Patent ID: 6957697

Claim:
A fluid supply and conditioning system for use in conjunction with a garment having a fluid-impervious bladder with a first port and a second port, said system comprising: a cooling/heating source; a thermostatic mixing valve; a first line; a fourth line; a pump; said first line being connected to (i) the first port of the garment and (ii) said cooling/heating source and said thermostatic mixing valve; said fourth line being connected to (i) said cooling/heating source and (ii) said thermostatic mixing valve; said cooling/heating source being connected to said thermostatic mixing valve; said thermostatic mixing valve being connected to the second port of the garment; and said pump being interposed into one of said first line and said fourth line; whereby when a working fluid is circulated through the garment and said fluid supply and conditioning system, said thermostatic mixing valve ensures that fluid entering the bladder maintains a user's body temperature at a substantially constant point; and wherein said system further comprises a thermostatic control switch having a temperature sensor, and wherein said thermostatic control switch is adapted to activate said pump when its temperature sensor detects a temperature outside of a selected range.