Patent Application
20220386713
This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201921918245.7, filed Nov. 8, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Climate change has caused summer temperatures in many countries to reach over 35° C. When outside temperatures rise to 38.5° C., the relative temperature of enclosed environments may reach as high as 45° C., which is threatening to human life. These temperatures cause serious injury to people who are outdoors for extended periods of time. For example, the body temperatures of athletes and outdoor event attendees rise rapidly during intense exercise and failure to cool down in time will cause various conditions such as heat stroke and dehydration.
There is therefore a need in the art for improved personal cooling devices. The present invention meets this need.
In one aspect, the present invention relates to a cooling garment comprising: a garment body; at least one cooling device positioned within the garment body; and at least one seal attached to an entirety of a garment edge.
In one embodiment, the garment body is in the form of an article of clothing selected from the group consisting of: vests, short-sleeved shirts, long-sleeved shirts, jackets, coats, shorts, pants, undergarments, gloves, socks, and hats. In one embodiment, the garment edge includes one or more of a shirt hem, a waistband, a shirt cuff, a pant cuff, a collar, an arm hole, a leg hole, a zippered opening, and a buttoned opening.
In one embodiment, the at least one seal is a continuous seal. In one embodiment, the at least one seal is a segmented seal. In one embodiment, the at least one seal comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: a rubber, a silicone, a polymer foam, and a gel. In one embodiment, the at least one seal comprises an inflatable gasket, wherein the at least one seal further comprises a valve.
In one embodiment, the garment further comprises one or more connectors selected from the group consisting of: zippers, buttons, hook and loop systems, and clasps.
In one embodiment, the at least one cooling device comprises a coolant layer. In one embodiment, the coolant layer comprises a thickness between about 8 mm and 14 mm. In one embodiment, the coolant layer comprises a freezable material selected from the group consisting of: water, alcohol, propylene glycol, and silica gel.
In one embodiment, the coolant layer is covered at a front and a back by a polymer layer. In one embodiment, each polymer layer comprises a thickness between about 2 mm and 5 mm. In one embodiment, each polymer layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), and silicone.
In one embodiment, the at least one cooling device is covered at a front and a back by a cloth layer. In one embodiment, each cloth layer comprises a thickness between about 2 mm and 5 mm. In one embodiment, each cloth layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: cotton, polyester, nylon, and wool.
In one embodiment, the at least one cooling device comprises a laminated construction in the order of a first cloth layer, a first polymer layer, a coolant layer, a second polymer layer, and a second cloth layer. In one embodiment, the first cloth layer faces a wearer and comprises an absorbent cloth.
The following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities of the embodiments shown in the drawings.
The garments described herein cool the human body and effectively reduce the working environment temperature. They can also reduce the temperature of the human body in time when exercising. The garments are provided with seals that improve fit and define a relatively closed space within the garments such that cold air is not easily emitted, which enhances the cooling effect.
It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for the purpose of clarity, many other elements typically found in the art. Those of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that other elements and/or steps are desirable and/or required in implementing the present invention. However, because such elements and steps are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements and steps is not provided herein. The disclosure herein is directed to all such variations and modifications to such elements and methods known to those skilled in the art.
Unless defined elsewhere, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, exemplary methods and materials are described.
As used herein, each of the following terms has the meaning associated with it in this section.
The articles “a” and “an” are used herein to refer to one or to more than one (i.e., to at least one) of the grammatical object of the article. By way of example, “an element” means one element or more than one element.
“About” as used herein when referring to a measurable value such as an amount, a temporal duration, and the like, is meant to encompass variations of ±20%, ±10%, ±5%, ±1%, and ±0.1% from the specified value, as such variations are appropriate.
Throughout this disclosure, various aspects of the invention can be presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well as individual numerical values within that range. For example, description of a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6, etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, for example, 1, 2, 2.7, 3, 4, 5, 5.3, 6, and any whole and partial increments there between. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range.
Referring now to
Garment 100 further comprises at least one first seal 140 and at least one second seal 150 attached to edges of garment 100. The seals thereby preserve an enclosed space between garment 100 and the wearer's body that prevents cold air from leaking out and limits dust and pollution intrusion. The edges of garment 100 border openings that are common to many articles of clothing, including but not limited to shirt hems, waistbands, shirt and pant cuffs, collars, arm holes, leg holes, zippered openings, buttoned openings, and the like. In some embodiments, first seal 140 and/or second seal 150 are continuous seals along the entirety of the continuity of a garment edge. In some embodiments, first seal 140 and/or second seal 150 are segmented seals along the entirety of the continuity of a garment edge. First seal 140 and second seal 150 may each comprise a pliable material suitable for conforming to contours of a wearer's body such that gaps and apertures between garment 100 and the wearer's body are closed. Non-limiting examples of pliable materials include rubber, silicone, polymer foam, gel, and the like. In some embodiments, first seal 140 and second seal 150 may each comprise an inflatable gasket, such that first seal 140 and second seal 150 may be at least partially inflated with a fluid (such as a gas or a liquid) by way of a valve 141 to enhance the closure of gaps and apertures between garment 100 and the wearer's body.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Coolant layer 173 can be covered by polymer layer 172 and 174. During use, moisture can collect on the exterior surface of coolant layer 173. Polymer layer 172 and 174 can be provided as waterproof or water-resistant layers that at least partially block moisture collecting on coolant layer 173. Contemplated polymers include but are not limited to polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), silicone, and the like. Polymer layer 172 and 174 can be covered by cloth layer 171 and 175. Cloth layer 171 and 175 can each provide a plurality of structural enhancements. For example, cloth layer 171 and 175 can provide cushioning that enhances a wearer's comfort. Cloth layer 171 and 175 can also provide a degree of separation between the wearer and coolant layer 173, wherein air pockets in cloth layer 171 and 175 help to regulate temperature at a comfortable level and prevent cold burns. Cloth layer 171 and 175 can also help absorb any moisture that collects on the exterior surface of polymer layer 172 and 174 or absorb moisture emanating from the wearer. Contemplated cloths include but are not limited to cotton, polyester, nylon, wool, and the like.
In various embodiments, each of the polymer layer 172 and 174 and cloth layer 171 and 175 can comprise a thickness between about 2 mm and 5 mm. In some embodiments, the thickness is 3 mm. In some embodiments, coolant layer 173 can have a thickness between about 8 mm and 14 mm. In some embodiments, the layers are ordered such that an absorbent cloth layer faces a wearer. In some embodiments, the layers are ordered such that a cotton cloth layer faces away from a wearer. In various embodiments, the cooling devices 160 and 170 each comprise a laminated layer construction, wherein the layers are in the order of cloth layer 171, polymer layer 172, coolant layer 173, polymer layer 174, and cloth layer 175.
The disclosures of each and every patent, patent application, and publication cited herein are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
While this invention has been disclosed with reference to specific embodiments, it is apparent that other embodiments and variations of this invention may be devised by others skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. The appended claims are intended to be construed to include all such embodiments and equivalent variations.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201921918245.7 | Aug 2019 | CN | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2020/000304 | 4/24/2020 | WO |
