AU2007100737B4 - Thermal garment & method - Google Patents

Description

P/00/009A Section 29

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

CIA

INNOVATION PATENT SPECIFICATION Invention Title: Applicant: THERMAL GARMENT METHOD Jett (Aust) Pty Ltd The invention is described in the following statement: 1 7019 THERMAL GARMENT METHOD The present application is a divisional application from Australian patent application number 2006203469, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal garment, more particularly, a garment intended to provide supplementary heating to the body of a wearer when in cold atmospheric or aquatic environments. It will be convenient to describe the invention in relation to its application for providing warmth to the body to maintain a suitable core body temperature, although the invention may have wider application, for example for therapeutic use to treat certain musculo-skeletal or other medical conditions.

Background of the Invention A reference herein to a patent document or other matter which is given as prior art is not to be taken as an admission that that document or matter was, in Australia, known or that the information it contains was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of any of the claims.

There are numerous prior art thermal garments which are designed to warm the wearer particularly in cold weather or when immersed in cold water.

Many prior art devices have been disclosed which include a plurality of heating elements positioned in various locations throughout the garment, and which generally are electrically heated by connection to batteries or another power source. Prior art devices known to the applicant generally attempt to provide heating to the body across a large surface area. The prior art devices may attempt to achieve this by providing heating at a temperature approximating a normal core body temperature of about 370C, or only slightly above that temperature.

W:rnMPS\PateMSUet (A 1t) Pty Ldl78DOO69B8O Ow SPECI.doc It has been found in some instances to be detrimental to provide an external heat source over a large area of the body, and particularly directly to the chest of a wearer in the region of the sternum and particularly when the heat source is at a temperature significantly greater than normal core body temperature. It is believed that providing heating in this manner may induce heat stress or promote arrhythmias by excessive heating by the heart of the wearer.

It would be desirable to provide a thermal garment which can supply an effective heat supplement to the body in a manner which is least likely to induce heat stress to the wearer.

Summary of the Invention In view of the foregoing, there is provided an aquatic heating and insulating garment for heating the body of a wearer having a front section adapted to overlie the ventral region of the wearer; a back section adapted to overlie the dorsal thoracic region of the wearer and having a medial portion and lateral portion; electric heating element located in the medial portion of the back section to overlie a substantial portion of the medial dorsal upper thoracic region of the wearer; switching means connected to said heating element and connectable to a portable electric power source, and having at least an off mode and an on mode; and whereby when said switching means is connected to a portable electric power source and is in said on mode said heating element heats to at least 50 0

C.

Preferably the switching means includes a range of temperature settings.

Preferably there is provided a first mode wherein the heating element heats to a temperature of at least 50°C, and a second mode wherein the heating element heats to a temperature of at least 60°C. In one embodiment, the heating element may heat to a maximum temperature of about 750C.

In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of maintaining core body temperature of a human in a cold aquatic environment comprising providing a thermally insulating aquatic garment having a battery powered W EnnWPSPalesUen (AusI) Ply LI0780069\780OD Div SPEC ow electric heating element over at least a portion of the medial dorsal thoracic region of the human; heating said element to a temperature of at least 50 0

C.

The applicant has found that by positioning a heating element in a region of a garment which overlies at least the medial dorsal thoracic region, the thoracic spinal region of the wearer, and optionally also the dorsal lumbar spinal region of the wearer but not other areas of the body such as any ventral regions, and then by heating the element to a relatively high temperature, high heating effectiveness can be achieved without posing physiological hazards to the wearer. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is thought that by providing a localised high temperature in a region which overlies the spinal column and associated musculature of the wearer, vasodilation in that localised area promotes convective transfer of heat via the body's normal circulation of the blood. It is considered that providing an intense heat to a limited mass of skeletal muscle may result in a less stressful heating method.

In a preferred embodiment, the medial portion overlies the dorsal lumbar region of the wearer as well as the thoracic region. Preferably the heating element comprises two heating zones. One heating zone may heat a thoracic region of the wearer and one may heat a lumbar region of the wearer.

Alternatively, both heating zones may heat the thoracic region of the wearer, one positioned higher over the spine of the wearer than the other.

Alternatively, one heating zone may heat an upper region of the spine of the wearer, and the other heating zone may be positioned lower down the spine of the wearer.

In a preferred embodiment the garment is an aquatic heating and insulating garment such as a wetsuit, and the heating element forms an integral part of the garment. In this embodiment, the heating element may be attached to a lining layer, and the lining layer may then be attached to the inside of the garment in the medial dorsal thoracic region by any suitable permanent means such as stitching, gluing, heat bonding, or combination of these, or it may be removably attached by any suitable means, for example hook and loop fasteners.

W %EnWPSaPteMSUen (Ast) Ply LTODDO8780069 Dw SPEO aoC Preferably, the majority of the body of the garment is made from neoprene.

When used in conjunction with or as an integral part of an aquatic insulating garment such as a wetsuit, a further advantage of the placement of the heating element is that the most common site of entry of cold water into a wetsuit is at the back of the neck and down the spine of the wearer. By having the heating element in this location the chilling effect of water entry can be reduced.

Preferably the heating element includes a conductor which is preferably of a sinuate shape. Preferably the conductor comprises an electric heating line and a loop line enveloped in an insulating layer wherein the electric heating line has a resistance to generate heat when a current is passed through it, while the loop line functions as the conductor from one terminal of the power source to a distal end of the heating line. The loop line and the electric heating line are juxtaposed in parallel with each other in the conductor. At a distal end of the heating line the heating line and loop line are electrically coupled. The insulating layer provides insulation between the loop line and the electric heating line to separate current flowing in the two lines. In this arrangement, when current flows through the loop line and the electric heating line, the current flows there-through in a contrary direction. This preferred heating element is described in more detail in United States Patent Application 2003/0047557.

Preferably the heating element included a non-metallic heating fibre which has a high heat transfer efficiency, low power consumption and low electromagnetic interference characteristics. The heating element should be capable of repeated flexing without losing its conductive characteristics.

Preferably the heating element has a standard resistance of about 130 ohm per metre. The heating element is located in portions of the garment overlying the back of the wearer so as to raise the core body temperature of the user rather than peripheries such as arms, legs, hands or feet.

W %EnnWPS Paes1Uett (Ausl) Ply LUdM7800e919V0069 D, SPECI OOC Preferably the heating element generates infrared radiation, which will penetrate deeper into the body tissues of the wearer than convective or conductive heat transfer. Infrared radiation may penetrate to a depth of more than 25 mm. More preferably, the infrared radiation produced by the heating element is in the far infrared range, i.e. with a wavelength of between 5.6 to 1000 microns.

It is considered that there are significant therapeutic effects from use of infrared radiation, particularly far infra-red radiation, including: increased extensibility of collagen tissues; decrease of joint stiffness; relief of muscle spasm; analgesic effect; increased blood flow; assistance in resolution of inflammatory infiltrates, edema and exudates, and other therapeutic effects including application in cancer therapy, cardiovascular conditioning and weight loss, coronary artery disease, arteriosclerosis and hypertension.

The garment also preferably includes a portable electric power source connectable to the heating element. The power source is preferably storable in the garment when in use and comprises one or more flexible substantially flat cells. It is important that the cells do not project any sharp edges or corners in the garment due to potential hazards should the wearer be involved in active sports such as surfing, scuba diving or skiing, whilst wearing the garment. The preferred power source is a plurality of lithium polymer batteries, connected in series. More preferably the power source may be 4 x 3.7 v lithium polymer batteries.

Lithium polymer batteries are lightweight compared to other known power sources and have a degree of flexibility and compactness whereby they can provide sufficient power to heat the heating element yet not pose a risk to the wearer of the garment in the event of a fall.

W %EnnWPSPientsUen (Ast) Pty Ltd\A78OO69\78O9 Dw SPEC1doc Preferably each cell may be between 60 to 80 mm wide, between 90 to 110 mm high and between 40 to 50 mm thick, although it will be appreciated that other dimensions may also be suitable. Where the thermal garment is an aquatic garment, as may be worn by surfers or divers, the portable electric power source comprises two pairs of two cells, each pair of cells being located in a pouch preferably in dorsal lumbar lateral portions of the garment. In these locations they are least likely to interfere with the activity of the wearer.

Preferably the power source is capable of maintaining a temperature in said heating element for at least 5 hours, more preferably for about 6 hours. In one embodiment the portable power source may be lithium polymer batteries that are encased in a coating of a waterproof polymer, such as polyurethane. Such a coating may be applied by dipping lithium polymer batteries in a liquid polyurethane, which is then cured.

It will now be convenient to describe the invention with particular reference to a preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of an aquatic heating and insulating garment of the present invention showing the positioning of heating elements on the interior dorsal surface of the garment.

In Figure 1, garment 101 comprises a wetsuit made from an insulating material such as Neoprene T M Back panel 103 has a medial region 105 extending from a neck opening 111 to crotch region 113. Back panel 103 also has lateral regions 107 and 109 which similarly extend from neck opening 111 to crotch region 113.

A first heating element 115 is located in an upper region 117 of the medial region 105, such that it overlies the dorsal thorasic region of the wearer of the garment.

A second heating element 118 is located in a lower region 119 of the medial region 105, such that it overlies the dorsal lumbar or lower thorasic region of the wearer of the garment.

W EnnWPSWplenUen Pty LldM78OO6l78O69 D, SPECIdOC Heating elements 115 and 118 consist of sinuate conductors 120a and 120b which create heat when a current is passed therethrough. Sinuate conductors 120a and 120b are fixed to a backing fabric 121, and between conductors 120a and 120b is a space 123 where wires (not shown) attached to each conductor 120a and 120b meet at junction connector 125. A controller (not shown) may be connected to connector 125, as are battery packs 127a and 127b which are located in pockets in lower regions 129a and 129b of lateral regions 109 and 107 respectively. In one embodiment a controller may be a waterproof wireless remote device such as a pendent or wrist-watch-type arrangement which sends a signal to the electric circuitry associated with the heating elements, batteries, etc. Such a waterproof wireless remote device may be similar to, for example, a remote car alarm controller.

Preferably upper and lower heating elements 115 and 118 are about 100 mm apart, although other spacings may be equally suitable.

Preferably garment 101 is a zipless garment, and the wearer puts on the garment by "climbing through" neck opening 111 which is particularly extensible for this purpose. However, with various modifications to heating elements described below, the garment may include one or more vertical or lateral zips for donning of the garment.

Components of the garment where specific materials have not been described may be made form any materials suitable in the art.

It is to be understood that various modifications, additions and /or alterations may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

WAEnnWPSPaen.UJef (AWM) Ply .ld78O618008G D, SPECIdO

Claims (4)

1. An aquatic heating and insulating garment for heating the body of a wearer having a front section adapted to overlie the ventral region of the wearer; a back section adapted to overlie the dorsal thoracic region of the wearer and having a medial portion and lateral portion; electric heating element located in the medial portion of the back section to overlie a substantial portion of the medial dorsal upper thoracic region of the wearer; switching means connected to said heating element and connectable to a portable electric power source, and having at least an off mode and an on mode; and whereby when said switching means is connected to a portable electric power source and is in said on mode said heating element heats to at least 50 0 C.

2. A garment according to claim 1 wherein there is provided a portable electric power source comprising one or more lithium polymer batteries.

3. A garment according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said switching means includes a first mode wherein the heating element heats to a temperature of at least 500C, and a second mode wherein the heating element heats to a temperature of at least

4. A garment according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said heating element includes a fibrous non-metallic conductor. A method of maintaining core body temperature of a human in a cold aquatic environment comprising providing a thermally insulating aquatic garment having a battery powered electric heating element over at least a portion of the medial dorsal thoracic region of the human; heating said element to a temperature of at least 500C. W Enn\MPS\PatemU\e" (A I) Ply UM78008QM7R00Q Di, SPECI doc