Norm's Neck Coolers
August, 2012
email:[email protected]
Made in Duluth, MN by Norma
General Information about neck/head cool ties:
Neck Coolers have become a very popular method of keeping cool during the summer heat.
Cool ties work on the principle of evaporative cooling. The water retainer crystals in each of the four pockets on the tie contain a range of
superabsorbent anionic polyacrylamide polymers. They have the property of
absorbing 500 times their weight in distilled water & they become gels.
Once the polymer is hydrated, the fabric surface of the cool tie draws
the moisture from the polymer to the fabric surface, which evaporates resulting
in an effective body cooler. One hundred per cent cotton fabric is used for best
effect.
(Also are great for relief from "hot flashes", and can be used on your
pets.) Wear the cool tie around your neck or head & it will bring great
relief from the heat for hours!!
Directions for Use & Care:
1.) To hydrate:
A.) Soak entire cooler tie in luke-warm water for 15 minutes. Remove from water & spread the partially soaked crystals evenly
within the length of all four pockets by wringing them down the length between
thumb & forefinger of one hand, while pulling the cooler tie with the other
hand. (Crystals will feel like soggy oatmeal at this point.)
B.) Place the cooler back in the water &
soak an additional 15 minutes or until it is firm, but still
bendable.
If cooler feels over-soaked, lay it flat out on a towel, or on a tray
in fridge, until enough water evaporates out of it to be worn.
2.) Wearing: Wear the cool tie around the
neck or head & it will bring great relief from the heat! As you wear it
throughout the day, it gets softer as the water vapor is being released. When
it doesn't feel cool on your neck, simply twist the cooler a half a turn,or 180
degrees. (This means the fabric that was up against your neck, before turning,
is now on the outside.)
You can leave your coolers, uncovered, on a tray or
plate in the refridgerator overnight. (Slightly over-soak the cooler beforeputting it in the fridge - it will be nice and chilled in the morning. You
can bury the cooler in an ice chest for a few minutes to Super Chill it.
NEVERFREEZE OR PUT COOL TIES IN THE
FREEZER!!!If you freeze it, you've ruined it.
You should be able to get 4 to 6 years of use out of a well-made
cooler.
Do not swim while wearing your cooler---this means in fresh or salt
water!
3.) Cleaning: When you want to wash the cooler tie, make sure it is
firm, possibly a little over-soaked. Apply small amount of dishwashing
detergent (i.e. Dawn) to the palms of your hands & lather up the cooler for
about a minute. Rinse well with cold tap water, pat dry with a dish towel &
it is ready to be put in fridge for about 3 minutes to chill for wearing, or to
hang to dry.
NEVER PUT COOL TIES IN THE WASHING MACHINE!
4.) DRYING: Your cooler likes to be dried out once in a while.
Simply hang it, from one or both tie ends, on a hook, indoors, to dehydrate. It
can take from 6 - 15 days to dry out completely, depending on the humidity &
temperature of your air. Be sure that it is completely dry before storing
it, so that it doesn't mold. NEVER PUT COOL TIES IN THE DRYER!
5.) STORING: Store the neck cooler in a cool, dry place. Never
store or transport coolers in plastic bags unless they are absolutely
dry!
How the Neck Cooler works
The polymer consists of a set of polymeric chains that are parallel to
each other & regularly linked to each other by cross-linking agents, thus
forming a network. When water comes into contact with one of these chains, it
is drawn into the molecule by osmosis. Water rapidly migrates in the interior
of the polymer network where it is stored. The more the polymer is
cross-linked, the tighter the network. Thus absorbtion capacity decreases but
the polymer remains more stable over time.
History of Cool Ties: In 1988 Dan Wofford, Jr.
wrote & distributed a brochure describing how to make cool ties. In the
early 1900's, the Cooperative Extension Service wrote & distributed a
pattern & instructions for cool ties & many individuals started cottage businesses making cool ties & selling them at flea markets, trade shows,
& fairs. A few years later several US companies began making cool ties for
save over the internet & in hobby & craft stores. WalMart started
setting cool ties in 1994 & they have been sold on E Bay since the inception
of the internet marketing company. The Home Shopping Network & QVC have
been selling cool ties for over 10 years!
