Abstract:
The glove can be heated by the user&#39;s breath and comprises an outer layer with a through-hole on the back of the hand, a blowing element attached to the outer layer over the through-hole, and an inner lining. A guide pocket is arranged between the outer layer and the inner lining over an area of the back of the hand which extends from the blowing element all the way to the tips of the fingers, the thumb optionally excepted. The blowing element is attached to the upper wall of said pocket. The lower wall of the pocket is perforated, at each finger, by a through-orifice for air in an area at the tip of said finger. The inner lining is air-permeable in at least the area of the through-orifice.

Description:
[0001]    This is a 371 national phase application of PCT/FR2007/051563 filed 29 Jun. 2007, claiming priority to French Patent Application No. 06/05982 filed 03 Jul. 2006, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a glove which is equipped with a device allowing the user to blow his/her breath into the inside of the glove in order to heat up at least the end of some of his/her fingers. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The air which flows out of the lungs during exhalation is at a relatively constant temperature around 34° C. 
         [0004]    It may therefore be considered that this is hot air when the ambient temperature is less than this temperature. 
         [0005]    The use of this hot air as a means for interiorly heating clothing articles, notably gloves intended to be used under low temperature conditions, in particular by those practicing winter sports and notably skiing, is known. 
         [0006]    Given that the cooling due to low temperatures first affects the end portions of the body, and in particular the fingers of the hand, it was sought to have the heating action by means of the breath blown into the inside of the glove, preferentially occur and be localized towards the ends of the fingers. 
         [0007]    This is notably the case in documents FR-2,124,257 and WO-2004/021815. 
         [0008]    More specifically, in document WO-2004/021815, the glove includes an outer layer, pierced with a through-hole on the back of the hand, an inner air-permeable layer and a blowing element which is attached on the outer layer, at the through-hole. This glove also includes an intermediate layer, which is not very permeable to air and which is partially sewn to the outer layer. This intermediate layer is positioned between the outer layer and the inner layer on a first area of the back of the hand which extends from the blowing element right up to one or more second areas covering the end of the fingers over a determined distance, delimiting with the outer layer a free space for circulation of the blown-in air from the blowing element, said free space opening out at the determined distance from the end of the fingers. Thus, in this document, the hot air which is blown by the user into the blowing element fills the free space comprised between the outer layer, generally not very permeable to air, and the intermediate layer, also not very permeable to air, until it reaches the outlet of this free space, i.e. the second area(s) of the glove which cover the end of the fingers. 
         [0009]    In this document, the blowing element is notably attached by sewing on the outer layer. In particular, this may be a molded plastic part, pierced with a blowing aperture and including a peripheral edge with which this attachment may be achieved by sewing on the outer layer. 
         [0010]    In this document, provision is also made for having the possibility of positioning in the free space of the second area(s), towards the end of the fingers, a fiber filling material intended to increase the dwelling time of the hot air in this distal area and to form a means for storing heat in this area. 
         [0011]    In practice, the application of fiber filling material is quite current for improving heat insulation of the glove. This material is usually positioned, as a web, between the outer layer and the inner layer. 
         [0012]    In document EP-1,332,687, the fiber filling material is also positioned inside air flow conduits, leading the blown-in air from the blowing element right up to the end of the fingers. 
         [0013]    The gloves known from the aforementioned documents have drawbacks. 
         [0014]    In the case of document WO-2004/021815, as the blown-in air directly passes under the outer layer and that the heat insulation of this outer layer is not really very effective, the blown hot air from the blowing element consequently cools before reaching the end of the fingers, notably when the outdoor temperature is below −10° C. Consequently, the effective heating time is considerably reduced. 
         [0015]    Another drawback should be reported: the first insufflations will push the cold air which was stored in air flow space. The user will then feel cold air on the end of his/her fingers. 
         [0016]    In the case of document EP-1,332,687, when the blown-in air passes through the filling fibers, the moisture contained in the breath condenses on the fibers, which significantly reduces the heat insulation which the presence of the filling fibers is supposed to provide. This same phenomenon occurs when the fibers are only localized in the end area of the fingers, as provided in document WO-2004/021815. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The goal aimed by the present invention is to propose a glove having a different structure from the known ones, and/or allowing the aforementioned drawbacks to be overcome. 
         [0018]    The glove according to the present invention, includes in a way 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, attached on the outer layer, at the through-hole;   c) an inner lining;   d) a guiding pocket which is positioned between the outer layer and the inner lining, over an area of the back of the hand which extends from the blowing element, the latter being included, right up to the hands of the finger, the thumb optionally being an exception.       
 
         [0023]    Further, the blowing element is not only attached on the outer layer but also on the upper wall of the guiding pocket; the guiding pocket is pierced with a second through-hole coinciding with the first through-hole of the outer layer on the one hand, and for each finger, with an orifice for letting through air at an end area of said finger on the other hand, and the inner lining lets through air at least in the area which is facing said through-orifice. 
         [0024]    The guiding pocket is in a textile material not very permeable to air. 
         [0025]    Further, the glove also includes a heat insulation layer, notably a filling fiber layer which is positioned between the outer layer and the guiding pocket. This particular arrangement provides heat insulation of the air which is blown in from the blowing element when it circulates in the guiding pocket. Optionally, an impermeable/breathing membrane may be positioned between the outer layer and the filling fibers so as to ensure impermeability while always retaining the breathability of the glove. 
         [0026]    In an alternative embodiment, the blowing element is in two portions, which may be firmly attached to each other, notably by fitting them into each other, the first portion being attached on the outer layer and the second portion being attached on the upper wall of the guiding pocket. 
         [0027]    This particular arrangement greatly facilitates the making of the glove. It allows the making of the air guiding pocket to be dissociated from that of the other actual elements of the glove. 
         [0028]    According to an alternative embodiment, the glove also includes a spacer, notably appearing as a ring, which is arranged on the perimeter of the blowing element at the lower face of the upper wall of the guiding pocket. This spacer enables a certain space to be maintained between both faces of the guiding pocket, in proximity to the blowing element so that blown-in air may always penetrate into the guiding pocket, even after an extended time during which both faces of said guiding pocket have remained applied against each other. This is all the more useful since the guiding pocket, according to the present invention, does not include any filling fibers or other elements with which a certain space may be constantly maintained between both inner faces of the guiding pocket. 
         [0029]    According to an alternative embodiment, the inner lining is pierced with orifices at the end of the fingers which coincide with the through-orifices of the guiding pocket. 
         [0030]    According to an alternative embodiment, the inner lining is in a permeable material, notably a textile with a ventilated weave, currently designated as mesh, in an area coinciding with the through-orifices of the guiding pocket. 
         [0031]    In an alternative embodiment, the guiding pocket is formed with an upper wall and a lower wall which are attached to each other and to the inner lining by sewing when making the glove. 
         [0032]    According to a preferred embodiment of this alternative, the upper wall and the lower wall of the guiding pocket are attached to each other and on one side to the heat insulation layer and on the other side to the inner lining. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0033]    The present invention will be better understood upon reading the description which will be made of an exemplary embodiment of a glove capable of being heated by the breath of the user, illustrated by the appended drawing wherein: 
           [0034]      FIG. 1  is a very schematized view, as a longitudinal sectional view, of a glove along a plane passing through the blowing element and the forefinger; 
           [0035]      FIG. 2  is a schematic planar illustration of an air guiding pocket and 
           [0036]      FIG. 3  is a schematic sectional view dissociating both portions of the blowing element before they are snapped on together. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0037]    The glove  1  is a glove specially designed for practicing sports which may take place in extremely cold weather, for example from −10° to −20° C., most particularly when practicing skiing. 
         [0038]    This glove is made in a conventional way by making a set of pieces with which, once they are assembled, a general configuration similar to that of a hand may be obtained. Also in a conventional way, among these pieces, there is an outer layer  2  and an inner lining  3 . The outer layer  2  is in a material which is not very permeable or impermeable to water and relatively not very permeable to air, this in order to prevent free passage of cold air from outdoors. This outer layer  2  may itself be formed by the assembling of several pieces made of different materials depending on the location on the glove. 
         [0039]    The inner lining  3 , which is directly in contact with the hand of the user is in a porous material, permeable to air. 
         [0040]    In order to achieve heating of the end of the fingers of the hand, the glove  1  includes a blowing element  4  on the one hand and an air guiding pocket  5  on the other hand, which have the function of conveying the breath blown in by the user from the blowing element right up to the end of all or part of the fingers of the hand. The blowing element  4  is attached on the outer layer  2  on a portion of the glove which corresponds to the top of the hand, slightly on the rear of the fingers, notably of the forefinger. In order to allow penetration of the blown-in breath from the blowing element  4 , a through-hole  6  is provided in the outer layer  2 . 
         [0041]    The blowing element  4  is also attached on the guiding pocket  5 , around a second through-hole  7  formed in the upper wall  5   a  of the guiding pocket. When the glove is made, the first  6  and the second  7  through-holes are facing each other, the attachment of the blowing element  4  both to the outer layer  2  and to the guiding pocket  5  being achieved with a seal in order to prevent any penetration of outdoor air into the inside of the glove and to prevent any loss of the breath introduced by the blowing element into the guiding pocket  5 . 
         [0042]    The guiding pocket  5  is positioned between the outer layer  2  and the inner lining  3  on an area of the back of the hand which extends from the blowing element right up to the ends of the fingers, the thumb optionally being an exception, as this is the case in the exemplary embodiment which is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0043]    More specifically in this example, the guiding pocket  5  includes a rear portion  8  which surrounds the through-hole  7  around which the blowing element  4  is attached and a front portion  9  which is broken down into four branches  9   a,    9   b,    9   c ,  9   d  which are intended to be positioned inside the glove above the forefinger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger, respectively. The configuration of the rear portion  8  allows the blown-in breath to be transferred from the blowing element  4  into each of the branches  9   a - 9   c  of the front portion  9 . 
         [0044]    The guiding pocket  5  is for example formed by the assembly of an upper wall  5   a  and of a lower wall  5   b  which are attached to each other along the peripheral contour of the rear portion  8  and of the front portion  9  along the dotted line  10  as marked on  FIG. 2 . 
         [0045]    The configuration and the length of each branch  9   a - 9   d  are provided so that the guiding pocket  5  extends right up towards the ends of the four relevant fingers. The lower wall  5   b  of the guiding pocket  5 , i.e. the one which is in contact with the inner lining  3 , is pierced for each branch  9   a - 9   d,  with at least an orifice  11  for letting through air from the end area of said branch. 
         [0046]    In  FIG. 2 , a circular orifice  11  is illustrated, formed in the lower wall of each branch  9   a - 9   d  of the guiding pocket  5 . Of course, this is not exclusive; there may be several orifices per branch, or even total absence of a lower wall in this end area of each branch. Optionally, the orifice for letting through air may be delimited by two inner and outer walls of the guiding pocket, not assembled at the end of each branch. 
         [0047]    In a preferred embodiment, the formation of the guiding pocket  5  by assembling the upper wall  5   a  and the lower wall  5   b  is achieved upon making the glove by sewing both said walls to each other and to the inner lining  3 . 
         [0048]    In the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a heat insulation layer  12  is provided between the outer layer  2  and the inner lining  3 . This may notably be a web of filling fibers, generally called padding, but without the use of this term being restrictive. 
         [0049]    In the portion of the glove where the guiding pocket  5  is positioned, the padding is positioned between the outer layer  2  and the upper wall  5   a  of the guiding pocket  5 . When the user blows in his/her breath through the aperture  12  of the blowing element  4 , this breath follows the arrowed path (F) which is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  passing between both walls  5   a  and  5   b  of the guiding pocket, being distributed from the front portion  8  right into the branches  9   a - 9   d  so as to emerge from the guiding pocket  5  through the orifices  11 . Beyond the orifice  11 , the breath passes through the lining  3 , permeable to air, and reaches as far as the end area  16  of the fingers. Depending on the type of material which is used for making the lining  3 , it may be preferable to also provide through-holes  13  in said lining  3 , facing the orifices  11 . 
         [0050]    With this, passage of air into the glove may be facilitated. 
         [0051]    In particular, when the guiding pocket  5  is formed by assembling both upper  5   a  and lower  5   b  walls, a problem of temporary adherence of both said walls may be posed when the latter are constantly in contact with each other. This temporary adherence may result in the impossibility for the user to cause his/her breath to penetrate beyond the blowing element inside the guiding pocket  5 , the pressure exerted by the breath being insufficient for achieving separation of both walls. In order to overcome this drawback, the glove  1  includes a spacer  14  which is positioned at the lower face of the upper wall  5   a,  along the perimeter of the blowing element  4 . With this spacer  14 , for example appearing as a ring, a certain space  15  may be constantly maintained between both walls  5   a,    5   b  of the guiding pocket in proximity to the blowing element  4 . 
         [0052]    Of course, it is preferable that this spacer  14  should not be continuous over the whole of the perimeter of the blowing element but apertures should be made for letting through the breath into the space  15 . In  FIG. 3 , such a through-aperture  47  is made diametrically opposite to the spacer  14  illustrated on the left of the blowing element  4 . 
         [0053]    The presence of such a spacer  14  proves to be important, within the scope of the glove  1  of the present invention, insofar that no filling element is provided, whatever it be, between both walls  5   a,    5   b  of the guiding pocket. 
         [0054]    In order to ensure impermeability while retaining breathability of the glove  1 , an impermeable breathing membrane, i.e. impermeable to water and to air, but permeable to steam, positioned under the outer layer  2 , and preferably above the padding  12 , may also be provided. On its side, in order to prevent hot air from directly flowing towards the back of the hand when the breath is blown-in, the guiding pocket  5  is preferably in a material which is not very permeable to air. It should be noted that the breath which passes through according to the arrows F of  FIG. 1 , from the blowing element  4 , is thermally protected from ambient air by the outer layer  2 , possibly by the impermeable breathing membrane and also by the padding  12 . Therefore there are very little heat losses during this transfer right up to the end area  16  of the branches  9   a - 9   d,  up to the orifices  11  with which the end of the fingers of the user may be heated. 
         [0055]    In a particular embodiment, the inner lining  3 , at least in the area coinciding with the through-orifices  11  of the guiding pocket  5 , is in a textile with a ventilated weave, generally a knit, currently designated as mesh, which delimits a multitude of orifices corresponding to the interstices between the meshes of the knit. 
         [0056]    The blowing element  4  should be attached to both the outer layer  2  and guiding pocket  5 , more specifically, in the example described above, to the upper wall  5   a  of said guiding pocket  5 . 
         [0057]    In order to facilitate this attachment and to simplify the making process, according to the present invention, a blowing element  40  ( FIG. 3 ) is proposed, which consists of two distinct portions  41 ,  42  which may be firmly attached to each other, notably by fitting them into each other. The first portion  41  is attached on the outer layer  2  and the second portion  42  is attached on the upper wall  5   a  of the guiding pocket  5 . More specifically, the first portion  41  includes a substantially planar ring portion  46 , with a slight inner deviation  44 , forming a small cone frustum. The second portion also has a ring portion  45 , interiorly extended with a substantially hemispherical portion  46 , pierced with a hole  47  for letting through air. 
         [0058]    Both ring portions  43 , 45  of the first  41  and second  42  portions of the blowing element  40  are used for attaching both said portions  41  and  42  onto the outer layer  2  and the upper wall  5   a  of the guiding pocket  5 , respectively. In  FIG. 3 , both portions  41 ,  42  of the blowing element  4 , are illustrated in a dissociated way, before their assembling by fitting them into each other. It is sufficient for the operator to have both said portions  41 , 42  face each other by displacing the first portion  41  until it covers the hemispherical portion  46  of the second portion  42 . The frustro-conical extension  44  of the first portion  41  and the hemispherical extension  46  of the second portion  42  are configured so that the frustro-conical extension  44  will fit onto the hemispherical extension  46 . Optionally, an anti-return stop may be provided for avoiding detachment of both of said portions  41 ,  42 , once the making of the glove is finished. Of course, the configuration of both portions  41  and  42  should also take into account the possible presence of the impermeable breathing membrane and/or the padding between the outer layer  2  and the upper layer  5   a  of the guiding pocket. 
         [0059]    Blocking of the through-hole  47  of the blowing element  40  is achieved by a cap  48  which is integral therewith by means of a flexible strip  49  of the ring portion  43  of the first portion  41  of the blowing element  40 . This cap  48  is also configured so as to be assembled by fitting it on the outside of the hemispherical portion  46  of the second portion  42  of the blowing element  40 .