Carbon Dioxide Pellet Cooling Safety Helmet and a Flexible Carbon Dioxide Pellet Containment and Vapor Diffusion Fabric Segment

Abstract

The invention is a reusable personal cooling apparatus that utilizes exclusively pourable pellet forms of Carbon-Dioxide Pellets as an expendable coolant. This coolant is placed in one or more compatibly designed, refillable Coolant Chambers that are integrated into a wearable garment that can be either a Hard-Shell Design (by example, an impact-protection helmet) or a Soft-Shell Design (by example, a vest), or a combination thereof. The Carbon-Dioxide Pellets are of machine manufacture and high density. They enhance the conformability of the Soft-Shell Design garment, promote ease of filling both garment designs and make possible the application of the pellet form of coolant to rigid, thin, curved structures like a helmet. The application of vibration expedites the speed of filling the apparatus and maximizes the fill volume by minimizing void formation within the Coolant Chamber. The cooling effect is achieved through the process of phase transition wherein solid carbon dioxide subliminates to Carbon-Dioxide Vapor which in turn is vented toward the skin of the individual wearing the garment. The ramifications are a versatile, reusable, convenient and diversely configurable personal cooling apparatus and a complementary coolant that function together to enhance personal comfort.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An article of apparel, comprising:
 a. at least one integrated coolant chamber for the containment of pourable, solid carbon dioxide in the general form of pellets or granules of predetermined size,   b. said coolant chamber can exist as either a rigid or flexible structure integrated individually or in combination within the structure of said article of apparel,   c. said coolant chamber is constructed of a substantially carbon-dioxide vapor-impermeable layer and a substantially carbon-dioxide vapor-permeable layer that together provide for the directional flow of carbon-dioxide vapor as a coolant, whereby unwanted heat is conveniently and simply removed.
 1. The article of apparel in  claim 1  wherein the integrated Coolant Chamber of the Hard-Shell Design is formed within the expanded or Impact-Absorbing Foam Layer of a protective helmet. 
 2. The article of apparel in  claim 1  wherein the integrated Coolant Chamber of the Soft-Shell Design is constructed of Carbon-Dioxide Vapor-Impermeable and Carbon-Dioxide Vapor-Permeable flexible composite fabrics. Both fabrics assembled with a repeating pattern of offset rows of Spot Bonds that adhere the two fabric layers together, whereby a consistent maximum thickness of said Coolant Chamber is established and minimal obstruction to the placement of Carbon-Dioxide Pellets is achieved. 
 3. The article of apparel in  claim 1  wherein the Coolant Chamber or chambers are refillable. 
 4. The article of apparel in  claim 1  wherein the integrated Coolant Chamber in the Hard-Shell Design that is formed in the expanded or Impact-Absorbing Foam Layer of a protective helmet has a single origin point at the highest part of the helmet which branches into multiple, downward-sloping, smooth-surface, Tubular-Shaped Channels that reach to the periphery of the helmet. 
 5. The article of apparel in  claim 1  wherein the integrated Coolant Chamber of the Hard-Shell Design that is formed in the expanded or Impact-Absorbing Foam Layer of a protective helmet has a Continuous-Vapor Slit penetrating the inside surface of said foam, which is covered by any predetermined combination of Carbon-Dioxide Vapor-Permeable Fabric and Carbon-Dioxide Vapor-Impermeable Fabric such that a defined passageway is provided for Carbon-Dioxide Vapor to access the head of the person wearing the helmet while solid carbon dioxide is simultaneously excluded. 
 6. The article of apparel in  claim 1  wherein the Continuous-Vapor Slit that penetrates the expanded or Impact-Absorbing Foam Layer may comprise a continuous channel or any predetermined interval and dimension of perforations. 
 7. The article of apparel in  claim 1  wherein the article of apparel is of a Hard-Shell Design, commonly in the form of a Cooling and Impact-Protection Safety Helmet, wherein a visual, audible, or combination carbon-dioxide-exposure monitoring device is integrated or removable, such that the wearer is alerted to a carbon dioxide exposure event. 
 8. The article of apparel in  claim 1  wherein the article of apparel is of a Hard-Shell Design, in the form of a Cooling and Impact-Protection Safety Helmet, wherein a silicone or similar raised, continuous ridge or bead of a dense, yet conformable, substance is placed on or through the internal Padded Comfort Liner so that it aligns and contacts with the periphery of the face of the individual wearing said Cooling and Impact-Protection Safety Helmet, such that said continuous ridge forms a Continuous Vapor Dam, which serves as a barrier to carbon dioxide vapor venting from the coolant chamber, restricting said vapor from flowing toward the face of the individual wearing the helmet, whereby said vapor present for respiratory aspiration is minimized. 
 9. The article of apparel in  claim 1  wherein the article of apparel is of a Hard-Shell Design, in the form of a protective helmet, wherein any number of the downward sloping coolant chamber Terminal Branches physically connect to an external vent, whereby the coolant effect can be regulated. 
   
     
     
         2 . A new use of Carbon-Dioxide Pellets, comprising:
 a. the poured placement of pourable forms of Carbon-Dioxide Pellets into a compatible article of apparel, said article of apparel comprising a Hard-Shell, Soft-Shell or a combination of the two designs,   b. said Carbon-Dioxide Pellets are machine-manufactured, commonly by, but not limited to, extrusion, to a size and shape that permits their poured placement within said compatible article of apparel,   c. said article of apparel being configured in the form of not less than a safety helmet, vest, hat, scarf, jacket, or seat cover,   whereby, unwanted heat is conveniently removed through the donning of the article of apparel.
 10. The new use of Carbon-Dioxide Pellets of  claim 2  wherein their poured placement into the compatible article of apparel is optionally accomplished more efficiently through the application of manual, mechanical or electromechanical forms of vibration, said vibration having the effect of reducing the occurrence of obstructions and voids during said poured placement event. 
 11. The new use of solid carbon dioxide pellets of  claim 2  wherein the integrated coolant chamber of the hard shell design is formed within the expanded or Impact-Absorbing Foam Layer of a protective helmet. 
 12. The new use of solid carbon dioxide pellets of  claim 2  wherein the integrated Coolant Chamber of the Soft-Shell Design is constructed of flexible Carbon-Dioxide Vapor-Impermeable and Carbon-Dioxide Vapor-Permeable Composite Fabrics utilizing a repeating pattern of offset Spot Bonds placed in rows to adhere the two fabric layers together, whereby, a consistent maximum thickness of said Coolant Chamber is established and minimal obstruction to the placement of Carbon-Dioxide Pellets within is achieved. 
 13. The new use of Carbon-Dioxide Pellets of  claim 2  wherein the article of apparel contains at least one integrated design element that minimizes resistance to the poured placement of said Carbon-Dioxide Pellets. 
 14. The new use of Carbon-Dioxide Pellets of  claim 2  wherein the integrated Coolant Chamber of the Hard-Shell Design that is formed in the expanded or Impact-Absorbing Foam Layer of a protective helmet has a Continuous-Vapor Slit penetrating the internal surface of said foam, said slit which is covered by a predetermined combination of Carbon-Dioxide Vapor-Permeable and Carbon-Dioxide Vapor-Impermeable Composite Fabric, such that a route of access for Carbon-Dioxide Vapor to the head of the person wearing the helmet is defined, while Carbon-Dioxide Pellets are simultaneously excluded. 
 15. The solid carbon dioxide pellets of  claim 2  being machine manufactured to a predetermined optimum density to achieve the complete filling of said article of apparel while simultaneously achieving a desired level of cooling capacity. 
   
     
     
         3 . A method of removing unwanted heat from an entity, comprising:
 a. An article of apparel configured to hold solid carbon dioxide in the form of pourable pellets or granules, in close proximity to the surface of the entity wearing said article of apparel,   b. said article of apparel may consist of a Hard-Shell, Soft-Shell or combination of the two shell designs which contains one or more coolant chambers integrated to said article of apparel,   c. said Coolant Chamber or chambers being constructed with minimally obstructive, smooth surfaces that promote the ease by which said pellets or granules are placed by pouring into said Coolant Chamber or chambers,   d. said Coolant Chamber or chambers being constructed in a manner that provides a substantially Carbon-Dioxide Vapor-Impermeable layer and a substantially Carbon-Dioxide Vapor-Permeable layer that together provide for a directional flow of Carbon-Dioxide Vapor toward the surface of the entity wearing said article of apparel,   e. said pellets or granules within said coolant chamber or chambers undergo characteristic phase transition from solid to vapor,
 whereby, unwanted body heat is removed by a simple, easily refillable article of apparel. 
 16. The method of removing unwanted heat from an entity of  claim 3  wherein the article of apparel is of a Hard-Shell Design, commonly in the form of a full face Cooling and Impact-Protection Safety Helmet, wherein a visual, audible, or combination Carbon-Dioxide-Exposure Monitor or Indicator is integrated or removable, such that the wearer is alerted to a carbon-dioxide-exposure event. 
 17. The method of removing unwanted heat from an entity of  claim 3  wherein the article of apparel is refillable and thereby reusable.