WO1997006702A2

WO1997006702A2 - Heating system for garments

Info

Publication number: WO1997006702A2
Application number: PCT/IL1996/000072
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oscar Mendeleev
Original assignee: Oscar Mendeleev
Priority date: 1995-08-07
Filing date: 1996-08-04
Publication date: 1997-02-27
Also published as: WO1997006702A3; IL114845A0; IL114845A

Abstract

A needy limb or extremity receives a bypass heat suppply from warmer parts of the body surface proximate main blood vessels. First thermal conductor (10) is in contact with parts of the body which are to be frostbite or cold protected, a second thermal conductor (20) is in contact with an aera which is typically warmer or better heat supplied, and the first and second thermal conductors are connected by means of a third thermal conductive member (30).

Description

HEATING SYSTEM FOR GARMENTS

Technical Field

The invention relates to a system for heating garment articles, primarily for cold and frostbite protection of body limbs and extremities.

Background Art

In a living body, an equilibrium between the amount of heat lost by a certain area (to the cooler ambiance) and of that supplied to the area, is automatically maintained ow¬ ing to a heat exchange fluid (that is, blood) normal circu¬ lation. A failure to keep warm extremities, e.g. toes or fingers, often results from limited carrying capacity of the blood vessels, typically associated with aging and scleroses.

However, irrespective of age, small peripheral vessels usually respond to low temperatures by getting still nar¬ rower, thus deteriorating local blood circulation to fur¬ ther intensify freezing of the needy area. The vicious cir¬ cle may end in break of the dynamic equilibrium and frost¬ bite, the damage to the affected limb ranging from mere discoloration or swelling to ulcers to poisoning and gan¬ grene necessitating amputation.

A specific danger of the frostbite phenomenon is an initial loss of sensation. Not feeling frozen, a person is slow to take steps, e.g. change for warmer clothes. This is one reason that a good number of winter hikers and sport viewers, outdoors guards and, of course, intoxicated per¬ sons all over the world are known to be among yearly frost¬ bite victims.

Prior art methods are known to maintain said dynamic equilibrium without necessity to change clothes. To this end, some garments or winter footwear provide powered heat¬ ing devices comprising electric batteries, portable genera¬ tors, catalytic burners, or the like. However, one does not often find it convenient to keep these items properly charged, or may not be in a position to do. Ironically enough, one may miss the right moment to turn the power on.

Accordingly, the present invention is intended to pro¬ vide an automatic heating and frostbite protection system for garments and footwear requiring no special energy sources.

Disclosure of Invention

According to the invention, a needy limb or extrem¬ ity is provided with additional heat supply from the inter¬ nal source, that is from the body itself. More precisely, when the peripheral vessels do not cope with a required flow of heat exchange fluids, the System takes over to by¬ pass heat to destination.

The system comprises three types of thermal conduc¬ tive members, as shown in the appended schematic drawing (Fig.l), where a sock is chosen as an example of a garment article. Reference numerals in the drawing are: 2 a garment article (a sock) 4 a leg 10 thermal conductive member of the first type 20 thermal conductive member of the second type 30 thermal conductive member of the third type Referring to FIG. 1,

First type thermal conductive members 10 are attached to an inner side of a sock 2 to extend over, and thermally contacting with areas to be frostbite or cold protected, such as toes or heel of the foot.

Second type thermal conductive members 20 extend over, and thermally contact with, certain parts of the body surface, such as those up the leg 4, which are typically better heat supplied than abovementioned areas requiring additional cold or frostbite protection. Third type thermal conductive members 30 extend be¬ tween, and are thermally connected to said members 10 and 20. Thermal conductive members 30 also comprise exterior insulating casings providing for no substantial heat dissi¬ pation into ambient space while the heat is conveyed along members 30. The system works as follows:

Members 20 absorb heat from warmer parts of the body surface, the heat being then bypassed via members 30 to members 10, and members 10 supply the heat to des¬ tination, i.e. to given areas of the extremity re¬ quiring additional frostbite or cold protection.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Referring to Fig. 1, thermal conductive members 10, 20 and 30 may comprise copper or copper alloys wires, wire netting, or plates flexibly connected to each other. Mem¬ bers 20 and 30 may also comprise elastic material to sus¬ tain the sock 2 up the leg 4 and better thermal contact with the body, or they can be embodied as suspenders and comprise metal clips to secure an unobstructed heat flow throughout the system.

The invention can also be carried out, for example, as an insole, either built-in or detachably inserted inside a boot or shoe. The insole may comprise notches shaped to ac¬ commodate members 10, the latter being connected via insu¬ lated flat cable (member 30) to a metal bracelet (member 20) fixed inside up the boot, or fastened around leg 4.

Industrial Applicability

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the number, shape or location of members 10, 20 and 30 is not limited to what is illustrated in FIG.l, and that the in¬ vention is applicable to other garments or footwear, such as, but not limited to, various stockings and panty hoses, gloves, shoes and boots, etc., without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. The recent embodi¬ ments are therefore to be considered in all respects as il- lustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by an appended claims rather than by fore¬ going description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are there¬ fore intended to be embraced therein.

From the description above the reader will see that the system requires no electrical or chemical components, no moving parts, and it is quite simple and cheap in mass pro¬ duction. It provides automatic protection against acciden¬ tal cold or frostbite injuries. The system may be espe¬ cially appreciated by outdoor guards and workers, cold sea¬ son hikers and sport viewers, let alone field army person¬ nel. For those concerned, the system offers an attractive opportunity of sporting, say, fancy shoes instead of chang¬ ing for heavy winter boots, and so on.

Claims

1. A heating system for garments, comprising:

(a) a garment article;

(b) at least one thermal conductive member of the first type, said first type members being attached to an inner side of said garment article to extend over, and thermally contacting with, the extremity areas to be cold or frostbite protected;

(c) at least one thermal conductive member of the second type, said second type members extending over, and thermally contacting with, certain parts of the body sur¬ face which are typically better heat supplied than said extremity areas, and

(d) at least one thermal conductive member of the third type, said third type members extending between, and thermally connecting to, said first type and said second type members, said third type members further comprising outer insulating casings enclosing the interior of said third type thermal conductive members, to provide for sub¬ stantially unobstructed flow, and substantially low loss of the heat being conveyed through said third type mem¬ bers.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said thermal conductive members comprise flexible metal ele¬ ments, such as combinations of wire netting, plates, or the like.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein some or all of said thermal conductive members are built-in to form parts of said garment article.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein some or all of said thermal conductive members are detachably in¬ serted into said garment article.