Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2135966
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to products which can
be used for cooling or refreshing the body of a person or an
inanimate object.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of various different types of products for
the purposes of cooling or refreshing a body or other object
has been well known in the art and has been practiced for
centuries using a variety of different types of products.
For example, it has been well known that evaporation of water
from a container requires an energy input and therefore
imparts a cooling effect to the remainder of the water
therein. This was used by travellers hot climates as
exemplified by flasks formed of somewhat porous material.
In more recent times, it has also been known to use
chemical products for the purposes of cooling or heating
objects. Thus, one can refer to the use of certain types of
gel composi~ions as a heat transfer medium. Such gel
compositions have been used as so called freezer packs or
thermal packs. They have received wide use usually as a
product for keeping food or the like at a desired
temperature.
It is also known in the art to use such gels in an
article of clothing such as a cap. For example, in U. S.
Patent 5,163,425 to Nambu et al, there is disclos,ed a cap
having a gel composition for cooling of the head of the
wearer. This cap operates in a conventional manner in that
it is first of all cooled and the gel composition is used as
a heat transfer medium.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide
a novel product for the cooling of an object which uses the
evaporation of water or a like fluid to provide a cooling
effect.
According to one aspect of the present invention,
the product may comprise an absorption/desorption polymer
which is encased in an envelope formed of a water permeable
material, the pores of the material being sized to be
sufficiently large to permit the passage of water
therethrough while being sufficiently small to retain the
polymer. The product may have many different shapes or forms
depending upon the end use of the same.
As aforementioned, the product is used to obtain a
cooling effect and may be used in conjunction with different
objects. When used for the human body, one such product may
be a type of head or sweat band. The use of such bands is
well accepted and widely practiced in various sports wherever
physical exertion is such that perspiration is produced. For
example, such head or sweat bands are very popular among
joggers and tennis players.
The product may also be used in cushions or the
like. Another use in conjunction with the body would be in
the form of an applicator for a joint or other body par~
which requires a cooling effect such as may be the, case with
a sore wrist, elbow, knee, etc. In some instances, it is
envisaged that the water may contain one or more types of
medicaments which may be appropriate for a particular
situation.
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The present invention could also be used for other
objects which are desired to keep cool such various types of
refreshments or the like. One could, for example, have a
product adapted to surround a bottle or can of a beverage and
which product will act to maintain a cool temperature for the
contents of the container.
The material used to obtain the cooling effect is
preferably that which is known as an absorption/desorption
polymer. Such polymers are known in the art and have the
capability of quickly absorbing free water and subsequently
desorbing the water. Among such known materials are
polyacrylates and polyacrylamides. In a preferred
embodiment, a potassium based polyacrylate is used as it has
a high absorption/desorption effect.
Without being limited by any particular theory, it
has been proposed that the potassium based polyacrylate
marketed under the trademark "Aquamend" has negative and
positive molecule groups which are ionic. The negative
charge and its counter balancing ion (potassium or hydrogen)
creates strong attractive and repulsive forces. In the
----- presence of water, it surrounds the negative oxygen group
which moves the polymer chains apart to accommodate the extra
volume caused by the water. During the desorption process,
the attraction of the oxygen for the potassium or hydrogen
ion is greater than the attraction for water. Ac~ordingly,
the water can defuse from the polymer and the polymer begins
to contract. These actions permit large volumes of water to
be absorbed/desorbed.
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The material forming the envelope encasing the
polymer, as previously mentioned, must be water permeable or,
in other words be sufficiently porous to permit passage of
water therethrough both during the absorption and desorption
processes, while, at the same time, the pores must be
sufficiently small to retain the polymers therein
particularly in the dehydrated state. Many suitable
materials are well known in the art including a substantial
number of textile products. A typical such product would be
a polyester/cotton blend with a good "feel" being obtained
with a 35/65 cotton polyester blend.
The particular configuration or shape of the
product will naturally depend upon the end use. In the case
of a sweat or head band, an elongated tube like configuration
may be utilized. Means for securing the head band in place
may range from free ends which are adapted to be tied to the
use of various fastening devices such as the inter-engageable
eyes and hooks of a filament like material such as marketed
under the trademark "Velcro". Naturally, other fastening
means may likewise be employed.
Similarly, one could use different shapes for
bracelets or other purposes.
The manufacture of the particular product is
-- relatively simple and would simply comprise the steps o~
--~~ including a sufficient amount of the dehydrated c~ystal
product and enclosing it in the desired shape of material.
The amount of polymer utilized will depend upon the end use.
Depending upon the particular polymer used, the polymer will
absorb between 200 to 500 times its weight in water or 50
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times its volume. In use, the article is placed in contact
or soaked in water (with or without additives) for a period
of time ranging from 10 to 30 minutes. It may then be used
for its purpose and will undergo a desorption, the rate
depending on factors such as the material enclosing the same,
relative humidity, temperatures, etc. It will, however,
continue to maintain a cooling a refreshing effect.
As previously mentioned, the product can also be
used to maintain inanimate objects cool and for example a
preferred use would be as a covering about a container for a
beverage such as a soft drink, beer, wine, etc.
A substantial advantage of the product of the
present invention is in the manufacturing and shipping
process. Thus, the product in its dehydrated state uses very
little space and can easily and inexpensively be shipped to
various locations. Similarly, once the product has served
its purpose, it can easily be carried by the user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Having thus generally described the invention,
reference will be made to the accompanying drawings
illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which;
Figure 1 is a side view of a head band being worn
by a person;
Figure 2 is a top elevational view of the headband
of Figured 1;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the headband when
the polymer is in a substantially dry state;
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Figure 4 is a perspective view of a beverage can
utilizing the further embodiment of the product of the
present invention;
Figure 5 is a top plan view of Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the product
of Figure 4;
Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the
lines 7-7 of Figure 6; and
Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7, but with
the polymer having absorbed water.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by
reference characters thereto, one embodiment of the product
of the present invention may comprise a headband generally
designated by reference numeral 10. As shown in Figure 1,
headband 10 may be placed about the forehead F of a wearer.
Headband 10 is formed of a suitable fabric textile
and has a front wall 12, a back wall 14, a top wall 16 and a
bottom wall 18. Front wall 12 is secured to back wall 14 by
stitching 20 to thereby form a tube like envelope. Ends of
the tube ar~ likewise closed by means of stitching 24.
A quantity of an absorbent/desorbent polymer is
placed within the envelope and occupies very little space.
However, when placed in a liquid, the polymer abs,orbs the
liquid. As previously discussed, the textile fabric forming
the enclosure is permeable to moisture while retaining the
polymer. Conveniently, headband 10 may include free ends 26
and 28 which are of the same material and which can thereby
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function to secure the headband in place through tying of a
loose knot 30.
In a further embodiment of the present invention,
there is provided a cooling device 34 placed about a
conventional beverage can 32. Device 34 is again formed of a
~-~ textile fabric material permeable to water and is of a
generally rectangular configuration having an inner wall 36,
an outer wall 38, a top wall 40 and a bottom wall 42. The
wall serve to enclose the polymer 44 within and the device
can be secured about the circumference of the beverage can 32
by means of a hook and eye attachment 46 such as is commonly
marketed under the trademark "Velcro". In both of the above
embodiments, the device may function to permit the
evaporation of water from the polymer from the permeable
fabric thereby imparting a cooling effect to the remaining
liquid retained by the polymer and a cooling effect either to
the wearer or to the beverage container. When completely
dry, the polymer uses very little space and thus the
headband 10 or the device 34 may easily be stored.
It will be understood that the above described
embodiments are for purposes of illustration only and that
changes and modifications may be made thereto without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
