EP1994840B1 - 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

The invention relates to clothing for ventilating a human body. In the German patent application 102006049459 Such a ventilation device will be described. With known ventilation devices large body areas are ventilated.
Relatively much energy has to be expended in order to carry out such a large-area ventilation. The patent application EP1464242A1 discloses a garment according to the preamble of claim 1. The patent application US2003 / 0028948A1 discloses a garment with fluid-tempered channels that are fluid-tight and filled with a foam material.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to be able to ventilate a human body more effectively.
To solve the problem, a garment with the features of claim 1 is provided. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the subclaims.
A person has a typical sweat zone, especially in the chest area adjacent to the neck, under the armpits, in the back area adjacent to the neck and the neck area. A garment comprising channels for the passage of air makes it possible to specifically aerate typical sweat zones and to exclude other parts of the body from such ventilation. Thus, a ventilation in the kidney area is undesirable, since a ventilation can cause a disease here. By providing channels, it is therefore possible, on the whole, in a very good way, to ensure that moisture and heat produced by a human being are dissipated, without having to fear illnesses. If energy is expended for the passage of air, for example for the drive of a fan, so the energy requirement can be minimized.
Since above all the upper body of a person includes typical welding zones, the garment is preferably an outer garment, such as a T-shirt or a jacket. The course of channels becomes particular chosen so that the above-mentioned typical welding zones are ventilated. By this is meant that both moisture and heat from these zones are transported away via the channels.

Furthermore, the course of the channels is provided in particular in such a way that sensible areas in humans, in particular the area of the kidney, are excluded from such ventilation. The area of the lungs is too sensitive, even if this area is not as sensitive as the kidney area. Therefore, the area of the lungs may be exempt from aeration. Preferably, the channels are designed so that the area of the lung is also ventilated, but comparatively weak.

For this purpose, the item of clothing preferably comprises channels which transport air from the bottom to the top through the areas which are to be ventilated. The air is transported via channels, in particular from bottom to top, in order to at least support the ventilation through a chimney effect. However, an air movement solely by a chimney effect is usually not enough to achieve the desired ventilation to a clearly perceptible extent. Therefore, in one embodiment, drive means are provided to transport the air through the channels, and in particular to either aspirate or pump upwardly as viewed from below. Below is the area of a garment that is at the bottom when the garment is worn in an upright position. Above is the area of a garment that is at the top when the garment is worn in an upright position as intended. A drive means is in particular a fan or a pump. The drive means can be operated mechanically or electrically.

In one embodiment of the invention, there is only one channel at the front and at the back, via which fresh air is transported into and out of the two channels. If the item of clothing is part of an ABC protective suit for soldiers, then the entry and exit areas are advantageously minimized, which are to be provided with an ABC filter. The need for, for example, protective grids that protect against the ingress of insects is kept so low.

Preferably, the two channels are guided in the middle of an outer garment front and rear from bottom to top. In the front, this is the area of a garment which is located on the side of the chest area of a person, when the garment is worn in an appropriate manner in an upright, straight posture. At the rear, this is the area of a garment which is on the side of the back of a person when the garment is worn in an upright manner in an upright position. The channels are centered when viewed from the front or back along a central axis, so in the case of a worn outer garment from the belly button to the neck, past the kidneys and lungs, which are then not captured by these channels. Toward the neck, in particular, the channel located at the front widened in order to ventilate the chest area adjacent to the neck over a large area. A typical welding zone is thus particularly well ventilated. In a comparable manner, the channel located at the rear can have such a broadening in order to cover typical welding zones in a planar manner.

In one embodiment, a channel having an immediate entry of fresh air is led out to the left and / or right of the neck area. This makes it possible to connect the channels in an easy-to-handle manner, in particular with a suction device, but also with a pump device or to separate such a device from the channels. If it is possible to connect such a device to the channels or to separate from these, so there is above all the advantage of being able to wash the garment without thereby damaging other mechanical or electrical devices that are responsible for the drive or air transport through the channels through.

In particular, since the kidney is susceptible to infection, in particular, the portion of the garment adjacent to the kidney when the garment is worn in a designated manner is free of channels through which air is transported. The kidney is thus protected from drafts for health reasons. In particular, in this case, a channel is passed between the two kidneys in front and behind, so to speak. There are no further left and right channels for the transport of air.
Although a lungs are also sensitive, they are less endangered compared to the kidney area. The area of the lung overlaps with typical sweat zones. Therefore, in one embodiment of the item of clothing, secondary channels are provided in the region of the lung. Secondary channels are channels that open into a channel that has an immediate entry and exit of fresh air. When air is transported through a duct that has direct entry and exit of fresh air, it creates a suction effect that draws air out of the secondary ducts. Since the secondary channels have no direct entry for fresh air, only limited air can be transported through the secondary channels. However, a certain amount of air is transported because the secondary channels are not completely impermeable to air at least towards the body. In this way it is achieved that lung areas and especially the corresponding chest areas are ventilated a little without endangering the lungs. The area of the lung or below the chest area of the garment is understood to mean the area of the garment which borders on the chest or on a lung area of the body when the garment is worn in the manner intended for this purpose. The channels are covered by an air-permeable fabric towards the body when the garment is worn as intended. This breathable fabric does not cause underwear is pressed into the channels, for example due to wrinkles, which would hinder the air circulation.

The air-permeable fabric is placed in such a way that the air-permeable fabric, shielded, shields the channels towards the body. The bias further ensures that the channels are kept clear, which maintains the air transport.

The channels themselves are formed by a material consisting of foam. Foam is on the one hand sufficiently light and on the other hand sufficiently dimensionally stable in order to provide channel structures can. The foam material may be open-pored to aid in the access of fresh air through the foam material. In the military sector, however, closed pores are to be preferred in order to protect a soldier from harmful gases.
Foams made of polyolefin are preferred. These are flexible, but have a three-dimensional structure, if they have been prepared accordingly. The material has good chemical resistance, can be thermoformed and advantageously constitutes an electrical insulator. The provision of channel structures is then easily achieved by a thermal shaping process. A given shape is heated for this purpose, for example. A layer of the foam material is placed on the mold. If the foam material reaches a softening point as a result of the heating, air is sucked through the predetermined shape. The foam material is thereby sucked into the mold. If it is subsequently cooled again, the foam material solidifies again and the desired channel structure is present.
The garment is basically made of a relatively stiff material, such as a foam material, in comparison to fabrics. The wearing comfort of such a garment is correspondingly lower. To improve the wearing comfort, the garment has areas Wavy structures that are free of channel structures. In particular, it is the area of a garment that covers the kidney areas of the human and is therefore kept free of channels in principle. The troughs and crests then run vertically when the garment is worn in an upright position in the intended manner. It has been found that this improves the comfort.

The channels in one embodiment have elevations that serve as spacers. The elevations are arranged so that a distance between the body of a human and a channel wall arranged parallel thereto is maintained. Proper, trouble-free air transport through the channels is thus further improved,

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

In one embodiment of the invention, in addition to the garment that provides the channels, there is an associated undergarment. In the kidney area, for example, the underwear has a stronger effect. This ensures that the kidneys are warmed up more. The air transport is more blocked in this area by the underwear. In areas where the air ducts are provided on the garment providing the channels, underwear is weaker. This ensures that the ventilation is promoted. Thus, if the underwear and above the garment with the channels worn in the manner provided, so the areas of the underwear are weakened, which adjoin the channels.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the drive means, which actively effect the transport of air through the channels, are housed in a support frame. The support frame comprises in particular means for the operation of the drive means.

Such a device for the operation of the drive means is in one embodiment of the invention, a battery. With this, the drive means are electrically operated, so for example fans, which comprise an electric motor.

The support frame may be such that the kinetic energy generated during walking or walking by a person wearing the clothing and the frame is converted into electrical energy. The energy is then used for the operation of the drive means.

The drive means, so for example a fan is connected via one or more hoses with an opening of the channels. The one or more hoses are plugged, for example, to the suction or to several suction channels.

Such a device for the operation of the drive means may be solar cells in a further embodiment.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the rotational speed of the fans used as drive means can be regulated. This ensures that individually, for example, front and back of the garment with the channels a separate ventilation level can be adjusted. Therefore, two fans are to be preferred, which can be controlled separately.

The relative movement that a person makes while walking takes place between the hips and upper body. Here, a relative movement of up to 1 2 cm is generated. For this purpose, in one embodiment of the support frame laterally rods are attached to the support frame an attachment point have above the waist, when the support frame is worn in the designated manner. By "lateral" is understood that are located on the left and right of a person's body, when the frame is carried in a way intended by a human. These rods are inserted into tubes that are mounted below the waist at the hip when the support frame is worn in the designated manner. The tubes are provided with coils. The rods are provided with magnets. When a person carries the frame, the bars in the tubes are moved up and down. As a result, a current is induced in the coil, which can be used to drive the fans. However, the rod may also comprise a coil and the tube may be suitably provided with a permanent magnet. The tube may also be mounted above the hip on the support frame and the rod may be attached below the waist on the support frame.

In one embodiment, to facilitate bowing, the bars comprise springs or else the bars are formed by springs. As a result, it is achieved in a simple manner that a bending movement is not hindered greatly by the rods.

The support frame is designed in one embodiment so that the rear and / or front mounted a load and can be worn. So that body movements do not result in such a supported and moved load being transmitted directly to the body, in one embodiment the bars comprise springs of such a nature that a moving, supported load passes forces via the springs to a waist strap of the support frame. The springs dampen the transmitted forces comparable to a shock absorber, thereby increasing the wearing comfort when carrying a load. Furthermore, it is achieved by these damping springs that even current is generated.

Preferably, the support frame is designed so that a load is worn front and rear. This ensures that the load is evenly on a hip belt can be supported. This further increases the wearing comfort.

In one embodiment of the invention, the support frame on a front and a rear stiff, preferably shield-shaped area adjacent to the upper body during wear. The two rigid areas, which act like a shield, are connected to each other via one or more spring steels preferably over the shoulders. The rear rigid region has means, for example projecting webs, with which the load or the force generated thereby is transmitted to a hip belt or hip belt. These projecting webs are in particular connected to said rods, which are used for power generation. The front rigid area is at least initially connected only via the spring or the steel with the rest of the support frame. By using a spring steel, it is achieved that a load which is carried forward, transported by the spring steel to the rear or passed. If there is no load at the front and the front plate is not connected to the rear plate via straps, the front part in one embodiment folds forward and essentially forms a flat surface with the rear part. This ensures that a load that is worn on the front, is passed through the rear part of the hip belt. By folding up the front stiff area in the unloaded state is achieved that the support frame can be quickly and easily attached to the human body or can be solved by the body.

In one embodiment of the support frame, the rear rigid region laterally projecting hinged webs, which are connected via said rods for power generation or said tubes for power generation with a hip belt of the support frame. For example, the rods are hinged because of hinges that connect the bars to the rear rigid area. It is achieved so that the protruding webs can be adapted to different body sizes. This increases the wearing comfort of the support frame.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spring steels are connected to the front or rear with a quick release with a rigid portion of the support frame. Preferably, the quick release front is provided. This is designed so that the lock can be unlocked by a simple handle. This has the consequence that the front and rear stiff area falls down as soon as the unlocking is made. For example, a soldier can get rid of a load very quickly, in case of danger.

For this reason, it is also preferable that the two rigid areas are connected to each other only via one or more spring steels or a comparatively acting connecting means.

A spring steel used in the aforementioned manner, in one embodiment of the invention, a sheath made of plastic. This plastic material is provided at one of its ends with locking grooves. These locking grooves can be pushed into a corresponding recess and fixed at different locations. In this way, an improved adaptation of the support frame to different body sizes is possible.

In one embodiment of the invention, the support frame on one or more intake channels. Into this tubes are plugged in, which come from the garment with the channels.

In one embodiment of the invention, the two aforementioned rigid, in particular shield-shaped areas of the support frame in the edge region on Kederleisten. This Kederleisten serve as fasteners such as backpacks. In this Kederleisten into a corresponding counter element can be pushed and so a backpack or other loads are reliably attached.

By way of example, a shield-shaped genital protection can be hooked in via the welt strips. For example, water bottles can be hung in the backrest strips.

In one embodiment of the invention, the two rigid, in particular shield-shaped regions are produced by an injection molding process of plastic. These plastics are preferably buried aramids to achieve higher puncture resistance and impact resistance, for example, to protect a soldier improved.

In one embodiment of the invention, the rigid, in particular shield-shaped areas holding means for modules. These modules may be electronic components, such as a computing unit.

FIG. 1 schematically shows from the front an outer garment with a vertical channel 1. The garment is a T-shirt 2. The channel 1 leads up and down from the T-shirt. It therefore has an inlet 3 and an outlet 4 for fresh air. The outlet 4 leads to a shoulder area on the neck over. The inlet 3 is provided with a filter and at least one insect filter or a filter that protects against toxic gases. The channel 1 widens towards the chest area. In the channel 1 side channels 5 open. The secondary channels do not lead out of the T-shirt and therefore have no special entry for fresh air. Since the secondary channels have no special inlet for fresh air, they widen preferably towards the ends and / or are interconnected. Thus, it is promoted that also in the area of these ends of the secondary channels a ventilation takes place to the desired extent.

On the back of the T-shirt, the channels are very similar. The exit on the back preferably ends on the other shoulder side. These exit areas are then easily accessible. There are no channels in the kidney area relative to the worn state of the garment in the lower half. Instead, there is a wave-shaped shaped area 6, which serves to improve the wearing comfort.

FIG. 2 shows a section through a channel 1. The channel 1 is provided on the side facing away from the body by a relatively dimensionally stable foam 7. On the side facing the body when the T-shirt is worn, the channel 1 is separated from the body or from a worn undergarment by an elastic, air-permeable fabric 8. The fabric 8 is biased attached to the foam 7. Subchannels 5 have the same structure in principle.

If a channel 1 is particularly wide, then such a channel has punctiform elevations 9, like the one FIG. 3 clarified on average. The elevations ensure a distance between the body of a human and the channel wall, which is remote from the body. Secondary channels can also have such elevations in particularly wide areas.

FIG. 4 schematically shows a plan view of a support frame. The support frame has a front plate 10 and a rear plate 11. The signs are rigid surfaces made of plastic that are hardly flexible and are preferably adapted to the shape of a human body. The shield 10 is connected to the shield 11 via two spring steels 12 with each other. By bending the spring steels around shoulders, the front shield 10 is supported at the front and the rear shield 11 is at the rear adjacent the spine.

The rear plate 11 has laterally webs 13 which can be folded so that in the worn state of the support frame, the two webs are located on the left and right of the body above the waist of a person.

At the outer ends of the webs 13 rods 14 are fixed, which open into tubes 15 movable. By means of a hip belt 16, the tubes 15 are attached laterally to the body below the waist.

If the frame is worn, then a relative movement between the upper body and the hip during walking. This relative movement has As a consequence, each rod is moved up and down in each tube. For example, if the tube is provided with a coil and the rod at a corresponding end with a permanent magnet, an electric current is induced in the coil. With the power thus generated two controllable fans 16 are driven, which can be mounted in particular on the front plate near the shoulders relative to the worn state or pushed into designated pockets. The fans are connected via hoses with the then adjacent exit regions of channels 1. By means of the fans 16 in particular air is sucked out of the channels (1) and thus also from the secondary channels 5.

Fig. 5 illustrates the basic structure of the support frame seen laterally when the spring steels 12 have been bent around shoulders and the webs 13 were folded toward the body.

In one embodiment of the invention, releasable straps 17 may be provided which may interconnect the front and rear panels in the lower region.

The described structure has the consequence that even at the front of the front plate 10 carried loads are also worn over the waist belt, which relieves the back advantageous.

FIG. 6 shows a plan view of a particularly suitable spring element for providing a quick release to connect the spring steels preferably in front and thus within reach with a rigid portion of the support frame. The spring element shown consists for example of a single corresponding bent wire 20, which intersects at the position 20 without being connected to each other. If the spring element shown is compressed according to the arrows 22, the distance between the legs 23 increases. This distance increase is used to attach the spring element to a button 27 or to release the spring element of this button.

If the spring element is connected to one side by means of buttons 24 and 25, for example, by means of a spring steel and, for example, by means of a button 26 with a front rigid region of the support frame, this stiff region can be achieved by compressing the spring element, as in FIG FIG. 6 indicated by the arrows 22 - very quickly released from the spring steels and discarded. Appropriately, then the rear rigid area is also dropped.

Claims (13)

1. Garment having a ventilation device which includes ducts (1, 5) for conducting air, wherein the ducts in an inward manner, towards the body, are covered by an air-permeable pre-tensioned fabric (8), characterized in that the ducts are provided by a foam material (7).
2. Garment according to Claim 1, wherein ducts (1) on the lower side of the garment (2) are specified such that fresh air can enter directly into the ducts (1) and can exit directly on the upper side, or vice versa.
3. Garment according to one of the preceding claims, having propelling means (16) for transporting air through the ducts.
4. Garment according to the preceding claim, wherein such a duct (1) which enables a direct entry and exit of fresh air is provided only once on the front side and only once on the rear side of the garment.
5. Garment according to the preceding claim, wherein the two ducts (1) which include a direct entry (3) and exit (4) of fresh air are routed from bottom to top so as to be centric at the front and the rear, respectively.
6. Garment according to the preceding claim, wherein the duct (1) that is located at the front and includes a direct entry (3) and exit (4) of fresh air, in the upper half widens towards the top.
7. Garment according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a duct (1) which includes a direct entry of fresh air is routed outwards to the left and/or to the right of the neck region.
8. Garment according to one of the preceding claims, wherein propelling means (16) for transporting air through the ducts, specifically in particular an electrically operated suction device, or an electrically operated pumping device, is connectable to the ducts and removable from the ducts.
9. Garment according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the ducts for conducting air are disposed such that regions that are adjacent to kidneys is free from ducts for conducting air.
10. Garment according to the preceding claim, wherein secondary ducts (5) in which no direct entry for fresh air is provided, specifically in particular in the chest region, open into the two ducts (1) which include a direct entry and exit of fresh air.
11. Garment according to the preceding claim, having undulated regions (6) in particular in the region of kidneys.
12. Garment according to one of the preceding claims, wherein elevations (9) are present in the ducts.
13. Garments according to one of the preceding claims, additionally comprising an underwear garment which in the region of the ducts is warp or weft knitted so as to be thinner as compared to the remaining regions.

Images