The present disclosure generally relates to intelligent garments that provide thermal regulation in a variety of environments. The garments may include different layers such as a hydrophobic layer in direct contact with a wearer's skin surface and saturated with an aqueous mixture, a spacer layer, a reflective layer, and an outer hydrophobic layer. The layers of the garment may work together to reduce the metabolic expenditure of the wearer in extreme environmental conditions or during demanding physical activity. A variety of sensors may be displaced throughout the garments so as to enable the collection of data associated with wearers as well as environmental conditions. Wearers may control the thermal balance and other properties of the garments as desired.

A cooling system for an occupant of an occupant support comprises a coolant conduit having an inlet for receiving coolant and an outlet for discharging the coolant to a destination. The conduit is nonpermanently and manually shape adjustable, shape stable subsequent to adjustment, and removably securable to the occupant support, the occupant or both. In one embodiment the destination is an ambient environment selected to achieve targeted coolant delivery to a localized region of the occupant's body. A cooling glove to be worn by a user has at least one coolant intake and at least one of a) a coolant passage extending from the coolant intake to an exhaust opening which exhausts coolant to an ambient environment; and b) a cooperative relationship with the user which defines a fluid pathway bounded in part by the glove and in part by the user and which discharges coolant to an ambient environment.

The present disclosure generally relates to intelligent garments that provide thermal regulation in a variety of environments. The garments may include different layers such as a hydrophilic layer in direct contact with a wearer's skin surface and saturated with an aqueous mixture, a spacer layer, a reflective layer, and an outer hydrophobic layer. The layers of the garment may work together to reduce the metabolic expenditure of the wearer in extreme environmental conditions or during demanding physical activity. A variety of sensors may be displaced throughout the garments so as to enable the collection of data associated with wearers as well as environmental conditions. Wearers may control the thermal balance and other properties of the garments as desired.

A method and an article of manufacture are disclosed for exchanging heat with a human body part to reduce fever, reduce localized swelling, warm up feet, cool down the body, increase body core temperature, and the like. A double walled water-tight article of clothing, such as a boot or a glove, may include a fluid inlet and outlet. 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. Pumps, heating or cooling elements, thermometers or other devices may be included with the article of clothing. The article of clothing may be compartmentalized to concentrate the fluid around a particular body part. Multilayered articles of clothing are also disclosed to inject a thermal gas into a heat exchange space to cool or warm a user.

The invention relates to an electrical active assembly for generating a physical effect such as heat, cold or humidity, and a textile assembly, such as a clothing assembly, including said electrical active assembly, with an application to a system for regulating the temperature or humidity of a user's body. The electrical assembly comprises a first textile support, a first active element 1 for generating the physical effect, connected to a power source, and located on or in the first textile support, a first sensor 2 for sensing data relative to a physical information, such as temperature or humidity, connected to a power source, and located on or in the first textile support, and a first controlling unit 3 connected to the first active element and sensor, and located on or in the first textile support, such as to allow the activation/deactivation by the first controlling unit of the first active element depending on data sensed by the first sensor. The electrical assembly also comprises a second textile support distinct from the first textile support, a second active element 4 for generating said physical effect, connected to a power source, and located on or in the second textile support, a second sensor 5 for sensing data relative to the physical information, connected to a power source, and located on or in the second textile support, and a second controlling unit 6 connected to the second active element and sensor, and located on or in said second textile support, such as to allow the activation/deactivation by the second controlling unit of the second active element depending on data sensed by the second sensor. The first controlling unit is connected to the second active element and sensor, such as to allow the activation/deactivation by the first controlling unit of the second active element depending on data sensed by the second sensor and/or by the first sensor, and/or the second controlling unit is connected to the first active element and sensor, such as to allow the activation/deactivation by the second controlling unit of the first active element depending on data sensed by the first sensor and/or by the second sensor.

A method and an article of manufacture are disclosed for exchanging heat with a human body part to reduce fever, reduce localized swelling, warm up feet, cool down the body, increase body core temperature, and the like. A double walled water-tight article of clothing, such as a boot or a glove, may include a fluid inlet and outlet. 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. Pumps, heating or cooling elements, thermometers or other devices may be included with the article of clothing. The article of clothing may be compartmentalized to concentrate the fluid around a particular body part. The fluid may continuously enter through an inlet and exit from an outlet in the article of clothing, or be a fixed amount.

A garment for applying cold or heat to a digit of a wearer, which comprises at least one digit sleeve and a securing mechanism for securing the digit sleeve to a digit of the wearer. The digit sleeve is composed of a protective outer layer, a heating/freezing middle layer and an inner comfort layer. A cavity formed within the digit sleeve is configured for receiving the digit of the wearer.