Patent Publication Number: US-2007107456-A1

Title: Cooling Band

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is a sweatband with an ice pack insert with cooling capacity for hot weather wear.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Athletes and outdoor workers face the elements of being outside and participating in strenuous activity. During summer months, this can lead to severe dehydration and heat stroke without proper care during physical activity. Many athletes and outdoor workers use ice, wet cloths, and cooling packs to keep themselves at comfortable temperatures during the heat of the day. Also cooling packs can be used to relieve pain and swelling from sports related or chronic muscle and joint injuries.  
      There are bracelets on the market that have gel packets so that the user may freeze the gel and the bracelet is cool for a set amount of time. Gel packets have an inherent problem due to rupture after repeated freezing. There are also sweatband type bracelets made of terry cloth material that can be moistened and worn. However the sweatband bracelets would dry quickly in excessive heat and would not have the capacity to be frozen and worn due to the problems of lack of elasticity once frozen, creating problems for applying the bracelet to the wrist once frozen.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,275,996 issued to Redwood, et al., on Aug. 21, 2001, shows articles with removable elements. Redwood&#39;s invention is unlike the present invention because it has a removable component for comfort such as copper, magnets, blood pressure monitoring systems, foam or gel packs. Also, the present invention does not have a compartment for adding water and freezing. Additionally, Redwood&#39;s invention has many different embodiments and purposes for its removable components and is not solely for the cooling of the wrist.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,617 issued to McNally, et al., on Nov. 21, 2000 shows a tennis elbow band and method. McNally&#39;s invention is unlike the present invention because it is intended for use on the elbow only, not the wrist, and it has heating properties for therapy of tennis elbow as well.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,769, issued to Wolf, et al., on Jan. 14, 1997, for a polyurethane pad covering for gel filled articles. Wolf&#39;s invention is unlike the present invention because it is gel filled, it is not intended for wear on the wrist, and it is primarily a system for allowing people to use gel filled articles without the gel contacting their skin. Additionally, Wolf&#39;s invention does not have a removable watch face.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,402 issued to McCoy on Nov. 24, 1992, shows a therapeutic wrap. McCoy&#39;s invention is unlike the present invention because it is an adjustable hook and loop fabric with a compartment for a hot or cold gel pack, does not have a removable watch face, and does not have a compartment to add water and freeze the band for cooling properties.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,003 issued to Rinehart on Jul. 30, 1991 shows a liquid heat transfer glove. Rinehart&#39;s invention is unlike the present invention because it is a glove or glove lining used for heating a hand and does not provide a sweatband for cooling one&#39;s wrist. Rinehart&#39;s invention also does not have a hollow core for freezing water to cool oneself, nor does it have an armband mechanism.  
      Therefore a need has been established for a sweatband that has a cooling capacity, and can have a removable frozen insert for cooling one&#39;s wrist as well as the added feature of a removable watch face.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is a sweatband with cooling capabilities. The sweatband has an ice pack insert that can be frozen to cool the user&#39;s wrist. The sweatband is made of a durable material that has a removable inner ice pack. The present invention also has a removable stopwatch.  
      The band is made of a durable material that allows the coolness of the interior ice to escape, yet is thick enough to protect the user&#39;s skin from possible ice burn. Once frozen the ice pack will keep a cool temperature for several hours before all of the ice is melted and it should be refrozen. The cooling band can be manufactured in separate wrist sizes, or in alternate embodiments the band can be manufactured to stretch to fit different wrist sizes. The ice pack insert space, or hollow member, is located on the underside of the band, and expands ⅓ the total length of the bracelet. The cooling section, when filled with the ice pack insert, should be placed on the underside of the wrist, directly below the palm for maximum cooling properties.  
      The hollow member will allow the water or other liquid to cool the user for from one to two hours before totally melted.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       FIG. 1  shows an environmental view of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      The present invention is a cooling band having an insert for an ice pack. The ice pack insert can be filled with any freezable liquid such as water. The present invention is therefore comprised of a cooling band ( 10 ), hollow member ( 20 ) which holds the ice pack insert ( 30 ) on the interior side of the band ( 10 ).  
      In  FIG. 1 , there is an environmental view of the cooling band ( 10 ). The cooling band ( 10 ) has a hollow member ( 20 ) on the interior side of the band ( 10 ). Preferably, the hollow member ( 20 ) and ice pack insert ( 30 ) extend ⅓ the length of the entire band ( 10 ). The ice pack insert ( 30 ) is pre-filled and sealed before purchase, rectangular in shape, and an inch to an inch and a half wide and four inches in length. Preferably, it is made of the same material as the cooling band ( 10 ) but is a little thinner and it prevents the ice from creating an ice burn on the user. The ice pack insert ( 30 ) can be filled with water and frozen to activate the cooling properties of the band ( 10 ). The ice pack insert ( 30 ) holds the liquid in the interior of the band ( 10 ) during the freezing and thawing of the liquid. It is contemplated that the hollow member ( 20 ) can be positioned anywhere on the band ( 10 ); the ice pack insert ( 30 ) does not have to be pre-filled and sealed before purchase, or self-contained, does not have to have a rectangular shape, and does not have to be an inch to an inch and a half wide and four inches in length; does not have to be made of the same material as the cooling band ( 10 ), and does not have to be a little thinner to prevent ice from creating an ice burn on the user. The ice pack insert ( 30 ), in another embodiment, could have a plug to open the insert ( 30 ) and the user could fill it with tap water.  
      In other embodiments of the cooling band ( 10 ), the band ( 10 ) can be constructed of any other stretchable material such as spandex, stretchable plastic, etc. Also, the band ( 10 ) can be constructed in different sizes to fit different wrists. It is lightweight and efficient in nature.  
      The user can easily fill the hollow member ( 20 ) of the cooling band ( 10 ) by removing the ice pack insert ( 30 ) from the hollow member ( 20 ) and filling it with water from a pitcher, or faucet. The user can then place the cooling band with the integrated ice pack insert ( 10 ) in the freezer and the water or other freezable liquid will freeze in a short amount of time. In other embodiments the band ( 10 ) can be used without the ice pack insert ( 30 ) as a regular wristband. The band ( 10 ) also accommodates a stopwatch ( 40 ) in another embodiment of the present invention.  
      The cooling band ( 10 ) can be used by athletes, outdoor workers, and any other person who is exposed to extreme heat. The cooling band ( 10 ) is placed over the wrist by the user placing their hand through the band ( 10 ). The hollow member ( 20 ) when filled with the ice pack insert ( 30 ) is placed on the underside of the user&#39;s wrist at the base of the palm. In this position the cooling band ( 10 ) has maximum cooling possibilities, due to the close proximity to the veins in the wrist. A user can also take the cooling band ( 10 ) in a cooler or thermos to keep the band ( 10 ) frozen until the heat of the day, usually mid afternoon, and use the band as needed.  
      The present invention is not limited to the sole embodiments above, but instead includes any and all of the embodiments in the following claims.