CRYOGENIC GARMENT

Abstract

A cryotherapy garment includes a number of receptacles that receive at least one pack of cold-store material. Each of the receptacles is formed by a closed fabric fold in the garment. Each of the receptacles has an opening for insertion of the pack of cold-store material. Each receptacle receives a respective pack, which is made of a semi-rigid material.

Claims

1. A cryotherapy garment comprising a plurality of receptacles configured to receive at least one pack of cold-store material, in which each of said receptacles is formed by a closed fabric fold in the garment, each of said receptacles having an opening for insertion of the at least one pack of cold-store material, each receptacle receiving a respective pack, wherein that said packs are made of a semi-rigid material.

2. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the packs of cold-store material have at least one flat face, said flat face being the face with the largest surface area of the corresponding pack, said flat face of the pack being in contact, following insertion thereof into an opening of a receptacle, with the surface of the garment designed to come into contact in turn with the user of the garment.

3. The garment according to claim 2, wherein the packs of cold-store material have a pointed end to facilitate insertion of said packs into the respective receptacles thereof.

4. The garment according to claim 2, wherein the flat face of the packs is delimited by three straight sides, forming two right angles between said three straight sides, and two sides that together form a point.

5. The garment according to claim 2, wherein the flat face of the packs is delimited by six straight sides forming a hexagon.

6. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said fabric of the garment includes an elastic material.

7. The garment according to claim 1, wherein each receptacle has a hole of smaller dimensions than the dimensions of the pack contained therein.

8. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the receptacles are tubular pockets.

9. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said folds are closed longitudinally using weaving techniques along one or two closing lines.

10. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the receptacles are arranged next to one another to form horizontal rows.

11. The garment according to claim 10, wherein at least one of said horizontal rows extends about the entire perimeter of the body or limb to be covered.

12. The garment according to claim 10, wherein at least two horizontal rows are arranged such that the receptacles thereof are also vertically aligned.

13. The garment according to claim 10, wherein the receptacles are arranged in offset rows, following an overall quincunx pattern.

14. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of said receptacles is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the respective limb thereof.

15. The garment according to claim 1, wherein said cold-store material is distilled water.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] Drawings showing an embodiment of a cryotherapy garment according to the present invention are attached to enhance comprehension by way of explanatory but non-limiting example.

[0042] FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of an example embodiment of a set of cryotherapy garments according to the present invention.

[0043] FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of an example embodiment of a cryotherapy garment according to the present invention.

[0044] FIG. 3 shows a detail of the structure that forms the receptacles arranged in a grid or matrix pattern.

[0045] FIG. 4 is the reverse of FIG. 3, showing the inner face of the receptacles.

[0046] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of insertion of the cold-store material into the respective receptacle through the apertures.

[0047] FIG. 6 shows a detail of the internal structure that forms the receptacles arranged in the form of a quincunx, portraying a brick-wall pattern.

[0048] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a possible embodiment of the pack of cold-store material.

[0049] FIG. 8 is another schematic perspective view of the same embodiment of the pack of cold-store material as in FIG. 7.

[0050] FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of the same embodiment of the pack of cold-store material as in FIG. 7.

[0051] FIG. 10 is a schematic side elevation view of the same embodiment of the pack of cold-store material as in FIG. 7.

[0052] In the figures, the same or equivalent elements have been designated using the same numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0053] FIG. 1 shows a set of various example embodiments of garments 1, 10 and 100 for cryotherapy according to the present invention. As shown, the garment 1 takes the form of long leggings, i.e. leggings that reach approximately to the user's ankles, while the garment 10 takes the form of a sleeve, and the garment 100 takes the form of a shirt. Alternatively, the leggings may be short, i.e. reaching to above the knee, or pedal pushers, i.e. reaching approximately the midpoint of the calves. The trouser legs in the example, including the receptacles, can be made using a circular machine.

[0054] FIG. 2 shows the reverse of the garment 1 in the same embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Said garment 1 has two legs 6 and 7, each of which has a respective plurality of receptacles 3 for receiving a cold-store material 2 (not shown).

[0055] As shown, the different receptacles 3 are positioned next to one another, forming a set of rows 5 spaced apart substantially equidistantly from one another, although in other embodiments said gaps may vary depending on the area of the body where the receptacles are positioned and the desired effect, among other aspects. The gaps between rows 5 of receptacles may also be determined for aesthetic reasons. Similarly, the distance between the receptacles within the rows can also vary, either depending on the area of the body where the receptacles are positioned, the desired effect, or aesthetic reasons.

[0056] As shown, the rows 5 of receptacles in this embodiment are arranged essentially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the respective trouser leg 6 and 7, i.e. substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the leg of the user of the garment 1. The receptacles that form said rows 5 are arranged essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the respective trouser leg thereof. In other words, the pockets are vertical and the rows are horizontal, when the garment is being worn and the user is in a standing position. As a result, the receptacles are arranged in a grid or matrix pattern. Similarly, in embodiments of garments in which the garment covers the arms and/or the torso of the user of the garment, as is the case with the shirt 100 or the sleeve 10, the receptacles and the respective cold-store material thereof can also be arranged in the same matrix pattern, with rows 5 that are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the arms and/or the torso formed by a set of adjacent receptacles 3 arranged parallel to said axis.

[0057] FIG. 3 shows the receptacles 3 of the garment 10 and the formation thereof in greater detail, and FIG. 4 shows the inside of the garment 10 of the same embodiment.

[0058] FIG. 5 shows a detail of how the pack 20 of the cold-store material 2 is inserted into the receptacles 3. The receptacles 3 are formed from folds of elastic material through a structure, of at least two layers, for example woven using a circular machine. Said folds are sealed on all sides except one end, where there is an opening 4. Said opening 4 is usually positioned at the upper end to help hold the pack inside the receptacle when putting the garment on the body, since friction may push the cold-store material towards the bottom of the receptacle and also helps to counteract the effect of gravity once in position. Notwithstanding the foregoing, said opening 4 may be positioned at the bottom or even on a lateral side if the orientation or location of the receptacle in the garment is such that the positioning of the pack of cold-store material is more ergonomic for the user.

[0059] The receptacles 3 are folds forming tubular pockets that have an opening 4 with a perimeter smaller than the transverse perimeter of the pack 20 of cold-store material 2. The transverse perimeter of the receptacles 3 is also smaller than the transverse perimeter of said pack 20. Since the fabric used to make the entire garment, including receptacles 3 and openings 4, is made of elastic material, the opening 4 can be widened to enable passage of the pack 20, and the receptacle 3 can be fitted to and hold said pack 20 by constriction. This figure shows how a differently coloured layer of the structure is centred in front of the pack 20, thereby forming a line that resembles a seam.

[0060] It should be noted that if the elasticity of the receptacles 3 so permits, another type of pack of cold-store material can be inserted, or solid cold-store material such as ice cubes can be inserted directly.

[0061] FIG. 6 shows a detail of the receptacles 3 and the formation thereof according to a different embodiment, in which said receptacles 3 are also arranged in rows 5 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the limb or the body to be covered, said rows being offset from one another such that the resulting overall arrangement between the receptacles 3 is a quincunx arrangement. This arrangement facilitates the insertion or removal of the packs 20 of cold-store material 2 with respect to the receptacles 3, since there is less interference between said inserted material 2 and the material to be inserted and removed, since the openings 4 are between the upper and lower receptacles 3.

[0062] FIGS. 7-10 show the pack 20 of cold-store material 2 in detail. The pack 20 is made of semi-rigid plastic and the cold-store material 2 is a fluid (not shown) with a low melting point and high thermal inertia, said fluid preferably having low viscosity, for example distilled water or alcohol water, although said fluid may also be a gel. Said pack 20 containing the fluid has at least one flat face 21, said at least one flat face being the face of the pack 20 with the largest surface area that faces the body when the garment is in use, having been inserted in the receptacle, on account of which said face can be considered to be the base or bottom face of the pack 20. The shape of said pack 20 is preferably similar to the first unit of a bullet train or high-speed train, comprising the aforementioned flat face 21 with the largest surface area, a rounded three-dimensional point 22, a rear flat face 23 at the other end, two rear side flat faces 24 and 24b, a rear top flat face 25, two front side curved surfaces 28 and 28b that join respectively the side faces 24 and 24b to the rounded three-dimensional point 22, and a front upper curved surface 26 that joins the rear upper face 25 to the point 22. In this embodiment, there is a projection 27 on the rear flat face 23 resulting from the sealing of the pack 20 after the fluid has been inserted. In other embodiments, this projection 27 may be absent, for example if the pack 20 is sealed using a method that does not result in a projection of material, or if the projection is trimmed after sealing. In other embodiments, said projection 27 may be used to help remove the material 2 from the receptacles 3, adapting the projections to be easy to grasp and pull, or joining the projection to a thread or set of threads that can be pulled. Similarly, in other embodiments, the packs can have a number of different surfaces, depending on the radii of curvature and the tangents between surfaces.

[0063] In another embodiment that is not shown, each of the legs 6 and 7 of the garment 1 can have a zone with no receptacles 3 or cold-store material 2. Said zones can coincide approximately with the location of the joints of the user of the garments. For the garment 1, the zones could be the knees and/or ankles, and for the garment 10 or 100, said zone with no cold-store material could preferably be the zone about the user's elbow.

[0064] In the embodiment showing a set of garments, the garment 1 has a zone 8 with no cold-store material that coincides with the genital area of the user of the garment 1. Among other objectives, the absence of cold-store material is intended to increase usage comfort of the garment 1, since said zone is particularly sensitive to the cold.

[0065] In the aforementioned embodiments of the invention, the fabric of the garments, in addition to embodying the different garments 1, 10 and 100 and holding the cold-store material 2, is also used to prevent direct contact between said cold-store material 2 and the skin of the user of said garment, which could cause wounds and/or ice burns to said user. Although the fabric of the garment 10 in the example embodiment shown in FIG. 4 only has one layer, the fabric can have more than one layer in other embodiments.

[0066] Although the figures show and describe an example embodiment of garments according to the present invention in which said garments are leggings, sleeves or short-sleeve shirts, the invention should also be understood to apply equally to embodiments in which the garment is a long sleeve shirt, a calf sleeve, etc.

[0067] Moreover, although the figures show and describe a design of the packs for the cold-store material, other designs may be used to optimise the cited handling parameters for the cold-store material and the cryogenic effect that said material can have for the user.

[0068] An example object of said optimisation could be a pack in which the flat face of largest surface area is formed by five straight sides forming an elongate pentagon that is symmetrical about the longitudinal axis thereof. As in the embodiment shown, said pentagon would have three sides with two right angles, but the point would be formed by two straight sides forming an obtuse angle with the lateral sides. This would slightly increase the surface area of the flat face used for treatment without significantly adversely affecting handling of the material in the receptacles.

[0069] Another object of said optimisation could be a design in which the flat face of largest surface area is an elongate hexagon that is pointed at both ends thereof. This would facilitate both the insertion and extraction of the material to and from the receptacles. Combining this design with the embodiment in which the receptacles are arranged in a quincunx pattern would arrange the receptacles in the form of a swarm of bees, which would further reduce the space between the receptacles, thereby further optimizing the surface area used for treatment.

[0070] Although the invention has been described and illustrated with reference to a number of representative examples, it will be appreciated that these exemplary embodiments are in no way limiting on the present invention and therefore any of the variants included, directly or as equivalents, within the content of the attached claims must be considered to be included within the scope of the present invention.