Thermal garment and method

• US 20070045269A1
• Filed: 03/28/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: JETT Pty Limited, Petatech International Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: JETT Pty Limited, Petatech International Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Vassallo, Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/390,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20070045269A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/211
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/003 using serpentine layout
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/017 Manufacturing methods or apparatus for heaters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/032 Heaters specially adapted for heating by radiation heating
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/036 Heaters specially adapted for garment heating
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/342 heaters used in textiles

Abstract

A heating garment for heating the body of a wearer having a front section adapted to overlie the ventral region of the wearer; a back section adapted to overlie the dorsal thoracic region of the wearer and having a medial portion and lateral portion; electric heating element located in the medial portion of the back section; switching means connected to said heating element and connectable to a portable electric power source, and having at least an off mode and an on mode; and whereby when said switching means is connected to a portable electric power source and is in said on mode said heating element heats to at least 50° C.

Claims

1. A heating garment for heating the body of a wearer having a front section adapted to overlie the ventral region of the wearer;

a back section adapted to overlie the dorsal thoracic region of the wearer and having a medial portion and lateral portion;

electric heating element located in the medial portion of the back section;

switching means connected to said heating element and connectable to a portable electric power source, and having at least an off mode and an on mode;

and whereby when said switching means is connected to a portable electric power source and is in said on mode said heating element heats to at least 50°

C.

2. A heating garment according to claim 1 wherein there is provided a portable electric power source.

3. A garment according to claim 2 wherein said power source is capable of maintaining a temperature of at least 50°

C. in said heating element for at least 5 hours.

4. A garment according to claim 3 wherein said power source comprises a lithium polymer battery.

5. A garment according to claim 3 wherein said switching means includes a first mode wherein the heating element heats to a temperature of at least 50°

C., a second mode wherein the heating element heats to a temperature of at least 60°

C., and a third mode where the heating element heats to a temperature of at least 70°

C.

6. A garment according to claim 1, wherein said medial portion also overlies the dorsal lumbar region of the wearer, and said heating element is provided in an upper and a lower region of said medial portion.

7. A garment according to claim 1 wherein said heating element emits far infrared radiation with a wavelength between 6 and 14 microns.

8. A garment according to claim 1 wherein said heating element includes a non-metallic conductor.

9. A garment according to claim 5 wherein said garment includes an outer insulating layer and an inner lining layer and said heating element is incorporated within said inner lining layer.

10. A garment according to claim 9 wherein said outer insulating layer is an aquatic thermally insulating layer.

11. A garment according to claim 10 wherein said aquatic thermally insulating layer is made substantially from neoprene.

12. A thermally insulating and heating garment combination comprising a garment according to claim 1 wherein said garment is constructed from a lightweight, stretchable, non-insulating fabric and a thermally insulating outer garment.

13. A garment combination according to claim 12 wherein said outer garment is an aquatic thermally insulating garment.

14. A garment combination according to claim 13 wherein said aquatic outer garment is made substantially from neoprene.

15. A garment combination according to claim 14 wherein said power source, heating element and switching means are each waterproof and are connected by waterproof connectors.

20. A method according to claim 17 wherein said heating element is incorporated in a garment as claimed in claim 1 or claim 16.

16. An aquatic heating garment for heating the body of a wearer having a front section adapted to overlie the body of the wearer;

a back section adapted to overlie the dorsal thoracic region of the wearer and having a medial and a lateral portion;

electric heating element located in the medial portion of the back section, adjacent the body of a wearer and with a wavelength of between 6 to 14 microns;

switching means connected to said heating element and having an off-mode and an on-mode as portable electric power source connected said heating element via said switching means and whereby when said switching means is in said on-mode, said heating element heats to at least 50°

C.

17. A method of maintaining core body temperature of a human in a cold environment comprising

providing a heating element over at least a portion of the medial dorsal thorasic region of the human;

heating said element to a temperature of at least 50°

C.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein said heating element is heated to a temperature of at least 60°

C.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein said heating is heated to a temperature of at least 70°

C.