Cooling garment

• US 4,033,354 A
• Filed: 12/05/1975
• Issued: 07/05/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maria I. De. Rosa
• Original Assignee: Maria I De Rosa
• Inventors: De Rosa, Maria I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trapp, Lawrence W.
• Application Number:
  US05/595,238
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 128/402, 128/403, 128/DIG. 15, 128/379, 128/384, 128/385, 128/399, 128/359, 2/DIG. 6, 2/DIG. 7, 2/7
• US Class Current: 607/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0001 Body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0231 hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0233 connected to or incorporated in clothing or garments A61F2007/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0238 in a pocket A61F2007/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0249 with a layer having low heat transfer capability
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/10 Cooling bags, e.g. ice-bags

Abstract

An ice cooling garment to alleviate physiological strain due to heat stress. Sealed pockets containing water are removably attached within a vest-like garment securable around the body of an individual. The water-filled pockets are frozen and subsequently attached to the inside of the garment so as to provide body cooling under heat stress conditions such as in mine rescue work.

Claims

1. A vest-like garment for cooling the body of the wearer, comprising:

an insulated front body panel;

an insulated rear body panel;

shoulder straps connecting the top of the front body panel to the top of the rear body panel;

first matable strip fasteners secured to the sides of the front body panel;

second matable strip fasteners, releasably attachable to the first matable strip fasteners, secured to the sides of the rear body panel, such that when the first matable strip fasteners are secured to the second matable strip fasteners, the garment is secured to the body of the wearer;

third matable strip fasteners attached to the inside of the front and rear body panels;

a plurality of sealed waterproof bags filled with water;

fourth matable strip fasteners, releasably attachable to the third matable strip fasteners, each of said fourth matable strip fasteners being secured to a plurality of the sealed waterproof bags, such that, when the sealed waterproof bags are frozen and releasably secured to the inside of the garment by securing the fourth matable strip fasteners to the third matable strip fasteners, the garment cools the body of the wearer.

2. The cooling garment defined in claim 1 wherein the sealed waterproof bags are formed from a vinyl plastic.

3. The cooling garment of claim 1 wherein there are two third matable strip fasteners horizontally attached to each of the body panels of the garment, and four fourth matable strip fasteners, each attachable to one of the third matable strip fasteners, such that the sealed waterproof bags are disposed in two rows on each body panel.

4. The cooling garment defined in claim 1 including a layer of absorbent fabric disposed between the inside surface of the bags and the wearer of the garment.

5. The cooling garment defined in claim 4 wherein the absorbent fabric is terry cloth.

6. The cooling garment of claim 1 wherein the front and back body panels are each made from two layers of fabric having an insulating foam layer therebetween.

7. The cooling garment of claim 6 wherein the fabric is aluminized rubberized Dacron.

8. The cooling garment of claim 1 wherein the matable strip fasteners are of the type known by the trademark Velcro.

9. The cooling garment of claim 7 wherein the bags are enclosed in pockets, each of which pockets is attached to a fourth matable strip fastener.

10. The cooling garment of claim 9 wherein the pockets are formed from a vinyl plastic.