US4953544A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Use of sorbent sheet materials as evaporative coolants
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1990-01-19
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Granted: 1990-09-04
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Expires: 2010-01-19
Abstract
Abstract A method of evaporative cooling using sorbent sheet materials comprising a fibrous web that includes entangled fibers and a solid high sorbency liquid-sorbent polymeric material is disclosed. A sorbent sheet material useful for administering cold water therapy is also described.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul E. Hansen
- 👤 Thomas I. Insley
- 👤 Christopher J. Libbey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 13:59
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F7/00; A61F7/10; A61F13/00; A61F13/01; A61F13/01008; D; D04; D04H; D04H1/00; D04H1/40; D04H1/54; D04H1/56; A41; A41D; A41D13/00; A41D13/002; A41D13/005; A41D13/0053; A41D13/0056; A61F2007/0001; A61F2007/0059; A61F2007/0063; A61F2007/0064; A61F2007/0065; A61F7/02; A61F2007/0203; A61F2007/0206; A61F2007/0209; A61F2007/0214; A61F2007/0225; A61F2007/0228; A61F2007/0231; A61F2007/0244; A61F2007/026; A61F2013/00089; A61F2013/00187; A61F2013/00191; A61F2013/00361; A61F2013/00727; A61F2013/00731; A61F2013/00744; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/903; Y10S602/00; Y10S602/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of evaporative cooling comprising (a) wetting a sorbent sheet material comprising a web comprising fibers having an average diameter of about 1-20 microns and a solid high-sorbency liquid-sorbent polymeric material contained within said web with a liquid for which said polymeric material exhibits high-sorbency; (b) placing said wetted sorbent sheet material in contact with the object to be cooled; and (c) allowing said liquid contained in said wetted sorbent sheet material to evaporate while said wetted sheet material is in contact with the object to be cooled to provide a cooling effect on said object.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of evaporative cooling comprising (a) wetting a sorbent sheet material comprising a web comprising fibers having an average diameter of about 1-20 microns and a solid high-sorbency liquid-sorbent polymeric material contained within said web with a liquid for which said polymeric material exhibits high-sorbency; (b) placing said wetted sorbent sheet material in contact with the object to be cooled; and (c) allowing said liquid contained in said wetted sorbent sheet material to evaporate while said wetted sheet material is in contact with the object to be cooled to provide a cooling effect on said object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric material is in the form of particles which are uniformly dispersed within said web.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric material is in the form of fibers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said sorbent sheet material further comprises a water and water-vapor permeable cover sheet on each of the two exposed surfaces of said web, said cover sheets acting to inhibit migration of said polymer from said web when said sorbent sheet material is saturated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein said cover sheets are through-bonded through said web.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method of evaporative cooling according to claim 1, wherein said fibers are blown fibers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method of evaporative cooling according to claim 1, wherein said fibers are melt blown fibers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of evaporative cooling according to claim 6, wherein said sorbent sheet material further comprises staple fibers intermingled with said blown fibers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of evaporative cooling according to claim 8, wherein said staple fibers are present in an amount of about 25 to 100 percent by weight of said blown fibers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of evaporative cooling according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric material is present in an amount of about 1 to 50 percent by weight of said fibers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of evaporative cooling according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric material is present in an amount of about 5 to 30 percent by weight of said fibers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of evaporative cooling according to claim 10, wherein the amount of said polymeric material present is insufficient to allow gel-blocking of said wetted sorbent sheet material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of evaporative cooling according to claim 1, wherein said fibers comprise microfibers averaging less than about 10 microns in diameter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method of evaporative cooling according to claim 1, wherein said sorbent sheet material further comprises surfactant dispersed within said web.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of evaporative cooling according to claim 8, wherein said staple fiber is a transport fiber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method of evaporative cooling according to claim 8, wherein said staple fiber is a crimped bulking fiber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said web comprises microfiber microwebs incorporated into a non-woven web of blown microfibers, said microfiber microwebs containing said polymeric material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method of evaporative cooling according to claim 1, wherein said liquid is water.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method of evaporative cooling according to claim 1, wherein said sorbent sheet material is reusable.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method of evaporative cooling according to claim 1, wherein said object to be cooled is a limb of a mammal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of evaporative cooling according to claim 20, wherein said limb is the leg of a racing horse.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4377160A
Cited
US4429001A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-09-03 | 1994-03-05 | 1994-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-09-03 | 1998-03-05 | 1998-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-09-03 | 2002-03-05 | 2002-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |