Articles of Apparel Including Zones Having Increased Thermally Insulative and Thermally Resistive Properties

• US 20080289078A1
• Filed: 05/06/2008
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Mather, Sophie Louise
• Granted Patent: US 8,856,964 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/85
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 9/06 Undershirts; Chemises
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/04 Vests, jerseys, sweaters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/00 Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches helmets A42B3/00; clothing affording protection against chemical agents or for use at high altitudes A62B17/00; life-saving garments for use at sea, diving suits B63C; bulletproof or armoured clothing F41H; clothing affording protection against radiation G21F3/02
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0015 Sports garments other than provided for in groups A41D13/0007 - A41D13/088
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2400/10 Heat retention or warming
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 3/00 Overgarments fur garments A41D5/00; for children A41D11/00; professional or sporting protective garments A41D13/00
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 3/005 with pullover structure

Abstract

Thermal garments with reduced weight and bulk and improved packability include targeted zones of increased thermal resistive properties. Such garments may include: (a) a first garment region extending along a central back portion of the garment from the waist area of the garment to the neck area; (b) second and third garment regions extending along the sides of the garment from the waist area to the underarm area; and (c) a fourth garment region extending between the first and second garment regions, between the first and third garment regions, and between the second and third garment regions. The fourth garment region includes a thermal material having a lower thermal resistive value than the thermal resistive values of the thermal materials associated with the first, second, and third garment regions. Methods of making such garments also are described.

Claims

1. A garment for covering at least a portion of an upper human torso, comprising:

a first garment region extending along a central back portion of the garment from proximate to a waist area of the garment to proximate to a neck area of the garment;

a second garment region extending along a first side of the garment from proximate to the waist area to proximate to a first underarm area of the garment;

a third garment region extending along a second side of the garment from proximate to the waist area to proximate to a second underarm area of the garment; and

a fourth garment region extending between the first and second garment regions, between the first and third garment regions, and between the second and third garment regions,

wherein the fourth garment region includes a first thermal material having a first thermal resistive value, wherein the first, second, and third garment regions include thermal materials that may be the same as or different from one another, and wherein the thermal materials of each of the first, second, and third garment regions has a thermal resistive value higher than the first thermal resistive value.

2. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the fourth garment region extends between the first and second garment regions, the first and third garment regions, and the second and third garment regions at the waist area of the garment to thereby completely separate the first, second, and third garment regions from one another along the waist area.

3. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the first thermal resistive value is at least 5% lower than the thermal resistive values of the thermal materials of the first, second, and third garment regions.

4. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the first thermal resistive value is at least 10% lower than the thermal resistive values of the thermal materials of the first, second, and third garment regions.

5. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the fourth garment region makes up at least 50% of an overall exterior surface of the garment.

6. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the fourth garment region makes up at least 70% of an overall exterior surface of the garment.

7. A garment according to claim 1, wherein a majority of the first garment region is at least 3 inches wide across the central back portion in a direction from the first side to the second side.

8. A garment according to claim 7, wherein the second garment region is at least 3 inches wide along the waist area at the first side of the garment and the third garment region is at least 3 inches wide along the waist area at the second side of the garment.

9. A garment according to claim 1, wherein a majority of the first garment region is at least 4 inches wide across the central back portion in a direction from the first side to the second side.

10. A garment according to claim 9, wherein the second garment region is at least 4 inches wide along the waist area at the first side of the garment and the third garment region is at least 4 inches wide along the waist area at the second side of the garment.

11. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the first garment region includes a majority of a back portion of the garment.

12. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the first garment region includes at least 75% of a back portion of the garment.

13. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the first garment region includes a scapular area of the garment.

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

a garment closure system engaged with at least one garment region.

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

a garment opening size adjusting system engaged with at least one garment region.

16. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the fourth garment region extends between the first and second garment regions, the first and third garment regions, and the second and third garment regions at the waist area of the garment to thereby completely separate the first, second, and third garment regions from one another along the waist area;

wherein a majority of the first garment region is at least 3 inches wide across the central back portion in a direction from the first side to the second side;

wherein the second garment region is at least 3 inches wide along the waist area at the first side of the garment;

wherein the third garment region is at least 3 inches wide along the waist area at the second side of the garment; and

wherein the first thermal resistive value is at least 5% lower than the thermal resistive values of the thermal materials of the first, second, and third garment regions.

17. A garment according to claim 16, wherein the first garment region includes a majority of a back portion of the garment.

18. A garment according to claim 16, wherein the first garment region includes at least 75% of a back portion of the garment.

19. A garment according to claim 16, wherein the first garment region includes a scapular area of the garment.

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

a garment closure system engaged with at least one garment region.

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

a garment opening size adjusting system engaged with at least one garment region.

22. A garment according to claim 16, wherein the first thermal resistive value is at least 10% lower than the thermal resistive values of the thermal materials of the first, second, and third garment regions.

23. A garment according to claim 16, wherein the fourth garment region makes up at least 50% of an overall exterior surface of the garment.

24. A garment according to claim 16, wherein the fourth garment region makes up at least 70% of an overall exterior surface of the garment.

25. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the fourth garment region extends between the first and second garment regions, the first and third garment regions, and the second and third garment regions at the waist area of the garment to thereby completely separate the first, second, and third garment regions from one another along the waist area;

wherein a majority of the first garment region is at least 4 inches wide across the central back portion in a direction from the first side to the second side;

wherein the second garment region is at least 4 inches wide along the waist area at the first side of the garment;

wherein the third garment region is at least 4 inches wide along the waist area at the second side of the garment; and

wherein the first thermal resistive value is at least 5% lower than the thermal resistive values of the thermal materials of the first, second, and third garment regions.

26. A garment according to claim 25, wherein the first garment region includes a majority of a back portion of the garment.

27. A garment according to claim 25, wherein the first garment region includes at least 75% of a back portion of the garment.

28. A garment according to claim 25, wherein the first garment region includes a scapular area of the garment.

29. A garment according to claim 25, further comprising:

a garment closure system engaged with at least one garment region.

30. A garment according to claim 25, further comprising:

a garment opening size adjusting system engaged with at least one garment region.

31. A garment according to claim 25, wherein the first thermal resistive value is at least 10% lower than the thermal resistive values of the thermal materials of the first, second, and third garment regions.

32. A garment according to claim 25, wherein the fourth garment region makes up at least 50% of an overall exterior surface of the garment.

33. A garment according to claim 25, wherein the fourth garment region makes up at least 70% of an overall exterior surface of the garment.

34. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the fourth garment region has a thermal resistive value of at least 0.15 m²×

K/W.

35. A garment according to claim 34, wherein each of the first, second, and third garment regions each has a thermal resistive value of at least 0.18 m²×

K/W.

36. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the fourth garment region has a thermal resistive value of at least 0.19 m²×

K/W.

37. A garment according to claim 36, wherein each of the first, second, and third garment regions each has a thermal resistive value of at least 0.21 m²×

K/W.

38. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the fourth garment region has a thermal resistive value of at least 0.03 m²×

K/W.

39. A garment according to claim 38, wherein each of the first, second, and third garment regions each has a thermal resistive value of at least 0.04 m²×

K/W.

40. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the fourth garment region has a thermal resistive value of at least 0.05 m²×

K/W.

41. A garment according to claim 40, wherein each of the first, second, and third garment regions each has a thermal resistive value of at least 0.06 m²×

K/W.

42. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the first thermal resistive value is at least 5% lower than the thermal resistive values of the thermal materials of the first, second, and third garment regions, and wherein each of the first, second, and third garment regions each has a thermal resistive value of at least 0.04 m²×

K/W.

43. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the first thermal resistive value is at least 5% lower than the thermal resistive values of the thermal materials of the first, second, and third garment regions, and wherein each of the first, second, and third garment regions each has a thermal resistive value of at least 0.06 m²×

K/W.

44. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the first thermal resistive value is at least 5% lower than the thermal resistive values of the thermal materials of the first, second, and third garment regions, and wherein each of the first, second, and third garment regions each has a thermal resistive value of at least 0.08 m²×

K/W.

45. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the first thermal resistive value is at least 5% lower than the thermal resistive values of the thermal materials of the first, second, and third garment regions, and wherein each of the first, second, and third garment regions each has a thermal resistive value of at least 0.15 m²×

K/W.

46. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the first thermal resistive value is at least 5% lower than the thermal resistive values of the thermal materials of the first, second, and third garment regions, and wherein each of the first, second, and third garment regions each has a thermal resistive value of at least 0.21 m²×

K/W.

47. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the first thermal resistive value is at least 5% lower than the thermal resistive values of the thermal materials of the first, second, and third garment regions, and wherein each of the first, second, and third garment regions each has a thermal resistive value of at least 0.25 m²×

K/W.

48. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the first thermal resistive value is at least 10% lower than the thermal resistive values of the thermal materials of the first, second, and third garment regions, and wherein each of the first, second, and third garment regions each has a thermal resistive value of at least 0.04 m²×

K/W.

49. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the first thermal resistive value is at least 10% lower than the thermal resistive values of the thermal materials of the first, second, and third garment regions, and wherein each of the first, second, and third garment regions each has a thermal resistive value of at least 0.06 m²×

K/W.

50. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the first thermal resistive value is at least 10% lower than the thermal resistive values of the thermal materials of the first, second, and third garment regions, and wherein each of the first, second, and third garment regions each has a thermal resistive value of at least 0.08 m²×

K/W.

51. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the first thermal resistive value is at least 10% lower than the thermal resistive values of the thermal materials of the first, second, and third garment regions, and wherein each of the first, second, and third garment regions each has a thermal resistive value of at least 0.15 m²×

K/W.

52. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the first thermal resistive value is at least 10% lower than the thermal resistive values of the thermal materials of the first, second, and third garment regions, and wherein each of the first, second, and third garment regions each has a thermal resistive value of at least 0.21 m²×

K/W.

53. A garment according to claim 1, wherein the first thermal resistive value is at least 10% lower than the thermal resistive values of the thermal materials of the first, second, and third garment regions, and wherein each of the first, second, and third garment regions each has a thermal resistive value of at least 0.25 m²×

K/W.

54. A method of forming a garment for covering at least a portion of an upper human torso, comprising:

forming a garment structure including;

(a) a first garment region extending along a central back portion of the garment from proximate to a waist area of the garment to proximate to a neck area of the garment, (b) a second garment region extending along a first side of the garment from proximate to the waist area to proximate to a first underarm area of the garment, (c) a third garment region extending along a second side of the garment from proximate to the waist area to proximate to a second underarm area of the garment, and (d) a fourth garment region extending between the first and second garment regions, between the first and third garment regions, and between the second and third garment regions, wherein the fourth garment region includes a first thermal material having a first thermal resistive value, wherein the first, second, and third garment regions include thermal materials that may be the same as or different from one another, and wherein the thermal materials of each of the first, second, and third garment regions has a thermal resistive value higher than the first thermal resistive value.

55-102. -102. (canceled)