Claims
- 1. A ventilated garment, including an outer panel having at least one vent region with one or more openings therein, a substantially non-stretchable, air-permeable vent material spanning the openings of the vent region, at least one air-impermeable cover element disposed over the openings of the vent region, and an adjustable closure element for adjustably coupling at least a portion of the cover element to the outer panel,
- wherein the cover element comprises a front panel and a rear panel, the front and the rear panels being attached to each other to define an interior compartment of the cover element, and wherein the cover element includes an access element for providing access into the interior compartment.
- 2. A ventilated garment according to claim 1, wherein the access element includes an adjustable closure element.
- 3. A ventilated garment according to claim 2, wherein the adjustable closure element is selected from the group consisting of a zipper, a snap, and a hook and loop fastener.
- 4. A ventilated garment according to claim 1, wherein the cover element is made from a substantially air-impermeable material.
- 5. A ventilated garment according to claim 1, wherein the cover element is disposed on the inside of the garment.
- 6. A ventilated garment according to claim 1, wherein the cover element is disposed on the outside of the garment.
- 7. A ventilated garment according to claim 1, wherein the cover element includes at least one side panel attached to and joining the front and the rear panels.
- 8. A ventilated garment according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the side panels includes an access element for providing access into the interior compartment of the cover element.
- 9. A ventilated garment according to claim 8, wherein the access element includes an adjustable closure element.
- 10. A ventilated garment according to claim 9, wherein the adjustable closure element is selected from the group consisting of a zipper, a snap and a hook and loop fastener.
- 11. A ventilated garment according to claim 1, wherein the cover element includes a detachable strap for carrying the cover element.
- 12. A ventilated garment according to claim 1, wherein the outer panel is made from a substantially non-stretchable material.
- 13. A ventilated garment comprising an outer panel disposed about and defining an interior region, the outer panel having at least one vent region having a vent opening for permitting air flow through the outer panel into the interior region of the garment, the vent opening having first and second opposing edges and having a substantially non-stretchable, air-permeable vent material spanning the vent opening, the vent region defining an airflow scoop which selectively controls airflow into the garment as a function of the orientation of the vent region of the garment.
- 14. A ventilated garment according to claim 13, further comprising an adjustable closure element affixed to the first and the second opposing edges of the vent opening for adjustably coupling the opposing edges.
- 15. A ventilated garment according to claim 14 wherein the adjustable closure element is selected from the group consisting of a zipper, a snap, and a hook and loop fastener.
- 16. A ventilated garment according to claim 14, further comprising an air-impermeable windshield element affixed between at least one of the opposing edges and the air-permeable vent material and extending transversely over at least a portion of the vent material.
- 17. A ventilated garment according to claim 13, wherein the vent material includes a plurality of openings which are small relative to the spacing between adjacent openings.
- 18. A ventilated garment according to claim 17, wherein the vent material includes a plurality of uniformly spaced openings.
- 19. A ventilated garment according to claim 17, wherein the vent material includes a plurality of non-uniformly spaced openings.
- 20. A ventilated garment according to claim 13, wherein the vent opening extends for a length L, and the vent material extends a substantial distance beyond the length L of the vent opening.
- 21. A ventilated garment according to claim 13, wherein the outer panel is made from a substantially non-stretchable material .
- 22. A ventilated garment according to claim 13, wherein the garment includes sleeves, and wherein the vent material is disposed along the inside of a sleeve adjacent the inner elbow region of the sleeve and extends along at least a portion of the sleeve, wherein the airflow scoop is open when the sleeve of the garment is bent, and substantially closed when the sleeve of the garment is substantially straight.
- 23. A ventilated garment according to claim 22, wherein the vent material extends along substantially the entire length of the sleeve.
- 24. A ventilated garment according to claim 13, wherein the garment includes pant legs, and wherein the vent material is disposed on the inside of a leg adjacent the knee region of a leg and extends along at least a portion of the inside of the leg of the garment, wherein the airflow scoop is open when the leg of the garment is bent, and substantially closed when the leg of the garment is substantially straight.
- 25. A ventilated garment according to claim 24, wherein the vent material extends along substantially the entire length of the leg of the garment.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is related to, and claims the benefit of priority of, commonly-owned and co-pending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/075,397, filed on Feb. 20, 1998 and entitled "Improvements In Ventilated Garments", which is hereby incorporated by reference.
US Referenced Citations (8)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
PCT International Search Report of International Application No. PCT/US99/03618. |