WO2006000248A1

WO2006000248A1 - Garment with novel ventilation system

Info

Publication number: WO2006000248A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/013094
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giovanni Mazzarolo
Original assignee: Alpinestars Research Srl
Priority date: 2004-06-24
Filing date: 2004-11-18
Publication date: 2006-01-05
Also published as: ITTV20040073A1; TW200600022A

Abstract

Garment (20) comprising an air extractor (40), preferably joined to an aerodynamic hump (25).

Description

"Garment with novel ventilation system"

The invention relates to a garment with a novel ventilation system suitable for being worn by a person engaged in sporting activities which involve high-speed movements such as motor cycling, downhill skiing and bobsleighing or downhill mountain bike racing. It is known that, for certain activities, there is a need for protective garments in order to limit the physical damage in the event of falls or accidents. In most cases, precisely in order to comply with safety requirements, the materials used for manufacture of these garments which cover entirely the body of the person wearing them are very strong and thick, such as dressed leather. In addition to the need to provide the user with a protective garment, its wearing comfort must also be taken into account. In particular, it must be considered that certain activities - for example motorcycling — are physically demanding and may take place in unfavourable atmospheric conditions (in sunny extremely hot locations) such that the rider is subject to major perspiration and ventilation problems. It is also known that the lucidity and reflexes of a rider who is exposed to tiring riding conditions diminish. As a consequence the riding comfort also has a favourable effect on riding safety, increasing the concentration and alertness of the rider. Moreover, it is easily concluded that a part of the body which requires ventilation more than other parts is the rider's back, considering that it is directly exposed to the sun and is also a major perspiration zone. An attempt to solve the problem of providing a motorcyclist with a garment which has improved ventilation is described in the patent application US 018,707. An air distribution network is arranged between the outer layer of the suit and a breathable layer in contact with the skin of the rider's back. This network is in the form of a wedge-shaped object, referred to here as a "hump", situated directly behind the rider's neck along part of the vertebral column. This "hump" is open at the bottom, i.e. along the side in contact with the back and has internally longitudinal channels. These channels collect air from openings in the front part of the "hump", just behind the neck, and cause it to converge along the body of the "hump" so that it emerges underneath the suit or on the sides of the "hump", through lateral channels, or through the breathable layer underneath the "hump". This air flow ventilates the rider's back. From that stated above it can be deduced that the ."air distribution network", namely the "system of channels", has the function of directing the air until it makes contact with the rider's back. The intensity of the air flow, and hence the effectiveness of ventilation, depends on factors such as the geometry and volume of the channels or the necessary openings in the suit for the outflow. In fact the air flow is directed solely either against the breathable layer or along the sides of the "hump": in any case the air flows out through openings in the suit at a certain distance from the "hump". All these factors may be optimized solely at the cost of repeated and complex trials, it nevertheless being the case that structurally this solution does not ensure a large- volume air flow, which is an indispensable condition for optimum ventilation and comfort, owing to the resistance which the air encounters when flowing through the suit. Other attempts in the present state of the art to solve the aforementioned problem consist in forming openings in the suit, at various points, such as for example the shoulders, or perforating its surface so that the air enters the suit and ventilates the rider's body. Moreover protection humps which comprise passive air intakes are known, the air entering into latter, flowing along channels and emerging from a vent on the opposite side of the hump. In this case, the recirculation of the air inside the hump is caused by the pressure of the air entering via passive intakes, namely the air is pushed inside the suit. Therefore the ventilation efficiency depends greatly on the entry pressure at the passive air intakes. Moreover, the injection of air achieved through the ait intakes equipping these humps may reduce the stability of the rider whilst riding, owing to swelling of the suit and aerodynamic braking. The main object of the invention is to provide a garment with a ventilation system which is more efficient than the examples of the state of the art discussed hereinabove and which may be used in garments designed for motorcycling or with other intended uses. These and other objects are obtained when, according to the following claims which define the invention, said garment comprises an air extractor, preferably associated with a shell in the form of a rounded cover having a suitable surface area for collecting the moist air (perspiration products). Said extractor may advantageously comprise at least one dynamic air intake. In order to understand more clearly these characteristic features and highlight the advantages thereof, a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing will now be described where: - Fig. 1 shows schematically the position of the top part of the body of a person when riding a motorcycle under sporting conditions and wearing a suit comprising an extractor according to the invention; - Fig. 2 is a partially transparent, three-dimensional view of an aerodynamic hump associated with the extractor according to Fig. 1; - Fig. 3 is a longitudinally cross-sectioned view, on a larger scale, limited to the part of the hump according to Fig. 2 which is situated towards the bottom of the trunk of the person wearing the suit; - Fig. 4 shows a variation of the extractor according to Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1, during high-speed riding, the posture assumed by a motorcyclist, who is wearing a helmet H, is such that the trunk T is substantially horizontal, while the arms B are more or less perpendicular to the trunk T, i.e. vertical, and the thighs G inclined forwards. In a manner well-known per se, a suit 20 worn by the motorcyclist covers the body from the neck as far as the wrists and the ankles and is substantially formed by an external surface 22 and a lining 26 - shown only schematically in Fig. 2 to 4. The lining 26 is usually breathable so as to avoid sweat collecting on the motorcyclist's body. The suit 20 comprises a known aerodynamic hump 25, the internal part of which consists of an elongated half-shell in the form of a rounded cover which is denoted overall by the reference number 30 and which is arranged between the external surface 22 and the lining 26 of the suit 20. It should be noted that, for greater clarity, Figs. 2 and 3 do not show the external surface 22 of the suit 20, but only the lining 26. More precisely, the half-shell 30 has a smooth external surface and is directly constrained to the external surface 22 of the suit 20, which therefore covers it, in an arrangement aligned with the vertebral column. The half-shell 30 has a tapered shape: its base 32 (of largest width), which is more or less totally open, is arranged just underneath the shoulders S, at a minimum distance from the bottom edge HL of the helmet H, while its vertex 34 is arranged at the level of the last thoracic vertebras. The half-shell 30 encloses a cavity 36 and also has a through-hole 38, the axis of which is perpendicular to the surface of the said half-shell 30 and which, in the present embodiment, is situated at a short distance from the vertex 34, in alignment with the vertebral column, even though other positions and/or multiple holes (or vents) 38 are possible. The cavity 36 is preferably empty or, at the most, has thin longitudinal reinforcing ribs (not shown) which do not make contact with the underlying lining 26 of the suit 20. According to an important characteristic feature of the invention, the hump 25 may have two types of air intake instead of only one. The first type of air intake, which is referred to here as being "static" for the reasons which will be clarified further below and is denoted by the reference number 35, is situated in the base 32 of the half-shell 30 and is associated with a corresponding opening (not shown) in the overlying part of the external surface 22 of the suit 20. The static air intake 35 comprises at least one slit or mouth in the base 32 and is directly connected to the internal cavity 36 of the half- shell 30. The second air intake 42, which is also referred to here as "dynamic", forms part of an extractor 40 which extends over the surface of half-shell 30 above the already mentioned through-hole 38. As shown in Fig. 3, the extractor 40 comprises a first part 41 - which has a shape generally similar to a tongue - and a second part 45 which, in the zone where they are overlapped, defines the dynamic air intake 42. The first part 41 of the extractor 40 is rigidly fixed (for example glued) to the external surface of the half-shell 30 and starts at a point 33 in an intermediate position between the base 32 and the through-hole 38. The first part 41 ends in an appendage 43 which extends above a part of the said through-hole 38, but without obstructing it. The second part 45 of the extractor 40 is situated more externally and its shape is such as to define, together with the first part 41, the dynamic air intake 42. The latter has a cross-section which gradually decreases as far as the minimum cross-section 44 which is aligned with the location of the through-hole 38 which is closer to the base 32 of the half-shell 30. After said minimum, cross-section 44, and without interruption, the second part 45 of the extractor 40 is separate from the external surface of the half-shell 30 and defines, together with the latter, a channel 46 with a cross-section gradually increasing as far as the maximum cross-section 47 which is aligned with the vertex 34 of the half-shell 30 and has a surface area which is significantly greater than the maximum cross-section of the dynamic air intake 42. It goes without saying that the part of the suit 20 in the region of the extractor 40 is formed so as not to obstruct in any way the air flow inside the extractor 40. The operating principle of the extractor 40 of the present invention is now described. Whatever the posture of the motorcyclist (during movement, obviously), there is always an air flow through the dynamic air intake 42, as indicated by the arrow Fl, which flow accelerates and diminishes in pressure as it approaches the cross-section 44 of the extractor 40, where it reaches the minimum pressure value. This minimum value, which is present at the outlet of the through-hole 38, is less than the value of the pressure of the air inside the internal cavity 36 of the half-shell 30, both when the static air intake 35 is free and when it is more or less obstructed by part of the bottom edge HT, of the helmet worn by the motorcyclist. As a result of this, said reduced pressure of the air flow through the dynamic air intake 42 always causes - owing to the Venturi effect — suction of air from the internal cavity 36 of the half-shell 30 through the through-hole 38, as indicated by the arrow F2. Beyond the minimum, cross-section 44, more precisely inside the diverging channel 46, the two air flows (i.e. that along the dynamic air intake 42 and that passing through the through-hole 38) are mixed together, increasing the pressure, before emerging outside the suit through the end section 47, as indicated by the arrows F3. The above description clearly illustrates the difference in the solution proposed by the present invention from that of the prior art. In fact, whereas in the case of the latter, the suit is regarded as a closed body into which it is attempted to channel fresh air by means of passive air intakes, in the case of the invention active extraction of the hot air containing the perspiration products is performed. The known air intakes provided on the suit 20 have the function of feeding active extraction, the effects and benefits of which are greatly increased. The hollow hump 25 was previously used essentially to raise the suit from the rider's back and make use of the cavity 36, ventilated by the recirculating air, in order to provide relief for the rider. Now, according to the invention, the cavity 36 acts as a device for receiving/collecting the heat and perspiration products produced by a large area of the back — that underlying the half- shell 30 and the neighbouring area — and then evacuated as a result of the suction of the ejector 40. Moreover, since the air is extracted from the suit and is not forcibly introduced inside it, the suit, even when made of leather, does not swell, with obvious advantages. Furthermore, by applying the extractor according to the invention to the suit, it is possible to improve the ventilation efficiency making use of the air intakes which are already present, without having to apply additional air intakes and therefore make further holes in the suit. In order to demonstrate this operating principle, two different postures of a motorcyclist in movement are considered. A first posture is such that the helmet H is aligned with the trunk T of the motorcyclist and there exists a space, albeit not large, between the bottom edge HL of the helmet H and the suit 20. The air enters into the internal cavity 36 of the half-shell 30 through the static air intake 35, as indicated by the arrows F4 in Fig. 1, and also flows through the dynamic air intake 42. The air which has entered into the static air intake 35 absorbs the sweat (or generally the perspiration products), which passes through the underlying lining 26, and is sucked through the through-hole 38 by the reduced pressure within the minimum cross-section 44 of the air flow which has entered into the dynamic air intake 42. The second posture is that where the helmet H is not aligned with the trunk T of the motorcyclist and prevents air from entering into the static air intake 35. In this case also there is also a sucking action through the through-hole 38 as a result of the reduced pressure within the minimum cross-section 44 of the air flow which has entered into the dynamic air intake 42. In fact the internal cavity 36 of the half-shell 30 is able to receive an air flow — as already mentioned — not only from the static intake 35 situated at the front of the hump, but also from the sides of the half-shell 30, which are equipped with air intakes and suitable channels (not shown) as well as from the shoulders or from the front zone of the suit 20, where known air intakes are present. All this is sufficient to prevent the stagnation of sweat (i.e. hot air and moisture) in the interior 36 of the hump. Therefore, comfort is guaranteed for the motorcyclist in both the postures considered, which constitutes the main advantage of the present invention. Fig. 4 — in which the same reference numbers have been used for the parts described above — show a variation 140 for the extractor according to the invention. In this case the extractor 140 is still mounted on the pointed end of the half-shell 30. It is no longer divided into two parts, but comprises an air-deviating half-dome 145, the profile 144 of which screens the through-hole 38 from the ait flow Fl which flows down along the half-shell 30, while its opening 147 (see arrows F3 in Fig. 4) allows the air flow F2 from the cavity 36 of the half-shell 30 to pass out through the through- hole 38. The dynamic air intake 42 is, therefore, no longer present. Despite this, the extractor 140 still has a beneficial effect. In fact, when it passes along the profile 144 of the half-dome 145, the rapid air flow FlO induces a reduced pressure at the outlet 147 of the extractor 145, which draws an air flow F2 from the cavity 36. Although a preferred embodiment has been considered in the above description, it is understood that the following claims also comprise other embodiments and/ or variations. In particular, it is understood that the suit may be provided with several dynamic air intakes each equipped with an associated extractor, and not just one air intake, suitably distributed over the external surface of the hump or positioned in other suitable zones of the suit. The extractor may also be formed or incorporated into the aerodynamic hump or provided separately. In this latter case, the user may apply an extractor with the desired characteristics to the aerodynamic hump.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Garment (20), characterized in that it comprises an air extractor (40; 140) for evacuating together with an air flow the perspiration products of the user. 2. Garment according to Claim 1, wherein said extractor (40; 140) is associated with an aerodynamic hump (25). 3. Garment according to Claim 2, wherein said hump (25) comprises a half-shell (30) which defines an open cavity (36) on the user's back. 4. Garment according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein said hump has a tapered shape, with a base (32) having a maximum width at one end and a vertex (34) at the other end. 5. Garment according to Claims 2 to 4, wherein said hump comprises at least one air intake (35) for directing an air flow inside said cavity (36). 6. Garment according to any one of Claims 2 to 5, wherein said hump comprises at least one vent (38) for evacuating together with an air flow the perspiration products. 7. Garment according to Claim 6, wherein said extractor (40) comprises at least one air intake (42) for directing an accelerated air flow (Fl) towards the outlet of said at least one vent (38) for sucking the perspiration products from said cavity (36). 8. Garment according to Claim 7, wherein said extractor (40) comprises a first part (41) and a second part (45) which are partially superimposed, the first part (41) being a tongue (43) which is fixed to the external part of the half-shell (30) and which extends above a part of the outlet of said at least one vent (38), while the second part (45) has a shape such as to define, together with the tongue (43), an air intake (42) which has a cross-section which gradually diminishes towards said vent (38) and then defines, together with the external surface of the half-shell (20), a channel (46) with a gradually increasing cross-section. 9. Garment according to Claim 6, wherein said extractor (140) comprises at least one deviator (145) for the air, able to create a reduced pressure at the outlet of said at least one vent (38) so as to draw the perspiration products from said cavity (36). 10. Garment according to Claim 9, wherein said deviator (140) comprises a half- dome (145) situated above said vent (38) so that its profile (144) deviates an air flow (FlO) so as to create a reduced pressure at the outlet of said at least one vent (38). 11. Garment (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a motorcyclist's suit. 12. Extractor (40; 140) for an aerodynamic hump (25), characterized in that it is formed in accordance with the preceding claims. 13. Aerodynamic hump (25), characterized in that it comprises an extractor (40; 140) formed in accordance with the preceding claims.