Methods and apparatus for human motion controlled wearable refrigeration

Abstract

A wearable, portable, self-contained refrigeration/cooling garment may effectively convert the energy of human movement into heat flux. The heat flux can then used to actively control the temperature of the human body or of part of it. In one example of the present disclosure, the garment is a type of footwear powered by the wearer's ambulation.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A refrigeration generating shoe comprising:
 a midsole defining a space; and   a refrigeration device disposed in the space of the midsole, the refrigeration device comprising:
 a first chamber; 
 a second chamber, separate from the first chamber; and 
 a regenerator fluidly coupled between the first chamber and the second chamber, 
   wherein the refrigeration device is responsive to ambulatory movement of a wearer of the shoe to create a heat flux, and   wherein the heat flux is configured to be utilized by the wearer to cool at least a portion of the wearer.