초록 ▼

A body heating/cooling apparatus includes a vest having a front panel and a back panel defining a cavity therebetween. A flexible, continuous channel is disposed in serpentine fashion throughout the cavity and has adjacent portions. An inlet and an outlet are provided for infusing a fluid into the c

A body heating/cooling apparatus includes a vest having a front panel and a back panel defining a cavity therebetween. A flexible, continuous channel is disposed in serpentine fashion throughout the cavity and has adjacent portions. An inlet and an outlet are provided for infusing a fluid into the channel and for withdrawing the fluid from the channel. The adjacent portions of the channel are placed in fluid communication by passageways extending between corresponding adjacent portions at locations intermediate the ends of the adjacent portions. The passageways are configured with respect to the corresponding adjacent portions such that substantially all of a fluid flowing through the corresponding adjacent portions normally bypasses the passageways. The passageways are configured with respect to the corresponding adjacent portions such that if one of the corresponding adjacent portions suffers a constriction, fluid will enter a connected one of the passageways to flow from one corresponding adjacent portion to another so as to bypass the constriction.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A body heating/cooling apparatus, comprising:a vest comprising a front panel and a back panel, said front panel and said back panel defining a cavity;a flexible, continuous channel disposed in serpentine fashion throughout said cavity, said flexible, continuous channel having adjacent portions;in

1. A body heating/cooling apparatus, comprising:a vest comprising a front panel and a back panel, said front panel and said back panel defining a cavity;a flexible, continuous channel disposed in serpentine fashion throughout said cavity, said flexible, continuous channel having adjacent portions;inlet means for infusing a fluid into said flexible, continuous channel;outlet means for withdrawing a fluid from said flexible, continuous channel;wherein said adjacent portions of said flexible, continuous channel are placed in fluid communication by passageways extending between corresponding adjacent portions at locations intermediate the ends of said adjacent portions;wherein said passageways are configured with respect to said corresponding adjacent portions such that substantially all of a fluid flowing through said corresponding adjacent portions normally bypasses said passageways; andwherein said passageways are configured with respect to said corresponding adjacent portions such that if one of said corresponding adjacent portions suffers a constriction, fluid will enter a connected one of said passageways to flow from one corresponding adjacent portion to another so as to bypass said constriction.2. The body heating/cooling apparatus of claim 1, wherein said passageways which are configured with respect to said adjacent portions such that substantially all of the fluid flowing through said corresponding adjacent portions normally bypasses said passageways comprises:said passageways intersecting said corresponding adjacent portions at substantially a right angle.3. The body heating/cooling apparatus of claim 1, wherein said vest further comprises a fluid-absorbing material in thermal communication with said flexible, continuous channel.4. The body heating/cooling apparatus of claim 3,wherein said front and back panels comprise first and second retainer layers; andwherein said fluid-absorbing material is disposed between said first and second retainer layers of said front and back panels.5. The body heating/cooling apparatus of claim 4, wherein said fluid absorbing material comprises fluid absorbing particles.6. The body heating/cooling apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least one of said first and second retainer layers has a substantially waterproof coating.7. The body heating/cooling apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least one of said first and second retainer layers is a high-porosity material which permits the passage of liquids.8. The body heating/cooling apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least one of said first and second retainer layers is a fluid-impervious material having a plurality of small punctures formed therein.9. The body heating/cooling apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least one of said first and second retainer layers comprises a substantially water-impermeable material.10. The body heating/cooling apparatus of claim 9, wherein said substantially water-impermeable material is breathable.11. The body heating/cooling apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:a pump; andfluid conduits for connecting said pump to said inlet means and said outlet means for placing said pump in fluid communication with said flexible, continuous channel.12. The body heating/cooling apparatus of claim 11, further comprising means in fluid communication with said pump for controlling the temperature of said fluid being pumped through said flexible, continuous channel.