Cooling insert apparatus and method of using the same

Abstract

A cooling apparatus is disclosed, and includes a body and a plurality of couplings spaced along the body. The body is formed of a flexible and absorbent polymer material, and is configured to absorb fluid. The plurality of couplings is spaced along the body of the cooling apparatus. A first set of couplings of the plurality of couplings is configured to releasably couple with a second set of couplings of the plurality of couplings.

1 . A cooling apparatus, comprising:
 a body formed of a flexible and absorbent polymer material, the body configured to absorb fluid;   a plurality of couplings spaced along the body of the cooling apparatus, a first set of couplings of the plurality of couplings configured to releasably couple with a second set of couplings of the plurality of couplings.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent polymer material is a hydrogel. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent polymer material is at least partially water-soluble. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent polymer material is polyvinyl alcohol. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent polymer material comprises a blend of absorbent fibers. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the blend of absorbent fibers includes polyvinyl alcohol and at least one other absorbent fiber. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one other absorbent fiber is selected from the group consisting of: acetate, polyester, nylon, polypropylene, and polyethylene. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the cooling apparatus is formed of a plurality of polymer chains that are configured to cross-link in the presence of fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the cooling apparatus is configured to absorb a quantity of fluid greater than ten times than a weight of the body of the cooling apparatus. 
     
     
         10 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the cooling apparatus has a planar configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the cooling apparatus has a rectangular configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the cooling apparatus includes an extent extending outwardly therefrom along a plane defined by the body of the cooling apparatus. 
     
     
         13 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the extent is semicircular. 
     
     
         14 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the couplings of the plurality of couplings are snaps. 
     
     
         15 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of couplings of the plurality of couplings includes a protrusion extending therefrom. 
     
     
         16 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the second set of couplings of the plurality of couplings includes a recess configured to releasably receive the protrusion of the respective couplings of the first set of couplings.