Garment for cooling and insulating

• US 7,043,766 B1
• Filed: 09/02/2003
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Enventys, LLC
• Original Assignee: Enventys, LLC
• Inventors: Sytz, Ronald M., Foreman, Louis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Worrell, Danny
• Application Number:
  US10/653,311
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 662/02, 661/69.R, 662/00, 661/96, 661/97, 661/70, 661/71, 245/5, 245/6, 245/7, 245/8, 2 91- 97, 2DI/G 1
• US Class Current: 2/81
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 9/06 Undershirts; Chemises
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2400/322 Massage
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 27/28 Means for ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/08 Heat resistant; Fire retardant
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/14 Air permeable, i.e. capable of being penetrated by gases waterproof and breathable A41D31/102
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/24 Resistant to mechanical stress, e.g. pierce-proof aprons resistant to mechanical aggressions A41D13/043
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 1/02 Armoured or projectile- or missile-resistant garments; Composite protection fabrics F41H5/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/023 Armour plate, or auxiliary armour plate mounted at a distance of the main armour plate, having cavities at its outer impact surface, or holes, for deflecting the projectile
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/0485 all the layers being only fibre- or fabric-reinforced layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 2/01 Ventilated garment

Abstract

A garment has indentations forming air channels next to the body of the wearer, and includes: a first yarn preferably being a single monofilament of polyester; a second yarn preferably formed from staple or filament yarn, whether manmade or of natural fiber, such as polyester, cotton, rayon, nylon, acrylic; and a third yarn being an elastomeric yarn that provides proper stretch and recovery to enable a proper fit of the garment next to the body of the wearer. The first yarn preferably is a single monofilament of polyester. The second yarn preferably provides softness for comfort. The third yarn preferably is spandex. For certain applications of the garment, the second yarn is formed from staples of synthetic materials such as Kevlar, Nomex, or Spectra in order to provide fire retardence, cut resistance, and/or impact/ballistic protection. The indentations may be formed only in selected areas of the garment in accordance therewith.

Claims

1. A garment having indentations shaped so as to define air channels next to the body of the wearer of the garment, wherein the garment comprises:

(a) a first yarn providing sufficient rigidity to define and maintain the shape of the indentations after the forming thereof;

(b) a second yarn; and

(c) a third yarn comprising an elastomeric yarn providing sufficient stretch and recovery to enable a proper fit of the garment next to the body of the wearer.

2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the first yarn consists of a single monofilament of polyester.

3. The garment of claim 1, wherein the second yarn is formed from staple or filament yarn such as polyester, cotton, rayon, nylon, and/or acrylic.

4. The garment of claim 1, wherein the third yarn provides elasticity of the garment for comfort form fitting of the garment to the body of the wearer.

5. The garment of claim 4, wherein the third yarn comprises spandex.

6. The garment of claim 1, wherein the first yarn provides sufficient rigidity that a force of impact is absorbed upon compression of the indentations.

7. The garment of claim 1, wherein the second yarn is formed from staples of synthetic materials such as Kevlar, Nomex, or Spectra.

8. The garment of claim 1, wherein the indentations are uniform.

19. The garment of claim 1, wherein the second yarn provides fire retardence to the garment and is cut resistant.

9. A combination of an outer garment and an undergarment, comprising:

(a) an outer garment; and

(b) an undergarment having indentations shaped so as to define air channels next to the body of the wearer of the undergarment, the undergarment comprising,

(i) a first yarn providing sufficient rigidity to define and maintain the shape of the indentations after the forming thereof,

(ii) a second yarn, and

(iii) a third yarn comprising an elastomeric yarn providing sufficient stretch and recovery to enable a proper fit of the undergarment next to the body of the wearer.

10. The combination of an outer garment and an undergarment of claim 9, wherein the outer garment comprises protective equipment.

11. The combination of an outer garment and an undergarment of claim 9, wherein the outer garment comprises a bulletproof vest.

12. The combination of an outer garment and an undergarment of claim 9, wherein the outer garment comprises battle gear for military use.

13. The combination of an outer garment and an undergarment of claim 9, wherein the outer garment comprise protective gear for athletic or sporting use.

14. The combination of an outer garment and an undergarment of claim 9, wherein the outer garment includes a vent.

15. The combination of an outer garment and an undergarment of claim 14, wherein the vent is adjustable for selectively admitting airflow to the undergarment.

16. The combination of an outer garment and an undergarment of claim 15, wherein the vent overlies indentations in the undergarment.

17. The combination of an outer garment and an undergarment of claim 9, wherein the outer garment is wind resistant or wind proof.

18. The combination of an outer garment and an undergarment of claim 9, wherein the outer garment includes a port and further comprising a conduit connected to the port supplying cool air to the air channels of the undergarment.

20. A garment having indentations shaped so as to define air channels next to the body of the wearer of the garment, wherein the garment comprises:

(a) a first yarn providing sufficient rigidity to define and maintain the shape of the indentations after the forming thereof;

(b) a second yarn providing fire retardence to the garment; and

(c) a third yarn comprising an elastomeric yarn providing sufficient stretch and recovery to enable a proper fit of the garment next to the body of the wearer.