Cooling system for protective vest
OwnerPaul A. Forgachinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A protective vest includes a cooling system including an elongated housing generally disposed inside the protective vest. At least one fan powered by an electric motor is supported at the upper end of the elongated housing proximate the neck opening of the protective vest for drawing fresh air into the upper end of the elongated housing. The elongated housing includes a retractable extension for varying the length thereof. Ventilation holes are formed in the elongated housing to discharge fresh air between the protective vest and the user's body. Electrical wires extend from the motor to a battery worn by the user, or to a vehicle cigarette lighter, to supply power to the motor. The electrical wires incorporate a quick-disconnect coupling and a switch/dimmer control to control the speed of the fan.
Claims27
A protective vest assembly having a cooling system, the protective vest comprising in combination:
- a. a protective vest for being worn over the body of a user, the protective vest having a pair of arm holes for allowing a user to extend the user's arms therethrough, and having a neck opening for allowing the user's neck to extend therethrough;
- b. an elongated housing generally disposed inside the protective vest, the elongated housing having an upper end and an opposing lower end;
- c. a first fan supported at the upper end of the elongated housing and extending outside the neck opening of the protective vest for drawing fresh air into the upper end of the elongated housing;
- d. a first electric motor supported proximate the upper end of the elongated housing and coupled to the first fan for rotating the first fan;
- e. the elongated housing having at least one ventilation hole formed therein below the upper end thereof for discharging fresh air between the protective vest and the body of the user;
- and
- f. electrical wires coupled to the first electric motor for supplying electrical power thereto.
A method of cooling a person using a protective vest, the protective vest being worn over the body of a user, the protective vest having a pair of arm holes for allowing the user to extend the user's arms therethrough, and having a neck opening for allowing the user's neck to extend therethrough, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. providing an elongated housing having upper and lower opposing ends;
- b. supporting a first fan at the upper end of the elongated housing;
- c. coupling a first electric motor to the first fan for rotating the first fan to draw fresh air into the upper end of the elongated housing;
- d. inserting the elongated housing into the protective vest, and positioning the first fan outside the neck opening of the protective vest
- e. forming at least one ventilation hole in the elongated housing below the upper end thereof;
- f. discharging fresh air through the at least one ventilation hole between the protective vest and the body of the user;
- and
- g. supplying electrical power to the first electric motor for rotating the first fan.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.