AU2005100085A4

AU2005100085A4 - Temperature control garment

Info

Publication number: AU2005100085A4
Application number: AU2005100085A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Stefan Kazakis; Con Panias
Original assignee: IV CONCEPTS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: IV CONCEPTS Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2005-01-31
Filing date: 2005-01-31
Publication date: 2005-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 2013-01-31
Also published as: AU2005100085B4

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Applicant(s): IV Concepts Pty Ltd Invention Title: TEMPERATURE CONTROL GARMENT The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:

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2 TEMPERATURE CONTROL GARMENT F1 SThe present invention relates to a temperature control garment used for heating or cooling the wearer of f 5 the garment.

SBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 00 Sufferers of skin disorders such as eczema experience discomforting symptoms and predominantly skin irritations and excessive heat. Children in particular are unable on their own to find relief from the heat and skin irritations. Application of cool gel packs or ice wrapped in plastic or cloth assists in heat relief but is not practical in applying or maintaining relief for long periods. Similar problems are encountered with burns victims and sufferers of allergies and other disorders.

Thermal vests impregnated with a cooling gel between layers of the vests provide a wearer with heat relief while allowing the wearer to substantially carry out their normal every day activity. These vests are cooled by placing in a fridge or freezer until they are sufficiently cold to be worn over heated skin. These vests have drawbacks including such as being difficult to wash.

Additionally, unless the wearer has a spare vest, which is unlikely given the high expense of vests, the wearer is left without relief while the vest is being cooled.

It is the above drawbacks and the need for a more economical and effective means of easing irritations or discomfort caused by disorders that has brought about the present invention.

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3 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION SIn accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a temperature control garment having a garment base and a plurality of discrete pockets arranged on the garment base, the pockets being adapted to each Sindependently receive coolable and/or heatable inserts, 00 0wherein each pocket heats or cools a specific area of a Swearer's body under the temperature control garment.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present Sinvention there is provided a temperature control garment having a garment base and plurality of discrete pockets of various shapes arranged on the garment base, the pockets being adapted to each independently receive coolable and/or heatable inserts, wherein the inserts contain water absorbing crystals adapted to be immersed in water then cooled or heated before inserting into the pockets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments, incorporating all aspects of the invention, will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure la is a front view of a temperature control garment in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure lb is a rear view of the temperature control garment of Figure la; Figure 2a is a front view of a temperature control garment in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2b is a rear view of the temperature control garment of Figure 2a.

H:\annetteg\keep\speci\P55361 Temperature Control Garment (2).doc 31/01/05 I 1 4 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS F1 SThe figures illustrate two embodiments of a temperature control garment used for applying heat or applying cold to particular targeted areas of a human body. Figures la and lb illustrate a long sleeved upper Sbody temperature control garment 10 while Figures 2a and 00 02b illustrate a long sleeved short-legged full temperature garment In the presently described embodiments the Stemperature control garment is specially suited for cooling parts of the body that overheat as a result of a skin disorder, and this purpose will be referred to in the following description. The garments are designed to be worn close to the body to maximise the cooling effect of the garment against irritated skin. In both the embodiments illustrated in the drawings the temperature control garment includes a garment base 11, 21 that in the preferred embodiments is made of an elasticised fabric and more particularly nylon/spandex which tends to naturally feel cool against the skin.

Sewn onto the garment base 11, 21 are discrete pockets 12, 22 arranged on the front and rear of the garment 10, 20 to overlie particular areas of the body and together provide a maximum body coverage area such that a substantial area of the body underneath the garment is covered by pockets.

Each pocket has an open side for allowing insertion of an insert 30 into the pocket. Inserts 30 are the cooling and/or heating mediums which are inserted into the pockets to provide cold or heat, in the preferred embodiments cold, through the garment base 11, 21 and onto the wearer's skin. A fastener closes each open side of pocket 12, 22 to the garment base 11, 21 after H:\annetteg\keep\speci\P55361 Temnperature Control Garment .doc 31/01/05

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insertion of the insert to prevent escape. In the embodiments shown the type of fastener used is a strip of Shook and loop fastening means 13, 23 more commonly known as Velcrotm The inserts 30 correspond in size and shape to each i pocket 12, 22. This ensures that the pocket is fully 00 0filled with the cooling or heating medium such that the maximum amount of heat or cold transfers to the wearer without the discomfort of poorly placed inserts. The discrete pockets are furthermore shaped to provide for Seasy and efficient insertion of the inserts.

The placement of the pockets around the garment targets specific areas. For example, Figures la and lb illustrate the upper body temperature control garment which has two triangular-shaped pockets 14 covering the chest. Three elongated horizontal pockets 15 lie parallel and adjacent one another to cover the abdomen, or midriff section. Two elongate arm pockets 16 are located each down a forward side of a sleeve of the garment 10 to cover the arm areas.

Figure lb illustrates the rear of garment 10 which illustrates a similar pattern to the front of the garment.

The rear has two triangular shaped pockets 14 overlying the shoulder blades of the wearer. Three elongate pockets extend horizontally across the lower back portion of the garment. Rear arm pockets 18 extend down a top rear of the sleeves of garment The pockets are arranged to cover main portions of the body yet to allow spaces 17 between the pockets to allow the wearer freedom of movement without obstruction.

It is understood that while a specific number of pockets have been described, the number and size of pockets can vary according to placement on the garment and on the type H:\annetteg\keep\speci\P55361 Temperature Control Garment (2).doc 31/01/05 6 of end user. For example, garments for large adults may have four or five elongated horizontal pockets on the Smidriff and rear back sections for covering a larger area.

Figure 2a illustrates the front of the full body temperature control garment 20. In this embodiment the V)garment 20 has similar triangular chest pockets 24 as 00 0 those of the garment 10 of Figure la. The pockets Scovering the midriff section in Figure 2a are rectangular pockets 25 arranged vertically with the opening of the pockets at the top of the rectangle pockets. Arm pockets S26 of garment 20 are similar to the front arm pockets 16 of garment 10. Garment 20 additionally has small rectangular pockets 27 arranged over the thigh portion of the garment 20. These small rectangular pockets 27 can vary in shape and length depending on the length of the legs of garment Figure 2b illustrates the rear of garment 20 which is similar to the rear of garment 10 illustrated in Figure lb wherein the wearer's shoulder blades are covered by triangular pockets 24, the rear of the arms are covered by rear arm pockets 31 and the lower back portion is covered by horizontal elongate pockets 28. In this embodiment the rear of the garment has three elongate pockets 28, but in other embodiments more than three pockets may be provided.

The rear legs of garment 20 are provided with small rectangular pockets 27 similar to the front of the legs.

Spaces 29 between the pockets allow flexibility and comfort to the user.

The pockets in the garments 10, 20 are positioned and independently usable to allow less than the total number of pockets to be used. In other words, if the skin irritation is specific to a certain area only the pockets overlying that area can be inserted with a cooling medium while the remaining areas, which do not require treatment, H:\annetteg\keep\speci\P55361 Temperature Control Garment (2).doc 31/01/05

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7 remain unaffected by the cold inserts. Hence, depending on the skin disorder or illness, a user may be selective Sas to which pockets to use and how many pockets to use.

Accordingly, the specific area of need is targeted.

The inserts 30 are a closed pocket made from V)polyester or cotton or a combination thereof, or any other 0 suitable material that can sustain repeated use as an Sinsert. Each closed pocket insert contains free flowing, granular water absorbent crystals. In activating the Vcrystals the insert is immersed in water for up to Sminutes wherein the crystals expand into a gel substance.

In this state the inserts are placed in a fridge or freezer to reduce the temperature of the gel. Once the inserts are at a sufficiently low temperature they are placed in all of the garment pockets or only selected pockets as desired.

When dry and in a stable state the inserts are light weight containing only the required amount of crystals to sufficiently fill the insert with a gel medium in its wet state. From experience and as a general approximate, to '2 teaspoon of dry crystals will swell to expand when hydrated to sufficiently fill an average sized insert.

The inserts can equally be heated as they can be cooled. Accordingly, where heat packs are required the inserts are immersed in water to create the gel medium and then heated in a microwave oven or conventional oven before placing in the garment pockets as required.

The water absorbing crystals are a polymer crystal and specifically a cross-linked polyacrylamide co-polymer.

The crystals are odourless and non-toxic and therefore safe to humans and the environment. The crystals absorb and hold water to expand into a gel substance.

H:\a-vetteq\keep\$peci\P5536 Temperature Control Garment (2).doc 31/01/0 8 The removable inserts are easy to wash and dry.

When fully dry the gel substance returns to its granular Sstate. This provides for easier and more convenient transportation and handling. The thermal garment 10, with removable inserts lends itself to continuous use as a temperature control garment without pausing treatment for V)reheating or re-cooling. This can be achieved by 00 0 providing a second set of inserts which can be prepared Sbeforehand in anticipation of immediate replacement of the used inserts. Depending on the user's condition and personal comfort levels, the inserts will require Sreplacing between 1 to 5 hours.

It is intended to manufacture the garment in a range of sizes to fit children from as young as babies all the way to adults. From a practical perspective each size or group of sizes are colour coordinated such that the size of the garment is quickly deduced from its colour. The garment base in the preferred embodiments is generally black. The pockets sewn onto the base are coloured and the inserts too are coloured. By way of example sizes 2 to 6 may have pockets of lime green and inserts of white, while children sizes 8 to 14 may have silver/grey pockets and powder blue inserts. Adult sizes would range from small, medium, large, extra large to extra extra large.

The present temperature control garment provides an efficient and effective means for cooling or heating specific areas of the body without heating or cooling areas of the body where heat or cold application is not required. The degree of body coverage of the heating/cooling medium can be controlled by way of the strategically positioned pockets. The pockets are easy to access and fill with inserts. The garment in general allows the wearer a high degree of flexibility without hindering the wearer from carrying out normal activities but simultaneously providing the wearer with pain relief.

H:\annetteg\keep\speci\P55361 Temperature Control Garment (2).doc 31/01/05 9 It will be understood to persons skilled in the art Sof the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the C 5 invention.

V' In the claims which follow and in the preceding 0 description of the invention, except where the context Srequires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, Si.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

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Claims

2. The temperature control garment claimed in claim 1 wherein a front of the garment is arranged with at least Stwo pockets and a rear of the garment is arranged with at least two pockets.
3. The temperature control garment claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the garment is an upper body long sleeved garment having at least one pocket in each of the areas of the garment corresponding to the wearer's: chest, abdomen, upper back, lower back and sleeves.
4. The temperature control garment claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the garment is a full body suit garment having pockets in each of the areas of the garment corresponding to the wearer's: chest, abdomen, upper back, lower back, sleeves and legs. A temperature control garment having a garment base and plurality of discrete pockets of various shapes arranged on the garment base, the pockets being adapted to each independently receive coolable and/or heatable inserts, wherein the inserts contain water absorbing crystals adapted to be immersed in water then cooled or heated before inserting into the pockets.
6. The temperature control garment claimed in claim wherein the water absorbing crystal is a polymer crystals. H:\annetteg\keep\speci\P55361 Temperature Control Garment (2).doc 31/01/05 11
7. The temperature control garment claimed in claim 6 wherein the water absorbing crystal is a cross-linked Spolyacrylamide co-polymer.
8. The temperature control garment claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the pockets have various V' shapes and the inserts have a shape corresponding to each 00 0 of the pockets. 10 9. The temperature control garment claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the garments are colour Scoded according to size ranges of the garment. Dated this 31 day of January 2005 IV CONCEPTS PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia H:\annetteg\keep\speci\P55361 Temperature Control Garment .doc 31/01/05