Patent Application
20170065107
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of outdoor equipment, and primarily concerns a multi-layered, thermally insulating covering envelope for covering a person and having a body side and an outer side.
Description of Related Art
Covering envelopes sometimes referred to as covering covers or covering shells, serve for keeping people warm and, as the case may be, for the protection from the influences of the weather when residing outdoors. Such weather influences can be wind, downpour, such as snow, hail or rain, as well as temperature conditions. Covering envelopes in particular should keep sleeping persons sufficiently warm, be it during an overnight stay outdoors or in buildings.
Covering envelopes according to definition can be covers, sleeping bags or inlets. In contrast to a cover, the covering envelope of a sleeping bag forms a body receiving compartment that completely surrounds the body to be kept warm.
Not only is the thermal management, thus the thermal insulation to the outside important, but also the humidity or moisture management, for optimal conditions. The danger of formation of condensation water exists with thermally well insulating covering envelopes, due to the fact that a person constantly releases moisture by way of transpiration. The formation of condensation water is due to the temperature differences between the body side of the covering envelope and the outer side of the covering envelope.
The condensation water can form in the covering envelope itself, so that this becomes moist, or on the body of the person himself, depending on the construction of the covering envelope. Such a formation of moisture leads to a reduction of the sleeping comfort and in the worst case to a severe cooling.
It is therefore an object of the invention, to create a covering envelope of the initially mentioned type, which is thermally well insulating and which permits the controlled leading of water vapour away from the body region.
The covering envelope according to the invention is characterised by a transfer layer, a blocking layer and a storage layer, which is arranged between the transfer layer and the blocking layer, wherein the transfer layer is arranged to the body side and is permeable to water vapour in the direction of the storage layer and is impermeable to water in the direction away from the storage layer, and the blocking layer is arranged to the outside and is impermeable to water in the direction away from the storage layer. The storage layer forms an intermediate space for storing condensation water formed from the water vapour, which is led away from the body side through the transfer layer into the storage layer.
The body side is that side of the covering envelope that faces the person to be covered. The outer side is that side of the covering envelope that is away from the person to be covered. The outer side faces the outer environment.
The storage layer thus serves for storing the moisture that is led away from the body side through the transfer layer. The water vapour, which is led away from the body side through the transfer layer into the storage layer, thereby condenses on account of the changed temperature and humidity conditions in the storage layer.
The covering envelope in particular is designed such that the condensed moisture can no longer escape from the storage layer without exposing (laying open) the storage layer. The storage layer is therefore also termed as a condensate trap, in which the condensed moisture is held back. The storage layer accordingly forms a space for holding back condensed water.
The comfort is retained to the fullest extent despite the formation of condensation water in the storage layer, since the construction of the covering envelope does not permit a direct contact between the covered person and the storage layer.
The storage layer can include a moisture absorber that receives and buffers moisture. Such a moisture absorber can, for example, be based on silicate. The moisture absorber can, for example, be a silica gel.
The storage layer can include a material that creates a distance and that creates or forms a cavity for receiving the condensed moisture. The material creating the distance can be a spacer, such as a spacer fabric, a textile, a woven fabric, a net or foam material. The distance-creating, which is to say the space-creating material, in particular is water-repellent, which is to say hydrophobic.
The space-creating material in particular is arranged between the transfer layer and the blocking layer, or between a barrier layer described further below and the blocking layer. The space-creating material can be attached to one or both of the mentioned layers, in a direct or indirect manner.
Spacer fabrics in particular are double-webbed textiles, with which the warp-knitted fabric webs are kept at a distance by spacer connection threads, so called pile threads. The fabric webs in particular form planes which are essentially parallel to one another. With regard to the spacer fabrics, it is particularly the case of meshed fabrics or knitted fabrics, which are expanded by a third dimension. The manufacture of spacer fabrics, in particular is effected on double-bar Raschel machines (warp knitting looms) with two needle bars.
According to a further development of the invention, a spacer layer distancing the transfer layer from the storage layer is arranged between the transfer layer and the storage layer. The spacer layer in particular assists in leading water vapour away from the body side to the storage layer.
The spacer layer can be a thermally insulating layer. The spacer layer can include an insulation material that creates a distance between the transfer layer and the storage layer.
The spacer layer can also include a material that creates a distance and that provides a cavity, in particular pores, for receiving air, the material having thermally insulating characteristics. The space-creating material can be a spacer body, such as a spacer fabric, a textile, a woven fabric, a net or a foam material. The construction of the spacer fabric is described in more detail further above. The space-creating material in particular is water-repellent or hydrophobic.
The spacer layer can also include hollow chambers fillable with air. The distance is achieved by the expansion, which is to say extension of the hollow chambers, which is effected by the air that is let into the chambers. The air in particular is compressed air. Chamber walls thereby delimit the extension of the spacer layer.
A barrier layer that is permeable to water vapour in the direction of the storage layer and is impermeable to water in the direction away from the storage layer can be arranged between the spacer layer and the storage layer. The barrier layer ensures the transport of the water vapour through the spacer layer into the storage layer and simultaneously prevents a penetration of moisture out of the storage layer into the spacer layer.
According to a further development of the invention, the covering envelope on the side of the blocking layer that faces the outer side includes a thermally insulating layer. The thermally insulating layer can include an insulation material. The insulation layer serves for the thermal insulation of the body side.
The insulation material or the space-creating material, of the insulation layers mentioned in this description in particular is hydrophobic. The insulation material can include a loose filling. The loose filling can include down. The loose filling can include a plastic material. The plastic material can include foam material parts, flakes or fibres.
The transfer layer can be permeable to water vapour in the direction away from the storage layer. The transfer layer however can also be impermeable to water vapour in the direction away from the storage layer. The transfer layer can moreover also be permeable to water in the direction of the storage layer.
The transfer layer in particular can be permeable to water vapour but impermeable to water, in each case in both directions. The transfer layer in particular includes a membrane that is permeable to water vapour but is watertight. The transfer layer is thus breathable.
The membrane for this can include micro-pores that permit the passage of water vapour, but not drops of water. Such membranes are known for example under the trademark names GoreTex® or eVent®.
The breathability of the membrane can also be achieved by hydrophilic molecular components in an otherwise hydrophobic membrane. Such membranes are known for example under the trademark names Sympatex®.
The transfer layer can be an outer layer which faces the body side. The transfer layer can be embedded into a layer composite.
The blocking layer can likewise be impermeable to water in the direction of the storage layer. The blocking layer can be permeable to water vapour in the direction of the storage layer. The blocking layer, however, can also be impermeable to water vapour in the direction of the storage layer.
The blocking layer can be permeable to water vapour in the direction away from the storage layer. The blocking layer, however, can also be impermeable to water vapour in the direction away from of the storage layer.
The blocking layer in particular can be permeable to water vapour, but impermeable to water, in each case in both directions. According to this embodiment, the blocking layer can correspond to one of the membranes described above.
The blocking layer can be designed as a foil. The blocking layer can be embedded into a layer composite.
A reflective layer that reflects infrared radiation to the body side can be arranged between the storage layer and the body side of the covering envelope. The reflection layer can be a coating. The coating can be of a metal, such as aluminium. The coating can be effected, for example, by way of vapour deposition. The reflective layer can e.g. be deposited on the transfer layer and face the body side.
The storage layer of the covering envelope, in particular, can be exposed in a reversible manner. “Can be exposed” means that a contact that permits an efficient leading-away of moisture out of the storage layer into the surrounding atmosphere is created between the storage layer and the surrounding atmosphere. This means that the moisture does not need to pass all layers of the covering envelope, between the storage layer and the body side or outer side.
Reversible means that the exposure, which is to say the laying-open, releasing, unravelling or unwrapping of the storage layer, can be rendered reversible. Thus, the previously exposed storage layer assumes its function again as a condensate trap.
The condensation water that is formed in the storage layer can be led away to the outside in a direct manner in this way. This, for example, can be effected by way of dripping-off, shaking-out or by way of direct evaporation into the surrounding atmosphere. The condensate that has frozen in the storage layer in the case of temperatures below freezing can be led away by way of shaking it out. The condensate in particular can be shaken out of a spacer fabric in the storage layer.
The exposure of the storage layer also permits the cleaning of this.
The covering envelope for this can include a reclosable opening, via which the storage layer can be exposed for drying and for cleaning as the case may be.
The covering envelope can thus include a reclosable opening facing the body side. This opening can lead through the transfer layer. The covering envelope can also include a reclosable opening which faces the outer side.
The opening in particular can be arranged in the region of a terminating (closure) corner or a terminating edge of the covering envelope.
The opening can, for example, be reclosable via closure means, such as a zip closure or Velcro closure.
The opening, for example, can permit the storage layer to be turned inside out.
The covering envelope can be single-part or multi-part, in particular of two parts. A multi-part covering envelope for example can be separated into at least two parts, in particular when laying open the storage layer. This can be effected via a reclosable opening, which is mentioned above.
The drying however can also be effected through the transfer layer to the body side, in the case that this transfer layer is permeable to water vapour, in particular permeable to water and water vapour, in the direction of the body side.
The drying can moreover also be effected through the blocking layer to the outer side, in the case that this is blocking layer is permeable to water vapour, in particular permeable to water and water vapour, in the direction of the outer side.
According to a further development of the invention, the covering envelope is designed of at least two parts. The at least two envelope parts can be reversibly separated from one another, in particular along a separating surface, for exposing the storage layer. The separating surface in particular runs parallel to the layers of the covering envelope.
The separating surface can lead through between the storage layer and the blocking layer, so that the storage layer can release the moisture to the surroundings after the separation of the envelope parts. Accordingly, the storage layer remains completely in one of the envelope parts.
The separating surface can also lead through the storage layer itself. This means that the storage layer is undone (separated open) on separating the two envelope parts. The storage layer is accordingly formed between two sides of the two envelope parts that face one another. The side can also be an outer side or inner side of the envelope parts.
The covering envelope in particular is of limp nature and is not shape-stable.
The covering envelope can, for example, be designed and used such that this bears or lies on the body of a person in a direct manner on operation.
The covering envelope can also be designed and used such that this on operation forms a body receiving compartment, as described hereinafter, in the embodiment of a shape-retaining body receiving space, and in particular no longer lies directly on the body of a person.
This, for example, can be achieved by way of the covering envelope being shape-stable in operation. The covering envelope can therefore be brought into a shape-retaining position via chambers that are fillable with compressed air, or via a frame that is integrated into the covering envelope or one that is separate. The covering envelope can moreover be spanned out via a suitable spreading/spanning-out device.
According to a first embodiment, the covering envelope is a cover, by way of which a person can be covered. If the cover is of several parts, in particular of two parts, the separating surface in particular runs parallel to the layers of the cover. The cover in particular can be divided into two part-covers. The part-covers in particular are connected to one another along their edges.
According to a second embodiment, the covering envelope is an envelope body that forms a body receiving compartment. The envelope body in particular is of a limp nature.
The envelope body in particular forms a head opening, which represents a connection from the body receiving compartment to the surroundings.
The envelope body moreover includes an access opening. This can be closable, e.g. by way of a zip closure or Velcro closure. The access and head opening can each be formed by separate openings. The access and head openings can also form a common opening.
Such an envelope body can be designed, for example, as a sleeping bag or inlet (ticking), e.g. for a sleeping bag.
According to a particular embodiment variant of a multi-part covering envelope, the envelope body has an outer envelope that forms a receiving compartment for an inner envelope.
The covering envelope moreover includes an inner envelope that can be removed from the receiving compartment of the outer envelope and be inserted again and that forms the body receiving compartment. The inner envelope in particular is constructed in a multi-layered manner. The inner envelope that can be described as an inlet forms an inner side that faces the body receiving compartment, i.e. the body side. The transfer layer is arranged in the inner envelope.
According to a first further development of the invention, the outer envelope is likewise part of the moisture management system according to the invention and, for example, includes features according to the invention, such as the storage layer and/or the blocking layer.
The moisture management system however can also be completely accommodated in the inner envelope. The inner envelope accordingly includes the transfer layer, the storage layer and the blocking layer. The outer envelope thereby in particular serves for thermal insulation.
According to a first further development, the separating surface can lead through the storage layer, as has already been discussed further above. The storage layer is thereby formed between the outer side of the inner envelope that faces the outer envelope, and the inner side of the outer envelope that faces the inner envelope. This means that the storage layer is formed between the inner envelope and the outer envelope.
The separating surface, as already explained further above, can also lead through between the storage layer and the blocking layer. The storage layer is accordingly part of the inner envelope. The blocking layer in contrast is part of the outer envelope. The blocking layer in particular can form the inner side of the outer envelope that faces the inner envelope.
The separating surface can moreover also lead between the blocking layer and the inner side of the outer envelope that faces the inner envelope. The storage layer and the blocking layer are accordingly part of the inner envelope. The blocking layer can form an outer side of the inner envelope that faces the outer envelope.
According to a further development of the invention, the outer envelope is designed in a multi-layered manner.
The outer envelope can include an outer layer that is directed away from the body receiving compartment, to the surroundings and that forms the outer side. The outer layer can be impermeable to water. The outer layer can be impermeable to water vapour.
The outer envelope can include a thermal insulation layer with an insulation material, in particular of the already mentioned type.
The insulation layer can be arranged between two outer-lying layers that form the outer side and inner side of the outer envelope. The outer-lying layers can be impermeable to water in both directions. The outer-lying layers can be impermeable to water vapour in both directions. According to this variant, the insulation layer is designed as an intermediate layer that is arranged between the two mentioned layers.
If the inner envelope includes an outer layer facing the outer envelope, or the outer envelope includes an inner layer facing the inner envelope, the layers being water-tight or water-tight and water-vapour-tight, then the moisture in the storage layer cannot penetrate further outwards into the outer envelope or into the insulation layer of the outer envelope. The moisture in contrast is held back in the storage layer of the inner envelope or in the intermediate space between the inner envelope and outer envelope.
The outer envelope can also be constructed of several envelope parts, in the manner of an onion skin. More or fewer envelope parts of the outer envelope can therefore be used, depending on the weather conditions. The envelope parts for this are designed in a manner in which they are insertable into one another and separable from one another again.
The inner envelope and the outer envelope can be releasably connected to one another in the operating condition via releasable connections, such as Velcro connection, zip closure or push-button connection. The inner envelope in particular can be completely separated from the outer envelope.
The outer envelope can include a longitudinal closure arranged in the longitudinal direction, for the length-side opening of the outer envelope. The longitudinal closure on the one hand serves, e.g., for introducing the inner envelope into the outer envelope and on the other hand as an access opening.
The inner envelope can include a longitudinal closure arranged laterally in the longitudinal direction, for the length-side opening of the body receiving compartment. The longitudinal closure, e.g., serves as an access opening into the body receiving compartment.
The longitudinal closure can, for example, be a zip closure or a Velcro closure.
The inner envelope can also be insertable into the outer envelope via an opening at the head-end side.
Moisture in the form of water vapour is then formed in the body receiving compartment due to use. The envelope body is then designed such that this moisture is led from the body receiving space or compartment, through the transfer layer of the inner envelope, into the storage layer. The moisture condenses in the storage layer and is held back.
The inner envelope is removed from the outer envelope and in particular is separated from this, for getting rid of the moisture from the storage layer. The inner envelope and the outer envelope can then be dried separately and cleaned as the case may be.
The outer envelope and, as the case may be, also the inner envelope can be turned inside out if necessary for this.
The drying can be effected actively, (e.g. by way of a drying appliance or by way of shaking out) or passively (by way of hanging up, out in the open). The dry outer and inner envelopes can then be brought together for the next use.
According to a particular embodiment variant, the covering envelope can also be the envelope body of a sleeping unit, the sleeping unit forming a body receiving compartment in the form of a shape-retaining body receiving space. The envelope body can be self-supporting, and shape-stable. The body receiving space can be tunnel-like or tubular. The envelope body can be designed of at least two parts and include an outer and inner envelope, which is described above.
The sleeping unit in particular includes a base part. The base part can be designed in a multi-walled manner with hollow chambers that lie therebetween and that are fillable with compressed air, for assuming a mattress function.
The covering envelope can also be designed as a cover or inlet for a sleeping unit, which is mentioned above.
The subject-manner of the invention is hereinafter described in more detail by way of embodiment examples which are represented in the accompanying drawings. In each case are shown schematically in:
Basically, in the figures, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals.
The covering envelope 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 according to
The covering envelope 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 in each case has a transfer layer 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, which faces the body side 3, a blocking layer 11.1, 11.2. 11.3, which faces the outer side 2, as well as a storage layer 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 for condensation water, arranged between the transfer layer 6.1, 6.2. 6.3 and the blocking layer 11.1, 11.2, 11.3.
According to the embodiment according to
A barrier layer 9.1, which is permeable to water vapour in the direction of the storage layer 5.1 and is water-tight in the direction of the body side 3, is arranged between the spacer layer 7.1 and the storage layer 5.1.
According to the embodiment according to
The blocking layer 11.2, which is watertight in the direction of the outer side 2 and therefore prevents a penetration of moisture into the insulation layer 8.2, is arranged between the insulation layer 8.2 and the storage layer 5.2.
According to the embodiment according to
A barrier layer 9.3, which is permeable to water vapour in the direction of the storage layer 5.3 and is water-tight in the direction of the body side 3, is arranged between the spacer layer 7.3 and the storage layer 5.3.
An insulation layer 8.3 for the thermal insulation of the body side 3 is furthermore arranged between the storage layer 5.3 or the barrier layer 11.3, and the outer side 2 of the covering envelope 1.3.
The blocking layer 11.3, which is watertight in the direction of the outer side 2 and therefore prevents a penetration of moisture into the second insulation layer 8.3, is arranged between the second insulation layer 8.3 and the storage layer 5.3.
The inner envelope 52 is separable from the outer envelope 56 and can be removed from this and be reinserted into this.
The envelope body is likewise designed in a two-part manner and includes an outer envelope 86 and an inner envelope 82. The outer envelope 86 and the inner envelope 82 in each case form a head opening 90. The outer envelope 86 and the inner envelope 82 moreover each include a zip closure 91, 92, which is arranged laterally in the longitudinal direction, for opening the outer envelope 86 and the inner envelope 82 respectively. The zip closure 91 in the outer envelope 86 on the one hand serves for introducing the inner envelope 82 into the outer envelope 86 and on the other hand as an access opening. The zip closure 92 in the inner envelope 86 serves as an access opening.
According to the two embodiments which are mentioned above, the inner envelope 52, 82 is designed in a multi-layered manner. The inner envelope 52, 82 includes a transfer layer 53, 83, which forms the inner side, thus faces the body receiving compartment 51, 81. The transfer layer 53, 83 is permeable to water vapour but is water-tight. The transfer layer 53, 83 is an outer layer.
The inner envelope 52, 82 moreover includes a second outer layer 55, 85 in the embodiment of a blocking layer, which faces the outer envelope 56, 86. The second outer layer 55, 85 is water-tight and water-vapour-tight. An intermediate layer 54, 84 is arranged between the two outer layers 53, 83; 55, 85. The intermediate layer 54, 84 is a storage layer, which stores the moisture that is led away through the transfer layer 52, 83 from the body receiving compartment 51, 81 into the intermediate layer 54, 84. The moisture in the intermediate layer 54, 84 can no longer penetrate outwards into the outer envelope 56, 86, since the second outer layer 55, 85 is water-tight and water-vapour-tight.
The outer envelope 56, 86 is likewise designed in a multi-layered manner and includes a first outer-lying layer 57, 87, which faces the inner envelope 52, 82 and forms the inner side. The outer envelope 56, 86 moreover has a second outer-lying layer 59, 89, which forms the outer side, thus faces outwards. The first and the second outer-lying layer 57, 87; 59, 89 are water-tight and water-vapour-tight. An intermediate layer 58, 88 is arranged between the two layers 57, 59; 87, 89. The intermediate layer 58, 88 is an insulation layer for the thermal insulation of the body receiving compartment 51, 81.
Moisture that gets from the body receiving compartment 51, 81 into the intermediate layer 54, 84 of the inner envelope 52, 82, remains captured in this, by which means the body receiving compartment 51, 81 can be kept dry. Only by way of removing the inner envelope 52, 82 out of the outer envelope 56, 86 can this be dried, and moisture be led away out of the intermediate layer 54, 84.
The storage layers 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 54, 84 according to
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 270/14 | Feb 2014 | CH | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CH2015/000025 | 2/23/2015 | WO | 00 |
