TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of clothing designed to reduce the body temperature of a wearer of the clothing, and in particular to reduce the wearer's body temperature through evaporative cooling.

BACKGROUND ART

Clothing is traditionally used to protect a wearer's body from the surrounding environment, particularly adverse weather, strong sunlight, extreme heat or cold, precipitation, or wind. Clothing is also worn for safety, comfort, modesty, and to reflect religious, cultural, and social values of an individual. Often, clothing is adapted for specialized purposes in which a person wearing the clothing is engaged. Examples of clothing adapted for specialized purposes include a swimsuit, motorcycle leathers, high-visibility clothing, protective clothing, and so on. One particularly important type of clothing is clothing designed to aid the body's own cooling mechanism. Under certain conditions, a person's body temperature is elevated to a level that is higher than normal. This rise in body temperature may occur because the person is playing sports, exercising, exposed to the sun, or variety of other reasons. To counteract the rise in a person's body temperature, the body begins to perspire, producing sweat to transport excess thermal energy from inside the body to the surface of the skin for evaporation. The sweat's evaporation in turn cools the body. Clothing designed to aid the body's natural cooling process wicks sweat away from the skin for distribution throughout the clothing, and eventually evaporation from the clothing's outer surface. Wicking the sweat away from the skin has the effect of cooling the body because the wicking process removes the thermal energy in the sweat from the body. Clothing designed to aid the body's cooling process in this manner comes in variety of forms and is often designated as active wear, sportswear, stay dry clothing, and the like.

The drawback to the clothing described above is that it relies completely on the sweat produced by a person's own body to facilitate any temperature reduction. Often, however, the body's ability to expel thermal energy through the perspiration process alone is insufficient to reduce the body's temperature to a level that allows a person to achieve maximum endurance during an particular temperature elevating activity. Accordingly, a person must stop or temporarily suspend the activity sooner rather than later to provide the body with sufficient time to cool. For a cyclist, for example, this drawback translates into fewer miles of bike riding. For a road construction worker exposed to the sun, this drawback may translate into less productivity and increased risk of sun stroke.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention discloses an evaporative cooling clothing system for reducing body temperature of a wearer of the clothing system. The clothing system includes a clothing article configured using a wicking fabric and a hollow transport defining a cavity for transporting a liquid from a liquid reservoir to an upper region of the clothing article. The hollow transport has an intake section and a dispensing section. The intake section is attached to the liquid reservoir for receiving the liquid, and the dispensing section is attached to the upper region of the clothing article. The upper region of the clothing article receives the liquid from the dispensing section and transfers the liquid to a lower region of the clothing article. The lower region of the clothing article exposes the liquid to an environment surrounding the clothing article for evaporation.

In some embodiments, the clothing article may be implemented as a garment for covering an upper torso of the wearer. The upper region of such a garment may have a neck region and a shoulder region. Accordingly, the dispensing section may be configured along the neck region and the shoulder region to attach to the clothing article's upper region. In still other embodiments, the upper region of the clothing article may include a spinal region extending along the center rear portion of the garment. In these other embodiments, the dispensing section may be configured along the neck region, the shoulder region, and the spinal region.

In some embodiments, the dispensing section may include a plurality of orifices through which the dispensing section transfers the liquid from the cavity to the upper region of the clothing article. The dispensing section may be removably attached to the upper region of the clothing article. The dispensing section may be attached to the upper region of the clothing article by insertion into a sheath attached to the upper region of the clothing article. In some embodiments, the dispensing section may be wrapped in a fabric to distribute the liquid around the outer surface of the dispensing section to facilitate the transfer of the liquid to the upper region of the clothing article.

To regulate the rate at which the liquid is received by the hollow transport, a clothing system according to some embodiments of the present invention may also include a valve attached to the intake section. The liquid may be stored under pressure in the liquid reservoir to facilitate the flow of the liquid through the hollow transport, which may be tubular, trapezoidal, square, elliptical, or a variety of other shapes. In additional embodiments, the wicking fabric may include an ultraviolet light absorber to protect the wearer's body from the sun's harmful radiation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an implementation of apparatus and methods consistent with the present invention and, together with the detailed description, serve to explain advantages and principles consistent with the invention. In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a drawing illustrating a rear view of an exemplary clothing system for reducing body temperature of a wearer of the clothing system according to embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a drawing illustrating a front view of the exemplary clothing system illustrated in Figure 1 for reducing body temperature of a wearer of the clothing system according to embodiments of the present invention.

Figures 3A and 3B are drawings illustrating cross-sectional views of hollow transports useful in exemplary clothing systems for reducing body temperature of a wearer of the clothing systems according to embodiments of the present invention. Figure 4 is a drawing illustrating a cross-sectional view of a dispensing section of a hollow transport useful in exemplary clothing systems for reducing body temperature of a wearer of the clothing systems according to embodiments of the present invention. Figure 5 is a drawing illustrating another exemplary clothing system for reducing body temperature of a wearer of the clothing system according to embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a drawing illustrating another exemplary clothing system for reducing body temperature of a wearer of the clothing system according to embodiments of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of clothing systems for reducing body temperature of a wearer of the clothing systems through evaporative cooling are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, beginning with Figure 1. Figure 1 sets forth a drawing illustrating a rear view of an exemplary clothing system 100 for reducing body temperature of a wearer of the clothing system 100 according to embodiments of the present invention. Body temperature is a measure of the thermal energy of a person's body and is often expressed in units of degrees using a Fahrenheit or Celsius temperature scale. Readers will note that the wearer of the exemplary clothing system 100 is omitted from Figure 1 and the remaining Figures 2-6 for clarity.

The exemplary clothing system 100 of Figure 1 includes a clothing article 102. The clothing article 102 of Figure 1 is implemented as a garment for covering an upper torso of the garment's wearer such as, for example, a shirt or a jacket. The clothing article 102 of Figure 1 is configured using a wicking fabric. A fabric is a flexible material comprised of a network of natural or artificial fibers and is often referred to as a 'textile.' A wicking fabric is a fabric that draws moisture into itself by means of capillary action. Capillary action occurs when the adhesive intermolecular forces between the liquid and a material are stronger than the cohesive intermolecular forces inside the liquid, thereby causing the liquid to disperse along the surface area of the material. Fibers useful in creating such wicking fabrics may be made from synthetic materials such as, for example, polyester and polyester-based microfibers and natural materials such as, for example, silk. These exemplary material are useful because fibers made from these materials do not absorb moisture but transfer it well through capillary action.

The clothing article 102 of Figure 1 may be made in part or wholly from wicking fabric. In Figure 1, the wicking fabric forms the interior surface of the clothing article 102 and draws moisture away from the wearer's body. The exterior surface of the clothing article 102 may be made from wicking fabric or some other material that allows the moisture in the clothing article to evaporate into the surrounding environment.

Optionally, the wicking fabric used to form the clothing article 102 may include ultraviolet light absorbers. These ultraviolet light absorbers may be applied to the wicking fabric to block certain harmful radiation in sunlight from reaching the wearer's skin. Examples of ultraviolet light absorbers that may be useful in embodiments of the present invention may include compounds having benzotriazoles, more particularly chlorobenzotriazoles, or any other ultraviolet light absorber as will occur to those of skill in the art. In Figure 1, the exemplary clothing system 100 also includes a hollow transport 104 that defines a cavity 110 for transporting a liquid 118 from a liquid reservoir 112 to an upper region of the clothing article 102. The upper region refers to the highest regions of the clothing article when the clothing article is positioned upright or oriented in a typical position utilized by a wearer. In Figure 1, for example, the upper region of the clothing article 102 includes the regions along the neck and the two shoulders because those regions are the highest regions of the clothing article 102 when the article 102 is positioned upright, a typical orientation for the article 102 when worn.

In the example of Figure 1, the hollow transport 104 is tubular. The tubular structure in Figure 1 provides the cavity 110 with a circular cross-section. Readers will note, however, that the cavity 110 may be formed to have other cross-sectional shapes such as, for example, a rectangle, a trapezoid, an ellipse, and so on.

In Figure 1, the liquid reservoir 112 is positioned below the upper region of the clothing article 102. Accordingly, the liquid 118 is stored in the liquid reservoir 112 under pressure to provide a force capable of moving the liquid through the cavity 110 of the hollow transport 104 to the clothing article's upper region. The pressure in the liquid reservoir 112 is generated using an manual air pump 114 configured as a handle for the liquid reservoir 112. A user may operate the air pump 114 by sliding the handle portion of the air pump 114 back and forth. Readers will note that the liquid reservoir 112 depicted in Figure 1 is for example only and not for limitation. A liquid reservoir useful with the exemplary clothing system 100 of Figure 1 may take on many forms. For example, the liquid reservoir may be configured as a backpack, fanny pack, or any other article worn by the wearer of the exemplary clothing system 100. Rather than carry the liquid reservoir around with the wearer of the clothing system, in some embodiments, the liquid reservoir may already be mounted in locations that wearers of the clothing system would typically require additional cooling. For example, a liquid reservoir may be mounted to a bicycle or a motorcycle so that a wearer of the clothing system 100 could connect the hollow transport 104 to the reservoir 112 when riding either vehicle using, for example, a quick-connect connector.

Also readers will note that the use of a manual pump to pressurize the liquid is only for example and explanation, not for limitation. In some other embodiments, the liquid reservoir may utilize an electric-powered air pump. In still other embodiments the pressurization may result from a replaceable, pressurized air cartridge installed in the liquid reservoir such as, for example, CO ₂ cartridges. In still other embodiments, the liquid 118 may not be stored in the liquid reservoir 112 under pressure at all. In such embodiments, an pump may be used to draw the water out of the liquid reservoir 112 and force the liquid 118 into the hollow transport 104.

The liquid 118 of Figure 1 may be implemented as any liquid that readily evaporates at the typical temperatures and pressures in which the clothing article is worn. Because of the liquid's proximity to the body and the liquid vapor's potential ability to enter the wearer's lungs, care should be taken to select a liquid that is not toxic to the wearer of the clothing article 102.

For example, the liquid 118 may be implemented using water or an alcohol-water mixture.

The hollow transport 104 of Figure 1 has an intake section 106 and a dispensing section 108 that converge at the neck region of the clothing article 102. The intake section 106 and the dispensing section 108 may be formed from a single hollow structure, thereby permanently attaching the intake section 106 to the dispensing section 108. However, in other embodiments, the intake section 106 and the dispensing section 108 may each be formed as a separate structure and removably attached together using a connector such as, for example, a quick-connect connector.

The intake section 106 of Figure 1 receives the liquid 118 into the cavity 110 formed by the hollow transport 104 and transports the liquid from the liquid reservoir 112 to the dispensing section 108 attached to the upper region of the clothing article 102. The intake section 106 is typically made of a flexible material to reduce restrictions on the wearer's movements. However, a portion or all of the intake section 106 may be designed using rigid materials for some embodiments in which the wearer's position in relation to the liquid reservoir does not change appreciably. Materials useful in forming the intake section 106 may include polyethylene, vinyl, synthetic rubber, natural rubber, or any other material capable of forming a hollow structure that is not permeable to the liquid.

In the example of Figure 1, the clothing system 100 includes a valve 116 attached to the intake section 106. The value 116 of Figure 1 regulates the rate at which the liquid is received by the hollow transport 104. Opening the value 116 allows more liquid 118 to flow through the hollow transport 104, thereby enhancing the cooling effect for the wearer. Closing the value 116 restricts the quantity of liquid 118 flowing through the hollow transport 104, thereby reducing the cooling effect for the wearer. In the example of Figure 1, the dispensing section 108 is configured along the neck region and the two shoulder regions of the clothing article 102. The dispensing section 108 of Figure 1 may be removably attached to the upper region of the clothing article 102. Removable attachment may be achieved using fasteners at various points along the dispensing section 108. The fasteners may be implemented as strips of fabric or other material that attached to the clothing article using buttons, Velcro ^® , or the like. Removable attachment may also be achieved through use of a sheath attached to the upper region of the clothing article 102. A wearer may attach the dispensing section 108 to the clothing article's upper region by inserting the one or more pieces of the dispensing section 108 into each piece's respective sheath and then connecting the pieces together using connectors such as, for example, quick-connect connectors. The wearer may then remove the dispensing section 108 from the clothing article 102 by disconnecting any pieces of the dispensing section 108 and sliding the pieces out of their respective sheaths.

Although removably attaching the dispensing section 108 to the clothing article 102 facilitates certain activities such as, for example, washing the clothing article 102, readers will note that that the dispensing section 108 may also be permanently attached to the clothing article. Permanent attachment may be achieved by sewing the dispensing section 108 into the upper region of the clothing article 102, through use of an adhesive, or in other ways as will occur to those of skill in the art.

In the example of Figure 1, the dispensing section 108 transfers the liquid 118 from the cavity 110 of the hollow transport 104 to the upper region of the clothing article 102. The dispensing section 108 of Figure 1 transfers the liquid 118 through a plurality of orifices 120 included in the dispensing section 108. These orifices 120 allow the liquid 118 to pass through an impermeable material used to form the wall of the dispensing section 108. The impermeable material may be implemented using same materials used to form the intake section 106 such as, for example, polyethylene, vinyl, synthetic rubber, natural rubber, or any other impermeable material capable of forming a hollow structure.

In some other embodiments, the dispensing section 108 may be implemented using a permeable or semi-permeable material. In such embodiments, the dispensing section 108 may transfer the liquid 118 to the upper region of the clothing article 102 by passing the liquid through the pores of the permeable or semi-permeable material that form the dispensing section 108. Pressure in the liquid reservoir 112 forces the liquid 118 through pores in permeable or semi-permeable material, thereby delivering the liquid 118 to the upper region of the clothing article 102. Permeable or semi-permeable materials that used to form the dispensing section 108 may include, for example, ceramic, porous plastics, compressed cellulose, or any other porous material capable of forming a hollow structure. In the example of Figure 1, the upper region of the clothing article 102 receives the liquid 118 from the dispensing section 108 and transfers the liquid 118 to a lower region of the clothing article. The clothing article's upper regions transfers the liquid 118 to the lower region through capillary action provided by the wicking fabric and gravity. Gravitational forces typically allow the liquid 118 to extend to a lower region of the clothing article 102 than capillary action alone could provide. Figure 1 illustrates the transfer of the liquid 118 from the clothing article's upper region to the lower region using arrows.

As the liquid 118 of Figure 1 moves from the clothing article's upper region to the lower region, these regions become saturated with the liquid 118. For illustration, Figure 1 depicts the saturated areas in the upper region and the lower region of the clothing article 102 using grey shading. At these saturated areas in the example of Figure 1, the lower region along the back of the clothing article 102 exposes the liquid 118 to the environment surrounding the clothing article 102 for evaporation. The evaporation process removes thermal energy from the clothing article, and lowers the overall temperature of the clothing article 102. In turn, the lower temperature of the clothing article 102 cools the wearer of the clothing system 100. For further explanation, Figure 2 sets forth a drawing illustrating a front view of the exemplary clothing system 100 illustrated in Figure 1 for reducing body temperature of a wearer of the clothing system 100 according to embodiments of the present invention. As described in Figure 1, the dispensing section 108 of the hollow transport 104 transfers the liquid from the liquid reservoir 112 to the upper region of the clothing article 102. As previously mentioned, the clothing article's upper region includes the regions adjacent to the wearer's neck and two shoulders. The upper region of the clothing article 102 transfers the liquid to the lower region through gravity and capillary action provided by the wicking fabric. Figure 2 illustrates this transfer of the liquid using arrows.

In the example of Figure 2, the lower region along the front of the clothing article 102 becomes saturated with the liquid as the liquid moves from the clothing article's upper region to the lower region. Figure 2 illustrates the saturated areas of the clothing article 102 using grey shading. Through these saturated areas in the example of Figure 2, the lower region along the front of the clothing article 102 exposes the liquid 118 to the environment surrounding the clothing article 102 for evaporation. The evaporation process removes thermal energy from the clothing article, and lowers the overall temperature of the clothing article 102. In turn, the lower temperature of the clothing article 102 cools the wearer of the clothing system 100.

Although Figures 1 and 2 illustrate front and rear portions of the dispensing section 108, readers will note that there is no requirement that the dispensing section 108 have both a front portion and a rear portion. The dispensing section 108 may be attached only at either the upper front region of the clothing article 102 or the upper rear region of the clothing article 102. Also in embodiments in which the clothing article is implemented as a garment covering the upper torso, readers will note that there is no requirement that the dispensing section 108 be configured along both shoulder regions. In fact, in some embodiments, the garment may be designed with only one should region to provide the wearer's arm on the opposite side of the garment additional freedom of movement. As mentioned above, the cavity of a hollow transport may be formed to have a variety of cross-sectional shapes and may be attached to the upper region of a clothing article using a sheath. To further illustrate these features, Figures 3A and 3B are drawings illustrating cross- sectional views of hollow transports useful in exemplary clothing systems for reducing body temperature of a wearer of the clothing systems according to embodiments of the present invention. In the example of Figure 3A, the dispensing section 108 of the hollow transport defines a cavity with a circular cross-section. The dispensing section 108 of the hollow transport in Figure 3A is attached to the upper region of the clothing article 102 using a sheath 300. The sheath 300 of Figure 3A attaches to the clothing article 102 to form an enclosed opening into which the dispensing section 108 may be inserted. The dispensing section 108 includes a plurality of orifices 120 that allow the hollow transport to transfer the liquid 118 from the cavity to the upper region of the clothing article 102. In the example of Figure 3 A, the sheath 300 may be configured from a wicking fabric similar to the fabric used in the clothing article 102, although use of a wicking fabric is not a requirement of embodiments of the present invention. The sheath 300 may be attached to the clothing article 102 using, for example, thread, adhesive, or any other technique as will occur to those of skill in the art.

In the example of Figure 3B, the dispensing section 108 of the hollow transport defines a cavity with a trapezoidal cross-section. Similar to Figure 3A, the dispensing section 108 of the hollow transport in Figure 3B is attached to the upper region of the clothing article 102 using a sheath 300. The sheath 300 in Figure 3B attaches to the clothing article 102 to form an enclosed opening into which the dispensing section 108 may be inserted. The dispensing section 108 includes a plurality of orifices 120 that allow the hollow transport to transfer the liquid 118 from the cavity to the upper region of the clothing article 102. Readers will note that some of the orifices 120 in Figures 3A and 3B are not adjacent to the clothing article 102. The sheaths 300 in Figures 3A and 3B operate to guide the liquid 118 from those non-adjacent orifices 120 to the clothing article 120.

As mentioned above, a dispensing section 108 of a hollow transport 104 may be attached to the clothing article 102 using fasteners at various points along dispensing section 108. The outer surface of the dispensing section 108 not covered by one of the fasteners is therefore exposed to the surrounding environment. Unlike embodiments that utilize a sheath 300, the only structure to guide the liquid 118 from these exposed areas on the dispensing section's outer surface is dispensing section 108 itself as the liquid 118 runs down the outer wall of the dispensing section 108 to the clothing article 102. To aid in guiding the flow of liquid 118 that forms on this exposed outer surface to the clothing article's upper region, the dispensing section 108 may be wrapped in a fabric to distribute the liquid around the outer surface of the dispensing section 108. For further explanation, Figure 4 is a drawing illustrating a cross-sectional view of a dispensing section 108 of a hollow transport useful in exemplary clothing systems for reducing body temperature of a wearer of the clothing systems according to embodiments of the present invention.

The dispensing section 108 of the hollow transport in Figure 4 is attached to the upper region of the clothing article 102 using fasteners at various points along dispensing section 108.

Figure 4 illustrates a fastener constructed using a strip of flexible material 402 attached to the clothing article 102 at one end and fastened to the clothing article 102 at the other end using a button 404.

In the example of Figure 4, the dispensing section 108 is wrapped in a fabric 400 to distribute the liquid 118 around the outer surface of the dispensing section 108 as the liquid is expelled from the cavity of the hollow transport through the orifices 120. The fabric 400 may be the same type of fabric used to form the clothing article 102 — that is, a wicking fabric. Readers will note, however, that use of a wicking fabric to wrap the dispensing section 108 is for explanation only and not for limitation. In the example of Figure 4, the fabric 400 transports the liquid 118 expelled from orifices 120a, 120b, 12Od to the region where the fabric 400 touches to the upper region of the clothing article 102. As mentioned above, the upper region of the clothing article 102 then transfers the liquid 118 to the clothing article's lower region, which in turn exposes the liquid 118 to the surrounding environment for evaporation.

Figures 1 and 2 depict a garment for covering the torso in which the upper region is implemented as the regions along the wearer's neck and shoulders because the typical position utilized by a wearer of that clothing article is upright. However, in some sports such as, for example, cycling, the position typically utilized by a wearer of a clothing article is with the shoulders placed forward and the back facing upward. Consider Figure 5 for further explanation of how exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be utilized with clothing articles typically positioned in such a manner. Figure 5 sets forth a drawing illustrating another exemplary clothing system 500 for reducing body temperature of a wearer of the clothing system 500 according to embodiments of the present invention.

Similar to Figures 1 and 2, the exemplary clothing system 500 of Figure 5 includes a clothing article 502 configured using a wicking fabric. The exemplary clothing system 500 of Figure 5 also includes a hollow transport 504 defining a cavity for transporting a liquid from a liquid reservoir 512 to an upper region of the clothing article 502. The hollow transport 504 of Figure 5 has an intake section 506 and a dispensing section 508. The intake section 506 is attached to the liquid reservoir 512 for receiving the liquid. The liquid is pressurized in the liquid reservoir 512 using the air pump 514 attached to the reservoir 512.

In the example of Figure 5, the clothing article 502 is implemented as a garment that covers the upper torso of the garment's wearer. The garment has, among others, a neck region, two shoulder regions, and a spinal region. The spinal region extends along a center rear portion of the garment. The dispensing section 508 of Figure 5 is attached to the upper region of the clothing article 502 along these neck, shoulder, and spinal regions.

The dispensing section 508 of Figure 5 transfers the liquid from the hollow transport 504 to the clothing article's upper region. The upper region of the clothing article 502 transfers the liquid to the lower region of the clothing article 502. Figure 5 illustrates the movement of the liquid from the upper region of the clothing article to the lower region of the clothing article using arrows. As the liquid moves to the lower region, the upper and lower regions of the garment become saturated. Figure 5 illustrates the saturated areas of the clothing article 502 using grey shading. In these saturated regions, the clothing article's lower region exposes the liquid to the environment surrounding the clothing article 502 for evaporation. In Figure 5, the portion of the dispensing section along the spinal region of the clothing article 502 advantageously saturates a large area along the back of the garment. As air flows over this large area of saturation, considerable cooling is provided to the wearer of the clothing system 500 as the liquid evaporates.

Figures 1, 2, and 5 illustrate exemplary clothing systems according to embodiments of the present invention in which the clothing articles are implemented as garments that cover a wearer's torso. Readers will note, however, that such implementations are for illustration only and not for limitation. For further explanation, consider Figure 6 that sets forth a drawing illustrating another exemplary clothing system 600 for reducing body temperature of a wearer of the clothing system 600 according to embodiments of the present invention. In the example of Figure 6, the clothing system 600 includes a clothing article 602 implemented as a garment for covering the lower half of the body of the wearer, specifically a pair of shorts. The clothing article 602 of Figure 6 is configured using a wicking fabric as described above. The exemplary clothing system 600 of Figure 6 includes a hollow transport 604 that defines a cavity for transporting a liquid 618 from a liquid reservoir 612 to an upper region of the clothing article 602. The hollow transport 604 of Figure 6 has an intake section 606 and a dispensing section 608. The intake section 606 is attached to the liquid reservoir 612 and receives the liquid 618 for delivery to the dispensing section 608.

In the example of Figure 6, the liquid reservoir 612 is configured as a fanny pack attached to the wearer using a strap 622. The liquid reservoir 612 of Figure 6 includes a bulb pump 620 that the wearer may operate to pressurize the liquid 618 in the liquid reservoir 612.

This pressure then forces the liquid 618 into the intake section 606, and then throughout the hollow transport 604. Readers will note that the bulb pump 620 illustrated in Figure 6 is for explanation only and not for limitation. Other kinds of pumps as will occur to those of skill in the art may also be used to force the liquid 618 throughout the hollow transport 104.

The dispensing section 608 of Figure 6 is attached to the upper region of the clothing article 602. The upper region of the clothing article 602 in Figure 6 has a waist region that is implemented around the waist of the shorts because the shorts illustrated in Figure 6 are typically positioned upright when worn. The dispensing section 608 of Figure 6 includes a plurality of orifices through which the liquid 618 is transferred to the upper region of the clothing article 602. The pressure created by operation of the bulb pump 606 provides the force needed to move the liquid 618 through the orifices in the dispensing section 608. As previously mentioned, transferring the liquid 618 from the dispensing section 608 to the clothing article's upper region through a plurality of orifices is for explanation only and not for limitation. In some other embodiments, the dispensing section 608 may be composed of a permeable or semipermeable material having pores through which the liquid 618 may seep from the dispensing section's cavity to the upper region of the clothing article 602.

In the example of Figure 6, the upper region of the clothing article 602 receives the liquid 618 from the dispensing section 608 and transfers the liquid 618 to a lower region of the clothing article 602. Capillary action and gravity are the mechanisms by which the liquid 618 is received and distributed throughout the fabric of the clothing article 602. As the liquid 618 moves through the clothing article 602, a portion of the clothing article 602 become saturated. Figure 6 illustrates the saturated portion of the clothing article 602 using grey shading.

As described above, the lower region of the clothing article 602 exposes the liquid to the environment surrounding the clothing article 602 for evaporation. As the liquid 618 evaporates, the temperature of the clothing article 602 drops at the points of evaporation, reflecting the lower level of thermal energy at these evaporation points than the thermal energy levels before the evaporation. At this lower temperature, the clothing article absorbs the thermal energy released by the wearer's body, thereby reducing the wearer's body temperature.

While certain exemplary embodiments have been described in details and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, which is determined by the claims that follow.