It won't be long before Mother Nature starts turning up the old Bunsen burner here in the Valley. That means hot, sticky car seats and sweaty shirt backs for drivers. Wouldn't it be nice if your car had built-in seat coolers similar to the heaters common in many vehicles?
Krista Walker thinks she has the answer: a foam seat cushion that cools down or heats up with the flip of a switch. It is called the Cool-or-Heat Seat Cushion, and it was developed by her Scottsdale company along with a Chinese manufacturer.
"I work part time for the Cave Creek school district and I drive a lot between schools, so I always get sweaty," Walker said. "I knew something like this could be huge."
The seat cushions have a thermo-electric power unit and pump that circulates cooled or heated water through soft rubber tubing. Power comes from a 12-volt DC vehicle lighter adapter or an AC wall outlet adapter for use in the home or office. Walker said the company also is working on a rechargeable battery pack.
The cushions, which sell for $120, aren't in stores yet, but several have been sold through the company's Web site, coolorheat.com. The company is looking to get the cushions into such retailers as automotive and pool stores.
"We're brand new, so everything has been through word of mouth so far," Walker said.
Produced by Hal Mattern, The Arizona Republic, Contributors: Craig Harris and Thomas Ropp.
