Cooling apparel

Abstract

A heat management device includes: an inner layer configured to face a body of a user, the inner layer including: a dry sublayer configured to face and touch the body; and a wet sublayer; an outer layer; and a spacer positioned between the inner layer and the outer layer, the spacer configured to maintain a channel height for passage of airflow between the inner layer and the outer layer; wherein the inner layer and the outer layer together define a flexible airflow channel configured to receive and route the airflow through the device and across the wet sublayer.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat management device comprising:
 an inner layer configured to face a body of a user, the inner layer comprising:
 a dry sublayer configured to face and touch the body; and 
 a wet sublayer; 
   an outer layer; and   a spacer positioned between the inner layer and the outer layer, the spacer configured to maintain a channel height for passage of airflow between the inner layer and the outer layer;   wherein the inner layer and the outer layer together define a flexible airflow channel configured to receive and route the airflow through the device and across the wet sublayer.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer defines a porous three-dimensional mesh, the spacer further defining a plurality of openings, each of the plurality of openings extending through a thickness of the spacer. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the inner layer and the outer layer define a sealed body chamber configured to collect excess moisture from inside the airflow channel without leakage therefrom when the airflow channel is angled with respect to a horizontal direction during use, a top end of the device being higher than a bottom end. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the airflow channel is a first airflow channel, the device further comprising a secondary airflow channel offset in cross-section from the first airflow channel in a direction perpendicular to an orientation of the first airflow channel. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the secondary airflow channel extends substantially across one of a width and a circumference of the device. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a fan, a controller, and a power supply, the controller positioned inside a device body of the device and configured to control at least one parameter of the fan, the power supply comprising a battery and being in electrical communication with the controller. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the fan is a blower fan positioned at least partly inside the airflow channel. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump and a fluid distribution line coupled to and in fluid communication with the pump, an outlet of the fluid distribution line positioned across the device from the pump. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising a reservoir in fluid communication with the pump, the reservoir positioned at least partly inside a device body of the device. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a control button in electrical communication with and configured to send signals to a controller of the device. 
     
     
         11 . A cooling vest comprising the heat management device of  claim 1 , the cooling vest defining a bottom end, a top end distal from the bottom end, a first side end, and a second side end distal from the first side end and configured to be joined to the first side end, the cooling vest defining side openings for passage of arms of the user. 
     
     
         12 . The cooling vest of  claim 11 , wherein the cooling vest comprises a closure fastener, the closure fastener comprising at least one of a fastener configured to join the cooling vest around a body of the user and a tightening fastener configured to adjust a circumferential dimension of the cooling vest. 
     
     
         13 . A method of using the heat management device of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 wetting an inner surface of the inner layer of the device with a fluid, the wet sublayer defining the inner surface; and   passing airflow across the inner surface to cause evaporation of the fluid and a form of evaporative cooling of the body of the user thereby.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein passing airflow across the inner surface comprises producing the airflow with a fan positioned inside an airflow channel of the device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising contacting the user with the dry sublayer of the device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 pumping the fluid between two areas of the device; and   distributing at least a portion of the fluid across the device via capillary action.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the fluid is water. 
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing a heat management device, the method comprising:
 sandwiching a spacer between an inner layer and an outer layer of the device; the inner layer and the outer layer defining an airflow channel therebetween; and   sealing a connection between the inner layer and the outer layer to define a sealed body chamber, the airflow channel being configured to contain and allow circulation of each of airflow and a fluid for cooling.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising positioning and securing a fan inside a body of the device 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising bonding the inner layer and the outer layer to form the body chamber, the body chamber configured to collect excess moisture from inside the airflow channel during use of the device without leakage therefrom when the airflow channel is angled with respect to a horizontal direction during use, a top end of the device being higher than a bottom end.