Patent Application
20170202703
This application relates generally to thermal clothing. More specifically, this application relates to a method and apparatus for altering body temperature by exchanging heat between a circulating fluid and a body part like a leg or an arm.
The drawings, when considered in connection with the following description, are presented for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected.
While the present disclosure is described with reference to several illustrative embodiments described herein, it should be clear that the present disclosure should not be limited to such embodiments. Therefore, the description of the embodiments provided herein is illustrative of the present disclosure and should not limit the scope of the disclosure as claimed. In addition, while the following description references boots and gloves, it will be appreciated that the disclosure may include other heat exchanging articles of clothing such as vest, knee band or strap, waist band, shoulder strap, neck or head cover, and the like. Furthermore, even though most of the description herein may be about cooling, the same structures and functions equally apply to heating.
Briefly described, a method and an article of manufacture are disclosed for exchanging heat (either warming or cooling) with a human body part to reduce fever, reduce localized swelling due to trauma or other causes, warm up feet for sleeping, cool down overall body temperature to prevent heat stroke, increase body core temperature, and the like. In various embodiments a double walled water-tight article of clothing, such as a boot or a glove, may include a fluid inlet and outlet to allow water to move through the space between the walls while exchanging heat with the body part wearing the article of clothing. In other embodiments, a single walled but water-tight article of clothing may be used around a body part and allow the water to contact the skin inside the article of clothing for more rapid and direct heat exchange. In some embodiments, pumps, heating or cooling elements, thermometers or other devices may be included with the article of clothing, whether integrated or attached to article of clothing, to provide other appropriate functions like circulating the water, heating or cooling the water, and measuring the water temperature, respectively. In still other embodiments, the article of clothing may be compartmentalized to direct and concentrate the fluid around a particular body part, such as the wrist in a double-walled or single-walled watertight glove. In some embodiments, the fluid may continuously enter through an inlet and exit from an outlet in the article of clothing, while in other embodiments, the amount of fluid may be constant and contained within the article of clothing but be circulated to exchange heat between the body part and heat sources or sinks, such as fins or heaters/coolers, integrated with the article of clothing. A multilayered article of clothing is also disclosed to inject a thermal gas into a heat exchange space to cool or warm a user.
Body temperature in humans plays an important role in general health, the functioning of organs, muscles, and joints, and comfort. The human body core temperature is nominally about 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37 degrees Celsius. The temperature at extremities, such as arms and legs, hands and feet, and head and neck may vary due to exposure to heat or cold, perspiration, contact with water and flowing air (wind), exposure to night sky and other situations in which heat is added or removed from the body. The addition or removal of heat from skin surface, especially near extremities, is one way the nervous system regulates the core temperature. This is generally done by directing blood to or away from exposed skin for more or less heat exchange, respectively. Other methods of adding heat and raising the temperature of the body include metabolization of food and shivering. People can actively aid in their body's temperature regulation by fanning themselves, seeking shade or sun, using heating or cooling devices like heaters and air conditioners, varying the layers and types of clothing they wear, immersion in water, and the like.
The above methods of regulating body temperature to comfortable levels are generally for normal and healthy conditions. However, at times, the body temperature may drop or rise in response to abnormal health conditions such as fever, trauma (especially to joints and muscles), or poor blood circulation due to age, neurological problems, or other medical causes. In such cases extra help or measures to add or remove heat from the body may be needed. Sometimes the exchange of heat (either removing or adding) may be for the benefit of the entire body, as in the case of high fever, while at other times heat exchange may be needed for localized sites on the body such as reducing the swelling of a traumatized joint like the knee or elbow. Personalized body temperature control can also be beneficial from a hygienic perspective. For example, by reducing perspiration body odor can also be reduced.
In various embodiments, the double-walled boot may be made of plastic to be waterproof. In other embodiments, the boot may be made of any other material such as leather, cloth, nylon, or any other suitable material with a waterproof liner inserted within the fluid chamber or enclosure space 106 to contain the fluid.
In various embodiments, the fluid inlet 108 and outlet 110 may be a small hose with a valve at the base to open or close fluid path or control the flow rate of the fluid through the fluid chamber. In some embodiments, the fluid inlet and outlet are the same, so that fluid may be added or removed from the same single opening.
In various embodiments, the fluid may be water, alcohol, air, or other suitable heat exchange fluid medium.
In various embodiments, to cool or warm the foot or leg, the boot may be worn and then connected to a source of heat exchange fluid, such as tap water from a faucet or a reservoir of cold or warm water. On the drain side, as the water enters the inlet, it can exit the outlet to keep fresh water at a desired and controlled temperature circulating around the body part inside the boot. In some embodiments, ridges, grooves, or similar pathways may be provided inside the boot where the water flows to guide the flow of water and control it to flow or circulate in a spiral, up-and-down, diagonal, or in other flow patterns around the body part being treated. In other embodiments, the water may poured into the boot from inlet 108 at a certain temperature without opening the drain 110 to fill the boot and allow the water to stay without flow to more slowly cool or warm the body part compared to flowing water which creates convection and more rapid heat exchange. In some embodiments, the speed of the flow may be controlled from inlet 108 to outlet 110 by partially opening the inlet and/or the outlet.
In some embodiments, the boot may be made of transparent plastic or rubber to allow viewing the water circulating around the target body part such as leg and foot. Other devices may be used to make the boot or other heat-exchanging article of clothing more interesting and entertaining to children, such as pictures or blinking LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights attached to surface of boot, floating shaped particles or swaying color bands inside the water enclosure, and the like. In various embodiments, the floating ornamental particles may be in the shape of colorful fish, submarines, ship, mermaids, and the like to entertain small children.
The circulation of cold fluid around the target body part can help reduce fever or subside swelling, while the circulation of warm or hot water can help heat a joint to reduce pain or stiffness or relieve chill. This arrangement may be especially interesting for children who often have aversion to medications or other medical treatments. Children having high fever may feel better by putting their feet in cool water to reduce their core temperature, while also being amused by watching the water circulate and the floats move around.
In various embodiments, to cool or warm the arm or hand, the glove or elbow brace may be worn and then connected to a source of heat exchange fluid, such as tap water or a reservoir of cold or warm water. On the drain side, as the water enters the inlet, it can exit the outlet to keep fresh water at a desired and controlled temperature circulating around the body part inside the glove or elbow brace. In some embodiments, ridges, grooves, or similar pathways may be provided inside the heat-exchanging article of clothing where the water flows to guide the flow of water and control it to flow or circulate in a spiral, up-and-down, diagonal, or in other flow patterns around the body part being treated, as depicted by the dotted spiral line in glove 154. In other embodiments, the water may poured into the glove or elbow brace from inlet 158 or 178 at a certain temperature without opening the drain 160 or 180 to fill the article of clothing and allow the water to stay without flow to more slowly cool or warm the body part compared to flowing water which creates convection and more rapid heat exchange. In some embodiments, the speed of the flow may be controlled from inlet to outlet by partially opening the inlet and/or the outlet.
In various embodiments, direct contact of the heat exchange fluid with skin allows faster heat transfer and thus, heating or cooling effect. The fluid may be poured directly into the boot or through the inlet 204 provided for this purpose. Once the fluid is poured in, the fastener 204 is fastened to create a closed enclosure with a tight seal between the boot and the leg, thus preventing the cooling fluid from spilling out. Other characteristics of the boot, such as flow control and spiral circulation and others described above, may be similar to the double-walled boot.
In various embodiments, the heat-exchanging article of clothing, such as boot 302, includes entry and exit thermometers 310 and 312, respectively, to measure and display the temperature of the fluid entering and existing. This information may be useful in controlling flow rate, fluid temperature, and effectiveness of heating and cooling of the body part, such as leg and foot. In various embodiments, the data from thermometers may be transmitted, by wire or wirelessly, to the processor or processing unit 314, to calculate secondary parameters such as cooling or heating rate, thermal calories imparted or removed from body, estimated body temperature, and the like.
In various embodiments, the pump 308 may be used to circulate the water inside the fluid enclosure of the boot without opening the drain 306 or the inlet 304. In this configuration, once the fluid enclosure of the boot is filled with sufficient amount of water or other fluid, then inlet and outlet may be closed off and the pump turned on to circulate the fluid in a closed system and enhance thermal exchange with the target body part, such as foot or ankle, via convection. The inlet 304 and outlet 306 may also be connected together to create a closed fluid circuit in which water is circulated and no water is added or drained. This arrangement allows the user to step away from a water source, such as a faucet, and also to save water. In some embodiments, the power to operate the pump is provided by the battery pack 316, while in other embodiments an external power source, such as external battery pack or AC (Alternating Current) plug may be used.
In various embodiments, processing unit 314 may include a processor for computation and control of data and signals from other sources in the boot, such as thermometers, the display screen, the pump, and the heater/cooler. Such processing unit may further include some memory for program and data, data and control signal buses, input/output ports, and other electronic devices as needed, such as beepers and LED lights for status information and alarm.
In various embodiments, the heating and/or cooling device 408 may include a simple heating element to heat up the fluid entering the boot through the heater so that if water is provided from a cool source, it can be heated to a desired temperature. Similarly, water entering the boot may be cooled by an electronic cooling device such as a thermoelectric cooler by first passing the water through the cooler at the entry of the fluid enclosure of the boot. In some embodiments, the heating/cooling device may be included in a thermal unit which also includes a battery for the purpose of heating/cooling the fluid. In various embodiments, once the fluid enclosure of the boot is filled with sufficient amount of water or other fluid, then inlet and outlet may be closed off and the heater/cooler and/or the pump turned on to change the temperature of the fluid to a value different form the target body part and also to circulate the fluid and enhance thermal exchange with the target body part, such as foot or ankle, via convection, if desired.
In various embodiments, the power source 410 may be a battery pack, a rechargeable battery, or an AC adapter.
In various embodiments, the article of clothing, whether it is a boot, a glove, a vest, or other wearable article, water-tight separate compartments 510-514 may be deployed to only cover a specific part or section of the body, such as elbow, wrist, or fingers. Each compartment may be enabled (opened) or disabled (closed) to allow fluid in or not, respectively. For example, if an elbow is injured and it needs to be cooled to reduce swelling, then only compartment 510 is opened while the other two compartments 512 and 514 are closed to concentrate the fluid and power resources (for example, the battery charge left) on the area that needs it most.
In various embodiments, the compartmentalized configuration of the heat-exchange article of clothing may include some or all of the features described above, such as heater/cooler, pump, power source, processing unit, and the like. In such configurations, the feature may be made common to all compartments. For example, the heater/cooler or pump may be deployed in or attached to entry fluid enclosure 508, which can feed or supply heated or pressurized fluid to all the compartments based on the state of the valves 516.
In various embodiments, the thermal gas may be nitrogen (N2, used in form of liquid nitrogen that cools when evaporates) or any other gases that have a sufficiently high thermal capacity to extract or impart heat on body for a few minutes to a few hours to either cool or warm the body. Such gases used in refrigeration and cooling include CO2 (Carbon Dioxide), Fluorocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons are inert gases that may suitable for cooling purposes. Other common refrigerants used in various applications are ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and non-halogenated hydrocarbons such as propane. Gases generally cool by expansion and phase change, such as going from solid to liquid phase or going from liquid to gaseous phase. They absorb heat to change phase, as they do in a typical refrigeration cycle. One or a combination of several suitable gases may be used to create a thermal gas for heat exchange with body.
In various embodiments, the thermal shirt has an outer layer and an inner layer which are not gas-permeable and can hold a certain amount of gas for an extended period of time without noticeable leakage for a few hours, or until their cooling/heating capacity is substantially exhausted. A heat exchange space, pocket, chamber, or compartment is created between these two layers that can receive and hold the thermal gas. The inner layer is more thermally conductive relative to the outer layer, so heat is exchanged (imparted or removed) from the body to warm/cool it and the thermal effect is not wasted in exchange with the potentially cold/warm environment, such as a cold/hot day or in a cold/hot car. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the thermal multilayered articles of clothing may be adapted and used for animals also, such as horses, dogs, and cats to keep them healthy and comfortable in extreme weather conditions.
In various embodiments, the inner layer may have different conductive or cooling ratings, such as “Low,” “Medium,” and “High,” to allow different rates of cooling of the body. In some applications, such as high intensity sports, the user may wish quick heat removal to reduce heat exhaustion. In such applications, the user may opt for a “High” conductive or cooling rating. In other applications, such as working in a warm office building, the user may wish a slower rate of cooling, such as “Low” or “Medium.” Alternatively, a numerical (for example, 1, 2, 3, . . . ) or alphabetical (for example, A, B, C, . . . ) rating scale, or other scale may be chosen to designate the conductivity of the inner layer. The higher the conductivity of the inner layer, the greater the heat removal from body and the greater the cooling effect.
In various embodiments, the gas inlet valve 608 is closed by default and is opened to receive gas by inserting a nozzle or hollow pin (similar to those for inflating a basketball or a bicycle tire) attached to the tube 612 to receive the cooling gas. After exhausting its cooling capacity, the cooling gas may be released and discharged from the shirt's heat exchange compartment using the same or a separate outlet valve. In other various embodiments, the outer layer may be slightly gas permeable to slowly release the gas over several hours after the cooling capacity of the gas is substantially exhausted and more fresh compressed gas is needed to resume cooling.
In operation, the user may use a can of compressed N2 or other similar cooling (or heating) gas to charge his shirt, shoe, or other article of clothing with cooling gas. The gas slowly cools (or warms) the body at a rate determined by the conductivity rating of the inner layer. Every gas has a particular specific heat, depending on the chemical nature of the gas, and can absorb a certain amount of heat before coming into thermal equilibrium with the body. When such capacity is exhausted, the user can either actively discharge the used gas by using an outlet (or the same inlet) valve, or the outer layer may be slightly gas-permeable to allow the gas to slowly escape from the shirt's gas compartment (heat exchange space) over several hours by which time its cooling capacity is substantially exhausted. The user can control the cooling effect of the gas by how much gas he injects into the clothing layer, how much he releases gas from the gas pocket, and what inner layer conductive rating he chooses.
In various embodiments, the gas can 610 may be a small hand-held canister, can, or other container of compressed gas, such as N2 or other refrigeration gas, which the user may carry around with him and use it dynamically to charge his gas-cooled clothes by injecting gas. In other embodiments, compressed gas stations may be deployed in an enterprise environment, such as a campus buildings with gas outlets at pre-determined locations, similar to an electrical outlet, for users to use and inject gas into their clothing. Such compressed gas may be contained in large underground tanks for large-scale use in a campus environment, such as corporations, schools, government offices, hospitals, and the like. This method may be more cost-effective and efficient than having air conditioning and HVAC units that cool down a whole building to keep the occupants cool. Furthermore, this method can provide highly personalized cooling so that every person can cool off only as much as he wants under his direct control.
In various embodiments, the multi-layered pants 650 is substantially similar to the multilayered shirt of
In various embodiments, the gas storage compartment 714 is an insulated gas pocket deployed within the article of clothing, in this case, the thermal shirt, to hold a cache of gas for user to quickly inject gas into the cooling gas pocket 706 without having to use the gas can 710 or the tube 712. This arrangement allows the user to have ready access to a small amount of non-deployed cooling gas from an internal source to be used easily, discreetly, and quickly when the user wishes, instead of having to connect a tube and use an external gas source. The insulation of the gas storage compartment is generally much higher than that of the inner and/or the outer layers to substantially avoid heat exchange while the gas is still in the internal storage cache.
In various embodiments, the gas may be discharged or released from the internal gas storage compartment 714 using gas valve 716. This valve may be opened by pressing on a button or pulling a lever to open a passage way between compartments 714 and 706. The user can control how much gas to release depending on how much cooling he desires.
In various embodiments, the gas vent valve 718 may be provided for discharging or venting gas out from cooling compartment 706 to reduce the cooling effect. This is useful if the user injects too much gas into cooling space 706 and wants to reduce the cooling.
In various embodiments, the multi-layered shoe 800 is substantially similar to the multilayered articles of clothing of
In various embodiments, the structure and function of the multi compartment shirt is similar to the articles of clothing described with respect to
Changes can be made to the claimed invention in light of the above Detailed Description. While the above description details certain embodiments of the invention and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the claimed invention can be practiced in many ways. Details of the system may vary considerably in its implementation details, while still being encompassed by the claimed invention disclosed herein.
Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the claimed invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the claimed invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the claimed invention.
The above specification, examples, and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended. It is further understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.
It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
While the present disclosure has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.
This application is related to the U.S. application Ser. No. 14/883,505, filed on 14 Oct. 2015, entitled “FLUID-BASED THERMAL CLOTHING FOR HEAT EXCHANGE WITH BODY PARTS,” the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.
