COOLING BRACELET

A cooling bracelet that is adapted to be worn by a user for the purpose of cooling the wrist area of the user so as to lower the users body temperature after a period of exercise. The cooling bracelet is adapted for use in combination with a cooling pack that is mounted in the cooling bracelet. The cooling bracelet includes a middle pad and separate elongated bracelet straps that extend from the middle pad. Respective securing members are disposed at free ends of each elongated bracelet strap. The respective securing members are for fastening the cooling bracelet about the wrist area of the user. The middle pad of the cooling bracelet has a recess for receiving the cooling pack therein, said recess positioned, when the cooling bracelet is fastened about the wrist area of the user, to face the wrist area of the user in order to provide a cooling effect from the cooling pack and against the wrist area of the user.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an improved cooling bracelet that is adapted to be worn by a user for the purpose of cooling the wrist area of the user so as to lower the user's body temperature after a period of exercise. This invention also relates to a cooling bracelet that is simple in construction and yet effective in providing the desired cooling effect. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved cooling bracelet that is simple in construction, that is effective in its operation and that can be manufactured inexpensively.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To accomplish the foregoing and other objects and features of the present invention there is provided a cooling bracelet that is adapted to be worn by a user for the purpose of cooling the wrist area of the user so as to lower the user's body temperature after a period of exercise. The cooling bracelet is adapted for use in combination with a cooling pack that is mounted in the cooling bracelet. The cooling bracelet includes a middle pad and separate elongated bracelet straps that extend from the middle pad. Respective securing members are disposed at free ends of each elongated bracelet strap. The respective securing members are for fastening the cooling bracelet about the wrist area of the user. The middle pad of the cooling bracelet has a recess for receiving the cooling pack therein, said recess positioned, when the cooling bracelet is fastened about the wrist area of the user, to face the wrist area of the user in order to provide a cooling effect from the cooling pack and against the wrist area of the user.

In accordance with other aspects of the present invention one of the respective securing members includes a series of spaced apart holes; another of the respective securing members includes a post for engaging one of the series of spaced apart holes; the middle pad is greater in height than a thickness of either of the separate elongated bracelet straps; the cooling bracelet is constructed of a pliable rubber like material; the recess in the middle pad has a peripheral ledge that extends about sides of the recess; the peripheral ledge provides an interlock with the cooling pack; the cooling pack has a peripheral indentation that engages with the peripheral ledge at the recess; the cooling pack may be rectangular having the indentation formed on all sides of the rectangular cooling pack; and the indentations in the cooling pack form an exposed flat contact surface that is meant to contact the wrist area of the user.

In accordance with the present invention there is also provided a cooling bracelet that is adapted to be worn by a user for the purpose of cooling the wrist area of the user so as to lower the users body temperature after a period of exercise. The cooling bracelet is adapted for use in combination with a cooling pack that is mounted in the cooling bracelet. The cooling bracelet includes a middle pad and separate elongated bracelet straps that extend from the middle pad. Respective securing members are disposed at free ends of each elongated bracelet strap. The respective securing members are for fastening the cooling bracelet about the wrist area of the user. The middle pad of the cooling bracelet has a recess for receiving the cooling pack therein, said recess positioned, when the cooling bracelet is fastened about the wrist area of the user, to face the wrist area of the user in order to provide a cooling effect from the cooling pack and against the wrist area of the user, and respective interlocking segments of the cooling pack and middle pad recess, said cooling bracelet being constructed of a soft pliable material that can give when engaging the cooling pack into the middle pad recess.

In accordance with other aspects of the present invention one of the respective securing members includes a series of spaced apart holes; another of the respective securing members includes a post for engaging one of the series of spaced apart holes; the middle pad is greater in height than a thickness of either of the separate elongated bracelet straps; the respective interlocking segments of the cooling pack and middle pad recess forms a concave to convex interface; the recess in the middle pad has a peripheral ledge that extends about sides of the recess, and that forms the convex surface; the peripheral ledge provides an interlock with the cooling pack; the cooling pack has a peripheral indentation that engages with the peripheral ledge at the recess, and forms the concave surface; and wherein the cooling pack is rectangular having the indentation formed on all sides of the rectangular cooling pack, and the indentations in the cooling pack form an exposed flat contact surface that is meant to contact the wrist area of the user.

In accordance with the present invention there is also provided a method of applying a cooling bracelet that is adapted to be worn by a user for the purpose of cooling the wrist area of the user so as to lower the users body temperature after a period of exercise. The method comprises providing the cooling bracelet adapted for use in combination with a cooling pack; mounting the cooling pack into the cooling bracelet, said cooling bracelet including a middle pad and separate elongated bracelet straps that extend from the middle pad, respective securing members disposed at free ends of each elongated bracelet strap, using the respective securing members for fastening the cooling bracelet about the wrist area of the user; providing the middle pad of the cooling bracelet with a recess for receiving the cooling pack therein, said recess positioned, when the cooling bracelet is fastened about the wrist area of the user, to face the wrist area of the user in order to provide a cooling effect from the cooling pack and against the wrist area of the user; and when inserting the cooling pack into the recess, providing respective interlocking segments of the cooling pack and middle pad recess, said cooling bracelet being constructed of a soft pliable material that can give when engaging the cooling pack into the middle pad recess.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with the present invention reference is now made toFIGS.1-9that illustrate a preferred embodiment of the cooling bracelet10. The cooling bracelet is adapted to be worn by a user for the purpose of cooling the wrist area14of the user12so as to lower the user's body temperature after a period of exercise. The cooling bracelet10adapted for use in combination with a cooling pack20that is mounted in the cooling bracelet10. The cooling bracelet including a middle pad22and separate elongated bracelet straps24that extend from the middle pad22. The middle pad and straps are preferably constructed of a soft rubbery material that is pliable; and is formed in a one-piece arrangement. This soft pliable material permits the cooling pack to be easily engaged with the middle pad recess30. The cooling pack20can simply be slid into the recess30and arranged to interlock with the recess as described hereinafter.

Respective securing members25are disposed at free ends of each elongated bracelet strap24. The respective securing members are for fastening the cooling bracelet10about the wrist area14of the user12. The middle pad22of the cooling bracelet has a recess30for receiving the cooling pack20therein. The recess30is positioned, when the cooling bracelet is fastened about the wrist area of the user, to face the wrist area14of the user in order to provide a cooling effect from the cooling pack20and against the wrist area14of the user12.

In accordance with other aspects of the present invention one of the respective securing members25includes a series of spaced apart holes26. Another of the respective securing members25includes a post28for engaging one of the series of spaced apart holes26. The series of spaced apart holes enables a wide variation in wrist size to be accommodated. In an alternate embodiment of the invention other securing members may be provided such as a hook and loop arrangement or many other means. As shown, for example, inFIG.5the middle pad22is greater in height than a thickness of either of the separate elongated bracelet straps24. This provides a sufficient space in the recess30for receiving the cooling pack20.

The recess30in the middle pad22has a peripheral ledge32that preferably extends about all sides of the recess30. Refer in particular to the cross-sectional views ofFIGS.6and7. The peripheral ledge32provides an interlock surface with the cooling pack20in order to hold the cooling pack in place securely within the recess30of the middle pad22. To provide this interlock the cooling pack20has a peripheral indentation34that engages with the peripheral ledge32at the recess30. In the illustrated embodiment, the cooling pack20is rectangular having the indentation34formed on all sides of the rectangular cooling pack20. The cooling pack20may also be constructed in other shapes, but will also be provided with an indentation in order to interlock with the middle pad22. The indentations34in the cooling pack20form an exposed flat contact surface40that is meant to make direct contact with the wrist area14of the user12.

In accordance with the present invention the interlocking may be by means of respective interlocking segments of the cooling pack20and middle pad recess30. The respective interlocking segments of the cooling20and middle pad recess30may be considered as formed as a concave to convex interface. This concave/convex arrangement is embodied in the middle pad22having the peripheral ledge32that extends about sides of the recess30, and that forms the convex surface. The peripheral ledge32provides an interlock with the cooling pack. The cooling pack20has a peripheral indentation34that engages with the peripheral ledge32at the recess, and thus forms the concave surface.

With further reference toFIGS.6and7, another important relationship is having the exposed flat contact surface40raised slightly from the bracelet undersurface16. The exposed flat contact surface40may be raised on the order of 1/16 to 1/32 inch. Thus, when the bracelet is in place about the wrist area14, and secured in place by the securing member25, there is a force imposed by the securing of the bracelet between the cooling pack surface40and the wrist area of the user or wearer. This provides an excellent contact between the cooling pack and the user's wrist. Also, seeFIG.9where there is an illustration of the use of some type of coolant2within the cooling pack20. One or more of the cooling packs may be left in a refrigerator ready for use with the bracelet.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is a method of applying a cooling bracelet10that is adapted to be worn by a user for the purpose of cooling the wrist area of the user so as to lower the user's body temperature after a period of exercise. The method comprises providing the cooling bracelet10adapted for use in combination with a cooling pack20; mounting the cooling pack20into the cooling bracelet10. The cooling bracelet including a middle pad22and separate elongated bracelet straps24that extend from the middle pad, respective securing members25disposed at free ends of each elongated bracelet strap24. The method further includes using the respective securing members for fastening the cooling bracelet10about the wrist area14of the user12, providing the middle pad22of the cooling10with a recess30for receiving the cooling pack therein. The recess30is positioned, when the cooling bracelet is fastened about the wrist area of the user, to face the wrist area14of the user12in order to provide a cooling effect from the cooling pack20directly against the wrist14of the user12, when inserting the cooling pack into the recess; and providing respective interlocking segments of the cooling pack and middle pad recess30. The cooling bracelet10is constructed of a soft pliable material that can give when engaging the cooling pack20into the middle pad recess30.

The following is a list of reference numbers that apply.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

Having now described a limited number of embodiments of the present invention, it should now be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous other embodiments and modifications thereof are contemplated as falling within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.