Wearable Cooling Apparatus

Abstract

A wearable cooling apparatus for cooling a person's body with ice packs includes a primary sleeve having walls that, together, define an interior space. The primary sleeve includes a closed first end blocking access to the interior space and defining an open second end configured to allow the ice packs to be inserted sequentially into the interior space. While the outer, upper, and lower primary sleeve walls may include insulation so as to resist a thermal energy transfer out of the interior area, the inner sleeve wall is not insulated and allows thermal transfer to the skin of a wearer. The primary sleeve includes a fastener for selective attachment to a garment. A plurality of auxiliary sleeves may be attached to the garment and worn on a person's torso. The primary sleeve may have an elongate configuration and include fasteners for use as a cooling belt apart from the garment.

1 . A wearable cooling apparatus for cooling a person's body with ice packs when worn, said cooling apparatus, comprising:
 a primary sleeve having opposed inner and outer primary sleeve walls connected by upper and lower primary sleeve walls extending therebetween, respectively, that, together, define an interior space;   wherein said primary sleeve includes a closed first end blocking access into or out of said interior space and defining an open second end opposite said closed first end that is configured to allow the ice packs to be inserted sequentially into said interior space.   
     
     
         2 . The wearable cooling apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said outer primary sleeve wall includes an outer insulation member  30  that resists transfer of thermal energy. 
     
     
         3 . The wearable cooling apparatus as in  claim 2 , wherein said upper primary sleeve wall include an upper insulation member that resists transfer of thermal energy. 
     
     
         4 . The wearable cooling apparatus as in  claim 3 , wherein said lower primary sleeve wall includes a lower insulation member that resists transfer of thermal energy. 
     
     
         5 . The wearable cooling apparatus as in  claim 4 , wherein said inner primary sleeve wall is not insulated. 
     
     
         6 . The wearable cooling apparatus as in  claim 1 , comprising a hook and loop fastener coupled to an outer surface of said inner primary sleeve wall that is configured so that said primary sleeve is selectively attached to a textile material. 
     
     
         7 . The wearable cooling apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a garment selectively wearable on the torso of a person;   a hook and loop fastener coupled to an outer surface of said inner primary sleeve wall that is configured so that said primary sleeve is selectively attached to an inner surface of said garment.v   
     
     
         8 . The wearable cooling apparatus as in  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a garment wearable on the torso of a person;   a hook and loop fastener coupled to an outer surface of said inner primary sleeve wall that is configured so that said primary sleeve is selectively attached to an inside surface said garment.   
     
     
         9 . The wearable cooling apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said primary sleeve includes a first fastener operatively coupled to said first end of said primary sleeve and a second fastener operatively coupled to said second end of said primary sleeve; and   said first fastener is releasably coupled to said second fastener such that said primary sleeve is selectively wearable around a waist of a person.   
     
     
         10 . The wearable cooling apparatus as in  claim 5 , wherein:
 said primary sleeve includes a first fastener operatively coupled to said first end of said primary sleeve and a second fastener operatively coupled to said second end of said primary sleeve; and   said first fastener is releasably coupled to said second fastener such that said primary sleeve is selectively wearable around the waist of a person independent of said garment.   
     
     
         11 . The wearable cooling apparatus as in  claim 8 , wherein:
 said primary sleeve includes a first fastener operatively coupled to said first end of said primary sleeve and a second fastener operatively coupled to said second end of said primary sleeve;   said first fastener is releasably coupled to said second fastener such that said primary sleeve is selectively wearable around the waist of a person when selectively released from said garment.   
     
     
         12 . The wearable cooling apparatus as in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a plurality of auxiliary sleeves coupled to said garment, each auxiliary sleeve having opposed inner and outer auxiliary sleeve walls connected by upper and lower auxiliary sleeve walls extending therebetween, respectively, that, together, define an interior space;   wherein said auxiliary sleeve includes a closed first end blocking access into or out of said interior space and defining an open second end opposite said closed first end that is configured to allow the ice packs to be inserted sequentially into said interior space.   
     
     
         13 . The wearable cooling apparatus as in  claim 8 , wherein said garment is one of a sleeveless vest, shirt, or undergarment. 
     
     
         14 . The wearable cooling apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein said first fastener and said second fastener are taken from a group including buckles, clasps, hook and loop fasteners, buttons, snaps, and magnets. 
     
     
         15 . The wearable cooling apparatus as in  claim 10 , wherein said first fastener and said second fastener are taken from a group including buckles, clasps, hook and loop fasteners, buttons, snaps, and magnets. 
     
     
         16 . The wearable cooling apparatus as in  claim 10 , wherein said primary sleeve is a cooling belt. 
     
     
         17 . The wearable cooling apparatus as in  claim 8 , wherein said garment includes a plurality of attachment members that are positioned and in selective cooperation with one another so as to secure said garment to a person's torso. 
     
     
         18 . The wearable cooling apparatus as in  claim 17 , wherein said plurality of attachment members include a plurality of straps having hook and loop fasteners, respectively.