COOLING GARMENT

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. 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.

2. The garment of claim 1, wherein 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.

3. The garment of claim 1, wherein 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.

4. The garment of claim 1, wherein the at least one seal is a continuous seal.

5. The garment of claim 1, wherein the at least one seal is a segmented seal.

6. The garment of claim 1, wherein the at least one seal comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: a rubber, a silicone, a polymer foam, and a gel.

7. The garment of claim 1, wherein the at least one seal comprises an inflatable gasket, wherein the at least one seal further comprises a valve.

8. The garment of claim 1, further comprising one or more connectors selected from the group consisting of: zippers, buttons, hook and loop systems, and clasps.

9. The garment of claim 1, wherein the at least one cooling device comprises a coolant layer.

10. The garment of claim 9, wherein the coolant layer comprises a thickness between about 8 mm and 14 mm.

11. The garment of claim 9, wherein the coolant layer comprises a freezable material selected from the group consisting of: water, alcohol, propylene glycol, and silica gel.

12. The garment of claim 9, wherein the coolant layer is covered at a front and a back by a polymer layer.

13. The garment of claim 12, wherein each polymer layer comprises a thickness between about 2 mm and 5 mm.

14. The garment of claim 12, wherein each polymer layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), and silicone.

15. The garment of claim 9, wherein the at least one cooling device is covered at a front and a back by a cloth layer.

16. The garment of claim 15, wherein each cloth layer comprises a thickness between about 2 mm and 5 mm.

17. The garment of claim 15, wherein each cloth layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: cotton, polyester, nylon, and wool.

18. The garment of claim 1, wherein 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.

19. The garment of claim 18, wherein the first cloth layer faces a wearer and comprises an absorbent cloth.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] 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.

[0013] FIG. 1 depicts a front view (left) and rear view (right) of an exemplary cooling garment.

[0014] FIG. 2 depicts an exploded view of an exemplary cooling garment.

[0015] FIG. 3 depicts an exploded view of an exemplary cooling device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] 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.

Definitions

[0017] 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.

[0018] 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.

[0019] As used herein, each of the following terms has the meaning associated with it in this section.

[0020] 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.

[0021] “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.

[0022] 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.

Cooling Garment

[0023] Referring now to FIG. 1, an exemplary cooling garment 100 is depicted. For illustration purposes, garment 100 is depicted as a vest, but it should be understood that garment 100 can take the form of any article of clothing, including but not limited to short-sleeved shirts, long-sleeved shirts, jackets, coats, shorts, pants, undergarments, gloves, socks, hats, and the like. Garment 100 comprises a garment body 101 formed with a front section 110 and a rear section 120. In some embodiments, front section 110 and rear section 120 are connected by a connecting section 130. While the depicted garment 100 is shown with front section 110 as a vest front and rear section 120 as a vest rear, persons having ordinary skill in the art will understand that certain garments possess similar front sections 110 and rear sections 120 (e.g., shirts, jackets, coats, shorts, pants, undergarments, socks, and the like) and certain garments may be reversible such that front sections 110 and rear sections 120 can be identical or interchangeable (e.g., gloves, hats, and the like).

[0024] 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.

[0025] Referring now to FIG. 2, an exploded view of cooling garment 100 is depicted. Garment 100 further comprises first cooling device 160, second cooling device 170, first polymer layer 200, and second polymer layer 210. In various embodiments, garment 100 can further comprise one or more connectors 111. Connectors 111 joins edges of garment 100 for closer fits or to close openings, and can include but are not limited to zippers, buttons, hook and loop systems, clasps, and the like. In various embodiments, garment 100 can further comprise stitching or binding 180 and 190 to attach the several elements of garment 100 to each other.

[0026] Referring now to FIG. 3, an exploded view of cooling device 170 is depicted. It should be understood that cooling device 160 and cooling device 170 are structurally similar. For simplicity, cooling device 170 is described here. Cooling device 170 comprises cloth layer 171, polymer layer 172, coolant layer 173, polymer layer 174, and cloth layer 175. Coolant layer 173 contains a source of cold temperature material. In some embodiments, the cold temperature material can be frozen uses the principle of liquefaction and heat absorption to achieve a cooling effect, and can include but is not limited to: water, alcohol, silica gel, propylene glycol, and the like. In some embodiments, coolant layer 173 is segmented to improve bendability and flexibility.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] The disclosures of each and every patent, patent application, and publication cited herein are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0030] 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.