Liquid cooled helmet comprising a cap of flexible material adapted to fit the head of a person, cooling panels mounted inside the cap forming passageways for carrying a liquid coolant, the panels being positioned to engage the cranium and neck of a person wearing the helmet, inlet and outlet lines communicating with the passageways, and releasable straps for securing the helmet about the neck of the wearer

Elkins, William

Williams, Bill A.

NASA Technical Reports Server

Uhited States Patent [I91 
Elkins et al. 
[I11 4,138,743 
[45] Feb. 13, 1979 
[54] LIQUID COOLED HELMET 
[75] Inventors: William Elkins, San Jose; Bill A. 
Williams, Morgan Hill, both of Calif. 
[73] Assignee: Acurex Corporation, Mountain View, 
Calif. 
[21] Appl. No.: 749,970 
[22] Filed: Dec. 13, 1976 
Related U.S. Application Data 
[63] Continuation of Ser. No. 553,030, Feb. 25, 1975, 
abandoned. 
[51] Int. C l . 2  ................................................ A42B 1/04 
[52] U.S. Cl. ...................................... 2A71.2; 150/2.3; 
2/202 
[58] Field of Search ................ 2A71.2, 202, 203, 205, 
2/2.1 R, 7, 68, 84; 128/403, 380; 150/2.3, 2.4 
[561 References Cited 
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 
2,403,676 7/1946 Modlinski ........................... 2/84 UX 
3,255,460 6/1966 Pastore ...................................... 2/68 
3,744,053 7/1973 Parker et al. ......................... 2/2.1 R 
OTHER PUBLICATIONS 
Gershman, “Self Adhering Nylon Tapes”, Oct. 18, 
1958, J.A.M.A., vol. 68, No. 7, p. 930. 
Primary Examiner-Werner H. Schroeder 
Assistant Examiner-Peter Nerbun 
Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hehr, Hohbach, Test, 
Albritton t Herbert 
P I  ABSTRACT 
Liquid cooled helmet comprising a cap of flexible mate- 
rial adapted to fit the head of a person, cooling panels 
mounted inside the cap forming passageways for carry- 
ing a liquid coolant, the panels being positioned to en- 
gage the cranium and neck of a person wearing the 
helmet, inlet and outlet lines communicating with the 
passageways, and releasable straps for securing the 
helmet about the neck of the wearer. 
5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20080012274 2019-08-30T03:53:41+00:00Z
U.S. Patent Feb. 13, 1979 Sheet 1 of 2 4,138,743 
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U.S. Patent Feb. 13, 1979 Sheet 2 of 2 4,138,743 
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4,138,743 
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preferred embodiment, the cap is woven of nylon spar- 
Straps 13 and 14 extend from the lower front portions 
The invention described herein was made in the per- of the cap and are releasably fastened together under 
formance of work under NASA Contract Number 5 the chin of the wearer to secure the cap on the head. In 
NAS2-6650 and is subject to the provisions of Section the preferred embodiment, the straps are provided with 
305 of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 Velcro fasteners 16 which permit the straps to be 
(72 Stat. 435; 42 U.S.C. 2457). readily adjusted, joined and released. 
This is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 553,030 A liner consisting of a pair of flexible Cooling panels 
filed Feb. 25, 1975, now abandoned. 10 17 is mounted inside the cap and positioned to engage 
the cranium and neck of the wearer. The two panels are 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION mounted side by side in the cap, and each is formed to 
This invention pertains generally to devices for cool- include a Plurality offlow Passageways 19 for carrying 
ing the human body and more particularly to a liquid a suitable Coolant such aS water. The panels are secured 
cooled helmet for cooling the head and neck of a to the 
wearer. Each of the cooling panels 17 is fabricated of two 
of Contract superposed sheets of a flexible waterproof material such 
N ~ .  NAS~-6650 with the United States of America as polyurethane, rubber, synthetic rubber Or a fabric 
represented by the National Aeronautics and Space coated with an elastomeric material, and the sheets are 
20 sealed together by suitable means such as vulcanizing or Administration. 
been provided for cooling different parts of the body. 21 to form passageway 19* In the preferred embodi- 
ment, the sheets from which the panels are fabricated One such device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,830,676, are generally planar, and the panels conform generally 
25 to the contour of the head when mounted in the cap and issued Aug. 20, 1974 to the assignee herein. 
includes a section 26 for engaging one side of the top advantageous. For example, through experimentation and testing, it has been found that a considerable degree and rear of the head, a section 27 for engaging the side 
neck. In addition, it appears that cooling the head may engaging the neck beneath the ear and jaw. 
retard or even prevent the loss of hair heretofore experi- now lines connected to the cooling panels communi- 
cate with passageways 19 and provide means for circu- enced by persons undergoing chemotherapy. 
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND OF THE lating coolant through the passageways. These lines 
INVENTION 35 include an inlet line 31 and an outlet line 32. Inlet line 31 
is connected to each of the panels by means of a Y-con- 
The invention provides a liquid cooled helmet com- nectar 33, short flow lines 34, and elbow 35 
prising a cap of flexible material adapted to fit the head mounted in openings 36 in the rear portion of section 29 
of a person, cooling panels mounted inside the cap in communication with passageways 19. s f i l dy ,  
forming passageways for carrying a liquid coolant, said 4o outlet line 32 is connected to each of the panels by 
panels being positioned to engage the cranium and neck means of a Y-connector 37, short flow lines 38, and 
of a person wearing the helmet, inlet and Outlet lines elbows 39 mounted in openings 41 in the lower portion 
communicating with the passageways, and releasable of section 26 in communication with the passageways. 
cap means for securing the helmet about the neck of the In the preferred embodiment, lines 31,32,34 and 38 are 
wearer. 45 fabricated of a flexible material such as plastic tubing. 
It is in general an object of the invention to provide a In operation and use, the helment is placed on the 
liquid cooled helmet of the above character which is head of a person with the cooling panels against the 
lightweight and flexible and therefore comfortable to cranium and neck. Straps 13 and 14 are secured about 
wear. the neck by the Velcro fastener, an inlet line 31 is con- 
Additional objects and features of the invention Will 50 nected to a suitable source of coolant. Outlet line 32 can 
be apparent from the following description in which the either be returned to the source for a recirculating sys- 
preferred embodiment is set forth in detail in conjunc- tem or lead to a suitable discharge area. 
tion with the accompanying drawings. The invention has a number of important features and 
advantages. It provides efficient cooling of the head and 
55 neck, and the helmet is lightweight, flexible and com- 
FIG. 1 is a perspective view, illustrating a liquid fortable to wear. 
cooled helmet according to the invention on the head of It is apparent from the foregoing that a new and 
a person. improved liquid cooled helmet has been provided. 
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of the helmet of FIG. 1. While only the preferred embodiment has been de- 
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a cooling panel utilized as a 60 scribed, as will be apparent to those familiar with the 
art, certain changes and modifications can be made 
LIQUID COOLED HELMET dex fibers. 
by such as sewing. 
The invention was made in the 
Heretofore, devices utilizing a circulating liquid have heat-sealing at their edges and along spaced lines 
Of the head has been found to be particularily placed on the head. As best Seen in FIG. 3, each panel 
Of is provided to persons in warm environ- of the head in front of the ear, a section 28 for engaging 
the head and 30 the side of the head behind the ear, and a section 29 for such as race car drivers, by 
DESCRIPT1oN OF THE 
liner in the helmet of FIG. 1. 
without departing from the scope of the invention as 
defined by the following claims. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED 
EMBODIMENT We claim: 
As illustrated, the liquid cooled helmet comprises a 65 1. In a method of making a liquid cooled helmet hav- 
ing an elastic cap adapted to fit on the head of a person 
and conform closely to the contour of the head, the 
steps of: superposing two flat sheets of flexible material 
cap 10 fabricated of a flexible elastic material adapted to 
fit on the head of a person and cover the head and neck, 
with openings 11 and 12 for the face and ears. In the 
4,138,743 
3 4 
having portions for covering predetermined portions of superposing two flat sheets of flexible material, joining 
the head; joining the flat sheets together along a plural- the two sheets together along a plurality of lines spaced 
ity of predetermined lines spaced inwardly from the inwardly of the periphery of the sheets to form the 
sheet’s periphery to form a liner having interconnecting passageways, forming the superposed sheets to the non- 
flow passageways for carrying a liquid coolant; mount- 5 planar contour of the cap, and securing the superposed 
ing the liner in the cap with the portions of the sheets in sheets to the cap in position to be pressed against the 
position for covering the portions of the head when the head by the cap when the helmet is placed on the head. 
helmet is placed on the head; and connecting flow lines 3. The liquid cooled helmet of claim 2 further includ- 
to the liner for carrying the coolant to and from the ing means affixed to the cap for releasably securing the 
passageways. 
2. A liquid cooled helment having an elastic cap 4. The liquid cooled helmet of claim 3 wherein the 
adapted to fit on the head of a person and conform means for securing the cap about the neck comprises a 
closely to the Ron-planar contour of the head, a flexible hood and pile fastener. 
liner mounted inside the cap for engagement with the 5. The liquid cooled helmet of claim 2 wherein the 
head and having a plurality of passageways for carrying 15 liner comprises a pair of cooling panels each having 
a liquid coolant, and inlet and outlet flow lines con- sections for engaging one side of the top and rear of the 
nected to the liner and communicating with the pas- head, one side of the head in front of the ear, and one 
sageways for carrying the coolant to and from said side of the head below the ear and jaw. 
10 same about the neck of the person. 
passageways, wherein the liner is formed by the steps of * * . * I #  
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Liquid cooled helmet

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