Patent Application
20210378427
The present disclosure relates to personal protection from environmental elements.
Known solutions for personal protection from environmental elements include blankets, snow pants and sleeping bags.
The disclosure describes an insulating body wrap. The body wrap includes a superior end with a superior opening, an inferior end with an inferior opening. An internal surface defined between the superior and inferior openings includes a ripstop material. An external surface opposite the internal surface and including a nylon fabric. The insulating body wrap includes batting between the internal and external surfaces, a polyurethane coating between the nylon fabric and the batting and a fire-retardant coating between the nylon fabric and the batting. A slit extends through the internal and external surfaces between the inferior end and a point intermediate the inferior and superior ends.
Another insulating body wrap described by the disclosure includes a superior end with a superior opening and an inferior end with an inferior opening. A top layer including a fabric extends between the superior opening and the inferior opening and a back layer including a ripstop material extends between the superior opening and the inferior opening. Batting is provided between the top layer and the back layer and a slit extends between the inferior opening and a point intermediate the inferior and superior openings.
The disclosure also describes a method for manufacturing an insulating body wrap. The method includes layering a nylon fabric, batting and a ripstop material to form a quilt having a superior edge, an inferior edge, a first side edge and a second side edge and attaching the first and second side edges to form a sleeve having a superior opening provided at the superior edge and an inferior opening provided at the inferior edge. A slit is formed so as to extend between the inferior opening and a point intermediate the inferior and superior openings.
The summary above, as well as the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the disclosure, example constructions are shown in the drawings. However, the disclosure is not limited to specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed herein. Moreover, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that the drawings are not to scale. Wherever possible, like elements have been indicated by identical numbers.
Embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein:
The following detailed description illustrates embodiments of the disclosure and manners by which they can be implemented. Although the preferred mode of carrying out disclosed apparatuses and methods has been described, those of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that other embodiments for carrying out or practicing disclosed apparatuses and methods are also possible.
It should be noted that the terms “first”, “second”, and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. Further, the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.
Embodiments of the disclosure provide a soft but durable, bag or sleeve which is configured to cover a user's hips and full length of the user's legs but leave the feet free to move enabling the user to walk or stand.
Embodiments of the disclosure substantially eliminate, or at least partially address, problems in the prior art, offering a lightweight and packable way to keep a user warm while at an outdoor sporting event, sitting around a campfire, hunting, jeeping, off-roading, sailing, ice fishing, or any other environment in which a user needs to stay warm.
Additional aspects, advantages, features and objects of the disclosure will be made apparent from the drawings and the detailed description of the illustrative embodiments construed in conjunction with the appended claims that follow.
It will be appreciated that described features are susceptible to being combined in various combinations without departing from the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
Referring to
A waterproofing coating is provided between top layer 140 and batting 160 such as to an interior surface of top layer 140. For example, a polyurethane coating may be applied to the interior surface of top layer 140. Waterproofing coatings may offer the additional benefit of reducing penetration of the body wrap by wind.
A fire-retardant or flame-retardant coating may be provided between top layer 140 and batting 160 such as to an interior surface of top layer 140. In an example, the fire-retardant coating may be provided between the waterproofing coating and batting 160. In an example, the fire-retardant coating complies with EN-71 or other standards. In another example, the fire-retardant coating may include but is not limited to sodium silicate, latex, silica-containing powders and combinations of these.
The ripstop material of back layer 120 and the nylon fabric of top layer 140 may be coupled together by a plurality of stitches grouped into several stitch paths or seams 142 separated by panels 144 (
A slit 130 extends through the internal and external surfaces between inferior opening 107 and a point intermediate the inferior and superior openings. Slit 130, which increases the effective size of the inferior opening 107 to facilitate movement of a user's legs and/or vent heat from the body wrap interior, is configured for selective closure. For example, slit 130 may be configured with a zipper or with hook and loop fasteners. In an example, the zipper is a No. 05 zipper sized to enable operation in spite of foreign matter such as sand or dirt. The slit 130 may be aligned with a longitudinal axis extending generally between a center of the superior opening and a center of the inferior opening. Slit 130 is generally perpendicular to one or both of the superior end and the inferior end.
In an example, with the sole exception of slit 130, body wrap 100 and the associated layers are continuous between the superior opening and inferior opening and are otherwise uninterrupted by discontinuities including cuts, slices or openings such as arm holes.
Cordage (not visible) threaded through the superior end and surrounding the superior opening is configured to constrict superior opening 103. Cordage threaded through the inferior end and surrounding the inferior opening is configured to constrict the inferior opening 107. The cordage may be provided in any of a variety of forms including but not limited to shock cord, drawstrings or a combination of these.
One or more cord locks 153 and 155 may be provided to secure a selected amount of constriction of superior opening 103 and/or inferior opening 107. For example, a length of cordage may be pulled through an open cord lock and secured by closing the cord lock. Cord locks 153 and 155 may be provided at any position on body wrap 100 suitable for manipulation by a user while wearing the body wrap including but not limited to a suitable location at the perimeter of superior opening 103, a suitable location at the perimeter of inferior opening 107 adjacent to slit 130 or distant from slit 130.
Body wrap 100 may further include a pocket 170 coupled to the exterior surface adjacent to the superior opening. In an example, the pocket is formed as a sleeve or tube at the top layer of the body wrap and offers opposing openings 173 and 175 for a user's hands.
Body wrap 200 further includes a heating element 292 provided at a rear side between top layer 240 and the back layer, either between top layer 240 and the batting or between the batting and the back layer. Heating element 292 may include a silicone rubber flexible heating element, a polyimide flexible heating element and/or a polyester flexible heating element and may be provided with power from battery 296 through electrically insulated wire 294. In an example, battery 296 is provided between top layer 240 and the back layer or between body wrap 200 and pocket 270.
A method for manufacturing an insulating body wrap is now described. A fabric, batting and a ripstop material are layered and coupling together to form a quilt having a superior edge, an inferior edge, a first side edge and a second side edge. The fabric may be of knitted or woven nylon. The batting may be sandwiched between the ripstop material and the fabric. The first and second side edges are attached to form a pliable sleeve having a superior opening provided at the superior edge, an inferior opening provided at the inferior edge and internal and external surfaces defined therebetween.
The fabric may be coated with a waterproofing agent and a fire-retardant. For example, one or both sides of the fabric may be coated with polyurethane and a fire-retardant before layering with the batting and ripstop material.
Several channels may be formed, in the fabric, the ripstop material or both, so as to extend from a position adjacent the superior opening to a position adjacent the inferior opening. In an example, the channels extend through the edge of the superior opening and the inferior opening so as to transport foreign matter such as water, snow, sand, mud, etc. completely off of the body wrap. In an example, the plurality of channels are formed while stitching together the layered fabric, batting and ripstop material along wavelike, serpentine or sinusoidal stitch paths.
A slit is formed through the internal and external surfaces so as to extend between the inferior opening and a point intermediate the inferior and superior openings. The slit may be formed by cutting, slicing, splitting or otherwise providing a discontinuity or interruption in the layered materials either before or after the first and second side edges are attached to form the sleeve. The formed slit may be provided with selective closure such as a zipper.
Cordage configured to constrict the superior opening is threaded through the superior end surrounding the superior opening and cordage configured to constrict the inferior opening is similarly threaded through the inferior end surrounding the inferior opening between respective sides of the slit. For example, cordage in any of a variety of forms including but not limited to shock cord, drawstrings or a combination of these may be threaded through hems at the superior and inferior openings.
A cord lock may be coupled to or otherwise provided with the cordage at the superior opening, at the inferior opening or both to selectively secure a desired amount of constriction of the corresponding opening.
Further, the method may include coupling a pocket to the fabric adjacent to the superior opening, for example, by stitching a similar combination of layers to the top layer of the body wrap.
Additionally, the method may further providing a heating element between the internal and external surfaces of the pliable sleeve.
The actions described above are only illustrative and other alternatives can also be provided where one or more actions are added, one or more actions are removed, or one or more actions are provided in a different sequence without departing from the scope of the claims herein.
Embodiments of the disclosure are susceptible to being used for various purposes, including, though not limited to, offering users warmth, protection from elements and mobility in a lightweight, packable form. In an example, the body wrap is capable of packing into a 5 in.×11 in. stuff sack.
Modifications to embodiments of the disclosure described in the foregoing are possible without departing from the scope of the disclosure as defined by the accompanying claims. Expressions such as “including”, “comprising”, “incorporating”, “consisting of”, “have”, “is” used to describe and claim disclosed features are intended to be construed in a non-exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components or elements not explicitly described also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to the plural.
This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/036,550 filed Jun. 9, 2020, pending, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63036550 | Jun 2020 | US |
