Article of apparel utilizing zoned venting and/or other body cooling features or methods

• US 20050246813A1
• Filed: 05/06/2004
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Wise, LaShurya M., Baron, Michael Robert, Davis, Carrie Lynn, Wand, Jordan J., Myhre, Loren G., Muir, Ian H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,555,414 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/69
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/04 Vests, jerseys, sweaters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0015 Sports garments other than provided for in groups A41D13/0007 - A41D13/088
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/002 with controlled internal environment
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0053 Cooled garments
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0056 using evaporative effect
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 27/28 Means for ventilation

Abstract

Garments may include: (a) one garment portion having an air permeability of less than 550 ft³/min per ft²; and (b) another garment portion including one or more vented zones, wherein a material forming the vented zones has an air permeability of at least 550 ft³/min per ft². The vented zones may extend along a center back portion and/or along at least one side portion of the garment. Methods for forming such garments may include: (a) providing one garment portion having an air permeability of less than 550 ft³/min per ft²; (b) providing another garment portion including at least one vented zone, wherein a material forming the vented zone has an air permeability of at least 550 ft³/min per ft²; and (c) forming a garment structure including these garment portions. The vented zones may extend along a center back portion and/or along at least one side portion of the garment structure. In some instances, apparel or equipment (including garments having zoned venting) may be wetted and worn by the athlete prior to the event or exercise, in order to pre-cool the athlete'"'"'s body.

Claims

1. A garment, comprising:

a first garment portion formed of a fabric material, wherein the first garment portion has an air permeability of less than 550 ft³/min per ft²; and

a second garment portion forming a garment structure with at least the first garment portion, wherein the second garment portion includes a first vented zone, wherein a material forming the first vented zone has an air permeability of at least 550 ft³/min per ft², and wherein the first vented zone is at least 12 in² and is provided at a first targeted location in the garment structure to cool the wearer'"'"'s body.

2. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the first garment portion forms a majority of the garment structure.

3. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the first vented zone is at least 30 in².

4. A garment according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third garment portion forming part of the garment structure, wherein the third garment portion includes a second vented zone separate from the first vented zone, wherein the second vented zone is formed from a material having an air permeability of at least 550 ft³/min per ft², and wherein the second vented zone is at least 12 in² and is provided at a second targeted location in the garment structure to cool the wearer'"'"'s body.

5. A garment according to claim 4, further comprising:

a fourth garment portion forming part of the garment structure, wherein the fourth garment portion includes a third vented zone separate from the first vented zone and the second vented zone, wherein the third vented zone is formed from a material having an air permeability of at least 550 ft³/min per ft², and wherein the third vented zone is at least 12 in² and is provided at a third targeted location in the garment structure to cool the wearer'"'"'s body.

6. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the air permeability of the material forming the first vented zone is at least 600 ft³/min per ft².

7. A garment fitting at least a portion of an upper torso of a wearer, comprising:

a first garment portion formed of a fabric material, wherein the first garment portion has an air permeability of less than 550 ft³/min per ft²; and

a second garment portion forming a garment structure with at least the first garment portion, wherein the second garment portion includes a first vented zone, wherein a material forming the first vented zone has an air permeability of at least 550 ft³/min per ft², and wherein at least a portion of the first vented zone is selected from the group consisting of;

(a) a vented zone region from about 2 to about 6 inches wide and extending at least about 10 inches along a center back portion of the garment structure, and (b) a vented zone region from about 2 to about 6 inches wide and extending at least 6 inches along a side portion of the garment structure.

8. A garment according to claim 7, wherein the fabric material of the first garment portion is a non-mesh material, wherein the first garment portion covers a majority of the upper torso.

9. A garment according to claim 7, wherein the first vented zone extends from proximate to a neck opening to a waist area of the garment structure.

10. A garment according to claim 7, wherein the first vented zone extends from proximate to a neck opening to proximate to a waist opening of the garment structure.

11. A garment according to claim 7, wherein the garment structure at least partially fits a lower torso of the wearer.

12. A garment according to claim 7, wherein the fabric material of the first garment portion is the same as the material forming the first vented zone, wherein the first vented zone is formed by increasing the air permeability of the material at a location of the first vented zone.

13. A garment according to claim 7, wherein the first vented zone extends along the center back portion of the garment structure, and the garment further includes:

a second vented zone formed from a material having an air permeability of at least 550 ft³/min per ft², wherein at least a portion of the second vented zone is from about 2 to about 6 inches wide and extends at least about 6 inches along a first side portion of the garment structure.

14. A garment according to claim 13, wherein the second vented zone extends from proximate to an underarm seam or an arm opening to a waist area of the garment structure.

15. A garment according to claim 13, wherein the second vented zone extends from proximate to an underarm seam or an arm opening to proximate to a waist opening of the garment structure.

16. A garment according to claim 13, further comprising:

a third vented zone formed from a material having an air permeability of at least 550 ft³/min per ft², wherein at least a portion of the third vented zone is from about 2 to about 6 inches wide and extends at least about 6 inches along a second side portion of the garment structure located opposite the first side portion.

17. A garment according to claim 7, wherein the first vented zone discontinuously extends along the center back portion of the garment for a total vented zone length along the center back portion of at least 10 inches.

18. A garment according to claim 7, wherein the air permeability of the material forming the first vented zone is at least 600 ft³/min per ft².

19. A method for forming a garment, comprising:

providing a first garment portion formed of a fabric material, wherein the first garment portion has an air permeability of less than 550 ft³/min per ft²;

providing a second garment portion including a first vented zone, wherein a material forming the first vented zone has an air permeability of at least 550 ft³/min per ft², and wherein the first vented zone is at least 12 in²; and

forming a garment structure including at least the first garment portion and the second garment portion, wherein the first vented zone is provided at a first targeted location in the garment structure to cool the wearer'"'"'s body.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the garment structure is formed such that the first garment portion forms a majority of the garment structure.

21. A method according to claim 19, wherein the first vented zone is at least 30 in².

22. A method according to claim 19, further comprising:

providing a third garment portion including a second vented zone formed from a material having an air permeability of at least 550 ft³/min per ft², wherein the second vented zone is at least 12 in²;

wherein the garment structure is formed including the third garment portion, wherein the garment structure is formed such that the second vented zone is separate from the first vented zone, and wherein the second vented zone is provided at a second targeted location in the garment structure to cool the wearer'"'"'s body.

23. A method according to claim 22, further comprising:

providing a fourth garment portion including a third vented zone formed from a material having an air permeability of at least 550 ft³/min per ft², wherein the third vented zone is at least 12 in²;

wherein the garment structure is formed including the fourth garment portion, wherein the garment structure is formed such that the third vented zone is separate from the first vented zone and from the second vented zone, and wherein the third vented zone is provided at a third targeted location in the garment structure to cool the wearer'"'"'s body.

24. A method according to claim 19, wherein the air permeability of the material forming the first vented zone is at least 600 ft³/min per ft².

25. A method for forming a garment for at least a portion of an upper torso of a wearer, comprising:

providing a first garment portion formed of a fabric material, wherein the first garment portion has an air permeability of less than 550 ft³/min per ft²;

providing a second garment portion including a first vented zone, wherein a material forming the first vented zone has an air permeability of at least 550 ft³/min per ft², and wherein at least a portion of the first vented zone is from about 2 to about 6 inches wide and at least about 6 inches long; and

forming a garment structure including at least the first garment portion and the second garment portion, wherein the first vented zone extends along a center back portion of the garment structure or along a side portion of the garment structure.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the first vented zone extends at least about 10 inches along the center back portion of the garment structure and wherein the method further includes:

providing a third garment portion including a second vented zone, wherein a material forming the second vented zone has an air permeability of at least 550 ft³/min per ft², wherein at least a portion of the second vented zone is from about 2 to about 6 inches wide and at least about 6 inches long, wherein the second vented zone extends along a first side portion when the garment structure is formed.

27. A method according to claim 26, further comprising:

providing a fourth garment portion including a third vented zone, wherein a material forming the third vented zone has an air permeability of at least 550 ft³/min per ft², wherein at least a portion of the third vented zone is from about 2 to about 6 inches wide and at least about 6 inches long, wherein the third vented zone extends along a second side portion when the garment structure is formed.

28. A method according to claim 25, wherein the air permeability of the material forming the first vented zone is at least 600 ft³/min per ft².

29. A system, comprising:

a piece of apparel or athletic equipment; and

a container for receiving liquid and the piece of apparel or athletic equipment, wherein the container is selected from the group consisting of;

(a) a container including indicia indicating at least one amount of liquid to be included in the container to wet the piece of apparel or athletic equipment prior to donning by a wearer, and (b) a container sized so as to receive a predetermined amount of liquid when the piece of apparel or athletic equipment and liquid are placed in the container for wetting.

30. A system according to claim 29, wherein the piece of apparel or athletic equipment is a garment for at least an upper torso of the wearer.

31. A system according to claim 30, wherein the garment includes a first vented zone extending along a center back portion.

32. A system according to claim 31, wherein the garment includes a second vented zone extending along a first side portion.

33. A system according to claim 30, wherein the garment includes a first vented zone extending along a first side portion.

34. A system according to claim 29, further comprising:

a liquid in the container, wherein the liquid includes water.

35. A system according to claim 29, further comprising:

a closure system for closing the container.

36. A system according to claim 35, wherein the closure system is repeatably closeable and openable.

37. A system according to claim 29, wherein the container is flexible and closable.

38. A system according to claim 29, wherein the container includes the indicia, and the indicia includes plural markings to indicate different amounts of liquid to be included in the container depending, at least in part, on a size of the piece of apparel or athletic equipment.

39. A method, comprising:

wetting a piece of apparel or athletic equipment;

at least 20 minutes prior to a start of an event or exercise routine, donning the wetted piece of apparel or athletic equipment and wearing it in a wetted condition so as to cool a wearer'"'"'s body prior to the start; and

participating in the event or exercise routine.

40. A method according to claim 39, further comprising:

doffing the piece of apparel or athletic equipment prior to participating in the event or exercise routine.

41. A method according to claim 40, further comprising:

donning the piece of apparel or athletic equipment after the event or exercise routine has concluded.

42. A method according to claim 41, wherein the piece of apparel or athletic equipment remains in the wetted condition when donned after the event or exercise routine has concluded.

43. A method according to claim 41, further comprising:

re-wetting the piece of apparel or athletic equipment prior to donning it after the event or exercise routine has concluded.

44. A method according to claim 39, wherein the piece of apparel or athletic equipment is worn during the event or exercise routine.

45. A method according to claim 44, wherein the piece of apparel or athletic equipment is worn after the event or exercise routine has concluded.

46. A method according to claim 39, wherein the donning occurs at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the event or exercise routine.

47. A method according to claim 39, further comprising:

warming up after donning the piece of apparel or athletic equipment and before participating in the event or exercise routine.

48. A method according to claim 47, wherein the piece of apparel or athletic equipment is worn during the warming up.

49. A method according to claim 47, wherein the warming up begins at least 10 minutes before the start of the event or exercise routine.

50. A method according to claim 39, wherein the piece of apparel or athletic equipment is a garment for at least an upper torso of the wearer.

51. A method according to claim 50, wherein the garment includes a first vented zone extending along a center back portion.

52. A method according to claim 51, wherein the garment includes a second vented zone extending along a first side portion.

53. A method according to claim 50, wherein the garment includes a first vented zone extending along a first side portion.

54. A method according to claim 39, wherein the wetting includes placing the piece of apparel or athletic equipment and a liquid in a container.

55. A method according to claim 39, wherein after the wetted piece of apparel or athletic equipment is donned, the wearer rests or remains substantially inactive for at least 20 minutes.