ELECTRICALLY HEATED GARMENT

• US 20110108538A1
• Filed: 11/05/2010
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Fry, Paul, Gray, Rick, Zick, Jonathan A.
• Application Number:
  US12/940,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20110108538A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/211
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0051 Heated garments heated divers' suits B63C11/28
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0272 For heating of fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An article of clothing includes a garment body and a heater coupled to the garment body. A battery holder defines a cavity. A rechargeable battery pack is configured for use with at least one of a power tool and a sensing device. The rechargeable battery pack is slidably received within the cavity and detachably coupled to the battery holder by a latching arrangement. A controller selectively provides power from the rechargeable battery pack to the heater. A user input member for selecting a mode of the controller is coupled to the garment body.

Claims

1. An article of clothing comprising:

a garment body;

a heater coupled to the garment body;

a battery holder defining a cavity;

a rechargeable battery pack configured for use with at least one of a power tool and a sensing device, the rechargeable battery pack slidably received within the cavity and detachably coupled to the battery holder by a latching arrangement;

a controller selectively providing power from the rechargeable battery pack to the heater; and

a user input member coupled to the garment body, the user input member for selecting a mode of the controller.

2. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the user input member is also configured for selecting a thermal output of the heater.

3. The article of clothing of claim 1, further comprising a display indicating a thermal output setting.

4. The article of clothing of claim 3, wherein the display is illuminated.

5. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the user input member includes a display indicating a thermal output setting.

6. The article of clothing of claim 5, wherein the display comprises a plurality of LED lights.

7. The article of clothing of claim 5, wherein the display further indicates a state of charge of the rechargeable battery pack.

8. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the user input member comprises a button.

9. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the user input member is coupled to an external surface of the garment.

10. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the garment body includes a pocket for receiving the battery holder and rechargeable battery pack.

11. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable battery pack comprises a plurality of Li-ion battery cells.

12. The article of clothing of claim 11, wherein the rechargeable battery pack further comprises

a casing surrounding the plurality of Li-ion battery cells,

an end cap including a terminal, and

an outer housing including the latching arrangement.

13. The article of clothing of claim 12, wherein the latching arrangement includes latching tabs for engaging the battery holder.

14. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the controller monitors a state of charge of the rechargeable battery and de-energizes the heater in response to the state of charge.

15. A method of operating a garment heated by an electric heater, powered by a battery pack received by a battery holder, and controlled by a controller via a control input, the method comprising:

actuating the control input to cause the electric heater to enter a pre-heat mode;

maintaining the electric heater in a pre-heat mode for a first time period;

automatically switching the electric heater to a first thermal setting at the end of the first time period;

selectively switching the electric heater to a second thermal setting by actuating the control input.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising selectively deenergizing the electric heater by actuating the control input.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising monitoring a state of charge of the battery pack and automatically deenergizing the electric heater based upon a state of charge of the battery pack.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the control input includes an illuminated portion, the method further comprising indicating a thermal setting with the illuminated portion.

19. The method of claim 19, wherein the battery pack comprises a plurality of lithium ion battery cells disposed within a housing, the housing including a latching arrangement for selectively coupling the battery pack to the battery holder.

20. An article of clothing comprising:

a garment body;

a heater coupled to the garment body;

a battery holder defining a cavity, the battery holder disposed within the garment body and electrically coupled to the heater;

a rechargeable battery pack slidably received within the cavity and detachably coupled to the battery holder by a latching arrangement;

a user input member coupled to the garment body; and

a controller for selectively providing power from the rechargeable battery pack to the heater in response to control signals from the user input member, the controller causing the heater to enter a pre-heat mode in response to a first signal from the user input member, maintaining the heater in the pre-heat mode for a first time period, automatically switching the heater to a first thermal setting at the end of the first time period, and selectively switching the heater to a second thermal setting in response to a second signal from the user input member.

21. The article of clothing of claim 20, wherein the rechargeable battery pack is configured for use with at least one of a power tool and a sensing device.

22. The article of clothing of claim 20, wherein the rechargeable battery pack comprises a plurality of Li-ion battery cells.

23. The article of clothing of claim 22, wherein the rechargeable battery pack further comprises

a casing surrounding the plurality of Li-ion battery cells,

an end cap including a terminal, and

an outer housing including the latching arrangement.

24. The article of clothing of claim 20, wherein the latching arrangement includes latching tabs for engaging the battery holder.

25. The article of clothing of claim 20, wherein the controller monitors a state of charge of the rechargeable battery and de-energizes the heater in response to the state of charge.

26. The article of clothing of claim 20, further comprising a display indicating a thermal output setting.

27. The article of clothing of claim 20, wherein the user input member includes a display indicating a thermal output setting.

28. The article of clothing of claim 20, wherein the user input member is coupled to an external surface of the garment.