| Convectively ventilated garments having protective shield layers -> Monitor Keywords |
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Convectively ventilated garments having protective shield layersRelated Patent Categories: Apparel, Body GarmentsConvectively ventilated garments having protective shield layers description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20050273903, Convectively ventilated garments having protective shield layers. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The invention relates to ventilated garments adapted to be worn as an article of clothing on the upper and/or lower body of a wearer, and particularly relates to such garments having a protective shield layer therein for protecting exposed areas of the wearer's body against inclement weather conditions while also permitting the cooling of the body by natural convection. [0003] 2. Review of the Related Art [0004] Those whom enjoy the outdoors are becoming increasingly concerned about the damaging effects of exposure to excess heat and ultraviolet radiation, i.e., sunlight upon human skin. It has been found that overexposing the skin to solar rays to the extent of causing sunburn increases the likelihood of developing skin cancer, especially deadly melanoma. In fact, subjecting the skin to even one blistering sunburn before the age of twenty can double a person's chances of developing melanoma later in life. [0005] Not only does overexposure to sunlight increase the likelihood of skin cancer, it also causes premature aging of the skin. Years of even moderate exposure to the sun take their toll on the skin in the form of premature wrinkling and dry, leathery skin. [0006] Recently, people have become more conscious of the deleterious effects of overexposure to solar rays and have begun to apply various protective preparations, especially sun block lotions containing para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), to their skins before exposure to the sun. As an alternative, many people customarily wear eyewear such as sunshades or wide brimmed hats or swathe their bodies in protective clothing. [0007] Moreover, discomfort in hot weather is caused at least as much by high humidity as by high temperatures. For example, since human beings are warm-blooded, our bodies maintain an essentially constant internal temperature, even when exposed to extreme temperatures. To keep the body temperature within its naturally safe zone, it must be able to cool itself when it becomes too hot. The brain accomplishes this by varying the rate and the amount of blood circulated throughout the body, which causes blood circulation closer to the skin to facilitate excess heat to evaporate. If the body's heat loss is not sufficient, the brain activates the sweat glands to produce perspiration on the skin. The body is caused to cool down by evaporation of the sweat. However, if the outside temperature reaches or exceeds the normal skin temperature, it becomes more difficult for the perspiration on the skin to evaporate, and thus, for the body to effectively cool itself. The same process occurs during high levels of humidity. If the body cannot cool itself sufficiently, serious heat illnesses such as heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, etc. can occur. [0008] Nevertheless, due to an increased concern over exposure to ultraviolet radiation, more people are wearing garments that cover a majority of the body. However, in order for the apparel to adequately protect the wearer's skin, it must be made of more tightly woven fabrics than are usually worn in hot weather. While garments such as long-sleeve, half-sleeve or short-sleeve shirts, in addition to sweaters, jackets, short pants, trousers and the like adequately protect the skin if tightly woven, the clothing cuts back on the breathing ability of the fabric and thereby prevents the entry of cool ambient air. Furthermore, such garments tend to constrict movement of the wearer and is consequently unsuitable while engaging in outdoor activities such as biking, hiking, fishing, climbing, running, skating, golfing, etc. [0009] Accordingly, there is a need for garments such as shirts, sweaters, jackets, short pants, trousers and the like, that are adaptable to shield the body of the wearer from inclement weather conditions, i.e., ultraviolet radiation, wind, rain, snow, etc. Such garments may also be comfortable to wear when exposed to sunlight and even while engaging in outdoor activities such as biking, hiking, fishing, climbing, running, skating, golfing, etc. There is particularly a need for such garments to also incorporate a system of convective air circulation that offers the wearer protection against excessive heat and/or moisture buildup. [0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,256 to Rudman, the present inventor, discloses ventilated garments that enable convective air movements to occur close to the wearer's skin, for removing body heat and moisture and for introducing cooler and drier air inside the garments. Such garments are sufficiently woven so as to block harmful sunlight, but are also ventilated to remove heat from the body of the wearer by way of convection. [0011] However, due to the inability of the mesh fabric to block ultraviolet radiation, wearers of such garments are susceptible to extreme sunburn as a result of excess exposure to ultraviolet radiation to exposed areas of the body that are unprotected, such as the opening at the top portion of the shoulders. The wearer may also be exposed to other undesirable inclement weather conditions such as wind, rain, snow, etc. [0012] Accordingly, there is presently a need to provide shield-like protection within carefully situated seamed openings of garments such as shirts, sweaters, jackets, short pants, trousers and the like while also permitting a system of cooling the body of a wearer by way of convection. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0013] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide garments such as shirts, sweaters, jackets, short pants, dresses, skirts, trousers and the like that offer with adequate protection against excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation, wind, rain, snow, etc. [0014] It is another object of the invention to offer such garments that are adaptable to cool the body of the wearer by way of natural convection. [0015] In accordance with these objects and the principles of the invention, provided herein is a ventilated garment adapted to form an interior space which receives and covers the body of a wearer, the ventilated garment including (a) an air inlet section positioned at a lower region of the ventilated garment, the air inlet section being configured to facilitate the circulation of a flow of ambient air into the interior space of the ventilated garment to facilitate the cooling of the body of the wearer by natural convection; (b) an air outlet section positioned at a point higher than the air inlet section at an upper region of the ventilated garment, the air outlet section being configured to facilitate the exit of essentially warm air from the interior space of the ventilated garment; and (c) a protective shield layer for placement adjacent to at least one of the air inlet section and the air outlet section for shielding exposed areas of the body of the wearer against various weather conditions. [0016] Another aspect of the invention includes a ventilated garment adapted to form an interior space which receives and covers the body of a wearer, the ventilated garment having a pair of lower air inlets configured to facilitate the entry of a stream of ambient air into the interior space layer; a pair of upper air outlets positioned at a point higher than the lower air inlets for facilitating the exit of a stream of essentially warm air from the interior space; and a protective shield layer for placement adjacent to the upper air outlets for shielding exposed areas of the wearer's body from ultraviolet radiation, snow, wind and rain. [0017] In accordance with each aspect of the invention, the body is continuously cooled by way of natural convective air currents cooling the body as a result of the ambient air received from the lower air inlets contacting the body to absorb heat therefrom, the air thereby increasing in temperature and rising upwardly within the interior space to absorb additional heat as it becomes less dense, the essentially warm air being replaced by an entry of fresh, ambient air at the lower air inlets. [0018] In yet another aspect of the invention is a ventilated garment adapted to form an interior space for receiving and covering the body of a wearer, the ventilated garment including a plurality of lower air inlets and a plurality of upper air outlets, at least one of the upper air outlets having a protective shield layer for shielding exposed areas of the wearer's body against various weather conditions. In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the air inlets are positioned relative to the air outlets to create a natural convective cooling effect within the interior space of the ventilated garment. [0019] Each seamed opening has attached thereto a panel of mesh fabric. The panel of mesh fabric is preferably composed of a tightly woven fabric having a pair of pleats formed therein which result in a plurality of bends when the ventilated sections are selectively placed in an open position. These bends, straddling the protective shield, create an enhanced distance between the skin of the wearer and the doubled-back portion and between the skin of the wearer and the fastener tape on each side of the protective shield, whereby additional cross-sectional area is available for convective air circulation. [0020] The protective shield layer may be positioned beneath each air inlet section and/or the air outlet section to protect exposed areas of the skin of the wearer against inclement weather conditions, e.g., ultraviolet radiation, wind, rain, snow, etc., when the air inlet section and/or the air outlet section is placed in the open position. Alternatively or additionally, a protective shield layer may be positioned vertically above the air inlet section and/or the air outlet section to reduce exposure of exposed areas of the wearer's skin to inclement weather conditions when each one of the air inlet and outlet sections is placed in its respective open position. [0021] The mesh fabric has a plurality of small openings, apertures or holes to facilitate the free flow of air into and out of the ventilated garment. Moreover, the relative location of the air inlet sections and the air outlet sections enables convective air currents to rise upwardly within the interior space of the garment to escape therefrom at the upper air outlet(s), thereby carrying away heat, while fresh cool air enters the garment at the lower air inlet sections. [0022] Both the lower air inlet sections and the upper air outlet sections may be selectively opened and closed using any suitable fastener known in the art, such as a zipper arrangement, a loop and button arrangement, a hook and loop arrangement (VELCRO.TM.), snaps, clasps, and a brooch and hooks arrangement. Selective use of any one of the fasteners enables selected amounts of cooler air to enter the air inlet sections and form convective currents within the garment that exit from the air outlet sections. When the fasteners are completely closed, the ventilated garment appears to be a conventionally styled garment. 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