Abstract:
A glove for sports activities has a glove part, and a cooling element associated with the glove part, including a highly water-absorbing chemical, and acting by evaporation cold.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to gloves, in particular to sports gloves with a cooling element.  
         [0002]     For people involved in sports activities, who are instructed to carry gloves during the sports activity, it is in many cases uncomfortable to wear such gloves in condition of high outside temperatures. This is true especially for bicycle gloves. During the sports practicing, it is frequently not possible or partially very difficult to obtain a cooling action for a sportsman. For example, it is possible to take beverages in bottles on bicycles, which are mountable on the bicycle. However, these beverages are not cooled and moreover these beverages primarily are used for thirst quenching and not for outside cooling of the sportsman.  
         [0003]     A sports glove of the above mentioned general type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,141,801. The glove has a pocket, in which a pouch filled with gel is introducible. This gel pouch can be repeatedly heated or cooled, depending on the need. However, it is necessary to have for this purpose a corresponding heating source, or in other words an oven or a microwave device, etc. or a cooling device, or a refrigerator for providing this heating or cooling.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a glove of the above mentioned general type, which eliminates the disadvantages of the prior art.  
         [0005]     More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a glove of the above mentioned general type, which makes possible a cooling of the carrier in any frequently repeatable manner with a very low expense.  
         [0006]     In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in a glove of the above mentioned general type, provided with a cooling element, wherein in accordance with the present invention the cooling element has a highly water absorbing chemical and operates by evaporation cold.  
         [0007]     When this cooling element during its use loses its cooling action after several hours it is now only necessary to bring the cooling element in contact with water to obtain again its cooling action. A cooling in a refrigerator is no longer necessary. This significantly simplifies the use of the glove, since water practically is always available, in particular when a user is located outside the places in which no refrigerators are available.  
         [0008]     The cooling element together with the glove can be placed on other body parts, for example a temple, to obtain there a cooling action as well. The particular advantage of a glove provided with a cooling element is that heat can be withdrawn through the blood circulation of the hand, from the interior of the body. The blood vessels to the fingers are located on the hand close under the skin. Thereby the heat-dependent drop of the body performance is reduced. The endurance can be thereby increased. The sweat production is reduced and the stress of the cardiovascular system is reduced. This is particularly important for sports activities.  
         [0009]     The use of a chemical which in connection with water operates by evaporation cold has the advantage that the chemical can receive a multitude of its own volume on water. Therefore practically there is no negative influence of the glove when the water is evaporated, since the cooling element does not load any place and thereby the carrying ability of the glove practically is not affected.  
         [0010]     In accordance with a specially favorable embodiment of the invention, the water-absorbing chemical is accommodated in a flat pouch. This feature allows to apply it easily on a glove or inside the glove and to be adjustable to the hand and its movement.  
         [0011]     It is especially advantageous when the pouch on its flat side is composed of a moisture-impermeable material and on the opposite side is composed of a moisture-permeable material. This design has the advantage that the hand can remain wet when the moisture-impermeable side is oriented toward the hand. The pouch however can be composed completely of a moisture-permeable material. This results in a moist hand surface, but also in a somewhat increased cooling action.  
         [0012]     In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention the pouch can be received in a flat frame of elastic synthetic plastic material. Therefore its handling is simplified in a special manner, in particular when the cooling element is removable into a pocket. During insertion in a pocket, the pouch in connection with the elastic frame holds its shape, since the frame of the pouch provides a certain shape stability.  
         [0013]     In order to provide an efficient cooling of the groove carrier on the one hand and to open the possibility of a cooling at other locations on the other hand, it is advantageous when the pocket is arranged in the region of the glove which covers the wrist arteries.  
         [0014]     When the pocket is arranged in the region which covers the hand backs, this region is especially advantageous when the cooling element is used for example for cooling of the temple and moreover there is here the possibility of arranging a large-surface cooling element with a corresponding great cooling action. At this location a cooling element interferes especially little with the use of the glove in accordance with the regulations.  
         [0015]     For providing the action of a cooling element in a specially advantageous manner in the foreground, the upper side of the pocket can be composed of a net-like or water absorbing material, in particular when during the cooling action by evaporation cold a good air circulation is desired to this location. The side of the pocket oriented toward the hand in advantageous manner can be moisture-impermeable, which is advantageous for these evaporation cooling elements. The side of the pocket which is oriented toward the hand can be in particular composed of a net-like material, when the cooling action to the hand must be deployed without being affected. Advantageously, the pocket can be closeable, which is especially favorable when the pocket is closeable by a VELCRO lock.  
         [0016]     Depending on the construction of the cooling element, it can be advantageous when the pocket in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention is formed tunnel-shaped with two oppositely located openings. Thereby, it is possible to insert the cooling element from any of the both sides, and to remove it from another side or the same side. It is advantageous when in this case the cooling element is provided with an insertion aide. The insertion aide can include a pulling band provided with a rigid guiding head and connected to the cooling element.  
         [0017]     The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  is a view showing a first embodiment of a glove as seen from above on the hand surface of the glove, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a view showing a second embodiment of a hand glove in accordance with the present invention as seen in direction toward the hand inner surface; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a view showing a cooling element of the groove in accordance with the present invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]     As can be seen from the drawings, both embodiments of the present invention described herein deal with a glove  1  formed as a bicycle glove.  
         [0022]     In a glove in accordance with a first embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , a pocket  2  is formed on the hand surface upper side. It is limited by seams  3  and  4  shown in broken lines. The pocket can be closeable by a clip  5  which includes a VELCRO lock  6 . A cooling element formed as a flat pouch  11  is insertable in the closeable pocket  2 . It contains a highly water-absorbing chemical which operates with evaporation cold.  
         [0023]     In the glove in accordance with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , a pocket  7  is formed in the region of the wrist arteries in the glove  1 . The pocket  7  is provided with openings  8  and  9  on its opposite edges. A cooling element  10  can be therefore inserted, as shown in  FIG. 3 , into the pocket  7  through the openings  8  and  9 .  
         [0024]     The cooling element is composed of a flat pouch  11  which accommodates a chemical, and an elastic synthetic plastic frame  12  which provides a certain rigidity to the pouch, for introducing it into the pocket  7 . An insertion aid in form of a pulling band  13  is mounted on the synthetic plastic frame  12 . It has a rigidified head  14  which acts as a reinforced end of a lace.  
         [0025]     The pouch can be easily inserted into the pocket  7  by first introducing the insertion aid  13 ,  14  into the pocket  7 , and then pulling the pouch  11  rigidified by the frame  12 .  
         [0026]     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.  
         [0027]     While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a glove, in particular sports glove, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.  
         [0028]     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.