Sweat management system

Abstract

A sweat absorbing pad for a human forehead which is filled with a fluid absorbing material or combination of materials such that the fluid and/or fluid absorbing materials are able to flow under pressure when saturated, the pad having channels with reduced flow resistance and which bias fluid flow toward the top and/or sides of the pad and away from the user's eyes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sweat absorbing pad for a human forehead which is filled with a fluid absorbing material or combination of materials such that the fluid and/or fluid absorbing materials are able to flow under pressure when moistened, hydrated or saturated, the pad having channels with reduced flow resistance and which bias fluid flow toward the top and/or sides of the pad and away from the user's eyes. 
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  with a fluid impervious seal along the lower edge of the pad to prevent fluid from leaking and/or bursting out of the pad toward the user's eyes. 
     
     
         3 . A sweat absorbing pad for a human forehead with one or more reliefs along at least the top edge to allow the pad to conform to a curved concave inner surface of a human headgear and/or the curved convex surface of a human head. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  with reliefs along at least the top edge to allow the pad to conform to a curved concave inner surface of a human headgear. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  with air flow openings which correspond with air flow openings in the headgear to allow air flow through the headgear. 
     
     
         6 . The device of any of the previous claims with reliefs along at least the top edge to allow the pad to conform to the curved concave inner surface of a human headgear. 
     
     
         7 . The device of any of the previous claims with air flow openings which correspond with air flow openings in the head gear to allow air flow through the helmet. 
     
     
         8 . The device of any of the previous claims which is self adhesive. 
     
     
         9 . The device of any of the previous claims with sealed valves or zones along the top and/or sides which prevent leakage at low pressures and allow fluid to flow past the seal at elevated pressures such as during an impact but with a lower pressure than would be necessary to causes fluid to leak or burst through the seal along the lower edge of the pad which is closest to the user's eyes. 
     
     
         10 . The device of any of the previous claims with one or more sanitary removal tabs which adheres or otherwise attaches to the outside of the headgear. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 8  with a visible saturation indicator. 
     
     
         12 . The device of any of the previous claims with two or more horizontally biased fluid chambers/channels which prevent absorbent material from pooling toward the lower edge of the pad which is closest to the user's eyes. 
     
     
         13 . The device of any of the previous claims which uses a phase change material to modulate/affect the temperature of the skin in contact with the pad. 
     
     
         14 . The device of any of the previous claims for use on other parts of the body where it is important to direct fluid flow away from a specific area. 
     
     
         15 . A sweat absorbing pad for use in headgear, the pad comprising:
 a backing layer having securing means adapted for removably securing the pad to an inside surface of the headgear;   a skin facing layer that allows perspiration to pass therethrough and which is attached to the backing layer along a plurality of seams;   moisture absorbing material between the backing layer and the skin facing layer,   wherein the seams define channels in the moisture absorbing material with reduced resistance to the flow of fluid and which bias fluid flow toward the top and/or sides of the pad and away from the user's eyes.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15  including a fluid impervious seal along a lower edge of the pad to prevent fluid from leaking and/or bursting out of the pad toward the user's eyes. 
     
     
         17 . The device of any one of the previous claims, further including one or more reliefs along at least the top edge to allow the pad to conform to a curved concave inner surface of an article of human headgear and/or a curved convex surface of a human head. 
     
     
         18 . The device of any of the previous claims, further including sealed valves or zones along the top and/or sides which prevent leakage at low pressures and allow fluid to flow past the seal at elevated pressures such as during an impact but with a lower pressure than would be necessary to causes fluid to leak or burst through the seal along the lower edge of the pad which is closest to the user's eyes. 
     
     
         19 . The device of any of the previous claims further including one or more sanitary removal tabs that adhere or otherwise attach to the outside of the headgear. 
     
     
         20 . The device of any of the previous claims further including a visible saturation indicator. 
     
     
         21 . The device of any of the previous claims further including two or more horizontally biased fluid chambers/channels defined in the absorbent material which prevent absorbent material from pooling toward the lower edge of the pad. 
     
     
         22 . The device of any of the previous claims wherein the skin facing layer comprises a phase change material to modulate the temperature of the skin in contact with the pad. 
     
     
         23 . A sweat absorbing device for use on goggles and the like, the device comprising:
 an moisture absorbing pad comprising a backing layer with securing means adapted for removably securing the backing layer to an upper seal portion of the goggles that contacts a user's forehead during use; a skin facing layer that allows perspiration to pass therethrough and which is attached to the backing layer along a plurality of seams; moisture absorbing material between the backing layer and the skin facing layer, wherein the seams define channels in the moisture absorbing material with reduced resistance to the flow of fluid and which bias fluid flow toward the top and/or sides of the pad and away from the user's eyes; and   a flexible panel connected to a top edge of the pad in a manner that the flexible panel is able to articulate in relation to the pad, wherein the flexible panel is shaped and configured to fitting over the top edge of the goggles to aid in maintaining the device on the goggles.   
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23  further wherein the flexible panel includes a plurality of perforations or holes that enable airflow through the panel and thereby allow airflow into and out of the goggles.