Clothing with fan for cooling

Abstract

An article of clothing, namely, a shirt in which at least one cooling apparatus but preferably a system of cooling apparatuses having miniature fans are attached so as to cool the person of the wearer. The shirt contains a plurality of strategic openings wherein the cooling apparatuses can be removably attached. The cooling apparatuses are connected to a centralized power source and controller, which serves to actuate the fans. The cooling apparatuses can be detached from the shirt for cleaning or replacement.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an article of clothing having a cooling apparatus, which operates to relieve the discomfort of heat and cool the person of the wearer.

Clothing is generally made to be functionally suitable for specific weather conditions, as for rain or cold. In cold weather, for instance, it is advisable to wear layers of clothing made of suitably warm fabric, such as a light cashmere sweater or a heavy wool coat, in order to retain body heat and insulate one's body from the cold. The colder the weather, the more layers can be added to keep warm. Conversely, in hot weather, it is desirable to ventilate the body and relieve body heat. However, the functionality of clothing—as determined by the type, texture, weight and color of fabric—to relieve heat is limited and, in contrast to adding layers for cold weather, layers cannot be continually removed to adjust to increasing heat in hot weather.

As a result, it is a common problem for people who attend activities, indoor or outdoor, where the temperature is excessively hot, to suffer great discomfort from the effects of heat, which diminishes the pleasure of the activity. For the thousands of people who attend summertime sporting events, whether it is a baseball game or a NASCAR race, coping with the heat is a significant problem. Oftentimes, people bring manual fans or small handheld electric fans to obtain relief from the oppressiveness of the heat, but it becomes inconvenient to have to continuously operate a fan while attending to a sporting event. This problem is all the more acute when a person is not simply a spectator, but rather is an active participant in a recreational activity, such as hiking or biking. It is impractical for a hiker or bicyclist to operate a fan while engaged in the activity. Consequently, for those who participate in any type of warm weather recreational activities, the heat can be an inhibiting and even debilitating factor.

For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for clothing that can effectively reduce the discomfort of heat and cool the wearer in hot weather conditions.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to an article of clothing with at least one attached cooling apparatus that is capable of reducing the discomfort of heat to the person of the wearer. An article of clothing having the features of the present invention comprises at least one opening formed therein, with a cooling apparatus capable of fitting within the opening. The cooling apparatus is comprised of a fan enclosed within an encasement, and having a means for being secured to the opening of the clothing article. The cooling apparatus is connected to a power source and a controller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of this invention are better understood with regard to the following drawings, description, and claims. The drawings consist of the following:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an article of clothing embodying features of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an article of clothing having an opening.

FIG. 2(a) is a detail front view of an opening as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an article of clothing embodying features of this invention.

FIG. 3(a) is a detail front view of a cooling apparatus as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3(b) is a sectional view of a cooling apparatus attached to an opening.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an article of clothing embodying features of this invention.

FIG. 5(a) is a front view of an opening with lining having fasteners.

FIG. 5(b) is a front view of a cooling apparatus with lining having fasteners.

FIG. 5(c) is a side view of a cooling apparatus attached to an opening by fasteners.

FIG. 6(a) is a sectional view of a cooling apparatus having a rectangular shape.

FIG. 6(b) is a sectional view of a cooling apparatus having a circular shape.

DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIG. 1, an article of clothing 11 comprising at least one opening 12, wherein a cooling apparatus 13 is capable of fitting within the opening 12. The cooling apparatus 13 is connected to a power source and controller unit 14.

1. Clothing Article

The clothing article 11 will have at least one opening 12 of any shape, as shown in FIG. 2, but preferably that of a rectangle or circle in order to accommodate the shape of the cooling apparatus 13. While the article must have at least one opening 12, it is preferable that the article will have a plurality of openings. It is further preferable that at least one opening is located on the front of the article, one on the back of the article, one on each of the left and right sides of the article, as partially shown in FIG. 1.

The opening 12 receives the cooling apparatus 13. The opening 12 has a lining 12(a) made of an adhesive, breakaway material, commonly sold under the trademark “Velcro.” The cooling apparatus 13 has a corresponding lining 13(a) as shown in FIG. 3(a). The Velcro lining 12(a) of the opening 12 adheres to the corresponding lining 13(a) on the cooling apparatus 13, as shown in FIG. 3(b), thereby enabling the cooling apparatus 13 to be fitted into the opening 12. In another embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5(a), (b) and (c), the opening 12 has a lining 12(b) with attached fasteners 12(c), such as snaps or clasps embedded in the lining 12(b), to which corresponding fasteners 13(c) on the cooling apparatus 13 fasten, as shown in FIG. 5(c). The cooling apparatus 13 may be removed from the article 11 for cleaning by simply unfastening the snaps or clasps, or by separating the Velcro linings.

2. Cooling Apparatus

The cooling apparatus 13 is comprised of a miniature electric fan 16(a) encased in a protective cover 16(b), and is capable of fitting in the opening 12 of the article 11.

As it is desired that the cooling apparatus 13 be as small, lightweight and unobtrusive as possible, while still capable of generating maximum fan speed sufficient to achieve the purpose of cooling the wearer, the cooling apparatus 13 should be accordingly compact. Fans that are suitably compact for use in the present invention are sold commercially. Commercial fans that are best suitable for the present invention have dimensions typically of 60×60×10 mm or 80×80×15 mm, and weigh approximately 75 g. Such fans are powered by small electric motors, with a voltage of about 12V, and capable of generating fan speed upwards of 4000 rpm. Because it is desired that the cooling apparatus 13 operate as noiselessly as possible, commercial fans that would be suitable for use in the present invention should have a noise measurement of not more than 39 db(A).

The fan 16(a) is encased in a protective cover 16(b), preferably made of a lightweight plastic or other suitably hard material, taking the form of a grill or mesh screen, which protects the person of the wearer from the operation of the fan 16(a). The shape of the cover 16(b) can be rectangular or circular. Around the protective cover 16(b), the cooling apparatus 13 has a lining 13(a) that matches the lining 12(a) of the opening on the clothing article 11, and is made of a corresponding material. For example, where the lining 12(a) of the article opening 12 is made of Velcro, as shown in FIG. 2(a), the lining 13(a) of the cooling apparatus 13 would also be made of Velcro, as shown in FIG. 3(a). Where the lining 12(b) of the opening 12 has fasteners 12(c), as shown in FIG. 5(a), the lining 13(b) of the cooling apparatus 13 will also have fasteners 13(c), as shown in FIG. 5(b). As indicated above, the cooling apparatus 13 is detachably fitted into the opening 12 of the clothing article 11 by means of the Velcro lining or fasteners, as shown in FIG. 3(b) and FIG. 5(c) respectively.

3. Power Source and Controller

As shown in FIG. 1, the cooling apparatus is connected to a power source 14(a) and a controller 14(b). The power source 14(a) is removably attached to the clothing article 11, so as to enable the convenient removal of batteries or for the convenience of cleaning. For example, the power source 14(a) and controller 14(b) unit can be enclosed in a housing, which can be attached to the clothing article 11 by Velcro or fasteners. In this embodiment, the housing includes a first adhesive patch attached to said clothing article 11, and a second adhesive patch attached to said housing, whereby said first adhesive patch adheres to said second adhesive patch. In another embodiment, the power source 14(a) and controller 14(b) unit can be contained in a pocket with a closable flap. The power source 14(a) generates power to the cooling apparatus 13, which can be activated and deactivated by controller 14(b).

Claims

1. An article of clothing suitable for cooling, comprising:

(a) at least one opening formed therein;

(b) a cooling apparatus capable of fitting within said opening.

2. An article of clothing according to claim 1, wherein said opening has a means for receiving said cooling apparatus.

3. An article of clothing according to claim 2, wherein said means for receiving include a lining around said opening made of an adhesive, breakaway material, which is capable of adhering to a corresponding lining on said cooling apparatus.

4. An article of clothing according to claim 2, wherein said means for receiving include a lining around said opening with fasteners attached to said lining, which are capable of fastening to corresponding fasteners on said cooling apparatus.

5. An article of clothing suitable for cooling according to claim 1, further comprising:

(a) a power source;

(b) a controller;

(c) means for removably securing said power source and said controller to said clothing article for operating said cooling apparatus;

(d) means for removably connecting said power source to said cooling apparatus.

6. An article of clothing according to claim 5, wherein said means for removably securing said power source and said controller to said clothing article include a pocket with a closable flap having a flap fastener, said pocket secured to said clothing article, and in which said power source and said controller are contained.

7. An article of clothing according to claim 5, wherein said means for removably securing said power source and said controller to said clothing article include a first adhesive patch attached to said clothing article, and a second adhesive patch attached to a housing wherein said power source is housed, whereby said first adhesive patch adheres to said second adhesive patch.

8. An article of clothing according to claim 1, wherein said cooling apparatus is comprised of:

(a) a fan;

(b) an encasement for said fan;

(c) means for detachably securing said cooling apparatus within said opening of said clothing article.

9. An article of clothing according to claim 8, wherein said encasement is comprised of a front and back cover.

10. An article of clothing according to claim 8, wherein said means for detachably securing include a lining attached around said cooling apparatus made of an adhesive, breakaway material, which is capable of adhering to a corresponding lining on the clothing article.

11. An article of clothing according to claim 8, wherein said means for detachably securing include a lining attached around said cooling apparatus having attached fasteners, which are capable of fastening to corresponding fasteners on the clothing article.

12. An article of clothing suitable for cooling, comprising:

(a) a plurality of cooling apparatuses;

(b) a plurality of openings, each of which is capable of receiving one of the plurality of cooling apparatuses.

13. An article of clothing according to claim 12, wherein each said opening has a means for receiving one of the plurality of said cooling apparatuses.

14. An article of clothing according to claim 13, wherein said means for receiving include a lining around each said opening made of an adhesive, breakaway material, which is capable of adhering to a corresponding lining on each of said cooling apparatuses.

15. An article of clothing according to claim 13, wherein said means for receiving include a lining around each said opening with attached fasteners, which are capable of fastening to corresponding fasteners on each said cooling apparatuses.

16. A method for cooling an article of clothing, comprising:

(a) forming at least one opening in said clothing article;

(b) fitting a cooling apparatus within said opening.

17. A method for cooling an article of clothing according to claim 16, further comprising:

(a) removably securing a power source to said clothing article;

(b) connecting said power source to said cooling apparatus for operating said cooling apparatus.