flow of air
through the ventilation system 10 but to prevent a retrograde flow
of air therethrough, the input force effects the fresh air to be
supplied into the interior of the glove 60 and the humid air to be
dispensed out of such an interior through the opening 64 of the
glove 60. As the user ceases to apply the input force, the top 31T
of the body 31 of the pumping module 31 returns to its original
unstressed position by its own recoil force attributed to its
elastic properties and/or by a recoil force of at least one
conventional recoil unit as described above, thereby restoring the
internal volume of the body 31. As the top 31T returns to its
unstressed position, pressure inside the body 31 of the pumping
module 30 decreases and the body 31 is refilled with fresh air by
the anterograde flow of air from atmosphere through the inlet
opening 22, inlet air pathway 21, and valve 23. Therefore, a cycle
of application and cessation of the input force by the user results
in dispensing and filling of the body 31 of the pumping module 30
which in turn effects ventilation of the glove 60 by an amount of
air which is determined by a magnitude and/or duration of the input
force, configuration of the top 31T of the body 31, elasticity of
the body 31, and the like. It is appreciated that the negative
pressure inside the body 31 of the pumping module 30 during the
cessation period may suck air in the interior of such a glove 60
back thereinto instead of taking in the fresh air of the atmosphere
thereinto depending upon relative pneumatic and/or hydraulic
resistances of these inlet and/or outlet modules 20, 50. In order
to prevent such a retrograde air flow, an additional one-way valve
may also be installed along the outlet module 50.
[0069] Various pumping modules employing a variety of pumping
mechanisms may be utilized to pump air into and out of themselves
and to ventilate air into and out of the ventilating gloves of this
invention. Any conventional air and/or gas pumps may be used as the
pumping modules of the present invention, although their shapes,
sizes, configurations, and/or driving mechanisms may have be
modified so as to be incorporated into the ventilating gloves of
the present invention.
[0070] In one aspect of the present invention, an exemplary pumping
module may include at least one chamber or body at least a portion
of which is arranged to be deform to change its internal volume in
response to various input forces applied thereto directly or
indirectly by the user. A main feature of this aspect of the
present invention is that deformation of the chamber or body is
typically localized to the deformable portion thereof. Such pumping
modules may also be provided in various embodiments, typical
examples of which are described in the following figures.
[0071] In one exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of a pumping
module is arranged to deform in a direction at least partially
transverse to a direction of input and/or output modules. For
example, FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams of an exemplary
pumping module arranged to deform vertically and in in its
unstressed and stressed positions respectively according to the
present invention. A pumping module 30 has a body 31 defining at
least one inlet and at least one outlet, where the inlet is
arranged to couple with and to be in fluid communication with the
inlet pathway 21 of the inlet module 20 which is similar to those
of FIGS. 1A and 1B, and where the outlet is also arranged to couple
with and to be in fluid communication with the outlet air pathway
51 of the outlet module 50 which is similar to those of FIGS. 1A
and 1B. The body 31 of the pumping module 30 may include a top
portion similar to that of FIGS. 1A and 1B which is arranged to
move or operate between at least one unstressed position and at
least one stressed position in response to an input force and to
deform along a vertical direction in response thereto. As described
herein, an internal volume of the body 31 also changes because of
its deformation and air may be pumped into and out of the body 31
through the inlet and outlet modules 20, 50, respectively. It is
appreciated that the deformation-type pumping module 30 of this
embodiment may be installed in any locations of the glove 60, e.g.,
at least partially or entirely exposed through the upper and/or
lower outer surfaces of the glove, at least partially or entirely
hidden between the outer and/or inner surfaces thereof, and the
like. Similarly, the deformable portion may further be provided in
any location over the body 31 of the pumping module 30, e.g., on
its top, bottom, and/or side. When desirable, multiple deformable
portions having similar or different deformabilities or
elasticities may also be provided on or over the body 31 or at
least a substantial portion of the body 31 may be made of an
elastic material. Operational characteristics of the pumping module
30 of this embodiment are typically similar or identical to those
described in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
[0072] FIG. 2C is a schematic diagram of the exemplary pumping
module of FIGS. 2A and 2B having a cover thereon according to the
present invention. As shown in, the figure, such a pumping module
30 is generally similar or identical to those of FIGS. 2A and 2B,
except that it includes an additional cover 32 disposed on or over
the deformable portion of the body 31 and arranged to receive the
input force thereby. Such an embodiment may offer the benefits of
protecting the deformable portion of the body 31 from excessive
mechanical impact, normal wear and tear, and the like, and of
distributing the user input force thereover such that the
deformable portion of the body 31 may indirectly receive the input
force which may generally be evenly distributed throughout the
cover 32. Such a cover 32 may also be, fixedly coupled-to the
deformable portion of the body 31 or movably coupled over such a
portion of the body 31. In addition, the cover 32 may be made of
rigid or elastic materials which deform while delivering the input
force to the deformable portion of the body 31. Operational
characteristics of the pumping module 30 of this embodiment may be
typically similar or identical to those described in one or more of
FIGS. 1A through 2B.
[0073] In another exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of a
pumping module is arranged to deform in another direction at least
partially parallel to a direction of input and/or output modules.
FIGS. 2D and 2E show schematic diagrams of such an exemplary
pumping module which is arranged to deform in a horizontal
direction and disposed in its unstressed and stressed positions,
respectively, according to the present invention. A pumping module
30 is typically similar to that of FIGS. 2A to 2C, except that at
least a, substantial portion thereof may be made of an elastic or
deformable material. Therefore, such a module 30 operates or
deforms between at least one unstressed position and at least one
stressed position in response to various input forces. An inlet
module 20 and an outlet module 50 are generally similar to those of
FIGS. 2A to 2C, except that these modules 20, 50 are typically
arranged to translate in a horizontal direction in response to
various input forces. Thus, when the input force is applied to one
or both of the inlet and outlet modules 20, 50 along a direction
which is at least partially parallel to a direction(s) of one or
both of an inlet pathway 21 and an outlet air pathway 51, the
deformable body 31 of the pumping module 30 is stretched
horizontally, an internal volume of the body 31 also changes
because of its deformation, and air is pumped into or out of the
body 31 through the inlet and outlet air pathways 21, 51. It is
noted that the deformation-type pumping module 30 of this
embodiment may be installed in any locations of the glove 60, e.g.,
at least partially or entirely exposed through the upper and/or
lower outer surfaces of the glove, at least partially or entirely
hidden between the outer and/or inner surfaces thereof, and the
like. Similarly, the deformable portion may be provided in any
location over the body 31 of the pumping module 30, e.g., on its
top, bottom, and/or side. When desirable, only a portion of the
body 31 may be arranged to deform as well. Other operational
characteristics of the pumping module 30 of this embodiment may be
typically similar or identical to those described in one or more of
FIGS. 1A through 2C.
[0074] FIG. 2F is a schematic diagram of another exemplary
deformation-type pumping module having inlet and outlet modules
which are axially misaligned according to the present invention. As
shown in the figure, a pumping module 30 is typically similar or
identical to those of FIGS. 2D and 2E, except that an inlet module
20 and an outlet module 50 are coupled to a body 31 of a pumping
module 30 in an off-axis configuration so that the body 31 is
arranged to be stretched and at the same time rotated when an input
force is applied along one or both of the inlet and outlet modules
20, 50. Such an embodiment may offer the benefit of providing
flexibility in constructing the ventilation system 10 because the
inlet and outlet air pathways 21, 51 may not have to be aligned and
because the air pathways 21, 51 may tend to be misaligned or
arranged to be off-axis during three-dimensional movements of the
glove 60 regardless of their original arrangements. Other
operational characteristics of the pumping module 30 of such an
embodiment are typically similar or identical to those described in
one or more of FIGS. 1A through 2E.
[0075] In another aspect of the present invention, an exemplary
pumping module may include at least one chamber or body which
defines multiple pleats therealong and which is arranged to be
folded or to be otherwise deformed with respect to such pleats and
to change its internal volume in response to various input forces
applied thereto directly or indirectly by the user. A main feature
of this aspect of the present invention is that the chamber or body
deforms with respect to the pleats and deformation thereof may not
necessarily be localized to a specific portion thereof. Such
pumping modules may be provided in various embodiments, typical
examples of which are described in the following figures.
[0076] In one exemplary embodiment, a pumping module is arranged to
deform with respect to pleats in a direction at least partially
transverse to an input module and/or output module. For example,
FIGS. 3A and 3B show schematic diagrams of an exemplary pumping
module which defines multiple pleats, deforms vertically, and
disposed in its unstressed and stressed positions, respectively,
according to the present invention. A pumping module 30 includes a
body 31 defining at least one inlet and at least one outlet, where
the inlet is arranged to be coupled to and to be in fluid
communication with the inlet pathway 21 of the inlet module 20
which is similar to those of FIGS. 1A to 2F, and where the outlet
is arranged to be coupled to and to be in fluid communication with
the outlet air pathway 51 of the outlet module 50 which is similar
to those of FIGS. 1A to 2F. The body 31 of the pumping module 30
defines multiple horizontal pleats therearound and is arranged to
move, deform or fold vertically between at least one unstressed
position and at least one stressed position in response to an input
force applied vertically by the user. Thus, at least a portion or
an entire portion of the body 31 vertically deforms or folds by
such an input force. Such a deformation changes an internal volume
of the body 31 and, as a result, air is pumped into and out of the
body 31 respectively through the inlet and outlet modules 20, 50.
It is appreciated that the bellow-type pumping module 30 of this
embodiment may be incorporated into any location of the glove 60 in
any arrangement, e.g., at least partially or entirely exposed
through the upper and/or lower outer surfaces thereof, at least
partially or entirely hidden between the outer and/or inner
surfaces thereof, and the like. Similarly, the pleats may be
provided in any location of the body 31 of the pumping module 30,
e.g., on its top, bottom, and/or side. In addition, the pleats may
also be provided in any number and/or in any arrangement. For
example, the pleats may be formed along a portion or an entire
portion of one or more sides of the body 31, the pleats may be
arranged at uniform or different distances, the pleats may form
acute angles therebetween or the edges may be rounded, and the
like. In addition, the body 31 may be made of an elastic or
semi-rigid material and may be made to have recoil properties when
desirable. Other operational characteristics of the pumping module
30 of this embodiment are typically similar or identical to those
described in one or more of FIGS. 1A to 2F.
[0077] FIG. 3C is a schematic diagram of the exemplary pumping
module of FIGS. 3A and 3B having a cover thereon according to the
present invention. As shown in the figure, such a pumping module 30
is generally similar or identical to those of FIGS. 3A and 3B,
except that it includes an additional cover 32 disposed on one side
of the body 31 in order to receive the input force thereby. Such a
cover 32 may offer the benefits of protecting the deformable
portion of the body 31 from excessive mechanical impact, normal
wear and tear, and the like, and of distributing the user input
force thereover such that the body 31 may indirectly receive the
input force which is generally evenly distributed throughout the
cover 32 than otherwise. Other characteristics of such a cover 32
are similar or identical to those in FIG. 2C. Other operational
characteristics of the pumping module 30 of this embodiment are
typically similar or identical to those described in one or more of
FIGS. 1A through 3B.
[0078] In another exemplary embodiment, a pumping module may be
arranged to deform with respect to pleats in a direction at least
partially parallel with an input and/or output module. For example,
FIGS. 3D and 3E show schematic diagrams of an exemplary pumping
module defining multiple vertical pleats, deforming horizontally,
and disposed in its unstressed and stressed positions respectively
according to the present invention. A pumping module 30 includes a
body 31 which defines at least one inlet and at least one outlet
similar to those of FIGS. 1A to 3C. Contrary to that of FIGS. 3A to
3C, the body 31 of the pumping module 30 defines multiple vertical
pleats therearound so that i may move, deform or fold horizontally
between at least one unstressed position and at least one stressed
position in response to an input force applied horizontally thereto
by the user. At least a portion or an entire portion of the body 31
then deforms or folds horizontally by such an input force, and an
internal volume of the body 31 changes in response to the
deformation, and air is pumped into and out of the body 31
respectively through the inlet and outlet modules 20, 50. It is
noted that such a bellow-type pumping module 30 may be incorporated
into any location of the glove 60 in any arrangement, e.g., at
least partially or entirely exposed through its upper and/or lower
outer surfaces, at least partially Or entirely hidden between its
outer and/or inner surfaces, and so on. Similarly, the pleats may
be provided in any location of the body 31 of the pumping module
30, e.g., on its top, bottom, and/or side. In addition, the pleats
may also be provided in any number and/or in any arrangement. For
example, the pleats may be formed along a portion or an entire
portion of one or more sides of the body 31, the pleats may be
arranged at uniform or different distances, the pleats may form
acute angles therebetween or the edges may be rounded, and the
like. In addition, the body 31 may be made of an elastic or
semi-rigid material and may be made to have recoil properties.
Because the pumping unit 30 of this embodiment is arranged to be
driven by a horizontal force, at least a portion of a side of the
body 31 may be typically arranged to receive the input force
applied to the body 31 in the horizontally direction.
Alternatively, an actuator module which will be described in
greater detail below may be incorporated in order to convert a
non-horizontal input force into a horizontal driving force. Other
operational characteristics of such a pumping module 30 of this
embodiment are typically similar or identical to those described in
one or more of FIGS. 1A to 3C.
[0079] FIG. 3F is a schematic diagram of the exemplary pumping
module of FIGS. 3D and 3E including inlet and outlet modules which
are axially misaligned according to the present invention. As shown
in the figure, a pumping module 30 is typically similar or
identical to those of FIGS. 3D and 3E, except that an inlet module
20 and an outlet module 50 are coupled to a body 31 of a pumping
module 30 in an off-axis configuration so that the body 31 may fold
or deform at an angle with respect to pleats when an input force is
applied along one or both of the inlet and outlet modules 20, 50.
Similar to that of FIG. 1F, this embodiment may offer the benefit
of providing flexibility in constructing the ventilation system 10.
Other operational characteristics of the pumping module 30 of this
embodiment are typically similar or identical to those described in
one or more of FIGS. 1A through 3E.
[0080] FIG. 3G is a schematic diagram of another exemplary pumping
module having pleats defined in both of horizontal and vertical
directions and capable of deforming in both directions according to
the present invention. An exemplary pumping module 30 includes a
body 31 defining multiple pleats on its sides as well as it top and
bottom portions. Upon receiving an input force, the body 31 may
deform in a direction of the input forces and/or in a direction at
an angle with respect to the input forces. Thus, the body 31 may
deform horizontally, vertically or at preset angles. Other
operational characteristics of the pumping module 30 of this
embodiment are typically similar or identical to those described in
one or more of FIGS. 1A through 3F.
[0081] In another aspect of the present invention, an exemplary
pumping module may include at least one cylinder or body which
defines an internal cavity through which a piston is arranged to
translate in response to various input forces applied thereto
directly or indirectly by the user. A main feature of this aspect
of the present invention is that the piston changes an amount of
air contained in the cavity during its translating or reciprocating
movements, although a size and a shape of the internal cavity of
the body does not change at all. Accordingly, such a syringe-type
pumping module does not generally involve deformation of the
cylinder or piston. Such pumping modules may also be provided in
various embodiments typical examples of which are described in the
following figures.
[0082] In one exemplary embodiment, a pumping module includes a
cylinder, piston, and separate inlet and outlet air pathways such
that air may be transported into and out of the cylinder by two
different pathways and that such pathways may be fixedly coupled to
the pumping module in order not to move in response to various
input forces. For example, FIGS. 4A and 4B show schematic diagrams
of such an exemplary pumping module which includes at least one
cylinder and at least one matching piston translating through the
cylinder and which are respectively in its unstressed (or intake)
and stressed (or discharge) positions according to the present
invention. A pumping module 30 includes a cylinder or body 35, a
piston 36, an inlet module 20, and an outlet module 50. The
cylinder 35 defines a cavity therein and the piston 36 is shaped
and sized to fit inside the cavity of the cylinder 35 and to
translate or otherwise move therealong. The cylinder 35 also
defines at least one inlet and at least one outlet, where the inlet
couples with and is in fluid communication with an inlet pathway 21
of an inlet module 20, and where the outlet is coupled to and in
fluid communication with an outlet air pathway 51 of an outlet
module 50. Such a piston 36 may be arranged to receive an input
force directly thereby. In the alternative and as described in the
figure, a handle 37 may be attached to the piston 36 to receive the
input force thereby and to deliver such an input force to the
piston 36. The piston 36 may be arranged to translate or to move
between at least one unstressed (or intake) position and at least
one stressed (or discharge) position in response to various input
forces and to take air into the cylinder 35 and/or to discharge air
therefrom in response to the input forces. An amount of air
contained in the cylinder 35 changes depending upon a location of
the piston 36 therein, and air may be pumped into and out of the
cylinder 35 through the inlet and outlet modules 20, 50,
respectively. It is appreciated that the syringe-type pumping
module 30 of this embodiment may be installed in various locations
of the glove 60, e.g., at least partially or entirely exposed
through the upper and/or lower outer surfaces of the glove 60, at
least partially or entirely hidden (or unexposed) between the outer
and/or inner surfaces of the glove 60, and so on. Operational
characteristics of the syringe-type pumping module 30 of this
embodiment are typically similar or identical to those described in
FIGS. 1A through 3F.
[0083] In another exemplary embodiment, a pumping module includes a
cylinder, piston, and separate inlet and outlet air pathways, where
at least one of such air pathways is arranged to movably couple
with the cylinder and moves along with the cylinder in response to
various input forces. For example, FIGS. 4C and 4D show schematic
diagrams of the pumping module of FIGS. 4A and 4B which couples
with an inlet module movably coupling with the cylinder to
translate therewith according to the present invention. An
exemplary pumping module 30 includes a cylinder or body 35, a
piston 36, and an outlet module 50 which are similar or identical
to those of FIGS. 4A and 4B. In contrary to the stationary inlet
module of FIGS. 4A and 4B which is fixedly coupled to the
stationary piston, an inlet module 20 (or its inlet air pathway 21)
of this embodiment is preferably arranged to movably couple with
the piston 36 and to receive various input forces directly or
indirectly from the user. In addition, one end of such an inlet air
pathway 21 is arranged to be in fluid communication with an
interior of the cylinder 35 through an aperture 38 provided through
a portion of the piston 36 such that air may be transported into or
out of the cylinder 35 by the translating or reciprocating movement
of the piston 36. Accordingly, such an inlet module 20 or, more
particularly, its inlet air pathway 21 may preferably be made of at
least partly rigid materials to deliver the input force onto the
piston 36. It is appreciated that either or both of such a cylinder
and piston may be arranged to move in response to the input force
and that either or both of such an inlet and outlet module may be
arranged to movably couple with such a mobile cylinder and/or
piston. Such an embodiment offers the benefit of constructing a
more compact pumping module and, therefore, saving spaces. It is
also noted that the syringe-type pumping module 30 of this
embodiment may be installed in various locations of the glove 60,
e.g., at least partially or entirely exposed through the upper
and/or lower outer surfaces of the glove 60, at least partially or
entirely hidden between the outer and/or inner surfaces of the
glove 60, and the like. Operational characteristics of the
syringe-type pumping module 30 of this embodiment are typically
similar or identical to those described in FIGS. 1A through 4B.
[0084] In another exemplary embodiment, a pumping module includes a
cylinder, piston, and separate inlet and outlet air pathways, where
at least a portion of one or both of such air pathways is arranged
to be stationarily disposed in the cylinder and where the piston
moves over such a portion of such an air pathway. For example,
FIGS. 4E and 4F show schematic diagrams of the pumping module of
FIGS. 4A and 4B including an inlet module disposed inside the
cylinder and over which the piston translates according to the
present invention. An exemplary pumping module 30 includes a
cylinder or body 35, a piston 36, and an outlet module 50 which are
similar or identical to those shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. An inlet
module 20 or its inlet air pathway 21 of this embodiment is fixedly
disposed inside the cylinder 35 and across the piston 36. Thus,
such a piston 36 is arranged to define an aperture 38 shaped and
sized to movably receive the inlet air pathway 21 therethrough so
that the translating or reciprocating movement of the piston 36
over the inlet air pathway 21 transports air into and out of the
cylinder 35. It is noted that either or both of the inlet and
outlet modules 20, 50 may be disposed inside the cylinder 35 over
which the piston 36 translates. It is further noted that the
syringe-type pumping module 30 of such an embodiment may be
incorporated into various locations of the glove 60, e.g., at least
partially or entirely exposed through the upper and/or lower outer
surfaces of the glove 60, at least partially or entirely hidden (or
unexposed) between the outer and/or inner surfaces of the glove 60,
and the like. Other operational characteristics of the syringe-type
pumping module 30 of this embodiment are also similar or identical
to those described in FIGS. 1A through 4D.
[0085] In another exemplary embodiment, a pumping module includes a
cylinder, piston, and separate inlet and outlet air pathways, where
at least a portion of one or both of such air pathways is arranged
to be stationarily disposed in the cylinder and where the piston is
comprised of multiple portions which couple to each other to move
in unison over such a portion of the air pathway. For example,
FIGS. 4G and 4H are schematic diagrams of the pumping module of
FIGS. 4E and 4F with a piston having multiple portions coupled to
each other according to the present invention. An exemplary inlet
module 20 and outlet module 50 are similar or identical to those of
FIGS. 4E and 4F. An exemplary pumping module 30 is also similar or
identical to that of FIGS. 4E and 4F, except that its piston 36
includes multiple portions which are mechanically coupled to each
other by at least one coupler 38 such that multiple portions of the
piston 36 may move in unison while maintaining an airtight sealing
therearound and also preventing leakage of air therethrough.
Further configurational and/or operational characteristics of the
syringe-type pumping module 30 of this embodiment are also similar
or identical to those described in FIGS. 1A through 4F.
[0086] In another exemplary embodiment, a pumping module includes a
cylinder, piston, and separate inlet and outlet air pathways, where
the cylinder defines a single opening which is shared by both of
the inlet and outlet modules to transport air thereinto and
therefrom. For example, FIGS. 4I and 4J are schematic diagrams of
the pumping module of FIGS. 4A and 4B including only a single
opening in fluid communication with both an inlet module and an
outlet module according to the present invention. As shown in the
figures, an exemplary pumping module 30 includes a cylinder 35
which defines a single opening 39 therethrough. An exemplary inlet
module 20 and outlet, module 50 of such an embodiment are directly
connected to each other at the opening 39 such that an interior of
the cylinder 35, an inlet air pathway 21, and an outlet air pathway
51 may be in direct fluid communication through the opening 39. By
incorporating at least two one-way valves 23, 53 along the inlet
and outlet air pathways 21, 51, air may be pumped into and out of
the cylinder 35. Such a pumping module 30 generally requires at
least one handle 37 to allow the user to move the piston 36 through
the cylinder 35 or, conversely, to move the cylinder 35 with
respect to the piston 36. When desirable and as shown in the
figures, a pair of handles may also be incorporated into the
cylinder 35 and the piston 36. Such an embodiment may offer the
benefits of reducing a total length of air pathways and of enabling
construction of more compact ventilation systems. Other
configurational and/or operational characteristics of the
syringe-type pumping module 30 of this embodiment are also similar
or identical to those described in FIGS. 1A through 4H.
[0087] In another exemplary embodiment, a pumping module includes a
cylinder, piston, and separate inlet and outlet air pathways, where
the cylinder is disposed in a direction transverse to air pathways
of the inlet and/or outlet modules. For example, FIGS. 4K and 4L
show schematic diagrams of another exemplary pumping module similar
to that of FIGS. 4A and 4B and disposed in an upright arrangement
according to the present invention. An exemplary inlet module 20
and outlet module 50 are generally similar or identical to those of
FIGS. 4A and 4B, whereas an exemplary pumping module 30 includes a
cylinder 35 and a piston 36 disposed in a direction perpendicular
or transverse to air pathways 21, 51 of the inlet and outlet
modules 20, 50. Accordingly, the piston 36 may move vertically with
respect to the inlet and outlet air pathways 21, 51 in response to
various input forces applied thereto by an user. Other
configurational and/or operational characteristics of the
syringe-type pumping module 30 of this embodiment are also similar
or identical to those described in FIGS. 1A through J.
[0088] Configurational and/or operational variations and/or
modifications of the above embodiments of the exemplary ventilation
systems and various modules thereof described in FIGS. 1A through
4F also fall within the scope of this invention. First of all, the
foregoing inlet, pumping, and outlet modules may be arranged to
have any shapes and/or sizes as long as they may be incorporated
into the ventilating gloves of the present invention. In addition,
such modules may be made of various materials such as, e.g.,
plastics, metals, and/or laminated fabrics as long as they do not
leak air therethrough. Moreover, the foregoing modules of the
ventilating gloves may be arranged in different configurations as
long as the ventilation system of this invention may pump air into
and out of the ventilating gloves. Therefore, the above exemplary
figures may be construed as top views, front views, and so on.
[0089] The inlet and/or outlet air pathways may be made of a
variety of materials. For example, such air pathways may be made of
a flexible material and/or to have some slack for movements in
order to accommodate movements of the pumping module. In the
alternative, the air pathways may be made of a rigid material when
such pathways are to receive the input force thereby and/or to
transmit such an input force therethrough. Multiple flexible and/or
rigid inlet and/or outlet air pathways may be used as well to serve
both requirements. Such inlet and/or outlet pathways may be
arranged to have various configurations. For example, such pathways
may be of a tubular configuration or may be comprised of an
enclosed planar configuration. When desirable, such air pathways
may be arranged to collapse as air pressure therein falls below
that of atmosphere. The inlet and/or outlet module may also include
multiple inlet and/or outlet air pathways, respectively, and the
ventilating system may have multiple inlet and/or outlet modules,
and the like. Similarly, the inlet and/or outlet air pathway may
define more than one opening. In addition, at least a portion or an
entire portion of the inlet and/or outlet module may be fixedly
coupled to the ventilating system and, therefore, may not move in
response to the input forces. In this embodiment, the inlet and/or
outlet module may be coupled to non-mobile portion of the pumping
module or, alternatively, a mobile air pathway may be incorporated
between the pumping module and the stationary inlet and/or outlet
module. Furthermore and as will be described below in greater
detail, multiple inlet and/or outlet air pathways may be provided
such that the user may select one or more of such pathways for
different purposes.
[0090] Various bodies of the foregoing pumping modules may be
arranged to have various shapes or sizes. In general, such bodies
may have almost any arbitrary shapes and/or sizes as far as they
may contain preset amounts of air in their unstressed and stressed
positions. Accordingly, the body may be shaped as any
three-dimensional figures, whether rounded in its corners or not,
as long as it may move or deform to take in air and dispense air
therefrom in direct or indirect response to various input forces.
When desirable, such a body may include multiple chambers which may
be coupled to each other in a series and/or parallel arrangement or
which may be arranged to be separate and to operate independently
of each other. A difference therebetween or a stroke volume of the
body (or pumping module) may be set at a wide range, depending upon
various design considerations. For example, the body may be
arranged to extensively deform so that a single application of the
input force may result in a great stroke volume. Alternatively, the
body may be arranged to deform to a lesser extent but a frequent
application of various input forces may result in a sum of stroke
volumes equivalent thereto.
[0091] The pumping modules may also be arranged to take in and/or
dispense air at least substantially temporally simultaneous with
the input forces, except slight time lags for air to travel through
the inlet and/or outlet air pathways with finite volumes.
Alternatively, the ventilating system 10 may include an optional
elastic storage chamber which is arranged to receive air from the
pumping module, to store at least a portion of such air therein
even after the input force ceases to be applied, and to dispense
air therefrom due to a pressure difference developed between itself
and the interior of the glove. Such a temporally delayed embodiment
may offer a benefit of supplying air into the interior of the glove
over a preset prolonged period. Design of such storage chambers and
incorporating such into the ventilating system typically depend
upon dynamic characteristics thereof examples of which may include,
but not be limited to, unstressed volumes of the chambers,
elasticities or Young's moduli of the chamber, and the like.
[0092] The body of any of the above pumping modules may define only
one opening which may serve both as the inlet opening and outlet
opening. However, in order to pump air into and out of the gloves,
the inlet and/or outlet modules may incorporate at least two valves
to direct sir along preset directions. Such a body of the pumping
module may be arranged to have recoil properties so that it may
return to its unstressed position by itself without any extra
external force. Therefore, such a body may deform to its stressed
position while the external input force is being directly or
indirectly applied thereto, and may return to its unstressed
position when such an input force disappears. Alternatively, an
optional conventional recoil elements such as, e.g., springs and
elastic strings, may be incorporated into such a pumping module to
provide a recoil force to move the pumping module from one to the
other of such unstressed and stressed positions.
[0093] As briefly described above, various input forces may be
applied to various parts of the above modules either directly or
indirectly. For example, at least a portion of the body of the
deformable-type pumping module or the bellow-type pumping module
and/or such a portion of the piston of the syringe-type pumping
module which is either exposed through or hidden under the outer
surface of the glove may directly or indirectly receive the input
force from the user. In the alternative, at least a portion of the
inlet and/or outlet module which is either exposed through or
hidden under the outer surface of the glove may be arranged to
directly or indirectly receive the input force from the user. In
addition, such portions of these modules may be disposed to receive
such input forces in various directions as long as air may be
transported into and out of the body of the pumping module. Thus,
such portions of the above modules may be arranged to receive the
input force horizontally, vertically, at a preset constant angle or
at varying angles. Moreover, such portions of the above modules may
be arranged to deform or to move in a direction which may coincide
with or differ from a direction of the input forces by, e.g.,
arranging such portions to move or deform only along a preset
direction, converting a direction and/or a magnitude of the input
force by actuator modules of the present invention which will be
described in greater detail below, and so on. Furthermore, various
portions of the foregoing modules may move or deform in response to
the input forces. For example and as exemplified in the above
embodiments, the portions directly receiving the input forces may
move or deform in response thereto. Alternatively, other portions
of the foregoing modules may deform even though such portions do
not directly receive the input forces. For example, the exposed or
hidden portions of the deformation and/or bellow-type pumping
modules may be arranged to first receive the input force, not to
move or deform thereby, but to instead deliver the input force to
adjacent portions which are arranged to deform or to move by the
input forces. In another example, the piston (or another part or
module) of the syringe-type pumping module may also be arranged to
first receive the input forces, not to move thereby, but to deliver
such input forces to other parts or modules which then move or
deform by the input force. As long as the pumping module may pump
air into and out of its body, details of such mobile arrangements
may not be material to the present invention.
[0094] The above pumping modules may also be arranged to pump air
into and out of their bodies by various embodiments. For example,
the pumping module may be arranged to pump air out of its body into
the interior of the glove while the input force is applied thereto
and to suck fresh air into its body as the user stops to apply the
input force. Conversely, the pumping module may be arranged to suck
fresh air into its body while the user applies the input force
thereto and to pump the fresh air out of its body into the glove
interior while no input force is applied thereto. Alternatively,
the pumping module may be arranged to dispense air therefrom into
the glove interior and then to suck fresh air thereinto while the
input force is applied thereto, and to suck more fresh air
thereinto and then to dispense the fresh air therefrom into the
glove interior through its return movement when no input force is
applied thereto. In order to construct a specific pumping module
operating according to one of the foregoing embodiments, the
pumping module may be arranged to move or to deform from one of the
unstressed and stressed positions to the other thereof in response
to the input forces, e.g., from the unstressed position to the
stressed position as depicted in the foregoing figures, from the
stressed position to the unstressed position when the pumping
module couples with a recoil unit which may keep the pumping unit
in the biased, stressed position when no input force is applied
thereto.
[0095] The foregoing pumping modules may further be arranged to
move or to deform in response to various input forces applied by
the user and/or various movements of the user. As described above,
various portions of the above inlet, pumping, and/or outlet modules
may deform or move in response to the input forces applied directly
thereto or indirectly through the outer surface of the ventilating
glove. In addition, when various input forces are applied
indirectly to one of such modules, their magnitudes, directions,
and/or timing may be altered such that resulting driving forces may
be arranged to actually drive one of the above pumping modules. In
the alternative and as will be described in greater detail below,
various movements of fingers and/or a hand of the user may be
converted into various driving forces by various actuator
modules.
[0096] As described hereinabove, the user may apply the input
forces directly to various modules of the ventilating system of the
ventilating glove by, e.g., pushing, pulling, pressing, twisting,
squeezing, stretching, deforming or otherwise moving the deformable
or movable portions of the pumping module, the portions adjacent to
such deformable or movable portions, the pistons or cylinders of
the pumping module, inlet and/or outlet modules or their air
pathways, and so on. In the alternative or in conjunction
therewith, the ventilation system may also be arranged such that
the user may move his or her fingers and/or hands and that various
actuator modules may convert such movements (or input forces) into
a driving force which actually drives the pumping module to pump
air thereinto and therefrom in order to ventilate air into and out
of the ventilating glove of this invention. Following figures
exemplify a typical actuator module for the latter aspect of the
present invention.
[0097] For example, FIG. 5A shows a cross-sectional view of an
exemplary ventilating glove which is disposed straight, which
includes an inlet module, a pumping module, and an outlet module,
and which incorporates an actuator module arranged to convert a
movement of a finger of an user into a driving force to drive the
pumping module, while FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the
exemplary ventilating glove of FIG. 5B which is bent at about 90
degrees according to the present invention. It is noted that FIGS.
5A and 5B are cross-sectional views of the ventilating glove of
FIGS. 1A and 1B obtained along a line AB, although an exemplary
ventilating glove 60 of FIGS. 5A and 5B are slightly different from
that of FIGS. 1A and 1B. An exemplary glove 60 includes a finger
portion 63C, an upper outer surface 61, a lower outer surface 62,
an upper inner surface 65, and a lower inner surface 66, where
insulative and/or protective materials may fill at least a part of
a gap space formed between the outer surfaces 61, 62 and inner
surfaces 65, 66. An exemplary ventilating system 10 of such a
ventilating glove 60 includes an inlet module 20, a pumping module
30, and an outlet module 50 which are similar to those described
above, and an actuator module 70. More particularly, the pumping
module 30 is disposed in an upper proximal portion of the glove 60
and has an elongated body 31 disposed between the upper outer and
inner surfaces 61, 65 of the glove 60. The body 31 also forms a
pair of opposing openings, where a proximal opening thereof is in
fluid communication with a distal end of an inlet air pathway 21
and a distal opening thereof is in fluid communication with a
proximal end of an outer air pathway 51C. The inlet air pathway 21
terminates at an inlet opening 22 provided in a proximal end of the
glove 60 to be in fluid communication with the atmosphere, while
the outlet air pathway 51C terminates at an outlet opening 52C
provided inside the ventilating glove 60 and, more particularly, at
a distal tip portion of the upper inner surface 65. A pair of
one-way valves such as an inlet valve 23I and an outlet valve 23O
are respectively provided along the inlet and outlet air pathways
21, 51C or adjacent to the opposing openings of the body 31 so that
atmospheric air may be pumped into an interior of the glove 60
and/or moist air may be pumped out of the glove 60.
[0098] The actuator module 70 includes a pair of opposing actuators
71, 72, where an outer actuator 71 is preferably disposed on top of
or below the upper outer surface 61 and where an inner actuator 72
is preferably disposed underneath or above the upper inner surface
65 such that a gap space may be formed therebetween. Both actuators
71, 72 are made of an elastic or deformable material and/or have
elastic configurations so that they may operate or move between
their unstressed and stressed positions in response to a bending
(or reverse) movement of the finger of the user and/or a fisting
(or reverse) movement of his or her hand. Such outer and inner
actuators 71, 72 are operatively coupled to each other so that they
may move simultaneously in response to such bending or fisting
movements of the user but that they may move or deform by different
lengths or extents between their stressed and unstressed positions
in response thereto. For example and as described in FIG. 5B, the
bending movement of the user's finger stretches the outer actuator
71 farther than the inner actuator 72, while maintaining the
operative coupling therebetween. As a result, a distance between
the outer and inner actuators 71, 72 and a configuration of the gap
space formed therebetween may change accordingly.
[0099] In operation, the body 31 of the pumping module 30 is
movably or fixedly installed between the outer and inner actuators
71, 72 which are in turn operatively coupled to each other such
that both of the actuators 71, 72 may operate, move or deform
between their respective unstressed and stressed positions, while
mechanically interacting or exerting forces upon each other because
of the operative mechanical coupling therebetween. The user puts on
the ventilating glove 60 and stretches his or her fingers straight.
In this unstressed position, the outer and inner actuators 71, 72
are typically apart by a maximum distance, the gap space formed
therebetween attains its maximum value and, accordingly, the body
31 of the pumping module 31 which may be any of the foregoing
deformation-, bellow-, and syringe-type is filled with a preset
amount of air as described in FIG. 5A. When the user bends his or
her finger as shown in FIG. 5B, the outer actuator 71 undergoes a
greater deformation than-the inner actuator 72. The distance
between the actuators 71, 72 then decrease to its minimum value,
while the size of the gap space defined therebetween also decreases
its minimum valve. In response thereto, the deformation portion of
the body 31 deforms, the pleats of the body 31 fold, and/or the
piston 36 is translated further into the cylinder 35, and air is
dispensed from the pumping module 30 into the outlet air pathway
51C in an amount of the preset stroke volume, thereby supplying air
into the interior of the body 31. When the user unbends or
straightens the finger, both the outer and inner actuators 71, 72
return to their unstressed positions, the distance between the
actuators 71, 72 returns to its maximum value, and the gap space
regains its original configuration. Thereafter, the deformable body
31 of the pumping module 30 takes in dry air from the atmosphere
while returning to its unstressed position due to its own recoil
properties and/or optional conventional recoil units incorporated
thereto. Accordingly, as the user repeats to bend and straighten
the finger, the moist air in the interior of the glove 60 may be
replaced by fresh, drier atmospheric air. By supplying the drier
air into the interior of the glove 60, accumulation of moist or
water inside the glove 60 may be minimized and growth of various
harmful microorganisms or fungi therein may be prevented.
Therefore, the user may keep his or her hand in a drier more
sanitary environment. It is appreciated that any of the foregoing
pumping modules may be incorporated into the ventilating gloves.
For example, the ventilating glove 60 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B
incorporates the deformation-type pumping module 30 of which the
deformable portion is disposed facing one or both of the outer and
inner actuators 71, 72. When the bellow-type, pumping module 30 is
to be used, the body 31 is generally disposed so that its pleats
are at least partially parallel with the outer and/or inner
actuators 71, 72 and that the body 31 deforms in a direction at
least partially vertical to the actuators 71, 72. When the
syringe-type pumping module is to be used, its piston is disposed
to translate vertical to the outer and/or inner actuators 71,
72.
[0100] Various actuator modules using a variety of force
transmitting and/or converting mechanisms may be utilized to pump
air into and out of the pumping modules and to ventilate air into
and out of the ventilating gloves of this invention.
Configurational and/or operational details of such actuator modules
may depend upon, e.g., types of movements of the user to be
exploited thereby, pumping mechanisms of the pumping modules, and
the like. Roughly speaking, the actuator modules of the present
invention may be classified into transmitting actuator modules for
purely serving as transmission lines of various input forces which
cause movements of various portions of the ventilating glove,
converting actuator modules for converting the input forces into
driving forces which are different from the input forces in at
least one aspect and serves to actually drive the pumping module,
and hybrid actuator modules for both transmitting at least a
portion of the input force and also for converting at least another
portion of the input force to generate the foregoing driving
force.
[0101] In one aspect of the present invention, exemplary actuator
modules are operatively coupled to various deformation-type pumping
modules to achieve deformation of at least portions of the pumping
modules, thereby changing their internal volumes in response to
various user movements caused by various input forces applied
thereto directly or indirectly. A main feature of this aspect of
the present invention is that the actuator modules transmit the
input forces and/or generate driving forces from the input forces
to deform the deformable portions of the pumping modules. Such
actuator modules may be provided in various embodiments, typical
examples of which are shown in the following figures.
[0102] In one exemplary embodiment, an actuator module is arranged
to transmit an input force along the same direction of the input
force and at least a portion of a pumping module is arranged to
deform in the same direction thereby. For example, FIGS. 6A and 6B
are schematic diagrams of an exemplary actuator module which
operatively couples with a deformation-type pumping module, where
such an actuator module is arranged to transmit an axial input
force in the same direction and such a pumping module is in its
unstressed and stressed positions, respectively, according to the
present invention. An exemplary pumping module 30 is similar to
those of FIGS. 2A and 2B, except that its inlet and outlet openings
are disposed off a center axis of its body 31. In addition, an
exemplary inlet module 20 and outlet module 50 are also similar to
those shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. An exemplary actuator module 70 has
a proximal actuator 73A disposed adjacent to or in parallel with an
inlet air pathway 21 of the inlet module 20 and a distal actuator
73B disposed adjacent to or in parallel with an outlet air pathway
51 of the outlet module 50. The proximal and distal actuators 73A,
73B are also coupled to opposing ends of the body 31 along a center
axis 33 of the body 31. Accordingly, one or both of the actuators
73A, 73B receive an input force applied therealong and transmits
the input force thereby to the body 31 of the pumping module 30 in
order to effect deformation of the body 31 and to dispense air out
of the body 31 and into an interior of the glove 60 through an
outlet opening 52. The actuators 73A, 73B may be arranged to
receive the input force by various embodiments such that, e.g., the
user may pull or stretch one or both of the rigid or elastic
actuators 73A, 73B. Alternatively, the actuators 73A, 73B may be
arranged to receive the input force when the user pushes or
squeezes one of both of such actuators 73A, 73B as well.
[0103] In another exemplary embodiment, an actuator module is
similarly arranged to transmit an input force along parallel but
off-axis directions of the input force such that at least a portion
of a pumping module is arranged to deform by a resulting torque.
For example, FIG. 6C shows a schematic diagram of another exemplary
actuator module operatively coupling with a deformation-type
pumping module, where the actuator module is arranged to transmit
an axial input force in parallel but off-axis directions according
to the present invention. An exemplary ventilating system 10
includes an inlet module 20, a pumping module 30, and an outlet
module 50 which are similar or identical to those of FIGS. 6A and
6B. An actuator module 70 similarly includes a proximal actuator
73A and a distal actuator 73B which are coupled to two ends of a
body 31 of the pumping module 30 but not located along a center
axis 33 of the body. 31. Accordingly, an input force applied to one
or both of the actuators 73A, 73B results in a torque which pulls,
stretches, pushes or squeezes the body 31 while deforming it around
a center of the body 31. Other configurational and/or operational
characteristics of the actuator module 70 of this embodiment are
also similar or identical to those described in FIGS. 6A and
6B.
[0104] In another exemplary embodiment, an actuator module is
arranged to convert an input force to a driving force acting in a
direction different from that of the input force and driving a
pumping model in its direction but not in that of the input force.
For example, FIGS. 6D and 6E show schematic diagrams of an
exemplary actuator module operatively coupled to another
deformation-type pumping module and arranged to convert an axial
input force into a transaxial driving force, where the pumping
module is in its unstressed and stressed positions, respectively,
according to the present invention. An exemplary ventilation system
10 includes an inlet module 20, a pumping module 30, and an outlet
module 50 which are generally similar to those shown in FIGS. 6A
and 6B, except that a proximal guide 41A and a distal guide 41B may
be provided near opposing portions of the body 31. An exemplary
actuator module 70 includes an actuator 73 extending from a
proximal portion of the inlet module 20, biased downward by the
proximal guide 41A near a proximal end of the body 31 of the
pumping module 30, covering a top portion of the body 31, biased
again downward by the distal guide 41B, and terminating at a distal
end of the outlet module 50. The actuator 73 is further arranged to
be moved or deformed by, e.g., being pulled, pushed or stretched by
an input force generally acting in a direction parallel with the
actuator 73, while being biased by the pair of guides 41A, 41B to
continue to cover the top portion of the body 31. Accordingly, the
actuator 73 and guides 41A, 41B may convert the horizontally acting
input force into a transaxial driving force which acts in a
direction transverse to the input force and, normal to the top
portion of the body 31.
[0105] In operation, the body 31 of the pumping module 30 is
movably or fixedly installed between the outer and inner surfaces
of the glove, over or below one or both of such surfaces, and the
like. Both ends of the actuator 73 are operatively coupled to
different portions of the glove such that movements of an user's
finger and/or hand may pull, stretch, push or otherwise move the
actuator 73 by the input force acting in the direction of the
actuator 73. When no input force is applied thereto, the actuator
73, maintains its unstressed configuration, while the body 31 has
its maximum volume. As the actuator 73 is horizontally stretched or
pulled to its stressed configuration, the proximal and distal
guides 41A, 41B convert the horizontally acting input force into
the driving force which normally (or vertically) presses, squeezes,
and/or pushes the body 31 inwardly. Because the actuator 73 is
arranged to indirectly or directly contact the top portion of the
body 31, a deformable portion of the body 31 deforms inwardly and
the volume of the body 31 decreases to its minimum value by such a
driving force. The one-way valves directs a preset amount (i.e.,
the stroke volume) of air to be dispensed from the body 31 into an
interior of the glove through an outlet opening 52 of the outlet
module 50. The fresh air supplied by such a ventilating system 10
pushes moist air out of the glove. As the user moves his or her
finger or hand back to its previous position, the actuator 73 moves
back to its original unstressed configuration through its own
recoil properties and/or by optional conventional recoil units
incorporated thereto. The body 31 moves back to its unstressed
position to regain its maximum value, while the one-way valves
direct fresh atmospheric air to fill the body 31 of the pumping
module 30 for a next cycle of ventilation. Other configurational
and/or operational characteristics of the actuator module 70 of
this embodiment are also similar or identical to those described in
FIGS. 6A through 6C.
[0106] In another exemplary embodiment, an actuator module is
arranged to convert an input force to another driving force which
drives a pumping model in its direction but not in the direction of
the input force. For example, FIG. 6F is a schematic diagram of
another exemplary actuator module operatively coupling with a
deformation-type pumping module, where the actuator module is
arranged to convert off-axis input forces into transaxial driving
forces according to the present invention. An exemplary ventilation
system 10 has an inlet module 20, a pumping module 30, and an
outlet module 50 which are all similar to those shown in FIGS. 6A
and 6B, except that an actuator module 70 includes an actuator 73
which extends from a proximal portion of the inlet module 20,
covers various portions of the body 31 along its curvilinear
contour, and terminating at a distal end of the outlet module 50.
The actuator 73 is similarly arranged to be moved or otherwise
deformed by being pulled, pushed or stretched by an input force and
converts the input force into a driving force which acts in a
direction normal to the portions of the body 31 which are in
contact therewith. When desirable,,various guides (not shown in the
figure) may be incorporated to guide the movement and/or
deformation of the actuator 73. Other configurational and/or
operational characteristics of the actuator module 70 of this
embodiment may be also similar or identical to those described in
FIGS. 6A through 6E.
[0107] In another aspect of the present invention, exemplary
actuator modules may also operatively couple with various
bellow-type pumping modules to deform at least portions of the
pumping modules, thereby changing their internal volumes in
response to various user movements effected by various input forces
applied thereto directly or indirectly. A main feature of such an
aspect of this invention is that the actuator modules transmit the
input forces and/or convert such into driving forces to fold one or
more pleats of the bellow-type pumping modules. Such actuator
modules may also be provided in various embodiments, typical
examples of which are shown in the following figures.
[0108] In one exemplary embodiment, an actuator module is arranged
to transmit an input force along the same direction of the input
force and at least a portion of a pumping module is arranged to
deform in the same direction thereby. For example, FIG. 7A is a
schematic diagram of an exemplary actuator module operatively
coupling with a bellow-type pumping module and transmitting an
axial input force in the same direction according to the
present-invention. An exemplary inlet module 20 and outlet module
50 are similar or identical to those of FIGS. 3D and 3E, except
that they are in fluid communication with lower ends of a body 31
of an exemplary pumping module 30, not with center portions of the
body 31. A pumping module 30 is similar to those of FIGS. 3D and 3E
and includes a body 31 with multiple pleats 34 defined on its top
and bottom. An actuator module 70 includes a proximal actuator 73A
and a distal actuator 73B each coupled to opposing center portions
of the body 31 along a center axis of the body 31. Accordingly, one
or both of the actuators 73A, 73B may receive an input force
applied therealong and/or may be actuated by various movements of a
finger and/or hand of the user caused by such an input force, and
transmits the input force to the body, 31 of the pumping module 30
to cause the body 31 to fold horizontally along one or more pleats
34, thereby transporting fresh air from atmosphere into the body
31, transporting moist air from the interior of the glove into the
body 31, to dispense air out of the body 31 into an interior of the
glove 60, to dispense moist air out of the body 31 to the
atmosphere, and the like. The actuators 73A, 73B may be arranged to
receive the input force and/or to be actuated by various
embodiments such that, e.g., the user may pull or stretch one or
both of the rigid or elastic actuators 73A, 73B. Alternatively, the
actuators 73A, 73B may be arranged to receive the input force
and/or may be actuated when the user pushes or squeezes one of both
of the actuators 73A, 73B as well. Further configurational and/or
operational characteristics of such an actuator module 70 of this
embodiment are also similar or identical to those described in
FIGS. 3D to 3F.
[0109] In another exemplary embodiment, an actuator module is
arranged to receive and to convert an axial input force into a
transaxial driving force and to fold at least a portion of a
bellow-type pumping module along one or more pleats. For example,
FIG. 78 is a schematic diagram of another exemplary actuator module
operatively coupling with a bellow-type pumping module and
converting an axial input force into a transaxial driving force
which is normal or transverse to the input force according to the
present invention. An exemplary inlet module 20 and outlet module
50 are similar or identical to that of FIG. 7A, whereas an
exemplary pumping module 30 includes a body 31 with multiple pleats
34 defined on its sides such that the pleated body 31 may move or
deform horizontally between its stressed and unstressed positions.
An exemplary actuator module 70 includes a proximal actuator 73A
and a distal actuator 73B, where the proximal actuator 73A
generally extends along an inlet air pathway 21 of the inlet module
20 and coupling with a bottom of the body 31 while being upwardly
biased by a guide 41 B and where the distal actuator 738 extends
along an outlet air pathway 51 of the outlet module 50 and coupling
with a top of the body 31 while being biased downwardly by another
guide 41A. Therefore, when one or both of the actuators 73A, 73B
directly receive an input force and/or are actuated by the movement
of the user's finger or hand caused by such an input force applied
horizontally therealong, the guides 41A, 41B convert the horizontal
input force into a vertical driving force which may cause the body
31 to move or deform by being folded vertically along the pleats 34
and to dispense air out of the body 31 into an interior of the
glove 60 or into the atmosphere through an outlet opening 52. Such
actuators 73A, 73B may also be arranged to directly receive the
input force and/or may be actuated by various user movements based
on various embodiments so that, e.g., the user may pull or stretch
one or both of the rigid or elastic actuators 73A, 73B.
Alternatively, the actuators 73A, 73B may also be arranged to
receive various input forces and/or may be actuated by the user
movements when the user pushes, pressed, and/or squeezes one of
both of such actuators 73A, 73B. Other operational and/or
configurational characteristics of the actuator module 70 of this
embodiment are also similar or identical to those described in
FIGS. 3D, 3E, and 7A.
[0110] In another exemplary embodiment, an actuator module is
arranged to receive and to convert an axial input force into
another transaxial driving force to fold at least a portion of a
bellow-type pumping module along one or more pleats. For example,
FIG. 7C is a schematic diagram of another exemplary actuator module
operatively coupling with a bellow-type pumping module and
converting an axial input force into another transaxial or normal
driving force according to the present invention. An exemplary
inlet module 20 and outlet module 50 are generally similar to or
identical to that of FIG. 7A, whereas an exemplary pumping module
30 includes a body 31 having multiple pleats 34 defined on its top,
bottom, and sides such that the pleated body 31 may move or deform
horizontally, vertically, and/or at angles between its stressed and
unstressed positions. An exemplary actuator module 70 has an
actuator 73 similar to that of FIGS. 6D and 6E, e.g., extending
from a proximal portion of the inlet module 20, biased downwardly
by the proximal guide 41A near a proximal end of the body 31 of the
pumping module 30, covering a top portion of the body 31, biased
downwardly by the distal guide 41 B, and terminating at a distal
end of the outlet module 50. The actuator 73 is also arranged to be
moved or deformed by, e.g., being pulled, pushed or stretched by
the input forces generally acting in parallel with the actuator 73,
while being biased by the pair of guides 41A, 41B to continue to
cover the top portion of the body 31. Therefore, when the actuator
73 and guides 41A, 41B may directly receive an input force and/or
may be actuated by various user movements, they may convert the
horizontally acting input force and/or the horizontal movement into
a transaxial driving force which acts in a direction transverse to
the input force and/or a direction of user movements and which is
also typically normal to the top portion of the body 31. In another
exemplary embodiment, a hybrid actuator module may also be provided
to transmit and/or convert various input forces and/or movements of
the user's finger and/or hand. For example, FIG. 7D describes a
schematic diagram of another exemplary actuator module similar to
that of FIG. 7C and including additional actuators according to the
present invention. Thus, an exemplary inlet module 20, pumping
module 30, and outlet module 50 are all identical to those of FIG.
7C. An actuator module 70 has an actuator 73 and guides 41A, 41B
identical to those of FIG. 7C and also includes a proximal actuator
73A and a distal actuator 73B similar to those of FIGS. 7A.
Accordingly, the actuator module 70 not only converts the
horizontal input force and/or movement into a vertical driving
force but also transmits the input force directly to a body 31 of
the pumping module 30. Other configurational and/or operational
characteristics of the actuator module 70 of this embodiment are
also similar or identical to those described in FIGS. 6D, 6E, 7A,
and 7B.
[0111] In another exemplary embodiment, an actuator module is
similarly arranged to transmit an input force along parallel but
off-axis directions of the input force such that at least a portion
of a pumping module is arranged to fold by a resulting torque. For
example, FIG. 7E shows a schematic diagram of another exemplary
actuator module which is operatively coupled to a bellow-type
pumping module and arranged to transmit an axial input force and/or
to convert an axial movement along a parallel but off-axis
direction into a driving force according to the present invention.
An exemplary an inlet module 20, pumping module 30, and an outlet
module 50 are similar or identical to those shown in FIGS. 7C and
7D, except that an inlet air pathway 21 and an outlet air pathway
51 of the inlet and outlet modules 20, 50 are connected to a body
31 of the pumping module 30 in its center portions of opposing
sides thereof. An actuator module 70 includes a proximal actuator
73A and a distal actuator 73B which are coupled to two ends of a
body 31 of the pumping module 30 but not located along a center
axis of the body 31. Thus, an input force applied to one or both of
such actuators 73A, 73B and/or a horizontal movement of such
actuators 73A, 73B effected by such an input force results in a
torque which pulls, stretches, pushes, and/or squeezes the body 31
while folding it around its center. Other configurational and/or
operational characteristics of the actuator module 70 of this
embodiment are also similar or identical to those described in
FIGS. 6C and 7A through 7D.
[0112] In another exemplary embodiment, an actuator module is
arranged to convert an input force or movement of a hand and/or
finger of an user to another driving force which drives a pumping
model in its direction but not in a direction of the input force.
For example, FIG. 7F shows a schematic diagram of another exemplary
actuator module which is operatively coupled to a bellow-type
pumping module and converts an off-axis input force and/or movement
of an user effecting such an input force into a transaxial driving
force normal or transverse to the input force according to the
present invention. An exemplary inlet module 20, a pumping module
30, and an outlet module 50 are similar to those shown in FIGS. 7C
to 7E, while an actuator module 70 includes an actuator 73
extending from a proximal portion of the inlet module 20, covering
various portions of the body 31 along its curvilinear contour, and
then terminating at a distal end of the outlet module 50. The
actuator 73 is similarly arranged to be moved or otherwise deformed
by being pulled, pushed or stretched by an input force and converts
the input force into a driving force which acts in a direction
normal to the portions of the body 31 which are in contact
therewith. When desirable, various guides (not shown in the figure)
may be incorporated to guide the movement and/or deformation of the
actuator 73. Other configurational and/or operational
characteristics of the actuator module 70 of this embodiment may be
also similar or identical to those described in FIGS. 6F and 7A
through 6E.
[0113] In another aspect of the present invention, exemplary
actuator modules may also operatively couple with various
syringe-type pumping modules so as to move or translate pistons of
the pumping modules, thereby changing their internal volumes in
response to various user movements effected by various input forces
applied thereto directly or indirectly. A main feature of this
aspect of the present invention is that the actuator modules
transmit the input forces and/or convert such into driving forces
to move or translate the pistons of the syringe-type pumping
modules. Such actuator modules may be provided in various
embodiments similar to those described in FIGS. 6A to 6F and 7A to
7F, where the deformation and/or bellow-type pumping modules of
such figures may be replaced by the exemplary syringe-type pumping
modules of FIGS. 4A to 4L and where various actuators and/or
guides-shown in FIGS. 6A to 6F and 7A to 7F are incorporated
thereinto in order to move the pistons with respect to the
cylinders and vice versa.
[0114] Configurational and/or operational variations and/or
modifications of the above embodiments of the exemplary ventilation
systems and various modules thereof described in FIGS. 6A through
7F and those described in conjunction therewith also fall within
the scope of this invention. For example, the foregoing actuator
modules may be arranged to have any shapes and/or sizes as far as
they may be incorporated to the ventilating gloves of the present
invention. In addition, such actuator modules may be made of
various materials such as, e.g., plastics, metals, and/or laminated
fabrics as long as they may transmit various input forces and/or
convert various movements of the user's finger and/or hand
effecting such input forces. Such actuator modules may also be
arranged in different configurations as long as the ventilation
system of the present invention may pump air into and out of the
ventilating gloves. Therefore, the above exemplary figures may be
construed as top views, front views, and so on.
[0115] The actuator module may be incorporated to the ventilating
glove in various embodiments. For example, at least a portion of
such an actuator module may be movably or fixedly coupled to the
body of the pumping module so as to facilitate transmission and/or
conversion of various user input forces and/or user movements. In
another example, at least a portion of the actuator module may be
movably or fixedly coupled to one or more outer and/or inner
surfaces of the ventilating glove so as to facilitate reception of
various user input forces and/or user movements. At least a portion
of such an actuator module and/or its actuator may be exposed
through the outer and/or inner surface of the glove so that the
user may apply various input forces thereto and/or may move such a
portion in various directions. Alternatively, an entire portion of
the actuator module and/or its actuator may also be disposed below
the outer surface of the glove or between its outer and inner
surfaces. When desirable, covers may be provided fixedly or movably
over the actuator module and/or its actuator to receive the input
force and to transmit the input force onto the actuator module
and/or its actuator. When such an actuator is arranged to convert
the input force to the driving force, the foregoing guides may also
be incorporated in order to bias the actuator in various directions
as described above. Such guides may be arranged to roll to
facilitate the deformation and/or movement of the actuator. It is
again appreciated that, in any of exemplary embodiments described
hereinabove and hereinafter, the main objective of the actuator
module of this invention is to transmit and/or convert the input
force such that the pumping module may pump air into and out of
itself. Thus, the actuator module may be arranged to allow direct
movements and/or deformations of at least a portion of the pumping
module in response to the user input force or user movement or to
allow deformations of the gap space which in turn changes the
internal volume of the body of the pumping module.
[0116] As described above, the actuator module may include a single
actuator which may be coupled to the body of the pumping module or
may include multiple actuators which operate in unison to deform or
move at least a portion of the body of the pumping module. Such
actuators may be constructed as rods or strings which move or
deform (e.g., stretch or elongate) in a single dimension. The
actuators may also be provided as planes, plates or slabs which may
move or translate vertically, horizontally or at angles in two
dimensions. In the alternative, the actuators may be configured as
curvilinear planes or sheets which move or deform (e.g., bend,
twist, stretch or elongate) in three dimensions. Detailed
configurations of the actuator modules and their actuators may also
depend upon, e.g., types of the input forces and/or the movements
of the user's finger or hand, mechanisms of the pumping modules,
and the like. Regardless of their structural arrangements and/or
operating mechanisms, the actuator modules and their actuators are
designed to move or deform at least a portion of the pumping
module. Accordingly, the pumping module and/or its body may
preferably be supported by a stationary and/or mobile part of the
ventilating glove so that the input and/or driving force may not be
wasted in moving the entire body instead of moving or deforming the
movable or deformable portion thereof. In addition, when the
actuator of the actuator module is arranged to enclose at least a
portion of the body of the pumping module therein, the
aforementioned support may become only optional.
[0117] As described herein, the actuator module may include
multiple actuators arranged to transmit the input force therealong
and/or to convert such an input force into the driving force. In
one example, such actuators may be arranged to operate separately
or independently of each other and to transmit or to convert the
input force. In such an embodiment, each actuator may be separately
coupled to the body of the pumping module, the outer and/or inner
surfaces of the glove, and the like, although such actuators are
not directly coupled to each other. Therefore, each of such
actuators may be arranged to receive a different input force or to
be actuated by a different user movement. In another example, at
least some of such actuators may also be coupled to each other to
operate in unison to transmit or to convert such an input force. In
such an embodiment, at least some actuators may be actuated by a
single input force and/or user movement. In either embodiment,
different actuators may be arranged to perform different functions
such that, e.g., some actuators may only transmit the input force,
others may convert such an input force into the driving force, and
so on.
[0118] The actuators of the actuator modules may be disposed in
various arrangements, although the disposition is generally
determined by the directions of the input forces applied thereto
and/or types of movements of the glove (or hand or fingers of the
user) to be exploited thereby. Therefore, such an actuator may be,
e.g., disposed linearly or axially along the finger portion and
then optionally extending to the palm and/or backhand portion of
the glove, disposed to twirl or to twist around the finger portion
and optionally extending to the palm and/or backhand portion,
disposed to extend across, to be at an angle with or to be
transverse to at least one finger in a curvilinear path and then
optionally extending to the palm and/or backhand portion, disposed
at least substantially or entirely in the backhand and/or palm
portion, and the like. It is to be understood that detailed
disposition and arrangements of such an actuator are to be
determined by a designer who decides in which direction the input
force is applied and/or what movements of which portion of the
glove he or she wants to exploit. Therefore, a single or multiple
actuators may be arranged to be actuated by a single or multiple
input forces and/or by a single or multiple movements of a single
or multiple portions of the glove, where such input forces and
movements may be along one or multiple directions and where such
input forces and movements may have different amplitudes and
displacements, respectively. In addition, a single or multiple
actuators may be arranged to receive the input force directly or
indirectly or may be actuated by the movements directly or
indirectly. Moreover, when multiple actuators are to be
incorporated, they may be disposed in the same or different
portions of the glove, may be actuated by identical or different
input forces or movements of the glove, may have identical or
different configurations and/or operating mechanisms, may be
operatively coupled to each other, or may operate independently of
each other.
[0119] Other modules of the ventilating system may also be disposed
according to the configurational and/or operational characteristics
of the actuator module. First of all, the inlet module, outlet
module or pumping module may be entirely exposed, partially exposed
or disposed between the outer and inner surfaces of the glove as
described above. As far as the actuator module may receive the
input force and/or exploit various movements of the glove and may
drive the pumping module, detailed disposition of the other modules
are not generally critical to the scope of the present invention.
Therefore, exact locations of the inlet and/or outlet openings,
inlet and/or outlet air pathways, and valves may also vary
depending upon various characteristics of the actuator module and
its actuators. Secondly, the inlet module, outlet module, and/or
pumping modules do not have to be disposed between or adjacent to
the actuator as long as the body of the pumping model may receive
the input force and/or may be driven by the driving force generated
by the actuator module. When desirable, a force-transmission unit
may be incorporated to transmit the input and/or driving force to
the pumping module which is disposed far from the actuator module.
Thirdly, any portion of the inlet and/or outlet modules may be
arranged to be stationary and not to move along with the deformable
or movable portion of the pumping module and/or the actuator of the
actuator module. Furthermore, any of the above modules of the
ventilating system may be operatively combined to form an unitary
article. For example and as described in FIGS. 4C and 4D, the inlet
and pumping modules may be combined. Similarly, the outlet and
pumping modules may be combined to allow the outlet module or at
least a portion thereof in order to move along with the piston or
cylinder of the pumping module, the actuator and pumping modules
may be combined to facilitate the direct transmission of the
driving force onto the pumping module, and so on.
[0120] As described herein, one or more conventional valves may be
disposed along the inlet and/or outlet air pathways to direct a
flow of air through the ventilating system. In general,
conventional one-way valves may be used to allow an anterograde
flow of air but to prevent a retrograde flow thereof. Other valves
may be used to direct the flow of air, examples of which may
include, but not be limited to, pressure-regulating valves,
three-way valves, and so on. The inlet and/or outlet air pathway
may also be made of collapsible materials which may serve as the
one-way valve such that it opens under a favorable pressure
gradient there across and closes under an opposite pressure
gradient.
[0121] The actuator module and its actuator of the present
invention may be arranged to be actuated by various user movements.
In one exemplary embodiment, such an actuator module may be
actuated by fisting-unfisting movements of multiple fingers moving
between their fisting and unfisting positions. The fisting position
generally represents a position where multiple fingers are bent
inwardly at one or more finger joints toward a palm and where such
fingers may contact each other or may contact the palm. In
contrary, the unfisting position refers to a position where at
least some of such fingers are at least partially stretched from
the fisting position, at least partially straightened from the
fisting-position, and/or bent at lesser extents not to touch each
other and/or not to touch the palm. As exemplified in FIGS. 5A and
5B, the actuator module of this embodiment may be fixedly or
movably incorporated into the outer and/or inner surfaces of one or
more finger portions, palm portion, and/or backhand portion of the
ventilating glove in order to exploit different distances of
movement and/or deformation between the inner and outer (or palm
and back) portions of such finger portions of the glove.
Accordingly, the actuators disposed in such inner and outer (or
palm and back) portions move or deform by a different distance or
extent, the size of the gap space defined between the actuators may
change due to such movements, and the body of the pumping module
may also change its internal volume pump air into or out of itself.
Alternatively, such actuator module may be arranged to be pulled,
pushed, squeezed or otherwise moved or deformed, by such movements,
the actuator(s) of the actuator module may then transmits the input
force to the pumping module, and the body of the pumping module may
change its internal volume to pump air into and out of itself. When
it is preferable to involve a thumb which moves generally
transverse to or at angles with respect to other fingers, the
actuator may be disposed over, below or between outer and inner
thumb portions of the glove to move transverse to or at angles with
respect to other finger portions of the glove. It is to be
understood that the above fisting and unfisting positions are those
defined relative to each other such that, e.g., the fingers may
have only to be bent by greater angles in the fisting position than
in the unfisting position. Accordingly, the actuator module may be
constructed in various embodiments each of which may adopt a
different set of fisting and/or unfisting positions as long as such
fisting and unfisting movements may cause the pumping module to
pump air thereinto and therefrom. It is also appreciated that the
pumping module may also be arranged to be in its unstressed (or
intake) position and stressed (or dispense) position in any of the
foregoing fisting, unfisting, and/or any in-between positions by
appropriately coupling the actuator module to the pumping module.
For example and as described hereinabove, when the actuator module
is arranged to control the size of the gap space in which the body
of the pumping module is disposed, the pumping module may be
arranged such that it is in its unstressed (or stressed) position
when the actuator is in the fisting position, in the unfisting
position or in the middle or in any in-between position of such
fisting and unfisting positions. Similarly, when the actuator
module is arranged to move or otherwise deform the body of the
pumping module, the pumping module may be in its unstressed (or
stressed) position when the actuator may be in its fisting,
unfisting, middle or any in-between position of such fisting and
unfisting positions. Construction of the actuator modules of this
embodiment and operatively coupling such actuator modules to the
pumping modules are generally well known to those having ordinary
skill in general mechanical engineering.
[0122] In another exemplary embodiment, such an actuator module may
be actuated by stretching-unstretching (or relaxing) movements of
at least one finger which moves between its stretching and
unstretching positions, where the stretching position refers to a
position where the finger is stretched farther beyond its natural
resting position, and where the unstretching position represents a
position where the finger is bent back to its original resting
position. In a converse exemplary embodiment, the actuator module
may be actuated by bending-unbending (or relaxing) movements of at
least one finger moving-between its bending and unbending
positions, where the bending position refers to a position where
the finger is bent inward farther beyond its natural resting
position, and where the unbending position represents the above
unstretching position. Such actuator modules of both embodiments
are generally disposed in the joint portion of the finger to
exploit the stretching, unstretching, bending, and unbending
movements of the finger. It is to be understood that the foregoing
stretching, unstretching, bending, and unbending positions are
those defined relative to each other so that, e.g., the finger may
have only to be stretched or bent by a greater angle in the
unstretching or bending position than in the stretching or
unbending position. Accordingly, such actuator modules may be
constructed in various embodiments which adopt different sets of
stretching-unstretching or bending-unbending positions as long as
such stretching-unstretching or bending-unbending movements cause
the pumping modules to pump air into and out of itself. It is
appreciated that the pumping module may also be arranged to be in
its unstressed (or intake) position and stressed (or dispense)
position in any of the above stretching, unstretching, bending,
unbending, and/or in-between positions by appropriately coupling
the actuator modules to the pumping modules. Detailed
configurational characteristics, disposition arrangements, and/or
operation mechanisms of the actuator of the above embodiments may
be similar or identical to those of the above fisting-unfisting
embodiment except that the actuators of the above embodiments may
be actuated by the above movements of a single or multiple fingers.
It is also appreciated that the actuator module of such embodiments
may include multiple actuators which may be incorporated into
different finger portions of the ventilating glove and/or different
palm or backhand portions such that the actuator module may be
actuated by the different movement(s) of various portions of the
glove.
[0123] In another exemplary embodiment, the actuator module may
further be actuated by squeezing-unsqueezing (or relaxing)
movements between at least two fingers moving between their
squeezing and unsqueezing (or relaxing) positions, where the
squeezing position refers to a position where the fingers are
squeezed farther beyond their natural resting position to contact
and to press each other, and where the unsqueezing (or relaxing)
position represents the resting position thereof in which the
fingers may or may not touch each other but they do not press each
other. It is appreciated that such squeezing and unsqueezing
positions only relate to whether the fingers contact and press each
other and, therefore, the fingers may be bent or stretched in any
of such positions. The actuator module of this embodiment may be
fixedly or movably incorporated into adjacent side finger portions
of the glove, whereas the body of the pumping module may be
disposed in, such side finger portions or in any other portions of
the glove as far as the actuators of the actuator module may be
operatively coupled to the body of the pumping module, may move or
deform at least a portion of the body of the pumping module or may
change the size of the gap space enclosing the body of the pumping
module to take air into or to dispense air therefrom. It is to be
understood that the above squeezing and unsqueezing positions are
those defined relative to each other such that, e.g., the fingers
may have only to press each other by a greater force in the
squeezing position than in the unsqueezing position. Therefore, the
actuator module may also be constructed in various embodiments
which may adopt different sets of squeezing and/or unsqueezing
positions as long as such squeezing and unsqueezing movements may
cause the pumping module to pump air thereinto and therefrom. It is
appreciated that the pumping module may be arranged to be in its
unstressed (or intake) position and stressed (or dispense) position
in any of the above squeezing, unsqueezing, and/or in-between
positions. Detailed configurational characteristics, disposition
arrangements, and/or operation mechanisms of the actuator of the
above embodiment are generally similar or identical to that of the
above fisting-unfisting embodiment, except that the actuators of
this embodiment may be actuated by the adjacent fingers. It is
further appreciated that the actuator module of this embodiment may
include multiple actuators incorporated into different finger
portions of the ventilating glove and/or different palm and/or
backhand portions so that the actuator module may be actuated by
the different movement(s) of various portions of the glove.
[0124] In another exemplary embodiment, another actuator module may
also be actuated by pressing-unpressing (or relaxing) movements of
at least one finger which may move between its pressing and
unpressing (or relaxing) positions toward and away from the palm of
the hand, respectively, where the pressing position represents a
position where the finger moves toward the palm or contacts and
presses the palm, and where the unpressing (or relaxing) position
represents the resting position of the finger in which the finger
does not touch the palm and does not press the palm. Such an
actuator module of this embodiment generally involves an
interaction between at least one finger and the palm and,
therefore, is different from the foregoing intrafinger embodiments
which involve the movements of the fingers (e.g., the
fisting-unfisting, stretching-unstretching, and bending-unbending
movements) and from the interfinger movements such as the
squeezing-unsqueezing movements between multiple fingers. The
actuator of such an embodiment may be fixedly or movably
incorporated into the finger portion and/or the palm portion or,
alternatively, in the joint portion of the finger, as far as the
pressing and/or bending movements of at least one finger against
and/or with respect to the palm may generate the driving force
which is capable of pumping air into and out of the body of the
pumping module. It is to be understood that the above pressing and
unpressing positions are those defined relative to each other so
that, e.g., the finger may have only to press the palm by a greater
force or at a greater angle in the pressing position than in the
unpressing position. Accordingly, the actuator module may also be
constructed in various embodiments employing different sets of
pressing and/or unpressing positions as long as such pressing and
unpressing movements may cause the pumping module to pump air into
and out of itself. It is appreciated that the pumping module may be
arranged to be in its unstressed (or intake) position and stressed
(or dispense) position in any of the above pressing, unpressing,
and/or in-between positions as well. Detailed configurational
characteristics, disposition arrangements, and operation mechanisms
of the actuator of the above embodiment are generally similar or
identical to that of the above fisting-unfisting embodiment, except
that the actuators of this embodiment be actuated by the finger
movements with respect to the palm. It is also appreciated that the
actuator module of this embodiment may include multiple actuators
incorporated into different finger portions of the ventilating
glove and/or different palm and/or backhand portions so that the
actuator module may be actuated by the different movement(s) of
various portions of the glove.
[0125] In addition to the aforementioned finger and/or hand
movements, the actuator modules may be arranged, to be actuated by
movements of other parts of the glove and/or user as well. For
example, the actuator module may be disposed in the palm portion of
the glove and actuated as the user pushes the actuator thereof by
his or her hand or presses the actuator against an object he or she
is holding. Similarly, the actuator may be disposed in the backhand
portion of the glove and actuated as the user pushes the actuator
by his or her other hand or presses such against other objects. In
addition, such an actuator module may be operatively coupled to a
suit (or body) of the user such that movements of other parts of
his or her suit (or body) may actuate the actuator module. Examples
of such parts may include, but not be limited to, the wrist
portion, arm portion, upper body portion, waist portion, and the
like.
[0126] It is appreciated that the user may apply various input
forces which may act axially, radially or transaxially along the
actuator of the actuator module, air pathways of the inlet and/or
outlet modules, and/or body of the pumping module. Thus, the
actuator modules of the above embodiments may have to be arranged
to receive such axial, transaxial or radial input forces and/or to
exploit the axial, radial or transaxial movements of the glove
effected by such input forces, and its actuator may also have to be
designed to be actuated by such forces or movements in order to
generate the driving force which may also act axially, transaxially
or radially upon the deformable or movable portion of the body of
the pumping module. When desirable, conventional force-transmitting
devices such as universal joints or power-transmitting cable maybe
employed in order to change the directions of the input and/or
driving forces into a favorable direction. In addition,
conventional gears may be employed so as to amplify or to attenuate
the input and/or driving forces and conventional energy storage
devices may be used so as to store mechanical energy applied by the
user and to use such an energy thereafter.
[0127] As described above, the ventilating system may include one
or more conventional recoil units to absorb at least a portion of
the mechanical energy of the user input force which may be applied
to various modules of the system and to utilize such portion of the
energy to move or deform the same or different modules from one to
the other of the stressed and unstressed positions. For example,
such a recoil unit may be incorporated to the pumping module so as
to store at least a portion of the energy applied to move or deform
the movable or deformable portion of the body of the pumping module
from its unstressed (or intake) to stressed (or dispense) position
and thereafter to move such a movable or deformable portion of the
body back to its unstressed position. Depending upon the
configuration, the recoil unit may also be used to move the movable
or deformable portion from the unstressed position to the stressed
position. Similarly, the recoil unit may further be incorporated
into the actuator module to store at least a portion of the
mechanical energy applied thereto and to utilize such a portion of
the energy to move the actuator module from one to the other of the
unstressed and stressed positions. As described above, the body of
the pumping module and/or the actuator of the actuator module may
be made of elastic materials and/or have elastic configurations to
elicit recoil properties. Such a body and/or actuator may also be
incorporated with the recoil unit to augment the recoil movements
thereof or to provide the recoil force as the body and/or actuator
may move from its unstressed position to its stressed position.
[0128] The actuator and/or pumping modules may be arranged to pump
air into and out of the body of the pumping module in various
temporal arrangements. In its simplest example, the actuator module
is arranged to transmit the input force and/or driving force onto
the pumping module at least substantially simultaneously with the
application of the input force, accounting for a non-negligible but
small period of time lag caused by air to fill and flow through
various chambers and conduits of the inlet, outlet, and pumping
modules. In another embodiment, the actuator module is arranged to
transmit the input and/or driving forces onto the pumping module in
a preset period of time after receiving the input force. Such an
embodiment generally requires at least one energy storage unit
and/or elastic chamber which may release the stored mechanical
energy over time and/or at an user command. In addition, the
ventilating system may incorporate a controller which may control
such an energy storage unit to release such energy based on a
preset pattern. For example, the actuator module may drive the
pumping module to supply air to an elastic chamber in response to
the input and/or driving forces, where such an elastic chamber
stores the air and thereafter releases the air through the outlet
module at a preset flow rate or only after it receives the user
command.
[0129] The ventilating system may also include a pumping module
which is an electric fan arranged to pump air into and/or out of an
interior of a glove. For example, FIG. 8A shows a schematic diagram
of an exemplary electric pumping module arranged to transport air
in a direction which is transverse to a shaft thereof according to
the present invention. An exemplary fan-type pumping module 30
includes a body 42, a rotating shaft 43 disposed in a center of the
body 42, and multiple impellers 44 coupled to the shaft 43. At
least one air inlet 45 and at least one air outlet 46 are also
disposed in opposing ends of the body 42. Although not shown in the
figure for illustrative purposes, a top and a bottom of such a body
42 are preferably covered to prevent flow of air therethrough and,
therefore, to direct air from the air inlet 45 to the air outlet
46. More particularly, such impellers 44 are generally vertically
oriented such that air may be pumped inside the body in a direction
at least substantially transverse or vertical to the shaft 43 from,
e.g., right to left. Alternatively, FIG. 8B describes a schematic
diagram of another exemplary electric pumping module arranged to
pump air in a direction parallel with its shaft according to the
present invention. Such an exemplary fan-type pumping module 30
also includes a body.42, a rotating shaft 43, multiple impellers 44
coupled to the shaft 43 at an angle, and at least one air inlet 45
and at least one air outlet 46 disposed in opposing ends of the
body 42. Similar to the above example, a top and a bottom of the
body 42 are also preferably covered so that air may be pumped from
the air inlet 45 to the air outlet 46. More particularly, such
impellers 44 are generally slanted such that air may be pumped
inside the body in a direction at least partially parallel with the
shaft 43, e.g., either upward or downward. Such electrical pumping
modules may be disposed in any location of the glove and the
selection of either embodiment of FIG. 9A or 9B may depend upon a
space available in such a location. These electric pumping modules
30 may operate by an electric current provided by, e.g., a solar
cell assembly disposed thereon and capable of converting solar
energy into electrical energy, an internal power supply such as a
battery, a rechargeable battery or a generator capable of
converting various movements of the glove into the electric
current, an external power supply, and so on.
[0130] As described above, the main function of the ventilating
system of this invention is to achieve ventilation, i.e., providing
fresh air into the interior of the glove by the pumping module and
dispensing moist air out of such by the fresh air, or dispensing
moist air out of the interior of the glove by such a pumping module
and allowing the fresh air to fill the interior thereof by a
pressure difference between the interior of the glove and
atmosphere. When desirable, conventional dehumidifiers may be
installed along the inlet and/or outlet module to remove moist from
the air stream fed into the interior of the glove and to reduce
humidity thereof. Such a dehumidifier may be constructed as a
disposable unit and/or as a retreatable unit so that the user may
discard an old unit and load a new unit whenever the unit is
saturated with moist conversely, conventional humidifiers may be
used to add moist into the dry air to control the humidity inside
the glove at a proper level. Such humidifiers may be any article
such as a wet sponge disposed along the inlet and/or outlet module
which may also be refilled with water when dried out. Such an
embodiment may be preferable for protection gloves to be used in
the dessert or other areas of dry weather.
[0131] The ventilating system of the present invention may also be
utilized to control a temperature of the air delivered into the
interior of the glove, thereby controlling the temperature of such
an interior as well. For example, FIG. 9A describes a schematic
diagram of an exemplary inlet and/or outlet module with a
temperature control unit according to the present invention. An
exemplary temperature control unit 90 is comprised of multiple air
pathways which include a first or short air pathway 93 and a long
or second air pathway 94 and which share a common air inlet 91 and
air outlet 92. In this exemplary embodiment, an on-off, needle or
control valve 95 is also disposed along the first air pathway 93
such that an amount of air flowing through the first and second
pathways 93, 94 may be controlled by the user. The temperature
control unit 90 is incorporated as a part of the inlet and/or
outlet module of the ventilating glove and preferably disposed near
the hand of the user such that air may absorb thermal energy
emitted by the hand.
[0132] In operation, the user puts on the ventilating glove
incorporating the above temperature control unit 90. When the user
does not want to heat air supplied to an interior of such a glove,
the user may open the valve to direct the air through the first air
pathway 93. Because the shorter first air pathway 93 has a smaller
pneumatic resistance than the longer second air pathway 94, the
incoming fresh air may predominantly flow through the shorter first
air pathway 93. In addition, the air may flow through the shorter
first air pathway 93 in a relatively shorter period of time and,
therefore, may not be able to absorb enough thermal energy to be
heated. As the user wants the fresh air to be heated, he or she may
close the valve 95, thereby shutting down the first air pathway 93.
As the fresh atmospheric air may flow through the longer second
pathway 94 and over a longer period of time, the air may absorb
more thermal energy from the hand and achieve a higher temperature.
In addition, when the valve 95 is not an on-off valve but a control
valve, the user may control an amount of air flowing through both
of the first and second air pathways 93, 94 and heat the air to an
optimal temperature.
[0133] Alternatively, FIG. 9B is a schematic diagram of an
exemplary inlet and/or outlet module having another temperature
control unit according to the present invention. Such an exemplary
temperature control unit 90 similarly includes a first or short air
pathway 93 and a long or second air pathway 94 sharing a common air
inlet 91 and air outlet 92. In this exemplary embodiment, however,
a three-way valve 95 is installed in a junction between the air
pathways 93, 94 to allow the user to select whether fresh air may
flow through the shorter first air pathway 93 or through the longer
second air pathway 94. Such a temperature control unit 90 is also
incorporated as a part of the inlet and/or outlet module and
preferably disposed near the hand of the user so that air may
absorb thermal energy emitted by the hand.
[0134] In operation, the user puts on the ventilating glove
incorporating the above temperature control unit 90. When the user
does not want to heat air supplied to an interior of such a glove,
the user may adjust the valve to direct the air through the first
air pathway 93. Because the shorter length thereof, the first air
passes through the first air pathway 93 without or only minimally
being heated. When the user adjusts the valve to direct the air
through the second air pathway 94, the air may flow through the
longer second pathway 94 over a longer period of time and absorb
more thermal energy from the hand to achieve a higher
temperature.
[0135] Configurational and/or operational variations and/or
modifications of the above embodiments of the exemplary temperature
control units described in FIGS. 9A and 9B also fall within the
scope of this Invention. For example, the foregoing short and long
air pathways do not have to be coupled to each other and do not
have to share the common air inlet and/or outlet. By providing
additional air inlets and outlets and by disposing additional
valves, amounts of air flowing through independent and uncoupled
long and short air pathways may be readily controlled. The
temperature control unit may include more than two air pathways
and/or multiple valves as well to individually regulate the amounts
of air flowing through such air pathways. Moreover, various valves
may be disposed in various locations along the pathways as long as
such valves may control the amounts of air flowing through at least
one of such pathways. As described above, the temperature control
unit is generally incorporated into the inlet or outlet module of
the ventilation system. However, the temperature control unit may
be incorporated as a separate module or different pathways of such
a unit may be incorporated into different locations of the
ventilating system.
[0136] In order to increase an amount of heat transferred onto the
incoming air, the outgoing moist air may be arranged to transfer at
least a portion of its thermal energy to the incoming air. For
example, the ventilating system may include an additional exhaust
module which is arranged to take in moist air from the interior of
the glove and to discharge such to atmosphere. By disposing air
pathways of the exhaust module adjacent to the air pathways of the
inlet and/or outlet module, the incoming fresh air may be able to
absorb the thermal energy from the outgoing moist air. Design of
such heat exchange mechanisms may be well known to those of
ordinary skill in mechanical and/or chemical engineering. In
contrary to the foregoing heating mechanism, the incoming air may
also be arranged to cool down before it reaches the interior of the
glove. For example, those workers subject to a high temperature
environment such as steel manufacturing industry may not want to
ventilate their gloves with the hot air. The above temperature
control unit may then be utilized to discard at least a portion of
the thermal energy of the hot incoming air by transferring such to
the outgoing moist air.
[0137] The above ventilating system of the present invention may
also be incorporated with a variety of cartridges capable of adding
molecules contained therein to the incoming air. For example and as
described hereinabove, cartridges containing water may be used to
increase humidity of the incoming air. In addition, such cartridges
may contain antibacterial, antiviral, and/or other pharmaceutical
agents and be arranged to add such molecules to the incoming air,
e.g., in order to kill microorganisms inside the glove, to suppress
growth of such microorganisms, to provide a pharmaceutical
treatment to the skin of the hand, and so on. Such cartridges may
also include various fragrances to suppress odor inside the glove.
Such cartridges may be designed to be disposable such that the user
may discard used cartridges and load new ones. Alternatively, such
cartridges may include a feeding port through which the user may
add water, pharmaceutical agents, and/or fragrances when
needed.
[0138] As described herein, the ventilating system of the present
invention may be applied to provide various ventilating gloves
designed for a variety of purposes. For example, such gloves may be
used to protect hands from cold and/or hot weather by, e.g.,
heating or cooling air supplied to an interior of the gloves. Such
gloves may also be used to maintain a humidity of the interior of
the gloves under a preset level by, e.g., supplying dry atmospheric
air and/or supplying air through a dehumidifier unit to the
interior of the glove while dispensing moist air therefrom.
Alternatively, such gloves may be used to maintain a humidity of
the interior of the gloves above a preset level by, e.g., supplying
air through a humidifier unit to the interior of the glove.
Accordingly, the user may be able to keep his or her hands under a
more sanitary and/or comfortable condition than otherwise. In
addition, such gloves may be used to maintain a temperature of the
interior of the gloves over a preset level or as high as possible
by, e.g., heating the incoming air by the thermal energy of the
hand, cooling down the incoming air by the hand, and the like. Such
gloves of the present invention may further be used to protect the
hands from various mechanical, chemical, electrical, magnetic,
and/or radioactive hazards, while ventilating air in and out of
themselves. Furthermore, the ventilating gloves of the present
invention may minimize undesirable growth of microorganisms inside
the gloves by reducing the humidity therein.
[0139] It is to be understood that, while various aspects and
embodiments of the present invention have been described in
conjunction with the detailed description thereof, the foregoing
description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of
the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended
claims. Other embodiments, aspects, advantages, and modifications
are within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *