Cooling System for Body Armour

Abstract

A system for providing streaming air to evaporate perspiration from a wearer of personal armour. The system incorporates a set of voluminous layers for wearing beneath the armour, one of which is enveloped voluminous layer. The envelope is perforated in the direction of said wearer, such that an air blower forces air into the perforation and thence onto the body of the wearer.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of personal armour worn by individuals as protection against projectiles, bullets and the like. More specifically the present invention deals with measures for cooling the body of the wearer covered by such protective armour.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Excessive heat produced by the human body is dissipated by perspiration. The evaporation of the perspiration takes up heat from the body, thus producing a cooling effect. Personal armour typically blocks the flow of air around the body such that in hot conditions perspiration cannot be utilized efficiently to cool the body. The wearing of personal armour promotes the build-up of excessive heat at and around the surface area of the wearer. This observation is evident but stressed if the wearer is engaged in physical activity such as walking, running or working. Under hot environmental conditions the build-up of heat may be quick and permanent. The excessive build-up of heat at the body surface causes inconvenience to the wearer of the armour and in extreme cases of build up of heat, the physiological make up of the body can be damaged. It is therefore highly advantageous for wearers of personal armour to be able to relieve themselves of heat stress, to enhance their physiological functioning and protect against damage in extreme cases of build-up of heat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional isometric view of a set of layers of the invention lying beneath the armour layer;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional isometric view of a layer set of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic isometric view of the enveloped layer of the invention indicating air flow through the system;

FIG. 4 is a schematic armoured outfit showing the a folded-up corner displaying the layered structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a set of voluminous layers is disposed between the wearer of personal armour and his/her garments or body. The set is described schematically with reference to FIG. 1. Layer 20 represents the armour layer which is drawn for the sake of simplicity as a unitary layer but in reality may possess a compound structure. Layer 22 is the outermost layer of the set of the invention and layer 24 is the body contact layer, which juxtaposes the wearer's own garments or exposed body. Of the set of voluminous layers, layer 22 is enveloped by an impervious shell as is described schematically with reference to FIG. 2 to which reference is now made. In a cross sectional view, layer 22 juxtaposes body contact layer 24. Shell 26 envelopes layer 22, however not as shown, the shell completely wraps the layer. In more particular reference to the issue of relationships between the personal dress of the wearer and the body armour, there is no significance as to which is worn beneath.

In FIG. 3 to which reference is now made, the enveloped layer is described schematically, such that its function can be easily explained. Layer 22 is shown with its side juxtaposing the body contact layer on top. An air blower or pump 34 takes up ambient air through air intake 36. A hose 38 connects the air pump 34 with the enveloped layer 22. Air is driven through hose 38 to be forced into enveloped layer 22. The air 40 taken by the air blower is pushed through hose 38 into enveloped layer 22 and out through perforations such as perforation 42. In some embodiment an air hose is not used, and the air blower is connected directly to the enveloped layer. Air is forced out through the perforations as indicated symbolically by arrow such as arrow 44. The air driven out of the perforations enters the body contact layer (not shown) which is a voluminous layer, allowing further spread of the air stream to bathe the body and collect perspiration. In some embodiments a body contact layer is not applied. In a typical embodiment of the invention, the air pump or blower is powered by one or a plurality of batteries. The batteries are either packed together with the air pump or placed in a different location, with an appropriate cable connecting between the batteries and the air pump. Conveniently, the batteries are rechargeable so as to allow long hours of use with occasional charge. The technical properties of the air blower must be such that the stream of air is strong enough to allow sufficient flow in and around the area of the wearer's body covered by the layers of the invention. To keep both the body contact layer and the outermost layer, volume providing elements are used to keep the layers from collapsing and forming kinks and cramps. Such elements may be foam elements, fibers, three dimensional net, mechanical spacers or any other volume forming element.

A personal armour outfit implementing the system of the invention is descried schematically in FIG. 4 to which reference is now made. Outfit 50 is shown with a bottom corner folded up such that the layers are exposed. The external, armour layer 54 is at the top, external to the other layers. Beneath, layer 56 is the layer in which the air is forced initially, expelled from the air pump. Innermost is layer 58. In this drawing the air pump and hose are not shown

Claims

1. A system for providing streaming air to evaporate perspiration from a wearer of a personal armour, wherein a set of voluminous layers is worn beneath said armour, said set comprising:

at least one enveloped voluminous layer, and wherein the shell enveloping said layer is perforated in the direction of said wearer, and

an air blower for forcing air into said outer enveloped layer.

2. A system for providing streaming air to evaporate perspiration from a wearer as in claim 1 further comprising a body contact layer between said enveloped layer and said wearer.

3. A system for providing streaming air to evaporate perspiration from a wearer as in claim 1 further comprising an air hose to connect said air blower with said enveloped layer.

4. A method for cooling the skin of a wearer of personal armour wherein air is forced from an air blower to an enveloped voluminous layer disposed beneath said personal armour, and wherein said air is forced out of said layer in the direction of the body of said wearer, providing a flow of air over said skin of said wearer.

5. A method for cooling the skin of a wearer of personal armour as in claim 4, and wherein said air forced out of said enveloped layers enters a voluminous body contact layer before being applied to said wearer.

6. A system for providing streaming air to evaporate perspiration from a wearer as in claim 1 wherein said at least one enveloped voluminous layer contains volume providing elements.

7. A system for providing streaming air to evaporate perspiration from a wearer as in claim 6 wherein said volume providing elements are any selected from a group consisting of foam, fibers, three dimensional net and mechanical spacers.

8. A system for providing streaming air to evaporate perspiration from a wearer as in claim 2 wherein said body contact layer contains volume providing elements.

9. A system for providing streaming air to evaporate perspiration from a wearer as in claim 8 wherein said volume providing elements are any selected from a group consisting of foam, fibers, three dimensional net and mechanical spacers.