FR2862846A1 - Multi-layer material for cold water survival suit or garment has intermediate layer with chambers containing hollow particles forming lowdensity insulation - Google Patents

Abstract

The material consists of an outer layer (2), an inner layer (4) and an intermediate layer (3) made with chambers (7) containing hollow spherical or cylindrical plastic particles (6) forming a low density insulating material. Each chamber has an inner volume greater than that of the particles so they can move about inside it, and adjacent chambers are welded together. The intermediate layer is between 0.1 and 1 cm thick, and is made with chambers of 10 to 50 cc in volume. The outer layer of the material is water-repellent and is welded to the chambers of the intermediate layer.

Description

MULTI-LAYER MATERIAL AND CLOTHING,

  The present invention relates to a multi-layer material and a garment, in particular intended for survival in cold water, made in whole or in part with the said multilayer material. multi-layer material.

  The present invention will find its main interest in the realization of suits or jackets to equip the crew members of ships, rescue teams at sea or, in general, any passenger during a shipwreck.

  Although particularly intended for such applications, the multilayer material may also be used for making any other type of garment and, in particular, vests, aprons or gloves.

  It is also important to note that, if the garment is primarily intended for cold water survival, it may also find other applications, especially in the field of mountain clothing.

  It is already known in the market for clothing for survival in cold waters, combinations made of a multilayer material.

  The multi-layer materials proposed comprise at least one impervious outer layer and one layer providing thermal insulation.

  It is also possible to find multi-layer materials comprising in addition to the two aforementioned layers, a third internal layer ensuring contact with the carrier.

  This type of multi-layer material is interesting because it can resist to a certain extent the cold and moisture.

  However, clothing equipped with these multilayer materials have various disadvantages among which the fact that these materials are relatively dense and therefore can not ensure the buoyancy of the wearer or at least facilitate it.

  Also known clothes in which an inflatable wall is provided to ensure the buoyancy of the wearer.

  These are usually wearing vests during the actual rescue; the inflatable device is made during or just before launching.

  These devices generally provide good buoyancy; however, they have various disadvantages including the obligation to trigger the swelling of the vest. Indeed, it is impossible to work normally with an inflatable vest.

  In addition, these clothes have a low thermal insulation.

  The object of the present invention is to overcome the abovementioned drawbacks and to propose a multi-layer material of low density and comprising an insulating layer so as to produce garments such as, in particular, survival suits, having a significant thermal insulation and allowing to ensure good buoyancy.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a multilayer material of reduced thickness so as to allow the production of clothing that can be used in working conditions while leaving the movements of the wearer free.

  The invention thus relates to a multi-layer material comprising an outer layer and an inner layer and an intermediate layer.

  According to the invention, said intermediate layer comprises storage means enclosing hollow particles so as to constitute a low density insulating material.

  The invention also relates to a garment, especially intended for survival in cold water, made in whole or in part with a multi-layer material according to the above characteristics.

  Other features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment in which the description is given by way of non-limiting example and with reference to annexed drawings, among which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the multi-layer material according to the invention; FIG. 2 illustrates a detail of the intermediate layer produced in accordance with the invention; - Figure 3 shows a schematic embodiment of a garment from the multilayer material according to the invention.

  Referring mainly to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the multi-layer material 1 comprises an outer layer 2, an intermediate layer 3 and an inner layer 4.

  It can be seen that the intermediate layer 3 comprises storage means 5.

  These storage means 5 enclose hollow particles 6 so as to constitute a low density insulating material.

  Referring this time mainly to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the storage means 5 consist of at least one envelope 7.

  It can be seen in FIG. 2 that the internal volume 8 of the storage means 5 is greater than the sum of the volumes of the hollow particles 6 so as to release a free volume allowing the particles 6 to move inside the storage means 5.

  According to the advantageous embodiment of Figure 1, the various envelopes 7 are secured together by welding.

  It is important to emphasize here that since the hollow particles 6 can move inside the storage means 5, the internal volume 8 of the storage means is adapted to prevent an accumulation of particles moving under the effect of gravity causing dents at the surface of the multi-layer material 1.

  For this purpose, it will be preferable to use envelopes 7 whose internal volume 8 is between 10 and 50 cm 3.

  Said multi-layer material 1 being in particular intended for the production of garments 10 that can be used during work, an intermediate layer 3, the thickness of which is between 0.5 and 1 cm, will be used.

  As indicated above, the storage means 5 contain hollow particles 6; these are preferably made of a thermoplastic material.

  To facilitate sliding, the hollow particles 6 are of spherical shape.

  However, other forms are obviously conceivable and, in particular, we can achieve hollow particles 6 with cylindrical shapes.

  The hollow particles 6 have reduced dimensions making it possible to form a large number of layers, advantageously between five and ten in each envelope 7.

  The hollow particles 6 will have dimensions, preferably between 0.1 and 0.5 mm and in particular 0.2 mm.

  Thus constituted, the multi-layer material 1 comprising said intermediate layer 3 has a low density, less than 1.

  The intermediate layer 3 also acts as a thermal insulator. According to the invention, the outer layer 2 is hydrophobic.

  For this purpose, it will be possible to use a coated fabric or to make the layer in a material of polyurethane type.

  The multi-layer material 1 may also be designed to facilitate the evacuation of sweat from the wearer.

  For this purpose, it is expected that the inner layers 4, intermediate 3 and outer 2 pass gas exchange.

  A mesh fabric for the inner layer 4 will preferably be used. The inner layer 4 may also be made from a microfiber material. As regards the intermediate layer 3, the envelopes 7 will preferably be used for fabric and in particular a coated fabric.

  The outer layer 2 will preferably be made from a water-repellent material or a fluoropolymer. It may also be used for producing the outer layer 2 a coated fabric.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 1, it can be seen that connection means 9 are provided between the inner layer 4 and the intermediate layer 3.

  These connecting means 9 make it possible to detach the inner layer 4 from the assembly formed by the intermediate layer 3 and the outer layer 2.

  This solution is particularly interesting since it makes it possible to wash the inner layer 4 separately.

  In a practical manner, said connecting means 9 can be made from a hanging loops type hooks.

  However, many other connection means known to those skilled in the art are possible and, in particular, systems by snap.

  In another embodiment, it can also be provided that the inner layer 4 and the intermediate layer 3 are integral with one another and can not be detached.

  In the embodiment of Figure 1, the outer layer 2 and the intermediate layer 3 are secured to each other.

  For this purpose, during the manufacture of the multi-layer material 1, the inner part of the outer layer 2 is welded together with the shells 7.

  The multi-layer material 1 described above will make it possible to produce clothing 10 especially for survival in cold waters with good thermal insulation properties and buoyancy. It is important to note that these garments 10 also make it possible to reduce the hydrostatic pressure exerted on the wearer by virtue of the action of the intermediate layer 3 of the multi-layer material 1 the component.

  Referring now to FIG. 3, an embodiment of a garment 10 made in whole or in part with the multi-layer material 1 can be seen.

  In this example, it is an integral combination designed to fully accommodate a person.

  Preferably, the combination, apart from the slide-type closure systems 12 and the visor 11, will be made integrally from a multi-layer material as described above.

  According to an advantageous embodiment, the upper part of the combination, and especially at the torso and the shoulders, will have a greater number of hollow particles 6 than the lower part so as to keep the wearer's head out of the water. .

  However, the garment 10 could also be very different and made only partially from the multi-layer material 1.

  As for the garment itself, it could be, for example, a pair of trousers, a jacket, a vest, an apron, or even gloves or a hood.

  Of course, other embodiments within the reach of those skilled in the art could have been envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the claims below.

Claims (1)

7 CLAIMS   Multilayer material comprising an outer layer (2), an inner layer (4) and an intermediate layer (3) CHARACTERIZED in that the intermediate layer (3) comprises storage means (5) containing hollow particles ( 6) so as to constitute an insulating material of low density.   2. Multi-layer material according to claim 1 wherein the internal volume (8) of the storage means (5) is greater than the sum of the volume of the hollow particles (6) so as to release a free volume allowing the displacement of said particles hollow (6) inside the storage means (5).   3. Multilayer material according to one of claims 1 or 2 wherein said storage means (5) consist of at least one envelope (7).   4. Multilayer material according to claim 3 wherein the envelopes (7) are secured together by welding.   5. Multi-layer material according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the internal volume (8) of the storage means (5) is between 10 and 50 cm3.   6. Multilayer material according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the thickness of the intermediate layer (3) is between 0.5 and 1 cm.   7. multi-layer material according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the hollow particles (6) are made of a thermoplastic material.   8. Multi-layer material according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the hollow particles (6) are spherical.   9. Multilayer material according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the hollow particles (6) have dimensions between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm.   10. Multi-layer material according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the inner layer (4), intermediate (3) and outer (2) pass the gas exchange.   Multilayer material according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the outer layer (2) is hydrophobic.   12. multi-layer material according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the inner portion of the outer layer (2) and the storage means (5) are welded together.   13. Multi-layer material according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein there is provided connecting means (9) between the inner layer (4) and the intermediate layer (3) for detaching the inner layer (4) of the assembly formed by the intermediate layer (3) and the outer layer (2).   14. Apparel, especially for survival in cold water, made in whole or in part with a multi-layer material (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13.