| Crimpled material cooling device for heat stress relief -> Monitor Keywords |
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Crimpled material cooling device for heat stress reliefRelated Patent Categories: Apparel, Head Coverings, With Sweats Or Other Supplementary Head Engaging MemberCrimpled material cooling device for heat stress relief description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060085892, Crimpled material cooling device for heat stress relief. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
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'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'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'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. Continue reading about Crimpled material cooling device for heat stress relief... Full patent description for Crimpled material cooling device for heat stress relief Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Crimpled material cooling device for heat stress relief patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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