Patent Application
20170246028
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a portable device for cooling the human body. The device relies on the sudden release of compressed or liquefied gas to cool the surface or skin of the human body, and, specifically, operates by the metered release of compressed gas from a small container, that is carried on the body or by the user, into gas distribution channels to direct the released gas onto the body of a person wearing the device. The device also conducts heat away from the body when activated, by use of metal or other heat conducting components in communication with the gas container and the body. The device is disguised as a jewelry piece, is built into a woman's bra, or is attached to a woman's bra in various preferred embodiments.
Background of the Invention
Hot flashes are a condition typically involving the experience of a feeling of intense heating with sweating and rapid heartbeat lasting typically for a few minutes. The condition is a common symptom of menopause and perimenopause. The sensation of heat begins and ends rapidly and is usually most intense in the face and chest area, but can also be experienced in the neck and upper back. These episodes can start unpredictably at any time and may occur as frequently as every few minutes. Women who are prone to hot flashes feel as if their upper torso is suddenly overheating and in need of immediate cooling. A typical hot flash comes on rapidly and reaches a maximum intensity in as little as a minute. Once the episode passes, however, the feeling of normalcy returns.
Hot flashes can also be experienced by young women as, for example, a symptom of a problem with the pituitary gland. Men with low testosterone, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and andropause can also experience hot flashes. The condition, though, is quite common in middle-age women going through menopause.
Symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, can sometimes be treated with hormone replacement therapy. Such therapy, however, can have significant long and short-term risks such as breast cancer, dementia, and stroke. The most commonly followed treatment is to remove clothing and seek cool air immediately upon the onset of a hot flash episode. Opening one's blouse to the inside of a freezer can bring instant relief, but is not a practical solution in most settings. Even using a hand-held folding fan can provide some limited relief during a hot flash, but the use of ambient air is minimally effective and the fanning brings attention to the user.
A need exists, therefore, for a new and novel device and method for the treatment of hot flash symptoms. The device should be portable, discreet, and provide for immediate body cooling over a time period that corresponds to the duration of a hot flash episode. Ideally, such innovation should be relatively inexpensive and provide a flexible platform across many different clothing options and body shapes.
In a preferred embodiment, the invention comprises a personal cooling device which incorporates a gas container for storing a pressurized or liquefied gas, such as CO2 cartridges commonly used in home soda machines, for use as portable bike tire pumps, or in air guns and rifles. Such cartridges are typically made of metal and can be threaded at a discharge end or non-threaded. When the gas is released from such container it expands rapidly, absorbing ambient heat, thereby causing the exiting gas to chill and cooling the gas container as well. The invention described herein takes advantage of this thermodynamic cooling to help cool the exterior of a person who is experiencing a hot flash.
The gas “container” or “cartridge,” such terms are used interchangeably herein, is fitted with a valve that can be operated by a wearer of the cooling devices and is integral to at least a portion of the cooling device. The valve is further in communication with one or more gas distribution channels, each having one or more gas ports. When the valve is activated, the chilled gas is ported onto the skin of the wearer, typically in the area of the upper torso (chest, neck, and upper back). The exhausting of the chilled gas onto the skin of the wearer has the effect of blowing cold or cool air onto the person similar to the effect of standing in front of an open freezer door or air-conditioning vent.
Further, in a preferred embodiment, the portion of the device in which the cartridge resides is constructed of a heat conducting (conductive) material, such as metal or cloth with metal threads, and is in contact with the skin of the wearer of the device. As a consequence, when the valve is activated the cartridge rapidly cools and draws heat away from the skin of the wearer in the area that is in contact with the heat conducting material. This dual cooling functionality from both exhausted chilled gas and heat transfer due to conductivity from the warm skin to the cold gas container significantly lowers the exterior temperature of the wearer for a short period of time. Shortly after the valve is closed the device returns to ambient temperature to coincide with the short duration of the hot flash.
The cooling device is available in several different embodiments and configurations. For example, in one embodiment the cooling device is an insert that attaches to the center of the front of a woman's bra. The cartridge in this embodiment is located under the bra in between the breasts (or on top of the center span of the bra) or can be configured such that one cartridge is located under each breast in a “push-up” arrangement. A plurality of gas ports, in communication with the one or two cartridges, direct vented gas upwards towards the neck area. A conductive frame that holds the cartridge conducts heat from around the chest to the cartridge.
In an alternative embodiment the device is connected to a piece of tubing that is attached at one side of the frame, proceeds up the chest area, over the shoulder, around the back of the neck, and back down to the other side of the frame, much like a necklace would attach to a pendant. This tube, in one embodiment, is hidden under clothing. In another embodiment the tube is visible and disguised as a necklace. The tube also contains gas ports and is in communication with the valve and cartridge. Consequently, when the valve is activated chilled gas is ported to the skin area of the wearer along the chest, neck, and upper back areas. The cartridge can be attached to clothing, suspended from the tubing, or located in a carrier worn by the user.
In another embodiment the cooling device is built into a woman's bra. In this embodiment the cartridge resides in a metal frame in the center of the front of the bra or two cartridges are used with one each located below a breast in a “push up” arrangement, much as the embodiment discussed above. Tubing is incorporated in the bra itself, such as along the top of the front of the bra and, alternatively, along the bra straps over the shoulders or around the neck, such that chilled gas is ported out of the tubes to the chest, neck, and upper back areas. Heat conducting material, such as metal mesh or metallic fibers, is incorporated in the bra itself in order to direct heat from the chest to the cartridge.
In another embodiment the cooling device comprises a pendant hung around the wearer's neck. In this embodiment the cartridge resides in the pendant. Gas is exhausted to the chest and neck area through ports in both the pendant and the necklace that suspends the pendant, or just through the top of the pendant. The necklace is preferably made of a heat conducting material such as metal to help transfer heat from the skin to the pendant where the cartridge resides.
What is provided is a unique and novel invention that offers immediate but temporary relief of the symptoms of a hot flash. The device in its various embodiments is portable, discreet, and provides for immediate body cooling over a time period to correspond to the duration of a hot flash episode. The innovation provided is relatively inexpensive and provides a flexible platform across many different wearing applications.
The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Referring to
Also shown in
The valve 114 in all embodiments discussed is either mechanically activated by direct contact from the user or remotely activated by, for example, a control device that transmits to a receiver that activates the valve 114. Such control device can be stored, for example, in a purse or pocket of the user.
With the basic components of the device in mind,
The cartridge 210 is again connected to and in gas communication with a valve 212 having a release button or mechanism 214. The valve 212 is in turn connected to and in gas communication with one or more gas distribution channels 216, such as tubing. In the embodiment illustrated in
The frame 220 is shaped to fit the contours of the chest area of the wearer. In the embodiment illustrated in
In an alternative embodiment the basic components of the device illustrated in
As shown in
Referring to both
It can be seen in
In an alternative embodiment to either of the embodiments illustrated in
In one embodiment the cartridge 310 is mounted to or in contact with a frame 320. Depending on the embodiment, the cartridge 310 resides either hooked over the center span 348 while in communication with frame 320, or the cartridge 310 resides under the center span 348. The frame comprises a heat conductive material such has a metal, or metal fiber. The metal is presented as a thin pliable sheet, a chain maille, a metal mesh, metal fibers either weaved together or in combination with other materials, or combinations thereof depending on the embodiment. The frame 320 is shown as residing between the two cups 342 above the center span 348, but it should be understood that, depending on the embodiment, the frame can extend into part or all of the cups 342 and down into all or part of the center span 348. Such portion of the frame 320 is between the skin of the wearer/user and the rest of the bra material in order to facilitate heat transfer from the wearer/user to the cartridge 310. Portions of the frame 320 not in contact with the wearer's skin are covered with an insulation material such as cloth, plastic, or foam.
As with previously discussed embodiments, the cartridge is connected to and in gas communication with a valve 312 that is activated by a trigger mechanism 314. The valve is further connected to and in gas communication with tubing 316 that is shown running along the top of each cup 342. In an alternative embodiment the tubing 316 also runs along all or part of the horizontal strap 346 and/or all or part of the shoulder straps 344. The tubing (or other type of gas distribution channel) 316 has a plurality of gas ports (not shown) which direct vented gas onto the upper torso of the wearer.
Another embodiment of the bra concept of the invention uses two cartridges 310, one each placed in a roughly horizontal arrangement at the bottom of each cup 342 between the bra and the wearer's breasts. In this embodiment the cartridges 310 are in a “pushup” arrangement below the wearer's breasts, thus enhancing the bust line of the wearer as is common with pushup bras presently in the market.
Another embodiment of the cooling device locates two gas cartridges 310 on the outside of each cup 342 near the side straps 346. In such embodiment the cartridges 310 are oriented in a mostly vertical arrangement. Another embodiment of the cooling device locates one or more cartridges 310 at the upper back of the wearer near where the two side straps 346 connect. In such embodiment, the gas distribution channel 316 runs along the top of the side straps 346 as well as the top of the cups 342 and each cartridge 310 is in contact with or contained by a frame 320.
Although
The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention, and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. It should be understood, for example, that the various components, materials, and designs of the embodiments described herein can be mixed and matched in various ways in order to achieve the overall goal of the invention to effectively cool down the body of the wearer by using cool vented gas and the cartridge as a heat sink. The basic components of the various embodiments of the cooling device described herein can be used in any number of applications and in any number of configurations consistent with the general principles of the invention.
While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor intends the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
