Temperature controlling garment

Abstract

A temperature controlling garment comprising a garment made from a layer of material that utilizes moisture management technology to enhance its ability to wick moisture away from the body of the person wearing it, at least one temperature modification pack that changes the temperature of the garment, and at least one receptacle associated with the garment that holds the temperature modification pack in place on the garment. The temperature modification pack comprises an outer casing defining a closed cavity and a polymer mixture contained within the cavity wherein the polymer mixture receives and stores a thermal charge and releases the thermal charge over an extended period of time.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 522,679 filed Oct. 27, 2004.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to garments which can heat or cool the body of the person wearing them to enhance their comfort. [0004] 2. Background Art [0005] There is a need for a light weight garment that can cool or heat the body of the person wearing it for hours at a time for the purpose of maintaining a comfortable body temperature in extreme environments. Such a garment may have a wide range of applications including, but not limited to, use by military personnel in hot or cold theaters of operation, race car drivers, persons who work out of doors and persons engaging in recreational activities such as skiing, golfing, hiking. [0006] The prior art discloses several different types of devices that attempt to cool or heat a person. Such devices may be inconven...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] According to one aspect of the invention, a garment is provided that is made from a base layer material utilizing moisture management technology giving it a relatively high wicking ability. Such moisture management technology is well known in the art and includes, but is not limited to, the application of coatings to the surface of materials, the structure of the material, the fibers used to make the materials and the orientation and structure of such fibers. Such materials may include, but are not limited to, polyester, spandex, nylon and lycra. These materials, and any other material utilizing a moisture management technology, eliminate localized accumulation of moisture by pulling moisture and excess heat away from the body and spreading it throughout the material, thereby promoting evaporation over a broad area of the material. At least one temperature modification pack is also provided that changes the temperature of the air and moisture as it passes through the garment. There is at least one receptacle associated with the garment that retains the temperature modification pack in place on the garment. The temperature modification pack cools or heats the air and moisture inside the garment. The cooled or heated air and moisture circulates around the body of the person wearing the garment. The cooled area greatly exceeds the area covered by the temperature modification pack and thereby increases the comfort of the person.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present invention, the temperature modification pack comprises an outer, tear resistant casing defining a closed cavity and a polymer mixture contained within the cavity. The casing can be made from plastic, foil, PVC or Tyvek® material. The polymer mixture may be comprised of poly sodium acrylate, gelatine, a bulking agent, pectin and water. This polymer mixture is capable of receiving a thermal charge and is capable of storing the thermal charge such that the thermal charge is released over an extended period of time. A bulking agent, such as clay or starch, is included in the polymer mixture to prevent the polymer from settling to the bottom of the cavity.

[0010] Other aspects of the invention relate to the garment being form-fitting to the body of the person wearing it. The receptacle of the form fitting garment holds the temperature modification pack in close proximity to the person's body to improve the effectiveness of the pack, cooling or heating the body of the person wearing the garment. The receptacle provides promoting indirect contact with the body through the material of the receptacle. The form-fitting garment holds the pack against a person's body so that the pack does not interfere with body movement. The vertically elongated shape of the pack and spacing around the torso also facilitates body movement. Furthermore, the garment's receptacles may be selectively closed to keep the packs in the receptacles until the temperature modification is no longer needed or until the packs are changed.

[0012] In other aspects of the invention, the garment is worn over the torso of a person and the receptacles are positioned such that there is a receptacle in close proximity to each breast and each shoulder blade of the person wearing the garment. The garment may be characterized as having a plurality of vertically divided regions. Each region may have one vertically elongated receptacle that receives a vertically elongated temperature maintenance pack. The receptacles hold the packs in place and spaced from each other to reduce the area that is in close contact with the packs and allows the heated or cooled air and moisture to spread between the packs within the fabric of the garment.

[0014] According to other aspects of the present invention, the outer casing of the temperature modification pack may contain at least one insulative layer that may be placed closest to the wearer's body to minimize localized heating or cooling adjacent the packs. The insulative layer can be made of polyurethane foam padding. The heating or cooling energy is directed through the fabric to a broader area.

Problems solved by technology

Such devices may be inconvenient to use and may interfere with the freedom of movement of a person wearing the device.

Bulky cooling packs may interfere with a person's activities.

Water permeated devices may be heavy and make the user wet.

In short, none of these earlier devices provides a light weight, flexible, long lasting and inexpensive solution to the problem described above.

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