A cooling garment cooling device includes: a water delivery hose with a cooling water supply portion and cooling water branch portion; a pump supplying cooling water from the cooling water supply portion toward the cooling water branch portion; and plural branched water hoses having a first end-side water supply portion and second end-side water supply portion coupled to the cooling water branch portion. A portion of the branched water hoses between the first end-side water supply portion and second end-side water supply portion serves as a water outlet portion. Each branched water hose diameter is smaller than the water delivery hose diameter. The outer peripheral portion of the water outlet portion of each branched water hose orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the branched water hose has plural water passage holes with opening areas smaller than those of the first end-side water supply portion and second end-side water supply portion.

The invention relates to a portable cooling device for humans and/or animals, in particular a vest, a jacket, a cape, a coat or a blanket, characterized in that the portable cooling device (10) comprises at least two water atomizers, which are connected thereto, together with the reservoirs (2.2, 5) and at least two fans (2.1, 6), in that the portable cooling device (10) has a fixing device so that, when in use, a free ventilation and cooling region (11, 12) is formed between the portable cooling device (10) and the surface to be cooled (13, 14) of the human and/or animal, and in that the fans (2.1, 6) and the water atomizers together with the reservoirs (2.2, 5) for ventilating and cooling said ventilation and cooling region (11, 12) are arranged next to one another.

One variation of a method for fabricating a dermal heatsink includes: fabricating a substrate defining an interior surface, an exterior surface opposite the interior surface, and an open network of pores extending between the interior surface and the exterior surface; activating surfaces of the substrate and walls of the open network of pores; applying a coating over the substrate to form a heatsink, the coating comprising a porous, hydrophilic material and defining a void network; removing an excess of the coating from the substrate to clear blockages within the open network of pores by the coating; hydrating the heatsink during a curing period; heating the heatsink during the curing period to increase porosity of the coating applied over surfaces of the substrate; and rinsing the heatsink with an acid to decarbonate the coating along walls of the open network of pores in the substrate.

An article of apparel is described which is effective to regulate the temperature of the wearer. In an embodiment, the article of apparel includes a base textile with a thermal regulation membrane. The thermal regulation membrane contains a plurality of system-reactive components selectively engaged heat and/or moisture. In an embodiment, the printed coating includes a cooling agent, a phase change material, and a heat dissipation material. In operation, the article of apparel is effective to delay/diminish the rise in skin temperature (compared to a garment lacking the membrane), increasing wearer comfort.

A protective clothing system is disclosed that provides cooling via a cooling subsystem. The cooling subsystem can incorporate one or more perforated tubes to provide positive air pressure throughout the clothing system via an external pump. In embodiments, the tubes can be positioned adjacent a spacer mesh product allowing for comfort and unrestricted air flow from the tubing. In various embodiments, the perforated tubing can target specific areas such as the sternum of the chest and the spine region of the back where most of the blood flows in order to cool down the core temperature.

Garments may include: (a) one garment portion having an air permeability of less than 550 ft.sup.3/min per ft.sup.2; and (b) another garment portion including one or more vented zones, wherein a material forming the vented zones has an air permeability of at least 550 ft.sup.3/min per ft.sup.2. The vented zones may extend along a center back portion and/or along at least one side portion of the garment. Methods for forming such garments may include: (a) providing one garment portion having an air permeability of less than 550 ft.sup.3/min per ft.sup.2; (b) providing another garment portion including at least one vented zone, wherein a material forming the vented zone has an air permeability of at least 550 ft.sup.3/min per ft.sup.2; and (c) forming a garment structure including these garment portions. The vented zones may extend along a center back portion and/or along at least one side portion of the garment structure. In some instances, apparel or equipment (including garments having zoned venting) may be wetted and worn by the athlete prior to the event or exercise, in order to pre-cool the athlete's body.

The present invention is directed toward an article of apparel effective to regulate the temperature of the wearer. In an embodiment, the article of apparel includes a base textile with a thermal regulation membrane. The thermal regulation membrane contains a plurality of system-reactive components selectively engaged heat and/or moisture. In an embodiment, the printed coating includes a cooling agent, a phase change material, and a heat dissipation material. In operation, the article of apparel is effective to delay/diminish the rise in skin temperature (compared to a garment lacking the membrane), increasing wearer comfort.

A multi-layered face mask coated with discontinuous patterns of phase change material are incorporated into the face mask construction to provide for cooling of the microclimate in the dead space of the face mask. Optimized cooling is achieved by strategic placement of layers coated with a phase change material within the mask construction and the amount and density of the phase change material in contact with the temperature sensitive areas of the face, as well as areas experiencing the maximum amount of flux from exhaled breath. The shape of the mask can also be adjusted to increase skin contact with the phase change material and decrease dead space volume, which reduces the volume of warm exhaled air and can provide sufficient cooling with less phase change material. The discontinuous patterns of phase change material also provide inter-layer spacing between the layers of the mask, which can improve splash resistance.

Various exemplary embodiments relate to a business suit. The business suit includes front facing panels and upper sleeve panels formed of a first facing fabric; and an inner lining formed of a second moisture wicking fabric. The suit may further include exterior back panels or lower sleeve panels formed of the second moisture wicking fabric. The suit may further include a sleeve liner interior to a respective upper sleeve panel and the lower sleeve panel, the sleeve liner formed of a third fabric. In various embodiments, the business suit further includes pants. The pants include exterior facing panels formed of the first facing fabric; a waistband formed of the first facing fabric; and a pants liner formed of the second moisture wicking fabric and joined to the waistband. The pants may further include an exterior crotch insert panel formed of the second moisture wicking fabric.

A firefighter's protective garment including an outer shell, moisture barrier and thermal barrier in which the thermal barrier is constructed with spacers on its inner surface such that air can circulate between the garment and the firefighter wearing it. The garment redistributes metabolic heat over a larger surface area, and increases metabolic cooling and firefighter comfort. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the spacers are strategically attached to those areas of the thermal barrier which find themselves opposite those parts of the human body having the highest rates of perspiration and metabolic heat transfer.