Body Temperature Regulating Garment

RELATED APPLICATIONS

0001The present application is related to U.S. patent No. Provisional 61/571,658, issued Jun. 30, 2011, included by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

0002The present invention relates to body temperature regulating garment apparatus and, more particularly, to a wearable evaporative cooling body temperature regulating component with a separable garment which can display brand advertising features.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

0003Elevated body temperature can occur when a body produces or absorbs more heat than it can dissipate. In severe cases of increased body temperature disability or death can occur from the condition labeled Hypothermia. Excessive exposure to heat or heat and humidity can cause the heat-regulating mechanism of the body to overload which causes one's body temperature to raise causing discomfort. Physical exertion or exposure to the sun on a hot day can generate heat beyond a healthy body's ability to cool itself, because the heat and humidity of the environment reduces the efficiency of the body's normal cooling mechanisms.

0004Normally healthy individuals can often change environments, curtail strenuous activity or cool themselves in a variety of ways such as entering air conditioned space or a swimming pool when they feel like they are overheating. However there are many occasions where these solutions are impractical or an individual chooses to continue pursuing the activity from which overheating is occurring, such as attending a theme park, playing a round of golf or sitting in an exposed area at a sporting event.

0005In the medical profession various body chilling apparatus are used to regulate body temperatures of individuals in a hypothermic condition, some are garments that use circulating chilled water; some are chilled water tubs in which a person is lowered for temperature control. Portable vests and garments are used in the military for body cooling some containing chilled water systems and some with ventilation and fans.

0006In everyday practice It is common to wet a handkerchief, bandanna, hat or other garment to wear on to one's body to provide heat regulating assistance by evaporative cooling and some individuals have made garments in which absorbent materials are sewn. These garments are soaked in water and then applied to the body to prolong the evaporative cooling process.

0007Chilling garments with circulating liquid are not practical for normal activities of healthy individuals due to complexity, cost and bulk. Such garments could not be worn while visiting a theme park or playing a round of golf, for example. Chilling tubs of water, including swimming pools are likewise not always practical and not compatible with most activities. Vests and other mobile chilling devices are beyond the use of normally healthy individuals in normal activities that can cause overheating.

0008Methods of evaporative cooling can be effective and help prevent body overheating but garments soaked in water often dry out too quickly requiring frequent soaking or re-wetting and often do not contact the amount of skin area necessary to provide adequate evaporative cooling assistance. Garments with water absorbing materials improve the use of water soaked cloth garments but as the material warms up with wear the evaporative cooling effects diminish and these garments must be recharged with cold water to extend their evaporative cooling properties. Homemade shapes of evaporative neck coolers have an additional disadvantage, since they are typically one piece garments where the ends are tied around the neck, it is difficult to shape the collar around a neck without tying the ends excessively tight at the front of the neck and causing discomfort. These garments also are excessively long in order to tie the ends and when soaked in water will then wet the clothing being worn by the user, in areas not needed for evaporative cooling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0009In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a body cooling apparatus that removes heat from blood flow at a location on a body where the veins are close to the surface and then releases the heat to the atmosphere by evaporative cooling and thus lowering the temperature of a body. Heat of the blood is absorbed by a moist superabsorbent material, that in turn is maintained at a temperature cooler than the blood by a removable thermal pack used to store temperature. The enclosure device used to store the superabsorbent material is formable around the thermal pack and also around a separable clothing garment such as a scarf or a bandanna. The scarf or bandanna is used to secure the enclosure device to a body part where securing the scarf or bandanna forms the enclosure to the body part shape, maximizing contact with the area. The clothing garment can be used separately from the body cooling apparatus and can be useful for displaying advertising, brands or characters, making it more valuable to providers of the body temperature regulating garment.

0010In constructing the body cooling apparatus a flexible enclosure of a breathable material is produced forming an enclosure space with super absorbent material contained within. The flexible enclosure is produced with upper and lower extensions containing closure devices so that the enclosure can be formed and secured to create a center hole or tunnel through the middle of the enclosure structure.

0011The rolling of the flexible enclosure around a chilling component and around a separable garment for securing the enclosure to a body part completes the apparatus. A chill pack of the instant cold type or of a type with a thermal gel that has been refrigerated or likewise chilled is used to increase and extend the time of temperature differential used for evaporative cooling. The chill pack serves to keep the moisture absorbed by the super absorbent cold for prolonged amounts of time, providing additional comfort to the wearer. The chill pack also helps maintain a greater temperature differential between the wearer's neck or other body part, the evaporative cooling apparatus and the surrounding air, thus increasing and extending the effects of the evaporative cooling action.

0012The separable garment around which the flexible enclosure is formed provides a means of shaping the flexible enclosure around a body part to maximize contact and serve as a means of securing the flexible enclosure into the shape. The separable garment enhances the desirable properties of a body cooling apparatus by providing space for design or the display of brands, advertising or characters. The separable garment when removed can be used separately increasing its value to the wearer.

0013It would be advantageous to provide a convenient evaporative cooling device that would help regulate an individual's body temperature and would be convenient to wear in normal activities where overheating may occur.

0014It would also be advantageous to provide an evaporative cooling device whereby the evaporative cooling medium could be chilled providing an extended period of time to provide additional comfort and cooling effects to the wearer.

0015It would further be advantageous to prolong the cooling effects of an evaporative cooling neck device by keeping the moist absorbent material in an evaporative cooling garment cooler for an extended period of time by providing a chilling means, thus promoting more evaporative cooling capacity by prolonging the temperature differential between the evaporative cooling device and the air.

0016It would further be advantageous to provide an evaporative cooling device that could be shaped around the neck or other body part of an individual by the use of a separable garment.

0017It would further be advantageous to provide a personal cooling product that would promote characters, names, products, symbols or other brand enhancing medium to provide benefit and enticement to retailers to offer the individual cooling devices.

0018It would further be advantageous to provide a personal cooling product that a child or individual would want to wear to display the character or symbol being a part of the evaporative cooling device separable garment

0019It would further be advantageous to provide a method of evaporative cooling whereby the effects could be extended and benefits improved as well as providing an individual evaporative cooking device that can be recharged, and could provide benefits of advertising, marketing and or character display to encourage individuals to purchase and use such devices as well as provide incentive to theme parks, golf courses and the like to make them available.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0020A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in which:

0021<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is an open view of an assembly of the body temperature regulating garment apparatus;

0022<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a component view of a temperature storage chilling element;

0023<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is an assembled view of a body temperature regulating garment apparatus;

0024<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a rolled end view of a body temperature regulating garment apparatus;

0025<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is an assembled view of a body temperature regulating garment apparatus with separable garment with advertising with gather device;

0026<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is an exemplary view of a body temperature regulating garment apparatus device in use;

0027<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is an alternate embodiment view of a body temperature regulating garment apparatus in use; and

0028<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is a second alternated embodiment view of a body temperature regulating garment apparatus.

0029For purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and components will bear the same designations and numbering throughout the Figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

0030<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> through <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> illustrate an apparatus of a body temperature regulating garment apparatus <b>10</b> for maintain safe body temperature comprising a evaporative cooling element <b>12</b>, a moisture absorbent element <b>20</b> element, a temperature storage compound <b>26</b> element, a separable garment element <b>28</b>, and a gather device element <b>30</b>.

0031Evaporative cooling element <b>12</b> comprises a breathable wall enclosure circumscribing a hollow space element <b>18</b> therein. Hollow space element <b>18</b> encapsulates a moisture absorbent element <b>20</b> with slow release properties such as a superabsorbent polymer. A container of a temperature storage compound <b>26</b>, such as a thermal gel is affixed to the inner surface of the device with positioning loop elements <b>22</b>. For assembly the device is rolled around a separable garment element <b>28</b> with advertising or a pattern and secured in place by fasteners such as snap closures <b>16</b>. The device can then be secured around a body part such as a neck and formed to maximize contact with the surface of the body part by a gather device element <b>30</b>.

0032Body temperature regulating garment apparatus <b>10</b> is preferably made of a breathable material that allows moisture to pass through said material. Examples of materials are Nylon #6 and Nylon Ripstop or similar breathable material. The sewing pattern <b>14</b> of the breathable material creates a walled component circumscribing a hollow space element <b>18</b> therein. Hollow space element <b>18</b> contains a moisture absorbent element <b>20</b> material capable of absorbing many times its own weight in moisture and releasing said moisture slowly. Examples of such materials are super absorbent polymers such as a sodium polyacrylate. A pre-measured amount of the moisture absorbing material is placed in the hollow space and sewn into said hollow space by the sewing pattern <b>14</b> during manufacturing.

0033<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> which is an open view assembly of the body temperature regulating garment apparatus <b>10</b> shows the open and inside view of the body temperature regulating garment apparatus <b>10</b> with the moisture absorbent element <b>20</b> secured in the hollow space element <b>18</b> and temperature storage device element <b>24</b> secured in place with loop elements <b>22</b>. Snap closures <b>16</b> are shown in their open or unsnapped state. This view represents the body temperature regulating garment apparatus <b>10</b> before use and in position to receive the separable garment element <b>28</b> with advertising or design dotted in. Upon receipt of the separable garment the top and bottom extensions of the device are rolled around the separable garment and the snap closures <b>16</b> closed to secure the separable garment element <b>28</b> in place. The temperature storage compound is encapsulated in a material to allow thermal transfer but to prevent leaking of the temperature storage compound <b>26</b> such as a bladder. Such a bladder would be made of a flexible plastic wall such as a <b>16</b> gauge polyvinyl chloride material sealed by radio frequency to form a shaped bladder. Such temperature storage compound <b>26</b> packs are known and are of an instant type whereby a mixture of ammonium nitrate and water are activated by a user action and then chills instantly as a reaction of mixing a water and a chemical or of a reusable type of such as a thermal gel that is formed of a starch-grafted sodium polyacrylate and water forming a gel.

0034<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> which is an assembled view of a body temperature regulating garment apparatus <b>10</b> illustrating the assembly of the body temperature regulating garment apparatus <b>10</b> with snap closures <b>16</b> engaged and formed around a separable garment element <b>28</b> shown as a bandanna with advertising.

0035<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> which is a rolled end view of a body temperature regulating garment apparatus <b>10</b> illustrates an end view of the assembly closed for use but shown without the separable garment element <b>28</b> in place.

0036<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> which is an assembled view of a body temperature regulating garment apparatus <b>10</b> with separable garment element <b>28</b> with advertising and with gather device illustrates a fully assembled device with the evaporative cooling element <b>12</b> assembled around a separable garment element <b>28</b> shown as a bandanna with advertising, shaped to form contact with a neck of the wearer and held in shape and in contact by a sliding and tightening gather device element <b>30</b>.

0037<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> which is an exemplary view of a body temperature regulating garment apparatus <b>10</b> in use illustrates a user of the body temperature regulating garment apparatus <b>10</b> with the device in place and the evaporative cooling element <b>12</b> shaped around the neck and held in place with the gather device element <b>30</b>. The figure illustrates the action of forming the evaporative cooling element <b>12</b> around the neck by sliding the gather device element <b>30</b> over and up the separable garment.

0038<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> which is an alternate embodiment view of a body temperature regulating garment apparatus <b>10</b> showing the evaporative cooling element <b>12</b> with loops securing the separable garment element <b>28</b> and the temperature storage element external to the evaporative cooling element <b>12</b>.

0039<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> which is second alternate embodiment of a body temperature regulating garment apparatus <b>10</b> showing a second alternate embodiment wherein the separable garment element <b>28</b> is woven through holes in the evaporative cooling element <b>12</b> to secure it in place.

0040In use the evaporative cooling element <b>12</b> is soaked in cold water with adequate time for the moisture absorbent element <b>20</b> to absorb and hold many times its weight in water. A temperature storage compound <b>26</b> element is then removed from refrigeration or chilled water, or activated if of the instant type and inserted into the loop containers of the evaporative cooling element <b>12</b>, the separable garment element <b>28</b> is then positioned the length of the evaporative cooling element <b>12</b> and the evaporative cooling element <b>12</b> is rolled into shape around the separable garment component and the snap closures <b>16</b> engaged to hold it into place. The user will now place the evaporative cooling element <b>12</b> around the neck and position the gather device element <b>30</b> to capture both ends of the separable garment. Now the gather device element <b>30</b> is slid up the ends of the separable garment until a comfortable degree of forming of the evaporative cooling element <b>12</b> is in contact with the neck. The gather device element <b>30</b> is then secured at this positron. The cooling of the body is accomplished and extended by the moisture absorbent element <b>20</b> colder temperature absorbing heat from blood close to the surface of the skin as it flows past the evaporative cooling element <b>12</b>. The heat absorbed by the moisture absorbent element <b>20</b> is dissipated into the air by evaporative cooling principals.

0041Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true

0042<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> which is a component view of a temperature storage chilling element illustrates a temperature storage compound <b>26</b>

0043Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.