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An apparatus and method for metabolic cooling and insulation of a user in a cold environment. In its preferred embodiment the apparatus is a highly flexible composite material having a flexible matrix containing a phase change thermal storage material. The apparatus can be made to heat or cool the b

An apparatus and method for metabolic cooling and insulation of a user in a cold environment. In its preferred embodiment the apparatus is a highly flexible composite material having a flexible matrix containing a phase change thermal storage material. The apparatus can be made to heat or cool the body or to act as a thermal buffer to protect the wearer from changing environmental conditions. The apparatus may also include an external thermal insulation layer and/or an internal thermal control layer to regulate the rate of heat exchange between the composite and the skin of the wearer. Other embodiments of the apparatus also provide 1) a path for evaporation or direct absorption of perspiration from the skin of the wearer for improved comfort and thermal control, 2) heat conductive pathways within the material for thermal equalization, 3) surface treatments for improved absorption or rejection of heat by the material, and 4) means for quickly regenerating the thermal storage capacity for reuse of the material. Applications of the composite materials are also described which take advantage of the composite's thermal characteristics. The examples described include a diver's wet suit, ski boot liners, thermal socks, gloves and a face mask for cold weather activities, and a metabolic heating or cooling blanket useful for treating hypothermia or fever patients in a medical setting and therapeutic heating or cooling orthopedic joint supports.

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1. A garment or material thereof for metabolic cooling and for insulation of a user in at least a cold ambient environment below a phase transition temperature of a thermal storage material, comprising:a buffering thermal storage material capable of storing thermal energy as the latent heat of phase

1. A garment or material thereof for metabolic cooling and for insulation of a user in at least a cold ambient environment below a phase transition temperature of a thermal storage material, comprising:a buffering thermal storage material capable of storing thermal energy as the latent heat of phase change located in the garment or material thereof; said thermal storage material comprising a phase change material having at least one actual phase transition temperature between 41.9 and 80.6 degrees Fahrenheit; and said thermal storage material having a thermal mass of the phase change material at least equivalent to a thermal loading of the phase change material of 13.5 to 1120.08 BTU per cubic foot of the garment or material thereof. 2. The garment or material thereof of claim 1, wherein:said thermal storage material comprises a mixture of at least two phase change materials having at least two different transition temperatures; or said thermal storage material comprises at least two layers of phase change materials with different transition temperatures. 3. The garment or material thereof of claim 1, wherein said phase change material undergoes a solid-solid transition or a solid-liquid transition.4. The garment or material thereof of claim 1, wherein said thermal storage material comprises a phase change material absorbed in particles of a superabsorbent material.5. The garment or material thereof of claim 1, wherein said phase change material is micro encapsulated.6. The garment or material thereof of claim 1, wherein said phase change material is encapsulated.7. The garment or material thereof of claim 1, wherein said phase change material is in pellets.8. The garment or material thereof of claim 1, wherein said phase change material is contained in a cellulose matrix.9. The garment or material thereof of claim 1, further comprising a thermal control layer located on a first side of said thermal storage material adapted to face a wearer and an insulative layer located on a second side of said thermal storage material adapted to face the ambient environment, said insulative layer being of greater insulative value than said thermal control layer.10. The garment or material thereof of claim 9, wherein the insulative layer comprises a semipermeable membrane which is permeable to water vapor but impermeable to liquid water.11. The garment or material thereof of claim 1, wherein said garment comprises an article of clothing.12. The garment or material thereof of claim 11, wherein said article of clothing is selected from the group consisting of a shirt, a jacket, trousers, a blanket, a gaiter, a facial mask, a hat and an earmuff.13. The garment or material thereof of claim 11, wherein said article of clothing is in the form of a removable liner configured to be worn in combination with other clothing.14. The garment or material thereof of claim 11, wherein said article of clothing comprises a diver's wetsuit.15. The garment or material thereof of claim 11, wherein said thermal storage material is contained within closed internal spaces of the article of clothing or is incorporated into a fabric of the article of clothing.16. The garment or material thereof of claim 1, wherein said garment comprises an article of footwear.17. The garment or material thereof of claim 16, wherein said article of footwear comprises a ski boot.18. The garment or material thereof of claim 16, wherein said article of footwear comprises a shoe.19. The garment or material thereof of claim 16, wherein said article of footwear comprises a ski boot liner, a sock or a removable liner configured to be worn in combination with other footwear.20. The garment or material thereof of claim 16, wherein said phase change material is enclosed in internal spaces within said footwear.21. The garment or material thereof of claim 1, wherein said phase change material comprises an organic material.22. The garment or material thereof of claim 1, wherein at least one said phase change material has an actual phase transition temperature in a range from 41.9 degrees Fahrenheit to 71.1 degrees Fahrenheit.23. The garment or material thereof of claim 1, wherein said phase change material comprises an organic material.24. An article of footwear for metabolic cooling and for insulation of a user in at least a cold ambient environment below a phase transition temperature of a thermal storage material, comprising:a buffering thermal storage material capable of storing thermal energy as a latent heat of phase change located in the article of footwear; said thermal storage material comprising a phase change material having at least one actual phase transition temperature between 41.9 and 80.6 degrees Fahrenheit; and said thermal storage material having a thermal mass of the phase change material at least equivalent to a thermal loading of the phase change material of 13.5 to 1120.08 BTU per cubic foot of the article. 25. A garment or material thereof for metabolic cooling and for insulation of a user in at least a cold ambient environment below a phase transition temperature of a thermal storage material, comprising:a buffering thermal storage material capable of storing thermal energy as the latent heat of phase change located in the garment or material thereof; said thermal storage material comprising a phase change material having at least one actual phase transition temperature between 41.9 and 80.6 degrees Fahrenheit; and said thermal storage material has a thermal loading of phase change material from 1.34 BTU to 10.3 BTU per square foot of a surface area of the garment or material thereof. 26. The garment or material thereof of claim 25, wherein:at least one phase change material has an actual phase transition temperature in a range from 41.9 degrees Fahrenheit to 71.1 degrees Fahrenheit. 27. The garment or material thereof of claim 25, wherein the thermal storage material comprises an aggregate of phase change material particles incorporated into a bonding material.28. The garment or material thereof of claim 25, wherein the thermal storage material comprises a dispersion of a phase change material in a coating material.29. The garment or material thereof of claim 25, wherein the thermal storage material comprises a dispersion of a phase change material that was incorporated into a paste while in a liquid state during lamination.30. The garment or material thereof of claim 25, further comprising a wicking element located in the garment or material thereof.31. An article of bedding for metabolic cooling and for insulation of a user in an ambient environment, comprising:a buffering thermal storage material capable of storing thermal energy as the latent heat of phase change located in the article; said thermal storage material comprising a phase change material having at least one actual phase transition temperature between 41.9 and 80.6 degrees Fahrenheit; and said thermal storage material has a thermal loading of phase change material from 1.34 BTU to 10.3 BTU per square foot of a surface area of the article. 32. The article of claim 31, wherein:at least one phase change material has an actual phase transition temperature in a range from 41.9 degrees Fahrenheit to 71.1 degrees Fahrenheit. 33. A garment or material thereof for metabolic cooling and for insulation of a user in at least a cold ambient environment below a phase transition temperature of a thermal storage material, comprising:a buffering thermal storage material capable of storing thermal energy as the latent heat of phase change located in the garment or material thereof; said thermal storage material comprising a phase change material having at least one actual phase transition temperature between 41.9 and 80.6 degrees Fahrenheit; and said thermal storage material having a thermal loading of the phase change material of 13.5 BTU to 104.08 BTU per cubic foot of the garment or material thereof. 34. A garment or material thereof for metabolic cooling for insulation of a user in at least a cold ambient environment below a phase transition temperature of a thermal storage material, comprising:a buffering thermal storage material capable of storing thermal energy as the latent heat of phase change located in the garment or material thereof; said thermal storage material comprising a phase change material having at least one actual phase transition temperature between 41.9 and 80.6 degrees Fahrenheit; and said thermal storage material having a thermal loading of the phase change material of 104.08 BTU to 784.7 BTU per cubic foot of the garment or material thereof. 35. The garment or material thereof of claim 34, wherein the thermal storage material has a thermal loading of the phase change material of 300.13 BTU 784.7 BTU per cubic foot of the garment or material thereof.36. The garment or material thereof of claim 34, wherein the thermal storage material has a thermal loading of the phase change material of 104.08 BTU to 300.13 BTU per cubic foot of the garment or material thereof.37. A garment or material thereof for metabolic cooling and for insulation of a user in at least a cold ambient environment below a phase transition temperature of a thermal storage material, comprising:a buffering thermal storage material capable of storing thermal energy as the latent heat of phase change located in the garment or material thereof; said thermal storage material comprising a phase change material having at least one actual phase transition temperature between 41.9 and 80.6 degrees Fahrenheit; and said thermal storage material having a thermal loading of the phase change material of 784.7 BTU to 1120.08 BTU per cubic foot of the garment or material thereof. 38. A garment or material thereof for metabolic cooling and for insulation of a user in at least a cold ambient environment below a phase transition temperature of a thermal storage material, comprising:a buffering thermal storage material capable of storing thermal energy as the latent heat of phase change located in the garment or material thereof; said thermal storage material comprising a phase change material having at least one actual phase transition temperature between 41.9 and 80.6 degrees Fahrenheit; and said thermal storage material having a thermal mass of the phase change material at least equivalent to a thermal loading of the phase change material of 13.5 BTU per cubic foot of the garment or material thereof; and said thermal storage material comprises at least two layers of phase change materials with different transition temperatures; and a transition temperature of an inner layer of said phase change material is greater than a transition temperature of an outer layer of said layer of phase change material which is adapted to be farther from a skin of the wearer than the inner layer. 39. An article comprising a garment, an article of bedding, or material thereof for metabolic cooling and for insulation of a user in at least a cold ambient environment below a phase transition temperature of a thermal storage material, comprising:a buffering thermal storage material capable of storing thermal energy as the latent heat of phase change located in the article; said thermal storage material comprising a phase change material having at least one actual phase transition temperature between 41.9 and 94.1 degrees Fahrenheit; and said thermal storage material has a thermal loading of phase change material from 1.34 BTU to 10.3 BTU per square foot of a surface area of the article. 40. The article of claim 39, wherein the article comprises an article of bedding.41. The article of claim 39, wherein the article comprises a garment.42. An article comprising a garment, an article of bedding, or material thereof for metabolic cooling and for insulation of a user in a cold ambient environment below a phase transition temperature of a thermal storage material, comprising:a buffering thermal storage material capable of storing thermal energy as the latent heat of phase change located in the article; said thermal storage material comprising a phase change material having at least one actual phase transition temperature between 41.9 and 94.1 degrees Fahrenheit; and said thermal storage material has a thermal loading of phase change material from 13.5 BTU to 1120.08 BTU per cubic foot of a surface area of the article. 43. The article of claim 42, wherein the article comprises an article of bedding.44. The article of claim 42, wherein the article comprises a garment.