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The present disclosure relates in general to a garment including ventilation openings and closing devices associated with the ventilation openings. The present disclosure relates, finally, to the method of manipulating the garment in order to open, or close, simultaneously the closing devices of the ventilation openings of the garment itself.
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In particular, the garment includes a covering structure configured to cover the body, preferably the torso, of a user, preferably a passenger, a skier, a mountain climber, a motorcyclist or a similar user, during a sporting and/or working activity and/or any activity, preferably any activity performed in the open, during which the user may be subject to variable conditions.
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For some time garments, such as jackets, trousers or suits provided with openings configured to allow the circulation of air through the garment, have been known. Said openings, which are generally referred to as "ventilation openings", include a closing device which allows the adjustment between an open configuration and a closed configuration, or into intermediate opening and/or closing configurations so that the user wearing these garments may control the air flow which passes through the garment being worn. Consequently, these ventilation openings, or air vents, improve the ventilation of the garment, favouring the circulation of the air and helping maintain a more stable body temperature, offering a solution which provides a cooling action in warm environments or during intense physical activity, thus reducing the internal moisture and therefore improving the comfort of the user, while still guaranteeing protection against adverse weather conditions or other external agents.
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In particular the ventilation openings which are functionally adaptable, namely can be adjusted between an open configuration and a closed configuration depending on the weather conditions or the degree of physical activity, are able to ensure an adequate ventilation level.
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Moreover, garments with several ventilation openings, for example located at the front or rear of the user's torso and/or symmetrically with respect to a sagittal plane, favour a more efficient air flow, ensuring a uniform and constant ventilation and a balanced circulation of the air inside the jacket, which helps control the body temperature. However, the ventilation openings located in particular on the rear of garment with respect to the user's torso may give rise to problems as regards adjustment of the opening and/or closing thereof, since they are difficult to access because of their position in relation to the user's torso and the anatomy of the human body.
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Therefore, in order to solve the technical problem associated with the aforementioned adjustment of the opening and/or closing of the ventilation openings, the present disclosure proposes providing a garment comprising a covering structure, ventilation openings, closing devices associated each with a respective ventilation opening, and a connecting device which allows the transition of the closing devices of the ventilation openings from an open configuration into a closed configuration and vice versa simultaneously, namely by means of a single operation, preventing or overcoming one or more of the drawbacks mentioned with reference to the prior art.
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This is achieved by providing a garment comprising the elements described below and a method as defined in the respective independent claims. Secondary characteristics and particular embodiments of the subject of the present disclosure are defined in the corresponding dependent claims.
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The garment according to the present disclosure comprises a wearable covering structure, namely configured to cover the body, preferably the torso, of a user.
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In particular, said covering structure includes a first ventilation opening, or air vent, and a second ventilation opening, or air vent.
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In particular, the term "ventilation opening" or "air vent" is understood as meaning in the context of the present disclosure a ventilation slot or aeration opening or ventilation window or aeration slot or relief opening or cooling slot or air passage, namely a zone without material formed in the covering structure which defines two portions, strips, edges or similar free edge parts of the covering structure which are opposite to each other and separated by the said opening.
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The first ventilation opening is positioned in a first region of the covering structure and the second ventilation opening is positioned in a second region of the covering structure, wherein the first region is different or spaced from the second region of the covering structure.
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A closing device is associated with each said ventilation opening. The closing device is a reversible closing device. Namely, it allows opening and closing of the respective ventilation opening and vice versa. More particularly, the first ventilation opening and the second ventilation opening may have an open configuration, in which the two portions of the covering structure defined by the ventilation opening are separated or spaced, or a closed configuration, in which the two portions of the covering structure defined by the ventilation openings are adjacent and joined together, or intermediate partially open and/or closed configurations, in which the two portions of the covering structure defined by the ventilation opening are partially separated.
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Preferably, the first closing device (for the first ventilation opening) and the second closing device (for the second ventilation opening) each comprise or consist of two elements, i.e. a part and counterpart of the closing device, which are configured to be stably connected together. The first closing device is designed to close the first closing opening and the second closing device is designed to close the second ventilation opening.
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In other words, the first closing device secures the first ventilation opening in a closed or open configuration, and the second closing device secures the second ventilation opening in a closed or open configuration or in intermediate configurations. Consequently, the open configuration of the first ventilation opening and of the second ventilation opening corresponds to a configuration of the first closing device and the second closing device in which its elements, understood as being a part and counterpart of the closing device, configured for stable connection together, are separated or spaced, and the closed configuration of the first ventilation opening and the second ventilation opening corresponds to a configuration of the first closing device and the second closing device in which its elements, understood as being a part and counterpart of the closing device, configured for stable connection together, are adjacent or joined together, or stably connected together.
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It is to be understood, therefore, that the first closing device is associated, connected, united or joined together with the first ventilation opening and the second closing device is associated, connected, united or joined together with the second ventilation opening, and therefore the first closing device is positioned in the first region of the covering structure and the second closing device is positioned in the second region of the covering structure, wherein the first region is different or spaced from the second region of the covering structure.
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In other words, since the first closing device is associated with the first ventilation opening and the second closing device is associated with the second ventilation opening, and since they are of the reversible type, they allow the two portions of the covering structure defined by the respective ventilation opening to be associated with each other or joined together, as required or temporarily, and therefore the configuration of the respective ventilation opening to be modified from open to closed and vice versa from closed to open. In particular, by operating the closing devices it is possible to move towards or away from each other, respectively, the covering structure portions defined by the ventilation openings and therefore modify the configuration of the ventilation openings from open to closed or from closed to open, respectively, via partially open and/or closed intermediate configurations.
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Preferably, the garment comprises a first connecting device and a second connecting device which connect the first closing device of the first ventilation opening with the second closing device of the second ventilation opening.
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Preferably, the first connecting device and the second connecting device may be understood as being both devices which connect stably, or substantially or preferably permanently, the respective ventilation openings or may be regarded as being removable devices which are designed to connect, if necessary, the respective ventilation openings.
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More specifically, the first connecting device connects the first closing device of the first ventilation opening with the second closing device of the second ventilation opening. The second connecting device connects the first closing device of the first ventilation opening with the second closing device of the second ventilation opening.
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The transition via the first connecting device from an open configuration into a closed configuration of the first ventilation opening corresponds to a transition from an open configuration into a closed configuration of the second ventilation opening and a transition via the second connecting device from a closed configuration into an open configuration of the first ventilation opening corresponds to a transition from a closed configuration into an open configuration of the second ventilation opening.
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The term "transition" is understood as meaning in the context of the present disclosure a "switching" or "change-over" between two configurations and/or states of the two ventilation openings.
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In other words, since the first connecting device is associated both with the first closing device of the first ventilation opening and with the second closing device of the second ventilation opening, the closing of the first closing device of the first ventilation opening allows by means of the first connecting device the closing of the second closing device of the second ventilation opening. In the same way, since the second connecting device is associated both with the first closing device of the first ventilation opening and with the second closing device of the second ventilation opening, the opening of the first closing device of the first ventilation opening allows by means of the first connecting device the opening of the second closing device of the second ventilation opening.
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This therefore results in closing devices which are dependent on each other and which may operate in a correlated manner by means of two connecting devices.
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Expressed differently, since the first connecting device connects the first closing device of the first ventilation opening and the second closing device of the second ventilation opening, when closing the first closing device of the first ventilation opening, and therefore passing from an open configuration into a closed configuration of the first ventilation opening, the first connecting device allows also the second closing device of the second ventilation opening to be closed, therefore passing from an open configuration into a closed configuration of the second ventilation opening. Similarly, since the second connecting device connects the first closing device of the first ventilation opening and the second closing device of the second ventilation opening, when opening the first closing device of the first ventilation opening, and therefore passing from a closed configuration into an open configuration of the first ventilation opening, the second connecting device allows also the second closing device of the second ventilation opening to be opened, therefore passing from a closed configuration into an open configuration of the second ventilation opening.
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It can therefore be understood that the first connecting device allows the simultaneous closing of the first closing device of the first ventilation opening and of the second closing device of the second ventilation opening, while the second connecting device allows the simultaneous opening of the first closing device of the first ventilation opening and of the second closing device of the second ventilation opening.
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In other words, by means of the first connecting device it is possible to pass from an open configuration into a closed configuration both of the first closing device of the first ventilation opening and of the second closing device of the second ventilation opening by means of a single operation or manoeuvre, via partially open and/or closed intermediate configurations. Similarly, by means of the second connecting device it is possible to pass from a closed configuration into an open configuration both of the first closing device of the first ventilation opening and of the second closing device of the second ventilation opening by means of a single operation or manoeuvre, via partially open and/or closed intermediate configurations.
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In fact, the first connecting device and the second connecting device allow, respectively, the simultaneous closing and opening of both the ventilation openings.
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Consequently, an open configuration of the first closing device of the first ventilation opening necessarily corresponds to an open configuration of the second closing device of the second ventilation opening; vice versa, the closed configuration of the first closing device of the first ventilation opening corresponds necessarily to the closed configuration of the second closing device of the second ventilation opening. Similarly, partially open and/or closed intermediate configurations of the first closing device of the first ventilation opening necessarily correspond to partially open and/or closed intermediate configurations of the second closing device of the second ventilation opening.
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Expressed very simply, the present disclosure relates to a garment comprising ventilation openings positioned in different regions of the covering structure of the garment and connected by connecting devices, wherein the opening and/or closing of the ventilation openings may be adjusted simultaneously by means of a single operation. This special feature is particularly advantageous for a motorcyclist who often wears gloves and may have a limited manual capacity or easy access for operating the closing devices.
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According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the transition from a closed configuration into an open configuration of the respective ventilation openings and vice versa is from a fully open configuration into a fully closed configuration of the respective ventilation openings.
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According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the first region of the covering structure in which the first ventilation opening is positioned is a front region of the covering structure with respect to the user's torso and the second region of the covering structure in which the second ventilation opening is positioned is a rear region of the covering structure with respect to the user's torso. Therefore, in this case it may be understood that the connecting devices allow the adjustment of the configuration of the closing device of the second ventilation opening located on the rear of the user's torso from open to closed and vice versa by means of adjustment of the configuration of the closing device of the first ventilation opening located on the front of the user's torso from open to closed and vice versa, respectively. This results in easy adjustment of the opening and/or closing of ventilation openings which are difficult to access because of their position with respect to the user's torso and the anatomy of the human body, such as ventilation openings which are positioned in a rear region of the user's torso. In other words, this aspect of the present disclosure is particularly advantageous because the user wearing said garment during a sporting and/or working activity, for example a motorcyclist or a similar user, may adjust the ventilation openings positioned in a rear region of the user's torso without having to adopt positions which are anatomically awkward or complex and which may adversely the activity which is being performed.
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According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the first closing device and the second closing device are a zip or a zip fastener, namely a sliding closing device which allows easy and reliable closing of the closing devices. Owing to this aspect advantageously it is possible perform stable and rapid adjustment of the opening and/or closing of at least two ventilation openings, even though positioned in regions of the torso which are difficult to access, according to a preferred aspect of the present disclosure.
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According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the connecting devices or structures are elongated elements which are fixed on one side to the first closing device and on the other side to the second closing device. In other words, the connecting devices or structures are elongated elements or thread-like structures which extend between a first end associated with the first closing device of the first ventilation opening and a second end associated with the second closing device of the second ventilation opening. The central body or element of the connecting devices or structures is instead a free body or element or in any case is not associated with said devices of the covering structure.
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According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the connecting devices or structures are formed like, or are, a string or a cord or a twine or a lace or a ribbon. Therefore, the connecting devices or structures may be made of flexible material, namely pliable or soft material, which is able to flex. Namely, the closing devices of the ventilation openings positioned in different regions of the covering structure are connected by two elongated elements such as a string or a cord or a twine or a lace or a ribbon, the ends of which are fixed to the closing devices of the ventilation openings. Consequently, said connecting devices or structures perform their connecting function between ventilation openings, adapting by means of their flexibility to the anatomy of the user's torso and thus ensuring minimum obstruction for the user and therefore a garment which is comfortable to use or wear.
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According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the elongated element of the first connecting device, the first closing device of the first ventilation opening and the elongated element of the second connecting device and the second closing device of the second ventilation opening define a closed-loop structure. In other words, the connecting devices or structures form together with the closing devices of the ventilation openings a circuit-like structure or a circular structure consisting of alternate connecting devices and closing devices. This special feature is particularly advantageous since it ensures that it is possible to adjust both the opening and the closing of the first ventilation opening and the second ventilation opening with the smallest number possible of connecting devices.
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According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the connecting devices or structures may be designed to form two bridging bodies between the front portion of the garment, namely the first region of the covering structure according to a preferred aspect of the present disclosure, and the rear portion of the garment, namely the second region of the covering structure according to a preferred aspect of the present disclosure. Preferably, said bridging bodies may be positioned above the shoulder and below the armpits along the flanks of the user wearing the garment. In other words, the connecting devices or structures form together with the closing devices of the ventilation openings a circuit-like structure which extends from the user's chest to back, passing over the shoulder and below the armpits along the flanks and formed by alternate connecting devices and closing devices. Consequently, in addition to the advantage that the closed-loop structure according to the preferred aspect described above allows adjustment of both the opening and closing of the first ventilation opening and the second ventilation opening with the smallest number of connecting devices, said closed circuit is also positioned so that it causes minimum obstruction for the user and therefore results in the garment being comfortable to use or wear.
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According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the garment may comprise a channel body which is associated with the covering structure and within which the connecting devices or structures are positioned. In other words, the free body or element of the elongated elements which form the connecting structures are included in a portion of the covering structure which forms a channel body, or a tubular body, which may be for example between two layers of the covering structure or formed by an additional layer located on the covering structure, delimited by stitches, or welded along the stitches, finished so as to create a space for the insertion and sliding of the connecting structures without altering the external appearance of the garment. The channel body may be made using soft or resistant materials, such as elastic or reinforced fabrics, or in general using materials chosen so as to allow secure positioning and easy adjustment of the elements inside it, namely the connecting structures according to a preferred aspect, and at the same time so as to ensure the sliding thereof, avoiding problematic jamming. In other words, the garment comprises a channel body or tubular body integrated in the internal structure of the covering structure designed to house the connecting structures or other elements such as cords, ties or other adjustable accessories which can slide inside it. This aspect of the invention advantageously is able to avoid the presence of cords or ties which are situated outside the covering structure of the garment or exposed, ensuring a greater freedom of movement for the user wearing it and reducing the possibility of obstructions or obstacles which could interfere with the sporting and/or working activity and/or any activity performed by the user wearing the garment according to the present disclosure.
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According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the garment may comprise two first ventilation openings and two second ventilation openings which are positioned preferably on the left and on the right of a sagittal plane with respect to the user's body. In other words, the garment has an axis of symmetry of the sagittal type. Preferably, the garment includes two first ventilation openings positioned in a front region of the covering structure with respect to the user's torso, positioned to the left and to the right of a sagittal plane with respect to the user's torso, and two first ventilation openings positioned in a rear region of the covering structure with respect to user's torso, positioned to the left and to the right of a sagittal plane with respect to the user's torso. In other words, the garment may comprise two first ventilation openings positioned in a chest region of the user and two second ventilation openings positioned in a chest region of the user, arranged symmetrically with respect to a sagittal axis in relation to the user's torso. Therefore, the symmetrical arrangement of the ventilation openings with respect to a sagittal axis and a frontal axis or coronal axis of the user's torso favours an efficient flow of air, ensuring a uniform and constant ventilation and a balanced circulation of the air inside the jacket, which helps control the body temperature.
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The present disclosure also describes a method of manipulating the garment.
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The expression "method of manipulating" is understood as meaning a method of handling the garment, that is for performing an action on the garment. The manipulating method comprises a step of closing the first closing device of the first ventilation opening and simultaneous closing of the second closing device of the second ventilation opening, wherein said step involves subjecting the first connecting element to a pulling force. Moreover, said method comprises a step of opening the first closing device of the first ventilation opening and simultaneous opening of the second closing device of the second ventilation opening, wherein said step involves subjecting the second connecting element to a pulling force. In other words, the mechanism for allowing simultaneously the transition from an open configuration into a closed configuration of the first closing device of the first ventilation opening and of the second closing device of the second ventilation opening of the garment involves pulling the first connecting element, while the mechanism for allowing simultaneously the transition from a closed configuration into an open configuration of the first closing device of the ventilation opening and of the second closing device of the second ventilation opening of the garment involves pulling the second connecting element.
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According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the step of simultaneously opening the first closing device of the first ventilation opening and the second closing device of the second ventilation opening of the garment involves the sliding of the first connecting element and the second connecting element along a first direction within the channel body associated with the covering structure.
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According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the step of simultaneously closing the first closing device of the first ventilation opening and the second closing device of the second ventilation opening of the garment involves the sliding of the first connecting element and the second connecting element along a second direction, opposite to the first direction, inside the channel body associated with the covering structure.
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In other words, depending on whether the first closing device of the first ventilation opening is opened or closed, the connecting elements slide inside the channel body associated with the covering structure in opposite directions, so as to allow the simultaneous opening or closing of the second closing device of the second ventilation opening, respectively.
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Advantageously, the method described here allows, in addition to easy adjustment of the opening and/or closing of the ventilation openings positioned in particular in a rear region of the garment with respect to the user's torso, where access is difficult owing to their position with respect to the user's torso and the anatomy of the human body, also greater comfort during use owing to the simultaneous adjustment of more than one ventilation opening, without the increased volume or obstruction of cords or ties situated or exposed on the outside of the covering structure of the garment.
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Further advantages, characteristic features and modes of use forming the subject of the present disclosure will become clear from the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, provided by way of a non-limiting example.
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It is in any case clear that each embodiment forming the subject of the present disclosure may have one or more of the advantages listed above; in any case it is not required that each embodiment should have simultaneously all the advantages listed. Reference will be made to the figures of the attached drawings in which:
- Figure 1 shows a front view of the garment according to the present disclosure, wherein first ventilation openings and first closing devices of the first ventilation openings are in the closed configuration, and wherein the arrows shown there indicate the direction of sliding of the closing devices and the connecting devices for opening the ventilation openings;
- Figure 2 shows a rear view of the same garment shown in Figure 1, wherein second ventilation openings and second closing devices of the second ventilation openings are in the closed configuration, and wherein the arrows shown there indicate the direction of sliding of the closing devices and the connecting devices for remote opening of the ventilation openings;
- Figure 3 shows a front view of the same garment shown in Figure 1, wherein the first ventilation openings and the first closing devices of the first ventilation openings are in the open configuration, and wherein the arrows shown there indicate the direction of sliding of the closing devices and the connecting devices for closing the ventilation openings;
- Figure 4 shows a rear view of the same garment shown in Figure 1, wherein the second ventilation openings and the second closing devices of the second ventilation openings are in the open configuration, and wherein the arrows shown there indicate the direction of sliding of the closing devices and the connecting devices for remote closing of the ventilation openings;
- Figure 5 is a view of the front and rear of the same garment shown in Figures 1-4, showing the connecting devices and the channel body inside which they are positioned. The arrows indicate the direction of sliding of the closing devices and the connecting devices for simultaneously opening the ventilation openings.
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With reference to the accompanying figures, the reference number 100 denotes overall an embodiment of a garment according to the present disclosure. The garment 100 is an element comprising a covering structure 10 which is wearable, i.e. configured to cover the body, preferably the torso, of a user, preferably a passenger, a skier, a mountain climber, a motorcyclist or a similar user, during a sporting and/or working activity and/or any activity, preferably any activity performed in the open, during which the user may be subject to variable conditions, having a protective function, for example function in relation to heat or external atmospheric agents or in relation to knocks and/or impacts and consequent possible abrasions or the like. Since the garment 100 comprising a covering structure 10 is a device preferably worn by a user, in the context of the present disclosure regions of the garment are defined as being regions of the garment or of the covering structure which are designed to be positioned so as to cover corresponding zones of the user's body; therefore, these regions are to be regarded as being in a spatial relationship with respect to the corresponding zone of the user's body. Therefore, for example, a chest region of the covering structure is a region intended to cover the user's chest, and a back region of the covering structure is a region intended to cover the back of the user, or a front region of the covering structure is a region intended to cover a front zone of the user's body and a rear region of the covering structure is a region intended to cover a rear zone of the user's body, and the like.
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"Covering structure" is understood as meaning the so-called cover of a jacket or a gilet or a suit or a shell of the garment, or outer layer, and may consist of one layer or several layers and have superficial discontinuities or interruptions or openings, for example in a central zone opposite the user's chest or opposite the neck and the sleeves. Other superficial interruption zones may for example be ventilation openings, or air vents, or ventilation panels.
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In the present case, the garment 100 has the form of a lightweight jacket or heavy-duty jacket.
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More specifically, with reference to the attached figures, the covering structure 10 of the garment 100 has at least two ventilation openings or air vents. More precisely, in the embodiment shown in the attached figures, it has at least one first ventilation opening 20 and a second ventilation opening 21, wherein said first ventilation opening 20 is positioned in a first region 30 of the covering structure 10 and the second ventilation opening 21 is positioned in a second region 31 of the covering structure 10, wherein the first region 30 is different or spaced from the second region 31 of the covering structure 10.
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In particular, the ventilation opening defines two portions of the covering structure which are separated by the opening itself and can be moved towards or away from each other, for example using a closing device, configured to allow the two portions of the covering structure to be moved towards or away from each other, and therefore the transition from an open configuration into a closed configuration, namely the closing, or the transition from a closed configuration into an open configuration, namely the opening, of the ventilation opening, such as a zip fastener or a zip or a fastening system or buttons or Velcro.
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Moreover, the ventilation opening must not be absolutely regarded as being a through-cavity, but may be provided with an adjustable closing device which allows the opening or closing of the air access depending on the comfort requirements and the climatic conditions and/or may be protected by mesh fabrics or meshwork or perforated fabrics which limit the air and prevent the entry of dust or debris, maintaining a good level of ventilation without adversely affecting the protection. Alternatively, the ventilation opening may be ventilation panel, for example made of mesh fabric or perforated fabric.
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More specifically, in a preferred embodiment, the garment 100 has at least one first ventilation opening or air vent 20 and at least one second ventilation opening or air vent 21 which are positioned in two different or spaced regions of the covering structure, wherein the first region 30 is a front region of the covering structure 20 with respect to the user's torso and the second region 31 is a rear region of the covering structure 10 with respect to the user's torso. In other words, the garment 100 has at least one first ventilation opening or air vent 20 positioned opposite the user's chest and at least one second ventilation opening or air vent 21 positioned opposite the user's back. Expressed in yet other words, the garment 100 has at least a first ventilation opening or air vent 20 positioned on the front of the covering structure 10 designed to be worn by the user and at least one second ventilation opening or air vent 21 positioned on the rear of the covering structure 10. Consequently, owing to the anatomy of the human body, the first ventilation opening or air vent 20 and the second ventilation opening or air vent 21 are positioned in two different spaced-apart regions of the covering structure, which do not communicate with each other.
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Consequently, moreover, the first region 30 of the covering structure 10, which may be a front region with respect to the user's torso or a zone opposite the user's chest, includes two covering portions and the first ventilation opening or air vent 20, and the second region 31 of the covering structure 10, which may be a rear region with respect to the user's torso or a zone opposite the user's back, includes two covering portions and a second ventilation opening or air vent 21.
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More specifically, in a preferred embodiment shown in the attached figures, the garment 100 has two first ventilation openings or air vents 20 and two second ventilation openings or air vents 21 positioned preferably to the left and to the right of a sagittal plane with respect to the user's torso. As a result, the garment 100 according to the present disclosure includes four ventilation openings or air vents (two first ventilation openings 20 and two second ventilation openings 21), arranged symmetrically with respect to a sagittal axis and with respect to a frontal axis or coronal axis of the user's torso.
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The garment 100 according to the present disclosure comprises, furthermore, a first closing device 40 designed to close the first ventilation opening 20 and a second closing device 41 designed to close the second ventilation opening 21.
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"Closing device" is understood as meaning a device which allows the two portions of the covering structure to be moved towards each other, passing from an open configuration, in which the two portions of the covering structure are separated, into a closed configuration, in which the two portions of the covering structure are adjacent. Such a "closing device" also allows the two portions of the covering structure to be moved away from each other, passing from a closed configuration, in which the two portions of the covering structure are adjacent, into an open configuration, in which the two portions of the covering structure are separated. In other words, by opening and closing the closing device it is possible to move the two portions of the covering structure away from or towards each other and, therefore, open or close the ventilation opening associated with it. As a result it is possible to adjust the configuration of the ventilation opening by means of adjustment of the closing device. Such a closing device may be a zipper or a zip or a fastening system or buttons or Velcro.
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According to a preferred aspect of the present disclosure, the first closing device 40 and the second closing device 41 are zips or zip fasteners.
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"Zip" or "zip fastener" or "zipper" is understood as meaning a closing device or structure used to divide or join together the two portions of the covering structure and therefore open or close the ventilation opening associated with it.
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Said closing device or structure comprises or consists of device half-portions and a slider or sliding element which moves towards or away from each other the device half-portions and consequently the portions of the covering structure by sliding along their length. The half-portions of the closing device or structure may be formed by two strips of fabric or leather or other material with a row of metal or plastic teeth which are configured to be stably connected together and which engage with each other and are separated from each other by means of a sliding mechanism. The movement of a slider which slides along the teeth allows the zipper to be opened or closed.
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The garment 100 according to the present disclosure also comprises a first connecting device 50 and a second connecting device 51 which are designed to connect the first closing device 40 of the first ventilation opening 20 together with the second closing device 41 of the second ventilation opening 21.
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The transition via the first connecting device 50 from an open configuration into a closed configuration of the first ventilation opening 20 corresponds to a transition from an open configuration into a closed configuration of the second ventilation opening 21 and a transition via the second connecting device 51 from a closed configuration into an open configuration of the first ventilation opening 20 corresponds to a transition from a closed configuration into an open configuration of the second ventilation opening 21. In fact, the first connecting device 50 and the second connecting device 51 allow, respectively, the closing and opening of the ventilation openings 20, 21. In fact, the aforementioned connecting devices or structures 50, 51 allow the simultaneous closing or opening of both the ventilation openings 20, 21; in particular, the first connecting device 50 is designed to close the second ventilation opening 21 following closing of the first ventilation opening 20 by acting on the closing device 40, while the second connecting device 51 is designed to open the second ventilation opening 21 following opening of the opening of the first ventilation opening 20 by acting on the first closing device 40.
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Preferably, the connecting devices or structures 50, 51 are elongated elements which are fixed on one side to said first closing device 40 of the first ventilation opening 20 and on the other side to said second closing device 41 of the second ventilation opening 21.
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Preferably, the connecting devices or structures 50, 51 are formed like, or are, a string or a cord or a twine or a lace or a ribbon. In fact, the connecting devices or structures 50, 51 are flexible thread-like structures, the ends of which are fixed to the closing devices 40, 41 of the ventilation openings 20, 21 and the central body or element of which is instead a body or element which is free or in any case not associated with said devices of the covering structure. Said connecting devices or structures 50, 51 are designed to connect the closing devices 40, 41 of the ventilation openings 20, 21 and therefore allow the simultaneous opening or closing of the first closing device 40 of the first ventilation opening 20 and the second closing device 41 of the second ventilation opening 21.
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Preferably, the elongated element of the first connecting device 50, the first closing device 40, the elongated element of the second connecting device 51 and the second closing device 41 define a closed-loop structure. In other words, the covering structure 10 of the garment 100 according to the present disclosure is configured so that the closing devices 40, 41 of the ventilation openings 20, 21 and the connecting devices or structures 50, 51 are arranged in an alternating manner so as to form a circuit-like structure or a circular structure or a ring-like structure.
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In particular, the elongated element of the first connecting device 50 and the elongated element of the second connecting device 51 may be designed to form two bridging bodies between the first region 30 of the covering structure 10 and the second region 31 of the covering structure 10. Preferably, with reference to the attached figures, said first region 30 is a front region of the covering structure 10 with respect to the user's torso and said second region 31 is a rear region of the covering structure 10 with respect to the user's torso; therefore, preferably the elongated element of the first connecting device 50 and the elongated element of the second connecting device 51 are designed to form two bridging bodies between the front portion of the garment 100 and the rear portion of the garment 100. Preferably, said bridging bodies are positioned above the shoulder and below the armpits along the flanks of the user wearing the garment 100.
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Preferably, said central body or element of the connecting devices or structures 50,51 is positioned inside a channel body 60 associated with the covering structure 10.
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"Channel body" is understood as being a tubular body or a channel-shaped pocket or a tubular pocket or a cylindrical housing or a tubular cavity included in a portion of the covering structure 10 which may be for example situated between two layers of the covering structure 10 or formed by an additional layer located on the covering structure 10, delimited by stitches or welded along the stitches, and finished so as to create a space for the insertion and the sliding of the connecting devices or structures 50, 51. Said channel body 60 is designed to contain said central body or element of the connecting devices or structures 50, 51 and is finished so as to create a space for the insertion and the sliding of the connecting structures 50, 51 without altering the external appearance of the garment. Preferably, the channel body 60 is made of a soft or resistant material chosen to allow secure positioning and easy sliding of the connecting devices or structures 50, 51 inside it, preventing any troublesome jamming thereof.
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In Figures 1-4, the first connecting device 50, the second connecting device 51 and the channel body 60 which contains them are shown together schematically indicated by broken arrowed lines.
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With reference to the attached figures, finally, the present disclosure describes a method of manipulating the garment 100 which comprises a closing step and an opening step of the first closing device 40 of the first ventilation opening 20 and simultaneous closing or opening of the second closing device 41 of the second ventilation opening 21 by means of pulling of the first connecting device 50 or the second connecting device 51, respectively.
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The opening step involves sliding of the first connecting device 50 and the second connecting device 51 along a first direction inside the channel body 60 associated with the covering structure 10.
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The closing step involves sliding of the first connecting device 50 and the second connecting device 51 along a second direction opposite to the first direction inside the channel body 60 associated with the covering structure 10.
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With reference to the attached figures and in the embodiment shown, the letter A indicates the direction of sliding of the first closing device 40, the second closing device 41, the first connecting device 50 and the second connecting device 51 for opening the first closing device 40 of the first ventilation opening 20 and the second closing device 41 of the second ventilation opening 21; the letter B, instead, indicates the direction of sliding of the first closing device 40, the second closing device 41, the first connecting device 50 and the second connecting device 51 for closing the first closing device 40 of the first ventilation opening 20 and the second closing device 41 of the second ventilation opening 21.
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The subject of the present disclosure has been described hitherto with reference to preferred embodiments. It is to be understood that other embodiments relating to the same inventive concept may exist, these all falling within the scope of protection of the claims which are attached hereinbelow.