Cooling garment

Abstract

To provide a cooling garment which can ensure a continuous cooling effect for a longer duration to a wearer.SOLUTION: A cooling garment 1 includes a cooling fluid circulation path 2 in which a heat exchange part 30 capable of exchanging heat with a cooling fluid N by a Peltier element unit 31 is disposed in a pipe line for circulating the cooling fluid N in a garment body, and has a storage part 50 for storing the cooling fluid N. The cooling fluid circulation path 2 is arranged on the inner side of the garment body in a system in which an inflow part 72 at one end side of the pipe line and an outflow part 73 at the other end side are communicated in the storage part 50, and the cooling fluid N stored in the storage part 50 is circulated in the pipe line 71 from the outflow part 73 through the heat exchange part 30 by a pump, and is circulated into the storage part 50 from the inflow part 72. In the heat exchange part 30, a cooling surface 32 which absorbs heat from the Peltier unit 31 is arranged to radiate heat generated on a heat radiation surface from the outer surface side of the garment body into the atmosphere under an arrangement mode toward the inner space 50S of the storage part 50.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling garment that cools the body of a wearer. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, there have been many extremely hot days throughout the year that are uncomfortable for people, and on such extremely hot days, frequent hydration and moderate use of air conditioners are encouraged as measures to prevent heatstroke. However, due to reasons such as the lack of air conditioner equipment or insufficient air conditioner effectiveness, workers who work outdoors in the heat of the summer, workers who work in humid indoor environments, and people who engage in recreational activities, sports, or watching games under the blazing sun cannot cool down with air conditioners. For this reason, clothing with cooling functions has become popular for people seeking to escape the heat, and in recent years, cooling clothing has also been developed that has cooling channels for circulating cold water attached to the clothing itself. One example is disclosed in Patent Document 1.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a heat exchange device applied to clothing, which has a heat exchange pad on the clothing that is located in the liquid circulation passage system, and exchanges heat with the liquid circulating in the liquid circulation passage by a heat exchange unit having a Peltier element, and cools the wearer who feels hot by the liquid (cooling water) after heat exchange that flows through the heat exchange pad, thereby regulating the body temperature. In order to reduce weight, the heat exchange device in Patent Document 1 does not have a tank for storing fluid in the liquid circulation passage. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-4963 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, Patent Document 1 does not include a tank for liquid (cooling water), and only circulates the cooling water through the liquid circulation passage, and performs heat exchange only by absorbing heat from the Peltier element in the heat exchange unit, for the cooling water heated to a high temperature to regulate the wearer's body temperature. Therefore, when the heat exchange device of Patent Document 1 is used in extremely hot weather, there is a risk that the heat exchange unit, while circulating the cooling water, will not be able to lower the temperature of the cooling water to a low temperature that the wearer of the wearer feels is effectively cooling the body. Therefore, the wearer who wants to effectively cool the body will find the heat exchange device of Patent Document 1 to be inconvenient to use.

[0006] Incidentally, like the wear equipped with the heat exchange device of Patent Document 1, this type of cooling garment is also used by workers who work at high-rise building construction sites or at high altitudes on structures such as steel towers for power transmission lines. Once such workers move to a high-altitude work site, they generally tend to stay at the high-altitude work site for a relatively long time without going back and forth to the ground during work. In particular, in the case of cooling garments for such workers, if the cooling duration during which the wearer's body can be effectively cooled by the circulating cooling water is short, the worker wearing the cooling garment must continue working under unavoidable conditions while at a high-altitude work site under the blazing sun without obtaining a sufficient cooling effect on the body, which causes discomfort to the worker. Therefore, workers have been looking for cooling garments that can continuously circulate cooled cooling water and effectively cool the body for a longer period of time.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has an object to provide a cooling garment that can provide a wearer with a sustained cooling effect for a longer period of time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the cooling garment according to the present invention has the following configuration.

[0009] (1) In a cooling garment provided with a clothing body having a cooling fluid circulation path in a pipe line for circulating a cooling fluid by a pump and having a heat exchange section capable of exchanging heat with the cooling fluid by a Peltier element, the cooling garment has a bottomed bag-shaped storage section capable of storing the cooling fluid, and the cooling fluid circulation path is connected to the pipe line such that an inflow section on one end side and an outflow section on the other end side can communicate with the inside of the storage section respectively. By the pump, the cooling fluid stored in the storage section is circulated through the heat exchange section and then from the outflow section back into the pipe line and refluxed into the storage section from the inflow section. The cooling fluid circulation path is arranged on the inner surface side of the clothing body. The heat exchange section is arranged such that heat generated on a heat dissipation surface on the opposite side of a cooling surface that is under heat absorption by the Peltier element and faces the internal space of the storage section can be dissipated from the outer surface side of the clothing body to the atmosphere. Both the inflow section and the heat exchange section are provided at the bottom side of the storage section. The heat exchange section cools the cooling fluid that has become hot and flows into the storage section from the inflow section through heat exchange based on heat absorption by the Peltier element, so that the cooling fluid in a state where its temperature is lowered from the inflow section side flows out of the storage section through the outflow section. Note that when the wearer starts using the cooling garment according to the present invention, the temperature of the cooling fluid injected into the cooling fluid circulation path and stored in the storage section is, as a guide, for example, lower than a dozen degrees Celsius and within a temperature range capable of maintaining a liquid physical property without solidifying. When the cooling fluid is water, its temperature T (°C) is, for example, 0 < T < 12 to nearly 15. (2) In the cooling garment described in (1), the cooling garment is characterized in that the cooling fluid is cooled by the cooling substance and used while the storage section contains a cooling substance having a physical property capable of solidifying. (3) In the cooling garment described in (2), the storage section can store the PET bottle containing the cooling substance in a manner that allows it to be freely inserted and removed, and in the cooling fluid circulation path, the cooling fluid stored in the storage section is returned from the inlet section to the storage section through the pipeline from the outlet section via contact with the PET bottle containing the cooling substance, and the cooling garment is used with the PET bottle containing the cooling substance immersed in the cooling fluid stored in the storage section. (4) In the cooling garment described in any one of (1) to (3), the heat exchange section is formed by attaching the cooling surface of the Peltier element, or a metallic heat transfer member in close contact with the cooling surface, to a wall portion forming the internal space of the storage section. (5) A cooling garment as described in any one of (1) to (4) is characterized in that it is equipped with an electrically controllable control means, and the control means is capable of varying the heat absorption temperature exhibited by the cooling surface of the Peltier element in a plurality of stages. (6) The cooling garment described in (5) is characterized in that it has a detection means capable of detecting the temperature of the cooling fluid stored in the storage section, and the control means is capable of adjusting the temperature of heat absorption exhibited by the cooling surface of the Peltier element depending on the state of the cooling fluid obtained by the output signal of the detection means. (7) In a cooling garment described in any one of (1) to (6), the storage section is covered with an enclosing section formed on the outer surface of the garment body, and the enclosing section is provided with a heat dissipation section formed to allow the heat dissipation surface to come into contact with outside air. (8) The cooling garment according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein the garment body is a vest that is worn around the wearer's upper body. Effect of the Invention

[0010] The action and effect of the cooling garment according to the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration will now be described.

[0011] (1) A cooling garment provided in a garment body with a cooling fluid circulation path, which is formed by arranging a heat exchanger capable of exchanging heat between a cooling fluid and the cooling fluid by a Peltier element in a pipe line for circulating the cooling fluid by a pump, has a bottomed bag-shaped reservoir portion capable of storing the cooling fluid, the cooling fluid circulation path is a system arranged on the inner surface side of the garment body, in which an inlet portion on one end of the pipe line and an outlet portion on the other end of the pipe line are connected so as to be able to communicate with each other in the reservoir portion, and the cooling fluid stored in the reservoir portion is circulated from the outlet portion to the pipe line via the heat exchanger by the pump, and is returned from the inlet portion to the reservoir portion. the heat exchange section is arranged such that the cooling surface that absorbs heat by the Peltier element faces the internal space of the storage section, and heat generated on the heat dissipation surface on the opposite side of the cooling surface can be dissipated into the atmosphere from the outer surface side of the garment body; both the inflow section and the heat exchange section are provided on the bottom side of the storage section, and the heat exchange section cools the cooling fluid that has been heated and flowed into the storage section from the inflow section through heat exchange based on heat absorption by the Peltier element, so that the cooling fluid, which has been cooled more than the inflow section, flows out of the storage section to the outflow section.

[0012] Due to this feature, the cooling fluid (water, etc.) is constantly circulating through the cooling fluid circulation path, but in the internal space of the storage unit, the cooling fluid already stored therein is cooled to a temperature (water temperature) that effectively cools the body, for example, by the cooling surface of the Peltier element, which is at a temperature lower than several tens of degrees C. Therefore, even if the cooling fluid that has absorbed heat from the body of the wearer of the cooling garment according to the present invention and has been heated to, for example, around 25 to 30°C is returned from the inflow unit to the internal space of the storage unit, the cooling fluid that has already been cooled to, for example, below 10°C by the cooling surface of the Peltier element in the internal space of the storage unit is always sent from the outflow unit to the pipeline. Therefore, after the wearer begins to use the cooling garment of the present invention, while the cooling fluid repeatedly circulates through the cooling fluid circulation path including the internal space of the storage section, the cooling fluid sent out from the outflow section to the pipeline is always cooled to a temperature that is comfortable for the wearer (e.g., a few dozen degrees Celsius) by the cooling surface of the Peltier element, and the cooling garment of the present invention can continue to cool the wearer's body for a longer period of time.

[0013] Therefore, the cooling garment according to the present invention has the excellent effect of providing a sustained cooling effect for a longer period of time to the wearer.

[0014] The cooling garment described in (2) is characterized in that the cooling garment is used by cooling a cooling fluid with a cooling substance having solidifiable physical properties contained in a storage section.

[0015] Due to this feature, the cooling fluid (water, etc.) can be cooled by a cooling substance (ice, solidified drinking water, etc.) while stored in the internal space of the storage section, regardless of the ON / OFF state of the Peltier element, so that the cooling fluid, cooled to a temperature comfortable for the wearer, flows through the cooling fluid circulation path.

[0016] In the cooling garment described in (3), the storage section can store the PET bottle containing the cooling substance in a manner that allows it to be freely inserted and removed, and in the cooling fluid circulation path, the cooling fluid stored in the storage section is returned from the inlet section to the storage section through a pipeline from the outlet section via contact with the PET bottle containing the cooling substance, and the cooling garment is characterized in that it is used with the PET bottle containing the cooling substance immersed in the cooling fluid stored in the storage section.

[0017] Due to this feature, the cooling fluid (water, etc.) in a high temperature state stored in the internal space of the storage part is cooled to a low temperature by heat exchange with the cooling substance (ice, solidified drinking water, etc.) in the PET bottle, and is also cooled to a low temperature by endothermic heat exhibited on the cooling surface of the Peltier element. Therefore, in the cooling fluid circulation path including the internal space of the storage part, when the wearer starts using the cooling garment of the present invention, the cooling fluid is initially cooled by heat being taken from the cooling substance, but even if the cooling fluid rises to a high temperature of, for example, more than 20°C due to melting of the cooling substance, it is cooled by endothermic heat exhibited on the cooling surface of the Peltier element. Therefore, during the use of the cooling garment of the present invention, the cooling fluid is easily maintained at a temperature that effectively cools the body while circulating through the cooling fluid circulation path including the internal space of the storage part, and the sustained cooling effect of the cooling garment of the present invention is stable over time.

[0018] In the cooling garment described in (4), the heat exchange section is characterized in that it is formed by attaching the cooling surface of a Peltier element, or a metallic heat transfer member in close contact with the cooling surface, to a wall portion forming the internal space of the storage section.

[0019] Due to this feature, the cooling fluid (water, etc.) stored in the internal space of the storage portion is cooled efficiently in a short time by suppressing the loss of heat conduction when the heat is absorbed by the cooling surface of the Peltier element.

[0020] The cooling garment described in (5) is characterized in that it is equipped with an electrically controllable control means, and the control means can vary the heat absorption temperature exhibited by the cooling surface of the Peltier element in multiple stages.

[0021] Due to this feature, the control means can supply power to the Peltier element without unnecessary power consumption during output by appropriately adjusting the heat absorption temperature according to the temperature of the cooling fluid (water, etc.).

[0022] The cooling garment described in (6) is characterized in that it has a detection means capable of detecting the temperature of the cooling fluid stored in the storage section, and the control means is capable of adjusting the temperature of the heat absorbed on the cooling surface of the Peltier element depending on the state of the cooling fluid obtained by the output signal of the detection means.

[0023] With this feature, the control means can control the output of the Peltier element according to the temperature of the heated cooling fluid (water, etc.) to vary the temperature of the heat absorption exhibited by the cooling surface. Therefore, the power supply unit can continue to supply power to the Peltier element for a longer period of time, and by varying the temperature adjustment of the heat absorption according to the temperature of the cooling fluid, the duration for which the wearer can be effectively cooled can be extended, for example, by about 2 to 3 times, compared to when the temperature of the heat absorption is not varied.

[0024] In the cooling garment described in (7), the storage section is covered with a surrounding section formed on the outer surface of the garment body, and the surrounding section is provided with a heat dissipation section formed so that the heat dissipation surface can be in contact with the outside air.

[0025] Due to this feature, heat of several tens of degrees Celsius generated on the heat dissipation surface is dissipated backwards from the back of the wearer of the cooling garment of the present invention, so that the wearer is hardly affected by the heat generated on the heat dissipation surface, and the cooling garment of the present invention does not impair the comfort of the wearer.

[0026] The cooling garment described in (8) is characterized in that the garment body is a vest that is worn around the wearer's upper body.

[0027] Due to this feature, the cooling garment of the present invention can effectively cool the entire upper body of the wearer, including areas that are particularly sensitive to heat, such as the neck and cervical vertebrae, and the arteries in the armpits, using the cooling fluid (water, etc.) circulating through the cooling fluid circulation path, without significantly restricting the wearer's movement. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cooling garment according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the cooling garment shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the cooling garment shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a plan view showing the cooling garment shown in FIG. 1 in an unfolded state. [Diagram 5] This is an explanatory diagram showing how to insert and remove a plastic bottle containing a cooling substance into and from the storage section of the cooling garment of the embodiment, and shows the state in which a Peltier element unit is not fixed to the surrounding section. [Figure 6] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a side view of a state in which a plastic bottle containing a cooling substance is placed in a storage section of a cooling garment according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. [Figure 8] 7 is an explanatory diagram showing, in a perspective view, a state in which a plastic bottle containing a cooling substance is stored in a storage section, following FIG. 6. FIG. [Figure 9] 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control unit provided in the cooling garment according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10] A timing chart showing an example of control of the heat absorption temperature of the Peltier element unit by the control unit of the cooling garment of the embodiment based on the detected temperature of the temperature sensor and the water temperature difference between the inlet side and the outlet side. [Figure 11] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic diagram of a cooling fluid being cooled by the cooling surface of a Peltier element unit together with a PET bottle containing a cooling substance in a cooling garment according to an embodiment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] Hereinafter, the cooling garment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The cooling garment according to the present invention is used to cool the body of a wearer, such as a worker who works outdoors in extreme heat, a worker who works in a muggy indoor environment, or a person who is engaged in recreation, sports, or watching a game under the scorching sun. The cooling garment may take the form of a work uniform worn during work, as well as a multipurpose jacket or vest that can be worn for various purposes, including entertainment and leisure, events and occasions, sports, jogging, and cycling.

[0030] <Overview of Cooling Clothing 1> First, the outline of the cooling garment 1 will be briefly described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the cooling garment according to the embodiment, Fig. 2 is a front view of the cooling garment shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a rear view, and Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the cooling garment shown in Fig. 1 in an unfolded state. Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of inserting and removing a PET bottle containing a cooling substance into and from a storage section of the cooling garment according to the embodiment, and shows a state in which a Peltier element unit is not fixed to the surrounding section. As shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the cooling garment 1 has a bottomed bag-like storage section 50 in the garment body 10 that can freely insert and remove a cooling substance-containing PET bottle 90X in a state in which a solidifiable cooling substance M such as water or drinking water is contained in the PET bottle 90 in a standing posture, and has a cooling fluid circulation path 2 on the inner surface 10a side of the garment body 10.

[0031] <About the garment body 10> Next, the garment body 10 will be described. In the present embodiment, the garment body 10 of the cooling garment 1 is formed in the form of a vest to be worn on the upper body of the wearer, and is made of a synthetic resin fiber fabric having excellent heat resistance, strength resistance, and transpiration properties, such as nylon or polyester. The inner surface 10a of the garment body 10 is made of a mesh-like fabric.

[0032] 1 and 2, the garment body 10 has a front body 11, a back body 12, shoulders 13, a collar 14, and sides 15, which are divided into left and right halves, and the collar 14 rises from the shoulders 13 to cover the neck of the wearer. The sides 15 are connected to the front body 11 on both the left and right sides and to the back body 12 at the underarm areas between the front body 11 and the back body 12.

[0033] 2, the garment body 10 has two pairs of belts (belts 25A, 25B) extending from the front body 11 and the back body 12 between the left front body 11 and the right front body 11, and in both pairs, the belts 25A and 25B are connected to each other via a movable can 26 so that the length can be adjusted. The pair of belts (belts 25A, 25B) extending from the front body 11 and the back body 12 can be connected to each other so as to be freely attached and detached.

[0034] 2 and 3, the garment body 10 is provided on the outer surface of each of the left and right sides with a first pocket 21 that can be opened and closed with a fastener near the abdomen of the front body 11, a second pocket 22 that can be opened and closed with a fastener on the shoulder portion 13 above the storage portion 50, and a third pocket 23 that can be opened and closed with a fastener near the waist of the back body 12. Each of the first pocket 21 to the third pocket 23 is formed by overlapping two pieces of bag fabric in a patch shape.

[0035] <Cooling fluid circulation path 2> As shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the cooling garment 1 has a cooling fluid circulation path 2 in which a heat exchanger 30 capable of exchanging heat with the cooling fluid N by a Peltier element unit 31 (Peltier element) is disposed in a pipe 71 for circulating the cooling fluid N by a pump 74. The cooling fluid circulation path 2 has a pipe 71, an inlet portion 72 at one end of the pipe 71 and an outlet portion 73 at the other end thereof connected so as to be able to communicate with the inside of the storage portion 50, and a pump 74 for sending the cooling fluid N (water in this embodiment) into the pipe 71. The pump 74 is accommodated in the third pocket 23. The inlet portion 72 and the outlet portion 73 are disposed in the storage portion 50, which will be described later in detail. The cooling fluid circulation path 2 is configured with a system in which the cooling fluid N stored in the storage section 50 is circulated by the pump 74 through the heat exchange section 30, into the pipeline 71 via the outlet 73, and then returned to the storage section 50 via the inlet 72.

[0036] The cooling fluid circulation path 2 is disposed on the inner surface 10a side of the garment body 10. The duct 71 is made of flexible resin and is a long tube, forming a circulation path that runs from the back body 12 through the shoulders 13, both left and right front bodies 11, and back to the back body 12 again. In the cooling fluid circulation path 2, guide parts 27 are provided on the inner surface 10a of the garment body 10 in both left and right front bodies 11, the back body 12, and the shoulders 13. The guide parts 27 are formed in an arch shape by fixing both longitudinal ends of a strip-shaped member to the inner surface 10a of the garment body 10, and the duct 71 is inserted and held through the guide parts 27.

[0037] <Regarding the storage section 50> As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, the storage section 50 is accommodated in the second pocket 22. The storage section 50 is formed in a bottomed bag shape capable of storing the cooling fluid N in a liquid-tight manner. Specifically, the storage section 50 is formed in a bag shape using a waterproof and flexible synthetic resin sheet material, and a storage opening 53 is provided in a part of the bag. The storage opening 53 is formed so that the internal space 50S of the storage section 50 can communicate with the outside of the garment body 10. A lid body 54 is provided on the storage opening 53 and is connected to a cap 55 on the outer surface side of the garment body 10 by a string 56. The lid body 54 closes the storage opening 53 in a liquid-tight manner, and is opened when the cooling substance-containing plastic bottle 90X and the cooling fluid N enter and leave between the internal space 50S of the storage section 50 and the outside.

[0038] In this embodiment, the cooling garment 1 is used by cooling a cooling fluid N with a solidifiable cooling substance M (water, drinking water, etc.) stored in the storage section 50. Specifically, the cooling garment 1 is used in a state where a plastic bottle 90 containing the cooling substance M, in which the cooling substance M is stored, is immersed in the cooling fluid N stored in the storage section 50. For this reason, the storage opening 53 is sized to allow the plastic bottle 90 (the plastic bottle 90X containing the cooling substance) to be freely inserted and removed, and the storage section 50 is formed so that the plastic bottle 90X containing the cooling substance can be stored in the internal space 50S through the storage opening 53.

[0039] When the cooling garment 1 is used, the cooling fluid N circulating through the cooling fluid circulation path 2 is filled into the internal space 50S of the storage section 50 through the storage port 53 in addition to the PET bottle 90X containing the cooling substance. That is, in the cooling fluid circulation path 2, the storage section 50 is filled with the cooling fluid N in advance, and the PET bottle 90X containing the cooling substance is stored in the storage section 50. The cooling fluid N stored in the storage section 50 passes through the heat exchange section 30 by the pump 74, and flows through the pipe 71 from the outlet section 73 through contact with the outer peripheral surface 90a of the PET bottle 90X containing the cooling substance, and is returned from the inlet section 72 to the inside of the storage section 50. With respect to the internal space 50S of the storage section 50, the inlet section 72 is provided on the bottom 52 side, and the outlet section 73 is provided on the storage port 53 side above the inlet section 72.

[0040] <About the heat exchange section 30> Next, the heat exchange section 30 will be described with reference to Fig. 6 to Fig. 9. Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a plastic bottle containing a cooling substance is stored in a storage section of a cooling garment according to an embodiment, as viewed from the side, and Fig. 7 shows an enlarged view of part A in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram following Fig. 6, showing a perspective view of a state in which a plastic bottle containing a cooling substance is stored in the storage section.

[0041] As shown in Figs. 6 to 8, the heat exchanger 30 is configured using a Peltier element unit 31. The heat exchanger 30 is disposed such that the cooling surface 32, which is absorbed by the Peltier element, faces the internal space 50S of the storage unit 50, and the heat generated on the heat dissipation surface 33 on the opposite side of the cooling surface 32 can be dissipated into the atmosphere from the outer surface 10b side of the garment body 10. The heat exchanger 30 is provided on the bottom 52 side of the storage unit 50, and in this embodiment, the cooling surface 32 of the Peltier element is attached to a wall portion 51 forming the internal space 50S of the storage unit 50. The storage unit 50 is covered with an enclosure 57 formed on the outer surface 10b (see Fig. 3) of the garment body 10, and the enclosure 57 is provided with a heat exhaust portion 58 formed so that the heat dissipation surface 33 of the Peltier element can be in contact with the outside air Ar.

[0042] A specific description will be given. The Peltier element unit 31 is disposed in the cooling fluid circulation path 2 at a location close to the inlet 72 on the bottom 52 side of the internal space 50S of the storage section 50. The Peltier element unit 31 has a Peltier element including a cooling surface 32 and a heat dissipation surface 33, an intake section 34 that draws air toward the Peltier element, an inner flange 35 formed on the cover member, a protrusion 36 that forms the intake section 34, and a fastener 37 that forms an outer flange 38. The Peltier element unit 31 has a Peltier element housed in a cover member. The Peltier element is a type of plate-shaped semiconductor thermoelectric element. When a direct current is supplied to the Peltier element, one surface (cooling surface) of the flat plate portion of the Peltier element absorbs heat at a predetermined low temperature, for example, a temperature lower than a dozen degrees Celsius, due to the Peltier effect, and at the same time, the other surface (heat dissipation surface) on the opposite side generates heat at a predetermined high temperature, for example, a temperature higher than several tens of degrees Celsius.

[0043] 6 to 8, the Peltier element unit 31 is attached in a fixed state to the enclosing part 57 by inserting the protrusion 36 into the opening 59H in the enclosing part 57 of the garment body 10, sandwiching the outer peripheral edge 59 between the inner flange 35 of the protrusion 36 and the outer flange 38 of the fastener 37 with the inner flange 35 of the protrusion 36 abutting against the outer peripheral edge 59 on the outer periphery of the opening 59H, and fastening the protrusion 36 to the fastener 37. In this fixed state, in the heat exhaust part 58 in the enclosing part 57, the intake part 34 of the Peltier element unit 31 is disposed outside the enclosing part 57, so that the heat Hout from the heat dissipation surface 33 of the Peltier element is dissipated to the outside air Ar.

[0044] On the other hand, the cooling surface 32 of the Peltier element unit 31 is attached in a liquid-tight manner to the wall portion 51 forming the internal space 50S of the storage portion 50 by a sealing portion 39 such as a gasket, thereby preventing the cooling fluid N (water) in the internal space 50S from leaking out from between the cooling surface 32 and the wall portion 51 to the outside of the storage portion 50.

[0045] When removing the Peltier element unit 31 from the garment body 10, for example to wash the garment body 10, it is necessary to release the fastening between the protrusion 36 and the fastener 37 and remove the cooling surface 32 of the Peltier element unit 31 from the wall 51 of the storage section 50. Therefore, it is preferable that the seal section 39 is formed in a structure capable of maintaining a liquid-tight state between the wall 51 and the cooling surface 32 even if the cooling surface 32 of the Peltier element unit 31 is repeatedly attached to and removed from the wall 51 of the storage section 50.

[0046] <About Temperature Sensor 85> 8, in the present embodiment, the storage section 50 has a temperature sensor 85L (85) (detection means) disposed on the bottom 52 side of the internal space 50S and adjacent to the inflow section 72. The temperature sensor 85L (85) is a sensor capable of detecting the state (temperature) of the cooling fluid N (water) stored in the storage section 50. The temperature sensor 85L (85) detects the water temperature of the cooling fluid N (water) retained near the bottom 52 of the storage section 50. The temperature sensor 85 may be a sensor having a function of detecting the state of the water temperature with a quantitative measurement value, such as 5° C., or a sensor having a function of detecting the state of the water temperature qualitatively, such as in a “low temperature state mode”.

[0047] In this embodiment, the temperature sensor 85 is provided in the vicinity of the inflow section 72 with respect to the storage section 50 as an example, but the presence or absence of the temperature sensor 85 and the location of the temperature sensor 85 are not limited to this embodiment, and can be changed as appropriate, including the case where the temperature sensor 85 is not provided. For example, as shown in Fig. 8, a temperature sensor 85L (85) provided in the vicinity of the inflow section 72 detects the temperature of the cooling fluid N (water) stagnating near the bottom 52 of the storage section 50, and a temperature sensor 85H (85) provided in the vicinity of the outflow section 73 in the storage section 50 detects the temperature of the cooling fluid N (water) flowing through the pipe 71, so that the temperature difference of the cooling fluid N (water) between the inflow section 72 side and the outflow section 73 side may be detected.

[0048] <Regarding the control unit 80> Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control unit provided in the cooling garment according to the embodiment. As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 9, the cooling garment 1 includes a control unit 80 (control means), and the control unit 80 has a control unit 81, an operation unit 82, a display unit 83, etc. In the control unit 80, the operation unit 82 and the display unit 83 are electrically connected to the control unit 81.

[0049] In the Peltier element unit 31, the Peltier element is electrically connected to a power supply unit (not shown) via a wiring and through a control unit 80. The power supply unit is a storage battery such as a primary battery or a secondary battery that supplies power to the Peltier element of the Peltier element unit 31. The power supply unit and the wiring are freely detachable by connection via a connector such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection. Power from the power supply unit is supplied to the control unit 80 via the wiring.

[0050] The control unit 81 is a control means that electrically controls the Peltier element of the Peltier element unit 31, the temperature sensor 85 in the storage unit 50, and the pump 74 in the cooling fluid circulation path 2. Specifically, the control unit 81 controls the temperature at which heat is absorbed by the Peltier element, for example, by controlling the current when electricity is applied to the Peltier element, controlling the voltage applied to the Peltier element, duty control, etc. Note that the control unit 81 may control the pumped (circulated) flow rate of the cooling fluid N flowing through the cooling fluid circulation path 2 by the pump 74 as necessary.

[0051] The operation unit 82 is configured in such a manner that, by lightly pressing a push-down portion on the control unit 80 with a finger based on a predetermined operation mode, it is possible to perform an operation for switching on / off the power supply to the Peltier element of the Peltier element unit 31 and an operation for controlling the heat absorption temperature on the cooling surface 32 with the control unit 81. The display unit 83 is a display unit on the control unit 80, and is configured in such a manner that it can selectively emit light from a plurality of colors corresponding to the operations performed on the operation unit 82.

[0052] In addition, as one of its control functions, the control unit 81 can variably adjust the endothermic temperature exhibited on the cooling surface 32 of the Peltier element in multiple stages depending on the state of the cooling fluid N obtained by the output signal of the temperature sensor 85 in this embodiment.

[0053] 10 is a timing chart showing an example of control of the heat absorption temperature of the Peltier element unit by the control unit of the cooling garment according to the embodiment, based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor and the water temperature difference between the inlet side and the outlet side.

[0054] The control unit 81 can control the temperature of heat absorption on the cooling surface 32 of the Peltier element unit 31 to three levels in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, namely, a low temperature state (indicated as "low temperature" in FIG. 10), a medium temperature state (indicated as "medium temperature" in FIG. 10), and a high temperature state (indicated as "high temperature" in FIG. 10). The low temperature state is a 100% state in which the Peltier element can absorb heat with full output, and cold heat is absorbed at the lowest temperature in the Peltier element. The high temperature state is a 50% (one example) state in which the Peltier element can absorb heat with about half the output compared to the low temperature state, and cold heat is absorbed at the highest temperature in the Peltier element. The medium temperature state is a 75% (one example) state in which the Peltier element can absorb heat with an output intermediate between the high temperature state and the low temperature state, and cold heat is absorbed at a temperature lower than the high temperature state and within a temperature range higher than the low temperature state. The heat absorption control on the cooling surface 32 is not limited to three stages, but can be modified in various ways as long as it has two or more stages.

[0055] In this embodiment, the temperature sensor 85L (85) outputs to the control unit 81 a detection signal corresponding to, for example, a "low temperature mode" (detected temperature indicated as "low temperature" in FIG. 10) in a temperature range corresponding to a temperature difference of approximately 2°C or less, a "medium temperature mode" (detected temperature indicated as "medium temperature" in FIG. 10) in a temperature range corresponding to a temperature difference of approximately 3°C, and a "high temperature mode" (detected temperature indicated as "high temperature" in FIG. 10) in a temperature range corresponding to a temperature difference of more than approximately 5°C, in comparison with the temperature (near zero degrees) of the cooling substance M (water, drinking water, etc.) in a solidified state.

[0056] The control unit 81 controls the heat absorption temperature of the Peltier element according to the relative temperature difference (water temperature difference) between the outflow section 73 side and the inflow section 72 side of the cooling fluid N, based on the output signal of the temperature sensor 85L (85), in a first case where the water temperature difference is up to about 2°C from the detection result of the "low temperature mode" (represented as "small water temperature difference" in FIG. 10), in a second case where the water temperature difference is up to about 3°C ​​from the detection result of the "medium temperature mode" (represented as "medium water temperature difference" in FIG. 10), and in a third case where the water temperature difference exceeds 5°C from the detection result of the "high temperature mode" (represented as "large water temperature difference" in FIG. 10). Note that the numerical values ​​of the water temperature differences given in the first to third cases are merely examples and are not limited to the present embodiment and can be changed as appropriate.

[0057] In the timing chart shown in FIG. 10, the first case corresponds to the situation from time t0 to time t1. In the first case, the control unit 81 sets the heat absorption temperature on the cooling surface 32 of the Peltier element unit 31 to a high temperature state based on the output signal of the "low temperature mode" from the temperature sensor 85L (85). The second case corresponds to the situation from time t1 to time t2. In the second case, the control unit 81 sets the heat absorption temperature on the cooling surface 32 of the Peltier element unit 31 to a medium temperature state based on the output signal of the "medium temperature mode" from the temperature sensor 85L (85). The third case corresponds to the situation after time t2. In the third case, the control unit 81 sets the heat absorption temperature on the cooling surface 32 of the Peltier element unit 31 to a low temperature state based on the output signal of the "high temperature mode" from the temperature sensor 85L (85).

[0058] In addition, in the case of a cooling garment 1 that does not have a temperature sensor 85 arranged in the storage section 50, the wearer may manually operate the operating section 82 of the control unit 80 to select the desired temperature state from three levels (low temperature state, medium temperature state, high temperature state) for the heat absorption temperature at the cooling surface 32 of the Peltier element unit 31.

[0059] Next, the role of the heat exchanger 30 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram that shows a schematic diagram of a cooling fluid being cooled by the cooling surface of the Peltier element unit together with a PET bottle containing a cooling substance in the cooling garment according to the embodiment.

[0060] 11, in the cooling fluid circulation path 2, the cooling fluid N (water or the like) is filled into the storage portion 50 so that it can be stored in the internal space 50S of the storage portion 50, including the entire flow path of the pipes 71 forming the circulation path. Also, a plastic bottle 90X containing a cooling substance M (water, drinking water, or the like) in a solidified state (or in a liquid state cooled to a low temperature close to zero degrees, for example) is placed in the internal space 50S of the storage portion 50 in a standing position and immersed in the stored cooling fluid N, as shown in FIGS. 6, 8, and 11, before the cooling garment 1 is used.

[0061] 2 to 4, the cooling fluid N stored in the internal space 50S is continuously sent out by a pump 74 from the outflow portion 73 to a flow path in the pipe 71. The cooling fluid N passes through the pipe 71 and is returned to the internal space 50S of the storage portion 50 again. At this time, the cooling fluid N (water) removes heat from the body of the wearer of the cooling garment 1 and is returned from the inflow portion 72 to the internal space 50S, so that the temperature of the cooling fluid N is higher than the temperature of the water when it is sent out from the outflow portion 73.

[0062] As shown in Figures 6, 8, and 11, the high-temperature cooling fluid N flows into the internal space 50S from the inflow portion 72, and then flows through the internal space 50S while contacting the outer peripheral surface 90a of the PET bottle 90X containing the cooling substance. Therefore, the high-temperature cooling fluid N is cooled and cooled by heat exchange with the cooling substance M via the outer peripheral surface 90a of the PET bottle 90X containing the cooling substance while maintaining the flow rate delivered by the pump 74, and is adjusted to a temperature that is comfortable for the wearer of the cooling garment 1. The cooling fluid N cooled in the internal space 50S is delivered from the outflow portion 73 toward the pipe 71, and the wearer can be continuously cooled.

[0063] However, inside the plastic bottle 90X containing the cooling substance, the solidified cooling substance M (ice, etc.) melts over time and turns into a molten (liquid) cooling melting substance K (water, etc.) as shown in Fig. 11. After the cooling substance M changes phase from a solidified state to a molten state, the temperature of the cooling melting substance K gradually increases, so the cooling effect of the cooling melting substance K against the high-temperature cooling fluid N gradually decreases compared to the cooling substance M before the phase change. Therefore, the cooling garment 1 is no longer able to effectively cool the wearer after the cooling substance M begins to melt.

[0064] In cases where the wearer cannot be effectively cooled due to the melting of the cooling substance M, or where the cooling fluid N is not cooled by the PET bottle 90X containing the cooling substance (cooling substance M), the heat exchanger 30 cools the high-temperature cooling fluid N in the internal space 50S of the storage section 50. That is, as shown in Figs. 6, 8, and 11, the heat exchanger 30 cools the high-temperature cooling fluid N that flows from the inflow section 72 into the internal space 50S of the storage section 50 through heat absorption by the Peltier element of the Peltier element unit 31, with the result that the cooling fluid N with a lowered temperature than the inflow section 72 flows out of the internal space 50S of the storage section 50 through the outflow section 73 and into the pipe 71 of the cooling fluid circulation path 2.

[0065] 10 and 11, when the cooling substance M and the cooling melting substance K coexist in the PET bottle 90 or when only the cooling melting substance K exists, particularly after the cooling substance M starts to melt, heat is absorbed by the Peltier element unit 31 in the heat exchanger 30. Specifically, when the high-temperature cooling fluid N flows from the inlet 72 into the internal space 50S of the storage section 50 and is sent from the internal space 50S through the outlet 73 toward the pipe 71, the cooling fluid N, which is in a high-temperature state immediately after flowing in from the inlet 72, passes through the cooling surface 32, which is at a temperature below 10°C, as shown by the thin hatched arrow in FIG.

[0066] The cooling fluid N that has passed through the cooling surface 32 is cooled by contact with the cooling surface 32 and becomes colder. As shown by the large cross-headed arrow and the coarsely hatched arrow in Figure 10, the cooling fluid N flows toward the outflow portion 73, as shown by the small cross-headed arrow in Figure 10, while flowing circumferentially along the outer peripheral surface 90a of the PET bottle 90, and is sent out from the outflow portion 73 toward the pipeline 71.

[0067] Thus, even if the cooling effect on the cooling fluid N is reduced due to melting of the cooling substance M (ice, etc.) in the PET bottle 90X containing a cooling substance, the high-temperature cooling fluid N is cooled and cooled by the endotherm exhibited by the cooling surface 32 of the Peltier element unit 31 in the heat exchange section 30, instead of the cooling and melting substance K in the PET bottle 90. Also, even if the PET bottle 90X containing a cooling substance is not used to begin with, and the cooling fluid N is not cooled by the cooling substance M (ice, etc.), the high-temperature cooling fluid N is cooled and cooled by the endotherm exhibited by the cooling surface 32 of the Peltier element unit 31 in the heat exchange section 30.

[0068] In addition, when using a PET bottle 90X containing a cooling substance, even if the PET bottle 90 is filled with solidified cooling substance M and the cooling substance M is not melted, the heat exchanger 30 may be operated to cool the cooling fluid N in the internal space 50S together with the cooling substance M in the PET bottle 90X containing a cooling substance by the absorption of heat by the cooling surface 32 of the Peltier element unit 31. If the cooling garment 1 is used in this way, the melting of the cooling substance M is suppressed by the Peltier element unit 31, and the cooling garment 1 can extend the duration for which the wearer can be cooled to a comfortable temperature. However, in the Peltier element unit 31, the heat absorption temperature at the cooling surface 32 needs to be equal to or lower than zero degrees Celsius.

[0069] Next, the action and effect of the cooling garment 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0070] The cooling garment 1 according to this embodiment is a cooling garment provided with a cooling fluid circulation path 2 in a garment body 10, the cooling fluid circulation path 2 being configured by arranging a heat exchanger 30 capable of exchanging heat with the cooling fluid N by a Peltier element unit 31 in a pipeline 71 for circulating the cooling fluid N by a pump 74, the cooling fluid circulation path 2 having a bottomed bag-like reservoir 50 capable of storing the cooling fluid N, the cooling fluid circulation path 2 being configured to connect an inlet 72 at one end side and an outlet 73 at the other end side of the pipeline 71 so as to be able to communicate with the reservoir 50, the cooling fluid N stored in the reservoir 50 being circulated by the pump 74 from the outlet 73 to the pipeline 71 via the heat exchanger 30, and being returned from the inlet 72 to the reservoir 50, the cooling fluid N being circulated on the inner surface 10a side of the garment body 10. the heat exchange section 30 is arranged such that the cooling surface 32, which is subjected to heat absorption by the Peltier element unit 31, faces the internal space 50S of the storage section 50 so that heat Hout generated on the heat dissipation surface 33 on the opposite side of the cooling surface 32 can be dissipated into the atmosphere from the outer surface 10b side of the garment body 10; the inflow section 72 and the heat exchange section 30 are both provided on the bottom 52 side of the storage section 50, and the heat exchange section 30 cools the cooling fluid N, which has been heated and flowed into the storage section 50 from the inflow section 72, through heat exchange based on heat absorption by the Peltier element unit 31, so that the cooling fluid N, which has been cooled more than the inflow section 72 side, flows out of the storage section 50 to the outflow section 73.

[0071] Due to this feature, the cooling fluid N (water) always circulates through the cooling fluid circulation path 2, but in the internal space 50S of the storage section 50, the cooling fluid N already stored therein is cooled to a temperature (water temperature) that effectively cools the body, for example, by the cooling surface 32 of the Peltier element unit 31, which is at a temperature lower than several tens of degrees C. Therefore, even if the cooling fluid N that has absorbed heat from the body of the wearer of the cooling garment 1 and has been heated to, for example, about 25 to 30° C. is returned from the inflow section 72 to the internal space 50S of the storage section 50, the cooling fluid N that has already been cooled to, for example, below 10° C. by the cooling surface 32 of the Peltier element unit 31 in the internal space 50S of the storage section 50 is always sent from the outflow section 73 to the pipe 71. Therefore, after the wearer begins to use the cooling garment 1, while the cooling fluid N repeatedly circulates through the cooling fluid circulation path 2 including the internal space 50S of the storage section 50, the cooling fluid N discharged from the outlet section 73 to the pipeline 71 is constantly cooled to a temperature (e.g., a few dozen degrees Celsius) that is comfortable for the wearer by the cooling surface 32 of the Peltier element unit 31, so that the cooling garment 1 can continue to cool the wearer's body for a longer period of time.

[0072] Meanwhile, it is also assumed that the cooling suit 1 is used by workers who work at high-rise building construction sites or at high altitudes on structures such as steel towers for power transmission lines. Once such workers move to a high-altitude work site, they generally tend to stay at the high-altitude work site for a relatively long time without going back and forth to the ground during work. When such workers wear cooling suits such as the cooling suit 1, if the cooling duration during which the wearer's body can be effectively cooled by the circulating cooling water is short, the worker wearing the cooling suit must continue working under unavoidable circumstances while at a high-altitude work site under the scorching sun without obtaining a sufficient cooling effect on the body, which causes discomfort to the worker.

[0073] In contrast, the cooling suit 1 continuously circulates the cooled cooling fluid N (water), and can effectively cool the body for a longer period of time. Therefore, while a worker working at height is wearing the cooling suit 1 and working, the cooling effect of the cooling suit 1 is not lost midway, and the worker can complete the work while maintaining comfort. Therefore, the cooling suit 1 is easy to use for workers.

[0074] Therefore, the cooling garment 1 according to this embodiment has the excellent effect of providing a sustained cooling effect for a longer period of time to the wearer.

[0075] Furthermore, the cooling garment 1 of this embodiment is characterized in that the cooling garment 1 is used by cooling a cooling fluid N with a cooling substance M having solidifiable physical properties, which is contained in the internal space 50S of the storage section 50.

[0076] Due to this feature, the cooling fluid N can be cooled by the cooling substance M while stored in the internal space 50S of the storage section 50, regardless of the ON / OFF operating state of the Peltier element unit 31, so that the cooling fluid N, cooled to a temperature comfortable for the wearer, flows through the cooling fluid circulation path 2.

[0077] In addition, in the cooling garment 1 of this embodiment, the storage section 50 is capable of storing a PET bottle 90X containing a cooling substance M in the PET bottle 90 in a manner that allows it to be freely inserted and removed, and in the cooling fluid circulation path 2, the cooling fluid N stored in the storage section 50 is returned to the storage section 50 from the inlet section 72 through the pipeline 71 via the outlet section 73 via contact with the PET bottle 90X containing the cooling substance, and the cooling garment 1 is characterized in that it is used with the PET bottle 90X containing the cooling substance immersed in the cooling fluid N stored in the storage section 50.

[0078] Due to this feature, the cooling fluid N in a high temperature state stored in the internal space 50S of the storage section 50 is cooled to a low temperature by heat exchange with the cooling substance M in the plastic bottle 90, and is also cooled to a low temperature by the endothermic heat Hin exhibited by the cooling surface 32 of the Peltier element unit 31. Therefore, in the cooling fluid circulation path 2 including the internal space 50S of the storage section 50, when the wearer starts to use the cooling garment 1, the cooling fluid N is initially cooled by the heat taken from the cooling substance M, but even if the cooling fluid rises to a high temperature exceeding, for example, 20°C due to the melting of the cooling substance M, it is cooled by the endothermic heat Hin exhibited by the cooling surface 32 of the Peltier element unit 31. Therefore, during the use of the cooling garment 1, the cooling fluid N is easily maintained at a temperature that effectively cools the body while circulating through the cooling fluid circulation path 2 including the internal space 50S of the storage section 50, and the sustained cooling effect of the cooling garment 1 is stable over time.

[0079] Further, the cooling garment 1 according to this embodiment is characterized in that the cooling surface 32 of the Peltier element unit 31 is attached to a wall portion 51 that defines the internal space 50S of the storage portion 50.

[0080] Due to this feature, the cooling fluid N stored in the internal space 50S of the storage portion 50 is cooled efficiently in a short time with respect to the heat absorption Hin exhibited by the cooling surface 32 of the Peltier element unit 31 while suppressing loss of heat conduction.

[0081] In addition, the cooling garment 1 of this embodiment is characterized in that it is equipped with an electrically controllable control unit 80, and the control unit 80 can vary the temperature of the endothermic heat Hin presented to the cooling surface 32 of the Peltier element unit 31 in three stages.

[0082] Due to this feature, the control unit 80 can supply power to the Peltier element without wasting power during output by appropriately adjusting the temperature of the heat absorption Hin in accordance with the temperature of the cooling fluid N.

[0083] In addition, the cooling garment 1 of this embodiment is characterized in that it has a temperature sensor 85 capable of detecting the temperature of the cooling fluid N stored in the storage section 50, and the control unit 80 can adjust the temperature of the heat absorption Hin presented to the cooling surface 32 of the Peltier element unit 31 depending on the state of the cooling fluid N obtained from the output signal of the temperature sensor 85.

[0084] Due to this feature, the control unit 80 can control the output of the Peltier element in accordance with the temperature of the heated cooling fluid N, thereby varying the temperature of the heat absorption Hin presented to the cooling surface 32. Therefore, the power supply unit can continue to supply power to the Peltier element for a longer period of time, and by varying the temperature adjustment of the heat absorption Hin in accordance with the temperature of the cooling fluid N, the duration for which the wearer can be effectively cooled can be extended, for example, by about 2 to 3 times, compared to when the temperature of the heat absorption is not varied.

[0085] Furthermore, in the cooling garment 1 of this embodiment, the storage section 50 is covered with a surrounding section 57 formed on the outer surface 10b of the garment body 10, and the surrounding section 57 is provided with a heat dissipation section 58 formed to allow the heat dissipation surface 33 to come into contact with the outside air Ar.

[0086] Due to this feature, heat of several tens of degrees Celsius generated on the heat dissipation surface 33 is dissipated backward from the back of the wearer of the cooling garment 1, so that the wearer is hardly affected by the heat generated on the heat dissipation surface 33, and the cooling garment 1 does not impair the comfort of the wearer.

[0087] Moreover, the cooling garment 1 according to this embodiment is characterized in that the garment body 10 is a vest that is worn around the upper body of the wearer.

[0088] Due to this feature, the cooling garment 1 can effectively cool the entire upper body of the wearer, including areas that are particularly sensitive to heat, such as the neck and cervical vertebrae, and the arteries in the armpits, using the cooling fluid N circulating through the cooling fluid circulation path 2, without significantly impeding the wearer's movement.

[0089] Although the present invention has been described above based on the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be appropriately modified and applied without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0090] For example, in the embodiment, a cooling garment 1 formed in the form of a vest is described, but the cooling garment of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment and can be modified in various ways, for example, to a long-sleeved outerwear, jacket, etc.

[0091] In the embodiment, the cooling surface 32 of the Peltier element unit 31 is directly attached to the wall 51 of the storage section 50, and the wall 51 and the cooling surface 32 are liquid-tightly connected by the seal portion 39. However, when mounting the heat exchanger 30 in the internal space 50S of the storage section 50, a metal heat transfer member in close contact with the cooling surface 32 of the Peltier element may be attached to the wall 51 of the storage section 50 in a liquid-tight state. In this case, it is preferable that the heat transfer member is made of a material having a high thermal conductivity, such as copper or aluminum, among metals. This is because the loss of heat absorbed by the cooling surface 32 can be further suppressed.

[0092] Also, in the embodiment, the cooling garment 1 is exemplified, which cools the cooling fluid N (water) in a plastic bottle 90X containing a cooling substance M (water, drinking water, etc.) contained in the plastic bottle 90. However, the cooling substance may be ice, or may be a latent heat storage material composition in which an additive is added to an acetate hydrate such as sodium acetate trihydrate as a main component as a so-called ice pack to adjust the freezing point of the latent heat storage material to near zero degrees, and such a latent heat storage material composition may be contained in the internal space of the storage unit in a bagged state.

[0093] 1 to 4, the outer shape of the cooling garment 1 is not limited to the embodiment and can be changed as appropriate. The arrangement of the tubes constituting the cooling fluid circulation path 2 is also not limited to the embodiment and can be changed as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0094] 1 cooling garment 2 Cooling fluid circulation path 10 Clothing body (vest) 10a Inner surface of garment body 10b Outer surface of garment body 30 Heat exchange section 31 Peltier element unit (Peltier element) 32 Cooling surface 33 Heat radiation surface 50 Storage section 50S interior space 51 Wall 52 Bottom of reservoir 57 Encirclement 58 Heat exhaust section 71 Pipeline 72 Inlet 73 Outflow 74 Pump 80 Control unit (control means) 85 Temperature sensor (detection means) 90 Plastic Bottles 90X Plastic bottle with cooling substance M cooling substance N cooling fluid Ar Outside air Hin Endothermic Hout fever

Claims

1. A cooling garment comprising a cooling fluid circulation path in a garment body, the cooling fluid circulation path being provided with a heat exchanger capable of exchanging heat between the cooling fluid and the heat exchanger by a Peltier element in a pipe for circulating the cooling fluid by a pump, a bottomed bag-shaped storage portion capable of storing the cooling fluid; the cooling fluid circulation path is a system in which an inlet portion at one end of the duct and an outlet portion at the other end of the duct are connected to the inside of the storage portion so as to be able to communicate with each other, and the cooling fluid stored in the storage portion is circulated from the outlet portion to the duct by the pump via the heat exchange portion, and is returned from the inlet portion to the inside of the storage portion, the system being disposed on the inner surface side of the garment body; The heat exchange unit is arranged such that a cooling surface that is absorbed by the Peltier element faces the internal space of the storage unit, and heat generated on a heat dissipation surface on the opposite side of the cooling surface can be dissipated into the atmosphere from the outer surface side of the garment body. The inlet portion and the heat exchange portion are both provided on the bottom side of the storage portion, The heat exchange unit lowers the temperature of the cooling fluid that has been heated and flowed from the inflow unit to the storage unit through heat exchange based on heat absorption by the Peltier element, so that the cooling fluid having a lower temperature than that of the inflow unit flows out from the storage unit to the outflow unit. A cooling garment characterized by:

2. The cooling garment according to claim 1, The cooling garment is used by cooling the cooling fluid with a cooling substance having a solidifiable physical property contained in the storage section; A cooling garment characterized by:

3. The cooling garment according to claim 2, The storage unit can store the cooling substance-containing plastic bottle in a manner that allows it to be freely inserted and removed, In the cooling fluid circulation path, the cooling fluid stored in the storage section is returned from the inlet section to the storage section through the pipeline from the outlet section via contact with the PET bottle containing the cooling substance; The cooling garment is used in a state where the plastic bottle containing the cooling substance is immersed in the cooling fluid stored in the storage section; A cooling garment characterized by:

4. The cooling garment according to claim 1 or 2, The heat exchanger is formed by attaching the cooling surface of the Peltier element or a metal heat transfer member in close contact with the cooling surface to a wall portion defining an internal space of the storage portion; A cooling garment characterized by:

5. The cooling garment according to claim 1 or 2, Equipped with an electrically controllable control means, the control means is capable of varying the temperature of the heat absorption exhibited by the cooling surface of the Peltier element in a plurality of stages; A cooling garment characterized by:

6. 6. The cooling garment according to claim 5, a detection means for detecting the temperature of the cooling fluid stored in the storage portion; the control means is capable of adjusting a temperature of heat absorption exhibited by the cooling surface of the Peltier element in accordance with a state of the cooling fluid obtained by an output signal of the detection means; A cooling garment characterized by:

7. The cooling garment according to claim 1 or 2, The storage section is covered with an enclosure section formed on the outer surface of the garment body, and the enclosure section is provided with a heat exhaust section formed so that the heat dissipation surface can be in contact with outside air; A cooling garment characterized by:

8. The cooling garment according to claim 1 or 2, The garment body is a vest to be worn on the upper body of a wearer; A cooling garment characterized by:

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