Low temperature wearable cooling device for stimulating weight-loss and related methods

Abstract

Disclosed are several embodiments of wearable cooling devices for applying low temperatures to the human body for the purpose of inducing calorie burn over and above resting metabolic rate, even if the wearer is resting, and for the ultimate purpose of weight loss. It is an objective of this disclosure to describe the wearable cooling devices so that low temperatures are applied comprehensively over regions of the body that will induce significant calorie burn. A further objective of this disclosure is to describe garments that effectively exchange heat from a tight skin-to-garment interface that covers a large surface area of the body.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A new use of a wearable cooling device whereby said cooling device extracts heat from the body of the wearer at a sufficient rate to substantially stimulate the metabolism of the body of said wearer. 
     
     
         2 . A method of enhancing the calorie burn of a body by donning a wearable cooling device when the wearer is otherwise at a comfortable temperature, thereby extracting heat from the body and causing the body to burn extra calories to stay warm. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said wearable cooling device is configured to enhance the calorie burn of said body. 
     
     
         4 . A wearable cooling device comprising:
 a. a material means of extracting heat from the body of the wearer in an amount effective to substantially stimulate the metabolism of the body of said wearer,   b. said material means capable of being repeatedly chilled and warmed;   c. a structure supporting said material means, said supporting structure facilitating the transfer of heat between said material means and the body of the wearer,   whereby said material means extracts heat from the body of the wearer at a rate sufficient to substantially stimulate the metabolism of the body of said wearer.   
     
     
         5 . A method of enhancing calorie burn of a body by wearing said wearable cooling device of  claim 4 . 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said wearable cooling device is configured to enhance the calorie burn of said body. 
     
     
         7 . The wearable cooling device of  claim 4 , wherein said structure may be selected from a group comprising of but not limited to a garment, a backpack, a front pack, a burn pack, a wearable accessory, etc. 
     
     
         8 . The wearable cooling device of  claim 4 , wherein said means for extracting heat from the body of the wearer may be selected from a group comprising of but not limited to fluids or gels in one or more sealed packs, and fluids flowing through one or more tubes or other enclosed apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . The wearable cooling device of  claim 4 , comprising
 a. an open collar merged with a cape, said open collar configured to interface with the neck of the wearer, said cape configured to interface with the shoulders and back of the wearer, and said collar and cape configured to exchange heat with the skin of the wearer,   b. one or more fasteners connecting the two sides of the open collar, said fasteners providing means for opening and closing of said collar, and providing means to adjust the circumference of said open collar,   c. a belt coupled to the back of the cape near the waist and configured to wrap around the torso of the wearer and fasten at the front, providing means to adjust the circumference and tightness-of-fit around the wearer's torso,   d. adjustable suspenders coupled to the belt and front of the cape providing means to maintain tension on the cape, thus facilitating a tight coupling between the cooling material of the cape and the skin,   whereby the belt, fasteners, and suspenders facilitate a snug fit of the cooling material of the wearable device to the skin of the wearer, thereby optimizing heat flow from the body of the wearer to the wearable cooling device.   
     
     
         10 . The wearable cooling device of  claim 4 , comprising
 a. an open collar, said collar configured to interface with the neck of the wearer and configured to exchange heat with the skin of the wearer,   b. said collar having one or more means to connect the two ends of the collar together,   c. said means to connect the two ends of the collar having a means to adjust the circumference and tightness-of-fit of the collar,   whereby said collar can be fastened, unfastened, and has means to adjust the size and fit of different neck sizes.   
     
     
         11 . The wearable cooling device of  claim 4 , comprising
 a. a shirt with interior pockets providing means to hold cold packs,   b. said shirt and pockets being constructed from a fabric providing means of low water absorption, and minimal shrinkage,   c. said cold packs having a substantially snug fit into said interior pockets,   d. said pockets providing means of closure that firmly hold said cold packs inside the pockets allowing minimal movement of said cold packs inside said pockets,   e. said closures having means to repeatedly be, opened and closed, allowing said cold packs to be repeatedly inserted and removed,   whereby said shirt facilitates efficient transference of heat from the body to the cold packs, and convenient transference of the shirt from the body to the freezer and back again without removal of the cold packs and without retaining condensation.   
     
     
         12 . The wearable cooling device of  claim 4 , comprising
 a. a vest with interior pockets providing means to hold said material means of extracting heat from the body,   b. said vest having an outward facing surface,   c. said vest and pockets being constructed from a fabric providing means of low water absorption, and minimal shrinkage,   d. said material means having a substantially snug fit into said interior pockets,   e. said pockets providing means of closure that firmly hold said material means inside said pockets allowing little movement of said material means while inside said pockets,   f. said closures having means to repeatedly be opened and closed, allowing said material means to be repeatedly inserted and removed,   g. said outward facing surface of said vest constructed so as to appear as a waistcoat,   whereby said vest facilitates efficient transference of heat from the body to said material means, and convenient transference of the vest from the body to a freezer and back again without removal of said material means and without retaining condensation, said material means may be removed to be frozen separately and so said vest can be laundered, and said vest and associated apparatus can be worn as part of a formal dress suit or as part of a suit of business.   
     
     
         13 . The wearable cooling device of  claim 4 , comprising
 a. said material means and said supporting structure fitting into the palm of a human hand,   b. a strap attached to said supporting structure,   c. said strap providing means to wrap around the back of a hand of said human,   d. said strap providing means to adjust to various hand sizes,   e. said strap providing means of closure to hold said sealed pack of material of high heat capacity snugly against the palm of the hand of said human,   whereby said sealed pack of material of high heat capacity extracts heat from the palm of the hand of said human.   
     
     
         14 . The wearable cooling device of  claim 4 , comprising
 a. a glove that fits over the hand of a human,   b. said glove providing means to transfer heat from said hand to a cooling material,   whereby said glove facilitates the transfer of heat from said human hand to said cooling material.   
     
     
         15 . The wearable cooling device of  claim 4 , comprising a foot garment selected from the list comprising but not limited to a shoe, a sock, and an insole, whereby said foot garment facilitates the transfer of heat from the foot of said human to said cooling material. 
     
     
         16 . The wearable cooling device of  claim 4 , comprising
 a. a lower-body garment,   b. said lower-body garment selected from the list comprising but not limited to trousers, pants, shorts, underpants, leggings, etc.,   whereby said lower-body garment facilitates the transfer of heat from the foot of said human to said cooling material.   
     
     
         17 . The wearable cooling device of  claim 4 , comprising
 a. headgear,   b. said headgear selected from the list comprising but not limited to a hat, a cap, a face mask, ear muffs, headphones, scarf, etc.,   whereby said headgear facilitates the transfer of heat from the head of said human to said cooling material.   
     
     
         18 . The wearable cooling device of  claim 4 , comprising a suit covering the body, or parts thereof, whereby said suit extracts heat from the body in an amount sufficient to stimulate the metabolism and induce extra calorie burn in said body. 
     
     
         19 . The wearable cooling device of  claim 4 , said cooling device providing a means to insulate said material means against absorption of heat from the environment, whereby said material means exchanges less heat with the environment and thus remains cold for a longer duration.