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Ventilation vestRelated Patent Categories: Apparel, Guard Or Protector, Penetration ResistantVentilation vest description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070000001, Ventilation vest. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION DATA [0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/556,060, filed Mar. 25, 2004, similarly titled, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to a wearable garment capable of providing passive ventilation to a wearer such as when worn under an over-garment such as body armor. In at least one embodiment, the invention relates to a vest-type garment constructed from a three-dimensional, flexible honeycomb-like configured material. In at least one preferred embodiment, this invention relates to a garment having a predetermined thickness and memory thereof such that the garment is capable of maintaining an over-garment at a selected spatial distance from the body of the wearer. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Due to its effectiveness, use of body armor by military and law enforcement personnel has become increasingly common during recent years. In some cases, for example, body armor is part of the standard issue uniform and its use by law enforcement and military personnel may, in fact, be required in some circumstances. Although the use of such equipment provides important safety benefits, principally protection from gunfire, conventional body armor (e.g., bulletproof vests) are heavy and constructed from thick, non-breathable materials which are uncomfortable and/or do not allow the wearer's body to cool itself naturally (due to the inhibition of evaporation of perspiration). Compounding this problem it has been common in recent years for U.S. soldiers to be deployed to countries with high average temperatures and/or humidity (e.g., Afghanistan, Iraq). In such climates, the use of conventional body armor, combined with the wearing of backpacks and other equipment, subjects soldiers to risks related to high body temperatures such as heat exhaustion and/or heat casualties (in addition to simply being uncomfortable). As a result, despite the obvious safety benefits of body armor, it is not uncommon for a soldier or law enforcement officer, lulled into a false sense of security, to simply not wear the body armor at all in some scenarios. This, in turn, puts the soldier or police officer, for example, in substantial danger should ballistic-type conflict be encountered. [0004] In view of the above issues related to convention body armor, it would be advantageous if there were available a garment which could be worn in combination with body armor, which would decrease discomfort levels as well as aid in cooling the body for safety reasons. Addressing related problems in the art, various patents, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,515,543; 5,925,441; 6,473,910 and 6,526,862, have attempted to provide a garment which provides some measure of cooling or ventilation to the wearer. Nevertheless, known garments which have attempted to address such needs (such as described in the above-listed patents or otherwise), typically employ some mechanism to actively pump air to and from chambers of a garment, for example. For example, in order to provide active circulation or pumping functions, some prior art garments utilize a fan and associated power supply and, therefore, are more expensive and complicated to manufacture, as well as susceptible to failure during field use. Furthermore, such active-type garments, because of the components they employ, add significant weight which is extremely disadvantageous to a soldier, in particular, because of their already heavy pack loads. Known passive-type (i.e., non-power operated) garments, conversely, have typically utilized sealed air chambers through which no air circulation can take place or limit passive air circulation due to other structural drawbacks. [0005] In view of such issues related to cost, weight and reliability, it is contemplated that there is a need for a garment which does not suffer such drawbacks, but which when worn under body armor provides safety and comfort to the user. [0006] In view of the above enumerated drawbacks, it is apparent that there exists a need in the art for apparatus and/or methods which solve and/or ameliorate at least one of the above problems. It is a purpose of this invention to fulfill these needs in the art as well as other needs that will become more apparent to the skilled artisan once given the following disclosure. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] Generally speaking, this invention fulfills the above-described needs in the art by providing: [0008] A wearable garment capable of effecting passive ventilation when worn under an over-garment, said wearable garment comprising: [0009] a sheet of three-dimensional fabric configured as a torso covering garment, said sheet of three-dimensional fabric being constructed as a combination of layers including a top layer, a bottom layer, and a middle layer located in between and connecting said top and bottom layers; [0010] wherein said top, bottom, and middle layers each include a plurality of openings interconnected with openings in adjacent layers, said interconnection of openings thereby forming a plurality of air pathways interwoven throughout said wearable garment and through which air passively travels; and [0011] wherein at least said middle layer is comprised of a plurality of elements spatially separating and extending between said top and bottom layers, said elements having semi-rigid, semi-flexible characteristics. [0012] In at least one embodiment, passive air flow is possible through the garment in at least two dimensions of space, but more preferably, in three dimensions thereof. In such an embodiment or embodiments, the openings in the top and bottom layers extend between the top and bottom layers and may be joined to openings extending perpendicularly (or extending at some other angle or combination of angles predetermined or random) thereto. Such embodiments exhibit excellent passive air flow properties. [0013] In at least one further embodiment, the garment is substantially flexible such that it can be folded for storage or packing and/or so that it is comfortable to the wearer. [0014] In a still further embodiment, the middle portion elements have a memory such that if they are compressed by a force, the middle portion elements will return substantially to their original configuration when the force is removed. In some embodiments, this memory helps maintain the spacing between the top and bottom layers during extended use. [0015] In yet further alternative embodiments, the three-dimensional fabric or a portion thereof may be flame resistant or retardant or may offer protection from projectiles (alone or in combination with armor, for example) and/or may be melt resistant. [0016] In yet still further preferred embodiments, the wearable garment is configured in the form of a vest. In such embodiments, the vest may be manufactured (cut or formed) from a single piece of three-dimensional material. In other embodiments, the vest may be constructed from two or more separate pieces or cuts of material joined together by one or more of various means (conventional or otherwise). Moreover, when worn, the vest may be joined at the sides (loosely or securely as desired) via elastic straps, Velcro, plastic clips, Hypalon.RTM. or rubber-type fasteners, sewing, or any combination of the above, or via any combination of alternative connectors. Preferred embodiments of vest closure mechanisms (connectors) are illustrated in the drawings that accompany this application. [0017] Although, in some embodiments, it is preferred that the utilized connectors be adjustable in order to adjust the vest size to individual users, in at least one embodiment, a one-size-fits-all design is contemplated. [0018] In further embodiments which may or may not employ connectors depending on design considerations, the garment may be integrally connected (e.g. sewn) to the body facing side of an over-garment to provide passive ventilation under the over-garment. In similar embodiments, the garment may be integrally connected, such as sewn, to the non-body facing side of an undergarment (for providing ventilation over the undergarment when an over-garment is worn thereover). [0019] In particularly preferred embodiments, the garment has a predetermined thickness (with or without a memory) so that the garment is capable of thereby spacing an over-garment at a selected distance from the body of the wearer. In a preferred embodiment, the predetermined thickness is between 1/8 and 1/2 inch. In a more preferred embodiment, the predetermined thickness is approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch. In a still more preferred embodiment, the predetermined thickness is approximately 6/8 inch +/- approximately 10%. [0020] This invention will now be described with respect to certain embodiments thereof as illustrated in the following drawings wherein: Continue reading about Ventilation vest... Full patent description for Ventilation vest Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Ventilation vest patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Ventilation vest or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Non-stitch structure and method of manufacture for one-sided laminated wetsuits Next Patent Application: Device for uv protection of face while tanning Industry Class: Apparel ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Ventilation vest patent info. 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