Evaporative cooling towel and method of activation

Abstract

A method for activating an evaporative cooling towel including providing a woven fabric constructed from a combination of hydrophobic and hydrophilic fibers, soaking the fabric in water, wringing out excess water and stretching or snapping open the fabric to open the weave of the fabric and activate evaporative cooling.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/464,804 filed Mar. 10, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is desirable to cool the skin after rigorous physical activities such as running, hiking, cycling, exercising, etc. It is also desirable to cool oneself for general relief during less rigorous activities such as golf, or even when sitting in a hot environment such as when watching a sporting event.

Conventional methods for cooling the skin include the body's own natural response (i.e., perspiration), applying soaked and refrigerated towels directly to the skin, and blowing cooled water vapor at the skin, among others. While some of these methods are effective, disadvantages include the long lengths of time required, lack of direct contact with the skin, inefficiencies with certain systems, lack of portability and refrigeration and high costs, among others.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a personal cooling system that overcomes the disadvantages of prior art systems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, an evaporative cooling towel is provided herein including a fabric constructed from a combination of woven hydrophobic and hydrophilic fibers that trap moisture but force water or perspiration to evaporate more slowly than normal, which gives the fabric a longevity of cooling.

The towel may be a woven polyester and nylon fabric.

In another embodiment, a method of activating an evaporative cooling towel is provided herein including the steps of: (a) providing a woven fabric constructed from a combination of hydrophobic and hydrophilic fibers; (b) soaking the fabric in water; (c) removing the fabric from the water; (d) wringing out excess water from the fabric; and (e) stretching or snapping open the fabric to open the weave of the fabric. The fabric may then be applied to the portion of the user desired to be cooled, such as around the neck.

Evaporative cooling of the fabric may be achieved as the evaporation of the water into the surrounding air cools the fabric in contact with the air and the latent heat needed to evaporate the liquid is drawn from the air.

Additional features, aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the invention as described herein. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present various embodiments of the invention, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. However, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the representative embodiments set forth herein. The exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be both thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention and enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make, use and practice the invention. Like reference numbers refer to like elements throughout the various drawings.

In a preferred embodiment, a method for activating an evaporative cooling towel includes the steps of: (a) providing a woven fabric constructed from a combination of hydrophobic and hydrophilic fibers; (b) soaking the fabric in water; (c) removing the fabric from the water; (d) wringing out excess water from the fabric; and (e) stretching or snapping open the fabric to open the weave of the fabric and activate evaporative cooling. The method may further comprise the step of applying the activated fabric to a part of a user to be cooled. The method may further comprise the steps of re-wetting the fabric, wringing out excess water from the fabric and stretching or snapping open the fabric to open the weave when evaporative cooling slows or substantially ceases.

Evaporative cooling of the fabric may be achieved as the evaporation of the water into the surrounding air cools the fabric in contact with the air and the latent heat needed to evaporate the liquid is drawn from the air.

The fabric may be constructed from woven polyester and nylon yarns.

The foregoing description provides embodiments of the invention by way of example only. It is envisioned that other embodiments may perform similar functions and/or achieve similar results. Any and all such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention and are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for activating an evaporative cooling towel, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a woven fabric constructed from a combination of hydrophobic and hydrophilic fibers;

(b) soaking the fabric in water;

(c) removing the fabric from the water;

(d) wringing out excess water from the fabric; and

(e) stretching or snapping open the fabric to open the weave of the fabric and activate evaporative cooling.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of applying the activated fabric to a part of a user to be cooled.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of re-wetting the fabric, wringing out excess water from the fabric, and stretching or snapping open the fabric to open the weave of the fabric when evaporative cooling slows or substantially ceases.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fabric is constructed from woven polyester and nylon yarns.