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  Personal air-cooled garment apparatusUSPTO Application #: 20070000008Title: Personal air-cooled garment apparatus Abstract: A personal cooling apparatus includes a ventilation unit connected to an air distribution garment, and is operable to generate a flow of air from the ambient to the air distribution garment. The air distribution garment includes first and second spaced layers of a flexible, but strong material that contours to a person's body when worn, while defining a plenum for the air to flow throughout the air distribution garment. A flexible cuff at a bottom seam of the air distribution garment prevents air within the plenum from escaping from the bottom, thereby forcing the air upward and laterally within the plenum. An air dam is centrally positioned within the air distribution garment for directing the airflow from the ventilation unit in at least two different directions to facilitate propagation of the air throughout the air distribution garment. Air holes are oriented along the outer seam or edge of the air distribution garment to allow air from the plenum to escape and carry heat away from the body. The placement of the air holes is optimized to increase air propagation uniformity throughout the air distribution garment. (end of abstract) Agent: Nixon Peabody, LLP - Washington, DC, US Inventors: Jack Sawicki, Louis Riccio, Elie Jacob, James Wiggins USPTO Applicaton #: 20070000008 - Class: 002069000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Apparel, Body Garments The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070000008. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The invention is broadly directed to cooling garments worn by persons subjected to elevated temperature and/or humid conditions, and more specifically, to an air-cooled garment that preferably covers an individual's torso, and whose airflow configuration is optimized to ensure wide propagation of the air throughout the garment. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Elevated temperatures and/or humidity greatly affect an individual's ability to function, concentrate and remain alert. This may lead to accidents, injuries and even death if heat stress is not properly managed. While heat stress affects all individuals who are required to perform their duties outdoors or in elevated temperature/humidity environments, heat stress management is especially critical for combat soldiers, police, firefighters, emergency responders, and others where life or death decisions require clear thinking and decisive actions. [0005] A wide range of cooling garments have been developed and introduced in order to manage heat stress. In all these garments, the basic function is to increase the heat from the body that is transferred to the cooling medium within the garment, where it is thereafter dissipated, resulting in greater comfort for the cooling garment wearer. [0006] Many types of personal cooling garments have been developed to reduce and manage heat stress exposure. Such cooling garments and apparatus include circulating liquid systems, phase change material (PCM) cooling devices, and circulating air systems. In addition, there are numerous systems relying on innovative fabrics to wick away moisture or heat from the skin, thereby providing a cooling effect. These fabric-based systems, however, are less efficient at heat dissipation than the other existing systems described below. [0007] Circulating liquid systems generally utilize a heat sink or reservoir containing water or other coolant, a pump, and a heat exchanger. The cool liquid is circulated in a closed system through a network of tubes within the garment, where it absorbs heat from the body and then passes through the heat exchanger before circulating back to the heat sink. Weight and size are drawbacks of these types of cooling garments. In addition, the network of internal tubes to distribute the cooling liquid raises the cost and complexity of the garment. [0008] Phase change material (PCM) cooling devices are garments containing small packets of phase change material, such as ice or certain chemical polymers, that absorb the heat produced by the human body, with the cooling capacity determined by the amount of phase change material contained in the garment. Long-term and remote use of such a cooling garment is impractical, given the weight of the phase change material and the need to re-freeze the phase change material packets periodically. [0009] Circulating air systems typically comprise an air source and a network of tubes or channels within the garment to distribute air throughout the garment, thus removing excess heat as the circulated air absorbs the body heat. The network of tubes or channels, however, adds to the cost and complexity of manufacture. Moreover, the network of tubes and channels creates internal flow loses, requiring a larger air generating unit to propagate the air through the garment. However, the noise generated by the larger air source may affect the performance of the person wearing the garment, especially soldiers, firefighters and other emergency responders. The noise will also increase a soldier's battlefield signature, increasing the odds of being detected by the enemy. [0010] Another major drawback of existing cooling devices is that while providing some degree of cooling, many experience problems in propagating the cooling fluid uniformly throughout the cooling garment, especially those relying on ambient air flow where a network of internal tubes or channels are not supplied. For example, while an individual's back may experience sufficient cooling when the air source is located behind the person, the upper shoulders and front torso may not experience sufficient cooling due to inadequate airflow. [0011] Accordingly, there is a continuing need and desire for a lightweight, portable and long duration cooling garment that can efficiently and uniformly distribute air throughout the garment even without a network of internal tubes to carry the air. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0012] The present invention is directed to a personal air-cooled garment that addresses one or more of the limitations of the present devices. [0013] The present invention provides a personal cooling apparatus including a ventilation unit operable to generate a flow of air, with an outlet connector to funnel the generated air to an air distribution garment. The air distribution garment includes first and second spaced layers of a flexible, but strong material that contours to a person's body when worn, while defining a plenum for the air to flow throughout the air distribution garment. An air dam is centrally positioned within the air distribution garment for directing the airflow from the ventilation unit in at least two different directions to facilitate propagation of the air throughout the air distribution garment. A means for preventing air from flowing out the bottom of the air distribution garment is also provided. [0014] The air dam may be a length of fabric disposed on an inner surface of the air distribution garment, or a triangular shaped air dam disposed within the air distribution garment. [0015] Preferably, the outlet of the ventilation unit comprises a Y-shaped or T-shaped connector where it connects to the air distribution garment, to facilitate funneling the air in separate directions both prior to and after the air enters the air distribution garment. [0016] Air holes are oriented along the outer edge or seam of the air distribution garment to allow air from the plenum to escape and carry heat away from the body. The placement of the air holes is optimized to increase air propagation uniformity throughout the air distribution garment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] The above objects and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which: [0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ventilation unit and air distribution garment of an embodiment of the invention; [0019] FIG. 2 is a more detailed perspective view of the connection between the ventilation unit and air distribution garment of FIG. 1; [0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ventilation unit and air distribution garment connected by straps; [0021] FIG. 4 is schematic view of the interior configuration of the air distribution garment of FIG. 1; Continue reading... Full patent description for Personal air-cooled garment apparatus Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Personal air-cooled garment apparatus 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. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Personal air-cooled garment apparatus or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Pants construction stabilized by integral undergarment Next Patent Application: Predictive and counter predictive visual stimuli Industry Class: Apparel ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Personal air-cooled garment apparatus patent info. 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