Oh, patents! Cyclone V2 cooling technology

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Tigeraire’s cooling technology (Cyclone V2 and Tornado V2) fits inside helmets and hard hats of all sorts. Tigeraire's cooling technology is designed to deliver the all-day comfort of fresh air to users, whether sports players, military personnel, or industrial workers, active under the hottest and most humid conditions. 

Tigeraire’s cooling technology is patented. The United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) patent, WO2022040692A1, titled Air circulation devices for helmets and methods of use, was awarded to Jack Karavich, Greg Stringfellow, Marco Falconi, and Jacob MARUCCI. A team of engineers and Louisiana State University (LSU) sports administrators from Tigeraire Inc, a tech start-up company that is part of the LSU Innovation and Technology incubator.  

The invention responds to the need to balance protection and comfort features in helmets and hard hats. Thus, the Tigeraire technology offers active cool airflow for head and face, without compromising the security features of helmets. The patent discloses at least two embodiments of the invention: an add-on embodiment and a built-in embodiment. In other words, one embodiment of the invention, comprising power assembly, fan and airflow outlets, might be mounted permanently or temporarily as an add-on within a helmet; and another embodiment might be built into a hard hat. Both embodiments are designed to provide cool airflow to the face and head within a wide variety of helmets and hard hats, or even for use within costumes. 

The patent Figure 1a, included below, shows the unmounted components of the add-on Cyclone V2 technology, whereas the video shows how they are installed. The Figure 1a system (100) comprises at least one fan assembly (10), one power assembly (20), and tubing (30) (flexible, rigid, or a combination thereof). The power supply shown in Fig. 1a is a 9V battery, which is otherwise enclosed, together with a control unit enabling the user to turn the fan on or off, and to adjust the intensity of the airflow (to high, medium or low). The power assembly (20) is connected to at least one fan assembly (10). The fan assembly (10) is connected to a first end of the tubing (30), in view of providing air through the tubing (30).

In some embodiments, the fan (10) circulates air within the helmet without tubing. Depending on the type of helmet, the tubing (30) might be cut to fit. The tubing (30) might also have different configurations, providing point-directed airflow from the unattached end, or distributed airflow when the full length of the tubing is perforated. The tubing (30) might also have bellows to increase its flexibility. The diameter of the tubing (30) might also vary from 6 to 25 mm.

The system (100) is designed for mounting within a helmet, under the padding, using adhesives or hook-and-loop type fasteners, but many different configurations known to those skilled in the art might exist, depending on the helmet. For example, embodiments that make use of an existing passive helmet ventilation system, to actively circulate air, within the helmet, and down to the face.

The YouTube video below shows how Tigeraire's Cyclone V2 technology is added to a football helmet.

The abstract of the invention is also included below.  

The present disclosure provides for devices and methods that actively circulate air into a helmet and around a wearer's face and head. Advantageously, the devices described herein can be added to off-the-shelf protective helmets and can leverage existing passive ventilation features to actively circulate fresh air without compromising protection against mechanical forces. The devices can be added to helmets on a temporary, permanent, or semi-permanent basis and can be used alongside additional protective accessories such visors, lenses, and/or face guards. The devices and methods described herein are suitable to virtually all protective helmets (e.g. athletic or safety helmets). The devices described herein are portable, non-restrictive, and fully contained in the interior of the helmet. Helmets with integral forced-air circulation are also provided.

[Abstract WO2022040692A1]

Reference

Tigeraire Inc

https://tigeraire.com/