Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
HEAT-INTE~CEPTI~IG GARMENT OR BLANKET
BACXG~OUND OF TEE INVENTION
The presen~ invention relates generally to devices ~or
controlling the rate of heat transfer between portions of the
human body and the environment around the body. In some cases
the invention is used primarily to reduce the amount of heat
reaching the body from an unusually hot environment. In other
cases the invention is used primarily to reduce the body
temperature in a less hostile environment by absorbing heat from
the body.
There are many industrial situations where individuals are
required to work in hostile environments where the temperature is
so high that it cannot reasonably be tolerated for a satisfactory
period of time. This is particularly true where high temperature
processes are being performed where the worker cannot be readily
isolated from the processing itself or from hot equipment or a
surrounding hot environment. In such cases there is a need to
keep radiant, conductive and/or convec-ti~e heat from reaching the
wor]cers body, particularly the human trunk. Where the
en~ironmental temperature or heat level is extremely high, as
near an open furnace or the like, the primar~ concern is to
intercept a large amount of the heat which would otherwise reach
the worker. This may be do~ne by reflection and absorption.
Preferably the heat not reflected is dissipated as heat of fusion
in melting a frozen material. Insulation may also be used between
~LZ9~096
e heat source and the body to help control the amount of
heat reaching the body.
It is essential that any equipment or garments used by a
worker to protect his body by intercepting heat present a
minimum burden during working conditions. If refreezable ~acks
of heat absorptive material are used they must be easy to
place in the equipment or garments and preferably be of uniform
size to facilitate handling and xeplacement. If the equipment
or garment is worn or carried it must be light weight, comfoxt-
able, efficient, and easily and practically maintained. Thisincludes keeping it clean and sanitary. Usually industrial
laundering is re~uired with attendant harsh agitation in hot
laundering liquids.
The invention relates to vest-like garments worn by workers
lS to intercept heat while working in hostile environments. One
such garment has straight-sided front and rear panel portions
each of whi.ch has three horizontal pockets containing removable
packets of refreezable gel material. The packets are divided
horizontally into three sections each containing an envelope of
gel. When the gel is frozen solid the packets can bend where the
sections were divided to give some flexibility to the packet.
A garment can be made of cotton duck with cotton bias binding
around its periphery but it may lose its shape during industrial
laundering and be less wear resistant both during laundering and
during its intended use when worn to protect a person. A narrow
elastic belt at each side of the body
~2~2~6
interconnects front and rear parts of the vest. The belt
should remain flat when worn and attached to the sides of
the garment so that the forces from the belt are distributed
widely over a large vertical extent at both sides of the front
and rear panel portions of the garment. The relationship of
insulating, reflective and heat absorptive materials may be
such ~hat the heat is first intercepted by the insulation
before it could be reflected and the reflective material per-
forated so that it permitted slight passage of perspiration
therethrough. The insulation is in vertically spaced sections
within the areas of the pockets and should cover the entire
pocketed areas on the front and back of the garment. Unless
the insulation sections are stitched at the edges of the
pockets they are slightly smaller than the periphery of the
pockets and can move around in the pockets and even curl up
therein during laundering. The insulation preferably remains
in fixed alignment with the gel packets so that during use
there are no portions of the gel packets which were not pro-
tected by the insulation and the insulation even covers the
spaces between the packets.
}9~
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention
there is provided a heat-intercepting shield for protecting a
portion of an object against external radiant, conductive and
convective heat or for controlling the temperature of a portion
of an object, said shield comprising a flexible casing having
front and rear flexible members, said members being secured
together to define at least one elongated pocket, each such
pocket having three closed sides and an open end, one of said
members providing at each such pocket an elongated facial heat-
intercepting area of said shield, said casing having throughout
each said area three layers comprising, in the direction away
from a source of said heat, a flexible layer of heat-reflective
material, a flexible layer of heat insulating material, and a
flexible layer of heat dissipating material for absorption of
heat. Said layer of heat dissipating ma-terial being in the form
of a packet which is insertable and removable through the open
end of a respective pocket, and means for closing the open end
of each pocket to retain the packet in the pocket.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention
a heat-intercepting shield or shroud in the form of a vest-like
3a
36
garment has a fabric shell within which are formed a plurality of
adjacent pockets which are generally horizontal when the garment
is worn. The shell has similar fron-t and rear panel portions
which cover most of the human torso. These portions each
comprise two generally coextensive fabric layers which extend from
the shoulder line to the bottom of the garment. These layers are
stitched together to define pockets to receive replaceable
packets of refreezable material which are capable of absorbing
substantial quantities of heat as the material melts. Over the
entire area of the pockets on both the front and back panel
` portions of the garment and next to the outer fabric layer are
coextensive layers of non-breathable essentially-continuous
reflective material and of insulating material. These materials
are stitched next to the outer layar of fabric in the seams
defining the pockets so that both heat reflection and retardation
of heat flow by the insulation occurs over the entire pocketed
areas. Progressing from the exterior heat source toward the
wearer the layers inside the fabric shell include a heat-
reflective layer, an insulating layer which provides further
protection from the heat which penetrates the reflective layer
and a layer formed by the heat- dissipating packets of frozen gel
material. Manufacture of the garment is greatly facilitated and
the garment made much more economical in both manufacture and in
use by a linear arrangement of hook and loop fastening means
which forms the closure for each of the pockets and extends
continuously from the bottom of the front shell portion up and
over the shoulder and down ~he rear o~ the other sh~ll portion to
the bottom thereof. Each pocket closure is conveniently opened
by grasping a tab attached to one part of the fastening means
near the middle of the closure and pulling it away from the
adjacent shell portion to which the opposite porti~n of the
closure means is attached.
The features of this invention may be embodied in a heat
intercepting shield or shroud covering and cooling only a portion
of the body such as the kidneys when the required stay p0riod
under hostile heat conditions is shorter. In such cases it is
practical to use a belt having a single pocket covering the
kidneys and containing a sin~le refree~able packet of heat
dissipating material.
~ he features of the invention may also be embodied in a heat
intercepting blanket made up of a plurality of rows and columns
of pockets each utilizing the same r~lationship of layers of heat
reflecting, heat insulating and heat dissipating materials as
mentioned above.
Furthex features of the invention are found in particular
structural and material details set forth in the detailed
description of the invention hereinafter.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a vest-like garment in accordance
with the invention with the garment spread out flat and partially
cut away at two places to more clearly illustrat~ interior
f0atures of the garment.
FIG. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 in FIG. 1.
~25~
FIG. 3 is an enlarged section corresponding to the extreme
right end of FIG. 2 and showing greater detail of the stitching
at the periphery of the garment.
FIG. 3a is en enlarged section taken on line 3a-3a of FIG.l
and like FIG.3 shows greater detail of the peripheral stitching.
FIG. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 in FIG. 1 showing
features of the neck portion of the garment.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a packet of heat-dissipating
refreezable material used with the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 in FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 i9 a section corresponding generally to FIG. 2, but
illustrating a modification of the invention.
FIG. 8 is a plan view of another embodiment o~ the invention
illustrating a heat-intercepting blanket with a portion cut away
and a corner turned over to show a portion o~ a fastener thereon.
FIG. 9 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention
wherein three blan]cets as shown in FIG. 8 are fastened together
to form a larger blanket.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view o~ a blanket of the type shown
in FIG. ~ wrapped around an object (in dot-ted lines) to be cooled
FIG. 11 is a partially cut away plan view of another
modification of the invention illustrating a heat-intercepting
belt having a single pocket for holding a heat dissipating
packet.
FIG. 12 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 of another
embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 13 ls a section taken on line 13-13 of FIG. 12.
~2~ 6
FIG.14 is a partial section taken on line 14-14 of FIG. 12.
FIG. 15 is a section -taken on line 15-15 of FIG. 12
FIG. 16 is a plan view of a refreezable packet used with the
embodiment of FIG. 12.
FIG. 17 is a section taken on line 17-17 of FIG. 16.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 a vest-like garment 1
has two main panel portions located above and below the neck
opening 3, respectively. The portion shown below the neck
opening 3 forms the front panel 4 of the garment when it is worn
and the portion in the drawing above the neck opening 3 is the
rear panel 5 of the garment. The ex~erior of the garment is
essenkially a casing in which the exterior of the ront panel is
formed primarily by fabric members 6 and 7 and the exterior of
the rear panel is formed primarily by the fabric members 8 and 9.
Along the left side of the garment the facing fabric strips lO
and 11 form outer face portions on the front and rear panels 4
and 5, respectively.
Within the garment and next to the outer panel members 6 and
8 are located flexible layers 14 and 15, respectively, of heat-
reflective material. Further to the inside of the garment and
next to the reflecting layers are flexible layers 18 and l9,
respectively, of heat-,insulating material.
The mul~iple layers of fa~ric and the heat-reflective and
heat-insulating materials are stitched together to foLm a series
of several elongated side-by-side px~ets 20, 21 and 22 in the front gaLment panel
~92~9~
4 and a series of several elongated side-~y-side pockets 30, 31 and 32 in the rear
garment panel S. As seen in FIG. 1 the upper sides of the
pockets 20, 21 and 22 are formed by stitched seams 25, 26 and 27
and the lower sides of the pockets 30, 31 and 32 are formed by
stitched seams 35, 36 and 37. The xight ends of the pockets 20,
21 and 22 are formed by a single straight stitched seam 28 and the
right ends of the pockets 30, 31 and 32 are formed by a single
straight stitched seam 38. The outer sides of the outer pockets
22 and 32 are formed by portions of a stitched seam 39 extending
around the entire periphery of the garment. During assembly of
the garment many of the layers of material are stitched together
while the garment is essentially inside out and an initial seam
39a as seen in FIGS. 3 and 3a is stitched. Thereafter the
garment is turned right side out and the final seam 39 is stitched
and the seam 39a remains concealed but adds significant strength
to the periphery of the garment..
Extending along the entire length o the garment at the left
end of each of the six pockets 20, 21, 22, 30, 31 and 32 are
cooperating parts of an elongated hook and loop fastener
comprising a hook strip 40 fastened together with the edges of
the fabric member 6 and the re1ective and insulating layers 14
and 18 by stitching. The other fastener part is a loop strip 41
which is fastened to the fabric members 7 and g also by stitching
in a position where it covers the adjacent edge of the facing
strips 10 and 11. The let ends of the six po kets are closed by
means of the cooperating portions of the strips 40 and 41 which
ex~end therealong. The pocket closures formed by the s~rips 40
~'
9~2~ 96
and 41 are each easily and independently opened by means of a
small fabric pull tab 42. Each tab is fastened by stitching near
the center of the pocket opening at the back of the hook strip 40
between it and the overlying fabric members 6 and 8, preferably
between the hook strip and the reflective layers 14 and 15. At
the ends of each pocket opening there are bar-tacks 43 stitched
through the entire garment thickness for reinforcement.
The fabric members 6 and 8 are stitched together at the
shoulder seams 44 and 45. The fabric members 7 and 9 are
similarly stitched together at shouldPr seams. The edges of the
four fabric members at the neck opening are bound together by
means of a ribbon member 48 folded over the edges and stitched
thereto as seen in FIGS. 1 and 4. The ribbon 48 is a grosgrain
ribbon of 100~ nylon which is extremely wear-resistant, will not
shrink, will ~IOt ~ray and is heat sealable at its ends when cut
with a hot knife before stitchin~ it in place.
The garment is held ln place when worn by a person by means
o:E an elasti.c belt. The belt comprises two wide non-roll elastic
strips 50 and 51 which are fastened by sti.tching at the scalloped
areas 52 and 53 at opposite sides of the rear panel of the
garment. One end of the strip 50 is anchored in the peripheral
seam 39 between fabric member 8 and the facing member 11. One
end of the other strip 51 is similarl~ anchored between the
fabric members 7 and 9. The other ends of these strips can be
fastened to the front garment panel by means of hook strips 54
attached to the ends of elastic straps 50 and 51. These hook
strips 54 are backed by fabric co~ers 54a and 55a. The hook
~9;~C~96
strips 5~ cooperate with and can be fastened to loop strips 58
and 59 extending across the entire front of the front panel 4.
The loop strip 58 is stitched on top of the facing strip 10
between the seam 39 and the long loop strip 41. The other loop
strip 59 is stitched in place around its periphery to overlie the
pocket 21, e~tending near the center and along the length thereof
and beyond the seam 28 to the edge of the fabric member 6. To
position the garment for use on a person, the neck opening is
slipped over the head and the belt portions are slightly
1~ tensioned by pulling on the hook strips 54 and 55 and fastening
these strips by engaging their hooks with the loops of the loop
strips 58 and 59 on the front panel of the garment. The lengths
of the hook and loop strips 54, 55, 58 and 59 together with the
elasticity of the straps ~0 and 51 provide a very wide range of
adjustment of the belt so that one size of the garment fits most
workers. The elastic straps 50 and 51 are made with raised
transverse ribs to give its non-roll feature. The straps 50 and
51 can be stretched to twice their unstressed length of about
five inches.
Althou~h the garment 1 by itself can provide some protection
to the worker from a heat source, .it is intended to provide a
much higher level of heat protection by receiving flexible heat-
dissipating refreezable packets 60 in the pockets 20, 21, 22, 30,
31 and 32. As seen most clearly in FIGS. 5 and 6, the packet 60
is formed from a heat-sealable transparent plastic tube 61 having
four seams thereacross which define three equal-size generally
flat sealed compartment~ . The f le~ibilit~ of each packet 60 at
~%~z~9~
the seams b~tween the compartments allows the front and rear
panels of the garment to conform to the person~s body to provide
greater ~omfort and more freedom of movement when the garment is
worn.
5The plastic tube 61 is made of polyethylene of about 4 mil
thickness which is easily sealed to itself to form seams merely
by the application of sufficient pressure and heat. The tube may
be made of a tougher material such as polyvinyl chloride and ~he
seams formed by electronic welding. A toughPr material of this
nature may be preferred for use in the embodiment of FIG. 8 where
the blanket illustrated may be used as a mat on which workers
walk. The tube 61 may be aluminized to make it and the packets
60 reflective on the outer side for additional heat interception.
Each of the compartments of packet 60 contains a refreezable
heat dissipating means in the form of a pack 63 of refreezable
non-toxic chemical refrigerant gel. Although the pack 63 is
shown as gel in a single-compartment flexible plastic envelope,
each pack can be made as a multi-compartmented envelope to
provide more flexibility when frozen. However, the illustrated
packs are more economical to manufacture and can contain more of
the gel within each of the compartments of the packet 60. The
gel free~es at a temperature of about 0 degrees C. Its heat of
fusion has a value approximately 10% or more in excess of the
heat of fusion of water. It compares very favorably with the
value for wa~er which is 80 cal./g./deg.C. a~ 0 degrees C. The
gel is also much more ~iscous than water when melted and is much
11
~.'
~2~;2n~6
less likely to escape from the packet 60 in the event of
accidental puncturing of the packet tube 61 and the envelope of
the gel pack 63.
The size of each of the pockets 20, 21, 22, 30, 31 and 32 in
the garment panels is about 6 1/2 by 13 1/4 inches. The packets
are about 6 by 14 inches with a thickness of about 3/4 inch. The
refreezable packs are about 6 by 4 1/2 inches and only ~ery
slightly less than the packet thickness.
Throughout this specification the term fabric preferably
refers to a woven material which has a weight of about five ounces
per square yard and is made of 65% polyester and 35% cotton.
This material can absorb moisture of condensation, retains its
shape, has minimum shrinkage and is very durable and wear-
resistant. However, in some applications where flammability of
the garment is a consideration, t;he fabric may be of a fire
retardant material such as that commercially available under the
tra~e mark l'Nome~".
The insulating material used in the various embodiments of
the invention is preferably a polyester fleece material which has
a thickness of about 3/16 inch and a weight of about 9 ounces per
square yard.
The heat-reflective material used in this invention
preferably has an extremely thin shiny metallic non-breathable
surface layer on the heat receiving side. This surface layer is
carried by a thin layer of insulating foam material which is
backed by a very thin plastic sheet layer. This structure of the
material, its smooth sur~aces and its resistance to any
,~
.. ...
~;29Z~9gi
significant stretchinq makes it very suitable for stitching
together with the other components used in the illustrated
embodiments. These three layers are bonded together along spaced
crossed lines. The bonded area is only a small percentage of the
surface area of ~he reflective material. This material has a
thickness of about 1/25 inches and an insulating factor of R2.
Another embodim~nt of the invention is shown in FIG. 7
wherein the fabric layer 8a extends to the left edge of the
garment and the insulating and heat-reflecting layers extend to
opposite sides of the garment. The peripheral seams are then
like the seam in FIG. 3a. Also, a facing strip lla corresponding
to strip 11 of FIG. 1 is now on the underside of the insulation
and stitched between it and the hook portion of the fastener.
The bottom fabric member is reduced in width by an amount
corresponding to the width of the strip lla. The belt members
are attached essentially as in FIG. 1 to the edges and front face
of the garment.
Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 8, 9
and 10 wherein a heat-intercepting or cooling shield or shroud is
made in the form of a flexible blanket 70. Similar to the
previously descrihed garment 1, the blanket 70 as seen in FIG. 8
has a plurality of elongated flat equally-sized generally co-
planar pockets 71 through 76 for receiving refree~able packets 60
identical to those used with the garmen-t 1. These blanket
pockets are about 6 1/4 by 14 1/2 inches. The blanket 70 has a
rear fabric face member 77 essentially coextensive in size with
the blanket. The fabric m~mber 77 forms the rear wall of each of
~9~96
le pockets 71 through 7~. A smaller fabric face member 78 is
generally coextensive with and form the front face of one group
of several elongated side-by-side pockets 71, 72 and 73. Another
fabric face member 79 forms the front face of another group of
several elongated side-by-side pockets 74, 75 and 76 extending
generally end-to-end relative to pockets 71, 72 and 73. The
fabric members 77, 78 and 79 are all rectangular and adjacent
sides of the members 78 and 79 are spaced from each other about
two inches across the width of the blanket near its center. The
other three sides of the fabric members 78 and 79 are secured to
the periphery of the fabric member 77 along a peripheral seam 80
which extends around the entire edge of the member 77. Details
of this seam regardiny initial stitching inside out correspond
to the seam details shown in FIGS. 3 and 3a for the garment of
15 FIG. 1~ This seam 80 defines the outer sides of poc]cets 71, 73,
74 and 76. The outer ends of pockets 71, 72 and 73 are formed
by the straight portion of the seam 80 at the left end of the
blanket as seen in FIG. 8. The outer ends of the pockets are
formed by a seam 83 which is spaced from the seam 80 at the right
edge of the blanket as seen in FIG. 8. Seams 81 divide the left
side of the blanket into the three equally sized pockets 71, 72
and 73. Similarly, the seams 82 divide the right side of the
blanket into the three equally sized pockets 74, 75 and 76.
Next to or ~ust under each of the fabric members 78 and 79
are t~-o successive layers of heat-reflective material 84 and
heat-insulating material 85, shown only at the cut away area of
FIG. 8. In the preferred embodiment these layers for pockets 74,
75 and 76 end at the seam 83, but they may be extended beyond
14
~2~96
seam 83 to be stitched in the edge seam 80. The ends of the
pockets 71 through 76 extending across the center of the blanket
ha~e closuxes therea~ formed by fastening means comprising
cooperating two pairs of hook and loop strips like the strips 40
and 41 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Each hook strip
is similarly stitched along and under the edge portions of one
of the fabric members 78 and 79 with the edges of the layers of
reflecting and insulating material 84 and 85 therebetween. Pull
tabs 86 are also stitched therein between the hook strips and the
insulating material layers 85. Each of the loop strips 87 is
stitched across the fabric member 77 directly beneath its
cooperating hook strip. Protective ribbon material 88, like the
ribbon 48 in FIG. 1,- is stitched over the edge of ~abric member
at both sides of the blanket between the fabric members 78 and
79. The space between the members 78 and 79 may be covered
across the center of the blanket by successive layers of
insulation reflective material and another layer of fabric
stitched atop the fabric 77 with the edges of these additional
layers stitched under the loop strips 81 and with their ends
20 - under the ribbon strips 88.
Extending over the fahric member 77 atan area on the back side
of the blanXet at the right end between the seam 83 and the
peripheral seam 80 is a two-inch wide hoo~ strip psrtion 90 of a
hook and loop strip f~stener means. This strip cooperates with
three two-inch wide loop strip portions ~1 of the fastener means
located on the opposite or front side of the blanket. These loop
portions are stitched to the front of ~he fabric member 78 and
~2920~i
each extends from the peripheral seam 80 at the left and about
two thirds of the distance down the center of the pockets 71, 72
and 73 toward the closure ends of these pockets. The blanket 70
can be wrapped around all or a portion an objec-t 100 (in dotted
lines) to be cooled and held in place by pressing the hook strip
90 into engagement with the loop strips 91 as shown in FIG . 10 .
Two or more blankets can be connected together by engaging the
hook strip of one blanket with loop strips of another as seen in
FIG. 9 where three blankets 70 are connected together. One or
multiple blankets can thus be wrapped and fastened about objects
of varying size and shape for either cooling the objects or for
protecting them against en~ironmental heat. One or more blankets
can also be used as mats on hot walkways to protect the feet of
workers. In such case the heat reflective material is on the
]5 side of the blanket toward the hot surface.
Each oE the pockets 71 through 76 contains one of the
removable heat-dissipating packets 60 shown and described in
connection with FIGS. 5 and 6. The space between the fabric
members 78 and 79 is about two inches wide. The blanket can be
suspended on the narrow edge of a horizontal two by ~our inch
board (not shown) with the groups of side-by-side pockets hanging
on opposite sides of the board to facilitate inserting the packets
60 into the pockets. The tabs 86 are pulled to open the hook and
loop closure for each pocket to permit insertion of the packets 60
whereafter the hook and loop portions are pressed together to
keep the packets in place. The two groups of poc]cets are loaded
alternately so that the weight of the packets will not cause the
16
~2~24~
blanket to fall off the support. The individual packets cover
essentially the entire area of the respective pockets.
In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 11 a belt
structuxe 94 is provided with only a single pocket is provided
with the multilayer relationship and construction therefor
essentially the same as previously described and with the
peripheral side and end seams essentially the same as shown in
FIGS. 3 and 3a. Triangular portions are formed at the ends of
the pockets for attachment of belt means comprising an elastic
non-roll strap 95 about one inch wide and a few inches long and
an adjustable length non-elastic strap member 96 which is looped
through one part g7 of a side release buckle. The strap g5 is
looped through the~other cooperating par~ 97a of the buckle. The
other ends of the straps 95 and ~6 are stitched in the ends of
the triangular portions of the belt.
Another embodiment of the invention provides a helmet
garment which i9 S .imilarly constructed to fit over the head and
neck of a worker. It uses the same relationship of fabric
members, gel packets and insulation and reflective layers to
protect the head and neck from the shoulders up. It has a
plurality of narrower and shorter pockets with closures on the
outside to receive the gel packets. This garment must be
sufficiently loosely fitting about the head and neck to permit
turning and nodding movement without incon~eniencing or annoying
the wearer.
In the alternative embodiment of FIG. 12 a vest-like garment
lOl has two main panel portions located ~bo~e and below the neck
~2~2Q96
opening 103, respectively. ~he portion shown below the necX
opening 103 forms the front panel 104 of the garment when it is
worn and the portion in the drawing above the neck opening 103 is
the rear panel 105 of the garment. The exterior of the garment is
essentially a casing in which the exterior of the front panel is
formed primarily by fabric members 106 and 107 and the exterior of
the rear panel is formed primarily by the fabric members 108 and
109 .
Within the garment and stitched to the outer front panel
members 106 and 107 and rear panel members 108 and 109 are
located fleæible layers 114 and 115, respectively, of heat-
reflective ma~erial. Inside of the closed envelopes and next to
the reflec~ing layers ~re flexi~le layers 118 of heat-insulating
material.
lS The multiple layers of fabric and the heat-reflective
material are sti~hed together to form a series o se~eral alongated side-by-sidepockets 120, 121 and 122 in the front garment panel 104 and a
series of several elongate side-by-side pcckets 130,131 and 132 in the rear
garment panel 105. As seen in FIG. 12 the upper sides of the
pockets 120, 121 and 122 are formed by stitched seams 125, 126 and
127 and the lower sides of the pockets 130, 131 and 132 are formed
by stitched seams 135, 136 and 137. The right ends of the pockets
120, 121 and 1~2, the left ends of the pockets 130, 131 and 132
and the outer sides of the ou~er pockets 122 and 132 are formed by
portions of a ~titched seam 139 extending around the entire
periphery of the garment. A double fold cotton ~ias tape 148 is
wrapped around the edge of the garmen~ and is stitched thereto by
' '~' ~'
9~
the seam 139 as seen in FIG. 14. The ~ape is wrapped around
only a single layer of fabric at the shoulders and at one side of
each of the front and rear panels.
Extending along the garment at the lef~ end of each of the
six pockets 120, 121 and 122 and at the right end of each poc~et
130, 131 and 132 are cooperating parts of elongated hook and
loop fasteners each comprising a hook strip 140 fastened together
with the edges of the fabric members 106 and 108 and the
reflective layers 114 and 115, respectively, by sti~ching. The
other part of each fastener is a loop s~rip 141 which is astened
to the fabric members 107 and 109 also by stitching. These ends
of the six pockets are closed by means of the cooperating
portions of the strips-140 and -141 which extend therealong. The
pocket closures formed by the stri.ps 140 and 141 are each
independently opened by graspiny edge portions of the panels 106
or 108 and the adjacent portions of panels 107 or 109,
respectively, and pulling them apart. At the ends of each pocket
opening there are bar-tacks 143 stitched through the entire
garment thickness for reinforcement.
The fabric members 107 and 109 are stitched together at the
shoulder seams 144 and 145. The edges of ~he two fabric members
at the neck opening are bound together by means o-f a ribbon
member 148a folded over the edges and stitched thereto as seen in
FIGS. 12 and 15. The ribbon 148a is a grosgrain ribbon of 100%
nylon which is extremely wear-resistant, will not shrink, will
not ~ray and is heat sealable at its ends when cut with a hot
knife before stitching it in place.
19
,5
~2~96
To keep the cos~ of this embodiment down, there is much less
stitching than in the preferred embodiment. The fabric members
may be made of cotton duck of 7 or 11 ounce weight, of low
porosity, high moisture absorption, and soft hand. The
insulation may be a closed cell foam about 3/16 inch thick of
ethylene ~inyl acetate which has low density, is soft, strong,
non-absorptive and does not crack at expected operating
temperatures. Its K factor is 0.25. The insulating material is
cut into batts which are placed in the envelopes during stitching
of the garment. Preferably they are of the largest uniform size
which can be inserted into the envelopes. The reflecting layer
115 may be a perforated aluminized plastic material. Since the
reflective material 115 covers ~ost of the front and rear face of
the garment, its porosity is particularly suitable for use in an
environment of low humidity where the need to get rid of
perspiration within the garment is of more concern than
eliminating condensation from the external environment on the
refrigerated packets. The re~lective material must have
sufficient body and strength to permit it to be readily stitched
and retained with the other layers of the garment.
The garment is held in place when worn by a person by means
of an elastic belt. The belt compxises two wide elastic strips
150 and 151 which are fastened by stitching at the areas 152 and
153 at opposite sides of the rear panel of the garment. The
strips 150 and 151 are made expandable lengthwise by gathering
portions of fabric slee~es 150a and 151a along ~he length of
elastic members 156, the ends of which are stitched to the
~25~20~6
sleeves. One end of each of the sleeves 150a and 151a and of the
elastic members 156 are anchored in the peripheral seam 139. The
other ends of these sleeves can be fastened to the front garment
panel by means of cooperating hook strips 154 attached to the
ends of sleeves 150a and 151a and loop strips 58 and 59 extending
across the entire front of the front panel 104. The loop strip
158 is stitched on top of panel 107 between the seam 139 and the
adjacent loop strip 141. The other loop strip 159 is stitched in
place aroun~ its periphery to overlie the pocket 121, extending
near the center and along the length thereof to the seam 139 at
the edge of the fabric member 106. To position the garment for
use on a person, the neck opening is slipped over the head and
the belt portions are slightly tensioned by pulling on the ends
15~a and 155a of the sleeves 150a and 151a and fastening the hook
strips 154 thereon by engaging the hooks with the loops on the
loop strips 158 and 159 on the front panel of the gar~.ent. The
l~ngths of the hook and loop strips 154, 158 and 159 together
with the elasticity of the strips 150 and 151 provide a very wide
range of adjustment of the belt so that one size of the garment
fit~ most workers. The heat dissipating layers of the garment
shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 are multi~sectioned packets 160 , each
made from a sleeve 161 of heat-sealable plastic containing a
plurality, preferably three, of sealed refreezable packs 163,
essentially like the heat dissipating layers of the preferred
embodiment.
Other variations within the scope o~ this invention will be
apparent ~rom the described embodiments and it is intended that
92~
che present descriptions be illustrative of the inventive
features encompassed by the appended claims.
.` 22
