Protective clothing system with cooling subsystem

Abstract

A protective clothing system is disclosed that provides cooling via a cooling subsystem. The cooling subsystem can incorporate one or more perforated tubes to provide positive air pressure throughout the clothing system via an external pump. In embodiments, the tubes can be positioned adjacent a spacer mesh product allowing for comfort and unrestricted air flow from the tubing. In various embodiments, the perforated tubing can target specific areas such as the sternum of the chest and the spine region of the back where most of the blood flows in order to cool down the core temperature.

1 . A clothing system, comprising:
 a first base material formed for wear;   a cooling subsystem comprising:
 a perforated tube positionable against the first base material, and 
 a pump configured to pump fluid through the perforated tube; and 
   a second base material formed for wear, wherein the second base material is positionable over the cooling subsystem.   
     
     
         2 . The clothing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a third base material formed for wear, wherein the third base material comprises a pocket and wherein the third base material is positionable over the second base material. 
     
     
         3 . The clothing system of  claim 2 , further comprising a ballistic insert maintained within the pocket. 
     
     
         4 . The clothing system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second base material comprise a compression fabric. 
     
     
         5 . The clothing system of  claim 2 , wherein the third base material comprises a compression fabric. 
     
     
         6 . The clothing system of  claim 1 , wherein the first base material comprises a spacer mesh material. 
     
     
         7 . The clothing system of  claim 6 , further comprising a rigid insert secured to the spacer mesh material so as to increase space between the first base material and the perforated tube. 
     
     
         8 . The clothing system of  claim 1 , wherein the perforated tube comprises a trunk and a plurality of branches extending from the trunk. 
     
     
         9 . The clothing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a splitter separating the trunk into the plurality of branches. 
     
     
         10 . The clothing system of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is configured to pump air through the perforated tube. 
     
     
         11 . The clothing system of  claim 3 , wherein the ballistic insert comprises a unidirectional material with an areal density of approximately 1.60 to approximately 2.10 pounds per square foot. 
     
     
         12 . The clothing system of  claim 11 , wherein the unidirectional material comprises from approximately 85 to approximately 100 sub-plies of unidirectional material joined together. 
     
     
         13 . The clothing system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second base material are formed for wear over a user's upper body. 
     
     
         14 . A clothing system, comprising:
 a first base material formed for wear;   a cooling subsystem comprising:
 a perforated tube positionable against the first base material, and 
 a pump configured to pump fluid through the perforated tube; 
   a second base material formed for wear, wherein the second base material is positionable over the cooling subsystem, wherein the second base material is formed with a pocket; and   a ballistic insert maintained within the pocket.   
     
     
         15 . The clothing system of  claim 14 , wherein the ballistic insert comprises a unidirectional material comprising an areal density of approximately 1.60 to approximately 2.10 pounds per square foot. 
     
     
         16 . The clothing system of  claim 15 , wherein the unidirectional material comprises eighty-five or more sub-plies joined together by pressing. 
     
     
         17 . The clothing system of  claim 14 , wherein the ballistic insert comprises not more than fifteen percent by weight of matrix resin.