Patent Application
20140373243
The present invention generally relates to garment systems. More particularly, the invention relates to outerwear garment systems having separate components that provide protection from environmental conditions and easy access to protective equipment and accessories for military and non-military uses.
Outerwear for inclement weather protection is typically in the form of a jacket or parka for the upper portion of the body and pants or bibs for the legs. Some forms of ponchos are also used but they do not offer the mobility needed for most users, especially those in the military. The use of a traditional military parka by personnel in combat roles is problematic, especially since most personnel generally wear some form of body armor. In addition to protection, the front of the torso body armor serves as a carrier for ammunition and other equipment that must be readily accessible. If the user wears the parka under the body armor, then the user finds it cumbersome, if not impossible, to quickly and easily don and doff the parka. With changing exertion levels and climate conditions, this is a major shortcoming of the garment system.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a garment system that protects the user while providing flexibility based on mission, exertion, and climate conditions. The garment systems of the present invention are directed toward these, as well as other, important ends.
The invention relates generally to outerwear garment systems having separate components that provide protection from environmental conditions and easy access to protective equipment and accessories for military and non-military uses, such as security personnel, police personnel, firefighting personnel, ski patrol, utility personnel, rescue personnel, and industrial personnel.
Accordingly, in one embodiment, the invention is directed to garment systems, comprising:
a torso covering member; and
In other embodiments, the invention is directed to garment systems, comprising: a plurality of torso covering members, each torso covering member optionally formed from a different material or a combination of different materials: and
a plurality of separate external upper back and shoulder covering members, each separate external upper back and shoulder covering member optionally formed from a different material or a combination of different materials;
wherein each torso covering member is optionally formed from a material the same as or different from each of said separate external upper back and shoulder covering member;
wherein said garment system is adapted to incorporate a releasable member between said torso covering member and said separate upper back and shoulder covering member; and wherein each one of said torso covering member can be used with any of said separate external upper back and shoulder covering member.
In another embodiment, the invention is directed to methods of quickly releasing body armor, comprising:
donning a garment system, comprising:
doffing said releasable body armor by using said quick release mechanism without first removing said separate external upper back and shoulder covering member or said optional torso covering member.
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:
The figures referred to above are not drawn necessarily to scale and should be understood to present a representation of the invention, illustrative of the principles involved. Some features of the garment systems depicted in the drawings have been enlarged or distorted relative to others to facilitate explanation and understanding. The same reference numbers are used in the drawings for similar or identical components and features shown in various alternative embodiments. Garment systems as disclosed herein, will have configurations and components determined, in part, by the intended application and environment in which they are used.
As employed above and throughout the disclosure, the following terms, unless otherwise indicated, shall be understood to have the following meanings.
As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural reference, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
As described in greater detail below, the present invention is directed to a garment including a torso covering member and an upper back and shoulder covering member. In certain preferred embodiments, a garment system includes a plurality of torso covering members and upper back and shoulder covering members. The members may have different configurations, allowing different combinations of these elements to provide garments having, for example, a variety of aesthetic designs, different weather protecting characteristics and various levels of thermal protection. Thus, a user can have a single garment system capable of adapting to a variety of conditions or uses.
Accordingly, in one embodiment, the invention is directed to garment systems, comprising:
a torso covering member; and
In other embodiments, the invention is directed to garment systems, comprising:
a plurality of torso covering members, each torso covering member optionally formed from a different material or a combination of different materials: and
wherein each torso covering member is optionally formed from a material the same as or different from each of said separate external upper back and shoulder covering member;
wherein said garment system is adapted to incorporate a releasable member between said torso covering member and said separate upper back and shoulder covering member; and
The system permits a user to switch out the torso covering member and/or the external upper back and shoulder covering member depending upon the environmental conditions (such as temperature, humidity, precipitation, and/or wind) and use conditions (such as use under high exertion conditions or use in the poor light).
In preferred embodiments, the garment systems further comprise a releasable member, such as releasable body armor, gear, or a combination thereof The releasable member is removable by a user without removing said separate external upper back and shoulder covering member. In embodiments with the releasable body armor, the wearer may remove the body armor by pulling a device on the armor, usually a handle made of webbing, disconnecting its joining points at the shoulder and sides, making the individual panels of the armor fall to the ground. This quick-releasability and a garment system which accommodates the releasable body armor are critical for the wearer's safety. For example, if a soldier, who is wearing body armor, especially one loaded with ammunition and equipment, falls into the water, he or she is likely to drown unless the soldier can drop the heavy body armor.
In certain embodiments, the separate external upper back and shoulder covering member comprises two sleeve portions connected by a yoke portion incorporating a neckhole. The sleeves may be long sleeves or partial sleeves. In certain embodiments, the separate external upper back and shoulder covering member further comprises a head covering member, such as a hat or protective helmet, attached to at least a portion of said neckhole. The head covering member may be releasably attached or permanently attached to said neckhole, using, for example releasably connected fasteners and permanent fasteners, such as, for example, zipper, snaps, buttons, magnets, hook-and-loop, grommets, stitching, screw and bolt, and the like and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, there is no head covering member, such as, for example, when the user is wearing a separate protective helmet. In certain embodiments, the separate external upper back and shoulder covering member further comprises at least one storage member, such as a pocket to hold equipment and accessories. In certain embodiments, the separate external upper back and shoulder covering member further comprises a releasable fastener, such as, for example, zipper, snaps, buttons, magnets, hook-and-loop, and combinations thereof). In certain embodiments, the releasable fastener releasably may connect two portions of the yoke section together. The yoke sections may be substantially symmetric or may be asymmetric.
In certain embodiments, the torso covering member comprises a front portion and a back portion. In certain embodiments, the torso covering member further comprises at least one fastener, including releasably connected fasteners and permanent fasteners, such as, for example, zipper, snaps, buttons, magnets, hook-and-loop, grommets, stitching, screw and bolt, and the like and combinations thereof). In certain embodiments, the torso covering member further comprises a collar. In certain embodiments, the torso covering member comprises has a storage member (for example, a pocket with or without a releasable connector, that is configured to receive upper back and shoulder covering member to provide for storage of upper back and shoulder covering member when not in use. In certain embodiments, the torso covering member further comprises leg covering members, such a pant legs, which may or may not be detachable.
The torso covering member and the upper back and shoulder covering member may be made from a variety of materials depending upon the conditions of the environment and end uses. In certain embodiments, the torso covering member may be made from different materials than the separate external upper back and shoulder covering member. In certain embodiments, the torso covering member may be made from the same materials as the separate external upper back and shoulder covering member.
In systems with a plurality of torso covering members, it is preferred that each torso covering member is made from a different material that each of the other torso covering members. Likewise, in systems with a plurality of separate external upper back and shoulder covering members, it is preferred that each separate external upper back and shoulder covering member is made from a different material than each of the other separate external upper back and shoulder covering member.
In certain embodiments, the torso covering member and/or the separate external upper back and shoulder covering member may be made of a material that is water-resistant, waterproof, wind-resistant, or a combination thereof, to provide either moisture or wind protection appropriate for the climate and use conditions. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, nylon, latex, waterproof heavy-duty cotton drill or poplin, wool gabardine, animal skin, and the like. Examples of materials include those conventionally used in softshells (wind resistant, highly breathable and often water resistant) and winter parkas or anoraks (warmth and wind resistant).
In certain embodiments, the torso covering member and/or the separate external upper back and shoulder covering may be made of a material that provides thermal protection, i.e., to provide warmth appropriate for the climate and use conditions. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, fleece, wool, animal skin, fur, faux fur, and the like. Examples of materials include those conventionally used in rain gear (waterproof and wind resistant) and winter parkas or anoraks (warmth and wind resistant).
In certain embodiments, it may be preferable to have a torso covering member that provides thermal protection and a separate external upper back and shoulder covering member that provides water-resistance and wind-resistance.
In certain embodiments, it may be preferable to have a torso covering member and a separate external upper back and shoulder covering member having, at least a 20% difference in a selected property, such as thermal resistance. For example, the torso covering member may have an R value of about 0.1 m2 ° C./W and the separate external upper back and shoulder covering member may have an R value greater than about 0.12 m2 ° C./W.
In certain embodiments, it may be preferable to have the torso covering member and/or the upper back and shoulder covering member made from fabrics and/or fibers that provide tire resistance, arc protection, moisture management (water release rate, wicking, and drying time), abrasion resistance antistatic, and/or no melt-no drip properties.
In certain embodiments, it may be preferable to have the torso covering member and/or the separate external upper back and shoulder covering member made from fabrics and/or fibers that provide comfort, such as compositions disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,888,914 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,402,555, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
In certain embodiments, it may be preferable to have the torso covering member and/or the separate external upper back and shoulder covering member made from fabrics and/or fibers that incorporate odor control.
In certain embodiments, it may be preferably to provide the torso covering member and/or the separate external upper back and shoulder covering member made from materials that provide infrared reflectance or absorbance.
In certain embodiments, it may be preferably to provide the torso covering member and/or the separate external upper back and shoulder covering member made from materials that are colored, dyed (such as with a high visibility dye), or printed (such as with camouflage).
In certain embodiments, a method quickly releasing body armor, comprising:
donning a garment system, comprising:
A preferred embodiment of a garment system 2 in accordance with the present invention is shown in
As shown in
In a preferred embodiment shown in
Upper back and shoulder covering member 6 is configured to be worn on top of torso covering member 4, as described in greater detail below, as shown without the optional releasable body armor 8, in
Shown individually with optional hood 13 in
Optional releasable body armor 8 is shown in
When ranges are used herein for physical properties, such as molecular weight, or chemical properties, such as chemical formulae, all combinations, and subcombinations of ranges specific embodiments herein are intended to be included.
The disclosures of each patent, patent application, and publication cited or described in this document are hereby incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous changes and modifications can be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention and that such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the appended claims cover all such equivalent variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
This claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 61/586,213, filed Jan. 13, 2012. the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2013/020680 | 1/8/2013 | WO | 00 | 6/25/2014 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61586213 | Jan 2012 | US |
