Personal Hydration System With Cooling or Warming Capability
AssigneeGovernment of the United States as Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorJustin O'Brien
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wearable system with cooling and/or warming capability, and the components thereof are disclosed. The system may include a liquid transport system for transporting cooling or heating fluid between a reservoir and a pad, which pad is configured for wearing adjacent to a wearer's body. A pump is provided for pumping the liquid through the system, including for recirculating liquid from the pad into the reservoir.
Claims19
A portable liquid transport system for attachment to a supporting article worn by a wearer, said system being configured for transporting cooling or heating liquid between a reservoir and a cooling and/or heating pad, which pad is configured for wearing adjacent to a wearer's body, wherein said liquid transport system is configured to be joined to such a reservoir and a pad, said liquid transport system comprising:
- a pump for generating the flow of a liquid between a reservoir and a pad, said pump comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein said inlet is configured to be in liquid communication with a reservoir and said outlet is configured to be in liquid communication with a pad;
- wherein said liquid transport system further comprises a plurality of conduits, each of said conduits being in liquid communication with at least one of said pump and said pad, wherein said liquid transport system is configured for directing the flow of liquid from the reservoir into multiple flow paths when said liquid transport system is joined to a reservoir and a pad, said multiple flow paths comprising:
- a) a first flow path from a reservoir through said pump to a pad to deliver chilled or heated liquid from the reservoir to the pad;
- b) a second flow path from the pad to the reservoir to recirculate the liquid back into the reservoir.
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A wearable portable personal system with cooling and/or heating capability, said personal system comprising:
- a reservoir for containing a cooling or heating substance that comprises at least some chilled or heated liquid, said reservoir being configured for carrying by a wearer on a supporting article;
- a pad configured for wearing adjacent to a portion of a wearer's body, said pad being in liquid communication with said reservoir;
- a pump in liquid communication with said reservoir and said pad, said pump configured for generating the flow of a liquid from one of said reservoir and said pad when said pump is activated, said pump having an inlet and an outlet;
- a plurality of conduits, each of said conduits being in liquid communication with at least one of said pump and said reservoir, wherein said conduits are configured for directing the flow of liquid from the reservoir into multiple flow paths, said multiple flow paths comprising:
- a) a first flow path from a reservoir through said pump to a pad to deliver chilled or heated liquid from the reservoir to the pad;
- and
- b) a second flow path from the pad to the reservoir to recirculate the liquid back into the reservoir.
A method of cooling or warming a user's body comprising:
- a) wearing a personal system with temperature adjustment capability, said system comprising:
- a reservoir for containing a cooling or heating substance at least some of which is a liquid;
- a pad configured for wearing adjacent to a portion of a wearer's body;
- a pump configured for generating the flow of liquid between said reservoir and said pad when said pump is activated, said pump having an inlet and an outlet;
- a plurality of conduits each having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein said plurality of conduits comprise:
- an outflow line extending between the reservoir and the inlet of the pump;
- a pad inflow line extending between the outlet of the pump and the pad;
- and
- a return line extending between the pad and the reservoir;
- and
- b) activating said pump to transport liquid from said reservoir to said pad in order to cool or warm the wearer, said pump being activated so that after cooling or warming the wearer, some of said liquid is recirculated from said pad back into said reservoir.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.