JP2022506307A - Warming cell pattern for clothing and other outdoor equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

A heating cell pattern is provided that is placed inside the garment or other outdoor product and can improve the heating quality of the garment or product. The heating cells can have a number of shapes, sizes and patterns, but they are preferably cubic in shape, arranged in a "longitudinal stack" or offset in a brick-like pattern and vertical. And horizontal channels are formed between adjacent cells. When clothing is worn or equipment is used, an air-filled space can be formed by the channel and the user's body. Since air is a strong insulator, air-filled pockets retain heat and jackets or garments containing a heating cell pattern improve heating properties.

Description

This application claims the priority of the currently pending US Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 754,506, entitled "WARMING CELL PATTERN FOR GARMENTS AND OTHER OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT" filed on November 1, 2018. Is. The entire disclosure, including the specification and drawings of the application described above, is incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates generally to clothing and / or other outdoor products, and more particularly to patterns of heating cells that can be used to improve the heat retention and heating properties of clothing and / or other outdoor products. ..

Both down and synthetic insulation are often used as heat insulators for coats, pants, gloves, comforters, sleeping bags and the like. This type of insulation can affect the warmth, weight, water resistance, compressibility and price of clothing and / or sleeping bags.

Down insulation consists of feathers found under the outer feathers of waterfowl such as duck and goose. Down insulation consists of soft, fluffy fine fibers rather than feathers, but some products use a mixture of down and feathers. Down is desirable because it insulates by trapping air, is lightweight, easy to compress, lasts long, and is breathable.

Synthetic insulation is popular due to its excellent overall performance and low price compared to down. Synthetic insulation is typically made of polyester, which is quick-drying and insulates even when it is damp. In addition, synthetic insulation is durable and hypoallergenic.

Some manufacturers use a combination of down and synthetic insulation to make garments and / or sleeping bags. This type of composite structure can provide the advantages of both materials while limiting the shortcomings of each material.

In garments and / or sleeping bags, down and / or synthetic insulation is often quilted in a grid pattern and different "pockets" of down material are sewn apart from each other but adjacent to each other. Alternatively, in garments and / or sleeping bags manufactured in "puffer style", the strips or baffles of the quilted down are sewn adjacent to each other. This design is often provided both inside and outside clothing and / or outdoor equipment. For example, both the inside and outside of a jacket or sleeping bag may be "puffer style".

For garments or sleeping bags with this type of quilted down pattern, the quilted portion can be compressed when the garment is worn or when sleeping in the sleeping bag. Insulation associated with any particular part, whether it is shaped as a square, diamond or other shape when certain parts are compressed, or if they are provided as elongated parts Is also compressed. The compressed portion of the insulation thins the layer between the person wearing clothing or using a sleeping bag, thus reducing the insulation quality. Therefore, the thin part of the garment produced by compression is colder than the other parts and reduces the overall performance of the garment or sleeping bag.

This type of performance degradation is exacerbated by the down portion exposed to each of the inside and outside of the garment or sleeping bag. When the down portion is compressed, it places only a thin barrier of material between the wearer and the cold environment. There is a need for a solution that keeps the wearer or user of the down insulated garment or other outdoor equipment warm, but less susceptible to the performance degradation caused by the compression of the down portion present inside and outside the garment or sleeping bag. ..

The invention disclosed herein improves a prior art system designed to increase the warmth of clothing and other outdoor products. More specifically, the present invention uses a large number of warming cells (warming cells) arranged in a pattern to warm and insulate inner portions of jackets, sleeping bags and the like.

In the first embodiment, the heating cell is formed as a three-dimensional cube with four equal sides. The cubic-shaped warming cells are preferably individually formed and spaced apart from each other so that the air channels are completely formed around each cell. The heating cell may be provided in a height range of about 0.635 cm (1/4 inch) to 7.62 cm (3 inch) and may be the same height within one product. Each warming cell is preferably filled with goose or duck down, featherless material, synthetic material or a combination thereof.

When pressure is applied by the wearer or user, the cubic shaped heating cell preferably loses less heat than the long baffles of the prior art. Since the individual warming cells are formed as smaller cells, they can better keep down in place, so that when one cell is compressed, the surrounding cells are not necessarily compressed. Not that.

The cubic shaped heating cells are preferably arranged in a "longitudinal" brick-like pattern. More specifically, the warming cells are arranged end-to-end in a particular row, forming vertical channels between the sides of adjacent warming cells within that same row. In any particular row, the vertical channels are aligned in the center of the warming cell in the rows above and below that particular row.

This "longitudinal stacking" pattern is a well-known and well-understood pattern in other industries, including the brick and tile laying industry, between adjacent cells located above and below a particular cell. Create an offset arrangement. Horizontal channels are also formed between the sides of a cube-shaped heating cell in adjacent rows. The channel may be of various widths, but is preferably between 0.9525 (3/8) and 0.635 cm (1/4 inch).

Both vertical and horizontal channels play an important role in the heating characteristics of the heating cell pattern. When the wearer's or user's body covers the channel, an air-filled space or pocket is formed by the channel and the human body. Air pockets may trap and contain body heat in order to increase the warmth of clothing or outdoor equipment. Since the air has strong heat retention, the air pocket improves the heating performance of the inside including the heating cell.

In alternative embodiments, other cell shapes such as rectangles, triangles, diamonds, hexagons (and other polygons), etc. may be used. Similarly, a combination of warming cells of different shapes may be provided, and the warming cells may be arranged in other patterns, including warming cells of varying thickness. In any given embodiment, the shape and pattern shall generate channels that form air pockets when clothing is worn or equipment is used.

For a better understanding of the various embodiments of the invention, the accompanying drawings can be referred to.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a jacket including an inner heating cell pattern constructed according to the teachings of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a first perspective view of the inner heating cell pattern of FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the inner heating cell pattern of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a first alternative heating cell pattern for clothing and other outdoor equipment. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a second alternative heating cell pattern for clothing and other outdoor equipment. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a first panel of clothing with additional embodiments of a heating cell pattern. 6A is a plan view of a second panel of clothing with the heating cell pattern of FIG. 6A. 6A and 6B are plan views of a third panel of clothing with the heating cell pattern. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7A-7A of FIG. 6A. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7B-7B of FIG. 6B. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7C-7C of FIG. 6C. 6A to 6C and 7A to 7C are perspective views of the garments assembled and worn by the user.

Although various modifications and alternatives are possible in the present disclosure, some, but not all, specific embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and detailed herein. However, the drawings and detailed description presented herein are not intended to limit disclosure to any particular embodiment disclosed and, on the contrary, are defined by the appended claims. It should be understood that the spirit and scope of this disclosure is intended to cover all applicable modifications, equivalents and alternatives.

Hereinafter, the present invention is described with reference to the drawings, and as a whole in the drawings, the same reference numerals mean the same parts. In order to clarify the characteristics of the present invention, the proportional relationship of the elements is not always maintained in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a jacket 1 having an inner portion 5 and an outer portion 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the outer portion 10 of the jacket 1 includes a quilted elongated down or synthetic portion 15 similar to that described in the prior art, but for this particular jacket 1, the down portion 15 Does not function as the main insulation. The outer portion 10 is preferably made of a synthetic material commonly used as a "shell layer".

The inner portion 5 of the jacket 1 preferably comprises a plurality of heating cells 20, and the heating cells 20 preferably relative to each other to form a pattern that increases the heating properties of the inner portion 5 of the jacket 1. Be placed. In FIGS. 1 to 3, the heating cell 20 is shown in the inner portion 5 of the jacket 1, but in other embodiments, the heating cell 20 may be provided inside clothing as well as inside outdoor equipment. Clothing includes, but is not limited to, pants, gloves, hats, etc., and outdoor equipment includes, but is not limited to, sleeping bags, camping pillows, comforters, and the like. Further, in the alternative embodiment, each or only one of the inner portion 5 and the outer portion 10 may further include the heating cell 20.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a first embodiment of the pattern formed by the heating cell 20 and the plurality of heating cells 20 in the inner portion 5 of the jacket 1 is shown in more detail. In the illustrated embodiment, most of the heating cells 20 are formed as a three-dimensional cube, which means that the sides 25 forming each heating cell 20 are of equal length. In the illustrated embodiment, the heating cell 20 has an edge 25 having a length of about 10.16 cm (4 inches), whereas in the alternative embodiment, the side 25 uses the pattern of the heating cell 20. An infinite number of different lengths may be used, depending on the application.

The height of the individual heating cells 20 is not explicitly indicated, but the cells 20 may be as high as about 0.635 cm (1/4 inch) to 7.62 cm (3 inches), one product. It may be the same height within. Each warming cell 20 is preferably packed with goose or duck down, featherless material, synthetic material or any combination thereof. The heating cell 20 is preferably composed of down and fiber impermeable material, meaning that neither down nor synthetic fibers can leak through the fabric.

Unlike the long down baffles described in the prior art, the warming cells 20 are preferably down in place when pressure is applied, as the individual cells 20 are formed as smaller cells that are closer to each other. Keep. Thus, even when one heating cell 20 is compressed, there is no dramatic temperature drop produced by the compressed baffle. Further, the outer shell or layer (or corresponding outer layer) made of synthetic material (or down) as provided for the outer portion 10 is such as the inner portion 5 containing the pattern of the heating cell 20. When combined with the inner shell / layer of down, a thermal effect is formed. There is a heat insulating chamber filled with warm air formed between these two layers, which maintains a warmer temperature.

However, it should be noted that only the heating cell 20 without the outer synthetic layer can be used. In this type of embodiment, there may be no additional warming effect provided by the air chamber formed between the outer synthetic layer of the down and the shell / inner layer. Additional thermal properties are formed by the presence of space formed between adjacent heating cells 20. This type of property is described in more detail herein below.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, the heating cells 20 are shown to be arranged in a "longitudinal" brick-like pattern. More specifically, the heating cells 20 are arranged end-to-end in a particular row, with vertical channels 30 formed between the sides 25 of adjacent heating cells 20 within that row. The objectives of the vertical channels 30 and the advantages they provide are described in more detail below. For a given row, the vertical channel 30 is aligned with the center of the warming cell 20 in the upper and lower rows of the given row. For example, in row 35, the vertical channel 30a formed next to the side 25a of the heating cell 20a is aligned with the center 40 of the heating cell 20b in row 45 above row 35 (see FIG. 2). It is recognized and expected that the vertical channel 30 can be aligned with any part of the upper and lower heating cells.

Between adjacent rows such as rows 35, 45, a horizontal channel 50 is formed between the sides 25 of the heating cell 20. Unlike the vertical channel 30, the horizontal channels 50 can abut against each other, thus forming one continuous channel between adjacent rows. In preferred embodiments, channels 30 and 50 are 0.635 (1/4) to 0.9525 cm (3/8 inch) wide, whereas in alternative embodiments channels 30 and 50 may be wider. It may be somewhat narrower, or it may be variable in width. Further, although the cells 20 are described as having a "longitudinal stacking" pattern, in an alternative embodiment the heating cells 20 may be arranged in a completely different pattern.

When the inner portion 5 and more specifically the heating cell 20 abuts on the wearer or the user (eg, when the jacket 1 is worn), the wearer's body covers the channels 30, 50 and thus the channel 30, the channel 30. The 50 and the wearer's body form an air-filled space or pocket (not shown) between the cells 20. This space preferably traps body heat, which in this case increases the warmth of clothing or outdoor equipment, which is jacket 1, and contains body heat therein. Since the air is a better insulator than the down itself, the air pockets formed by the channels 30, 50 increase the heating quality of the pattern of heating cells on the inner portion 5.

In a preferred embodiment, the air escaping from the horizontal channel 50 is more likely to be retained in the inner portion 5 than in the vertical channel 30, and the air is more likely to escape from the neck or waist opening provided in the jacket, such as jacket 1. Therefore, the horizontal channel 50 is formed to be more continuous than the vertical channel 30. Nevertheless, in a non-limiting alternative embodiment, the patterns shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be rotated 90 degrees (not shown) so that the vertical channels form more continuous channels than the horizontal channels.

Other cell shapes such as rectangles, triangles, diamonds, etc. may be used to form the heated cell. For example, in the upper 55 of the jacket 1, a rectangular heating cell 60 is provided above a row of cubic shaped heating cells 20. These rectangular heating cells 60 are placed on top of the top row of cubic-shaped heating cells 20 in a "longitudinal" brick-like pattern described above. Therefore, in some embodiments, including the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, different combinations of warming cells may be provided. In other embodiments, only one shape of heating cell may be provided.

4 and 5 provide two alternative heating cell shape patterns that may be utilized in the inner portion of clothing or outdoor equipment such as the inner portion 5 of the jacket 1. First, with reference to FIG. 4, a portion of a heating cell pattern 65 consisting of a plurality of three-dimensional triangular shaped heating cells 70, each containing three sides 75, is provided. The three rows 80a, 80b and 80c of the heating cell 70 are shown in a portion thereof of the heating cell pattern 65. As shown, each row 80a, 80b and 80c includes a heating cell 70a with the apex of the triangle pointing upwards and a heating cell 70b with the apex of the triangle pointing downwards.

When clothing is worn or other outdoor equipment is used, as in the case of the heating cell 20 pattern described above, the channels that form the air-filled space or pocket are between adjacent cells 70. To position. More specifically, a curved channel 85 is formed between adjacent triangular heating cells 70 in the same row, and a horizontal channel 90 is a predetermined row of triangular heating cells 70. It is formed between the upper and lower rows of the rows and the triangular-shaped heating continuous cells 70. As shown in FIG. 4, the channel 85 is offset with respect to the channel 85 in adjacent rows 80a, 80b and 80c.

When the heating cell 70 comes into contact with the wearer or user (eg, when the jacket 1 is worn), as in the case of the heating cell 20, the wearer's body covers the channels 85, 90 so that air can flow. A filled space or pocket (not shown) is formed between the cells 70. This space preferably traps and contains body heat in order to increase the warmth of clothing or outdoor equipment such as jacket 1.

FIG. 5 shows yet another portion of the heating cell pattern 95 that may be utilized in the inner portion of clothing or outdoor equipment such as the inner portion 5 of the jacket 1. The heating cell pattern 95 consists of a large number of hexagonal heating cells 100, each containing six sides 105. The warming cell 100 preferably uses a well-known method to arrange rows 110 of cells 100 that are spaced apart from adjacent rows 115 in pattern 95. This row arrangement may be continuously alternated in either direction to form a portion of the pattern 95. In any case, a large number of channels 120 traveling in six different directions are formed around and between the adjacent sides 105 of the adjacent cells 100. When the heating cell 100 abuts on the wearer or user (eg, when the jacket 1 is worn), such as the heating cells 20 and 70, the channel 120 is blocked by the wearer and becomes an air-filled space or Pockets (not shown) are formed between cells 100. Like the space associated with the heating cell pattern described above, this space preferably traps body heat and traps body heat in order to increase the warmth of the clothing being worn or the outdoor equipment being used. Including heat.

6A, 6B and 6C show three garment panels 125A, 125B and 125C, the three garment panels 125A, 125B and 125C may be worn alone when attached to each other, or a jacket or You may form a vest-shaped garment that may be incorporated into a garment such as a coat. As shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C, when the panels 125A, 125B and 125C are assembled, the rows 130A, 130B and 130C may be located near the center of the wearer. The cells 135A, 135B, 135C forming rows 130A, 130B and 130C, respectively, have a substantially rectangular shape. From the upper 140A, 140B and 140C of the panels 125A, 125B, 125C to the lower 145A, 145B and 145C, the panel 135A may have a slightly smaller area, respectively. In the alternative embodiment, the cells 135A, 135B, 135C may be the same size, or may be increased in size from the upper 140A, 140B, 140C to the lower 145A, 145B, 145C.

The second row 150A, 150B, 150C and the third row 155A, 155B, 155C may also be provided in the respective panels 125A, 125B, 125C, respectively. The cells 160A, 160B, 160C and 165A, 165B, 165C forming columns 150A, 150B, 150C and 155A, 155B, 155C, respectively, may be substantially quadrilateral. The cells 160A, 160B, 160C also decrease in size from the upper 140A, 140B, 140C to the lower 145A, 145B, 145C. The cells 165A, 165B, 165C may also be quadrilateral, but in preferred embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C, are elongated compared to the other cells forming the panels 125A, 125B, 125C. ..

The panels 125A, 125B, 125C generally include horizontal channels 170A, 170B, 170C and vertical channels 175A, 175B, and 175C, respectively. The channels 170 and 175 forming the panels 125A, 125B and 125C do not have to be more linear than those provided in other examples. This is because the cells forming the panels 125A, 125B, 125C may be asymmetrical quadrilaterals such as those shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C. Nevertheless, channels 170A, 170B and 175C can function substantially the same as the channels described above.

In the illustrated embodiment, the panels 6A and 6C are substantially mirror images of each other, and the panel 6B is symmetrical with respect to its vertical axis. In alternative embodiments, this may not be the case and the panels 6A and 6C may be more substantially different from each other.

Here, with reference to FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C, examples of examples of heated cells from panels 125A, 125B and 125C are shown. Unlike the cells described above, the cells 135, 160 and 165 forming the panel 125 may vary in thickness. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, cell 135A is thicker than cell 160A, and cell 160A is in turn thicker than cell 165A. In FIG. 7B, cell 135B is thicker than cell 160B and cell 160B is thicker than cell 165B. In FIG. 7C, cell 135C is thicker than cell 160C, and cell 160C is in the form of a mirror image, but thicker than cell 165C, substantially as in FIG. 7A. The variable shapes and thicknesses of cells 135, 160 and 165 are physiologically mapped to the body and can be more easily followed by the body.

FIG. 8 shows the garment 180 worn by the wearer 185. The garment 180 is practiced as a vest, but the garment 180 may be just a portion of a larger garment such as a jacket or coat that incorporates the garment 180 into its assembled structure. In the garment 180, the plurality of heating cells 190 are provided as a quadrilateral with four sides (although other shapes can be predicted and imagined). In some of the cells 190, such as the cell 190A, the upper end 195 may be at least partially curved. In at least some embodiments of garment 180, more ends, such as end 195, may be curved, or fewer ends, such as end 195, may be curved.

The garment 180 is provided with various horizontal channels 200 and vertical channels 205. Channels 200, 205 provide substantially the same functionality as the channels for the embodiments described above. However, unlike the channels described above, channels 200, 205 have a variable width over their length. This type of change may act to facilitate the flow of air upwards or to the left or right and increase the heat retention of the garment 180.

The heating cells described herein may be attached to the fabric of clothing or other outdoor equipment in various ways. More specifically, the heating cell may be attached to a piece of fabric or sewn directly onto the garment or other outdoor product before it is attached to the garment or other outdoor product. The bottom of the cell may be folded back (directly or indirectly) to clothing or other outdoor equipment using an edge sewing machine. The corners of the cell are also preferably darts. Despite the above, other predictable sewing methods for attaching the heating cell to clothing or other outdoor products are considered herein.

The description described above identifies the heating cell as having a cubic, triangular or hexagonal shape. However, cells of any particular pattern have a large number of cross sections, including diamonds, rectangles, octagons (and other polygons), stars, circles, parallelograms and many others, as well as any combination of shapes. It may take a shape. In any case, the channels are preferably formed between and around cells of any shape utilized, so that when clothing is worn or other outdoor equipment is utilized, those channels. Can be covered. Thus, an air-filled space or pocket is formed by the channel, and the user's body traps the air in this type of channel and warms the air, thereby wearing clothing or the equipment utilized. Increases the warmth of the air.

The description provides that, overall, the heating cell may be the "core" of a jacket or garment. It should be noted that the heating cell substantially similar to that described above may also be present in the hood, sleeve, or anywhere else in the jacket or garment. Further, as mentioned above, the heating cell may also be used in supplies such as sleeping bags, blankets and the like.

From the above, it can be seen that the various embodiments of the invention are well adapted to achieve all of the above mentioned objectives and advantages, along with yet other advantages that are clear and inherent in the structure. It should be understood that the particular features and sub-combinations of this example are useful and can be used regardless of other features and sub-combinations. All disclosures described herein or shown in the accompanying drawings are illustrative only and not limited, as many possible embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It should also be understood that it is interpreted as. The various structures described above and shown in the drawings are presented merely as examples and are not intended to limit the concepts, principles and scope of the invention.

As will be apparent from the above description, certain embodiments of the invention are not limited by the particular details of the embodiments presented herein, and therefore other modifications and applications or equivalents thereof are relevant. It is conceivable that it will come to the minds of those skilled in the art. The terms "have" and "include" as well as similar terms used in the specification described above are used in the sense of "option", i.e. meaning "may include" and are "essential". It does not mean that.

However, many variations, variations, variations and other uses and applications of this structure will be apparent to those of skill in the art after considering the specification and accompanying drawings. All such changes, variations, variations and other uses and applications that do not deviate from the spirit and scope of the invention are believed to be covered by the invention, limited only by the following claims.

Claims (20)

A cell pattern for clothing or other outdoor equipment,
With some clothing or other outdoor equipment,
It has a cell pattern arranged on the part and has.
The cell pattern includes, and also each, a plurality of individual cells that are positioned in a spaced relationship over the portion, thereby forming a complete air channel around each cell. The cell is a cell pattern that has a three-dimensional shape and is filled with a heat insulating material. The cell pattern of claim 1, wherein the individual cells are offset from adjacent cells that are positioned above and below a particular cell. The cell pattern of claim 1, wherein each cell has a height from about 0.635 cm (1/4 inch) to about 7.62 cm (3 inches). The cell pattern of claim 1, wherein the air channel around each cell is wide from about 0.635 cm (1/4 inch) to about 0.9525 cm (3/8 inch). The cell pattern according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape of each cell is a square shape. The cell pattern according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape of each cell is a rectangular shape. The cell pattern according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape of each cell is a diamond shape. The cell pattern according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape of each cell is a triangular shape. The cell pattern according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape of each cell is a polygonal shape. The cell pattern according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape of each cell is a circular shape. A cell pattern used in clothing or other outdoor equipment.
The cell pattern is a plurality of individual cells that are positioned spaced apart from each other, thereby forming at least one of a horizontal air channel and a vertical air channel between adjacent cells. A cell pattern in which each cell has a three-dimensional shape and is filled with adiabatic material. 11. The cell pattern of claim 11, wherein the individual cells are offset from adjacent cells that are positioned above and below a particular cell. 11. The cell pattern of claim 11, wherein each cell has a height from about 0.635 cm (1/4 inch) to about 7.62 cm (3 inches). 11. The cell pattern of claim 11, wherein the air channel around each cell is wide from about 0.635 cm (1/4 inch) to about 0.9525 cm (3/8 inch). The cell pattern according to claim 11, wherein the cross-sectional shape of each cell is a square shape. The cell pattern according to claim 11, wherein the cross-sectional shape of each cell is a rectangular shape. The cell pattern according to claim 11, wherein the cross-sectional shape of each cell is a diamond shape. The cell pattern according to claim 11, wherein the cross-sectional shape of each cell is a triangular shape. The cell pattern according to claim 11, wherein the cross-sectional shape of each cell is a polygonal shape. The cell pattern according to claim 19, wherein the cross-sectional shape of each cell is a circular shape.

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