WEARABLE COOLING SYSTEM

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/721,289, filed on November 15, 2024. The contents of the above-identified patent documents are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a system and apparatus for moderating personal temperature. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a system and method for wearable cooling.

BACKGROUND

Overheating due to exercise or inhospitable conditions may lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke, which can cause potentially life-threatening conditions. Overheating may also deteriorate performance during exercise or sporting activities. As such, effective cooling may prevent overheating, improving mental clarity and preventing heat-related injuries. However, current cooling systems, such as portable fans or cooling towels, may be ineffective at cooling a person during exercise or sporting activities, particularly regarding the head of a person which is most susceptible to overheating.

Accordingly, there is a need for systems and methods for improved cooling to prevent overheating that overcome these challenges.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates generally to a system and apparatus for moderating personal temperature and, more specifically, the present disclosure relates to a system and method for wearable cooling.

In one embodiment, a wearable cooling device is provided. The wearable cooling device includes a cooling body, and a fastener coupled to the cooling body configured to attach the cooling body to a headwear body.

In another embodiment, a wearable cooling system is provided. The wearable cooling system includes at least one cooling device and a cooling unit configured to cool the cooling body of the at least one cooling device. Each of the at least one cooling device includes a cooling body and a fastener coupled to the cooling body configured to attach the cooling body to a headwear body.

In yet another embodiment, a cooling unit is provided. The cooling unit includes a plurality of compartments configured to cool a cooling body of at least one cooling device, and an insulative material disposed in each of the plurality of compartments, each insulative material within each of the plurality of compartments having different thermal resistances.

Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.

Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document. The term “couple” and its derivatives refer to any direct or indirect communication between two or more elements, whether or not those elements are in physical contact with one another. The terms “transmit,” “receive,” and “communicate,” as well as derivatives thereof, encompass both direct and indirect communication. The terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation. The term “or” is inclusive, meaning and/or. The phrase “associated with,” as well as derivatives thereof, means to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, have a relationship to or with, or the like. The term “controller” means any device, system, or part thereof that controls at least one operation. Such a controller may be implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and software and/or firmware. The functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. The phrase “at least one of,” when used with a list of items, means that different combinations of one or more of the listed items may be used, and only one item in the list may be needed. For example, “at least one of: A, B, and C” includes any of the following combinations: A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, and A and B and C.

Moreover, various functions described below can be implemented or supported by one or more computer programs, each of which is formed from computer readable program code and embodied in a computer readable medium. The terms “application” and “program” refer to one or more computer programs, software components, sets of instructions, procedures, functions, objects, classes, instances, related data, or a portion thereof adapted for implementation in a suitable computer readable program code. The phrase “computer readable program code” includes any type of computer code, including source code, object code, and executable code. The phrase “computer readable medium” includes any type of medium capable of being accessed by a computer, such as read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disc (DVD), or any other type of memory. A “non-transitory” computer readable medium excludes wired, wireless, optical, or other communication links that transport transitory electrical or other signals. A non-transitory computer readable medium includes media where data can be permanently stored and media where data can be stored and later overwritten, such as a rewritable optical disc or an erasable memory device.

Definitions for other certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document. Those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example wearable cooling system according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2A illustrates a schematic perspective view of an example cooling device of a wearable cooling system according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2B illustrates a schematic top view of an example cooling device of a wearable cooling system according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2C illustrates a schematic exploded view of an example cooling device of a wearable cooling system according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3A illustrates an example wearable cooling system in a headwear body for leisure according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3B illustrates an example wearable cooling system in a headwear body for leisure according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3C illustrates an example wearable cooling system in a headwear body for sporting activities according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3D illustrates an example wearable cooling system in a headwear body for commercial protective headwear according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic molding process for a cooling device of a wearable cooling system according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic front and top view of an example cooling unit of a wearable cooling system according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic system view of an example cooling unit of a wearable cooling system according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic front view of an example cooling unit of a wearable cooling system according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates schematic view of an example wearable cooling system according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9A illustrates a schematic bottom view of an example cooling device of an example wearable cooling system according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 9B illustrates a schematic bottom view of an example cooling device of an example wearable cooling system according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 through 7, discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged system or device.

As introduced above, overheating due to exercise or inhospitable conditions may lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke, which can cause potentially life-threatening conditions. Overheating may also deteriorate performance during exercise or sporting activities. As such, effective cooling may prevent overheating, improving mental clarity and preventing heat-related injuries. Further, headwear may increase the body temperature of a person and lead to overheating.

However, current cooling systems, such as portable fans or cooling towels, may be ineffective at cooling a person during exercise or sporting activities, particularly regarding the head of a person which is most susceptible to overheating. Further, the effectiveness of the portable fans or cooling towels decreases when the user is wearing headwear. For example, the cooling system may be hindered by the constraints of headwear, nor may the cooling system encumber the movement of the wearer with attached cables, fans, hanging straps or flanges. Similarly, cooling systems that involve a mechanical, circulating, or otherwise powered device are not practical as portable solutions.

Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a wearable cooling system and method that includes cooling units providing storage and cooling to assorted and multiple cooling devices that may be removably affixed to headwear. The wearable cooling system of the present disclosure may also be incorporated into various forms of headwear for different purposes, such as in baseball caps for recreational enjoyment or helmets for sporting activities. The wearable cooling system of the present disclosure allows for the cooling devices to be replaced as needed while providing effective cooling to the user such as to prevent overheating.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example wearable cooling system 100 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The wearable cooling system 100 includes at least one cooling device 102 and a cooling unit 106 configured to cool the at least one cooling device 102. In an implementation, the cooling device 102 is inserted and affixed to the headwear body 104 directly, e.g., without an additional compartment. For example, the at least one cooling device 102 may include a fastener 110, e.g., coupled to a cooling body, which is configured to attach the cooling device to the headwear body 104. In other words, the at least one cooling device 102 may be manufactured with the fastener 110 to attach to the headwear body 104. The cooling devices 102 are stored in the cooling units 106 and may be replaced as needed directly in the headwear body 104.

In the case of the cooling device 102 being directly affixed to the headwear body 104 without the need for a compartment, the units may have an outer sleeve 108 onto which a fastener 110 is applied. For example, the outer sleeve 108 may be removably attached to the headwear body 104 using the fastener 110. The fastener 110 may include, but is not limited to, hook and loop fasteners, snap fasteners, removable adhesives, or other fasteners to secure to the headwear body 104. Alternatively, the outer sleeve 108 may be fixedly attached to the headwear body 104, e.g., by stitching or adhesives, or may be monolithically manufactured as part of the headwear body 104.

In an implementation of the cooling device 102, the cooling device 102 is manufactured with the fastener 110 installed, requiring no other manipulation to the cooling device 102 for implementation onto a headwear body 104.

FIG. 2A illustrates schematic perspective view of an example cooling device 102 of a wearable cooling system 100 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The cooling device 102 includes a cooling body 202 and a fastener 206 coupled to the cooling body 202 configured to attach the cooling body 202 to a headwear body 104. The cooling body 202 may be made of materials configured to extract heat from a user. For example, the cooling body may be made of water and a freezing-point depressant, a gelling agent, or a combination thereof. Such cooling materials may include, but are not limited to, sodium polyacrylate, propylene glycol, hydroxyethyl cellulose, silica gel, hydrogels, aerogels, or a combination thereof. In such embodiments, the cooling body may include an outer layer, e.g., made of polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, nylon, thermoplastic polyurethane, or a combination thereof, configured to resist tears and punctures and an inner seal disposed within the outer layer and configured to contain the cooling materials. The cooling body 202 is configured to cool, e.g., extract heat from, the skin of a user. To do so, the cooling body 202 generally includes an operating temperature range of about 50° F to about 70° F. The temperature range of the cooling body may be effective at reducing body temperature without causing discomfort or risk hypothermia to the user.

The cooling device 102 may be included as part of an outer sleeve 108, e.g., attached to the headwear body 104, into which the cooling bodies 202 are placed to create the cooling device 102; or replaced after cooling characteristics have diminished. The outer sleeve 108 may include the fastener, e.g., on an outer surface of the outer sleeve 108, and be configured to receive the cooling body 202. For example, the outer sleeve 108, may contain an opening 204 configured to receive the cooling body such that the cooling body is disposed within the outer sleeve. The opening 204 may allow the cooling bodies 202 to be inserted and removed from the outer sleeve 108, thus creating the cooling device 102. The opening 204 may be sealable or unsealable. For example, if the opening 204 is unsealable, e.g., the opening is a slot configuration, the outer sleeve 108 is configured to retain the cooling body 202 within the outer sleeve 108 using tension, e.g., a material of the outer sleeve 108 provides enough tension and elasticity to insert, retain, and remove the cooling bodies 202 to create the cooling device 102. In embodiments where the outer sleeve 108 is sealable, the opening 204 is configured to retain the cooling body 202 within the outer sleeve 108 using a fastener 208 disposed about the opening 204. For example, the outer sleeve 108 may be sealed using a fastener 208, such as a zipper, snap, or hook and loop.

One example implementation defines an attachable outer sleeve 108 consisting of a neoprene-sealed with a traditional zipper as in wetsuit construction. The cooling device 102 may be affixed through adhesive, bonding, or stitching techniques to the headwear body 104 or affixed via hook and loop, snap, or other male and female fastener types to the headwear body 104. Once affixed, the outer sleeve 108 may be open or closed to accommodate the insertion or removal of the cooling bodies 202 to create the cooling device 102 as retrieved from or replaced into the cooling unit 106.

FIG. 2B illustrates a schematic top view of an example cooling device 102 of a wearable cooling system 100 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The outer sleeve 108 may be provided by the system as a discrete unit into which the cooling body 202 is inserted to create the cooling device 102. Upon closing the outer sleeve 108, the cooling device 102 may be affixed to the headwear body 104 by the end user. For example, the outer sleeve 108 may be attached to the headwear body 104 using a reusable fastener 206, e.g., hook and loop fasteners or snap fasteners. The outer sleeve 108 may also be integrated into the headwear body 104 using adhesive, bonding, or stitching techniques so that the headwear body 104 is cooling-ready. In this approach, the cooling bodies 202 are removed and inserted via an opening 204 in the outer sleeve 108 to complete the cooling device 102, but the outer sleeve 108 is not necessarily removed.

The cooling device 102 may include an indicator 220 coupled to the cooling body 202 and configured to indicate a temperature state of the cooling body 202. In such embodiments, the indicator allows the cooling devices 102, either as an outer sleeve 108-and-cooling body 202 combination or stand-alone, direct-affixing cooling bodies 202 to report a temperature status to the end user visually. For example, the indicator 220 may indicate the temperature status in the form of a numeric temperature, e.g., in degrees, or with descriptive words and directives, e.g.,‘ready, please chill, cold’. The indication of the temperature status may also include color indications to describe to the user whether the device is cold or warm. For example, the indicator 220 may turn blue when the cooling body is below a predetermined temperature, e.g., 65° F, and may turn red above the predetermined temperature.

FIG. 2C illustrates schematic exploded view of an example cooling device 102 of a wearable cooling system 100 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. In an implementation of the cooling device 102, the outer sleeve 108 may include an insulative layer 210 disposed between a first side 108A of the outer sleeve 108 and the cooling body 202 to limit the effect of ambient heat outside of the headwear body 104 on the cooling device 102 and direct the cooling effect toward the user. The insulative layer 210 may include materials having a thermal resistance (R-value) of about 0.5 to about 4.5. The insulative layer 210 may be used to reduce the overall cooling effect of the cooling body 202, e.g., if the cooling body 202 is frozen or below the desired temperature range, to improve the comfort of the cooling device 102 for the user.

Alternatively, the cooling device 102 may include a second insulative layer (not shown) disposed between a second side 108B of the outer sleeve 108 and the cooling body 202. In alternative embodiments, the outer sleeve 108 may not include an insulative layer disposed between the outer sleeve 108 and the cooling body 202. For example, the outer sleeve 108 may be made of sufficiently insulative materials, e.g., materials with R-values of about 0.5 to about 5, such that an insulative layer does not improve comfort of the cooling device 102 for the user.

Additionally, the outer sleeve 108 may be configured to accumulate moisture, e.g., from condensation caused by the cooling body 202, within the outer sleeve 108. For example, the outer sleeve 108 may be made of absorbent or semi-absorbent materials, e.g., porous materials. As the outer sleeve 108 accumulates moisture, the outer sleeve 108 undergoes and maintains an evaporative cooling effect that supplements the cooling effect of the cooling body 202, absorbing further heat from the user.

FIG. 3A illustrates an example wearable cooling device in a headwear body 300A according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the cooling device 302 may be configured similarly to the cooling device 102 of the wearable cooling system 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2A-2C unless otherwise specified.

The cooling device 302 may be attached to a headwear body 300A, such as baseball-type caps, where cooling devices 302 are placed securely in the headwear body 300A and replaced when cooling efficiency decays. For example, the headwear body 300A may include at least one attachment point 304 for a cooling device 302. The at least one attachment point 304 may be include fasteners (not shown), such as hook and loop, snaps, zippers, or clasps, which are bonded to a user-facing surface 306 of the headwear body 300A. The outer sleeve 108 of the cooling device 302 may then couple to the at least one attachment point 304 to form a single, secure unit with the headwear body 300A.

FIG. 3B illustrates an example wearable cooling system in a headwear body 300B for leisure according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the cooling device 302 may be configured similarly to the cooling device 102 of the wearable cooling system 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2A-2C unless otherwise specified.

For a headwear body 300B that has open interior vertical spaces due to a vertical structure 310 above the head, the cooling devices 102 may be suspended using a suspension device 312 so that the cooling device 102 is near or in contact with the head of a user rather than in a volume 314 of the headwear body 300B. For example, the suspension device 312 may be an elastic lattice or support having attachment arms 316 that attach to an inner surface of the volume 314. The suspension device 312 may be disposed at an entrance of the volume 314 of the headwear body 300B, near where the head of the user would sit. In such embodiments, the at least one cooling device 302 may be configured to attach to the suspension device 312 directly.

FIG. 3C illustrates an example wearable cooling system in a headwear body 300C for sporting activities according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the cooling device 302 may be configured similarly to the cooling device 102 of the wearable cooling system 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2A-2C unless otherwise specified.

As shown in FIG. 3C, the headwear body 300C may be a sports helmet. The cooling device 302 may be attached to a suspension lattice 320 that is inserted into a volume 322 of the headwear body 300C and positioned near where the head of the user would sit. Alternatively, the cooling device 302 may directly attach to, e.g., direct affixation of the cooling body or using an outer sleeve, at least one attachment point (not shown) in the headwear body 300C.

FIG. 3D illustrates an example wearable cooling system in a headwear body 300D for commercial protective headwear according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the cooling device 302 may be configured similarly to the cooling device 102 of the wearable cooling system 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2A-2C unless otherwise specified.

As shown in FIG. 3D, the headwear body 300D may include a suspension lattice 300 configured to attach to at least one cooling device 302. The suspension lattice 330 may be removably inserted into the headwear body 300D, e.g., safety and construction helmets, so that the cooling device 302 is near or in contact with the head of a user rather than in a volume 332 of the headwear body 300D. For example, the suspension lattice 330 may be an elastic lattice or support having attachment arms 334 that attach to an inner surface of the volume 332. The suspension lattice 330 may be disposed at an entrance of the volume 332 of the headwear body 300D, near where the head of the user would sit. In such embodiments, the at least one cooling device 302 may be configured to attach to the suspension lattice 330 directly.

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic molding process 400 for a cooling device 102 of a wearable cooling system 100 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 4, the system allows for the cooling devices 102 of both outer sleeve 108-and-cooling body 202 type direct-affixing design to be molded to the shape of the crown of the head. For example, the cooling device 102 may be pressed against or otherwise placed on a rounded surface 404 of a mold 402 prior to reducing the temperature of the cooling device 102, e.g., in a cooling unit (not shown). The cooling device 102 while being disposed on the mold 402 is then cooled to a desired temperature then removed from the mold 402. The composition of the cooling body 202 within the cooling device 102 will allow the cooling device 102 to maintain a concave shape 406 complimentary to the rounded surface 404 of the mold 402. The concave shape 406 allows for a larger cooling device 102 of multiple types to be used while providing a larger surface area for contact whether affixed to the headwear body 300D or suspended on a lattice in addition to increasing the comfort of a wearer. This implementation supports cooling devices 102 of multiple sizes.

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic front and top view of an example cooling unit 106 of a wearable cooling system 100 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. In all aspects, the cooling units 106 and, if applicable, their contained cooling devices 102 are produced in variable sizes to accommodate multiple headwear sizes, including children and adults, and in varied number.

As shown in FIG. 5, cooling unit 106, includes a plurality of compartments 502 configured to cool a cooling body, e.g., the cooling body 202, of at least one cooling device 102. For example, each of the plurality of compartments 502 is configured to cool the cooling body of each of the at least one cooling device 102 that includes at least one differing dimension from the other cooling bodies 202 of the at least one cooling device 102. The cooling unit 106 may also include an insulative material 504 disposed in each of the plurality of compartments 502. The insulative material 504 disposed in each of the plurality of compartments 502 may be include the same insulative properties, e.g., have the same thermal resistance. Alternatively, the insulative material 504 within each of the plurality of compartments 502 may have different thermal resistances. For example, smaller compartments of the plurality of compartments 502, e.g., compartments configured to cool relatively small cooling bodies 202 may have an insulative material 504 that has a smaller thermal resistance (R-value) than that of an insulative material 504 of a larger compartment configured to cool larger cooling bodies 202. Further, each of the plurality of compartments 502 configured to cool the cooling body of each of the at least one cooling devices 102 at different rates. For example, each of the plurality of compartments 502 comprising different thermal resistances. The cooling unit 106 may provide support for a plurality of cooling devices 102 of varying dimensions and suspension devices, e.g., the suspension device 312, the suspension lattice 320, or the suspension lattice 330. Thus, the cooling unit 106 may be provided in different sizes, including a different number and combination of the plurality of compartments 502, to accommodate multiple headwear body 104 sizes and to accommodate various numbers of devices, e.g., to support individuals and sports teams.

The cooling unit 106 may be configured to provide custom or individual cooling to the at least one cooling device 102. For example, the cooling unit 106 may also provide support for cooling devices 102 based on different chemical composition and physical construction. Additionally, the cooling unit 106 may provide support for cooling devices 102 pouches or outer sleeves 108 of different compositions to produce different cooling profiles, e.g., for dry or wet cooling. Such a configuration allows the cooling unit 106 to store, organize, and cooling devices 102 of same or multiple sizes for use in different headwear bodies 104, e.g., the headwear body 300A, the headwear body 300B, the headwear body 300C, and the headwear body 300D.

FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic system view of an example cooling unit 600 of a wearable cooling system according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The system may include a cooling unit 600 which is configured to cool at least one sub-cooling unit 602 (two shown). For example, the cooling unit 600 may include at least one cooler compartment 604 configured to receive and cool the at least one sub-cooling unit 602. The at least one sub-cooling unit 602 is configured to hold the cooling devices 102 and will maintain the temperature of the cooling devices 102 so they may be used on-demand when needed. The at least one sub-cooling unit 602 is portable and may be in-turn placed into the larger cooling unit 600 to accommodate multi-unit cooling and distribution. Additionally, each of the at least one sub-cooling unit 602 may be configured to hold or cool at least one second sub-cooling unit 606 for additional portability.

FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic front view of an example cooling unit 700 of a wearable cooling system 100 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The cooling unit 700 includes a cooling unit display 702 configured to display a temperature of an interior volume 704 of the cooling unit 700, e.g., using a controller coupled to temperature sensors disposed in the interior volume 704. This allows the cooling unit 700 to indicate a temperature of each of the cooling devices 102, as defined as both outer sleeve 108-and-cooling body 202 combination or stand-alone, direct-affixing cooling devices 102, that are disposed in the interior volume 704 to the end user, e.g., using a controller coupled to temperature sensors disposed in each compartment or near each cooling device 102. In examples where the cooling unit is configured similarly to the cooling unit 106 of FIG. 4, the cooling unit display 702 may be configured to display a temperature of each of the plurality of compartments of the cooling unit, e.g., display the temperature of discrete cooling device-by-cooling device 102 temperature, or summary information about the temperature of the cooling devices 102 contained in the cooling unit 700. In examples where the cooling unit is configured similarly to the cooling unit 600 of FIG. 6, the cooling unit display 702 may be further configured to display a temperature of each of the at least one cooler compartment of the cooling unit 700, e.g., indicate the temperature of each of the at least one sub-cooling unit, e.g., the sub-cooling units 602. The cooling unit 700 allows for used and warmed cooling devices 102 to be placed in the cooling unit 700 for cooling and reuse.

FIG. 8 illustrates schematic view of an example wearable cooling system 800 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The wearable cooling system 800 is configured similarly to the wearable cooling system 100 of FIG. 1, except as otherwise described. The wearable cooling system 800 includes a cooling device 802 formed into, e.g., by stitching, bonding, or otherwise as part of, a headwear body 804, e.g., a sun-hat, a bucket hat, a hiking hat, or other crushable hat types, to form a semi-permanent device such that the cooling device 802 and the headwear body 804 may be folded and placed entirely in a cooling unit, e.g., the cooling unit 106, to be cooled.

FIG. 9A illustrates a schematic bottom view of an example cooling device 902 of an example wearable cooling system 100 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the cooling device 902 may be configured similarly to the cooling device 102 of the wearable cooling system 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2A-2C unless otherwise specified.

The cooling device 902 may include a plurality of cooling sub-devices 904, including a central sub-device 906 and one or more peripheral sub-devices 908 coupled to the central sub-device 906. Each of the plurality of cooling sub-devices 904 may include a cooling body, e.g., the cooling body 202, and may include an outer sleeve, e.g., the outer sleeve 108. Alternatively, either the central sub-device 906 or the one or more peripheral sub-devices 908 may include one or more variations of the cooling device 102 of the present disclosure, such as embodiments where the cooling device 102 does not include the outer sleeve 108. For example, the central sub-device 906 may include the outer sleeve 108 while the one or more peripheral sub-devices 908 does not.

Additionally, the composition of the cooling body 202 of the central sub-device 906 may differ from the one or more peripheral sub-devices 908 as desired. For example, the composition of the cooling body 202 of the central sub-device 906 may be configured to maintain a higher cooling temperature than the one or more peripheral sub-devices 908. Alternatively, the composition of the cooling body of each of the one or more peripheral sub-devices 908 may be configured to maintain a different temperature from other one or more peripheral sub-devices 908, resulting in discrete cooling zones.

FIG. 9B illustrates a schematic bottom view of an example cooling device 952 of an example wearable cooling system 100 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the cooling device 952 may be configured similarly to the cooling device 102 of the wearable cooling system 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2A-2C unless otherwise specified.

The cooling device 952 may include a plurality of cooling sub-devices 954, including a central sub-device 956 and one or more annular sub-devices 958. Each of the plurality of cooling sub-devices 954 may include a cooling body, e.g., the cooling body 202, and may include an outer sleeve, e.g., the outer sleeve 108. Alternatively, either the central sub-device 956 or the one or more annular sub-devices 958 may include one or more variations of the cooling device 102 of the present disclosure, such as embodiments where the cooling device 102 does not include the outer sleeve 108. For example, the central sub-device 956 may include the outer sleeve 108 while the one or more annular sub-devices 958 does not.

The one or more annular sub-devices 958 may be coupled to a first end and a second end of the central sub-device 956. Additionally, the central sub-device 956 may not be coupled to the entire periphery of the one or more annular sub-devices 958 such that there are one or more gaps 960. The one or more gaps 960 allow for additional thermal tuning of the wearable cooling system 100 and increases the comfort of the wearer, e.g., by allowing portions of a head of a user to be uncooled and maintaining a higher cooling temperature.

Additionally, the composition of the cooling body 202 of the central sub-device 956 may differ from the one or more annular sub-devices 958 as desired. For example, the composition of the cooling body 202 of the central sub-device 956 may be configured to maintain a higher cooling temperature than the one or more annular sub-devices 958. Alternatively, the composition of the cooling body of each of the one or more annular sub-devices 958, e.g., concentric annular sub-devices 958 arranged vertically (stacked), may be configured to maintain a different temperature from other one or more annular sub-devices 958, resulting in discrete cooling zones.

Although the present disclosure has been described with exemplary embodiments, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims. None of the description in this application should be read as implying that any particular element, step, or function is an essential element that must be included in the claims scope. The scope of patented subject matter is defined by the claims.