Patent Application
20190360148
The invention relates to devices for removal of moisture from athletic gear, military gear, and clothing.
Equipment for sporting and military uses, such as gloves, pads, helmets, masks, shoes, boots, skates, and other articles of clothing, must protect the body from a variety of physical stresses. To provide adequate protection, such gear must fit securely over various parts of the user's body, typically either in direct contact with the skin or over an undergarment made of thin material, such as a sock or undershirt. The exertion during sporting or military activity causes most individuals to sweat, even in cold environments, and the proximity of the gear to the user's skin results in inundation of the equipment with perspiration. When the athlete or soldier removes the equipment, storage of the sweat-soaked gear allows the proliferation of bacteria and other microorganisms, which produce foul-smelling odors. The offensive smell is particularly problematic for athletic gear shared by multiple users in settings such as rental facilities and children's sports leagues and for military personnel who live and work in cramped quarters. In addition to generating bad odors, microbial growth can damage the equipment.
To solve the problems created by perspiration, pouch-type devices that can be inserted into athletic gear, such as shoes and gloves, have recently been developed. For example, moisture-removal devices comprising a desiccant enclosed within a bag of fabric coated with a wicking agent are described in U.S. Patent Application No. 62/544,348. However, simple desiccant-containing pouches may not provide sufficient coverage for large, contoured pieces of equipment, such as helmets, that cover the head or other curved body parts. For example, when a pouch-type device is placed inside a helmet, the desiccant may be forced into a corner or end of the device, leaving portions of the device devoid of desiccant. When that occurs, moisture is not absorbed effectively from all regions of the helmet, and microbes grow in the damp regions to produce noxious smells. Consequently, malodorous gear continues to plague soldiers, athletes, hunters, and other who are required to wear protective equipment.
The invention provides compartmentalized and semi-compartmentalized devices for removal of moisture from athletic gear, clothing, and other accessories. The devices include a desiccant enclosed in a flexible structure with barriers that limit movement of desiccant within the structure. The semi-compartmentalized structure ensures that desiccant remains distributed throughout the device while giving the device the pliability needed for insertion into contoured athletic gear, such as helmets and body pads. The fully compartmentalized structure maintains a more even distribution of desiccant throughout the device. The exterior of the flexible structure includes a fabric coated with a wicking agent that allows the desiccant to trap perspiration while the device is in use.
The devices are useful for removing moisture that accumulates in athletic or military gear when the user sweats during physical activity. After a sporting activity, the device can be inserted into a helmet, shoulder pad, or other piece of gear that generally restricts the flow of air around damp padding. By maintaining the distribution of desiccant throughout the device, the compartmentalized or semi-compartmentalized structure keeps the desiccant positioned in proximity to all of the sweat-soaked portions of the helmet or pad. This facilitates absorption of perspiration by the device and drying of the equipment's interior, thereby minimizing growth of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that produce offensive odors. After moisture removal is complete, the device can be removed from the piece of gear and placed in a dry environment. Under dry conditions, the flow of moisture is reversed: water is released from the desiccant and wicked outward across the external material, where it evaporates from the outer surface of the device. Consequently, the device is restored to its original state and ready for reuse. By cycling between phases of moisture absorption and evaporation, the device can be used repeatedly without loss of its functionality.
In an aspect, the invention provides devices for removal of moisture. The devices include a desiccant contained within a water-permeable external material containing a fabric coated with a wicking agent and one or more barriers that are secured to the external material and restrict movement of the desiccant within the device.
The barriers may partially or completely restrict movement of the desiccant from one region of the device to another. Preferably, the barriers form boundaries between interconnected regions within the device. For example, the barriers may form one or more fenestrated, continuous cavities through which the desiccant can move. Alternatively or additionally, the barriers may form discrete compartments within the device.
The barriers may be arranged within the device to prevent linear flow of the desiccant within the device. For example, the device may contain three or more barriers arranged in a non-linear manner. The device may contain two or more rows of barriers in which the barriers of one row are staggered in relation to the barriers in an adjacent row. The barriers may have any shape or configuration that restricts movement of desiccant within the device. For example, the barriers may be linear, circular, oval, rectangular, or any other suitable shape.
The barriers may be secured to the external material by any means. For example, the barriers may be secured to the external material by stitching, buttons, snaps, zippers, or the like.
The desiccant may include a hydrous phyllosilicate mineral. The desiccant may include vermiculite. Alternatively or additionally, the desiccant may include silica gel, activated aluminum oxide, crystalline aluminosilicate, a molecular sieve, bentonite clay, or talc.
The desiccant may include particles, such as beads, granules, or other small objects of regular or irregular shape. The particles may have an average diameter of less than 1 inch, 0.5 inches, 0.4 inches, 0.3 inches, 0.2 inches, 0.1 inches, 0.05 inches, 0.025 inches, 0.01 inches, 0.005 inches, or 0.0025 inches.
The desiccant may be able to absorb an amount of liquid, e.g., water, equal to or greater than the weight of the desiccant. For example, the desiccant may be able to absorb at least 100%, 200%, 300%, 400%, 500%, 600%, 700%, 800%, or 1000% its weight in liquid, e.g., water.
The fabric may include polyester, wool, cotton, acrylic, nylon, rayon, acetate, spandex, latex, or a para-aramid synthetic fiber. The fabric may include a mixture of materials. For example, the fabric may include a mixture of one or more of polyester, wool, cotton, acrylic, nylon, rayon, acetate, spandex, latex, and a para-aramid synthetic fiber in defined ratios.
The wicking agent may include nitrocellulose, cellulose acetate, a fatty acid, a nonionic surfactant, a hydrophilic siloxane-based polymer, a polyaniline, a polymethylmethacrylate, a polyvinyl sulfate, silica, iron, titania, alumina, silica doped titania, sodium lauryl sulfate, colloidal silicon dioxide, kaolin, titanium dioxide, fumed silicon dioxide, niacinamide, m-pyrol, bentonite, magnesium aluminum silicate, polyester, polyethylene, or low molecular weight polyvinylpyrrolidone. The wicking agent may be swelling or non-swelling.
The device may include padding material. The padding material may be in contact with the external material. For example, the padding material may contact the inner surface, outer surface, or both of the external material.
The device may include a strap secured to a portion of the external material.
The device may include a fragrance agent. The fragrance agent may be in contact with the external material, the desiccant, or both.
The device may include an anti-microbial agent. The anti-microbial agent may be in contact with the external material, the desiccant, or both. For example, the external material may include an anti-bacterial coating. The anti-microbial agent may be silver, copper, an organosilane, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, magnetite, magnesium oxide, god, gallium, carbon nanotubes, 3-(trimethoxysilyl)-propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride, alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride, or didecyldimethylammonium chloride.
In an aspect, the invention provides wearable apparatuses that include a device as described above secured to an interior portion of an article of athletic or military equipment. The device may be attached to an interior surface of the article. The device may be removable from the article. The article may be a backpack, bag, belt, body pad (e.g., shin guard, knee pad, elbow pad, chest pad, shoulder pad, etc.), boot, bow, cap, chair, glove, ground cloth, gun, harness, hat, helmet, jacket, jersey, mask, pant, scarf, shirt, shoe, skate, sleeping bag, sock, undergarment, vest, wading gear, or armor.
The invention provides devices that remove moisture from, or prevent accumulation of moisture in, athletic gear, military gear, clothing, and other items. During physical activity, the body produces sweat to cool itself as the sweat evaporates from the skin. If a padded article, such as a glove or helmet, is in contact with a person's skin during physical activity, it can become soaked with sweat. If the moisture is not promptly removed, bacteria, fungi, and other microbes can grow on the padded material and produce offensive odors. The devices of the invention remove moisture from poorly-aerated spaces to curb microbial growth in athletic or military gear and eliminate the attendant odors.
The semi-compartmentalized device 101 also includes one or more barriers 115 secured to the external material 103. The barriers 115 restrict movement of the desiccant 105 within the device 101. Because the barriers 115 do not create discrete compartments, the interior of the device 101 forms a single, fenestrated, continuous cavity. The semi-compartmentalized structure allows bulk desiccant 105 to move among all regions of the device 101. This confers increased flexibility on the device 101, which facilitates insertion of the device 101 into the irregularly-shaped pieces of athletic or military equipment, such as boots, shoes, helmets, body protection, and the like. Another advantage of the semi-compartmentalized structure is that the desiccant 105 can be replaced through a single port or opening located in the external material 103. At the same time, because the barriers 115 prevent the desiccant 105 from moving too rapidly through the device 101, routine handling and manipulation of the device 101 do not lead to depletion of the desiccant 105 from one region, they do create empty pockets that are devoid of desiccant. Consequently, the moisture-removing capacity is maintained throughout the entirety of the device 101 during ordinary use, such as insertion into athletic or military gear.
In both parallel and non-parallel configurations of barriers of fully compartmentalized devices, the dimensions of the compartments and of the desiccant particles can be selected to achieve a desired fluidity or “flow” of the desiccant within the compartment. For example, when larger desiccant particles and/or smaller compartments are used, flow of the particles is more restricted. Conversely, desiccant particles flow more easily when smaller particles and/or larger compartment dimensions are used. For tube-shaped compartments, such as those used in parallel configurations described above, particles may flow more easily in the longitudinal dimension but less easily in the lateral dimension. The invention also provides devices that include both fully compartmentalized and semi-compartmentalized interior regions. For example, the device may contain barriers that form discrete compartments within a larger, fenestrated cavity formed by other barriers. Additionally or alternatively, the device may contain barriers that form a continuous, fenestrated cavity within a discrete compartment created by other barriers.
Either semi-compartmentalized or fully compartmentalized devices may include barriers that form channels extending from one side of the device to the other. Thus, the barrier may form a hole within the device. The inclusion of one or more holes in a device facilitates storage, drying, and other uses of the device. For example, one or more devices that have holes may be threaded along a rod, pole, hanger, or the like to allow the devices to be hung up between uses to promote ventilation and drying of the devices.
The walls of the channel barrier may include the same external material 603 as the rest of the device 601. In addition or in the alternative, the walls of the channel barrier 617 may include, or be reinforced with, a more durable material than the external material. For example, the walls of the channel barrier 617 may include a material with higher tensile strength that resists tearing or ripping when pressure is applied to the channel, such as may occur when the device is suspended on a hanger that passes through the channel. For example and without limitation, the wall of the channel barrier may include nylon, canvas, polyester, leather, natural rubber, synthetic rubber (e.g., neoprene and latex), or the like.
The device may have a size and shape that allows it to fit into or conform to a particular piece of equipment. For example and without limitation, the device may be circular, oval, rectangular, square, or figure 8-shaped (lemniscate). The device may include rounded corners that facilitate insertion of the device into a piece of equipment. The device may have a longest dimension of about 4 inches, about 5 inches, about 6 inches, about 7 inches, about 8 inches, about 9 inches, about 10 inches, about 11 inches, about 12 inches, about 13 inches, about 14 inches, about 15 inches, about 20 inches, or more. The device may have a second dimension that is orthogonal to its longest dimension and is about 1 inch, about 2 inches, about 3 inches, about 4 inches, about 5 inches, about 6 inches, about 7 inches, about 8 inches, about 9 inches, about 10 inches, about 11 inches, about 12 inches, about 13 inches, about 14 inches, or about 15 inches.
The barriers may be configured in any manner that restricts movement of the desiccant within the device. The number and arrangement of the barriers may be adapted to suit the size and shape of the device. One arrangement of barriers that is advantageous for a semi-compartmentalized device includes two or more parallel rows of barriers in which barriers in one row are offset or displaced relative to barriers in adjacent rows. Such a staggered configuration of barriers slows down movement of desiccant within the device without blocking desiccant from entering any region of the device. Thus, when the device is handled, for example, by inserting the device into a helmet or other piece of gear, at least some of the desiccant is retained in all regions of the device, yet the device remains pliable and easy to insert. This configuration of barriers allows the device to be easily placed into a piece of equipment so that all portions of the piece of equipment are in proximity to desiccant. Consequently, moisture removal from gear, particularly contoured pieces of equipment that have unusual three-dimensional shapes, is optimized.
Individual barriers may assume any shape and size suitable for restricting movement of desiccant. For example and without limitation, the shape of barrier may be may be linear, circular, oval, or rectangular. A barrier may have a dimension, such as length or diameter, that is less than or equal to a dimension of the device. Barriers within a device may all have the same shape and size. Alternatively, barriers within a device may vary in shape, in size, or both.
The barriers may be secured to the external material by any means. For example and without limitation, the barriers may be secured to the external material by stitching, buttons, snaps, or zippers.
Generally, the desiccant is hygroscopic, i.e., it can attract and retain water molecules from the surrounding environment. Water retention may occur through absorption or adsorption. Although it is understood that adsorption and absorption are phenomenologically different processes at the molecular level, the term “absorption” is used herein to refer generally to the macroscopic phenomenon in which a substance takes in and retains, at least temporarily or under certain conditions of humidity, water, which could be a consequence of adsorption or absorption at the molecular level. Preferably, the desiccant is not deliquescent.
The desiccant may include a hydrous phyllosilicate mineral. A suitable desiccant is vermiculite, such as one of the vermiculite products sold by Whittemore Company, Inc. (Lawrence, Mass.). Vermiculite includes compositions having the chemical formulas (Mg, Fe+2, Fe+3)3[(Al, Si)4O10](OH)2.4H2O and (Mg, Ca, K, Fe+2)3(Al, Si, Fe+3)4O10(OH)2.4H2O and may also include Ti. Vermiculite is available in multiple grades, including A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, D-3, D-4, masonry insulation, attic insulation, concrete aggregate, and pool base. Other suitable desiccants include silica gel, activated aluminum oxide, crystalline aluminosilicate, a molecular sieve, bentonite clay, and talc.
It is advantageous for the desiccant to have the capacity to adsorb or absorb a large amount of water. Thus, in some embodiments, the desiccant may be able to absorb an amount of liquid, e.g., water, equal to or greater than the weight of the desiccant. For example, the desiccant may be able to absorb at least 100%, 200%, 300%, 400%, 500%, 600%, 700%, 800%, or 1000% its weight in liquid, e.g., water.
The desiccant may include particles. The use of small desiccant particles (as compared to a single, large piece of desiccant) provides a high surface area-to-volume ratio, which facilitates extraction of water from the environment. The particles may be beads, granules, or other small objects. The particles may have regular or irregular shapes, and they may be homogeneous or heterogeneous in size. The particles may have an average diameter of less than 1 inch, 0.5 inches, 0.4 inches, 0.3 inches, 0.2 inches, 0.1 inches, 0.05 inches, 0.025 inches, 0.01 inches, 0.005 inches, or 0.0025 inches. For non-spherical or irregularly-shaped particles, the diameter may refer to the longest distance across the particle.
Preferably, the fabric of the external material is compliant to give the device an adjustable shape, thereby allowing the device to fit easily into a piece of athletic gear, military gear, or clothing. Thus, the device may generally have a structure or feel resembling a bean bag or pillow. The fabric may be polyester, wool, cotton, acrylic, nylon, rayon, acetate, spandex, latex, or a para-aramid synthetic fiber. The fabric may include a mixture of materials. For example, the fabric may include a mixture of one or more of polyester, wool, cotton, acrylic, nylon, rayon, acetate, spandex, latex, and a para-aramid synthetic fiber in defined ratios.
The wicking agent may include nitrocellulose, cellulose acetate, a fatty acid, a nonionic surfactant, a hydrophilic siloxane-based polymer, a polyaniline, a polymethylmethacrylate, a polyvinyl sulfate, silica, iron, titania, alumina, silica doped titania, sodium lauryl sulfate, colloidal silicon dioxide, kaolin, titanium dioxide, fumed silicon dioxide, niacinamide, m-pyrol, bentonite, magnesium aluminum silicate, polyester, polyethylene, or low molecular weight polyvinylpyrrolidone. The wicking agent may be swelling or non-swelling.
The wicking agent may be coated onto the fabric by any suitable method. For example and without limitation, the wicking agent may be applied spraying or dipping. The wicking agent coating may comprise a nanoparticle and/or nanofilm coating applied over the fabric.
For certain applications, it may be advantageous for the moisture removal device to be scented. Thus, the device may include a fragrance agent, such as a substance that produces a natural or pleasant odor. Alternatively, for use in certain applications, such as hunting, it may be advantageous for the device to have as little detectable scent as possible. Thus, the device may be may be free or substantially free of fragrance agents.
The device may include a strap or handle to facilitate removal of the device from a piece of athletic or military gear. Preferably, the strap or handle is made of cloth, fabric, or another soft and pliable material.
The device may include a mechanism to secure the device to a piece of military or athletic gear. Any type of fastening mechanism may be used. For example and without limitation, the fastening mechanism may include a hook-and-loop fastening mechanism, such as hook-and-loop fastening mechanism sold under the trade name Velcro by Velcro USA Inc. (Manchester, N.H.), a zipper, snap, buckle, or the like.
The device may be designed for removable insertion into a piece of athletic gear, military gear, clothing, or accessory. For example and without limitation, the device may be configured to fit into a backpack, bag, belt, body pad (e.g., shin guard, knee pad, elbow pad, chest pad, shoulder pad, etc.), boot, bow, cap, chair, glove, ground cloth, gun, harness, hat, helmet, jacket, jersey, mask, pant, scarf, shirt, shoe, skate, sleeping bag, sock, undergarment, vest, wading gear, or armor.
The device may include padding. The padding may be distinct from, but in contact with, the external material. For example, the padding may contact the inner surface, outer surface, or both of the external material.
The invention also provides wearable equipment, such as athletic or military gear, that includes one or more devices described above.
The device 301 may be removable from the article 307 to allow washing and/or restoration (i.e., removal of moisture from the desiccant 305) of the device 301. Removable fastening means, such as snaps, buttons, zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners, and the like, are known within the art, and any removable fastening means may be used to secure the device 301 to the article 307.
The article 307 may be any type of athletic gear, military gear, or clothing. For example and without limitation, the article may be a backpack, bag, belt, body pad (e.g., shin guard, knee pad, elbow pad, chest pad, shoulder pad, etc.), boot, bow, cap, chair, glove, ground cloth, gun, harness, hat, helmet, jacket, jersey, mask, pant, scarf, shirt, shoe, skate, sleeping bag, sock, undergarment, vest, wading gear, or armor.
One type of sporting activity in which odor is particularly important is hunting. Most game animals have keen olfactory senses and rely more heavily on scent than on sight to detect nearby predators, including humans. Consequently, strong-smelling clothing and hunting equipment can forewarn quarry of a hunter's approach and thwart the hunter's efforts to get close enough for a kill. Therefore, in certain embodiments, the article 307 is a piece of equipment used in hunting, such as a rifle, bow, bag, vest, hat, shirt, pant, boot, mask, glove, jacket, scarf, undergarment, belt, harness, wading gear, tent, sleeping bag, ground cloth, or chair.
References and citations to other documents, such as patents, patent applications, patent publications, journals, books, papers, web contents, have been made throughout this disclosure. All such documents are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
Various modifications of the invention and many further embodiments thereof, in addition to those shown and described herein, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the full contents of this document, including references to the scientific and patent literature cited herein. The subject matter herein contains important information, exemplification and guidance that can be adapted to the practice of this invention in its various embodiments and equivalents thereof.
