Abstract:
A goggle resistant to fogging is provided. The goggle consists of a water wicking and thermal transfer face gasket combined with heat transfer inlets and outlets optimized for heat transfer to air flow through the goggle. With low airflow resistance in the vertically oriented inlets and outlets, the goggle ventilates by natural convection removing moisture and keeping the goggle from fogging. Simultaneously, the present goggle results in greater comfort for the user.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/339,394, filed Dec. 14, 2001. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The problem of fogging of sports goggles has been known for many years. In ski goggles this effect takes place when the temperature on the interior of the lens reaches the dew point from the combination of cooling of the lens in contact with the cold air outside, and the flux of moisture from the face into the interior air volume. The fundamental concept to reduce fogging in goggles is to achieve an air temperature in the goggle above the dew point at the surface of the inner lens. The counter actions are to add heat and remove moisture from the interior of the goggle. Attempts at making non-fogging goggles are quite numerous and typically rely on a variety of different techniques. 
     The following are some examples: 
     Electric heating of the lens. 
     Increasing the thermal insulation capability of the lenses by using two lenses with an air gap between them. This reduces the heat flow through the lens and subsequently allows the inner lens surface temperature to come closer to that of the skin surface, thus raising the inner lens temperature above the dew point in the goggle. 
     Increasing the radiant heat trapping of the goggle lens by coating the surfaces of the lenses facing each other and the outer surface with infrared reflective and low emissivity films. This reduces the lens radiation heat transfer losses. Again this technique subsequently allows the lens surface temperature to be closer to that of the skin surface, thus raising the temperature of the inner lens surface above the dew point in the goggle. 
     Increasing the radiant heat transfer from the skin to the inner lens, by choosing or coating the inner lens with an infrared absorbing layer on the inner-facing surface of the inner lens. This maximizes the radiant heat transfer from the face to the inner lens, thus allowing the inner lens surface temperature to be closer to that of the skin surface, and raising the temperature of the lens above the dew point in the goggle. 
     Increasing the air gap between the inner and outer lens. This further decreases the heat loss through the lens and subsequently allows the lens surface temperature to be closer to that of the skin surface, thus raising inner lens surface temperature above the dew point in the goggle. 
     All three of the thermal insulation techniques mentioned above alone does not result in defogging the goggle because the air just above the surface of the skin and eyes is close to 100% relative humidity and the insulation is not perfect. Thus, the lens is colder than the skin surface and condensation will occur as water diffuses from the skin surface to the lens. Therefore using a thermally resistant lens needs to be coupled to a means of removing the moisture from the skin surface and the volume of air in the interior of the goggle. 
     The following are several techniques of flowing air into a goggle and transferring heat by airflow: 
     Use metal foils inside the goggle to transfer heat from the top of the goggle, in which the warmer and lighter air rises, to the incoming air in the bottom of the goggle. 
     Use various vents that draw or force air through the goggle while the skier is moving. 
     Heat exchange between incoming air and the outgoing air. 
     Use a fan to draw air through the goggles. 
     Use adjustable apertures or lift the face pad to increase or decrease air flow. 
     The following are techniques to condense water or absorb water vapor in the interior of the goggle: 
     Use metallic conductors to provide condensation areas inside the goggles. 
     Use thin lens areas of high heat transfer that condense water. 
     Use chemical absorbents in a liner on the sides of the lenses, or the lenses themselves, to absorb moisture. 
     In general, the above techniques are either ineffective in achieving a satisfactory non-fogging effect in the full range of ski conditions or are costly and complex in commercial products. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,612,639, Christensen et al.; “Closed Goggles Structure”, describes heat exchangers and condensers for circulation of air and dehumidification. They mention using direct air contact with the face to heat the air in the eyecup cavities. They claim a use of high thermal conductivity material in the condensers, but they do not mention using the high thermal conductivity elements to conduct heat from the user to the air. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,615,162, Christensen et al.; “Cold Weather Goggles”, describes using condensers and heat exchangers with closed air circulation in a goggle. They do not describe using heat from the user though conductors to heat the air in the eyecup cavities. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,618,782, Christensen et al.; “Goggles Structure”, describes forming inlets and outlets of material of high thermal conductivity. Uses the conductivity of the inlets and outlets to dissipate the heat from the top of the goggle to reduce “the absorption of moisture of air in the eye cup cavity”. This patent also describes insertable air passage-ways: “Although the above outlet structures are formed of flexible copper or other thin metallic conductor material, it will be apparent that rubber or plastic adaptation of this model can be constructed for insertion with the goggles frame.” This patent does not describe using the heat conducted from the body to heat the inlets or outlets. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,619,643, Christensen et al.: “Cold Weather Goggles”, describes using metal heat exchanger to condense the moisture and simultaneously dry and heat the incoming air. They do not mention heating the incoming air through the frame to avoid fogging, nor do they describe using heat transfer from the face contact to the air passages. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,591,864, Allsop: “Nonfog Goggles”, describes a double lens for goggles, with a flexible woven wire mesh of high thermoconductivity in the frame. The mesh keeps snow out but is loose enough that moisture condenses. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,290,673, Yamamoto; “Ski Goggles”, describes double lens goggles with the space between the lenses being heat insulating. Inner lens has an air port at one end close to the frame and a water-repellent air-permeable filter opposed the air port. No references to wicking or heating incoming air. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,317,240, Angerman et al.; “Sports Goggle”, describes a single lens goggle with a dual frame design with improved ventilation characteristics. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,721, Yamamoto; “Device for Use in Helmet for Preventing Fogging by Electric Heating”, describes a transparent electroconductive film in the lens used to generate heat with the passing of electric current. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,370,914, Harris; “Eye Protectors”, describes goggles with frames comprising rearwardly angled cowls to improve ventilation characteristics. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,707,863, McNeal; “Anti-Fog Goggle with Foam Frame”, describes goggles with foam frame with air channels incorporated to improve ventilation characteristics. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,223, Dawson et al.; “Non-Fogging Goggles”, describes double lens goggles with a vacuum-deposited metal coating film on the outer lens. Body heat radiated through the metal film serves to lower the temperature differential between the outside and the inside of the goggles. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,480, Ryden; “Ski Goggles”, describes a fan used to exhaust air from the air space between the goggles and a user&#39;s face in order to improve ventilation characteristics. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,363,512 and 5,542,130, Grabos, Jr. et al.; “Protective Goggle and Lens with Adjustable Ventilation”, describes goggles with adjustable ventilation ports in the frame with a shutter. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,652,965, Crooks; “Non-Fogging Goggles”, describes goggles with screened and unrestricted air ports, which control the amount of air passing through the goggles. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,834, Wilson; “Goggles”, describes heat sinks used in the goggle structure to dissipate heat inside the goggles. Additional air ventilation ports are disclosed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,049,917, Ryden; “Air Injection Sports Goggle and Method”, describes a ventilating fan on the top side of a sport goggle which pulls air in through an air injection hole to improve ventilation characteristics. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to overcome the shortcomings described above, the present invention discloses a device that combines and optimizes several physical functions into components to achieve the desired effect. 
     We have found in our research that a human will emit between 0.022 mg/sec (resting) and 0.51 mg/sec (strenuous exercise) of water over an approximate facial surface area of 110 cm 2 . To remove moisture, air from outside the goggle can flow through the goggle, or moisture can diffuse out. If the relative humidity of the outside air is high, raising the temperature of the air is needed for the airflow to carry moisture from the interior of the goggle. The face transfers heat and moisture to the air surrounding it. If the lens removes heat from the interior of the goggle then more heat needs to be added to the incoming air to avoid reaching the dew point on the surface of the lens. 
     Typically in skiing conditions the air outside the goggles is near or below the freezing point of water, thus containing little water. In drawing air into the interior of the goggle, the air will be heated by contact with the face, air filter, and lens, and the relative humidity near the wearer&#39;s face will drop below 100%. If the incoming air temperature were brought up to body temperature the air would have a relative humidity below 10%. This air absorbs moisture and flows out of the interior of the goggle. 
     Some of the features exemplary of, but not limited to, the present invention are summarized below: 
     The invention uses thermally conductive face contact materials in the face contact gasket to conduct heat from the cheek and nose body contact points to the air flowing into the face-lens volume while impeding the transfer of moisture from the body contact points to the face lens volume. This is a combination of a more thermally conductive face foam gasket with a moisture impermeable or reduced permeability barrier on the interior facing side. This gasket is then thermally coupled to surfaces of thermally conductive honeycomb air inlets, and or grooved or finned surfaces on the interior of the goggle frame. The face gasket can transfer heat internally by conduction, radiation, evaporation, condensation, convection and/or the like. 
     The face gasket includes, but is not limited to, the following features: 
     Open cell foam or cavities with interior sealed walls or channels in thermal contact with the face and the heat transfer surfaces. The body moisture will vaporize, diffuse, and condense on the adjacent goggle frame transferring heat to the frame or air heat transfer surfaces. 
     Thermally conductive metal, rubbers, and plastics incorporated in the face gasket. 
     Liquid-filled face gasket that transports heat by the high conductivity of the liquid or convection of the liquid. 
     Liquid and vapor-filled face gasket bladder that is a heat pipe to vaporize fluid at the body surface and condense the fluid at contact with the frame or heat transfer surfaces. 
     Radiant cavities in the gasket such that, by having high emissive interior surfaces, radiant heat is emitted and absorbed from the face contact to the frame of the goggle or the air heat transfer surfaces. 
     Air convection cells that transport heat from the body surface to the frame or air heat transfer surfaces. These could be channels in the face gasket that allow air to flow in the gasket between the face and the frame, but not into face lens region, to transport heat. 
     Form a face gasket, which moves condensed water on the interior surfaces under and near the gasket to the outer perimeter, by wicking, to be evaporated to the atmosphere. 
     The face gasket has the functions of moving water away from the surface of the skin outside the interior of the goggle and transferring heat to the goggle frame and heat transfer surfaces, while simultaneously sealing the goggle to the face to prevent snow from entering the interior of the goggle. 
     Create airflow inlet and outlet channels that have low impedance to flow while maximizing their heat transfer and snow blocking abilities to create a convective airflow regardless of outside air flow conditions. 
     This feature is essentially trying to optimize the natural convection within the goggle or a so-called “chimney effect”. Air inside the face-lens volume is warmed and becomes buoyant. The air rises and exits out through outlet channels at the top of the goggle and is replaced by cold, outside air which is drawn into the face-lens volume through inlet channels at the bottom of the goggle. The lighter warm air removes moisture from the interior of the goggle as it rises, while the enclosure of the goggle maintains some snow blocking abilities. 
     One preferred embodiment uses a thermally conductive honeycomb, chevrons, or slotted inlets and outlets that are thermally connected to the face gasket. The effective diameter and length of the channels are sized to minimize air flow drag and maximize heat transfer while still blocking snow. 
     With a high enough air flow our research has shown that goggles in almost all cold weather conditions will remain clear. We have found, by testing commercially available goggles, that the typical snow filter foam has cell sizes and thicknesses that present a very high resistance to natural convection in goggles. The critical scaling parameter for air flow through these small air inlets (laminar flow) is air flow resistance per unit area, which is proportional to the length of the channels and inversely proportional to the square of the aperture size. In the present invention, the sizes of the inlet and outlet channels are such that natural convection within the goggle is achieved. 
     Form air flow channels that have a low flow impedance, block snow ingress, move fluids, such as but not limited to, liquid water, away from the face-lens volume and shield from air flow effects outside the goggle. 
     Our research has shown that heat transfer from the body to the air at the top of the goggle does not help significantly to clear the lens. On the other hand, it does help to avoid condensation in the top outlet channel and make a small contribution to the chimney effect thereby allowing moisture laden warm air vent out to the atmosphere. The other critical function of the top outlet channels are to prevent snow or liquid water from falling into the goggle. The lower air inlet channels have a larger effect on air flow and moisture removal. A typical problem will be condensation at the outlet which can drip back into the goggle. A “rain gutter” needs to be formed to move the condensed moisture away from the face-lens volume. Wicking or a hydrophilic channel to move water out of the face-lens volume is used in this invention. The lower air inlet is expected to have less snow impacting it and liquid water can exit. 
     Coatings on the air flow channels for optimum heat transfer, wetting and absorption properties. 
     The air flow channels can be coated with hydrophilic materials such as, but not limited to, solid polymer electrolytes that cause snow to melt and form a wetted film. The melted water may then be channeled out to a wicking system. The wetting coating prevents coalescence of water droplets and avoids condensed water blocking or dripping down into the goggle through the air channels. This helps make the channel surfaces sticky to snow and the liquid, thus making it easier to flow a film of water across them to the wicks. The flow channels may also act, to some degree, as moisture absorbing surfaces until they become saturated. 
     The coatings may have high emissivity (black) to also allow radiant heat to be transferred through the channel and the goggle and to avoid outside visible light being transmitted through the channel to the user. Absorption of ambient light also adds thermal energy to the air channels to help warm air and remove moisture. 
    
    
     These and further and other objects and features of the invention are apparent in the disclosure, which includes the above and ongoing written specification, with the claims and the drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1A,  1 B,  1 C, and  1 D show a top, front face, and cutout side and enlarged side cutaway views of a goggle with an upper baffled vent. 
     FIGS. 2A,  2 B,  2 C, and  2 D show a top, front face, and cutout side and enlarged side cutaway views of a goggle with an upper honeycombed baffle vent. 
     FIGS. 3A,  3 B,  3 C, and  3 D show an interior face, bottom, and cutout side and enlarged side cutaway views of a goggle with a lower honeycombed baffled vent. 
     FIGS. 4A,  4 B,  4 C,  4 D show a top, front face, and cutout side and enlarged side cutaway views of a goggle with an insertable upper baffled vent. 
     FIGS. 5A,  5 B,  5 C,  5 D show a interior face, bottom, and cutout side and enlarged side cutaway views of a goggle with a lower baffled vent integrated into a face gasket. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In FIGS. 1A,  1 B,  1 C, and  1 D the top, front face, cutout side and enlarged side cutaway views of a goggle with an upper baffled vent are shown. In this design the upper baffle  2  is an air channel that runs along the top of the goggle. It is attached to the lens frame  3  of the goggle, which also holds the lens of the goggle  4 . The goggle lens  4  shown in cross-section consists of an outer lens  5 , a spacer foam  12  and an inner lens  6 . The double lens  4  of the goggle achieves a low thermal conductivity by having an air gap  7  between the lenses and is often made more insulating by using low emissivity lens materials or coatings on the lenses. Both of these features reduce the heat transfer through the lens. 
     A face gasket  1  may be coupled to the frame by any known means such as, but not limited to, being glued (Acrylic Adhesive DP 8005, 3M Adhesives Division, St. Paul, Minn. 55144-1000) to the interior side of the frame  16  of the goggle. The upper baffle  2  is molded out of the urethane rubber frame  11  (Stevens Urethane, Nine Sullivan Road, Holyoke, Mass. 01040-2800) of the goggle to create a curved route from the inside of the face-lens volume to the upper exterior environment. The baffle consists of a lower baffle  8  that includes a water gutter  9 . The water gutter  9  and lower baffle  8  extend across the top of the goggle so as to channel water from the melting of snow caught in the baffle and from condensed moisture in the interior of the goggle to the sides of the goggle and into face gasket absorbent wicks  13  (for example, COOL MAX® cloth, Intex Corporation, 1031 Summit Ave., Greensboro, N.C. 27405) on either side. Water can drip off the side ends of the gutter  9  or be absorbed by the head strap  17  to be evaporated. On the interior side  16  of the frame the other half of the airflow channel is formed. An upper water gutter  10  is molded into the polyurethane frame (Stevens Urethane, Nine Sullivan Road, Holyoke, Mass. 01040-2800). 
     The face gasket  1  is connected to, for example glued to, the second half of the baffle  2 . This face gasket  1  is formed of open cell foam  14  covered with absorbent material, for example COOL MAX® cloth (Intex Corporation, 1031 Summit Ave., Greensboro, N.C. 27405)  13  or some other water-wicking, fabric or paper  14 . The COOL MAX® cloth,  13  extends from under the frame  16 , around the outer perimeter of the gasket  1 , and under the face contact  18 . A silicone rubber film  15  (for example, GE Silicones of General Electric Company, Waterford, N.Y., 12188), is applied to the surface of the face gasket in the interior of the goggle to block particulate matter and liquid and water vapor from entering the interior of the goggle. 
     In operation, water/sweat evaporates from the skin surface of the wearer or wick to the goggle frame  16  and to the outer perimeter of the face gasket  1 . Heat conducts through the face gasket  15 ,  14 ,  13  to the goggle frame  16 ,  3  and transfers to the air flow in the upper baffle  2  and to the inner lens  6 . We have found from experiments that heat transfer to the air leaving the interior of the goggle is less important than heat transfer to the air entering the interior of the goggle. The airflow in the upper baffle  2  is designed to have no straight line of flow. Snow, particulates, and rain will strike the sides of the upper baffle  2 , lower baffle  8 , and inside  16  of the frame and stick. 
     In FIGS. 2A,  2 B,  2 C,  2 D the top, front face, cutout side, enlarged side cutaway views of a goggle with an upper honeycombed baffle vent are shown. The baffles of this system are formed such that the length, curvature and spacing result in no straight line of sight through the vent. In the top view the baffles  22  are shown interconnected in a honeycomb pattern of curved channels. The baffled vent can be formed by molding plastics, such as but not limited to, an ABS plastic (Regal Plastic, 5239 S. Rio Grande Ave., Littleton, Colo., 80120) or Urethane rubber (Stevens Urethane, Nine Sullivan Road, Holyoke, Mass. 01040-2800). 
     The baffles, upper baffle  32  and lower baffle  26 , are molded into the goggle frame  23  and have openings at the top and bottom of the goggle. Only the top entrances are shown. A face gasket  21  is connected, for example glued (Acrylic Adhesive DP8005, 3M adhesives division, St. Paul, Minn. 55144-1000) to the interior side  27  of the frame. The material of the baffles  22 ,  26 ,  32  may be a single material or be a mixture of materials that give it a high thermal conductivity. In this design, for example, the baffles  32  are molded out of the plastic that forms the frame  28  of the goggle that also holds the goggle lens  24 . 
     The goggle lens  24  shown in cross-section consists of an outer lens  29 , a spacer foam  30 , and an inner lens  31 . The face gasket  21  is formed out of open cell foam  35  covered with absorbent material, for example COOL MAX® cloth  34  or other water wicking fabric or paper. The wicking cloth  34  contacts the face and extends around the gasket and under  27  the frame of the goggle. The wicking material extends up to the edge of the baffles  22  to catch liquid water condensed from the interior of the lens or melted from snow trapped by the baffles. 
     On the surfaces of the baffles are coatings  37  of a solid polymer electrolyte such as, but not limited to, NAFION® that wets when in contact with the snow. This wetting film keeps the water in the baffles from forming droplets and spreads the water film out over area of the baffles, to keep water from plugging the baffles. The electrolyte reduces the melting point temperature of the snow so it melts and wets at a lower temperature. Due to the pitch of the baffles  22  surface water can run down along the bottom of the baffle apertures  33  and walls  37  to reach the interior exposed wick edge  38 . This allows the face gasket wicks  34  to wick water away from the face-lens volume out to the perimeter of the goggle. A silicone rubber film or any other thermally conductive, water-sealing film  36  is applied to the surface of the face gasket in the interior of the goggle to block liquid water and water vapor from entering the goggles. 
     In FIGS. 3A,  3 B,  3 C, and  3 D the interior face, bottom, cutout side and enlarged side cutaway views of a goggle with a lower honeycombed baffled vent are shown. In this design the inlets are thermally conductive air channels on either side of the nose portion. The air outlets can be either honeycombed or baffled vents  41  as shown in FIGS. 1A-1C and FIGS. 2A-2C. The inlets are honeycomb channels  59  molded out of plastic or rubber and molded into the rubber of the goggle frame  58 . 
     Other thermally conductive materials that can be used include, but are not limited to, the following: magnesium metal, metal alloys such as TiNi, a thermally conductive plastic, metal-doped rubber or plastic, zirconium oxide powder-doped rubber, aluminum oxide powder-doped rubber, graphite-doped rubber or plastic, silicone rubber, natural rubber, polyaniline, polypyrrole, polypropylene, and polyurethane. The honeycomb  46 ,  59 ,  53 ,  52  is designed to have a high heat transfer to the incoming air while minimizing the drag on the incoming airflow and staying within the constraints of the goggle profile. Heat is transferred to the honeycomb  46 ,  59 ,  53 ,  52  and the goggle frame  54 ,  45 , from the face gasket  42 . Some heat is transferred through the honeycomb  59  and frame  58  to the goggle lens  44 . Lower portions  60  are positioned over the nose of a user. 
     The goggle lens  44  coupled  43  to the gasket consists of an outer lens  48 , a spacer foam  50 , and an inner lens  51 , with an air gap  49  between the inner and outer lens. The face gasket  42  is formed out of open cell foam  55  covered with absorbent material, such as COOL MAX® cloth  56  or some water-wicking fabric or paper. The wicking cloth  56  contacts the face and extends around the foam  55  and under  62  the frame  54  of the goggle. Water can evaporate from the surface of the user&#39;s skin and condense on the frame  54  of the face gasket-frame interface. The condensed water is wicked out to the perimeter of the face gasket  47 ,  56  and evaporates. On the interior of the face gasket is a thermally conductive and water-sealing film  57  to block water vapor from under the face gasket from going into the interior of the goggle. 
     In FIGS. 4A,  4 B,  4 C and  4 D the top, front face, and cutout side enlarged side cutaway views of a goggle with an insertable upper baffled vent are shown. In this design both the top and bottom of the vents can be inserted into the frame of the goggle. The baffle inserts  73  can be made out of a variety of thermally conductive materials including but not limited to aluminum, magnesium, TiNi, metal doped rubber or plastic, conductive plastics, graphite-doped rubber, silicone rubber, polypropylene, urethane. The insert is formed to fit and ratchet-lock  75  into apertures  82  in the goggle frame  81 . Baffle inserts  73  can be formed to fit existing goggles in place of the foam-covered vents. 
     The face gasket  70 ,  71  is formed out of open cell foam  78  covered with COOL MAX® cloth  79  or other water-wicking fabric or paper. The wicking cloth  79  contacts the face and extends around the gasket and under the frame  81  of the goggle. The wicking material  92  extends up to the edge of the baffles  76  to catch liquid water condensed in the baffle channels  77  from the interior of the goggle or melted from snow trapped by the baffle  73 . Due to the pitch of the baffle&#39;s lower surface  73 , water can run down along the bottom of the baffle apertures  77  to reach the interior exposed wick  92  edge. This allows the wicking gasket  79  to wick water away from the interior of the goggle out to the perimeter of the face gasket  70 . 
     On the interior of the face gasket  70  is a thermally conductive water-sealing film  80  to block water vapor from under the face gasket from entering into the interior of the goggle. The face gasket  70  can move heat by conduction, radiation, convection, and evaporation to the frame  81 ,  74  and the heat transfer baffle surfaces  76 . Some heat is transferred through the baffle  73  and frame  72  webs to the goggle lens frame  74 ,  88 ,  90  and lens  89 . The goggle lens  89  consists of an outer lens  85 , a spacer  86 , a spacer foam  87  and an inner lens  83 , with an air gap  84  separating the inner and outer lenses. 
     In FIGS. 5A,  5 B,  5 C,  5 D the bottom, interior face and cutout side and enlarged side cutaway views of a goggle with a lower baffled vent integrated into the face gasket are shown. In this design the baffle vents are thermally conductive air channels formed in the face gasket. The baffle vents  113 ,  115  are formed in the face gasket  112  out of open cell foams, closed cell foam, rubbers, or plastics. The air channels  115 ,  113  are defined by chevroned walls  116  in the face gasket on frame  96 . 
     The face gasket  98 ,  111 ,  112  serves several purposes: It seals the goggle from snow ingress, vents the goggle, transfers heat to the inlet air and wicks water away from the skin. The baffled vents  108  can be laminated or molded into the face gasket  98 ,  111 ,  112 ,  114 . They are designed by choosing the aperture size  113 ,  110  and minimum channel  109  path that blocks snow and has a high heat transfer to incoming air, while minimizing the drag on the incoming air and staying within the constraints of the goggle profile. 
     Body heat is transferred through the COOL MAX® cloth  107 ,  97  to the face gasket  98  from face contact by conduction, radiation, evaporation and condensation. Some heat is transferred through the face gasket  98  to the goggle frame  105 ,  100  and lens  101 . 
     The goggle lens  101 ,  99  consists of an outer lens  104 , an inner lens  102 , and a spacer foam  106 . The spacer foam  106  creates an air gap  103  between the inner and outer lens. The face gasket is formed out of open cell foam covered with COOL MAX® cloth  107 ,  97  or other water-wicking fabric or paper. The wicking cloth  107 ,  97  contacts the face and extends around to the outer surface of the face gasket. Water, moisture, sweat can wick from the surface of the user&#39;s skin and evaporate on the outer perimeter of the face gasket  107 . On the interior of the face gasket the heat transfer channels  109  are sealed with a thermally conductive water-sealing film to block water vapor from entering the air inlet flow and to use the heat of condensation to add heat to the inlet air without moisture. 
     The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to the preferred embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications, variations, substitutions and alterations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, modifications and variations of the invention may be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the following claims.