Abstract:
A cooling device comprising an elongated fabric having a first end and a second end. The elongated fabric including a fastening element to connect the first end to the second end, and an elastic band to deform a shape of the elongated fabric, creating a bunching, gathering, or crimpling of the elongated fabric. The elongated fabric is disposed around a surface to be cooled, and the crimpled or bunched surface provides a airflow between the cooling device and the surface to be cooled.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention generally relates to cooling devices made of cloth or cloth-like material to be used for cooling contact surfaces.  
         [0003]     2. Discussion of the Related Art  
         [0004]     There are cooling devices in the art for use by a person exercising or working in an environment where the person is likely to sweat or overheat. Some of these devices are designed to provide a “cooling effect” to a wearer by making the wearer&#39;s skin feel cooler. More specifically, in one design in the art, the user wets a band of flat polymer cloth and then ties the band around the user&#39;s neck or head. The cooling effect occurs due to the heat removed from the surface to be cooled and the cooling device by the evaporation of water.  
         [0005]     There is needed a device that provides sustained cooling over a period of time.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0006]     The invention relates to a cooling device for cooling a surface. The cooling device includes a cooling fabric constructed from polyvinyl alcohol having a first end and a second end; a fastening element for connecting the first end to the second end; and an elastic material stretched between the first and second ends so as to cause the cooling fabric to crimple or gather. The cooling device may also be formed as a non-crimpled or gathered device that may be worn over a portion of a user&#39;s body.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a band according to an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 1B  shows a cross-sectional view of the band shown in  FIG. 1A , wherein the elastic core is shown;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates the band in  FIG. 1A  being worn by a human user;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates a method of using the band shown in  FIG. 1A ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates a method of cooling a surface according to an embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates a vest formed using the teachings of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION  
       [0013]     The present invention is directed to a cooling device formed of a textured and crimpled (i.e., pressed together or gathered) material used for heat stress relief and general cooling of humans, animals, liquids, and other objects. More particularly, the invention relates to a cooling device formed of fabric that is crimpled together so as to facilitate cooling when in contact or close contact with a surface.  
         [0014]     As seen in  FIG. 1A , the cooling device is shown for illustrative purposes as a band  100 . The band  100  shown in  FIGS. 1A and 2  may be configured to be worn on, for example, the head, neck, wrist, ankle, and body.  
         [0015]     To create the band  100 , the cooling fabric  102  may be formed into a tube like structure having an outer surface and a first end and a second end. As best seen in  FIG. 1 , the outer surface of the cooling fabric  102  directly contacts a portion of a surface to be cooled.  
         [0016]     The cooling fabric  102  may be, for example, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The cooling fabric  102  may be, depending on the material used, chemically resistant, resilient, machine washable or colorable.  
         [0017]     As best seen in  FIG. 1B , the band  100  includes an inner layer  104 . The inner layer  104  may be an elastic material. The inner layer  104  may be coupled to the cooling fabric  102  so as to cause crimples or gathers  110  to form in the cooling fabric  102  as best seen in  FIG. 1A .  
         [0018]     For example, the inner layer  104  and the cooling fabric  102  may be sewn together such that the overall length of the inner layer  104  is slightly shorter than the cooling fabric  102 . In one embodiment, one end of the inner layer  104  may be positioned along a portion of the cooling fabric  102  and sewn in place. The other end of the inner layer  104  is stretched along the cooling fabric  102  and sewn in place. This arrangement causes the cooling fabric  102  to form crimples or gathers  110  when the inner layer  104  returns to the unstretched position.  
         [0019]     In another embodiment, the cooling fabric  102  may be formed into a tube, as best seen in  FIG. 1 . The inner layer may be fixed in place at one end of the tube by a removable fastening device such as, but not limited to, a straight pin, safety pin or hemostat. The tube may then be slid over the inner layer  104  until the second end of the tube aligns with the second end of the inner layer  104 . Once aligned, the second end of the tube and the second end of the inner layer  104  are sewn together. Next the first ends of the inner layer  104  and the tube are sewn together, and the removable fastening device is removed. Because the inner layer  104  has an overall length that is shorter than that of the tube, crimples or gathers  110  form in the cooling fabric  102 . Because the cooling fabric  102  comprising the outer layer is crimpled, not all of the fabric facing the surface to be cooled will be in direct contact with that surface. Accordingly, airflow is achieved between the outer layer  102  and the surface to be cooled. This air flow permits or facilitates evaporative cooling that keeps the band  100  moist for longer periods of time when compared with PVA materials that are not bunched or crimpled.  
         [0020]     As best seen in  FIG. 1A , the band  100  may also include a fastening device for joining together the distal ends of the band  100 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 1A , a snap-type fastener may join the distal ends of the band  100 . One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the ends may be attached and reattached by a variety of fasteners, such as hook and loop fastener(s), latch fastener(s), button(s), zippers, or the like. One of skill in the art will appreciate that any known fastener and combinations thereof may be adapted for use, and that one or more fasteners may be used. Alternatively, the ends may be tied together.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  illustrates the band  100  being worn by a person according to an embodiment of the invention. The band  100  is stretched out over the surface to be cooled  210 , in this case, the forehead of a human user. While the band  100  is in contact with the surface to be cooled, the crimples or gathers  110  create an air gap between the band  100  and the surface to be cooled  210 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  illustrates a method of using a band  100  according to an embodiment of the invention. The ends are detached as illustrated in step  300 . The band  100  is then wetted as illustrated in step  305 . The band  100  is placed on the surface to be cooled as illustrated in step  310 . The ends are then reattached as illustrated in step  315 . Prior to placing the band  100  on the surface to be cooled, the band  100  may be agitated for example, by shaking, to facilitate a chemical reaction that occurs upon moistening the PVA. In some instances the agitation results in a noticeable drop in the temperature of the outer layer  102  of the PVA material.  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  illustrates a method of cooling a surface according to an embodiment of the invention. The cooling of the surface begins by preparing the device as described above with reference to  FIG. 3 . The device is then placed against the surface to be cooled  400 . Simultaneously there is a cooling effect caused by a chemical reaction that occurs upon moistening the PVA, and the crimples or gathers  110  provide increased air flow between the band and the surface to be cooled for an added cooling effect. The cooling effect can be continued by re-wetting the cloth or device if it starts to dry out  415 .  
         [0024]     In all the foregoing figures and examples, the surfaces to be cooled such as  210 ,  310 , and  410  are not limited to human skin. Other embodiments of the invention adapt the band  100  for cooling the exterior of a human body, animal, inanimate object, or a container containing fluids.  
         [0025]     In an alternative embodiment, the cooling device may be constructed as a vest  500 , as best seen in  FIG. 5 . The vest  500  may include a layer of a cooling material construed using polyvinyl alcohol. The vest  500  includes a body portion  502  for covering a portion of the body of a wearer, and openings  504 . In the illustrated embodiment, the openings  504  are configured to receive the arms of a human user.  
         [0026]     The cooling device, whether constructed as a band  100  or a vest  500 , may be wetted, folded and placed in an enclosure. The enclosure is preferably formed using a water resistant material. In one embodiment, the enclosure may be a selectively openable and closeable plastic pouch. When sealed the enclosure helps keep the cooling device moist. Thus, the cooling device may be stored for long periods of time without drying out.  
         [0027]     While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the band  100  and the vest  500  could be covered by a woven or nonwoven material, such as, for example, cotton. Thus, the covering material would form the outer layer that directly contacts the surface to be cooled. In the case of the band  100  the covering layer would also crimple or gather to create an air gap between the band  100  and the surface to be cooled. Thus, the accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.