US3296626A - Ventilated rainwear - Google Patents

Description

1967 s. w. LUDWIKOWSKI v 3,296,626

VENT'ILATED RAINWEAR Filed Jan. 27, 1965 INVENTOR SDI/VLF) If. Ll/UIW/(WS/(l ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,296,626 VENTILATED RAINWEAR Stanley W. Ludwikowski, P.O. Box 20962, Pico Heights Station, Los Angeles, Calif. 90006 Filed Jan. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 428,428 7 Claims. (Cl. 2-87) The present invention generally relates to improved rainwear, and particularly to dress rainwear having improved appearance and comfort.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my pending application, Serial No. 234,102, filed October 30, 1962 and now Patent No. 3,213,465.

Garments conventionally used as rainwear are subject to a number of deficiencies, which modern designs and construction have failed to satisfactorily overcome. The most common difficulty encountered with completely moisture proof types of rainwear is their lack of style and shape retention. Such rainwear is not initially attractive in appearance and tends to depreciate in appearance upon continued use. It becomes baggy and shapeless unless made of relatively heavy material. Such rainwear is limitedin use to hats, boots and raincoats or so-called ponchos. It is characterized by a further failing, in that since it is moisture impervious, it is very uncomfortable to wear, i.e. it does not allow normal evaporation of body moisture to take place and accordingly the wearer becomes overheated. This is true even if the completely moisture proof rainwear is relatively thin. Such rainwear is usually provided with air holes, at the armpits, for example, in raincoats, but these are wholly inadequate to overcome this deficiency. Thus, items primarily sold as rainwear and which use materials which are truly impermeable to moisture are subject to deficiencies both as to appearance and comfort. Such items are not suitable for long and continued use as apparel nor even temporary use as dress apparel and, accordingly, do not satisfy the need which arises on many occasions when a dress garment must present a satisfactory appearance but must be worn under conditions of heavy moisture.

Ordinary waterproofed outer garments of the so-called moisture-repellant type are not satisfactory because their water repellancy has limited effectiveness. \Nhen such garments are cleaned they must be treated to restore their moisture repellancy. Moreover, such garments inevitably wet through when exposed to heavy rain conditions and not only fail to protect the wearer but additionally become misshapen and unsightly in appearance. Use of such garments has mainly been limited to raincoats, hats and the like.

Accordingly, there exists a real need for a wide variety of rainwear which not only effectively protects the wearer from moisture over long periods of time without special reprocessing, but also provides a finished and highly attractive appearance and is comfortable during use. It is also highly desirable that such improved rainwear be capable of being utilized as finished dress wear, e.g. suits, dresses, sweaters, raincoats, outer footwear, umbrellas and the like.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide improved types of rainwear.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improved dress rainwear.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a water-impermeable garment construction which has attractive shape-retaining appearance and which is comfortable to wear.

It is another object of the present invention to provide improved dress rainwear capable of remaining water-impermeable during long-continued exposure to rain, which rainwear is further capable of being fabricated into the "ice form of dress garments, such as suits, dresses, sweaters and the like having shape-retaining characteristics.

Another object is to provide means for holding the outer fabric of the garment away from the wearers body in certain areas and provide vents for ingress of fresh air and egress of heated air from the spaces between the outer fabric and the wearers body.

These and other objects are attained in dress rainwear by using pre-shaped distender members which in certain shape-retaining areas hold the garment away from the body and yet provide a shapely outer appearance. The disposition of the distender or spacing members in combination with the use of free venting windows in other areas of the garment permit ingress of fresh air under the garment and egress of heated air therefrom, and insures the comfort of the wearer.

In a preferred example of this type of construction, pliant distender means are disposed in the principal shapeimparting support regions of upper and lower rainwear garments which are externally cut in contemporary fashion to provide the finished attractive appearance of conventional wearing apparel. In a suit jacket or sweater, for example, these internal distending members may take the form of a pre-molded plastic ribbed structure attached underneath the fabric portion constituting the jacket shoulders. In the lower garment portions, such as pants and skirts, the internal spacing elements may be preformed plastic channel members of pliant material having slotted or otherwise perforated side walls.

Another feature of construction, in accordance with the invention, is the use of a composite woven fiber construction consisting of a blend of a large proportion of synthetic and natural fibers, so selected, blended and woven as to provide a superior combination of attractiveness and resistance to moisture. Further aspects of the construction, in accordance with the invention, relate to the use of semi-rigid louvres and semi-rigid netting material to provide superior ventilation and cooling to assure comfort for the wearer.

A better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of an example of a dress rainwear garment in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view with parts broken away to show the ribbed construction of the shoulder distender member;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-secti0nal view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of male dress rainwear apparel comprising dress pants and jacket, showing further details of construction in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing certain details of construction of the upper part of the pants (or a female skirt);

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the channel distender member used in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is an alternative distender member for use in this invention.

The dress rainwear in accordance with the invention may be provided in a large number of forms, including those illustrated in the accompanying figures. The illustrative arrangement depicted in FIG. 1 is in the form of a sports turtle-neck sweater 10 of conventional overall appearance but of substantially improved utility, in that it is completely waterproof while still being comfortable, durable, inexpensive and of attractive appearance.

The sweater can be fabricated of any suitable waterproof or essentially moisture-impermeable material 12, such as one comprising a mixture of synthetic and natural fibers, for example, approximately 50% Vinyon, a product of the American Viscose Company, and approximately 50% wool. Vinyon is a generic name for fiber formed of a long chain synthetic polymer composed of at least 80 percent by weight of vinyl chloride units of the material.

Referring to FIG. 1, the outer covering 12 of the sweater would normally be supported on the body of the wearer at the shoulders and would conform to the body shape. Since the material used is waterproof, this would severely reduce evaporation of moisture from the body in that region and the garment would soon be uncomfortable to wear. Through the use of an intermediate layer comprising pre-molded flexible distender-s 13 between the shoulder portion 14 of the garment and the shoulders of the wearer, in accordance with this invention, spacing is provided for adequate air circulation and, moreover, the sweater retains a pleasing configuration, even when subjected to heavy moisture conditions and long wear. The pre-molded shoulder distender 13 consists of a plurality of spaced rib members 16 attached to a shoulder plate 17 which is contoured to define the shoulder of the garment, as more particularly shown in FIG. 2., being fabricated from semi-rigid but pliant material, such as polyethylene plastic, or the like. The lower edges 18 of the ribs 16 have an inner configuration conforming generally to the shoulder of the user. The shoulder plate 17 is contoured to give sweater 10 a blocked or draped shoulder appearance as desired. A lining 22 of moisture-permeable, open porous fabric or webbing is disposed on the lower edges 18 of the ribs 16 and is amxed at selected points to the inner side of outer covering 12 so as to hold the distender 13 in position within sweater 10. The porous netting 22 thus maintains each of the ribs in position relative to the garment, although all of the ribs are free to move somewhat with the body of the user and without binding or causing discomfort. An outwardly extending rim 20 is provided for supporting the connecting seam of the sleeve of the garment. A plurality of air circulating passageways are thus provided to maintain the wearer of sweater 10 in comfort.

On the breast area 26 of the sweater 10 there are provided pre-formed semi-rigid plastic panels 27 of louvered construction, the overlapping flaps 28 of which extend outwardly and downwardly with slit openings for air circulation. The panels 27 may be adhesively or otherwise attached to the margins of openings 29 provided in the outer fabric of the garment, and the flaps 28 may or may not be covered with the fabric as desired. Similar louvered panels 31 are provided in the fabric under the arms, where the flaps 30 may be of exposed plastic surfaces or these may be covered with the outer fabric of the garment.

Sweater 10 and similar dress rainwear of the invention can be readily and inexpensively fabricated by first assembling essentially moisture-impermeable outer covering into the desired size, shape and form, as by cutting and stitching in the usual manner, or cementing or welding of the seams may be employed. The garment shape-retaining means such as the ribbed shoulder distenders 16 can then be disposed adjacent the inner side of the outer covering, and secured in place by the backing material or webbing 22 forming the inner layer of the garment, webbing 22 being secured to the inner surface of the outer covering.

The described sweater construction has a number of advantages. The sweater is rainproof, yet is held away from the body to allow air circulation and body moisture evaporation, while permitting full freedom of movement to the user. Moreover, the sweater is of permanent attractive appearance and maintains its shape. In addition, the ribbed shoulder construction may be adapted for each size and style of sweater so as to provide a natural styled shoulder line which is free of a bulky appearance. It is to be noted that the same constructional features may be utilized and applied in the suit jacket 32 of FIG. 5, as described in connection with the turtleneck sweater 10 of FIG. 1.

Utilizing a similar construction, pants 34 of a like preferred essentially moisture-impermeable clothing material may also be fabricated. Pants 34 are provided with an apertured channel-like waistband distender 36, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The waistband distender 36 consists of a molded pliable plastic back wall 37, side walls 38 having apertures 39 and turned out flange edges 40. This structure is equally applicable to the waistband of a skirt and provides means for circulation of air around the waist area. The waistband distender 36 may be fabricated of resilient, pliable, self-supporting polyethylene or other plastic material and may be positioned between outer cov ering 34 and secured to an inner layer 42 of netting. Furthermore, inasmuch as suit jacket 32 adequately covers the side regions 44 of the upper part 46 of pants 34, side regions 44 may be paneled of open air-permeable netting 48, to aid circulation of air to the wearer, as best seen in FIG. 6. The inner margin of the side regions 44 may be terminated at the crease or pleat lines 45 of the pants, shown in FIG. 5, facilitating permanent creasing or pleating of the pants. Relatively large pants pockets 47 can be provided in regions 44. Pants pockets (not shown) can also be provided in the rear areas of the pants of FIG. 3, and can be fabricated of air-permeable netting, as can the associated back regions (not shown) normally covered by the jacket 32. Better wearing quality and comfort as well as increased utility can thereby be provided.

Air vents may be provided in forms additional to or in place of those illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5. In this regard, decorative parallel abutting folds 50 formed from the outer covering or formed from different clothing material secured to the inner side of the outer covering material, as by an inner layer of netting 52, may be provided, for example in jacket 32, with air passageways 51 therein to facilitate air circulation through jacket 32. If desired, folds 50 can be backed with an inner layer of netting 52, as indicated.

It will be further understood that the garment shaperetaining means in the dress rainwearof the invention can also be fabricated of the folds 50, in place of or in addition to the ribbed members 16. Such folds 50 can be formed from the outer covering of the garment or from separate cloth material or the like disposed as an intermediate or inner layer. In such instance, it is preferred to back the folds with an inner layer of air-permeable support material, as shown in FIG. 8. Moreover, if the folds are formed from the outer covering, they can be interconnected adjacent the outer surfaces thereof so that the outer covering provides an essentially smooth and continuous surface of attractive appearance, such as is indicated in the shoulder region of jacket 32 in FIG. 5.

The folds can be incorporated during or after primary assembling of the outer covering into the desired size and shape for the dress rainwear. The backing, if any, can then be secured into position to provide the finished garment.

Where the word netting is used herein, it includes molded pliable plastic sheets having a foraminous struc ture.

It will be understood that rainwear in the forms of caps or hats can also be fabricated to incorporate features of the invention. For example, a hat can be constructed to incorporate a ventilated sweatband generally similar to waistband distender 36 and including a plurality of vent openings 39.

The garment shape-retaining distender means and air venting means can be incorporated into suitable apparel such as formal wear for improved appearance and comfort. Thus, for example, the ribbed members 16 can be used in male evening wear to develop and retain a desired tailored appearance to the shoulder region of the formal wear. In addition, vents may be provided in concealing decoratively designed panels disposed on the garments in the breast regions 26 to assure adequate body ventilation during use of the wearing apparel under hot and/ or moist conditions. Very lightweight clothing can be used in the construction while still assuring shape retention in accordance with the invention.

Accordingly, means are provided whereby improved male and female wear can be constructed to ready-made or special tailor-made patterns and in various sizes to match or coordinate with other garments while providing a maximum of comfort, attractiveness, durability and resistance to the elements.

While there have been described above and illustrated in the Figures various forms of dress rainwear which provide a high degree of protection against moisture, attractive permanent appearance and comfort for the wearer and a method of fabricating the same, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited thereto. Accordingly, the invention should be considered to include all modifications, variations and alternative forms falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A two-piece garment for wear during rainy weather consisting of a coat-like upper piece supported from the shoulders of the wearer and a lower piece supported by and depending from the waist of the wearer, said upper piece partly overlapping said lower piece and having louvred egress vents in the upper front portion thereof; each of said garment pieces having an outer covering of essentially moisture-impermeable material; shape-retaining air-circulating distender means attached inside said outer covering of said lower piece in the areas which normally make said supporting contact with the body of the wearer and in the area which is overlapped by said upper piece; and a plurality of vent means in the areas adjacent said distended portions of said outer covering for the ingress of fresh air and the egress of body-heated air from the space between said outer covering and the body of the wearer.

2. A two-piece garment for wear during rainy weather as defined in claim 1 in which the coat-like upper piece is provided under each shoulder portion of said outer covering with an attached air-circulating molded pliable plastic distender means comprising a shoulder plate with spacer-ribs attached to the underside surface of said plate, and open netting attached to the lower edges of said spacer ribs, and netting being adapted to rest on the shoulders of the wearer.

3. A two-piece garment for wear during rainy weather as defined in claim 1, in which the lower garment piece is provided under the waistline area of said outer covering with an attached air-circulating shape-retaining distender means comprising a molded channel-like pliable plastic member having apertures in the channel side-walls,

and an open netting attached to the open face of said channel-like member, said netting adapted to abut the body of the wearer at the waistline.

4. A two-piece garment for wear during rainy weather as defined in claim 1, in which the coat-like upper piece is provided under each shoulder portion of said outer covering with an attached air-circulating molded pliable plastic distender means comprising a shoulder plate with spacer-ribs attached to the underside surface of said plate, and open netting attached to the lower edges of said spacer ribs, said netting being adapted to rest on the shoulders of the wearer; and in which at least a portion of said vent means consists of molded louvred panels attached over openings in said outer covering in the chest area.

5. A two-piece garment for wear during rainy weather as defined in claim 1, in which the lower garment piece is provided under the waistline area of said outer covering with an attached air-circulating shape-retaining distender means comprising a molded channel-like pliable plastic member having apertures in the channel side-walls, and an open netting attached to the open face of said channellike member, said netting abutting the body of the wearer at the waistline; and in which at least a portion of said vent means consists of open netting panels attached over openings in said outer covering in the thigh area which is overlapped by said upper piece garment.

6. A twopiece garment for wear during rainy weather as defined in claim 1, in which the coat-like upper piece is provided under each shoulder portion of said outer covering with a fabricated distender means comprising a panel of parallel abutting tubular folds of fabric attached to a backing fabric.

7. A raincoat comprising an outer cover of essentially moisture-impermeable clothing material; shape-retaining air circulating distender means attached inside said outer covering in the areas which normally make supporting contact with the body of the wearer; and a plurality of vent means in areas adjacent said distended portions of the outer covering for the ingress of fresh air and the egress of body-heated air from the space between said outer covering and the body of the wearer; in which said distender means includes under each shoulder portion of said outer covering an attached air circulating molded pliable plastic distender comprising a shoulder plate with spacer-ribs attached to the underside surface of said plate, and open netting attached to the lower edges of said spacer ribs, said netting being adapted to rest on the shoulders of the wearer; and in which at least a portion of said vent means consists of cut-out openings in said outer cover in the chest area, and molded louvred panels attached over said openings.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,851,390 9/1958 Chavannes M 2-87 X FOREIGN PATENTS 13,456 1888 Great Britain. 8,248 1890 Great Britain. 19,421 1890 Great Britain.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

R. J. SCANLAN, IR., Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A TWO-PIECE GARMENT FOR WEAR DURING RAINY WEATHER CONSISTING OF A COAT-LIKE UPPER PIECE SUPPORTED FROM THE SHOULDERS OF THE WEARER AND A LOWER PIECE SUPPORTED BY AND DEPENDING FROM THE WAIST OF THE WEARER, SAID UPPER PIECE PARTLY OVERLAPPING SAID LOWER PIECE AND HAVING LOUVRED EGRESS VENTS IN THE UPPER FRONT PORTION THEREOF; EACH OF SAID GARMENT PIECES HAVING AN OUTER COVERING OF ESSENTIALLY MOISTURE-IMPERMEABLE MATERIAL; SHAPE-RETAINING AIR-CIRCULATING DISTENDER MEANS ATTACHED INSIDE SAID OUTER COVERING OF SAID LOWER PIECE IN THE AREAS WHICH NORMALLY MAKE SAID SUPPORTING CONTACT WITH THE BODY OF THE WEARER AND IN THE AREA WHICH IS OVERLAPPED BY SAID UPPER PIECE; AND A PLURALITY OF VENT MEANS IN THE AREAS ADJACENT SAID DISTENDED PORTIONS OF SAID OUTER COVERING FOR THE INGRESS OF FRESH AIR AND THE EGRESS OF BODY-HEATED AIR FROM THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID OUTER COVERING AND THE BODY OF THE WEARER.

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