Temperature Adjustable Air-Cooled Undergarment

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to temperature regulated garments and, more particularly, to a temperature adjustable air-cooled undergarment that does not impede normal movement of the wearer.

Body suits having a forced air component have been used in the past where noxious fumes or chemicals are a danger to a user. In this regard, a full body suit may be donned over a person's regular clothing and is effective to shield the user from contact with the undesirable chemicals, fumes, or the like. Workers needing this type of protective clothing include farmers using pesticides, environmental pollution workers, or those cleaning up after a natural disaster. Other body suits have been proposed that include portable air supplies such as air tanks or portable air compressors.

Although assembly effective for their intended purposes, the existing devices or proposals do not provide access to pressurized air according to a detected temperature of the wearer of the air-cooled garment or according to a user-determined temperature. It is well known that if a safety or medically necessary device is restrictive, use will be reduced and ineffective.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have a temperature adjustable air-cooled undergarment that cools a wearer of the air-cooled undergarment according to a temperature detected on a user's skin or by a temperature selected by the wearer. Further, it would be desirable to have a temperature adjustable air-cooled undergarment that is anatomically comfortable so as to encourage usage. In addition, it would be desirable to have a temperature adjustable air-cooled undergarment that may be worn as an undergarment beneath a normal work uniform or other clothing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A temperature adjustable air-cooled undergarment for connection to a central forced air supply and for wear on a human body according to the present invention includes an upper body garment configured for wear on an upper torso of a wearer, the upper body garment defining an imaginary vertical axis positioned to correspond with a position of the wearer's spine. A first tubing network is integrated into a left segment of the upper body garment and is situated to the left of the vertical axis. A second tubing segment is integrated into a right segment of the upper body garment and situated to the right of the vertical axis. The first tubing network is in fluid communication with the second tubing network at a single location that crosses the vertical axis. The first tubing network is in operative communication with the central forced air supply so as to distribute air throughout the first and second tubing networks.

This technology was created from years of research devoted to reducing stress induced by heat and humidity to the human body. When a person's body temperature rises, a body's natural response is to sweat. Sweating uses evaporation to naturally cool the body. This principal works well enough unless covered by layers of clothing. A product according to the present invention increases the body's natural ability to release heat by inducing compressed air into the equation. Undergarments (shirt) (shorts) woven with perforated vinyl tubing at an adjustable pressure provides much needed airflow to clothed areas. Even in the most adverse conditions, this apparatus will allow the body to naturally cool itself without costly refrigeration.

In this example, Basra, Iraq (http://www.basra.climatemps.com/) is 106 degrees with a relative humidity of 46%. This creates a dew point of 80 degrees. Compared to our body temperature this is still cooling. The humidity in the desert can be much lower. As the relative humidity decreases the dew point also decreases. In addition, the perforation of the tubing is in an alternating format at a 45 degree angle to the skin to prevent blockage and to maximize distribution. Dispersion of the cooled air is concentrated in high impact areas such as arm pits, middle back, lower heat sink areas a simple regulator that is currently used for HVLP paint spray guns.

Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a temperature adjustable air-cooled undergarment for keeping a person cool in an otherwise hot environmental or occupational setting.

Another object of this invention is to provide an air-cooled undergarment, as aforesaid, that receives forced air from a central air supply for distribution through tubing networks according to a detected temperature of a wearer or according to a user determined temperature.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an air-cooled undergarment, as aforesaid, having tubular elements that do not cross the wearer's spine and, as a result, is anatomically comfortable and encourages use.

A further object of this invention is to provide an air-cooled undergarment, as aforesaid, that may be worn beneath a worker's normal work attire.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an air-cooled undergarment, as aforesaid, that may be connected to a central forced air supply such as an air compressor.

A further object of this invention is to provide an air-cooled undergarment, as aforesaid, that may be operated easily by a wearer of the undergarment.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a temperature adjustable air-cooled undergarment according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is front perspective view of the air-cooled undergarment as in FIG. 1 with the fabric portions of the garments removed;

FIG. 3 is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from a portion of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the undergarment as in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the undergarment as in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6a is a perspective view of a tubing element of the undergarment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6b is a side view of the tubing element as in FIG. 6a;

FIG. 6c is a sectional view taken along line 6c-6c of FIG. 6b;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the major components of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of the undergarment as in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A temperature adjustable air-cooled undergarment according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings. The temperature adjustable air-cooled undergarment 10 generally includes an upper body garment 20, a lower body garment 40, and multiple tubing networks specifically positioned to avoid crossing a wearer's spine or impeding movement of the wearer's anatomical joints. In the drawings, the fabric portions of the garments are removed to better illustrate the internal components.

The upper body garment 20 is configured for wear over the upper torso of a person and, more particularly, may be in the form of an undershirt. The upper body garment 20 defines an imaginary vertical axis 22 that, when worn, corresponds to the spinal column of the wearer of the upper body garment 20 (FIG. 1). Identifying an imaginary vertical axis 22 is helpful to understanding how a plurality of tubing elements are situated within the upper body garment 20 as will be explained in more detail below. It is to be understood that references to “left” or “right” are as a user would consider his “left” or “right.”

A first tubing network 30 is integrated into a left segment 26 of the upper body garment 20. The left segment 26 is situated to the left side of the vertical axis 22. Similarly, a second tubing network 36 is integrated into a right segment 28 of the upper body garment 20, the right segment 28 being situated to the right side of the vertical axis 22. The first 30 and second 36 tubing networks are configured to distribute forced or pressurized air received from a forced air supply, such as air generated by an air compressor 67. The air-cooled undergarment 10 includes a supply hose 12 having a first end 14 operatively coupled to the first tubing network 30 and an opposite second end 16 configured to be selectively coupled to a forced air source such as an air compressor 67.

Accordingly, the first tubing network 30 is operatively connected to the air supply or compressor 67, such as through a valve as will be described in greater detail later. The first tubing network 30 is in fluid communication with the second tubing network 36 such that air received into the first tubing network 30 is distributed to the second tubing network 36. As shown particularly in FIG. 4, the first 30 and second 36 tubing networks are coupled together for fluid communication in only a single location 31 that crosses the vertical axis 22. Otherwise, the first tubing network 30 is positioned solely within the left segment 26 to the left side of the vertical axis 22 and the second tubing network 36 is positioned solely within the right segment 28 to the right side of the vertical axis 22.

The tubing portions are integrated into both the front and the back of the upper boy garment 20. More particularly, the upper body garment 20 defines an imaginary horizontal axis 24 extending between shoulder portions of the upper body garment 20. The horizontal axis serves to divide the upper body garment 20 into front and rear portions for the sake of the detailed description of the invention. The first tubing network 30 may be divided into a left front portion 32 of tubing elements situated on a front side of the horizontal axis 24 and a left rear portion 34 of tubing elements situated on an opposed rear side of the horizontal axis 24. Likewise, the second tubing network 36 may be divided into a right front portion 38 of tubing elements situated on a front side of the horizontal axis 24 and a right rear portion 39 of tubing elements situated on an opposed rear side of the horizontal axis 24. It is understood that a respective front portion and rear portion of the first 30 and second 36 tubing networks are in fluid communication.

Further, the first tubing network 30 includes a left arm portion 35 having tubing elements in fluid communication with said left front portion 32 of tubing elements, the left arm portion 35 being arranged to correspond to a left arm of a wearer of the upper body garment 20. Likewise, the second tubing network 36 includes a right arm portion 44 having tubing elements in fluid communication with said right front portion 38 of tubing elements, the right arm portion 44 being arranged to correspond to a right arm of a wearer of the upper body garment 20.

The tubing elements of each arm portion may be arranged in a continuous ring type pattern. By contrast, the plurality of tubing elements of the first tubing network 30 are spaced apart from one another and positioned in a general winding pattern within the left segment 26 of the upper body garment 20. Similarly, the plurality of tubing elements of the second tubing network 36 are spaced apart from one another and positioned in a general winding pattern within the right segment 28 of the upper body garment 20. The winding pattern is effective to distribute forced air throughout the upper body garment 20.

The air-cooled undergarment 10 includes a pressure regulator 60 that is configured to reduce the pressure of air received from a central air supply (e.g. air compressor) to a predetermined air pressure that can be distributed through the first 30 and second 36 tubing networks. The pressure regulator 60 may be situated intermediate the first end 14 of the supply hose 12 and first tubing network 30. The pressure regulator 60 may be configured to selectively allow or prevent air to pass from the supply hose 12 to the first tubing network 30 or, alternatively, may be cooperatively coupled to a control valve for this purpose. It is understood that operation of the pressure regulator 60 may be controlled by a microcontroller 64, processor, or circuitry as will be described later.

Further, the air-cooled undergarment 10 may includes a temperature sensor 62 situated in the upper body garment 20 and configured to determine the temperature of the wearer's skin when the upper body garment 20 is being worn. Preferably, the temperature sensor 62 will be proximate a user's skin when the upper body garment 20 is worn.

The air-cooled undergarment 10 also includes a microcontroller 64 in data communication with the temperature sensor 62. It is understood that the microcontroller 64 may be a processor with memory and programming or just circuitry. Preferably, the microcontroller 64 is programmed to actuate the pressure regulator 60 to permit air to be received from the forced air supply (e.g. air compressor) 67 into the first tubing network 30 when a predetermined temperature is detected by the temperature sensor 62. For instance, when the wearer's skin temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, the upper body garment 20 begins to be cooled by forced air flowing through the first 30 and second 36 tubing networks.

In one embodiment, the air-cooled undergarment 10 also includes a thermostat 66 having an input dial. As with a conventional residential heating and cooling thermostat, the wearer of the undergarment 10 can set a temperature at which the cooling means described above will be actuated. Accordingly, the thermostat 66 is in data communication with the microcontroller 64 and temperature sensor 62. The microcontroller 64 may be programmed to compare a current temperature as indicated by the temperature sensor 62 with a temperature selected by a wearer using the thermostat 66.

In one embodiment, the air-cooled undergarment 10 also includes a lower body garment 40 configured for wear on the lower torso of the wearer. The lower body garment 40 preferably includes a left leg portion 42 and a right leg portion 44. The lower body garment 40 is in the form of underwear or shorts. A third tubing network 46 is integrated into the left leg portion 42 of the lower body garment 40 at a position that corresponds to an outer left leg area of the wearer. In like manner, a fourth tubing network 48 is integrated into the right leg portion 44 of the lower body garment 40 at a position that corresponds to an outer right leg area of the wearer. The third tubing network 46 and the fourth tubing network 48 are in operative fluid communication with the first tubing network 30 such that air received into the first tubing network 30 from the central forced air supply 67 is selectively distributed to the third and fourth tubing networks, respectively.

In one embodiment, a fifth tubing network 50 is integrated into the left leg portion 42 of the lower body garment 40 at a position that corresponds to an inner left leg area of the wearer. In like manner, a sixth tubing network 52 is integrated into the right leg portion 44 of the lower body garment 40 at a position that corresponds to an inner right leg area of the wearer. The fifth tubing network 50 and the sixth tubing network 52 are in operative fluid communication with the first tubing network 30 such that air received into the first tubing network 30 from the central forced air supply is selectively distributed to the fifth and sixth tubing networks, respectively.

It is to be appreciated that the position of the third through sixth tubing networks is important to the user-friendliness of the lower body garment 40. By being positioned on the left or right leg portions at positions corresponding to outer and inner leg areas of a wearer, leg movement is made more freely and without the discomfort or difficulty that is likely to be experienced if these networks were placed on the front or rear surfaces of the leg portions, respectively.

The tubing elements described above have a configuration that efficiently and effectively distributes the cool pressurized air from the air supply across the surface of a wearer's skin. More particularly, a respective tubing element includes a bottom wall and a continuous side wall that defines at least one but preferably a plurality of spaced apart apertures 68 (FIG. 6c). A respective aperture 68 is adjacent the bottom wall 69 and configured so that air flowing through the tubing element is directed outwardly across the wearer's skin. In one embodiment, the respective tubing element defines a pair of apertures 68 opposite one another and configured such that air flowing through the tubing element is directed outwardly in opposite directions across the wearer's skin.

In use, a user would wear a uniform or other work-related attire over the air-cooled undergarment 10. The tubing elements of respective tubing networks may be connected and then the first tubing network 30 may be coupled to the central forced air supply 67. When a predetermined temperature is indicated by the temperature sensor 62 or a temperature indicated by the thermostat 66 is reached, pressurized air will pass through the pressure regulator 60 and into the first tubing network 30 where it will be distributed to the other tubing networks. Distributed air is able to flow through respective apertures across the skin of a user to maintain a desired coolness even in hot environmental or occupational conditions.

It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.