Kit of parts for supplying water to an interior space of a cooling panel

Abstract

The invention relates to a kit of parts comprising a cooling panel and a liquid-supply reservoir. The cooling panel comprises an interior space capable of containing water and a water inlet that is capable of receiving water to fill the interior space with the water. The liquid-supply reservoir is designed to supply water to the cooling panel. It comprises a container for containing the water and a tube fluidly connected to an opening of the container. The tube has a distal tube end acting as a water outlet for the liquid-supply reservoir and is capable of being inserted into the water inlet of the cooling panel, so that the cooling panel can be filled with water. With a kit of parts according to the invention, a user can conveniently, safely and accurately fill the cooling garment with water, without overdosing and / or damaging the cooling panel. Such cooling panel is advantageously used in a cooling garment or other apparel.

Description

[0001] KIT OF PARTS FOR SUPPLYING WATER TO AN INTERIOR SPACE OF A

[0002] COOLING PANEL

[0003] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The invention relates to a kit of parts for supplying water to an interior space of a cooling panel and to a method for filling an interior space of such cooling panel with water.

[0005] BACKGROUND

[0006] Cooling garments that rely on the principle of evaporative cooling lose their cooling liquid during operation by evaporation from a water absorbent material, slowly but steadily. Such cooling garment therefore needs a periodical replenishment of its cooling liquid, typically water (‘activation’ of the cooling garment). Depending on the type of cooling garment, water replenishment may occur by uptake through a semi-permeable surface material or through a filling opening. The first case simply requires immersion of the cooling garment in water, while in the second case all of the water needs to be directed through a particular filling opening that is in fluid contact with a storage reservoir.

[0007] This last way of filling is however associated with some problems. For example, the flexibility of the cooling garment makes it difficult to properly position the filling opening relative to a spurt of water. This flexibility also causes variations in the volume of the reservoir, which makes that a sufficient volume may only be reached by certain configurations of the cooling garment. Further, despite the robustness of most cooling garments, their inside may be vulnerable. The water absorbent material is for example a pressed layer or fiber web of acrylate polymer, which can be disrupted by direct physical contact. It is of course safely contained inside the garment, but not at the filling opening. A user should therefore not be tempted to perform actions that as a side-effect cause exertion of physical force directly at the absorbent material, for example by trying to insert the water outlet of a household water tap or a garden hose into the filling opening.

[0008] Another problem is that it is difficult to transfer a specific, desired, amount of water. A deviation from such desired amount may result in underperformance of the cooling garment. In particular, an overdosing of water may result in discomfort for the wearer of the cooling garment.

[0009] A user of such cooling garment should however be able to easily fill it with a desired quantity of water for optimal performance of the cooling garment, without spilling any water, irrespective of how skillful the user is in handling liquids.

[0010] The above problems in fact apply to any item with a cooling capacity that relies on the principle of evaporative cooling and which needs a periodical replenishment of its cooling liquid, in particular water, through a filling opening. Such item may therefore be a cooling panel for any purpose; not only for a cooling garment, but also for, e.g. a cooling blanket, a cooling shawl, a cooling brace and the like.

[0011] Therefore, there is a need for a filling method or a filling system for filling a cooling panel with water, which overcomes one or more of the above problems.

[0012] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a filling system for a cooling panel that allows a user to easily pass water through the filling opening, and / or wherein the amount of added water can be controlled so as to fill the cooling panel with an optimal amount of water. It is also an object that such filling system allows a user to easily configure a cooling panel so that it can receive the water.

[0014] It is a general object of the invention that a user can conveniently activate the cooling panel. This preferably includes activation to a state of the cooling panel that provides the user with an optimal user experience.

[0015] It is in particular an object that such filling system does not pose a threat to delicate water absorbent materials that are present on the inside of the cooling panel.

[0016] Accordingly, the present invention relates to a kit of parts for supplying water to an interior space of a cooling panel, the kit of parts comprising a) a cooling panel comprising an interior space capable of containing water and a water inlet that is capable of receiving water to fill the interior space with the water; b) a liquid-supply reservoir for supplying water to the cooling panel, the liquidsupply reservoir comprising

[0017] - a container for containing the water;

[0018] - a tube fluidly connected to an opening of the container, the tube having a tube wall and a distal tube end, the distal tube end being capable of being inserted into the water inlet of the cooling panel.

[0019] The invention further relates to a method for filling an interior space of a cooling panel with water, the method comprising a) providing a cooling panel comprising an interior space capable of containing water and a water inlet that is capable of receiving water to fill the interior space with the water; b) providing a liquid-supply reservoir for supplying water to the cooling panel, the liquid-supply reservoir comprising

[0020] - a container for containing the water;

[0021] - a tube fluidly connected to an opening of the container, the tube having a tube wall and a distal tube end, the distal tube end being capable of being inserted into the water inlet of the cooling panel;

[0022] - allowing the distal tube end of the liquid-supply reservoir to protrude in the water inlet of the cooling panel, wherein the liquid-supply reservoir is at least partly filled with water;

[0023] - allowing the water in the liquid-supply reservoir to flow through the tube and leave the tube through the distal tube end to thereby fill the interior space with the water;

[0024] - optionally withdrawing the distal tube end of the liquid-supply reservoir from the water inlet of the cooling panel.

[0025] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The cooling panel in a kit of parts according to the invention may in principle be any cooling panel which, for its activation, relies on the addition of water via an inlet opening in the cooling panel.

[0027] For example, the cooling panel is made of a coolant fabric wherein the coolant fabric comprises - two outer layers that are impermeable to liquid water, at least one of the outer layers being permeable to water vapor;

[0028] - a water absorbent material, typically in the form of a layer, that is enclosed between both outer layers; wherein the two outer layers are connected to one another to form the interior space. The connection may be made by one or more methods selected from the group of gluing, heat sealing, heat fusion and stitching.

[0029] In an embodiment, both outer layers of the coolant fabric are permeable to water vapor.

[0030] In another embodiment, the cooling panel comprises vent holes through which a fluid may pass. In such garment, the vent holes are typically defined by coinciding vent hole edges of the two outer layers. The outer layers are then connected to one another along the vent hole edges to form a seal around each vent hole, by applying one or more methods selected from the group of gluing, heat sealing, heat fusion and stitching.

[0031] Herein, by a coolant fabric is meant a fabric capable of providing cooling to a particular item or body that is close to or in contact with the cooling panel, wherein the cooling relies on the principle of evaporative cooling, typically by the evaporation of water.

[0032] The outer layers for example comprise a thermoplastic material selected from the group of acrylate polymers, acrylate copolymers, methacrylate polymers, methacrylate copolymers, polyesters, polyolefins, polyurethanes, poly(ether-ester) elastomers, poly(vinylacetate), ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, vinyl ester polymers, and mixtures thereof.

[0033] The water absorbent material is preferably capable of absorbing high amounts of water, for example it can absorb 200-300 times its weight of water. It comprises for example a superabsorbent polymer. In such case, the water absorbent layer comprises a mixture of support material and the superabsorbent polymer, preferably wherein the support material constitutes 25-95 wt.% of the water absorbent material. The support material is for example a thermoplastic material, in particular selected from the group of polyethylene, polypropylene, (random or regular) copolymers of polypropylene and polyethylene, poly(ethyleneterephthalate), and mixtures thereof. A superabsorbent polymer is for example selected from the group of polyacrylates, polyacrylamides, polyvinyl alcohols, ethylene-maleic anhydride copolymers, polyvinylethers, methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, polyvinylmorpholinones, polyacrylamides, polyvinylpyridines, and polyvinylpyrrolidones.

[0034] Besides superabsorbent polymers, also other water absorbent materials may be used in a cooling panel in a kit of parts according to the invention, such as a material selected from the group of cellulose, linen, cotton, rayon, bamboo fabric, hemp, wool and terry towelling fabric.

[0035] A cooling panel of a kit of parts according to the invention may be used to prepare a variety of items. For example, apparel is made from a such cooling panel. Usually, the cooling panel is a part of an item selected from the group of cooling garments, cooling shawls, cooling blankets, and cooling braces.

[0036] The liquid-supply reservoir comprises a container for containing the water and a tube fluidly connected to an opening of the container. The liquidsupply reservoir is preferably a flexible plastic bottle and is usually capable of being squeezed manually by a user. Typically, the liquid-supply reservoir has diameter of 100 mm or less. It may also be 50 mm or less, 30 mm or less or even 15 mm or less. On the other hand, the diameter of the tube is at least a factor 2 smaller than the diameter of the liquid-supply container. More preferably, this factor is at least 4, even more preferably it is at least 6. Also a factor of at least 8 or at least 10 is possible. The advantage of these relative dimensions is that when a user squeezes the water from the liquid-supply reservoir through the tube with a reduced diameter into the cooling panel, the liquid supply to the cooling panel is better controlled so that there is a smaller chance that water is spilled to thereby undesirably wet outer surroundings of the cooling panel. The content of the liquidsupply reservoir ( / .e. its inner volume) is usually 1 liter or less. Preferable it is 500 mL or less, for example 400 mL or less, 300 mL or less, 200 mL or less or 100 mL or less.

[0037] The cooling panel is typically filled with water by manually squeezing the liquid-supply reservoir. After squeezing the reservoir, the reservoir is released and seeks to revert to its original shape. This causes an underpressure in the reservoir, allowing air to enter the reservoir via the tube. Usually, multiple squeezing cycles are required for filling the cooling panel. Since there is a natural stop per squeeze (which occurs when the container cannot be further squeezed), a user has better control of the water flow from the liquid supply reservoir to the cooling panel. Also, a user can instantly stop the water flow by just releasing the container. This not only results in an increased control of the water flow (so that e.g. less water spilling occurs), but also allows a more precise dosing of water into the cooling panel. This prevents an overdosing of water in the cooling panel, which on its turn prevents a discomfort for a user who wears the cooling panel as a part of a cooling garment.

[0038] Another advantage of reducing the diameter of the tube relative to the diameter of the liquid-supply reservoir is that the dimensions of the water inlet in the cooling panel can be reduced. This has the advantage that a user experiences a higher wearing comfort when he / she / it wears the cooling panel as a part of a cooling garment, because a smaller water inlet (e.g. limited to and / or adapted to the diameter of the tube) will represent a smaller irregularity in the cooling panel. This will be less disturbing to the user, in particular when the user wears for example a rucksack, backpack, motor jacket or the like that is in the vicinity or even on top of the water inlet and / or where pressure is exerted on the area where the water inlet of the cooling panel is positioned.

[0039] The tube of a liquid-supply reservoir has a tube wall and a distal tube end with a circumferential edge. The distal tube end forms the end of the tube where the water leaves the liquid-supply reservoir when the water is transferred from the liquid-supply reservoir to the cooling panel. It is therefore capable of being inserted into the water inlet of the cooling panel of the kit of parts.

[0040] The distal tube end has a circumferential edge. Such edge is to be viewed as a cross-sectional surface that forms after a piece of the tube has been cut off.

[0041] When a piece is cut off from a tube, then the resulting circumferential edge at the tube end usually has sharp corners. When the cut-off is slanted and the tube end becomes pointed, then the tube end ends in a sharp tip. A disadvantage when the distal tube end is sharply cornered, and especially when it comprises a sharp tip, is that it can damage parts in the interior space near the filling opening upon replenishing the cooling panel. Herein, the water absorbent material is particularly prone to become damaged. Therefore, in an advantageous embodiment, the actual circumferential edge at the distal tube end is rounded along the circumferential edge. This means that the distal tube end is rounded along the circumferential edge, and that there is in principle no cross-sectional surface that makes a corner with the tube wall. The term ‘rounded’ is here meant to indicate that the surface of the tube wall and the cross-sectional surface blend together without the presence of a clear interface between the two.

[0042] The distal tube end is preferably a tipped tube end. The tube end is then e.g. in the shape of a point. There are different forms of tipped tube ends. For example, as briefly indicated above, the distal tube end can have a slanted cut-off (as opposed to a straight cut-off). This means that the distal tube end is a slanted tube end. This provides the tube with a tipped tube end, e.g. the tube end is in the shape of a point.

[0043] Such slanted tube end may be formed by one single slanted cut-off. In such case, the tip of the tipped tube end is a single protrusion of tube wall.

[0044] The slanted tube end may alternatively be formed by two slanted cut-offs in mutually different directions, wherein the intersection of the two slanted cut-offs defines the tip of the tipped tube end. In such case, the tip of the tipped tube end consists of two protrusions of tube wall, opposite to one another.

[0045] In a particular case, the slanted tube end may be formed by one slanted cut-off and one straight cut-off that is substantially perpendicular to the tube wall, in such way that these two cut-offs have an intersection that defines the tipped tube end. The tip of the tipped tube end is then a bit blunt, due to the straight cutoff.

[0046] Another form of a tipped tube end is the case where the tube diameter decreases towards the distal tube end. The distal tube end is then typically a conical tube end or a tapered tub end.

[0047] In an advantageous embodiment, the tube comprises one or more perforations in the tube wall, in particular close to the distal tube end, for example within 2 cm or within 1 cm of the distal tube end. This forms an additional outlet for water when that is transferred from the tube to the cooling panel. This is in particular beneficial in cases where the distal tube end has become substantially blocked when an inner surface of the cooling panel e.g. a surface from the cooling panel’s interior space) inadvertently abuts the distal tube end.

[0048] Usually, the distal tube end comprises an opening for the exhaust of water, allowing the passage of water for the transfer of water from the container of the liquid-supply reservoir to the cooling panel that is to be filled. When there are however perforations alongside the tube wall, then it is not necessary that the distal tube end comprises an opening for the exhaust of water because of the perforations. After all, these perforations are encountered by an outflow of water before the outflow can reach the distal tube end. Therefore, in an embodiment, the distal tube end is closed for the passage of a fluid - on the condition that there are one or more perforations alongside the tube wall.

[0049] In another advantageous embodiment, the liquid-supply reservoir comprises a marking that indicates a certain volume inside the reservoir. This marking typically corresponds to the amount of water that can be accommodated by the interior space of the cooling panel.

[0050] In an advantageous embodiment, the tube comprises a screw cap and the container comprises a screw thread that allows fastening of the screw cap by means of screwing. The screw cap is then fitted with the tube in such a manner that a proximal end of the tube is fluidly connected to the screw cap. This allows a convenient opening and closure of the container when it needs a refill with water.

[0051] The screw thread is preferably compatible to screw threads of containers-with-cap that are on the market. This allows to use the container for multiple purposes. For example, during a certain activity where the cooling panel is being used (e.g. in a cooling garment that is worn), the container may be filled with water with the aim to carry water for 1 ) water replenishment in the body of the user, the wearer or a companion when thirsty; and 2) water replenishment in the cooling panel (e.g. of a cooling garment). In such case, the container is typically a bottle (and the marketed container-with-cap is then a bottle-with-cap).

[0052] A kit of parts according to the invention is typically purchased by a consumer in its totality, i.e. in a box or container that comprises all the elements (the cooling panel and the liquid-supply reservoir). Other elements may of course also be present, such as a protective bag for the panel, an auxiliary holder for the container (of the liquid-supply reservoir), a user manual and a label. The kit of parts provides the user with a complete and ready-to-fill cooling panel, where only the water needs to be provided on location. This makes it very convenient for the user to quickly, safely and accurately activate the cooling panel.

[0053] A particular advantage of the kit of parts according to the invention is that the water inlet of the cooling panel can be made much smaller than in conventional panels. The dimensions of the water inlet of conventional panels is adapted to the diameter of filling means that are commonly present in a household of a consumer, such as a kitchen tap or a garden hose. The diameter of a tube (in particular its distal tube end) of a liquid-supply reservoir of a kit of parts according to the present invention can however be made significantly smaller than those household equivalents. For example, the tube has an outer diameter of 15 mm or less. Preferably, it is 12 mm or less, more preferably it is 8 mm or less and even more preferably it is 6 mm or less or 5 mm or less. It may also be in the range of

[0054] 1-14 mm, in the range 2-9 mm or in the range of 4-7 mm.

[0055] In correspondence with this, the diameter of the water inlet of the cooling panel may be adapted to accept a tube of one or more of these diameters. Usually, the water inlet is an opening in the form of a slit having two opposite sides. When closing the water inlet, the two opposite sides are pressed against one another so that they do not allow the passage water therebetween and so close-off the water inlet. For opening the water inlet, the two opposite sides are separated from one another to form the slit. By further opening the slit, a cylindrical object such as a tube can be received by the water inlet. Such slit is usually designed in such way that it can receive a tube with a diameter of 15 mm or less, 12 mm or less, 8 mm or less, 6 mm or less or 5 mm or less. It may also be designed to receive a tube with a diameter in the range of 1-14 mm, in the range

[0056] 2-9 mm or in the range of 4-7 mm.

[0057] In the event that the water inlet is of a fixed round shape, then it usually has a diameter of 18 mm or less, 15 mm or less, 12 mm or less, 8 mm or less, 7 mm or less or 6 mm or less or 5 mm or less. It may also be in the range of 2-16 mm, in the range 2-11 mm or in the range of 4-9 mm.

[0058] The advantage of a smaller water inlet over a larger water inlet is that a smaller water inlet is closed-off stronger (e.g. requiring more force or pressure to open it), leading to a reduced chance on leakage. Another advantage of a smaller water inlet is an increased comfort for a user, in particular for a wearer in case the cooling panel is part of apparel such as a cooling garment or a cooling shawl.

[0059] The invention further relates to a method for filling an interior space of a cooling panel with water, the method comprising a) providing a cooling panel comprising an interior space capable of containing water and a water inlet that is capable of receiving water to fill the interior space with the water; b) providing a liquid-supply reservoir for supplying water to the cooling panel, the liquid-supply reservoir comprising

[0060] - a container for containing the water;

[0061] - a tube fluidly connected to an opening of the container, the tube having a tube wall and a distal tube end with a circumferential edge, the distal tube end being capable of being inserted into the water inlet of the cooling panel;

[0062] - allowing the distal tube end of the liquid-supply reservoir to protrude in the water inlet of the cooling panel, wherein the liquid-supply reservoir is at least partly filled with water;

[0063] - allowing the water in the liquid-supply reservoir to flow through the tube and leave the tube through the distal tube end to thereby fill the interior space with the water;

[0064] - optionally withdrawing the distal tube end of the liquid-supply reservoir from the water inlet of the cooling panel.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A kit of parts comprising a) a cooling panel comprising an interior space capable of containing water and a water inlet that is capable of receiving water to fill the interior space with the water; b) a liquid-supply reservoir for supplying water to the cooling panel, the liquidsupply reservoir comprising- a container for containing the water;- a tube fluidly connected to an opening of the container, the tube having a tube wall and a distal tube end with a circumferential edge, the distal tube end being capable of being inserted into the water inlet of the cooling panel.

2. A kit of parts according to claim 1 , wherein the distal tube end is a slanted tube end, providing the tube with a tipped tube end.

3. A kit of parts according to claim 2, wherein the slanted tube end is formed by one slanted cut-off.

4. A kit of parts according to claim 2, wherein the slanted tube end is formed by two slanted cut-offs in mutually different directions, wherein an intersection of the two slanted cut-offs defines the tipped tube end.

5. A kit of parts according to claim 2, wherein the slanted tube end is formed by one slanted cut-off and one straight cut-off that is substantially perpendicular to the tube wall, wherein these two cut-offs have an intersection.

6. A kit of parts according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the distal tube end is a conical tube end, providing the tube with a tipped tube end.

7. A kit of parts according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein the circumferential edge of the distal tube end is rounded along the circumferential edge.

8. A kit of parts according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the tube comprises one or more perforations in the tube wall, in particular close to the distal tube end, for example within 2 cm of the distal tube end.

9. A kit of parts according to claim 8, wherein the distal tube end is closed for the passage of water.

10. A kit of parts according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein the container comprises a marking that indicates a certain volume inside the container.1 1 .A kit of parts according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein the tube comprises a screw cap and the container comprises a screw thread that allows fastening of the screw cap to the container by means of screwing.

12. A kit of parts according to any one of claims 1-1 1 , wherein the cooling panel comprises a coolant fabric which comprises- two outer layers that are impermeable to liquid water, at least one of the outer layers being permeable to water vapor;- a water absorbent material that is enclosed between both outer layers; wherein the two outer layers are connected to one another to form the interior space.

13. A kit of parts according to claim 12, wherein the outer layers comprise a thermoplastic material selected from the group of acrylate polymers, acrylate copolymers, methacrylate polymers, methacrylate copolymers, polyesters, polyolefins, polyurethanes, poly(ether-ester) elastomers, poly(vinylacetate), ethylene-vinyl acetate co-polymers, vinyl ester polymers, and mixtures thereof.

14. A kit of parts according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the water absorbent material comprises a material selected from the group of linen, cotton, rayon, bamboo fabric, hemp, wool and terry towelling fabric; and / or one or more polymers selected from the group of polyacrylates, polyacrylamides, polyvinyl alcohols, ethylene-maleic anhydride copolymers, polyvinylethers,methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, polyvinylmorpholinones, polyacrylamides, polyvinylpyridines, and polyvinylpyrrolidones.

15. A kit of parts according to any one of claims 12-14, wherein both outer layers are permeable to water vapor.

16. A kit of parts according to any one of claims 1-15, wherein the cooling panel is a part of an item selected from the group of cooling garments, cooling shawls, cooling blankets, and cooling braces.

17. A kit of parts according to any one of claims 1-16, wherein the distal tube end of the liquid-supply reservoir protrudes in the water inlet of the cooling panel.

18. A kit of parts according to any one of claims 1-17, wherein the tube has an outer diameter of 12 mm or less, preferably of 8 mm or less and more preferably of 6 mm or less.

19. A kit of parts according to any one of claims 1-18, wherein the water inlet is capable of being configured to an opening having a diameter of 10 mm or less, in particular of 8 mm or less, more in particular of 7 mm or less.

20. Method for filling an interior space of a cooling panel with water, the method comprising a) providing a cooling panel comprising an interior space capable of containing water and a water inlet that is capable of receiving water to fill the interior space with the water; b) providing a liquid-supply reservoir for supplying water to the cooling panel, the liquid-supply reservoir comprising- a container for containing the water;- a tube fluidly connected to an opening of the container, the tube having a tube wall and a distal tube end with a circumferential edge, the distaltube end being capable of being inserted into the water inlet of the cooling panel;- allowing the distal tube end of the liquid-supply reservoir to protrude in the water inlet of the cooling panel, wherein the liquid-supply reservoir is at least partly filled with water;- allowing the water in the liquid-supply reservoir to flow through the tube and leave the tube through the distal tube end to thereby fill the interior space with the water;- optionally withdrawing the distal tube end of the liquid-supply reservoir from the water inlet of the cooling panel.