WO2008003890A2

WO2008003890A2 - Gloove that can be warmed by the user's breath

Info

Publication number: WO2008003890A2
Application number: PCT/FR2007/051563
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Xu; Vincent Delepiere
Original assignee: Decathlon
Priority date: 2006-07-03
Filing date: 2007-06-29
Publication date: 2008-01-10
Also published as: FR2902979B1; DE112007001550T5; US20100064416A1; FR2902979A1; CN101484029A; WO2008003890A3

Abstract

The glove (1) can be warmed by the user's breath and comprises an outer layer (2) with a through hole (6) on the back of the hand, a blowing element (4) attached to the outer layer (2) over the through hole (6), and an inner lining (3). A guide pocket (5) is arranged between the outer layer (2) and the inner lining (3) over an area of the back of the hand which extends from the blowing element (4) all the way to the tips of the fingers, the thumb optionally excepted. The blowing element is attached to the upper wall (5a) of said pocket (5). The lower wall (5b) of the pocket (5) is perforated, at each finger, by a through orifice (11) for air in an area (16) at the tip of said finger. The inner lining (3) is air-permeable in at least the area of the through orifice (11).

Description

GANT ABLE TO BE HEATED BY THE USER'S BREATH

The present invention relates to a glove which is equipped with a device allowing the user breathes his breath into the glove to warm at least the end of some of his fingers.

The air exiting the lungs during exhalation is at a relatively constant temperature around 34 ^° C. It can therefore be considered that it is hot air when the ambient temperature is below this temperature.

It is known to use this hot air as a means for the interior heating of clothing items including gloves for use in basic temperature conditions, especially those who practice winter sports including skiing.

Since the cooling due to the low temperatures affects in the first place the extreme parts of the body, and in particular the fingers of the hand, it was sought that the warming, thanks to the breath breathed inside the glove, intervenes preferentially and localized towards the ends of the fingers.

This is particularly the case in documents FR-2.124.257 and WO-2004/021815.

More specifically, in the document WO-2004/021815, the glove comprises an outer layer, pierced with a through hole on the back of the hand, an inner layer, permeable to air and a blowing element which is fixed on the outer layer, at the passage hole. This glove also has an intermediate layer, which is not very breathable and is partially sewn to the outer layer. This intermediate layer is disposed between the outer layer and the inner layer on a first zone of the back of the hand which extends from the blowing element to one or more second zones covering the end of the fingers over a determined distance , delimiting with the outer layer a free space of circulation of the air blown from the blowing element, said free space opening at the determined distance from the end of the fingers. Thus, in this document, the hot air that is blown by the user into the blowing element fills the free space between the outer layer, generally not very breathable, and the intermediate layer, which is also not very permeable. in the air, until reaching the exit of this free space, namely the second or second areas of the glove that cover the ends of the fingers.

In this document, the blowing element is fixed in particular by sewing on the outer layer. In particular, it may be a molded plastic part, pierced with a blowing aperture and having a peripheral flange for performing this fixing by sewing on the outer layer.

In this document, it is also envisaged that, in the free space of the second zone or zones, towards the end of the fingers, a fibrous filling material intended to increase the residence time of the hot air this distal zone and to constitute a means of storing heat in this zone.

In practice, the implementation of a fibrous filling material is quite common to improve the thermal insulation of the glove. This material is usually disposed in the form of a web between the outer layer and the inner layer.

In the document EP-1,332,687, the fibrous filling material is also disposed inside air circulation ducts, driving the air blown from the blowing element to the end of the fingers. Gloves known from the aforementioned documents have disadvantages.

Regarding the document WO-2004/021815, as the air blown passes directly under the outer layer and the thermal insulation of this outer layer is not very effective, the hot air blown from the blowing element cools significantly before reaching the fingertips, especially when the outside temperature is below -10 ⁰ C. As a result, the effective duration of warming is considerably reduced. Another disadvantage is to note: the first insufflations will push the cold air which was stored in the space of circulation of the air. The user will feel on the end of the fingers of the cold air.

With regard to the document EP-1.332.687, when the air blown through the filling fibers, the moisture contained in the breath condenses on the fibers, which significantly reduces the thermal insulation that is supposed to bring the presence of the filling fibers. This same phenomenon occurs when the fibers are only located in the end zone of the fingers, as provided in document WO-2004/021815. The object of the present invention is to provide a glove having a different structure from those known and / or to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

The glove according to the present invention comprises, in a manner known from document WO-2004/021815: a) an outer layer pierced with a first through hole on the back of the hand; b) a blowing element, fixed on the outer layer, at the passage hole; (c) an inner lining; d) a guide pocket which is arranged between the outer layer and the inner liner, on an area of the back of the hand which extends from the blowing element, which is included, to the ends of the fingers, exception being possibly made of the thumb.

In addition, the blowing element is attached not only to the outer layer but also to the upper wall of the guide pocket; the guide pocket is pierced on the one hand with a second passage hole in concordance with the first through hole of the outer layer and on the other hand, for each finger, with an air passage opening at the level of an end zone of said finger and the inner lining passes air at least in the area which is opposite said passage opening.

The guide pocket is made of a textile material that is not very breathable. In addition, the glove also comprises a thermal insulation layer, in particular a layer of filling fibers which is arranged between the outer layer and the guide pocket. This particular arrangement is used to thermally isolate the air that is blown from the blowing element during its circulation in the guide pocket. Optionally, a breathable membrane may be disposed between the outer layer and the filling fibers so as to ensure impermeability while always maintaining the breathability of the glove.

In an alternative embodiment, the blowing element is in two parts, which are solidarisâmes to one another, in particular by interlocking, the first part being fixed on the outer layer and the second part being fixed on the upper wall of the guide pocket.

This particular arrangement greatly facilitates the making of the glove. It makes it possible to dissociate the manufacture of the air guide bag and that of the other elements of the glove proper.

According to an alternative embodiment, the glove also comprises a spacer, in particular in the form of a rod, which is disposed on the periphery of the blowing element at the lower face of the upper wall of the guide pocket. This spacer makes it possible to maintain a certain space between the two faces of the guide pocket, close to the blowing element so that the blown air can always penetrate into the guide pocket, even after a short period of time. extended period in which the two faces of said guide pocket have remained applied to one another. This is all the more useful that the guide pocket, according to the present invention, does not comprise filling fibers or other elements for constantly maintaining a certain space between the two inner faces of the guide pocket.

According to an alternative embodiment, the inner liner is pierced with holes at the fingertips in concordance with the passage holes of the guide pocket.

According to an alternative embodiment, the inner lining is made of a permeable material, in particular a textile with an airy texture, denominated commonly mesh, in the area in concordance with the passage holes of the guide pocket.

In an alternative embodiment, the guide pocket is formed of an upper wall and a lower wall which are fixed to each other and to the inner double by sewing during the manufacture of the glove.

According to a preferred embodiment of this variant, the upper wall and the lower wall of the guide pocket are fixed to one another and on one side to the thermal insulation layer and on the other side to the lining interior.

The present invention will be better understood on reading the description which will be given of an exemplary embodiment of a glove adapted to be heated by the breath of use, illustrated by the appended drawing in which: FIG. 1 is a very schematic view, in longitudinal section, of a glove according to a plane passing through the blowing element and the index finger; - Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of an air guide pocket and Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view dissociating the two parts of the blowing element, before snapping. The glove 1 is a glove specially designed for the practice of sports that can take place in extremely cold weather, for example from -10 ° to -20 ⁰ C, especially the practice of skiing.

This glove is made conventionally by making a set of parts allowing, once assembled, to obtain a general configuration similar to that of a hand. Also conventionally, among these parts, there is an outer layer 2 and an inner liner 3. The outer layer 2 is made of a material which is not very permeable or impervious to water and relatively non-breathable, this to prevent the free passage of cold air from outside. This outer layer 2 may itself be formed by the assembly of several pieces made of different materials depending on the location on the glove.

The inner liner 3, which is directly in contact with the hand of the user, is in a porous material, permeable to air. To achieve the heating of the end of the fingers of the hand, the glove 1 comprises on the one hand a blowing element 4 and on the other hand an air guide pocket 5, whose function is to convey the breath insufflated by the user from the blowing element to the end of all or part of the fingers of the hand. The blowing element 4 is fixed on the outer layer 2 on a portion of the glove which corresponds to the top of the hand, slightly behind the fingers, in particular the index finger. To allow penetration of the breath blown from the blowing element 4, a through hole 6 is provided in the outer layer 2. The blowing element 4 is also fixed on the guide pocket 5, around a second through hole 7 formed in the upper wall 5a of the guide pocket. When the glove is made, the first 6 and the second 7 passage holes are facing each other, the attachment of the blowing element 4 to both the outer layer 2 and the guide pocket 5 being made in a sealed manner in order to prevent any outside air from entering the glove and to prevent any loss of the breath introduced by the blowing element into the guide pocket 5.

The guide pocket 5 is disposed between the outer layer 2 and the inner liner 3 on an area of the back of the hand which extends from the blowing element to the ends of the fingers, exception being optionally made of the thumb, as this is the case in the exemplary embodiment which is illustrated in FIG.

More specifically in this example, the guide pocket 5 has a rear portion 8 which surrounds the through hole 7 around which is fixed the blowing element 4 and a front portion 9 which is divided into four branches 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d which are intended to be arranged inside the glove, respectively above the index finger, the middle finger, the ring finger and the little finger. The configuration of the rear portion 8 allows the transfer of the breath blown from the blowing element 4 in each of the branches 9a to 9c of the front portion 9. The guide pocket 5 is for example formed by the assembly of an upper wall 5a and a lower wall 5b which are fixed to each other according to the peripheral contour of the rear portion 8 and the front portion 9 along the dashed line 10 marked in FIG. 2.

The configuration and the length of each branch 9a to 9d are provided so that the guide pocket 5 extends to the ends of the four fingers concerned. The bottom wall 5b of the guide pocket 5, that is to say the one which is in contact with the inner lining 3, is pierced, for each branch 9a to 9d, of at least one orifice 11 for passing the liner. air from the end zone of said branch.

FIG. 2 shows a circular orifice 11 formed in the bottom wall of each branch 9a to 9d of the guide pocket 5. This is of course not exclusive, there could be several orifices per branch, or even a total absence of inner wall in this end zone of each branch. Optionally, the air passage opening could be defined by the two inner and outer walls of the guide pocket, not assembled at the end of each branch.

In a preferred embodiment, the formation of the guide pocket 5 by assembly of the top wall 5a and the bottom wall 5b is performed during the manufacture of the glove by sewing the two said walls to one another and to the inner liner 3. In the example shown in Figure 1, it is provided between the outer layer

2 and the inner liner 3 a thermal insulation layer 12. It may especially be a sheet of filling fibers, generally called wadding. This thermal insulation layer will be referred to hereinafter wadding, but without the use of this term is limiting. In the part of the glove where the guide pocket 5 is arranged, the wadding is positioned between the outer layer 2 and the upper wall 5a of the guide pocket 5. When the user breathes in the opening 12 of the blowing element 4, this breath follows the arrow path (F) which is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 passing between the two walls 5a and 5b of the guide pocket, dividing from the front portion 8 into the branches 9a to 9d to exit the guide pocket 5 through the orifices 11. Beyond the orifice 11, the breath passes through the lining 3, permeable to air, and reaches the end zone 16 fingers. Depending on the type of material that is used for making the liner 3, it may be preferable to also provide, in said liner 3, facing the orifices 11, through holes 13.

This facilitates the passage of air into the glove. In particular, when the guide pocket 5 is formed by assembling two upper walls 5a and 5b, there may be a problem of temporary adhesion of the two said walls when they are constantly in contact with one of the other. This temporary adhesion may result in the impossibility for the user to penetrate his breath, beyond the blowing element inside the guide pocket 5, the pressure exerted by the breath being insufficient to achieve the separation of the two walls. To overcome this drawback, the glove 1 comprises a spacer 14 which is disposed at the lower face of the upper wall 5a, around the periphery of the blowing element 4. This spacer 14, presenting itself for example in the form of a ring, allows to maintain, constantly, a space 15 between the two walls 5a, 5b of the guide pocket near the blowing element 4.

It is of course preferable that this spacer 14 is not continuous around the entire periphery of the blowing element but that openings are provided for the passage of the breath in the space 15.

In FIG. 3, such a passage aperture 47 is arranged diametrically opposite to the spacer 14 shown on the left of the blowing element 4.

The presence of such a spacer 14 is important, in the context of the glove 1 of the present invention, insofar as no filling element, whatever it is, is provided between the two. walls 5a, 5b of the guide pocket.

To ensure impermeability while maintaining the breathability of the glove 1, it can also be provided a waterproof-breathable membrane, that is to say, impermeable to water and air but permeable to water vapor, disposed under the outer layer 2, and preferably above the wadding 12. On its side, to prevent the passage of hot air directly to the back of the hand during insufflation of the breath, the guide pocket 5 is preferably in a material slightly permeable to air. It should be noted that the breath passing through the arrows F of FIG. 1, since the blowing element 4, is thermally protected from the ambient air by the outer layer 2, possibly by the breathable membrane and also by the wadding 12. There is therefore very little heat loss during this transfer to the zone 16 of ends of the branches 9a to 9d, to the orifices 11 for heating the end of the fingers of the 'user.

In a particular embodiment, the inner lining 3, at least in the zone in correspondence with the orifices 11 through which the guide pocket 5 passes, is in a generally aerated textile fabric a knit, commonly referred to as a mesh, which delimits a multitude of orifices corresponding to the interstices between the knit stitches.

The blowing element 4 must be fastened both to the outer layer 2 and to the guide pocket 5, more precisely, in the example described above, to the upper wall 5a of said guide pocket 5.

To facilitate this fixing and simplify the manufacturing process, it is proposed according to the present invention, a blowing element 40 (Figure 3) which is composed of two separate parts 41, 42 which are solidarisâmes to one another, including by interlocking. The first part 41 is fixed on the outer layer 2 and the second part 42 is fixed on the upper wall 5a of the guide pocket 5. More precisely, the first part 41 comprises an annular portion 46, substantially flat, with a slight recess interior 44, forming a small truncated cone. The second portion 42 also has an annular portion 45, internally extended by a substantially hemispherical portion 46, pierced with an air passage hole 47.

The two annular portions 43,45 of the first 41 and second 42 parts of the blowing element 40 are used for fixing the two said portions 41 and 42 respectively on the outer layer 2 and the upper wall 5a of the guide pocket 5 In FIG. 3, the two portions 41, 42 of the blowing element 4 are dissociated before being assembled by interlocking. It is sufficient for the operator to put both 41,42 by moving the first portion 41 to cover the hemispherical portion 46 of the second portion 42. The frustoconical extension 44 of the first portion 41 and the hemispherical extension 46 of the second portion 42 are configured so that the extension frustoconical 44 comes to fit on the hemispherical extension 46. Optionally, may be provided a backstop avoiding disconnection of said two parts 41, 42 once the manufacture of the glove completed. Of course, the configuration of the two parts 41 and 42 must also take into account the possible presence of the breathable membrane and / or the wadding between the outer layer 2 and the upper wall 5a of the guide pocket.

The closure of the through hole 47 of the blowing element 40 is obtained by a cap 48 which is secured by means of a flexible band 49 of the annular portion 43 of the first portion 41 of the blowing element 40. This cap 48 is also configured to come together by interlocking on the outside of the hemispherical portion 46 of the second portion 42 of the blowing element 40.

Claims

1. Glove adapted to be heated by the breath of the user comprising: a) an outer layer (2) pierced with a through hole (6) on the back of the hand; b) a blowing element (4), fixed on the outer layer (2), at the passage hole (6); c) an inner liner (3); d) a guide pocket (5) which is disposed between the outer layer (2) and the inner liner (3) on an area of the back of the hand which extends from the blowing element (4) included to at the ends of the fingers, except possibly with the thumb, characterized in that:

the blowing element is fixed on the upper wall (5a) of the guide pocket (5);

the lower wall (5b) of the guide pocket (5) is pierced, for each finger, with a passage opening (11) for the air at an end zone (16) of said finger and ,

the inner lining (3) passes air at least in the zone which is opposite the passage opening (11) of the guide pocket (5), and in that it comprises a layer of thermal insulation (12) between the outer layer (2) and the upper wall (5a) of the guide pocket (5).

2. Glove according to claim 1, characterized in that the blowing element (40) is in two parts (41,42), solidarisâmes to one another, in particular by interlocking, the first part (41) being fixed on the outer layer (2) and the second part (42) on the upper wall (5a) of the guide pocket (5).

3. Glove according to claim 2, characterized in that the blowing element (40) is equipped with a closure cap (48), securable by interlocking with the second portion (42) of the blowing element (40). ).

4. Glove according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a spacer (14), in particular being under the shape of a rod, disposed under the periphery of the blowing element (4) at the lower face of the upper wall (5a) of the guide pocket (5).

5. Glove according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the inner liner (3) is pierced with orifices (12) in concordance with the orifices (11) for passage of the guide pocket (5) .

6. Glove according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the inner lining is in a permeable material, in particular a textile with aerated texture, in the end zone (16) in concordance with the orifice of passage of the guide pocket (5).

Glove according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the guide pocket (5) is made of a textile material that is not very permeable to air.

8. Glove according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a breathable membrane between the outer layer (2) and the thermal insulation layer (12).

9. Glove according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the guide pocket (5) is formed of an upper wall (5a) and a lower wall (5b) which are fixed one to the other and to the inner lining (3) and possibly to the thermal insulation layer (12) during the manufacture of the glove.