EP1518472B1 - Functional garment with at least an outer layer and an inner layer - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to functional clothing with at least one outer layer and an inner membrane.

Modern functional clothing today combines seemingly contradictory features. On the one hand it is impermeable to water acting from the outside, for example in the form of rain, and wind, on the other hand it offers a breathability which allows water vapor to be discharged from the inside to the outside. This combination of features allows the wearer of functional clothing during physically demanding activities in adverse weather conditions remains as dry as possible and supercooling is avoided by evaporative cooling.

Especially in functional clothing for motorcycle sports upper materials are used, which have a back-coating to increase the durability. Although this produces a tear and abrasion resistant protective layer, but reduces the effect of incorporated in the clothing membrane.

Known functional clothing, especially jackets and pants, often have a closable by a zipper ventilation opening which opens by opening the zipper outer layer and inner membrane simultaneously. These openings serve to ventilate the clothing or body layers below the inner membrane. A disadvantage of these continuous ventilation openings is that their cooling function is locally limited to the areas of the openings and it comes, for example, in the rain through the ventilation opening for the ingress of water. This results in a non-uniform heat balance of the body and an unpleasant feeling of the wearer caused by local cooling.

Depending on the material of the outer layer, the function of the inner membrane is also limited. Thus, it has been shown in practice that the functional membrane does not develop its full effect and, for example, can dissipate water vapor to the outside.

Out US 5,727,256 For example, a shirt is known that has an outer layer and has an inner layer in places underneath the outer layer. This inner layer is formed by a net material.

Out US 5,642,526 is known a coverall, which also has an outer layer and in places an inner layer formed of a mesh material.

Out US 4,513,451 motorcycle clothing pieces are known which have an outer layer. In the outer layer openable ventilation openings are provided. The ventilation openings are covered by a net material.

US 6,070,274 shows a similarly constructed motorcycle jacket, which also has an outer layer with vents, in which the vents be spanned by a net material.

WO 2004/008895 A1 shows a coverall having an outer layer with openable ventilation openings. The vents are covered with a net material.

Against this background, the invention has the object to provide a functional clothing that avoids the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art.

This object is achieved by a functional clothing having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

The inventors have recognized that the breathability of a functional membrane, as described by the water vapor transmission resistance, is highly dependent on the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the membrane.

The invention is based on the basic idea to improve the climate within the clothing by the functional membrane is cooled below the outer layer by an air flow. As a result, the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the membrane is increased and a better water vapor transport is achieved.

The functional clothing according to the invention has a closable, in particular watertight, closable ventilation opening in the outer layer, which can also be opened without opening the inner membrane. Thus, the inner membrane can be kept closed below the vent and a flow of air into an intermediate space between the outer layer and inner membrane are passed. This is achieved in particular when the inner membrane has no opening at all or at least in the region of the ventilation opening of the outer layer.

However, the inner membrane can also be formed with its own, independently of the outer layer openable ventilation opening. If both ventilation openings are arranged one above the other, penetration through the outer layer is possible and inner membrane, for example, to bring out objects from the inside of the functional clothing. The opening of the outer layer and the inner membrane may also be advantageous when driving at low speeds, or during breaks, especially at high ambient temperatures. It is particularly advantageous if the closure means of the inner vents is accessible from the interior of the jacket.

Due to the direct contact of the membrane surface with the cooling outside air, the full potential of the membrane can be exploited. At the same time, the protective effect of, for example, tear and abrasion resistant trained outer layer is fully maintained.

The ventilation opening according to the invention is designed such that it can be both open, as well as completely closed. Completely closing the ventilation opening prevents water from passing through the ventilation opening, for example when it rains, between the outer layer and the inner membrane. This prevents that in wet outdoor conditions a cooling effect occurs. The inventors have in fact recognized that water on the outside of the inner membrane leads to an increased heat transfer through the inner membrane to the outside and thus causes a cooling.

The outer layer is preferably formed from textile, in particular tear-resistant or abrasion-resistant textile. Depending on the intended use, however, other materials such as leather may be used as the outer layer.

The functional clothing is preferably designed as a jacket or pants. However, it can also be embodied in the form of other items of clothing, for example gloves, shoes, coveralls or the like. The functional clothing is preferably a motorcycle clothing, a ski clothing, a hiking or outdoor clothing or a sailing clothing.

The inner membrane is windproof and breathable. Thus, a water vapor transport from the inside of the jacket to the outer layer of the inner membrane and from there through the outer layer and / or be removed by an air flow between the outer layer and inner membrane.

The functional clothing preferably has a plurality of ventilation openings. These can form a flow area for an air flow between them. By means of a corresponding arrangement of a plurality of ventilation openings, in particular in connection with correspondingly arranged courses of seams which connect the outer and inner layers with each other, special flow areas can be created which ensure the largest possible possible overflow of the membrane surface.

In a functional membrane designed as a jacket, the ventilation openings are particularly preferably arranged in the region of the forearms and / or on the front and / or back of the jacket at chest height. As a result, a flow around the arm area and the upper chest and back area can be achieved. The air flow follows, for example, the direction of flow of the wind on a motorbike: entry through openings in the area of the forearms and chest, exit through the openings in the back area. A parachute effect, due to the increased air resistance when flowing through the functional clothing can be minimized.

The arrangement of longitudinal openings in the area of the sleeves and of transverse openings in the region of the chest and back has proven particularly advantageous. Alternatively, the vents in the area of the chest and back, for example, run from top to bottom.

The ventilation openings are preferably made waterproof closable. This is particularly advantageous when used in heavy rain, because penetration of water into the intermediate layer is prevented. As a closure, in particular a zipper can be used, which may be coated in particular water repellent. Furthermore, the zipper can have textile upper and / or lower flaps, which cover the teeth of the zipper and increase the tightness of the closed zipper.

Alternatively or additionally, the ventilation opening can be closed by a Velcro closure. In order to prevent ingress of water, the edges of the outer layer adjacent to the ventilation opening can be fixed so that one edge overlaps the other edge and ensures drainage of the water.

Furthermore, a net-like material can be arranged in the ventilation openings. This net is held by seams surrounding the ventilation openings and limits the opening area of the ventilation openings. Advantageously, the net-like material is selected such that the air flow through the ventilation openings is influenced as low as possible However, penetration of foreign bodies in the intermediate layer is effectively prevented.

Fig.1

eine erfindungsgemäße Funktionsbekleidung in Form einer Jacke in einer Frontansicht;

Fig.2

eine Lüftungsöffnung in geschlossener Stellung,

Fig.3

eine Lüftungsöffnung in geöffneter Stellung.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. Show:

Fig.1

a functional clothing according to the invention in the form of a jacket in a front view;

Fig.2

a ventilation opening in the closed position,

Figure 3

a ventilation opening in the open position.

Fig.1 shows as an example of a functional clothing according to the invention, a motorcycle jacket. The textile structure of the jacket has a multilayer structure which consists of an outer layer of a particularly tear and abrasion resistant material and an inner layer formed by a functional membrane.

In Fig. 1 Several, distributed over the chest and forearm areas ventilation openings 1 are shown. These openings are executed via waterproof zippers 2 closed. In the opened state, the openings 1 ensure a large overflow of the membrane outside, so that the potential of the membrane, in particular with regard to the breathability, is optimally utilized. The main flow directions are in Fig.1 represented by arrows B. They illustrate a flow between outer layer and inner membrane.

Fig. 2 shows a vent 1 in the closed state. In this case, a waterproof zipper 2 is used as the closing means. To make this waterproof as possible, this has a coating of water-repellent material.

Fig. 3 shows a ventilation opening 1 in the open state. In the opening, a wind-permeable mesh material 3 is arranged, which prevents the penetration of foreign bodies in the intermediate layer. By connecting the net material to the peripheral seam of the ventilation opening 1, the opening area of the ventilation opening 1 is restricted to the desired level.

Claims (5)

1. A functional garment with at least an outer layer and an inner layer, wherein in the outer layer at least one closable vent opening (1) is provided, which may be opened independently from the inner layer, characterized in that the inner layer is formed by a wind-impermeable, breathable inner membrane, which is in fluid connection with the vent opening (1).
2. The functional garment of claim 1, characterized in that between the outer layer and the inner membrane, between at least two vent openings (1), a flow region for an air flow (B) between the outer layer and the inner membrane is formed.
3. The functional garment of claim 2, characterized in that the flow region is delimited by means of seams between the outer layer and the inner membrane.
4. The functional garment of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vent opening (1) is closed by a watertight zipper (2).
5. The functional garment of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a wind-permeable net material (3) is positioned in the vent opening (1).

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