Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
H0061988-CA
HEAT RELEASING GARMENT LINER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This disclosure relates to multi-layer garments, and in more particular
applications to
protective overcoats and jackets worn by firefighters and other emergency
responders, such as,
for example, multi-layer garments commonly referred to as "turn-out coats".
BACKGROUND
[0002] Over-garments that are worn to protect individuals from environmental
exposure are
often times comprised of multiple layers of various materials depending on the
type of adverse
conditions the garments are designed to protect against. Often such garments
are worn while
the persons are performing some type of vigorous physical activity, such as
work or sports,
which entail the use of highly developed motor skills being applied with a
great degree of
mental awareness.
[0003] Conventional multi-layer over-garments can moderately or even severely
limit a body's
core temperature rise through its usual methods of radiation, perspiration,
and evaporative
cooling of condensed perspiration. Heat from both the external environment and
the heat and
water vapor given off by the body (internal environment) can become trapped
within the layers
of a multi-layer garment so that even when the front closures of the garment
are opened or
partially loosened to release heat between the body and inner most layer of
the garment, the
heat trapped inside the layers and between the layers of the garment does not
easily escape.
This internally trapped heat and moisture vapor further reduces the
effectiveness of both the
garment and wearers' body to mitigate core temperature rise even after the
vigorous activity
portion of the wearer's work cycle is complete This is of particular concern
when the garments
are worn for extended periods of time, and during repeated sessions of
vigorous physical
exertion. A rise in body core temperature of just a few degrees further
exacerbates the efforts
of the wearer to accomplish the tasks intended. Elevated body core temperature
contributes to
adverse effects such as: dehydration from perspiration; reduced speed and
accuracy in making
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mental judgments; physical and mental fatigue; and reduction in fine motor
skills and reaction
times; and can result in heat prostration, heat stroke, heart attacks and
aneurisms/strokes.
[0004] The above concerns and issues are particularly important for
firefighters and other
emergency responders who utilize multi-layer garments as protective gear while
performing
physically demanding tasks, often in very high temperature environments. A
high percentage
of firefighter injuries and fatalities while operating at a fire ground scene
can be linked to heat
stress, whether it be the direct biological effect of heat to the body's
systems and/or impaired
judgment and decision making processes that begin almost immediately with very
little body
core temperature rise, all the way to the biological failure points such as
heat prostration, heat
stroke, heart attack, and aneurism/stroke.
SUMMARY
[0005] The disclosure describes multi-layer liners and multi-layer over-
garments with features
that allow thermal energy that is normally trapped within the layers of the
garment a direct
pathway to be expelled from the inside of the garment's innermost layer where
it can more
effectively circulate and dissipate the heat, and to be released more
effectively when the wearer
controls the venting of the garment by manipulation of the closures and other
devices
associated with the garment. The trapped heat load expelled from the garment
will be replaced
by both cooler and drier air from the exterior of the garment, which will have
a positive
physiological effect on comfort and body core temperature, as well as the
physical performance
of a wearer of the over-garment.
[0006] The design of the multi-layer garment/liner disclosed herein is based
on the ideas that:
(1) heat rises; and (2) when warmer air rises within a multi-layer
garment/liner and is expelled
from outlet vents in an upper/higher area of the garment/liner, the movement
of that air will
draw cooler and drier air in through inlet vents in a lower portion of the
garment/liner. In other
words, using the thermodynamic principles related to thermal gas expansion, a
direct heat
exchange can be accomplished within a heat exchange portion between two layers
of the
garment, all controllable by the wearer. The release of thermal energy from
the outlet vents
reduces the work the body of a wearer must do to cool itself and helps the
wearer maintain
lower body core temperatures for longer periods of time.
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[0007] In some embodiments, a multi-layer liner/garment is provided and
includes an inner
layer and an adjacent layer joined together around a periphery with a heat
trapping space
between the inner and adjacent layers. A plurality of inlet vents in the inner
layer are configured
to direct air from outside of the liner/garment into the heat trapping space.
The inlet vents are
located in a lower part of the liner/garment. A plurality of outlet vents in
the inner layer are
configured to direct air from the heat trapping space to outside of the
liner/garment. The outlet
vents are located in an upper part of the garment.
[0008] In some embodiments, the liner/garment can be selected from among: a
coat, a liner for
use in an outer shell of a coat, a pant, a liner for use in an outer shell of
a pant, a bib overall, a
liner for use in an outer shell of a bib overall, a jumpsuit/coverall, a liner
for use in an outer
shell of a jumpsuit/coverall, combinations thereof, and the like.
[0009] In some embodiments, a multi-layer liner is provided for use in an
outer shell of a coat
or jacket. The liner can include a torso portion configured to surround the
torso of a wearer and
a pair of sleeves extending from the torso covering portion and configured to
surround the arms
of the wearer. The liner can include an inner layer and an outer layer joined
together around a
periphery of the torso portion and around a distal end opening of each sleeve
with a heat
trapping space between the inner and outer layers extending over the torso
covering portion
and each sleeve. The periphery can include a bottom edge of the torso portion
and a neckline
of the torso portion. The liner can include a plurality of inlet vents in the
inner layer, the
plurality of vents configured to direct air from outside of the liner into the
heat trapping space.
The inlet vents can be located in a lower part of the torso portion adjacent
the bottom edge. The
liner can further include a plurality of outlet vents in the inner layer
configured to direct air
from the heat trapping space to outside of the liner. The outlet vents can be
located in an upper
part of the torso covering portion between the sleeves and beneath a neckline
of the liner.
[0010] In some embodiments, the inner layer can have a front configured to
extend over a front
of a torso of the wearer and a back configured to extend over a back of the
torso of the wearer.
The inlet and outlet vents can be located in only the front of the inner
layer, only the back of
the inner layer, a portion of the front of the inner layer and a portion of
the back of the inner
layer, in all of the back of the inner layer and only a portion of the front
of the inner layer, in
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all of the front of the inner layer and only a portion of the back of the
inner layer, or in both the
front and the back of the inner layer.
[0011] In some embodiments, the inlet vents can be located in the front and
the back of the
inner layer on either side of a median plane that divides the liner into a
left side and a right
side. In some embodiments, the outlet vents can be located in the front and
the back of the
inner layer on either side of the median plane.
[0012] According to some embodiments, at least one of the inlet vents and at
least one of the
outlet vents can be located in the left side of the front of the inner layer,
at least one of the inlet
vents and at least one of the outlet vents can be located in the right side of
the front of the inner
layer, at least one of the inlet vents and at least one of the outlet vents
can be located in the left
side of the back of the inner layer, and/or at least one of the inlet vents
and at least one of the
outlet vents can be located in the right side of the inner layer.
[0013] In some embodiments, the vents are located so that they are symmetric
about the median
plane. In some embodiments, there is substantially the same number of inlet
vents as outlet
vents. In some embodiments, the inlet vents outnumber the outlet vents. In
some
embodiments, the inlet vents and the outlet vents can have substantially the
same dimensions
with respect to diameter or surface area of the vent openings. In some
embodiments, the inlet
vents can have a larger dimension than the outlet vents.
[0014] In some embodiments, the multi-layer liner can include a second
plurality of inlet vents
in the inner liner, for example one or more pairs of the second plurality of
inlet vents. In some
embodiments, one or more of the plurality of additional inlet vents can be
located in a first one
of the sleeves and another one or more of the plurality of additional inlet
vents can be located
in a second one of the sleeves. In embodiments in which the multi-layer
garment is for pants,
one or more of the plurality of additional inlet vents can be located in a
first one of a pair of
pant legs and another one or more of the plurality of additional inlet vents
can be located in a
second one of the pair of pant legs.
[0015] According to some embodiments, each sleeve can include an underarm
bellows located
between the torso covering portion and the inlet vent in the sleeve.
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[0016] In some embodiments, the liner can include a face cloth quilted to a
thermal layer, the
thermal layer at least partially defining the heat trapping space, e.g.,
positioned facing away
from the wearer.
[0017] In some embodiments, each vent can include an opening formed in the
inner layer, and
a backup panel located on a side of the inner layer facing the heat trapping
space overlaying
the opening.
[0018] According to some embodiments, each of the openings can have an
elongate rectangular
perimeter.
[0019] In some embodiments, the perimeter of each opening can be defined by a
welt.
[0020] In some embodiments, each backup panel can have a trapezoidal-shaped
perimeter.
[0021] According to some embodiments, each backup panel can include a face
cloth quilted to
a thermal layer.
[0022] In some embodiments, a plurality of elongated spacer strips can be
located in the heat
trapping space. In some embodiments, the spacer strips can be arranged to
direct an airflow
from the inlet vents toward the outlet vents. In some embodiments, the spacer
strips can be
fixed to the inner layer.
[0023] Other features and advantages will become apparent from a review of the
entire
specification, including the appended claims and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a multi-layer liner according to
this disclosure for
use in an outer shell of a coat or jacket, with the liner turned inside-out
for purposes of
illustration to better expose the inner layer of the liner;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a back elevation view of the liner of FIG. 1, again with the
liner turned inside-
out;
[0026] FIG. 3 is an enlarged diagrammatic section view taken from line 3-3 in
FIG. 1;
[0027] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the inner layer of the liner prior to the
inner layer being joined
to an outer layer of the liner;
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[0028] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a vent in the inner layer shown in FIG.
4;
[0029] FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but showing an opposite side of the
inner layer and
vent;
[0030] FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing another embodiment of
the multi-layer
liner according to this disclosure;
[0031] FIG. 8 is a back view of the multi-layer liner of FIG. 7; and
[0032] FIG. 9 is a front view of the multi-layer liner of FIGS. 7 and 8 as
installed in the outer
shell of a firefighters turn-out coat.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0033] Garments and liners for garments are disclosed generally herein, and
particularly, liners
having a heat trapping space between two layers of the liner and inlet/outlet
vents configured
to vent out hotter, more humid air from inside the garment and draw in cooler,
drier air from
outside the garment.
[0034] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a multi-layer garment is shown in the
form of a multi-
layer liner 10 provided for use in an outer shell of a coat or jacket, with
the illustrated liner 10
being particularly adapted for use in the outer shell of a "turn-out coat"
used by firefighters and
other emergency responders. The liner 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown "inside-
out" so that the
surface 12 of the liner 10 that would be facing a wearer can be seen. In the
illustrated
embodiment, the surface 12 is provided in the form of a "facecloth", as is
commonly employed
in multi-layer liners for turn-out coats worn by firefighters and other
emergency responders.
The liner 10 has a torso portion 14 configured to surround the torso of a
wearer and a pair of
sleeves 16 extending from the torso portion 14 to surround the arms of a
wearer. In the
illustrated embodiment, each of the sleeves 16 include underarm bellows 17,
which is a
significant oversizing of the sleeve in the area of the sleeve that would
surround at least a
portion of the armpit, bicep, and tricep of a wearer in order to provide a
wearer increased
freedom of movement of their body while minimizing corresponding movement of
the ends of
the sleeve (cuffs) with respect to the wrists of the moving wearer.
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100351 As shown in FIG. 3, the liner 10 includes an inner layer 18 and an
outer layer 20, both
of which extend over the entirety of the torso portion 14 and sleeves 16. In
the illustrated
embodiment, the inner layer 18 includes the facecloth 12 and an insulating
layer, shown
diagrammatically at 22 in FIG. 3, which is quilted to the facecloth 12. The
outer layer 20 is
provided in the form of a moisture barrier that includes a substrate, shown
diagrammatically at
24 in FIG. 3, which faces away from a wearer and a film, shown
diagrammatically at 26, that
faces toward this inner layer 18. The torso portion 14 has a front 28 shown in
FIG. 1 configured
to extend over a front of a torso of a wearer, and a back 30 shown in FIG. 2
configured to
extend over the back of the torso of a wearer. Both the inner layer 18 and the
outer layer 20
extend over the entirety of both sleeves 16 and the torso portion 14, and
accordingly, both the
inner and outer layers 18 and 20 have a torso portion 14 with a front 28 and a
back 30, and a
pair of sleeves 16.
100361 In some embodiments, the inner and outer layers 18 and 20 can be joined
together by
stitched seams around a periphery 32 of the torso portion 14 and around distal
end
openings/cuff openings 34 of each sleeve 16, with a heat trapping space 36
(e.g., as shown in
FIG. 3) between the inner and outer layers 18 and 20 extending over the torso
covering portion
14 and each sleeve 16. The periphery 32 includes a bottommost edge 40 of the
torso portion
14, a neckline 42 of the torso portion 14, and in the illustrated embodiment,
an elongate central
opening 44 extending over the height of the torso portion 14 to allow the
wearer to more easily
don and doff the liner 10. It should be understood that the heat trapping
space 36 extends from
each sleeve into the torso portion 14 and that the inner layer 18 and outer
layer 20 are not or
not necessarily joined together at the location where the sleeves 16 are
connected to the torso
portion 14. In this regard, the sleeves 16 of the inner layer 18 can be
attached to the torso
covering portion 14 of the inner layer 18, and the sleeves 16 of the outer
layer 20 can be
attached to the torso covering portion 14 of the outer layer 20.
100371 The liner 10 can further include a plurality of inlet vents 50 in the
inner layer 18, the
plurality of inlet vents 50 configured to direct air from outside of the liner
10 into the heat
trapping space 36. The plurality of inlet vents 50 can be located in any
suitable location of the
liner 10, e.g., in a lower part of the torso covering portion 14, adjacent the
bottom edge 40. In
the illustrated embodiment, for example, an inlet vent 50 is also provided in
each of the sleeves
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16. The liner 10 can also include a plurality of outlet vents 52 in the inner
layer 18, the plurality
of outlet vents 52 configured to direct air from the heat trapping space 36 to
outside of the liner
10. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the outlet vents 52 are
located in an upper part
of the torso covering portion 14, between the sleeves 16 and beneath the
neckline of the liner
10, however the plurality of outlet vents 52 can be located in any suitable
positon on the liner
10.
[0038] In the illustrated embodiment, the vents 50 and 52 are located/
arranged so that they are
approximately symmetric about a meridian plane, shown schematically by line
54, that divides
the liner 10 into a left side 56 and a right side 58. In this regard, the
inlet vents 50 in each sleeve
16 are located in the identical location in each sleeve 16, one inlet vent 50
and one outlet vent
52 are provided on the right side 58 of the front 28 of the inner layer 18, an
inlet vent 50 and
an outlet vent 52 are provided of the left side 56 of the front 28 of the
inner layer 18, an inlet
vent 50 and an outlet vent 52 are provided on the right side 58 of the back 30
of the inner layer
18, and an inlet vent 50 and an outlet vent 52 are provided on the left side
56 of the back 30 of
the inner layer 18.
[0039] Other configurations of the vents 50 and 52 are possible, and in some
embodiments,
may be preferable. For instance, the primary orientation of the garment/liner
may relate to the
specific application of use and use environment for the garment/liner. By way
of example only,
if the primary orientation of the garment is with the neckline of the liner 10
facing "up" and
the bottom edge of the torso covering portion facing "down," then the
illustrated configuration
of the vents 50 and 52 with respect to the thermodynamic venting of expanding
hot gas from
the garment/liner 10 may be sufficient. However, if the primary orientation
was such that the
sleeves 16 are facing "up" and "down" due to a horizontal primary application
or wearer
orientation during use, then alternative placement of the vents 50 and 52
would likely be
needed to achieve the thermodynamics of expanding gases necessary to cool the
wearer during
use of the garment/liner. Therefore, the location, number, size, and other
characteristics of the
vents 50 and 52 are provided herein for illustrative purposes only for a
select subset of possible
embodiments, and one of skill in the art will readily understand based on the
above alternative
embodiment, that many other configurations and dimensions are possible.
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[0040] As seen in FIGS. 3-5, each of the vents 50 and 52 can include an
opening 60 formed in
the inner layer 18 and a backup panel 62 that overlays the opening 60 and is
located on the side
of the inner layer 18 facing the heat trapping space 36. In the illustrated
embodiment, each of
the openings 60 has an elongate rectangular perimeter 64 that is defined by a
welt or other
suitable edge hem. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, the opening 60 of the inlet
vents 50 in the
front 28 and back 30 of the inner layer 18 are elongate in a horizontal
direction, while the
openings 60 of the inlet vents 50 in the sleeves 16 are elongated
approximately parallel to the
end of the sleeves 16. The elongate length of the openings 60 of the outlet
vents 52 in the front
28 of the inner layer 18 are arranged at an acute angle relative to each
other, and the elongate
length of the opening 60 of the outlet vents 52 in the back 30 are also
arranged at an acute angle
relative to each other. Unexpectedly, it has been found that this particular
arrangement of the
openings 60 provides a significant increase in air flow through the vents 50
and 52 and into
and out of the heat trapping space 36.
[0041] The vents 50 and 52 on the embodiment of the liner 10 shown in FIGS. 7-
9 are also
similarly arranged, with the exception that the outlet vent 52 in the back 30
of the inner layer
18 is arranged so that the elongate length of the opening 60 runs in a
horizontal direction. In
the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6, each of the backup panels 62 has a
trapezoidal-shaped
perimeter 66 with the shorter base of the trapezoid being located adjacent the
opening 60 and
the larger base of the trapezoid being spaced from the opening 60. The
diagonal legs of the
trapezoidal perimeter 66 are fixed to the inner layer 18 by any suitable
means, which will
typically be a line of stitching 68.
[0042] In some applications, it may be also desirable for the shorter base of
the trapezoidal
perimeter 66 to also be fixed to the inner layer 18 by suitable means, which
again will typically
be a line of stitching. Unexpectedly, it has been determined that the
trapezoidal shape of the
back panel 62 improves the distribution of the air from the inlet vents 50
into the heat trapping
space 36 and improves the exhaustion of the air from the heat trapping space
36 via the outlet
vents 52. As illustrated by the lines of stitching 68 in FIGS. 7-9, the
embodiment of the liner
shown in FIGS. 7-9 utilizes backup panels 62 that have rectangular-shaped
perimeters,
rather than trapezoidal-shaped.
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[0043] Each of the backup panels 62 overlays the opening 60 of the
corresponding vents 50
and 52 on the insulating layer side of the inner layer 18 so that the liner 10
still provides the
required protection/protective qualities that would otherwise be inhibited or
reduced by the
opening 60. In some embodiments, each of the back panels 62 can utilize the
same material
and construction as the inner layer 18, with each backup panel having a
facecloth 12 that is
quilted to a thermal layer 22, e.g., as seen in FIG. 3.
[0044] It should be understood that the structure of the vent 50 shown in FIG.
3 can be
consistent with the structure of the other vents 50 and 52 discussed in this
disclosure.
[0045] The liner 10 can also include elongate spacer strips, shown
diagrammatically by dashed
lines 70 in FIG. 4, that are located in areas of the liner 10 that might be
compressed by
equipment utilized by the wearer, such as the shoulder straps of a self-
contained breathing
apparatus (SCBA), and/or areas where the outer layer 20 may be pressed against
the inner layer
18. Advantageously and unexpectedly, it was found that such spacer strips 70,
if carefully
dimensioned, configured, and positioned in the heat trapping space 36 in a
particular manner,
can increase the communication of an air flow from the inlet vents 50 toward
the outlet vents
52, and more specifically, from the exit of a backup panel 62 of an inlet vent
50 to the inlet of
a backup panel 62 of an outlet vent 52, as illustrated by the dashed lines 70
in FIG. 4. Some
alternative dimensions, configurations, and positions for the inlet vents 50,
outlet vents 52, and
spacer strips 70 did not exhibit the advantages described herein, while other
configurations
provided a similar or slightly reduced benefit in terms of air flow.
[0046] The liner 10 can utilize any suitable materials for the inner and outer
layers 18 and 20,
and the backup panels 62. For instance, the materials utilized for the liner
10, including the
inner layer 18, the outer layer 20, and the backup panels 62, can include any
of the materials
typically used for liners in firefighter turn-out coats.
[0047] When it is favorable/advisable to stop the air flow, such as during
interior firefighting
or subzero physical activities in cold weather, it can be advantageous to be
able to close or
partially close the vents 50 and 52. Thus, in some embodiments, the
garment/liner 10 can
include take-up straps and/or a waist belt on, or exterior to, the
garment/liner 10 to block the
lower liner vents 50. In some embodiments, conversely, a garment/liner 10
front closure and
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a collar closure can be configured to stop the expelling/exchange process too.
In other words,
the inlet vents 50 can be blocked or closed by straps or a belt and the outlet
vents 52 can be
blocked or closed by tightening the jacket about portions of the wearers body,
e.g., by
tightening the neckline about the wearer's neck, by tightening the torso
covering portion about
the wearer's torso and/or by tightening the bottom edge about the wearer's
waist. However,
blocking or closing the vents 50 and 52, which may slow or stop the heat
exchange and air flow
processes with the outside atmosphere, does not fully eliminate all of the
benefits. Even closed,
the vents 50 and 52 will facilitate increased internal circulation of the air
that is now trapped
between the wearer and garment/liner 10, as well as the air and thermal energy
within or
between the layers of the garment/liner 10.
[0048] It should be understood that while this disclosure uses firefighting
garments as one
desirable example, the features disclosed herein can find use in any multi-
layer over-garment,
including coats, pants, bib overalls, jumpsuits, or the like. In many but not
all applications, it
will be desirable that there be one or more outlet vents 52 placed high up on
the garments' inner
layers/liner, and at least one or more inlet vents 50 place down low near the
hem of the
garments' inner layers/liner.
[0049] As used herein, a "vent" is defined as any opening or device that
allows for much higher
air flow than provided for by the base material itself (the material of the
inner layer 18 in which
the vent is located). In most applications, it will be desirable for the
opening 60 to have a
backup panel 62 or other mechanism that provides an equal level of protective
value as the
base material itself without the opening 60. The backup panel material used to
provide the
equal or greater level of protective value can be identical or dissimilar to
the base material,
comprised of woven, knit, mesh, batting, or any combination of such materials.
[0050] To maximize the amount of air circulation, the width and length of each
opening 60
should be as large as practical for each location, and where the possibility
any gaps in the
protective value of the liner 10 may occur a backup panel or mechanism of
equal or greater
protection should be provided to eliminate any gap in protective value.
[0051] Unlike currently available garments and liners, the garments and liners
disclosed herein
allow trapped heat within the garment layers to escape while at the same time
ensuring the
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overall integrity of the protective envelop. For applications and embodiments
for which the
garment/liner 10 will serve a primarily protective function, e.g., for
firefighter's jackets, it is
important that the inclusion of vents 50 and 52 not diminish the protective
ability of the
garment/liner 10. Thus, in addition to the surprising increases in air flow
stemming from the
dimensions, configurations, and positions of vents in many of the embodiments
described
herein, many embodiments of the garment/liner 10 include features specifically
suited to
facilitate enhanced protection of the wearer. For instance, in some
embodiments, the offset
placement of the vents 50 and 52 is not important solely because of the
thermodynamics of hot
air rising through the garment/liner 10 layers and drawing cooler air into the
garment/liner 10,
but is also important because it disallows direct interaction with the wearer
and hazardous
environments. Further, in some embodiments, the backup panel 62 and the
stiching at the vent
openings can result in a vent opening that remains substantially abutted
(flush) against the
backup panel 62, meaning debris, dust, embers, dirt, and other undesirable
contaminants and
materials remain outside the garment/liner 10 while air readily enters through
the vent opening..
The vent features are inexpensive and easy to manufacture, can use the same
materials that a
garment is already made from, can utilize the same automated equipment as
already utilized in
current production, and is so effective that a wearer can actually "feel" it
working.
[0052] Prototypes of the liner 10 have shown that a wearer can actually feel
the movement of
air through the vents 50 and 52 and into and out of the heat trapping space
36. Surprisingly, it
has also been discovered that the movement of the wearer's arms relative to
the wearer's torso
during normal use of the liner 10 creates a "pumping" action that increases
the flow of air
through the vents 50 and 52 and into and out of the heat trapping space 36.
Without wishing to
be bound by any particular theory, it is believed this "pumping" action may be
enhanced further
by the inclusion of the underarm bellows 17 in the liner 10. In use, after
undergoing a cycle of
heavy physical exertion while wearing a multi-layer garment/liner 10, a wearer
can open up
the outer shell of the garment at the neckline and via the front opening of
the outer shell and
can loosen any belts or other straps of equipment that is being utilized by
the wearer in order
to further increase the air flow through the vents 50 and 52. Intermittent
loosing of the garment
at the neckline and the front opening of the outer shell and loosening of any
belts or other straps
of equipment, significantly improves the micro-climate within the multi-layer
garment/liner 10
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during the next period of time when the wearer must close and tighten all of
the openings of
the outer shell of the garment in order for the garment to provide adequate
protection in a
hazardous environment.
[0053] The following are examples of the subject matter that can be claimed by
this disclosure.
It should be understood that the following does not in any way limit the
subject matter that may
be claimed in connection with this disclosure.
[0054] In some embodiments, a multi-layer liner 10 for use in an outer shell
of a coat or jacket
can include a torso portion 14 configured to at least partially surround the
torso of a wearer and
a pair of sleeves 16 extending from the torso covering portion and configured
to at least
partially surround the arms of a wearer. In some embodiments, the multi-layer
line 10 can
further include an inner layer 18 and an outer layer 20. In some embodiments,
the inner layer
18 and the outer layer 20 can be joined together around a periphery 32 of the
torso portion 14
and around a distal end opening 60 of each sleeve with a heat trapping space
36 between the
inner and outer layers 18 and 20 extending over the torso covering portion 14
and each sleeve
16. In some embodiments, the periphery 32 can define or include a bottom edge
of the torso
portion 14 and a neckline of the torso portion 14.
[0055] In some embodiments, the multi-layer liner 10 can include means for
venting hot air
from the heat trapping space 36. In some embodiments, a plurality of inlet
vents 50 can be
defined in the inner layer 18. In some embodiments, the plurality of inlet
vents 50 can be
configured to direct air from outside of the liner 10 into the heat trapping
space 36. In some
embodiments, the inlet vents 50 can be located in a lower part of the torso
covering portion
adjacent the bottom edge.
[0056] In some embodiments, a plurality of outlet vents 52 in the inner layer
18 configured to
direct air from the heat trapping space 36 to outside of the liner 10, the
outlet vents 52 located
in an upper part of the torso covering portion between the sleeves 16 and
beneath a neckline of
the liner 10.
[0057] In some embodiments, the inner layer 18 can have a front configured to
extend over at
least a portion of a front of a torso of a wearer and a back configured to
extend over at least a
portion of the back of the torso of the wearer, and the inlet and outlet vents
52 are located in
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both the front and the back of the inner layer 18. In some embodiments, the
inlet vents 50 can
be located in the front and the back of the inner layer 18 on either side of a
median plane that
divides the liner 10 into a left side 56 and a right side 58. In some
embodiments, the outlet
vents 52 can be located in the front and the back of the inner layer 18 on
either side of the
median plane. In some embodiments, at least one of the inlet vents 50 and at
least one of the
outlet vents 52 can be located in the left side 56 of the front of the inner
layer 18. In some
embodiments, at least one of the inlet vents 50 and at least one of the outlet
vents 52 can be
located in the right side 58 of the front of the inner layer 18. In some
embodiments, at least
one of the inlet vents 50 and at least one of the outlet vents 52 can be
located in the left side 56
of the back of the inner layer 18. In some embodiments, at least one of the
inlet vents 50 and
at least one of the outlet vents 52 can be located in the right side 58 of the
inner layer 18. In
some embodiments, the vents can be located so that they are symmetric about
the median plane.
[0058] In some embodiments, the liner 10 can include additional vents, such as
a pair of
additional inlet vents 50 in the inner liner 10. In some embodiments, the
liner 10 can include
a first pair of additional inlet vents 50 located in one of the sleeves 16 and
a second pair of
additional inlet vents 50 located in the other of the sleeves 16. In some
embodiments, at least
one sleeve can include underarm bellows located between the torso covering
portion 14 and
the inlet vent 50 in the sleeve 16.
[0059] In some alternative embodiments, a garment can include a multi-layer
liner. In some
embodiments, the multi-layer liner can include an inner layer 18 and an
adjacent layer joined
together around a periphery 32 with a heat trapping space 36 between the inner
and adjacent
layers. In some embodiments, the multi-layer liner can include a plurality of
inlet vents 50 in
the inner layer 18 configured to direct air from outside of the liner/garment
into the heat
trapping space 36. In some embodiments, the inlet vents 50 can be located in a
lower part of
the liner/garment. In some embodiments, the multi-layer liner can include a
plurality of outlet
vents 52 in the inner layer 18 configured to direct air from the heat trapping
space 36 to outside
of the liner/garment. In some embodiments, the outlet vents 52 can be located
in an upper part
of the garment.
[0060] In some embodiments, the garment can be at least one of a coat, a liner
10 for use in an
outer shell of a coat, a pant, a liner 10 for use in an outer shell of a pant,
a bib overall, a liner
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for use in an outer shell of a bib overall, a jumpsuit/coverall, and/or a
liner 10 for use in an
outer shell of a jumpsuit/coverall. In some embodiments, the liner 10 can
include a face cloth
quilted to a thermal layer, the thermal layer facing the heat trapping space
36.
[0061] In some embodiments, vents, as described herein, can include an opening
60 formed in
the inner layer 18 and a backup panel overlaying the opening 60 and located on
a side of the
inner layer 18 facing the heat trapping space 36. In some embodiments, one or
more of the
openings 60 can have an elongate rectangular perimeter. In some embodiments,
one or more
of the openings 60 can be defined by a welt. In some embodiments, the backup
panel can
include a trapezoidal-shaped perimeter. In some embodiments, the backup panel
can include
a face cloth quilted to a thermal layer.
[0062] In some embodiments, the liner 10 can include a plurality of elongate
spacer strips
located in the heat trapping space 36. In some embodiments, the spacer strips
can be arranged
to direct an airflow from the inlet vents 50 toward the outlet vents 52. In
some embodiments,
the spacer strips can be fixed to the inner layer 18.
[0063] While various inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated
herein, those
of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means
and/or structures for
performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the
advantages
described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed
to be within the
scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, those
skilled in the art
will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and
configurations described
herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions,
materials, and/or
configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for
which the inventive
teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize many
equivalents to the specific
inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood
that the foregoing
embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of
the appended
claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced
otherwise than as
specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present
disclosure are
directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or
method described
herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems,
articles, materials,
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kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits,
and/or methods are not
mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present
disclosure.
[0064] All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to
control over
dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference,
and/or ordinary
meanings of the defined terms.
[0065] The indefinite articles "a" and "an," as used herein in the
specification and in the claims,
unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean "at
least one." Any
ranges cited herein are inclusive of all values and subranges therewithin.
[0066] The terms "substantially" and "about" used throughout this
Specification are used to
describe and account for small fluctuations. For example, they may refer to
less than or equal
to +5%, such as less than or equal to +2%, such as less than or equal to +1%,
such as less than
or equal to +0.5%, such as less than or equal to +0.2%, such as less than or
equal to +0.1%,
such as less than or equal to +0.05%.
[0067] The phrase "and/or," as used herein in the specification and in the
claims, should be
understood to mean "either or both" of the elements so conjoined, i.e.,
elements that are
conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases.
Multiple elements
listed with "and/or" should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., "one or
more" of the elements
so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements
specifically
identified by the "and/or" clause, whether related or unrelated to those
elements specifically
identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to "A and/or B", when
used in
conjunction with open-ended language such as "comprising" may refer, in some
embodiments,
to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in some embodiments,
to B only
(optionally including elements other than A); in yet some embodiments, to both
A and B
(optionally including other elements); etc.
[0068] As used herein in the specification and in the claims, "or" should be
understood to have
the same meaning as "and/or" as defined above. For example, when separating
items in a list,
"or" or "and/or" shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion
of at least one, but
also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and,
optionally, additional
unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as "only
one of" or "exactly
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one of," or, when used in the claims, "consisting of," will refer to the
inclusion of exactly one
element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term "or" as used
herein shall only be
interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. "one or the other but
not both") when
preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as "either," "one of," "only one of,"
or "exactly one of."
"Consisting essentially of," when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary
meaning as used
in the field of patent law.
[0069] As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase "at
least one," in
reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at
least one element
selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not
necessarily
including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within
the list of elements
and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This
definition also
allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements
specifically identified
within the list of elements to which the phrase "at least one" refers, whether
related or unrelated
to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example,
"at least one of A
and B" (or, equivalently, "at least one of A or B," or, equivalently "at least
one of A and/or B")
may refer, in some embodiments, to at least one, optionally including more
than one, A, with
no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in some
embodiments, to at
least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and
optionally including
elements other than A); in yet some embodiments, to at least one, optionally
including more
than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and
optionally including
other elements); etc.
[0070] In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional
phrases such as
"comprising," "including," "carrying," "having," "containing," "involving,"
"holding,"
"composed of," and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to
mean including but
not limited to. Only the transitional phrases "consisting of' and "consisting
essentially of'
shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, as set
forth in the United States
Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures, Section 2111.03.
[0071] The claims should not be read as limited to the described order or
elements unless stated
to that effect. It should be understood that various changes in form and
detail may be made by
one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope
of the appended
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claims. All embodiments that come within the spirit and scope of the following
claims and
equivalents thereto are claimed.
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