GARMENT ATTACHMENT AND GARMENT

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a garment attachment and a garment.

BACKGROUND

Garments are required to have various functions according to their use and are also required to have various sizes suitable for physical characteristics of wearers. However, preparing individual garments having various functions and sizes places a large burden both on wearers and manufacturers of garments.

There is known a garment designed to be wearable in daily life and capable of having a specific function only when required (for example, see Patent Document 1). There is also known a garment the shape of which can be changed by a wearer (for example, see Patent Document 2).

CITATION LIST
Patent Document

[Patent Document 1] JP2014-100445A

[Patent Document 2] JP2003-113519A

SUMMARY
Technical Problem

However, the functions and sizes applicable to the garments disclosed in Patent Documents 1, 2 are naturally limited because, in order to provide a specific function to or change the form of the garment, the structure of the garment itself has to be changed.

Objects of the present invention include providing a garment attachment that can provide a specific function to a front-open garment and/or change the size of the garment as desired without changing the structure of the garment itself.

Solution to Problem

To solve the above issues, the invention disclosed in claim 1 is a garment attachment, including:

a first connector that is freely connectable to and detachable from a right front part of a front-open garment; and

a second connector that is freely connectable to and detachable from a left front part of the front-open garment, wherein

with the first connector and the second connector, the garment attachment is freely attachable to and detachable from the front-open garment between divided front parts of the garment.

The invention disclosed in claim 2 is the garment attachment according to claim 1, wherein

the first connector and the second connector include teeth of a linear fastener,

the first connector and/or the second connector includes a slider of the linear fastener, and

with the first connector and the second connector, the garment attachment is freely attachable to and detachable from the garment in a linear fastener provided to the divided front parts of the garment.

The invention disclosed in claim 3 is the garment attachment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

the garment attachment attached to the garment forms an opening that connects inner and outer spaces of the garment, and

the garment attachment further includes an opening-closing part to freely open and close the opening.

The invention disclosed in claim 4 is the garment attachment according to claim 3, further including a position changer to change a position of the opening.

The invention disclosed in claim 5 is the garment attachment according to claim 4, wherein the opening-closing part and the position changer are a linear fastener that includes sliders between which the opening is formed.

The invention disclosed in claim 6 is the garment attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further including:

an air introducer that introduces air inside the garment;

a power source that supplies electric power to the air introducer; and

a connecting part that connects the power source and the air introducer.

The invention disclosed in claim 7 is a garment including the garment attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

The invention disclosed in claim 8 is the garment according to claim 7, wherein the garment is an air-conditioned garment.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The present invention can provide a garment attachment that gives a specific function to a front-open garment and/or change the size of the garment as desired without changing the structure of the garment itself.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an air-conditioned garment with opening-closing parts on the front part open.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a fan that is mounted on the air-conditioned garment.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a garment attachment according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the air-conditioned garment to which the garment attachment according to the first embodiment is attached.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a rope-through part of the garment attachment according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the air-conditioned garment to which a garment attachment according to a second embodiment is attached.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the air-conditioned garment to which a garment attachment according to a third embodiment is attached.

FIG. 8 is a back view of a garment attachment according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the air-conditioned garment to which the garment attachment according to the fourth embodiment is attached.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, garment attachments as embodiments of the present invention are described referring to FIGS. 1 to 9. The description below is provided on the definition that, for a wearer who is wearing a garment with a garment attachment attached, the front side of the wearer is front; the back side of the wearer is back; the upper side of the wearer is up; the lower side of the wearer is down; the right-hand side of the wearer is right; and the left-hand side of the wearer is left.

First Embodiment

A garment attachment 100 according to the first embodiment is described referring to FIGS. 1 to 5.

The garment attachment 100 according to the first embodiment provides a rope-through part for a front-open garment. Through the rope-through part, a rope provided on a harness-type safety belt is inserted.

Hereinafter, an air-conditioned garment 200 is described as an example of garments to which the garment attachment 100 is attachable. The air-conditioned garment 200 has a function of cooling the body of a wearer.

<Harness-Type Safely Belt>

The harness-type safety belt is a harness equipped with a rope as a lifeline through a connector and is worn by a worker who works at a high place to secure safety of work at a high place.

The rope can be equipped at various positions of the harness-type safety belt. The harness-type safety belt mainly assumed in this embodiment connects the rope to the front trunk of the wearer.

The harness-type safety belt to be used is not limited to a specific type as long as the rope is connected to the position corresponding to the front trunk of the wearer. Any well-known harness-type safety belt can be used.

<Air-Conditioned Garment>

Next, the air-conditioned garment 200 is described as an example of garments to which the garment attachment 100 is attachable.

As shown in FIG. 1, the air-conditioned garment 200 includes: a garment body 210; fans 220, 220 that introduce air inside the garment body 210; a power source 230 that supplies electric power to the fans 220, 220; and a connecting cable 240 that connects the power source 230 and the fans 220, 220. The air-conditioned garment 200 flows the air taken inside the garment body 210 by the fans 220, 220 along the surface of the underwear or the body of the wearer to allow the sweat drained from the body of the wearer to evaporate. Through evaporation of sweat, the body is cooled by evaporation heat.

(Garment Body)

The garment body 210 is made of a sheet material having no breathability or having breathability that allows the garment body 210 to swell with air introduced by the fans 220, 220. The garment body 210 is formed to cover the trunk and arms of the wearer, as shown in FIG. 1. Although the garment body 210 in FIG. 1 is formed to be a blouson-type upper garment, the shape of the garment body 210 is not limited thereto. The garment body 210 may be formed to be a vest that covers only the trunk of the wearer. To attach the garment attachment 100, however, the garment body 210 needs to be a front-open garment the front part of which is divided at the center into right and left parts.

The garment body 210 includes: a first opening-closing part 211; a second opening-closing part 212; an air-leakage preventer 213; fan mounters 214, 214; an air-releasing collar part 215; air-releasing sleeve parts 216, 216; and a power-source holder 217. The garment body 210 is formed such that the air taken in through the fan mounters 214, 214 by the fans 220, 220 is released through the air-releasing collar part 215 and the air-releasing sleeve parts 216, 216.

(First and Second Opening-Closing Parts)

The first and second opening-closing parts 211, 212 make the garment body 210 front-open. The wearer opens and closes the front part of the garment body 210 with the first and second opening-closing parts 211, 212 in wearing the air-conditioned garment 200. As shown in FIG. 1, the first opening-closing part 211 is provided to the right divided part of the front part of the garment body 210, and the second opening-closing part 212 is provided to the left divided part. The first and second opening-closing parts 211, 212 can engage with and disengage from each other. As the first and second opening-closing parts 211, 212, a normal linear fastener shown in FIG. 1 is used, for example.

FIG. 1 shows a case where the second opening-closing part 212 includes a slider, a box, and a box pin as well as teeth of the linear fastener, and the first opening-closing part 211 includes an insertion pin as well as teeth of the linear fastener. However, the opening-closing parts 211, 212 are not limited thereto. Conversely, the first opening-closing part 211 may include the slider, the box, and the box pin as well as the teeth of the linear fastener, and the second opening-closing part 212 may include the insertion pin as well as the teeth of the linear fastener.

(Air-Leakage Preventer)

The air-leakage preventer 213 is provided at the lower part of the garment body 210, as shown in FIG. 1. The air-leakage preventer 213 prevents air in the space between the garment body 210 and the body of the wearer from leaking outside through the hem part of the garment body 210. For example, the air-leakage preventer 213 is formed with an elastic material, such as a rubber cord, and provided so as to circle around the body of the wearer. When the wearer is wearing the air-conditioned garment 200, the air-leakage preventer 213 narrows the hem part of the garment body 210 to closely fit to the body of the wearer, thereby preventing air from leaking outside through the lower part of the garment body 210.

The air-leakage preventer 213 may not be necessary when the garment body 210 has a narrow hem part from which only a small amount of air leaks.

(Fan Mounter)

The Fan mounters 214, 214 include: opening holes 214a, 214a formed on the cloth of the garment body 210; and opening-hole stiffeners 214b, 214b that stiffen the region around the opening holes 214a, 214a, as shown in FIG. 1. The fans 220, 220 are mounted on the fan mounters 214, 214.

The two fan mounters 214, 214 are formed on the back part of the garment body 210 at the same height in the up-down direction, as shown in FIG. 1.

The positions where the fan mounters 214, 214 are formed are not limited to the above, and can be at the lateral part or the front part of the garment body 210. Also, the number of positions where the fan mounters 214 are formed are not limited to two. More or less than two fan mounters 214 may be formed to mount the corresponding number of fans 220.

The opening holes 214a, 214a are hole parts that connect the outside and the space between the garment body 210 and the body of the wearer wearing the air-conditioned garment 200. The opening holes 214a, 214a are formed on the cloth of the garment body 210 at the positions corresponding to the right and left waist of the wearer, as shown in FIG. 1.

The opening-hole stiffeners 214b, 214b are flat ring-shaped members made of plastic, for example. Each opening-hole stiffener 214b has, at its center, a hole part the size of which is substantially equal to the size of the opening hole 214a. As shown in FIG. 1, the opening-hole stiffeners 214b, 214b are mounted on the inside of the garment body 210 such that the hole parts superpose the opening holes 214a, 214a. The opening-hole stiffeners 214b, 214b thus stiffen the regions around the opening holes 214a, 214a of the garment body 210 and allow the fans 220, 220 to be easily mounted on the opening holes 214a, 214a.

The opening-hole stiffeners 214b, 214b may be mounted on the garment body 210 with any method, such as sewing or gluing. The opening-hole stiffeners 214b, 214b may also be covered with lining cloths on the inside of the garment body 210.

(Air-Releasing Collar Part)

The air-releasing collar part 215 is an opening formed between the neck of the wearer and the end of the collar part of the garment body 210, as shown in FIG. 1. The air-releasing collar part 215 releases air having been introduced by the fans 220, 220 through the fan mounters 214, 214 and having flowed along the body or the underwear of the wearer.

(Air-Releasing Sleeve Part)

The air-releasing sleeve parts 216, 216 are openings formed between the arms of the wearer and the ends of the sleeve parts of the garment body 210, as shown in FIG. 1. The air-releasing sleeve parts 216, 216 release air having been introduced by the fans 220, 220 through the fan mounters 214, 214 and having flowed along the body or the underwear of the wearer.

(Power-Source Holder)

The power-source holder 217 is a pocket formed on the inside of the garment body 210 and houses the power source 230, as shown in FIG. 1. Although the power-source holder 217 is provided at the lower left of the front part of the garment body 210 in FIG. 1, the position of the power-source holder 217 is not limited thereto. The power-source holder 217 can be provided at any position on the inside of the garment body 210.

The power-source holder 217 is not necessarily a pocket and may take any form, as long as the power source 230 can be detachably mounted on the garment body 210. Further, the power-source holder 217 may not be provided on the garment body 210. For example, the power source 230 may be attached to the belt of the trousers of the wearer with a clip, instead of being mounted on the garment body 210. The power source 230 may also be attached to a certain position of the belt of the harness-type safety belt, which is worn inside the air-conditioned garment 200, with a clip or the like.

(Cable Holder)

The cable holders 218, 218 hold a connecting cable 240 on the inside of the garment body 210. For example, each cable holder 218 has an opening through which the connecting cable 240 can be inserted and holds the connecting cable 240 inserted through the opening.

The cable holders 218, 218 can be made of any material in any shape as long as the cable holders 218, 218 can hold the connecting cable 240 at a certain position on the inside of the garment body 210. For example, each cable holder 240 can be formed with a vertically long cloth sewn on the garment body 210 at two positions, the upper and lower positions, like a normal belt loop. Also, the positions of the cable holders 218 are not limited to the positions shown in FIG. 1.

(Fan)

The fans 220, 220 are mounted on the fan mounters 214, 214, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2. The Fans 220, 220 introduce air through the opening holes 214a, 214a into the space between the garment body 210 and the body of the wearer.

The fans 220, 220 are supplied with necessary electric power by the power source 230 through the connecting cable 240.

The fans 220, 220 may be configured as desired as long as the fans 220, 220 can be fixed to the fan mounters 214, 214 and can introduce air into the garment body 210. For example, each fan 220 has a fan body 221 and a ring-shaped mounting ring 222 that fixes the fan body 221 to the garment body 210, as shown in FIG. 2.

The fan body 221 houses a propeller and a motor that rotates the propeller (both not illustrated). As shown in FIG. 2, the fan body 221 includes: an air introducing part 221a that constitutes the side into which air is taken by the fan 220 in operation; an air sending part 221b that constitutes the side from which air is sent by the fan 220 in operation; a tubular part 221c that is a tubular connecting part between the air introducing part 221a and the air sending part 221b; and a flange 221d that protrudes from the end of the tubular part 221c where the air introducing part 221a is provided in a direction substantially orthogonal to the lateral surface of the tubular part 221c. The tubular part 221c is formed to be cylindrical such that the outer shape of its section orthogonal to its central axis is round. The outer diameter of the tubular part 221c is equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter of the opening hole 214a.

The fan body 221 includes a first connecting terminal 221e at a predetermined position of the side where the air sending part 221b is provided. The first connecting terminal 221e is connected to the connecting cable 240. The first connecting terminal 221e may be configured as desired, as long as the first connecting terminal 221e is connectable to the connecting cable 240 to receive electric power supplied by the power source 230.

The mounting ring 222 is a ring-shaped member for mounting the fan body 221 to the fan mounter 214. The inner diameter of the mounting ring 222 is equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the outer shape of the tubular part 221c.

The outer surface of the tubular part 221c and the inner surface of the mounting ring 222 form a fitter (not illustrated). For example, the mounting ring 222 has a convex part on its inner surface side, and the tubular part 221c has a concave part on its outer surface side that fits on the convex part.

In mounting each fan 220 to the garment body 210, the side of the fan body 221 where the air sending part 221b is provided is inserted from the outer surface side of the garment body 210 into the opening hole 214a so that the flange 221d contacts the region around the opening hole 214a of the garment body 210, as shown in FIG. 2. Next, the mounting ring 222 is fitted to the outside of the tubular part 221c from the inside of the garment body 210. By doing so, the flange 221d and the mounting ring 222 tuck the cloth around the opening hole 214a and the cloth around the hole part of the opening-hole stiffener 214b. In this state, the mounting ring 222 is fixed to the fan body 221 by the fitter.

The fan 220 is thus fixed to the garment body 210.

(Power Source)

The power source 230 supplies electric power to the fans 220, 220. The power source 230 has a built-in lithium-ion battery pack provided with a security circuit, for example. The power source 230 has a second connecting terminal (not illustrated) to connect to the fans 220, 220 through the connecting cable 240.

The second connecting terminal may be configured as desired, as long as the second connecting terminal is connectable to the connecting cable 240 and can supply electric power to the fans 220, 220.

In this embodiment, the power source 230 is housed in the pocket as the power-source holder 217, as shown in FIG. 1. However, the means of holding the power source 230 is not limited thereto, as described above.

The power source 230 includes a controller (not illustrated) to supply electric power at multiple strength levels to the fans in accordance with operation of the wearer.

For example, the controller includes the following (not illustrated): a power conversion circuit that converts electric power supplied by the lithium-ion battery pack or other batteries into multiple strength levels; a remaining-battery measurement circuit that measures the remaining life of the battery of the power source 230; and a strength instruction circuit that instructs the power conversion circuit on the strength.

The power source 230 includes a display and an operation part (not illustrated). The display includes a light-emitting diode (LED), for example. The display displays, for the wearer, on/off of the power of the fans 220, 220 and the strength of the electric power being supplied. The operation part includes, for example, a tactile switch(s) and is used to switch on/off the power and switch the strength of electric power being supplied to the fans 220, 220.

The wearer is thus allowed to (i) switch on/off the power of the fans 220, 220, (ii) switch the strength of electric power supplied from the power source 230 to the fans 220, 220, and so forth by operating the operation part while checking the display content on the display.

The controller, the display, and the operation part may not belong to the power source 230. For example, an individual controller having these functions may be provided at a certain position of the connecting cable 240 between the power source 230 and the fans 220, 220.

(Connecting Cable)

The connecting cable 240 connects the power source 230 and the fans 220, 220. Through the connecting cable 240, the power source 230 supplies necessary electric power for operating the fans 220, 220 to the fans 220, 220.

One end of the connecting cable 240 has a third connecting terminal (not illustrated) to be connected to the second connecting terminal of the power source. The other end of the connecting cable 240 forks into two branches each end of which has a fourth connecting terminal (not illustrated) to be connected to the first connecting terminal 221e of each fan 220. The connecting cable 240 connects the power source 230 and the fans 220, 220 as shown in FIG. 1.

The connecting cable 240 may be configured as desired, as long as the power source 230 can supply necessary electric power for operating the fans 220, 220 to the fans 220, 220.

The connecting cable 240 is held on the inside of the garment body 210 by the cable holders 218, 218 as shown in FIG. 1.

The garment attachment 100 in the first embodiment is rectangular and long in the up-down direction, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4. The garment attachment 100 includes: a first connector 110 at the right end to be connected to the right front part of the front-open garment; a second connector 120 at the left end to be connected to the left front part of the front-open garment; and a rope-through part 130 at the center in the right-left direction through which the rope of the harness-type security belt is to be inserted.

The garment attachment 100 can be made of any sheet material. However, the garment attachment 100 to be attached to the air-conditioned garment 200 for use need to be made of a sheet material having no breathability or having breathability that does not prevent the garment body 210 from swelling with air introduced by the fans 220, 220.

It is preferable that the garment attachment 100 cover the entire length of the front part of the garment body 210 in the up-down direction as shown in FIG. 4, so as to keep the inside of the garment body 210 airtight.

The width of the garment attachment 100 in the right-left direction may be any width enough for forming the rope-through part 130. It is preferable, however, that the width in the right-left direction be as narrow as possible in a range that allows the rope-through part 130 to be formed, so as to avoid excessively widening the waist measurement of a garment to which the garment attachment 100 is attached. On the other hand, the garment attachment 100 may have a certain width in the right-left direction so as to also have a function of adjusting the size of the air-conditioned garment 200, as the third embodiment described below.

(First and Second Connectors)

The first and second connectors 110, 120 may be configured as desired according to a garment to which the garment attachment 100 is attached. When the garment has, as with the air-conditioned garment 200 in FIG. 1, a linear fastener as the first and second opening-closing parts 211, 212 to open and close the front part of the garment, the first and second connectors 110, 120 are also a linear fastener.

More specifically, a linear fastener item that can engage with and disengage from the first opening-closing part 211 is used as the first connector 110, and a linear fastener item that can engage with and disengage from the second opening-closing part 212 is used as the second connector 120. The garment attachment 100 can therefore be attached to the front part of the air-conditioned garment 200 between the first and second opening-closing parts 211, 212.

FIG. 1 shows a case where the first opening-closing part 211 of the air-conditioned garment 200 includes an insertion pin as well as teeth of the linear fastener, and the second opening-closing part 212 includes a slider, a box, and a box pin as well as teeth of the linear fastener. In such a case, the first connector 110 includes a slider, a box, and a box pin as well as teeth of the linear fastener, and the second connector 120 includes an insertion pin as well as teeth of the linear fastener. Accordingly, the first connector 110 can engage with and disengage from the first opening-closing part 211, and the second connector 120 can engage with and disengage from the second opening-closing part 212.

Conversely, there may be a case where the first opening-closing part 211 of the air-conditioned garment 200 includes a slider, a box, and a box pin as well as teeth of the linear fastener, and the second opening-closing part 212 includes an insertion pin as well as teeth of the linear fastener. In such a case, the first connector 110 includes an insertion pin as well as teeth of the linear fastener, and the second connector 120 includes a slider, a box, and a box pin as well as teeth of the linear fastener.

It is preferable that the length of the first and second connectors 110, 120 in the up-down direction be the same as the length of the first and second opening-closing parts 211, 212 so that the first connector 110 is connected to the entire first opening-closing part 211 and the second connector 120 is connected to the entire second opening-closing part 212.

In such a case, the first connector 110 has the same structure as the second opening-closing part 212, and the second connector 120 has the same structure as the first opening-closing part 211.

When the air-conditioned garment 200 uses an element(s) different from a linear fastener as the first and second opening-closing parts 211, 212, the first and second connectors 110, 120 need to have the corresponding structure.

For example, when the first and second opening-closing parts 211, 212 are a hook-and-loop fastener, the first connector 110 is a hook-and-loop fastener element that is connectable to the first opening-closing part 211, and the second connector 120 is a hook-and-loop fastener element that is connectable to the second opening-closing part 212.

When the first opening-closing part 211 is a plurality of buttons and the second opening-closing part 212 is a plurality of buttonholes, the first connector 110 is a plurality of buttonholes that is connectable to the first opening-closing part 211, and the second connector 120 is a plurality of buttons that is connectable to the second opening-closing part 212.

It is preferable, however, that linear fasteners be used in view of strength of connection and airtightness.

(Rope-Through Part)

The rope-through part 130 is a through hole for pulling out the rope connected to the wearer of the harness-type safety belt at the position corresponding to the front trunk of the wearer.

The rope-through part 130 is positioned at the center of the garment attachment 100 in the right-left direction and slightly upward from the center in the up-down direction, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4. The rope-through part 130 includes an opening-closing hole part 131, a rope insertion part 132, and an air-leakage preventer 133, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, the opening-closing hole part 131 is formed to freely open and close a cut formed on the garment attachment 100 in the up-down direction. The cut is positioned at the center of the garment attachment 100 in the right-left direction and slightly upward from the center in the up-down direction. As a means of freely opening and closing the opening-closing hole part 131, a linear fastener can be used, for example.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the rope insertion part 132 is formed to be tubular. One end of the rope insertion part 132 is connected to the inside of the garment attachment 100, namely the side that faces the wearer when the garment attachment 100 is attached to the garment, so as to be along the opening-closing hole part 131. The other end of the rope insertion part 132 is equipped with the air-leakage preventer 133.

When the garment attachment 100 is attached to the air-conditioned garment 200, the opening-closing hole part 131 and the rope insertion part 132 form an opening that connects the inner and outer spaces of the air-conditioned garment 200.

The air-leakage preventer 133 forms a cord-through part 133a at one end of the rope insertion part 132 opposite to the end connected to the region around the opening-closing hole part 131, as shown in FIG. 5. The cord-through part 133a has two pulling-out openings 133b. Through the code-through part 133a, a cord 133c is inserted. The cord 133c is longer than one loop through the cord-through part 133a. The cord 133c is equipped with a cord stopper 133d at two ends protruding from the pulling-out openings 133b.

By pulling both ends of the cord 133c and fixing the code stopper 133d at around the pulling-out openings 133b, one end of the rope insertion part 132 opposite to the end connected around the opening-closing hole part 131 can be closed while the rope of the harness-type safety belt is inserted through the opening. The air-leakage preventer 133 thus functions as an opening-closing part in the present invention.

When the rope-through part 130 is not used, the rope insertion part 132 and the air-leakage preventer 133 are pushed inside the garment attachment 100 through the opening-closing hole part 131. The opening-closing hole part 131 is then closed. Thus, the rope-through part 130 can be housed inside the garment attachment 100, namely inside the garment body 210 of the air-conditioned garment 200 to which the garment attachment 100 is attached. When the rope-through part 130 is used, the opening-closing hole part 131 is opened to pull out the rope insertion part 132 and the air-leakage preventer 133.

The rope-through part, which is for pulling out the rope of the harness-type safety belt from the front side of the air-conditioned garment 200, is required only when the wearer wears the air-conditioned garment 200 over the harness-type safety belt that connects the rope to the front trunk of the wearer.

Preparing a dedicated individual air-conditioned garment 200 equipped with the rope-through part places a heavy burden on both manufacturers and wearers of the air-conditioned garment 200. Furthermore, the rope-through part can be an obstacle for the wearer when the wearer does not wear the air-conditioned garment 200 over the harness-type safety belt that connects the rope to the front trunk of the wearer.

The garment attachment 100 according to the first embodiment can be attached to the garment body 210 between the first and second opening-closing parts 211, 212 with the first and second connectors 110, 120. The rope-through part 130 can therefore be provided at the front part of the air-conditioned garment 200 only when the air-conditioned garment 200 is worn over the harness-type safety belt that connects the rope to the front trunk of the wearer. This eliminates the need for a dedicated air-conditioned garment and makes the air-conditioned garment 200 suited for the harness-type safety belt that connects the rope to the front trunk of the wearer.

Further, the garment attachment 100 can be detached from the air-conditioned garment 200 when the air-conditioned garment 200 is not worn over the harness-type safety belt that connects the rope to the front trunk of the wearer. Thus, in ordinary times, the rope-through part does not obstruct the use of the air-conditioned garment 200.

Further, the rope-through part 130 includes the air-leakage preventer 133. The air-leakage preventer 133 can close one end of the rope insertion part 132 opposite to the end connected around the opening-closing hole part 131 in a state where the rope of the harness-type safety belt is inserted. Thus, even when the rope of the harness-type safety belt is inserted, the air-leakage preventer 133 can prevent deteriorating the airtightness of the space inside the garment body 210 of the air-conditioned garment 200.

In this embodiment, the air-conditioned garment 200 is described as an example of garments to which the garment attachment 100 is attachable. However, garments to which the garment attachment 100 is attachable are not limited thereto. The garment attachment 100 can be attached to other front-open garments and can achieve similar effects.

The harness-type safety belt can be worn over a normal garment. When worn over the air-conditioned garment 200, however, the harness-type safety belt may prevent swelling of the garment body 210 and sufficient air flow in the garment body 210. This may decrease cooling efficiency. Therefore, when the air-conditioned garment 200 is used with the harness-type safety belt, the air-conditioned garment 200 needs to be worn over the harness-type safety belt.

In this regard, the garment attachment 100 is required especially for the air-conditioned garment 200, although usable for the other garments.

Second Embodiment

A garment attachment 100A according to a second embodiment is described referring to FIG. 6. The same parts as the garment attachment 100 in the first embodiment have the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The garment attachment 100A in the second embodiment provides, to a front-open garment, a through part for pulling out a belt. Examples of the belt include: a belt for a user to hold a mowing machine or an atomizer used for spraying disinfectant; and a seat belt of a vehicle.

In the description below, the air-conditioned garment 200 is used as an example of garments to which the garment attachment 100A is attached, as with the first embodiment.

The garment attachment 100A is equipped with a belt-through part 140 instead of the rope-through part 130 in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, but otherwise the same as the garment attachment 100 in the first embodiment. The garment attachment 100A is rectangle and long in the up-down direction. The garment attachment 100A includes: a first connector 110 on the right side to be connected to the right front part of a front-open garment; and a second connector 120 on the left side to be connected to the left front part of the front-open garment.

(Belt-Through Part)

The belt-through part 140 is formed by: forming a cut on the garment attachment 100A in the up-down direction at the center in the right-left direction; and making the cut freely connectable and detachable with a linear fastener, as shown in FIG. 6.

More specifically, the belt-through part 140 includes: right teeth 141 provided at the right end of the cut; left teeth 142 formed at the left end of the cut; and two sliders that are slidable in the up-down direction to open and close the linear fastener, namely an upper slider 143 and a lower slider 144, as shown in FIG. 6.

The belt-through part 140 is formed such that: the right and left teeth 141, 142 are connected at the upper side of the upper slider 143 and at the lower side of the lower slider 144; and the right and left teeth 141, 142 separate between the upper and lower sliders 143, 144. When the garment attachment 100A is attached to the air-conditioned garment 200, the belt-through part 140 forms an opening that connects the inner and outer spaces of the air-conditioned garment 200.

By moving the upper and lower sliders 143, 144, the position of the opening formed between them can be moved up and down, and the opening can be closed with the belt inserted. The right and left teeth 141, 142 and the upper and lower sliders 143, 144 thus function as an opening-closing part and a position changer in the present invention.

The cut that constitutes the belt-through part may be formed so as not to reach the upper and lower ends of the garment attachment 100A, as shown in FIG. 6. Alternatively, the cut may be formed to reach the upper and lower ends of the garment attachment 100A so as to divide the garment attachment 100A into right and left parts.

When the garment attachment 100A is divided into right and left parts, the right end of the cut is equipped with insertion pins at the upper and lower ends in addition to the teeth, and the left end of the cut is equipped with two sliders and boxes and box pins at the upper and lower ends in addition to the teeth. The right and left ends of the cut are therefore connected at the upper side of the upper slider and at the lower side of the lower slider, and an opening is formed between the two sliders. Conversely, the right end of the cut may be equipped with two sliders and boxes and box pins at the upper and lower ends in addition to the teeth, and the left end of the cut may be equipped with insertion pins at the upper and lower ends in addition to the teeth.

When the garment attachment 100A is divided into right and left parts, the user can more easily insert the belt through the opening of the belt-through part.

The cut constituting the belt-through part may be formed to reach only either the upper or lower end of the garment attachment 100A.

The belt-through part, which is for pulling out the belt from the front side of the air-conditioned garment 200, is required only when the user wears the air-conditioned garment 200 over the belt, such as a belt for a user to hold a mowing machine or an atomizer for spraying disinfectant and a seat belt of a vehicle.

Preparing a dedicated individual air-conditioned garment 200 with the belt-through part places a heavy burden on both manufacturers and wearers of the air-conditioned garment 200. Furthermore, the belt-through part can be an obstacle for the wearer when the wearer does not wear the air-conditioned garment 200 over the belt.

The garment attachment 100A of the second embodiment is attachable to the air-conditioned garment 200 only when the air-conditioned garment 200 is worn over the above-described belt. Through the opening formed between the upper and lower sliders 143, 144 of the belt-through part 140, the belt can pass between the inner and outer spaces of the garment body 210 of the air-conditioned garment 200. This eliminates the need for a dedicated air-conditioned garment, and the air-conditioned garment 200 can be worn over the above-mentioned belt.

Further, the garment attachment 100A is detachable from the air-conditioned garment 200 when the air-conditioned garment 200 is not worn over the above-described belt. Thus, in ordinary times, the belt-through part does not obstruct the use of the air-conditioned garment 200.

Further, according to the garment attachment 100A, the position and the size of the opening formed between the upper and lower sliders 143, 144 can be changed by moving the upper and lower sliders 143, 144.

The desired position and size of the opening, through which the belt is inserted, depend on the detailed structure and usage of the belt, such as a belt for a user to hold a mowing machine or an atomizer for spraying disinfectant and a seat belt of a vehicle. According to this embodiment, the position and size of the opening for inserting the belt can be adjusted by moving the upper and lower sliders 143, 144 upwards and downwards. The garment attachment 100A can therefore be suited for various types of belts as described above.

Further, by moving the upper and lower sliders 143, 144 to adjust the position and size of the opening formed between them, the opening can be closed with the belt inserted. This can prevent deteriorating airtightness of the space inside the garment body 210 of the air-conditioned garment 200 with the belt inserted.

In this embodiment, the air-conditioned garment 200 is used as an example of garments to which the garment attachment 100A is attachable. However, the garments to which the garment attachment 100A is attachable are not limited thereto. The garment attachment 100A is attachable to other front-open garments 200 and can achieve similar effects.

The above-described belt can be worn over a normal garment. When worn over the air-conditioned garment 200, however, the belt may prevent swelling of the garment body 210 and sufficient air flow in the garment body 210. This may decrease cooling efficiency. Therefore, when the air-conditioned garment 200 is used with the above-described belt, the air-conditioned garment 200 need to be worn over the belt.

In this regard, the garment attachment 100A is required especially for the air-conditioned garment 200, although usable for the other garments.

Third Embodiment

A garment attachment 100B according to a third embodiment is described referring to FIG. 7. The same parts as the garment attachment 100 in the first embodiment have the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The garment attachment 100B according to the third embodiment adjusts the size of a front-open garment.

In the description below, the air-conditioned garment 200 is used as an example of garments to which the garment attachment 100B is attached, as with the first embodiment.

The garment attachment 100B does not include the rope-through part 130 of the first embodiment and therefore does not have an opening, as shown in FIG. 7, but is otherwise the same as the garment attachment 100 in the first embodiment. The garment attachment 100B is rectangle and long in the up-down direction. The garment attachment 100B includes: the first connector 110 on the right side to be connected to the right front part of a front-open garment; and the second connector 120 on the left side to be connected to the left front part of the front-open garment.

The length of the garment attachment 100B in the right-left direction is determined depending on the length for which the garment body 210 of the air-conditioned garment 200 is extended in the waist measurement direction.

It is preferable that the garment attachment 100B cover the entire length of the front part of the garment body 210 in the up-down direction so as to keep the inside of the garment body 210 airtight.

Wearers of the air-conditioned garment 200 have various physical characteristics. In particular, the waist measurement varies greatly between individuals. It is therefore difficult to prepare individual garments suited for all physical characteristics.

Multiple kinds of garment attachments 100B having different lengths in the right-left direction can be combined with the air-conditioned garment 200 to adjust the waist measurement of the garment body 210 of the air-conditioned garment 200. A single air-conditioned garment 200 can therefore be suited for wearers having various physical characteristics. Accordingly, the manufacturers of the garments can reduce the number of commercially available sizes, and the wearer can wear a garment of his/her size.

In this embodiment, the air-conditioned garment 200 is used as an example of garments to which the garment attachment 100B is attachable. However, the garments to which the garment attachment 100B is attachable are not limited thereto. The garment attachment 100B is attachable to other front-open garments and can achieve similar effects.

Fourth Embodiment

A garment attachment 100C according to a fourth embodiment is described referring to FIGS. 8, 9. The same parts as the garment attachment 100 in the first embodiment have the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The garment attachment 100C in the fourth embodiment provides a function as an air-conditioned garment for a front-open garment.

The garment attachment 100C is attachable to a garment that is (i) made of sheet material having no breathability or having breathability that allows the garment to swell with air introduced by the fan 160 mounted on the garment attachment 100C, (ii) formed to cover at least the trunk of the wearer, and (iii) provided with openings at sleeves, collars, or any other parts to release air. Examples of such a garment include a normal jacket and a raincoat.

The garment 200A shown in FIG. 9 is the same blouson-shaped garment as the air-conditioned garment 200 except that the garment 200A does not include the fans 220, 220, the power source 230, and the connecting cable 240, and that the garment body 210A does not include the fan mounters 214, 214, the power-source holder 217, and the cable holders 218, 218. However, the garments to which the garment attachment 100C is attachable are not limited thereto.

In attaching the garment attachment 100C to a garment the hem part of which is not narrowed and thereby forms a large space between the hem part and the trunk of the wearer, it is preferable that a certain air-leakage prevention means be used, such as a rubber ring around the trunk of the wearer, to prevent air from leaking outside through the hem part.

As shown in FIG. 8, the garment attachment 100C includes: a fan mounter 150; a fan 160 to be mounted on the fan mounter 150; a power source 170 that supplies electric power for the fan 160; a connecting cable 180 that connects the fan 160 and the power source 170; and a power-source holder 190 for mounting the power source 170 on the garment attachment 100C, instead of including the rope-through part 130 of the first embodiment. The other components are the same as the garment attachment 100 in the first embodiment. More specifically, the garment attachment 100C is rectangular and long in the up-down direction and includes the first connector 110 to be connected to the right front part of a front-open garment and the second connector 120 to be connected to the left front part of the front-open garment.

Although only one fan 160 is mounted in FIGS. 8, 9, the number of fans is not limited to one. Two or more fan mounters 150 may be provided to mount two or more fans 160.

(Fan Mounter)

The fan mounter 150 is provided at the center of the garment attachment 100C in the up-down direction and the right-left direction, as shown in FIGS. 8, 9. The fan mounter 150 has the same structure as the fan mounter 214 of the air-conditioned garment 200. More specifically, the fan mounter 150 includes: an opening hole 151 formed on the garment attachment 100C; and an opening-hole stiffener 152 that stiffens the region around the opening hole 151. The opening-hole stiffener 152 is provided on the inside of the garment attachment 100C, namely the side that faces the user when the garment attachment 100C is attached to the garment 200A and used. The opening-hole stiffener 152 may be covered with a lining at the inside of the garment attachment 100C.

The fan mounter 150 is not limited to the above and may be configured as desired as long as the fan 160 is attachable to the garment attachment 100C.

(Fan)

The fan 160 has the same structure as the fan 220 of the air-conditioned garment 200. As shown in FIGS. 8, 9, the fan 160 is mounted on the fan mounter 150 and introduces air through the opening hole 151 into the space between the wearer and the garment 200A to which the garment attachment 100C is attached. The fan 160 thus functions as an air introducer in the present invention.

The fan 160 is supplied with necessary electric power by the power source 170 through the connecting cable 180.

(Power Source)

The power source 170 has the same structure as the power source 230 of the air-conditioned garment 200. As shown in FIG. 8, the power source 170 is held inside the garment attachment 100C and supplies the fan 160 with electric power through the connecting cable 180. The power source 170 thereby functions as a power source in the present invention.

(Connecting Cable)

The connecting cable 180 connects the power source 170 and the fan 160, as shown in FIG. 8. Through the connecting cable 180, the power source 170 supplies necessary electric power for operating the fan 160 to the fan 160. The connecting cable 180 thus functions as a connecting part in the present invention.

The connecting cable 180 does not folk into two branches at the end to be connected to the fan 160, but is otherwise the same as the connecting cable 240 of the air-conditioned garment 200.

(Power-Source Holder)

The power-source holder 190 is a pocket, as with the power-source holder 217 of the air-conditioned garment 200, and is provided inside the garment attachment 100C as shown in FIG. 8. The power-source holder 190 houses the power source 170. Although the power-source holder 190 is provided below the fan mounter 150 on the inside of the garment attachment 100C in FIG. 8, the position of the power-source mounter 190 is not limited thereto. The power-source holder 190 can be provided at any position on the inside of the garment attachment 100C.

As with the power-source holder 217 of the air-conditioned garment 200, the power-source holder 190 may not necessarily be a pocket. The power-source holder 190 may be configured as desired as long as the power source 170 is detachably mounted on the inside of the garment attachment 100C. Further, the garment attachment 100C may not have a power-source holder on the inside. For example, the power source 170 may be mounted on the belt of the trousers of the wearer with a clip or the like, instead of being mounted on the garment attachment 100C.

The garment attachment 100C in the fourth embodiment can provide the same function as the air-conditioned garment 200 for a normal front-open garment, such as a jacket and a raincoat.

The garment attachment 100C may also be attached to the air-conditioned garment 200 to enhance the cooling function of the air-conditioned garment 200.

The garment attachment 100C may further include the rope-through part 130 of the first embodiment or the belt-through part 140 of the second embodiment. In such a case, a normal front-open garment can have the same function as the first or second embodiment as well as the same function as the air-conditioned garment 200.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is suitably applicable to a field of manufacturing garment attachments and garments.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

100, 100A, 100B, 100C Garment attachment

110 First connector

120 Second connector

130 Rope-through part

133 Air-leakage preventer (opening-closing part)

140 Belt-through part

141 Right teeth (opening-closing part, position changer)

142 Left teeth (opening-closing part, position changer)

143 Upper slider (opening-closing part, position changer)

144 Lower slider (opening-closing part, position changer)

160 Fan (air introducer)

170 Power source (power source)

180 Connecting cable (connecting part)

200 Air-conditioned garment

200A Garment

GARMENT ATTACHMENT AND GARMENT

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CPC

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Abstract

Description

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