Wearable Vascular System for Facilitating Evaporative Cooling of an Individual

Abstract

A water-cooling apparatus is disclosed that significantly improves the comfort of an individual by reducing overheating, perspiration, dehydration, odors, and electrolyte loss. A vascular distribution system attachable either directly to the individual or to a shirt or other garment worn by the individual delivers water that cools the individual by evaporation. A source of water can be included, and water can be pumped and/or squeezed from the source, pushed by air pressure, or drawn through the vascular system by gravity or capillary action. A chiller can cool the water before it is delivered, and the vascular system and/or water source can be in thermal contact with the individual. A connecting port can be included to allow the water source to be temporarily connected, and a drinking port can be included to allow the individual to drink the water and/or force water into the vascular system by blowing into the port.

1 . An apparatus for cooling an individual, the apparatus comprising:
 a vascular water distribution system cooperative with at least a portion of the body of the individual,
 the vascular water distribution system being connectable to a source of water; and 
 the vascular water distribution system being able to distribute water over a portion of the body of the individual, thereby enabling evaporative cooling of the portion of the body of the individual. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vascular water distribution system includes structural elements that maintain the configuration of the vascular water distribution system when the vascular water distribution system is in use. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vascular water distribution system is attachable to the individual. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vascular water distribution system is attachable to the individual using at least one of:
 straps;   ties;   belts; and   elastic bands.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vascular water distribution system is attachable to a garment. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the vascular water distribution system is attachable to the garment using at least one of:
 hook-and-loop attachment fabric;   glue;   tie strips;   magnetic attachment;   buttons;   hooks;   pins; and   snaps.   
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein water flows through the vascular water distribution due to at least one of:
 pressure applied to the water;   capillary action; and   gravity.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vascular water distribution system is in thermal contact with the individual, thereby allowing water flowing through the vascular water distribution system to absorb heat from the individual. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vascular water distribution system further comprises a connecting port that is temporarily connectable to a source of water. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a drinking port that is attachable to the source of water and can be used by the individual to drink from the source of water. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein water can be pushed into the vascular water distribution system by blowing into the drinking port. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vascular water distribution system is attachable to the fabric of at least one of a shirt, shorts, and a hat. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a source of water connectable to the vascular water distribution system. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the source of water includes a water chiller that is able to cool the water before it is distributed by the vascular water distribution system. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the source of water includes a pump operable by the individual so as to pump water into the vascular water distribution system. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the pump is operated automatically when the body of the individual undergoes movement that is at least one of:
 breathing;   walking;   moving of arms;   moving of legs;   and other body movements.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the source of water includes an air space cooperative with water contained in the source of water, the air space being fillable with compressed air so as to apply pressure to the water, thereby pushing the water into the vascular water distribution system. 
     
     
         18 . The garment of  claim 17 , wherein the air space is separated from the water in the source of water by a flexible barrier that is able to apply pressure to the water while ensuring that only water will be delivered by the source of water to the vascular water distribution system. 
     
     
         19 . The garment of  claim 18 , wherein the source of water includes a pump operable by the individual so as to compress the air in the air space. 
     
     
         20 . The garment of  claim 19 , wherein the pump is operated automatically when the body of the individual undergoes movement that is at least one of:
 breathing;   walking;   moving of arms;   moving of legs;   and other body movements.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the source of water includes a water container that can be compressed by the individual so as to push water into the vascular water distribution system. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein at least some of the water supplied by the source of water is maintained in thermal contact with the individual before it is delivered to the vascular water distribution system. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vascular water distribution system distributes water unevenly over the portion of the body of the individual.