US20130145518A1

US20130145518A1 - Cooling Sweatband

Info

Publication number: US20130145518A1
Application number: US13/484,006
Authority: US
Inventors: Dennis Decet
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-12-08
Filing date: 2012-05-30
Publication date: 2013-06-13

Abstract

A sweatband may be formed a chamois leather band wrapping circumferentially around the wrist of a wearer and absorbing perspiration of the wearer. The sweatband also may include a pouch affixed to one end of the chamois leather band for receiving an ice pack, and the pouch also may be formed of chamois leather. The pouch may be integrally formed with the chamois leather band or it may be removably attached to the chamois leather band. The pouch also may have an opening for inserting and removing the ice pack. When the chamois leather band is wrapped around the wrist of the wearer, the pouch may be positioned at a pulse point of the wearer. The sweatband also may include a closure device for securely positioning the chamois leather band on a wrist of a wearer.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/568,561 filed Dec. 8, 2011, which is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to sweatbands, and more particularly to cooling sweatbands.

BACKGROUND

Sweatbands have traditionally been worn on the wrist to remove perspiration from the wearer. Sweatbands may be simple in construction, such as a cotton bandana rolled lengthwise and tied around the wrist. Commercially produced sweatbands may be made of terrycloth, other cotton-blend materials, sponge rubber, or synthetic foam to assist in absorbing perspiration during physical activity. However, each of these materials has a maximum saturation level (i.e., reaches a point where the material can no longer absorb perspiration) that may be easily exceeded during physical activity. Once this maximum saturation level has been reached, absorption of perspiration exceeds evaporation. The excess perspiration may then be released and could cause a wearer's hands to become overly moist, resulting in issues performing certain tasks, such as making a gripping motion. Absorption of a fully saturated material may be restored by allowing the perspiration to fully evaporate from the material, such as by washing and drying the material or by allowing the perspiration to evaporate out of the material over time, or a wearer may have to replace the sweatband with another sweatband.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a sweatband comprising a chamois leather band wrapping circumferentially around the wrist of a wearer and absorbing perspiration of the wearer. The sweatband also may include a pouch affixed to one end of the chamois leather band for receiving an ice pack, and the pouch also may be formed of chamois leather. The pouch may be integrally formed with the chamois leather band or it may be removably attached to the chamois leather band. The pouch also may have an opening for inserting and removing the ice pack. When the chamois leather band is wrapped around the wrist of the wearer, the pouch may be positioned at a pulse point of the wearer. The sweatband also may include a closure device for securely positioning the chamois leather band on a wrist of a wearer. The closure device may be a Velcro strip on each end of the chamois leather band to releasably attach the ends of the chamois leather band to one another.
Additional embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a cooling sweatband comprising a band formed of ultra-absorbent material, a pouch attached to one end of the band for receiving a reusable ice pack, wherein when the band is wrapped around the wrist of a wearer, the pouch is positioned at a pulse point of the wearer. The ultra-absorbent material may be chamois leather. The pouch may be integrally formed with the band. The reusable ice pack may be sewn into the pouch. The pouch may include an opening for inserting and removing the ice pack. The cooling sweatband also may include a closure device for securely positioning the band on a wrist of a wearer, and such closure device may be a Velcro strip on each end of the band to releasably attach the ends of the band to one another.
Other embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a perspiration-absorbing sweatband comprising a chamois leather band, a pouch attached to one end of the chamois leather band, and an ice pack housed in the interior of the pouch, wherein the chamois leather band wraps around a wearer's wrist with the pouch positioned at a pulse point on the wearer's wrist. The sweatband also may include a closure device for securely positioning the chamois leather band around the wearer's wrist. The pouch may have an opening for inserting and removing the ice pack. The ice pack may be permanently secured within the pouch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of this disclosure, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A depicts a perspective view of a sweatband according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 1B depicts a top down view of a sweatband according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2A depicts an arm of a wearer of a sweatband according to an embodiment of the present disclosure when the wearer's hand is palm-side up; and

FIG. 2B depicts the arm of a wearer of a sweatband according to an embodiment of the present disclosure when the wearer's hand is palm-side down.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Sweatbands according to embodiments of the present disclosure may be formed of a hyper-absorbent material. Such hyper-absorbent materials may generally have a high saturation point, thereby maintaining effectiveness for absorbing perspiration for a longer time than traditional sweatband materials. Accordingly, sweatbands according to embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a wearer with more continuous perspiration absorption.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a sweatband may be formed of chamois leather. Chamois leather is a material commonly used in the automotive washing and detailing business as it has significant absorption ability and may absorb more fluid than traditional drying cloths. Chamois leather also tends to be more absorbent than terrycloth or other cotton-blend materials typically used for sweatbands and may be restored to its full absorption capacity more easily than other materials. When a sweatband formed of chamois leather is positioned around a wearer's wrist, the material may absorb greater quantities of perspiration thereby reducing the likelihood of perspiration running down the wearer's arm and onto his/her hands during physical activity. Sweatbands according to embodiments of the present disclosure also may be used to wipe perspiration from a wearer's face.
When a chamois leather sweatband is saturated to its maximum absorption point, or a point where it no longer may effectively absorb perspiration, a wearer may remove the sweatband from his/her wrist, and then twist and squeeze the sweatband to immediately release the saturation and remove the fluid. After twisting and squeezing the sweatband, a sweatband according to embodiments of the present disclosure may be restored to its original absorption state and be ready for continued use to absorb perspiration.
FIG. 1A depicts a perspective view of sweatband 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 1B depicts a top down view of sweatband 10. Sweatband 10 may be formed from chamois leather cut at a length sufficient to fully wrap around a wearer's wrist. As the size of a wearer's wrist may vary, sweatband 10 may include closure device 103 a, 103 b. Closure device may be formed of a Velcro material (i.e., in strips or other similar configuration) such that the ends of sweatband 10 may be affixed to one another to position around a wearer's wrist. The size of closure device 103 a, 103 b on sweatband 10 may vary so that a wearer may adjust sweatband 10 in different points along closure device 103 a, 103 b to better fit the size of his/her wrist. Further, there may be times when a wearer may desire that sweatband 10 fit more loosely around his/her wrist, and closure device 103 a, 103 b may be adjusted accordingly. While Velcro material may be used to form closure device 103 a, 103 b, it should be appreciated that other closure devices, such as snaps or a hook and eye closure, may be used without departing from the present disclosure. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the band portion of sweatband 10 may be sized to fit a specified wearer's wrist (i.e., sized to fit a male or female wrist or sized to fit a child's wrist).
Sweatband 10 also may include pouch 102 on one end of sweatband 10 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Pouch 102 also may be formed of the same hyper-absorbent material as the remainder of sweatband 10, and pouch 102 may be formed such that it is integral with center band portion 101 of sweatband 10. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, pouch 102 may be removably attachable to center band portion 101, such as through snaps or other similar attachment mechanisms.
A reusable ice pack or cube may be inserted into pouch 102 to cool a pulse point around a wearer's wrist and assist the wearer to keep his/her body temperature down and reduce perspiration during physical activity. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the ice pack or cube may be frozen for a period of time prior to insertion into pouch 102. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, sweatband 10 including pouch 102 having an ice pack or cube inside pouch 102 may be placed into a freezer. Sweatband 10 may remain in the freezer until such time as the ice pack or cube is frozen, and the wearer may then remove sweatband 10 from the freezer, dampen it with water, twist any excess moisture from sweatband 10 and then attach to his/her wrist.
Pouch 102 may receive the reusable ice pack or cube through a slot or small opening formed in pouch 102 to provide cooling at a pulse point of a wearer of sweatband 10 when worn during physical activity. It should be appreciated that the slot or small opening in pouch 102 may be formed on an end of pouch 102 or it may be formed in a more central portion of pouch 102. It also should be appreciated that the slot or opening may include a mechanism for closing the pouch upon receiving the ice pack or cube. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, an ice pack or cube may be permanently sewn into pouch 102, and wristband 10 including the ice pack-filled pouch 102 may be placed into the freezer to restore coolness to the ice pack or cube following prolonged use.
Pouch 102 may be positioned on a wearer's wrist such that the coolness of the ice within pouch 102 may reach the wearer's pulse point on his/her wrist (as depicted in FIG. 2A), thereby reducing the wearer's body temperature when wristband 10 is in use. Sweatband 10 may be affixed to a wearer's wrist in a manner that pouch 102 containing the reusable ice pack or cube may be in contact, through a layer of hyper-absorbent material, with a pulse point on an interior portion of the wearer's wrist. Once sweatband 10 is wrapped around a wearer's wrist, center band portion 101 may be positioned on the top portion of the wearer's wrist (as depicted in FIG. 2B) and may be used to slow perspiration from reaching the wearer's hands during physical activity. When the wearer begins exercise or other types of physical activity while wearing sweatband 10, the wearer may use sweatband 10 to remove perspiration from his/her face or body. If pouch 102 containing an ice pack or cube is in use, the placement of pouch 102 on the wearer's wrist pulse point may allow for the wearer's body temperature to remain at a cooler temperature during the physical activity. Accordingly, a wearer may perform physical activity without being adversely affected by perspiration.
Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.

Claims

1. A sweatband comprising:

a chamois leather band wrapping circumferentially around the wrist of a wearer and absorbing perspiration of the wearer.

2. The sweatband of claim 1 further comprising:

a pouch affixed to one end of the chamois leather band for receiving an ice pack.

3. The sweatband of claim 2 wherein the pouch is integrally formed with the chamois leather band.

4. The sweatband of claim 2 wherein the pouch has an opening for inserting and removing the ice pack.

5. The sweatband of claim 2 wherein the pouch is removably attached to the chamois leather band.

6. The sweatband of claim 2 wherein the pouch is formed of chamois leather.

7. The sweatband of claim 2 wherein when the chamois leather band is wrapped around the wrist of the wearer, the pouch is positioned at a pulse point of the wearer.

8. The sweatband of claim 1 further comprising:

a closure device for securely positioning the chamois leather band on the wrist of the wearer.

9. The sweatband of claim 8 wherein the closure device comprises a Velcro strip on each end of the chamois leather band to releasably attach the ends of the chamois leather band to one another.

10. A cooling sweatband comprising:

a band formed of ultra-absorbent material; and

a pouch attached to one end of the band for receiving a reusable ice pack, wherein when the band is wrapped around a wrist of a wearer, the pouch is positioned at a pulse point of the wearer.

11. The cooling sweatband of claim 11 wherein the ultra-absorbent material is chamois leather.

12. The cooling sweatband of claim 10 wherein the pouch is integrally formed with the band.

13. The cooling sweatband of claim 10 wherein the reusable ice pack is sewn into the pouch.

14. The cooling sweatband of claim 10 wherein the pouch has an opening for inserting and removing the ice pack.

15. The cooling sweatband of claim 10 further comprising:

a closure device for securely positioning the band on the wrist of the wearer.

16. The sweatband of claim 15 wherein the closure device comprises a Velcro strip on each end of the band to releasably attach the ends of the band to one another.

17. A perspiration-absorbing sweatband comprising:

a chamois leather band;

a pouch attached at one end of the chamois leather band; and

an ice pack housed in the interior of the pouch, wherein the chamois leather band wraps around a wearer's wrist with the pouch positioned at a pulse point on the wearer's wrist.

18. The sweatband of claim 17 further comprising:

a closure device for securely positioning the chamois leather band around the wearer's wrist.

19. The sweatband of claim 17 wherein the pouch has an opening for inserting and removing the ice pack.

20. The sweatband of claim 17 wherein the ice pack is permanently secured within the pouch.