DK1994840T3 - Garment with a ventilation device. - Google Patents

Abstract

The frame has a medium for attachment at an upper part of human body and a side-wise fitted rod (14) movably extends into a pipe (15). The rod/pipe combination is fitted, so that a relative movement, which is generated between hip and the upper part of body of a man while walking, leads to a movement of rod in the pipe. The combination is provided, so that the movement of rod in the pipe produces an electrical current. The combination has two ends, of which one is arranged at an attachment point above the waist and the other is attached below the waist.

Description

European Patent Application No. 07 108 898.3 [0001] The invention relates to garments for ventilating the human body. German patent application 102006049459 describes such a ventilation device. i With the known ventilation devices, large areas of the body are ventilated. A large amount of energy has to be expended to execute ventilation with such a large area. Patent application EP1464242A1 discloses a garment according to the preamble of claim 1. Patent application US 2003/0028948A1 discloses a garment having fluid-tempered ducts which are fluid tight and filled with a i foam material.

[0002] In contrast, it is the object of the present invention to ventilate a human body in a more effective manner.

To solve this object, a garment having the features of claim 1 is provided. Advantageous refinements result from the dependent claims ; A human being has typical sweat zones, namely in particular in the breast region adjacent to the neck, in the armpit, in the back region adjacent to the neck as well as the neck. A garment which comprises ducts for passing air through them allows a selective ventilation of the typical sweat zones and to exclude other body parts from such a ventilation. For instance, ventilation in i the region of the kidneys is undesirable, since ventilation in this region could result in an affection of the body. By providing ducts it can be arranged in a very good manner that humidity and heat produced by a human being is led away without having to fear affections of the body. In case energy is used for the passing of air, for example for driving a ventilator, the energy requirement i can be minimized.

Since in particular the upper body of a human comprises typical sweat zones, the garment is advantageously an upper garment, for example a T-shirt or a jacket. The course of the ducts is therefore particularly chosen such that the typical sweat zones mentioned above are ventilated. This means that humidity i as well is heat is removed from these zones via the ducts.

[0003] Further, the course of the ducts is particularly such that regions of the human which are sensitive to draft, particularly the region of the kidneys, are excluded from such ventilation. The region of the lung is also sensitive to draft, even if this region is not as sensitive to draft as the region of the kidneys. Therefore, also the region of the lung can be excluded from ventilation. Preferably, the ducts are formed such that the region of the lung is also i ventilated, however relatively weak.

[0004] For this purpose, the garment preferably comprises ducts which transport air from the bottom to the top through regions which are to be ventilated. The air is transported via ducts, in particular from the bottom to the top, in order to at least support the ventilation by means of a chimney effect, i However, a movement of the air alone by a chimney effect is usually not enough to achieve the desired ventilation to a clearly perceptible extent. Therefore, in one embodiment propelling means are provided for transporting the air through the ducts, in particular to either evacuate from above or to pump upwardly as seen from below. Below means the region of a garment i which is at the bottom, when the garment is worn in an upright position as intended. Above means the region of a garment which is at the top, when the garment is worn in an upright position as intended. A propelling means is particularly a ventilator or a pump. The propelling means can be operated mechanically or electrically. i [0005] In one embodiment of the invention there is only one duct on the front side and on the rear side over which fresh air is transported into and out of the two ducts. If the garment is part of an ABC protective suit for soldiers, then the entry and exit regions are advantageously minimized. In this way, also the need for e. g. protective grilles which protect against the invasion of insects is ; held low.

[0006] Preferably, the two ducts are routed from the bottom to the top so as to be centric at the front and at the rear. The front means the region of a garment which is on the side of the breast region of a human, when the garment is worn in an upright, straight position as intended. Rear means the region of a ) garment which is on the side of the back of a human, when the garment is worn in an upright, straight position as intended. The ducts are placed in the centre when they run along a middle axis seen from the front or the rear, in the case of a worn outer garment from the belly button to the neck, past the kidneys and lungs, which are not effected from this ducts in this case.

Towards the neck, in particular the duct placed at the front widens in order to ventilate the chest region adjacent to the neck over a large area. A typical sweat zone is particularly well ventilated in this manner. Similarly, the duct located at the rear can have such a widening in order to cover typical sweat zones there as well.

[0007] In an embodiment, a duct that has a direct entry of fresh air, is led out left and/or right of the neck area. This makes it possible to connect the ducts in particular with a suction device, but also with a pumping device or to separate such a device from the ducts in an easy to handle manner. If there is the possibility to connect such a device to the ducts or to separate them from these, there is the particular advantage to be able to wash the garment without damaging other mechanical or electrical devices that are responsible for the propelling or for the air transport through the ducts.

[0008] Since in particular the kidney is sensitive to draft, in particular the area of the garment adjacent to the kidney when the garment is worn in the intended manner is free of ducts through which air is transported. The kidney is thus protected from drafts for health reasons. In particular in this case a duct is passed through both kidneys at the front and the rear. There are no ducts on the left and the right which serve to transport the air.

While the lung is also sensitive to draft, it is less endangered compared to the region of the kidney as regards health. The region of the lung intersects with the typical sweat zones. Therefore, in an embodiment of the garment in the area of the lung secondary ducts are provided. Secondary ducts are ducts that open into a duct that has a direct entry and exit of fresh air. If air is transported through a duct that has a direct entry and exit of fresh air, a suction effect is created which draws air out of the secondary ducts. Since the secondary ducts do not have a direct entry for fresh air, only limited air can be transported through the secondary ducts. However a certain amount of air is transported, since the secondary ducts are not completely impermeable to air at least towards the body. In this manner it is achieved that the lung regions and in particular the respective breast areas are ventilated a little without endangering the lung. The region of the lung or the region of the breast of the garment means the region of the garment that is adjacent to the breast or to a lung region of the body, if the garment is worn in the intended manner. Towards the body, the ducts are covered by a fabric which is permeable for air, when the garment is worn as intended. This air-permeable fabric has the effect that the underwear is not pressed in to the ducts, as for example due to the creation of pleats which would interfere with the circulation of air.

[0009] The air impermeable fabric is attached such that the air-permeable fabric covers the ducts towards the body in a pre-tensioned manner. By means of the pre-tension it is furthermore ensured in an improved manner that the ducts are kept clear which maintains the transport of air.

[0010] The ducts themselves are formed by a material consisting of foam. On the one hand, foam is sufficiently light and on the other hand sufficiently dimensionally stable in order to provide duct structures. The foam material can be open-pored to assist the entry of fresh air through the foam material. However, in the military field closed pores are preferred in order to protect a soldier from harmful gases.

Foams consisting of polyolefin are preferred. They are flexible, but have a three-dimensional structure, if they have been produced accordingly. The material has a good chemical resistance, can be thermoformed and advantageously represents an electrical insulator. The provision of duct structures is then easy by means of a thermal shaping process. For this purpose, a given shape is for example heated. On the mould, a layer of the foam material is placed. If the foam material reaches its softening point due to the heating, the air is evacuated or sucked through the given form. In this way, the foam material is sucked into the mould. If a subsequent cooling follows, the foam material solidifies again and the desired duct structure is present. Compared to fabrics, the garment consists of a relatively stiff material, as for example a foam material. The wearing comfort of such a garment is correspondingly lower. To improve the wearing comfort, in certain areas the garment has undulated structures that are free from duct structures. In particular, these are the regions of a garment that cover the kidney regions of a human, which therefore is principally held free of ducts. The troughs and peaks of the waves then run vertically, if the garment is worn in an upright position in the intended manner. It has been found that in such a way the wearing comfort is improved.

[0011] In an embodiment, the ducts have elevations that serve as spacers. The elevations are arranged such that thereby a distance between the body of a human and a duct arranged in parallel thereto is maintained. A proper, trouble-free transport of air through the ducts is thereby ensured in a further improved manner.

[0012] The depth of the ducts seen from the body is preferably at least 10 mm, more preferably 12 mm. From this depth it is ensured that even by bending the garment the ducts are not clogged. It is then particularly well ensured that through the ducts air can be pumped or sucked. The ducts are several centimetres wide and in particular at least 1 cm and a maximum of 10 cm. The used foam material is preferably 3 to 10 mm thick.

[0013] In an embodiment of the invention, in addition to the garment that provides the ducts there is an associated undergarment. In the region of the kidneys the underwear is for example stronger knitted. This provides that the kidneys are more intensely warmed. By means of the underwear the transport of air is more blocked in this region. In regions, in which the air ducts of the garment that provides the ducts are provided, the underwear is knitted weaker. This provides that the ventilation is promoted. Thus, if the underwear as well as the garment with the channels above are worn in the intended manner, the regions of the underwear adjacent to the ducts are knitted weaker.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the invention the propelling means that actively cause the transport of air through the ducts are housed in a support frame. The support frame in particular comprises means for the operation of the propelling means.

[0015] In an embodiment of the invention, a means for the operation of the propelling means is a battery. With this, the propelling means are operated electrically, as for example ventilators that comprise an electric motor.

[0016] The support frame can be such that the kinetic energy generated by a person wearing the garment and the frame during walking or marching is converted into electrical energy. The energy is then used for the operation of the propelling means.

[0017] The propelling means, as for example a ventilator, is connected with the opening of the ducts via one or more hoses. The one or more hoses are for example plugged to the suction duct or the several suction ducts.

[0018] In a further embodiment, such a device for the operation of the propelling means can be solar cells.

[0019] In a further embodiment of the invention, the rotational speed of the ventilators used as propelling means can be regulated or controlled. This makes it possible to adjust a separate ventilation level for example individually at the front and at the rear of the garment. Therefore, two ventilators are preferred which can be regulated separately.

[0020] The relative movement that a person creates during walking takes place between the hip and the upper body. There, a relative movement of up to 12 cm is generated. For this purpose, in an embodiment of the support frame bars are attached at the side, which comprise an attachment point above the waist on the support frame, if the support frame is worn in the indented manner. "At the side" means that they are placed left and right of the body of a human, if the frame is worn in the intended manner by a human. These bars are inserted into tubes which are placed below the waist in the region of the hips, if the support frame is worn in the intended manner. The tubes are provided with coils. The bars are provided with magnets. If a human wearing the frame is walking, the bars are moved up and down in the tubes. This results in the induction of a current in the coil which can be used for operating the ventilators. However, the bar can comprise a coil and the tube can be provided with a permanent magnet in an adequate manner. The tube can also be placed above the hips on the support frame and the bar can be attached below the waist.

[0021] In an embodiment, in order to allow a movement of bending down, the bars comprise springs or the bars are formed by springs. This achieves in a simple manner that a movement of bending down is not hindered too much by the bars.

[0022] In an embodiment the support frame is provided in such a way that on the rear and/or on the front a load is attached and can be carried this way. In one embodiment, the rods comprise such springs that a moving, carried load passes forces via the springs to a hip strap of the support frame to provide that movements of the body do not have the consequence that a load carried and moved in such a way is transmitted directly to the body. The springs dampen the transmitted forces like a shock absorber. Thereby, the wearing comfort when carrying a load is increased. Furthermore, by these dampening springs it can be achieved that current is generated at the same time.

[0023] Preferably, the support frame is designed such that on the front and the rear a load is carried. This ensures that the load can be supported evenly on a hip belt. This further increases the wearing comfort.

[0024] In an embodiment of the invention, the support frame comprises a front and a rear stiff, preferably shield-shaped region which adjoins the upper body during wearing. The two stiff regions acting like a protective shield are connected via one or more spring steels, preferably over the shoulders. The rear stiff region comprises means, for example protruding links, by means of which the load or the force created thereby are passed on to a hip belt or hip band. These protruding links are particularly connected to the bars mentioned above that are used for the generation of current. The front rigid region is at least initially connected to the rest of the support frame via the spring steel or spring steels. By using a spring steel, it is achieved that a load that is worn at the front is transported or passed on via the spring steels to the rear. In case there is no load on the front and the front shield is not connected to the rear shield via belts, in an embodiment the front part folds to the front and forms an essentially flat surface with the rear part. In this way it is achieved that a load that is carried on the front is passed on to the hip belt via the rear part. By folding up the front stiff region in the unloaded state it is achieved that the support frame can be fixed to the human body or can be released from the human body in a quick and comfortable way.

[0025] In an embodiment of the support frame, the rear stiff region comprises laterally projecting hinged links which are connected via the bars for generating current mentioned above or the tubes for generating current mentioned above with a hip belt of the support frame. The bars or links are for example hinged due to hinge-joints which connect the links with the rear stiff region. In this way it is achieved that the protecting links can be adapted to different girths. This increases the wearing comfort of the support frame.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spring steels are connected on the front or on the back via a quick lock to the stiff region of the support frame. Preferably, the quick lock is provided at the front. It is designed such that the connector can be released with a simple hand movement. The consequence is that the front and the rear stiff region fall down as soon as the release is carried out. This way, a soldier can get rid of a load very quickly in case of danger.

[0027] For this reason, it also preferable that the two stiff regions are only connected via one or more spring steels or a comparably acting connecting means with one another.

[0028] In an embodiment of the invention, spring steel used in the above mentioned manner comprises a sheathing made of plastic. On one of its ends, this plastic material is provided with locking grooves. These locking grooves can be pushed into a respective recess and can thus be fixed at different positions. In this manner, an improved adaption of the support frame to different body sizes is possible.

[0029] In an embodiment of the invention, the support frame comprises one or more suction ducts. Into these tubes are plugged in, which come from the garment having the ducts.

[0030] In an embodiment of the invention, the two above mentioned rigid, particularly shield-shaped regions of the support frame comprise welt ridges in the edge region. These welt ridges serve as fastening means for example for backpacks. Into these welt ridges a corresponding counter element can be pushed and this way a backpack or a different load can be reliably attached.

[0031] By means of the welt ridges a shield-shaped genital protection can be hung on the front. On the rear, at the welt ridges for example water bottles can be hung in.

[0032] In an embodiment of the invention the two stiff, particularly shieldshaped regions are produced by means of an injection moulding process from plastic. To these plastics preferably aramids are added to achieve a higher prick resistance and shock resistance to thereby protect for example a soldier in an improved manner.

[0033] In an embodiment of the invention, the stiff, particularly shield-shaped regions comprise holding means for modules. These modules can be electronical components, for example a processing unit.

[0034] Figure 1 schematically shows, from the front, an outer garment having a vertically extending duct 1. The garment is a T-shirt 2. The duct 1 leads out of the T-shirt on the top and on the bottom. For this reason, it has an entry 3 and an exit 4 for fresh air. The exit 4 leads to a shoulder region passing the neck. The entry 3 has a filter, namely at least an insect filter or a filter protecting from toxic gases. The duct 1 widens to the breast region.

Secondary ducts 5 open into the duct 1. The secondary ducts do not lead out of the T-shirt and therefore do not have a particular entry for fresh air. Since the secondary ducts do not have a particular entry for fresh air, they preferably widen to the ends and/or are connected with each other. Thus, it is promoted that also in the region of these ends of the secondary ducts ventilation takes place to the desired extent.

[0035] On the rear of the T-shirt the ducts run quite similar. The exit on the rear ends preferably on the other side of the shoulder. These exit regions can then be easily accessed. In the region of the kidneys based on the worn state of the garment in the lower half there are no ducts. Instead, there is an undulated region 6 which serves to improve the wearing comfort.

[0036] Figures 2 shows a section through one duct 1. The duct 1 is provided on the side facing away from the body by means of a comparatively dimensionally stable foam 7. On the side facing the body when the T-shirt is worn a duct 1 is separated by the body or by a worn undergarment by means of an elastic, air-permeable fabric 8. The fabric 8 is fixed to the foam 7 in a pre-tensioned manner. Secondary ducts 5 in principle have the same structure.

[0037] If a duct 1 is particularly wide, then such a duct has point-shaped elevations 9, as illustrated in the section of figure 3. The elevations ensure a distance between the body of a human and the wall of the duct facing away from the body. At particularly wide positions, secondary ducts can also have such elevations.

[0038] Figure 4 schematically shows a plan view of a support frame. The support frame has a front shield 10 and a rear shield 11. The shields are rigid surfaces consisting of plastic which are hardly flexible and preferably adapted to the shape of a human body. The shield 10 is connected with the shield 11 via two spring steels 12. By bending the spring steels around the shoulders, the front shield 10 is worn on the front and the rear shield 11 is worn on the rear adjacent to the back.

[0039] The rear shield 11 laterally comprises links 13 which can be hinged in such a way that in the worn state of the support frame both links are to the left and right of the body above a waist of a human.

[0040] At the outer ends of the links 13 bars 14 are fixed which lead into tubes 15 in a movable manner. By means of a hip belt 16 the tubes 15 are fixed laterally to the body below the waist.

[0041] If the frame is worn, a relative movement between the upper body and the waist is generated during walking. This relative movement leads to the fact that every bar is moved up and down in every tube. If for example the tube is provided with a coil and the bar with a permanent magnet on a respective end, in the coil there is induced an electric current. With the current produced in this manner, two controllable ventilators 16 are driven which can be particularly fixed at the front shield close to the shoulders in relation to the worn state or can be pushed into pockets provided for this reason. The ventilators are connected via hoses with the exit regions of the ducts 1 then lying adjacent. By means of the ventilators 16 in particular air is sucked out of the ducts 1 and thus also from the secondary ducts 5.

[0042] Figure 5 illustrates the basic structure of the support frame seen from the side, when the spring steels 12 are bent around shoulders and the links 13 have been folded towards the body.

[0043] In an embodiment of the invention releasable straps 17 can be provided which can connect the front and the rear shield in the lower region.

[0044] The structure described above brings about that even loads carried at the front on the front shield 10 can be carried over the hip belt which advantageously relieves the back.

[0045] Figure 6 shows a plan view of a particularly suitable spring element for the provision of a quick lock to connect the spring steels preferably at the front and therefore in griping distance with a stiff portion of the support frame. The spring element shown for example consists of a single wire 20 bent accordingly which overlaps at the position 20 without being connected with each other. If the spring element shown is pressed according to arrows 22, the distance between the limbs 23 increases. This increase of the distance is used to fix the spring element at a knob 27 or to release the spring element from this knob.

[0046] If the spring element is connected to a spring steel on one side for example by means of knobs 24 and 25 and for example by means of a knob 26 in the front stiff region of the support frame, this stiff region can be released from the spring steels very quickly and can be dropped - as shown in Figures 6 by arrow 22. Appropriately, in this case the rear stiff region is also dropped.

Claims (13)

Garment with a ventilation device comprising ducts (1, 5) for air passage, wherein the ducts are covered inwardly against the body by means of an air-permeable, biased material (8), characterized in that the ducts are provided by means of a foam material (7). Garment according to claim 1, wherein ducts (1) on the underside of the garment (2) are arranged such that fresh air can immediately enter the ducts (1) and run out on the upper side or vice versa. Garment according to any one of the preceding claims with propellant (16) for conveying air through the ducts. Garment according to the preceding claim, wherein such a duct (1) which allows an immediate inlet and outlet of fresh air is provided only once on the front and once on the back of the garment. Garment according to the preceding claim, wherein both ducts (1), which include an immediate inlet (3) and outlet (4) of fresh air, are led downwards and upwards centrally from the front respectively. from behind. Apparel according to the preceding claim, wherein the front duct (1), which includes an immediate inlet (3) and outlet (4) of fresh air, extends upwardly into the upper half. Garment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a duct (1) including an immediate inlet and outlet of fresh air is provided to the left and / or right of the neck area. Apparel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein propellants (16) for transporting air through the ducts, and in particular an electrically driven suction device or an electrically driven pumping device, can be connected to the ducts and can be separated from the ducts. Garment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ducts for the passage of air are arranged so that areas adjacent to the kidneys are free of ducts for the passage of air. Garment according to the preceding claim, wherein sub-ducts (5), in which there is no immediate inlet or outlet for fresh air, and in particular in the chest area, open into both ducts (1) which include an inlet and outlet of fresh air . Garment according to the preceding claim having corrugated areas (6), in particular in the region of the kidneys. Garment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein there are elevations (9) in the ducts. A garment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the garment further comprises a lingerie garment which, in the region of the channels, is less weaved relative to other areas.