MICROCLIMATE TEMPERATURE REGULATING PAD AND PRODUCTS MADE THEREFROM

摘要

A support means or pad (10) which is adapted to overlie an area to be thermally regulated. A plurality of macrocapsules (90) are dispersed within the support pad. The support means may be a porous pad or overlying layers of a mesh-type fabric. The fabric sheets include a series of channels which may be zig-zag in shape and are filled with a temperature stabilizing means, for example, a macroencapsulated phase change material. Suitable phase change materials are paraffinic hydrocarbons and water. In another aspect of the invention, the temperature stabilizing means is distributed within the support means in proportion to the underlying thermal load.