COOLING SYSTEM FOR AN UPPER GARMENT

Abstract

A cooling system of an upper garment wherein the cooling pad is formed from a coil of conduit disposed over the chest/heart-region of the user beneath the upper garment. The hear-region disposition of the low-profile coiled cooling pad facilitates the cooling effect to be circulated by way of the user's circulatory system. The cooling pad is fluidly connected to a reservoir and pump for urging coolant flow between the three elements. The power supply, reservoir and fans for cooling the latter two elements are disposed external to the upper garment, so that heat they may generate can dissipate away from the user.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/958,922, filed 9 Jan. 2020, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cooling systems and, more particularly, a cooling system for an upper garment, such as a vest, and in certain embodiments, body armor.

A frequent complaint of users of body armor is the heat generated by their protective equipment. Current options only consist of vents for air-cooling the user, or have tubing running through the fabric of an upper garment. Air cooling, however, relies on the evaporation of pre-existing sweat of the user, which, while effective, still taxes and dehydrates the body, making additional hydration required. Tubing systems, currently marketed to athletes, only provide the cooling effect sporadically over the torso. Thus, neither the use of vents nor tubing is practical for use in the field of protective body armor.

As can be seen, there is a need for a new and non-obvious cooling system for body armor. The present invention makes the best use of materials and concentrates the cooling effect over the heart of the wearer. The heart-centric location enables the cooling effect to be passed through the entire body by way of blood flow, as opposed to limiting the cooling effect to portions of the torso or limbs.

The system embodied in the present invention does not rely on sweat evaporating to cool the user, so dehydration will not be exacerbated. The present invention helps the user stay cooler, and thus more effective at their mission.

Liquid coolants are efficient at storing heat. The pump provided by the cooling system will transport the liquid coolant through conduits that are concentrated and coiled over the chest of the user. The fluidly connected reservoir for the liquid coolant is placed outside of the body armor, where heat is not trapped against the user, further facilitating keeping the wearer of the body armor cool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a cooling system for an upper garment dimensioned and adapted to be worn along an upper torso of a human wearer, including the following: a cooling pad disposed between the upper garment and a chest of the human wearer so that the cooling pad is adjacent to a heart of the human wearer.

In another aspect of the present invention, a cooling system for body armor dimensioned and adapted to be worn along an upper torso of a human wearer, comprising: a cooling pad disposed between the body armor and a chest of the human wearer so that the cooling pad is adjacent to a heart of the human wearer; the cooling pad comprising a generally planar coil of conduit; a pump electrically coupled to a power source; a reservoir; the pump, the reservoir and the coil of conduit fluidly coupled to each other; the pump, the power source, and the reservoir disposed externally to the upper garment; the pump and the reservoir disposed in a carrier; one or more fans disposed in the carrier; a thermostat electrically coupled to a thermal sensor; the thermal sensor disposed against a body of the human wearer; and the thermostat programmable to operate the one or more fans when a predefined temperature is sensed by the thermal sensor.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of the external components of present invention, which may include a pump connected via cables to a thermostat and power source. In certain embodiments, an electrical connection connects from the positive terminal of the pump to the positive output port of the thermostat, and the negative terminal of the pump to the (GND) port of the thermostat. A switch may reside in series between the power supply and the thermostat. An electrical connection from the switch may connect to the thermostat and pump to the positive input port of the thermostat (12v), and the negative input port to the thermostat (GND). An electrical connection may form a bridge to the power source (12v) to complete the circuit. The cooling fans may connect to the positive and negative terminals of the pump; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use, illustrating the placement of cooling pad in an upper garment, and the external components outside of the upper garment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a cooling system of the upper garment wherein the cooling pad is formed from a coil of conduit disposed over the chest/heart-region of the user beneath the upper garment. The hear-region disposition of the low-profile coiled cooling pad facilitates the cooling effect to be circulated by way of the user's circulatory system. The cooling pad is fluidly connected to a reservoir and pump for urging coolant flow between the three elements. The power supply, reservoir and fans for cooling the latter two elements are disposed external to the upper garment, so that heat they may generate can dissipate away from the user.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 3, the present invention may include a cooling system 100 for an upper garment 42. The upper garment 42 may be body armor. The cooling system 100 may include one or more cooling pads 10. Each cooling pad 10 may be a coil of conduit, as illustrated in FIG. 1. A pump 16 and a reservoir 20 are fluidly coupled to each cooling pad 10 by way of a coolant feed conduit 24 and a return conduit 22, respectively. The pump 16 and the reservoir 20 may be fluidly coupled directly by way of a pump feed line 26. As a result, the reservoir 20, the cooling pad 10 and the pump 16 are all fluidly connected to each other. The present invention may include a tubing assembly having tubing connectors 50 for unit replacement or future upgrades and adaptions to the tubing for conduits 22, 24, and 26.

The pump 16 may be coupled to a power source 18 with a power switch 28 operatively associated thereto for activating and deactivating the pump 16. When power is provided, the pump 16 is enabled to transportation of the coolant flow 38 to and from the reservoir 20 to the cooling pad 10. The liquid coolant flow 38 may be urged from the reservoir 20 to the pump 16 via the coolant pump feed line 26. The coolant flow 38 may then be urged via the coolant feed conduit 24 to each cooling pad 10. After the coolant flow 38 cycles through the cooling pad 10, the coolant flow 38 may return via the coolant return conduit 22 back to the reservoir 20.

The cooling pad 10 may be placed between the body armor 42 and the chest of the user 40, located against or adjacent to the heart of the user 40. This location allows for the lower temperature to transfer to the heart of the user, circulate via the bloodstream, thus cooling the user. The reservoir 20 will retain all coolant not in use.

The reservoir 20, the pump 16 and the power source 18 may be located outside of the upper garment 42, possibly in a carrier/pouch 34 attached to another portion of the user 40, such as along a belt as illustrated in FIG. 3, though in other embodiments may have the power components mounted on the upper garment 42 itself, located in a backpack, etc. This external disposition of the power components (schematically illustrated in FIG. 2) enables the present invention to expel excess heat generated by such power components that would otherwise be trapped against the body of the user 40. The pump 16 may be attached to the outside of the reservoir 20 using adhesive.

The thermostat 32 may be operatively associated with a temperature sensor 30, both electrically connected to one or more fans 36 and the power source 18. The temperature sensor 30 may be located between the user 40 and the upper garment 42 for sensing the body heat of the user 40. The temperature sensor 30 may be at or adjacent to the cooling pad 10, though not necessarily (even though that is what is shown in FIG. 3) as the cooling temperatures emanating from the cooling pad 10 is circulated throughout the body due to the placement of the cooling pad 10 adjacent the heart of the user 40. The thermostat 32 may be programmable so that if a predefined temperature range is sensed by the temperature sensor 30, then the one or more fans 36 are powered by the power source 18, thereby allowing for personalized temperature control. The fans 36 may be mounted to/in the carrier/pouch 34 to prevent heat buildup. When the power is engaged, the fans 36 may facilitate cooling in the carrier/pouch 34. As mentioned above, carrier/pouch 34 may contain the pump 16, the power supply 18, reservoir 20, a portion of the conduits 22, 24 and 26, the thermostat 32, and fans 36.

The cooling pad 10 may be created using a coil formation of tubing held together in place using adhesive attaching it to a mounting pad 12. The mounting pad 12 maybe a thin thermally conductive material, such as plastic. Mounting straps 14 and/or hook-and-loop fasteners may extend from the mounting pad 12 for preventing unwanted movement or shifting while in use, secured to the chest of the user 40.

A commercially available power source 18 may be connected via a cable which provides the necessary voltage to power the pump 16. The reservoir 20 may be a rigid container, with holes drilled to allow the tubing assembly/conduits 22 and 26 access to cooling fluid. To prevent leaking, sealant may be applied where the tubing assembly may be connected to the reservoir 20.

A bladder can be added to, or even replace a too rigid reservoir to mitigate potential leaking. An additional pump can be added to facilitate additional cooling pads. These additional cooling pads may be located in similarly strategic locations, such as at the armpit and lower back. The power source may be a longer-lasting battery. The tubing of the present invention can be replaced with another type of tubing that is more efficient at conducting heat.

A refrigerant apparatus can be added to enhance the cooling effect in the reservoir. The configuration of the present invention may use water or other coolant (including, but not limited to, saline solution or mineral oil) for the cooling effect.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. The cooling pad 10 may be located between the upper garment 42 and the chest of the user 40, located over the heart, by way of the mounting pad 12. Once powered on, the cooling system 100 allows the cooling effect to take place adjacent to the heart of the user 40, while the heat generating power components are disposed outside the upper garment 42.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A cooling system for an upper garment dimensioned and adapted to be worn along an upper torso of a human wearer, comprising:

a cooling pad disposed between the upper garment and a chest of the human wearer so that the cooling pad is adjacent to a heart of the human wearer.

2. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the cooling pad comprising a coil of conduit.

3. The cooling system of claim 2, wherein the coil of conduit is generally planar.

4. The cooling system of claim 1, further comprising:

a pump;

a reservoir;

the pump, the reservoir and the cooling pad fluidly coupled to each other.

5. The cooling system of claim 4, further comprising:

the pump electrically coupled to a power source; and

the pump, the power source, and the reservoir disposed externally to the upper garment.

6. The cooling system of claim 5, further comprising:

the pump and the reservoir disposed in a carrier; and

one or more fans disposed in the carrier.

7. The cooling system of claim 6, further comprising:

a thermostat electrically coupled to a thermal sensor;

the thermal sensor disposed against a body of the human wearer; and

the thermostat programmable to operate the one or more fans when a predefined temperature is sensed by the thermal sensor.

8. The cooling system of claim 4, further comprising a coolant fluid urged by the pump between the cooling pad and the reservoir.

9. The cooling system of claim 1 wherein the upper garment is a body armor.

10. A cooling system for body armor dimensioned and adapted to be worn along an upper torso of a human wearer, comprising:

a cooling pad disposed between the body armor and a chest of the human wearer so that the cooling pad is adjacent to a heart of the human wearer;

the cooling pad comprising a generally planar coil of conduit;

a pump electrically coupled to a power source;

a reservoir;

the pump, the reservoir and the coil of conduit fluidly coupled to each other;

the pump, the power source, and the reservoir disposed externally to the upper garment;

the pump and the reservoir disposed in a carrier;

one or more fans disposed in the carrier;

a thermostat electrically coupled to a thermal sensor;

the thermal sensor disposed against a body of the human wearer; and

the thermostat programmable to operate the one or more fans when a predefined temperature is sensed by the thermal sensor.

11. The cooling system of claim 10, further comprising a coolant fluid urged by the pump between the cooling pad and the reservoir.