Heated or cooled item of clothing
A heated or cooled item of clothing (1;15), comprising a cartridge (4) made of two compartments (5, 6), separated by a divider (7) that can be easily broken or removed, each compartment containing a substance which, coming into contact with the other, triggers an exothermic or endothermic reaction, respectively. Said item of clothing may be shoes (1) or women's elegant shoes, or clothes (15).
The present invention relates to a heated or cooled item of clothing, in particular shoes, apt to protect those wearing it from the cold or the heat, respectively.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONDuring the course of human history, various forms of protection against the cold were developed. In particular, for the time to be spent outdoor, protection was sought by use of items of clothing made of materials as isolating as possible, so as to prevent dispersion of body heat. This way, after a short period of time, the temperature of the air close to the body reaches a steadier state than the external one, but much lower than the internal one.
This works particularly well for short periods and/or while in movement; however, it cannot suffice on particularly cold days, when sitting or standing, for instance at the football stadium, or even when simply waiting for the bus at the bus stop. Moreover, while for most of the body this mechanism is enough to guarantee comfort during normal movement, for the feet, even particularly isolating shoes may not offer a sufficient degree of comfort, especially for subjects with slight—although not pathological—peripheral blood circulation disorders.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThese and other drawbacks are brilliantly solved by the present invention, which, according to one aspect, relates to a heated item of clothing, comprising a heating cartridge, characterised in that said cartridge comprises two compartments separated by a divider that can be easily broken or removed, each compartment containing a substance which, coming into contact with the other, triggers an exothermic reaction.
According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a cooled item of clothing, comprising a cooling cartridge, characterised in that said cartridge comprises two compartments separated by a divider that can be easily broken or removed, each compartment containing a substance which, coming into contact with the other, triggers an endothermic reaction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe present invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the
According to the embodiment of
The cartridge 4 may be made of any suitable material; such material may be chosen depending on the required use thereof. Thus, if a strong thermal impulse is required, although of short duration, use of a metal—preferably aluminium—cartridge is preferred. If a less powerful thermal exchange is required, but with longer lasting effects, use of plastic cartridges is preferred instead. Also in the case of children's shoes, which are smaller and, for this reason, should not undergo sharp temperature changes (which might also prove dangerous to health), plastic cartridges should be used.
Cartridge 4 may have any shape, for instance cylindrical or parallelepiped. A single (see
In
Over cartridge 4 there usually is a thin aluminium layer for improving thermal conduction and an insole. Preferably, the insole is perforated in order to allow foot transpiration and passage of the heat.
As it can be seen in
The substances contained in compartments 5 and 6 are inert per se, but, once they come into contact, they trigger an exothermic or endothermic reaction, as required. In the present invention, by “reaction”, it is also meant dissolution and solvation phenomena.
In case that heating of the item of clothing is desired, substances are used that, in combination, cause an exothermic reaction. In particularly cold whether conditions, a few antifreeze drops may be added. Typical examples of substances that may be used are: calcium chloride in compartment 6 and water in compartment 5, or oxalic acid and potassium permanganate. Reagents of any kind may of course be used, as long as, when combined, they trigger exothermic reactions. Water may be used in combination with one or more of the following substances: hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, chlorous acid, hydrogen bromide, hydrogen iodide, nitric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, gaseous ammonia, ammonium ossalate, lithium hydroxide, lithium chloride, lithium perchlorate, lithium bromide, lithium iodide, lithium nitrite, lithium nitrate, sodium hydroxide, sodium bromide, sodium iodide, sodium oxalate, potassium hydroxide, potassium fluoride, potassium oxalate, rubidium hydroxide, rubidium fluoride, caesium hydroxide, caesium fluoride, calcium chloride. It is at any rate preferable that, both when separated and when reacting, the substances used do not corrode the material into which they are contained. For this and for economic reasons, the pair calcium chloride-water is the preferred one.
If cooling is required, the two substances contained in the compartments must trigger an endothermic reaction. Water may be used in combination with one or more of the following substances: iodic acid, ammonium chloride, ammonium perchlorate, ammonium bromide, ammonium iodide, ammonium iodate, ammonium nitrite, ammonium nitrate, ammonium cyanide, ammonium sulphocyanide, methylammonium chloride, trimethylammonium chloride, tetramethylammonium chloride, tetramethylammonium bromide, tetramethylammonium iodide, silver perchlorate, silver nitrite, silver nitrate, lithium fluoride, lithium bromate, sodium fluoride, sodium chloride, sodium chlorite, sodium chlorate, sodium perchlorate, sodium bromate, sodium iodate, sodium nitrite, sodium nitrate, sodium cyanide, sodium cyanate, sodium sulphocyanide, sodium sulphate, sodium thiosulphate, potassium chloride, potassium chlorate, potassium perchlorate, potassium bromide, potassium bromate, potassium iodide, potassium iodate, potassium nitrite, potassium nitrate, potassium cyanide, potassium cyanate, potassium sulphocyanide, potassium permanganate, rubidium chloride, rubidium chlorate, rubidium perchlorate, rubidium bromide, rubidium bromate, rubidium iodide, rubidium nitrate, caesium chloride, caesium perchlorate, caesium bromide, caesium bromate, caesium iodide, caesium nitrate. Preferably, the pair sodium sulphate-water or the pair sodium thiosulphate-water.
Proportions and type of substances to be used must be evaluated and dispensed depending on the application, circumstances and requirements of the user.
Whenever use of the item of clothing according to the present invention is required, cartridge 4 is inserted, depending on the needs, into chamber 3, inlet recess 12, flap 13 or pockets 19, then point 8 or plunger 9 is pressed. This pressure forces the content of compartment 6 against divider 7, exerting a growing pressure thereon. Once the breaking point of divider 7 is reached—which point is usually very low—the divider breaks. Strap fastener opening of the divider 7 may also be provided. The substance contained in 5 thus comes into contact with the substance contained in 6 and it mixes therewith. As soon as the two substances come into contact, a reaction occurs, which may be exothermic—i.e. liberating heat—or endothermic—i.e. absorbing heat. In the first case, heating of the cartridge is obtained and, in the second case, cooling of the cartridge is obtained. Through its walls, the aluminium layer and the insole, cartridge 4 transfers heat to the body or absorbs heat from it, providing the desired effect of comfort.
Examples of applications of the item of clothing according to the present invention are shoes, children's shoes, boots, ankle-boots, climbing boots, trekking shoes, ski boots, after skis, working shoes, free time shoes, clothes, mountain trekking clothes, climbing clothes, extreme climbing clothes, working clothes, space suits, motorcycling suits, and fashion accessories such as gloves, hats, belts, caps. In the case of shoes, chamber 3 may also be provided with a reinforcement frame, so as to allow supporting the weight of the person, to prevent such a weight from crashing cartridge 4 before time and causing dispersion of the reagents. This frame may be of any suitable material such as rubber, silicone, leather or even metal.
In the case of common walking shoes, in which, as already specified, chamber 3 and cartridge 4 ought to extend only within the area where shoe 1 bends when walking, between cartridge 3 and the area of the shoe where the foot toes are there ought to be a thermally conductive material, for example in the form of a flexible wire netting.
The present invention allows to simply and brilliantly solve the problems created by unpleasant climates, without having to wear excessively heavy clothing. Furthermore, by suitably choosing the material for the cartridge and the substances to mix, as well as the proportions of the latter, it is possible to adjust the heat being exchanged between the cartridge itself and the body of the user in a really effective way.
Claims
1-46. (canceled)
47. Item of clothing (1, 16), comprising a cartridge (4) able to change temperature, characterised in that said cartridge (4) is inserted into a suitable chamber (3), all of its surfaces being covered in an insulating material, except for the one facing the body of the user.
48. Item of clothing (1, 16) as claimed in claim 47), characterised in that it includes two compartments (5, 6) separated by a divider (7) that may be easily broken or removed, each compartment containing a substance which, coming into contact with the other, triggers either an exothermic or an endothermic reaction.
49. Item of clothing as claimed in claim 47), characterised in that said item is a shoe and said chamber (3) extends from the point of insertion as far as and no further than the area where the sole of the shoe bends.
50. Item of clothing as claimed in claim 49), characterised in that between said chamber (3) and the area of the shoe (1) where the foot toes are, there is a thermally conductive material, possibly in the form of a flexible wire netting.
51. Item of clothing as claimed in claim 49), characterised in that it further comprises a perforated insole.
52. Item of clothing as claimed in claim 47), characterised in that the shoe is provided with a flap (13), that allows insertion of cartridge (4) in the chamber (3) and may be closed afterwards.
53. Item of clothing as claimed in claim 52), characterised in that said flap (13) is adapted to the shape of the heel (11).
54. Item of clothing as claimed in claim 52), characterised in that said flap (13) is of the kind used for the batterie compartment of remote controls and calculators.
55. Item of clothing as in claim 49), characterized in that the foot strap of said shoe may be completely or partially removed and that, in the removed part, there is a grid (15).
56. Item of clothing as claimed in claim 49), characterised in that the chamber (3) is provided with a reinforcement frame in a material chosen from a group comprising rubber, silicone, leather, metals.
57. Item of clothing as claimed in claim 48), characterised in that one of the substance which triggers a reaction is water and the other is one or more substance chosen from the group consisting of hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, chlorous acid, hydrogen bromide, hydrogen iodide, nitric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, gaseous ammonia, ammonium oxalate, lithium hydroxide, lithium chloride, lithium perchlorate, lithium bromide, lithium iodide, lithium nitrite, lithium nitrate, sodium hydroxide, sodium bromide, sodium iodide, sodium oxalate, potassium hydroxide, potassium fluoride, potassium oxalate, rubidium hydroxide, rubidium fluoride, caesium hydroxide, caesium fluoride, calcium chloride.
58. Item of clothing as claimed in claim 48), characterised in that said cartridge (4) contains a pair of substances chosen from water/calcium chloride and oxalic acid/potassium permanganate.
59. Item of clothing as claimed in claim 48), characterised in that one of the substance which triggers a reaction is water and the other is one or more substance chosen from the group consisting of iodic acid, ammonium chloride, ammonium perchlorate, ammonium bromide, ammonium iodide, ammonium iodate, ammonium nitrite, ammonium nitrate, ammonium cyanide, ammonium sulphocyanide, methylammonium chloride, trimethylammonium chloride, tetramethylammonium chloride, tetramethylammonium bromide, tetramethylammonium iodide, silver perchlorate, silver nitite, silver nitrate, lithium fluoride, lithium bromate, sodium fluoride, sodium chloride, sodium chlorite, sodium chlorate sodium perchlorate, sodium bromate, sodu iodate, sodium nitrite, sodium nitrate, sodium cyanide, sodium cyanate, sodium sulphocyanide, sodium sulphate, sodium thisulphate, potassium chloride, potassium chlorate, potassium perchlorate, potassium bromide, potassium bromate, potassium iodide, potassium iodate, potassium nitrite, potassium nitrate, potassium cyanide, potassium cyanate, potassium sulphocyanide, potassium permanganate, rubidium chloride, rubidium chlorate, rubidium perchlorate, rubidium bromide, rubidium bromate, rubidium iodide, rubidium nitrate, caesium chloride, caesium perchlorate, caesium bromide, caesium bromate, caesium iodide, caesium nitrate.
60. Item of clothing as claimed in claim 59), characterised in that said cartridge (4) contains a pair of substances chosen from water/sodium sulphate and water/sodium thiosulphate.
61. Item of clothing as claimed in claim 48), characterised in that said divider (7) is a thin aluminium sheet.
62. Item of clothing as claimed in claim 49), characterised in that said divider (7) is made of parchment paper, plastic or any other material chemically resistant to the substances in the chamber (13).
63. Item of clothing as claimed in claim 48), characterised in that said cartridge (4) is made of metal, for instance aluminium, plastic or moulded rubber material.
64. Item of clothing as claimed in claim 47), characterised in that a thin aluminium layer is in contact with the cartridge (4) in order to improve thermal conductivity.
65. Item of clothing as claimed in claim 48), characterised in that cartridges (4) have a substantially cylindrical or parallelepiped shape.
66. Item of clothing as in claim 48), characterised in that the cartridge (4) is refillable.
67. Item of clothing as in claim 66), characterised in that one (6) of said compartments (5, 6) of the cartridge (4) is easily extractible from the other (5).
68. Item of clothing as in claim 48), characterised in that in the cartridge (4) some antifreeze drops and a small quantity of air are present.
69. Item of clothing as claimed in claim 48), characterised in that the cartridge has a fastener for securing it.
70. Item of clothing as claimed in claim 49), characterised in that it is chosen from the group comprising shoes, children's shoes, boots, ankle-boots, climbing boots, trekking shoes, ski boots, after skis, working shoes, free time shoes.
71. Item of clothing as claimed in claim 70), characterised in that said shoe is a ski boot.
72. Item of clothing as claimed in claim 69) characterised in that one or more chambers (3) are present on the upper of the boot.
73. Item of clothing as claimed in claim 49), characterised in that said chamber (3) is positioned between the heel-sole and the foot-strap.
74. Item of clothing as claimed in claim 48), characterised in that strap fastener opening of the divider (7) is provided.
75. Item of clothing as claimed in claim 47), characterised in that cartridges (4) are provided with adhesives or strap fasteners.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 9, 2002
Publication Date: Oct 19, 2006
Inventor: Mirco Polenta (Polverigi)
Application Number: 10/513,579
International Classification: A43B 7/02 (20060101);