Abstract:
A cooling garment is disclosed that enhances the comfort of an exercising, working, or resting individual by reducing overheating, perspiration, dehydration, and electrolyte loss. A vascular distribution system delivers water to the garment, and evaporation cools the individual. Wetness can be concentrated where needed and moderated by water absorbent materials such as gel polymers. Water flows under gravity, by capillary action, pumping, or air pressurization. The garment can include inner layers that improve comfort, absorb perspiration, keep the individual at least partly dry, and/or include metallic and/or polymeric and/or other materials that conduct heat. Cooling can be enhanced by garment texture that increases evaporative surface area. Water can be chilled before it is delivered to the fabric, and ports can be included to allow a water bottle or other water source to be temporarily connected, and/or allow the individual to drink the water and/or pressurize a water container.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention generally relates to apparatus for cooling individuals, and more specifically to apparatus for cooling individuals with water. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Exercise is generally known to have many benefits for individuals of all ages. These benefits include improved cardiovascular health, reduced blood pressure, prevention of bone and muscle loss, maintenance of a healthy weight, improved psychological heath, and many others. However, exercise is generally accompanied by a certain degree of discomfort, including overheating, sweating, etc, and this leads to a significant reduction in the intensity, duration, and frequency of exercise undertaken by many individuals, thereby reducing the health benefits that can be derived from recreational and conditioning exercise. Excess heating during exercise can also reduce peak athletic performance, because the performance of a muscle deteriorates when the muscle is overheated. 
         [0003]    Overheating of an individual can also occur during leisure activities due to exposure to sunlight and other warm weather conditions. Such overheating can reduce the comfort of these activities and shorten the amount of time that they can be enjoyed. In addition, individuals can become overheated while performing work in a hot environment, either indoors or outdoors, thereby decreasing their productivity and comfort, and possibly even endangering their health. 
         [0004]    The body&#39;s primary method of cooling when overheated is perspiration. Perspiration is highly effective because water has a high heat capacity and a high heat of vaporization, and so the evaporation of perspiration is an efficient mechanism for eliminating unwanted heat. However, there are several major disadvantages to perspiration, including dehydration, loss of electrolytes, and unwanted odors. 
         [0005]    There are many approaches known for helping to keep an exercising or working individual cool, thereby reducing perspiration and discomfort. For example, if the exercise takes place indoors, the ambient air in the exercise environment can be maintained at a low temperature by an air conditioning system. However, cooling by this method is limited because air has a low heat capacity and does not make good thermal contact with the body. Fans and humidifiers can be used to increase heat transfer from the body of an exerciser to the air, but these approaches still cannot provide sufficient cooling in all cases. When exercise occurs outdoors, these approaches are largely unavailable. 
         [0006]    For similar reasons, there are few satisfactory approaches known for cooling an individual during an outdoor work or leisure activity when sunlight and/or warm weather lead to overheating of the individual. Cool air can be directed onto the individual, but the low heat capacity of cool air limits its effectiveness. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    A garment is claimed with a vascular water distribution system that can deliver water to the garment so as to efficiently cool the individual by evaporation of the water while the individual is exercising or taking part in other activities that could lead to overheating. The apparatus provides efficient cooling of the individual, thereby reducing perspiration and associated dehydration, loss of electrolytes, odors, and discomfort. 
         [0008]    The garment includes fabric formed so as to cover at least a portion of the body of the individual, and a vascular water distribution system cooperative with the fabric, connectable to a source of water, and able to distribute water over an area of the fabric, thereby enabling evaporative cooling of a portion of the body of the individual. In preferred embodiments the vascular water distribution system is attached to the fabric by one or more of: hook-and-loop fabric attachment; glue; tie strips; magnetic attachment; buttons; hooks; pins; and snaps. And in some embodiments, at least part of the vascular water distribution system is embedded or woven into the fabric. 
         [0009]    In preferred embodiments water flows through the vascular water distribution due to pressurizing the water, due to gravity, and/or due to capillary action. And in certain preferred embodiments the vascular water distribution system is in thermal contact with the individual, thereby allowing water flowing through the vascular water distribution system to cool the individual. 
         [0010]    In various embodiments the vascular water distribution system includes a connecting port that is temporarily connectable to a source of water. And in some embodiments the garment includes a drinking port that that is attachable to the source of water and can be used by the individual to drink from the source of water and/or to push water into the vascular water distribution system by blowing into the drinking port. 
         [0011]    In certain preferred embodiments the fabric forms a shirt, shorts, or a hat, and in some embodiments the fabric brings water into physical contact with the individual. 
         [0012]    The garment can include a thermally conducting inner layer with a side that is in thermal contact with the individual and a side that is in thermal contact with the water. The thermally conducting inner layer can contain metal and/or thermally conducting polymer, and can inhibit water from coming into contact with the individual. 
         [0013]    In certain embodiments the fabric includes an inner layer that improves the comfort of the individual, absorbs perspiration, and/or resists exposure of the skin of the individual to water. And in some embodiments at least one quality of the fabric is non-uniform, such that the fabric tends to concentrate water in areas where evaporative cooling is most desirable. In other embodiments the fabric includes a water absorbent substance embedded in the fabric that moderates the wetness of the fabric by absorbing water from the fabric when too much is applied by the vascular water distribution system, and releasing water into the fabric when insufficient water is applied by the vascular water distribution system. 
         [0014]    In preferred embodiments the fabric includes outer surface shaping that provides increased surface area, so as to increase evaporative cooling. In some of these embodiments the fabric is either uniform in thickness, such that the fabric includes both outer surface shaping and inner surface shaping, or non-uniform in thickness, such that the fabric includes only outer surface shaping. 
         [0015]    In some preferred embodiments the fabric includes a thermally conducting inner layer and a water absorbent outer layer, the water absorbent outer layer being uniform in thickness and including both outer and inner shaping, the inner layer having a side that is in thermal contact with the individual and a side that is in thermal contact with the outer layer, the side that is in thermal contact with the outer layer conforming in shape to the inner surface shaping of the outer layer. 
         [0016]    In preferred embodiments, the garment includes a source of water that is able to supply water to the vascular water distribution system. The source of water can include a water chiller that is able to cool the water before it is distributed by the vascular water distribution system. In some embodiments the source of water includes a pump operable by the individual so as to pump water into the vascular water distribution system, and in some of these embodiments the pump is operated automatically when the body of the individual undergoes movements such as breathing, walking, moving of arms, and moving of legs. 
         [0017]    In certain embodiments where the garment includes a source of water that is able to supply water to the vascular water distribution system, the source of water includes an air space cooperative with water contained in the source of water, the air space being fillable with compressed air so as to apply pressure to the water, thereby pushing the water into the vascular water distribution system. And in some of these embodiments the air space is separated from the water in the source of water by a flexible barrier that is able to apply pressure to the water while ensuring that only water will be delivered by the source of water to the vascular water distribution system. In other of these embodiments the source of water includes a pump operable by the individual so as to compress the air in the air space, and in some of these embodiments the pump is operated automatically when the body of the individual undergoes movements such as breathing, walking, moving of arms, and moving of legs. 
         [0018]    In further embodiments where the garment includes a source of water that is able to supply water to the vascular water distribution system, the source of water includes a water container that can be compressed by the individual so as to push water into the vascular water distribution system. And in other of these embodiments at least some of the water supplied by the source of water is maintained in thermal contact with the individual before it is delivered to the vascular water distribution system. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective drawing of a shirt with a vascular water distribution system through which water flows under pressure; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2A  is a close-up drawing of the fabric used in the shirt of  FIG. 1 , showing water being distributed into the fabric of the shirt; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2B  is a close-up cross sectional view of the fabric used in the shirt of  FIG. 1 , showing water being distributed into the fabric of the shirt; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is perspective drawing of a shirt with a vascular water distribution system that draws water through themselves by capillary action; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4A  through  FIG. 4H  inclusively are cross sectional views of different fabric embodiments with the vascular water distribution system embedded in the fabric, where: 
           [0024]      FIG. 4A  is similar to  FIG. 2B ,  FIG. 4B  is similar to  FIG. 4A  but with an inner lining added; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4C  is similar to  FIG. 4A  but with outer surface shaping and a smooth inner surface; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4D  is similar to  FIG. 4C , but with outer and inner surface shaping, so as to provide a uniform thickness; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4E  combines the features of  FIG. 4B  and  FIG. 4C ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4F  combines the features of  FIG. 4B  and  FIG. 4D , with the inner lining filling the voids in the inner surface of the fabric; 
           [0029]      FIG. 4G  is similar to  FIG. 4F  but with an innermost lining added that absorbs perspiration and increases user comfort; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 4H  is similar to  FIG. 4A  but with particles embedded in the fabric that moderate the wetness of the fabric by absorbing excess water and releasing water when too little is present; 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  is a perspective drawing of an exerciser using a stationary exercise device with a cooling shirt, cooling headband, wetness sensor, and fan; 
           [0032]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective drawing of an exerciser on a bicycle wearing the shirt illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the vascular water distribution system being supplied with water by gravity from a bottle carried on the rider&#39;s back; 
           [0033]      FIG. 6B  is a perspective drawing of the embodiment of  FIG. 6A , with the water bottle strapped to the support bar of the bicycle and pumped to the vascular water distribution system; 
           [0034]      FIG. 6C  is a perspective drawing of an exerciser on a bicycle wearing shorts with a vascular water distribution system, the shorts being supplied with water by gravity from a bottle carried on the rider&#39;s back; 
           [0035]      FIG. 6D  is a cross-sectional side drawing of a water bottle that uses air compressed in a space above the water to push water into the vascular water distribution system; 
           [0036]      FIG. 6E  is a cross-sectional side drawing of a water bottle that uses air compressed in a bladder surrounding the water to push water into the vascular water distribution system; 
           [0037]      FIG. 6F  is a cross sectional drawing of the water bottle of  FIG. 6E  oriented at right angles to the drawing of  FIG. 6E ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of a runner wearing the shirt of  FIG. 3  and carrying a water bottle; 
           [0039]      FIG. 7B  is a perspective of the runner illustrated in  FIG. 7A , with the water bottle connected to the water cooling system of the shirt; 
           [0040]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an exerciser on a stationary exercise device wearing a shirt with a vascular water distribution system attached to it, to which chilled water is supplied by a water chiller; 
           [0041]      FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of a worker painting the exterior of a house while wearing a shirt with a vascular water distribution system, a source of water, and a hand pump for pumping water into the vascular water distribution system; 
           [0042]      FIG. 9B  is a perspective view of a worker painting the exterior of a house while wearing a shirt with a vascular water distribution system, a source of water, and a hand pump for pumping compressed air into the source of water so as to force water into the vascular water distribution system; and 
           [0043]      FIG. 9C  is a perspective view of a worker painting the exterior of a house while wearing a shirt with a vascular water distribution system, a source of water, and a pump activated automatically by movement of the painter&#39;s leg for pumping compressed air into the source of water so as to force water into the vascular water distribution system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0044]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , the apparatus of the invention includes a garment, shown in  FIG. 1  as a shirt  100 , and a vascular water distribution system  102 , cooperative with the garment  100 . The vascular water distribution system  102  receives water through a hose  104  and distributes the water into the fabric of the garment  100 . The water can be supplied from any convenient source, depending on the circumstances. For example, when using a stationary indoor exercise device water can be supplied from a plumbing system that extends throughout the building. When working or exercising outdoors, for example running or bicycling, water can be supplied from a container carried by the individual or obtained from watering stations along the exercise route. The latter options are discussed in more detail below. 
         [0045]      FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  present close-up views of the fabric  100  used in the shirt of  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 1A , it can be seen that water channels  200  of the vascular water distribution system  102  are attached at intervals to the fabric  100 , and that they have small outlet holes through which water is sprayed onto the fabric  100 . In the cross sectional view of  FIG. 2B  it can be better seen that the channels  200  in this embodiments protrude partially above the outer surface of the shirt  100 , and spray water onto the surrounding fabric  100 . In the embodiment illustrated by  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  the channels themselves  200  are not permeable to water, except through small holes purposely set in the channels  200 . In similar embodiments, the channels are made from cloth or other material that is semi-permeable to water, so that it is not necessary to include holes specifically to allow the water to pass from the channels  200  to the shirt  100 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 3  illustrates a shirt  300  similar to the shirt  100  of  FIG. 1 , except that the vascular water distribution system  302  includes smaller channels that branch out from larger main channels. The channel holes in this embodiment are in direct contact with the surrounding shirt  300 , and the surface tension of the water causes water to be drawn through the channels  302  by capillary action, as compared to water being driven through the channels  200  under pressure in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . In some embodiments, the smaller channels are woven into the fabric, essentially becoming part of the fabric. 
         [0047]      FIG. 4A  through  FIG. 4H , inclusively, present and compare garment fabric designs from different embodiments of the invention, all of which include vascular water distribution systems  102 ,  300  with channels  102  embedded in the fabric that have holes through which water is dispensed under pressure onto the fabric  100 . However, the variations illustrated in  FIG. 4A  through  FIG. 4H  are equally applicable to embodiments in which capillary action and/or some other water distribution method is active, and/or embodiments in which the vascular water distribution system is attached to the surface of the fabric and sprays water onto the fabric, as discussed with reference to  FIG. 2B  above. 
         [0048]      FIG. 4A  essentially reproduces  FIG. 2B , except that the channels  102  are embedded in the fabric  100 . In  FIG. 4B , a barrier  400  is included on the inside surface of the fabric  100 , which serves as a thermally conducting, water resistant barrier that keeps a user both cool and dry. In  FIG. 4C  and  FIG. 4D , texture  402  is included in the fabric  100  so as to increase the surface area over which distributed water is exposed to the air, thereby increasing the rate of evaporative cooling. In  FIG. 4C , the inner surface of the fabric  100  remains smoothly in contact with a user by allowing the thickness of the fabric to vary according to the texture  402 , while in  FIG. 4D  the inner surface follows the texture  402 , maintaining a constant thickness of fabric  100  and creating indentations  403  in the inner surface of the fabric at locations where the fabric protrudes outward. 
         [0049]    The embodiment of  FIG. 4E  combines the enhancements of  FIG. 4B  and  FIG. 4C  by including both a barrier  400  and texture  402  in the fabric  100 . Similarly, the embodiment of  FIG. 4F  combines the enhancements of  FIG. 4B  and  FIG. 4D . The barrier  400  is made from a thermally conductive material and fills the indentations  403  due to the texture  402  with protrusions  405  in the barrier  400 , so that the thickness of the fabric  100  remains essentially uniform and the inner surface of the barrier maintains maximum thermal contact with the user. 
         [0050]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 4G  an additional padding layer  406  is included on the innermost surface. This padding layer  406  increases the comfort of the wearer by providing a layer of cloth that is chosen to be non-irritating to the skin, and in some embodiments can also absorb any perspiration that forms on the skin. 
         [0051]    The embodiment of  FIG. 4H  is similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 4A , except that water absorbent particles  408  are embedded in the fabric  100 . The water absorbent particles  408 , which in preferred embodiments are gel polymers, moderate the degree of wetness of the fabric  100  by absorbing water when too much water is applied, and releasing water when too little water is present. 
         [0052]      FIG. 5  is a perspective drawing showing an exerciser  500  using a stationary exercise device  502  while wearing the shirt  100  of  FIG. 1  as well as an evaporatively cooled headband  504 . Water is supplied to the shirt  100  and to the headband  504  through hoses  104 ,  506 , from a plumbing system not shown in the figure. So as to further increase the cooling effect, a fan  508  is used to blow air onto the shirt and increase the rate of evaporative cooling. Also, a sensor  510  attached to a wire  512  is used to monitor the degree of wetness of the shirt  100  and limit the amount of water delivered to the shirt  100  and to the headband  504  if the shirt  100  gets too wet. 
         [0053]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective drawing of an exerciser  600  riding a bicycle  602  while wearing the shirt  100  of  FIG. 1 . Water is drawn to the shirt  100  by gravity from a water bottle  604  attached to the back of the individual  600 . A flow of air resulting from movement of the bicycle  602  enhances the evaporative cooling of the shirt  100 .  FIG. 6B  is a perspective drawing of an embodiment similar to  FIG. 6A , except that the water bottle  604  is attached to a supporting bar of the bicycle  602  rather than to the back of the exerciser  600 . In this embodiment, the exerciser  600  can control the amount of water delivered to the shirt  100  by pressing on a water pump handle (not shown) conveniently positioned on the handlebars of the bicycle  602 . 
         [0054]    Exercise performance can sometimes be enhanced by cooling the muscles that are performing the most exercise. In  FIG. 6C , an exerciser  600  is riding a bicycle  602  while wearing shorts  606  cooled by a vascular water distribution system  102  that distributes water by gravity to the cooling shorts  606  from a water bottle  604  attached to the back of the exerciser  600 . In  FIG. 6C , the bicycle rider&#39;s head is also cooled by supplying water  608  from the water bottle  604  to a vascular water distribution system located inside of the rider&#39;s helmet  610 . The helmet  610  includes vents that allow a flow of air due to the movement of the bicycle to reach the inside of the helmet  610  and cool the bicycle rider&#39;s head by evaporation. Water from the water bottle  604  is also supplied to a drinking port  612  located near the mouth of the bicycle rider, allowing the water to be used for drinking as well as cooling. In addition, the bicycle rider can force water from the bottle into the vascular water distribution system by blowing into the drinking port  612 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 6D  presents a cross sectional diagram of the water bottle  604  shown in  FIG. 6A . Water  614  can be contained in the bottle  604  and dispensed through a fitting  616  mounted at one end of the bottle  604 . The water  614  flows to the fitting  616  through a tube  618  that draws the water  614  from the bottom of the bottle  604 . An air space  620  located above the water  614  can be filled with pressurized air using an air fitting  622 , thereby causing the water to flow into the vascular water system under pressure. The embodiment of  FIG. 6D  is appropriate for circumstances where the bottle  604  will be maintained in a substantially upright orientation, as shown in  FIG. 6A . 
         [0056]      FIG. 6E  illustrates a water bottle  604  used in embodiments where the orientation of the bottle  604  will not necessarily be vertical, for example as shown in  FIG. 6B . In  FIG. 6E , compressed air  620  is separated from the water  614  by a flexible membrane  624  that allows the air  620  to apply pressure to the water  614 , but prevents the air  620  from being accidentally drawn out of the bottle  604  instead of the water  614 . The central tube  618  in this embodiment includes holes  626  that allow water to enter the tube  618  at a plurality of locations along its length, thereby preventing any blockage of water flow as the membrane  624  collapses inward.  FIG. 6F  presents a cross section of the water bottle of  FIG. 6E . 
         [0057]      FIG. 7A  is a perspective drawing of an exerciser  700  running while wearing the shirt  300  of  FIG. 3 . The hose  104  that supplies water to the cooling channels  302  of the shirt  300  terminates in a connection port  702  that can be attached to a compressible water bottle  704  carried by the runner  700  so as to deliver water to the shirt  300  when the bottle is connected to the connection port and squeezed by the runner  700 .  FIG. 7B  illustrates the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 7A  with the water bottle  704  connected to the connection port  702 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 8  is a perspective drawing of an exerciser  500  using a stationary exercise device  502  similar to the device shown in  FIG. 5 . The exerciser  500  in  FIG. 8  is using the exercise device  502  while wearing a shirt  100  that includes a thermally conductive vascular water distribution system  800  through which chilled water is circulated by a water chiller  802  connected to the vascular water distribution system  800  by hoses  104 ,  804 . The thermally conductive vascular water distribution system  800  brings the chilled water into thermal contact with the exerciser  500  before the water is distributed onto the shirt  100 , thereby cooling the exerciser  500  both by direct convection and by evaporation. The chiller  802  includes both a cooling unit and a water pump. 
         [0059]      FIG. 9A  illustrates use of the present invention to cool a worker performing outdoor work that could otherwise lead to overheating. In  FIG. 9A , a house painter  900  is painting the exterior of a house on a warm day while standing in direct sunlight. A bottle  902  strapped to his waist supplies water through a first hose  104  to a vascular water distribution system  102  attached to a shirt  904  worn by the painter  900 . A second hose  906  delivers water to a second vascular water distribution system  908  in a cap  910  worn by the painter  900 , so as to cool the painter&#39;s head. In the embodiment of  FIG. 9A , the house painter  900  pumps water into the vascular water distribution systems  102 ,  908  by squeezing on a pumping bulb  912  located along the first hose  104 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 9B  illustrates an embodiment similar to  FIG. 9A , except that the water bottle  902  contains pressurized air that forces water into the vascular water distribution systems  102 ,  908 . The painter  900  uses a squeezable pump  914  to maintain the pressure of the air inside of the water bottle  902 . In this embodiment, water is pushed continuously through the vascular water distribution systems  102 ,  908  by the pressurized air, thereby maintaining continuous cooling of the painter  900  while requiring the painter  900  to operate the pump only occasionally so as to maintain pressure in the water bottle  902 . 
         [0061]      FIG. 9C  is similar to  FIG. 9B , except that the air in the water bottle  902  is automatically pressurized by a pump  916  attached to the leg of the house painter  900 , such that the pump  916  is actuated automatically by the natural movements of the house painter  900 . 
         [0062]    Other modifications and implementations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as claimed. Accordingly, the above description is not intended to limit the invention except as indicated in the following claims.