THERMALLY INSULATING FLOATING LINER

An article of apparel is comprised of an outer fabric shell defining a body portion and arm portions. The body portion has a back panel section and one or two front panel sections. A thermally insulating liner is secured to the back panel section and the one or two front panel sections by tack fasteners which may form permanent or detachable connections and these connections are positioned at predetermined locations along peripheral edges of the liner. The connections provide for the liner to have large un-attached peripheral areas to provide free floating displacement of the liner with respect to the outer fabric shell when worn by a wearer person to reduce restraint of movement of the wearer person's arms and body by the outer shell and liner and thereby enhancing the wearer person's freedom of movement. In a further embodiment the tack fasteners are detachable wherein the liner can be worn as a sleeveless insulating vest and wherein the vest is provided with adjustable tie means about its arm holes, neck and bottom openings to provide sealing thereof against a wearer person's body to maintain body heat.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to insulating liners and particularly, but not exclusively, for insulated articles of apparel and to an improvement of the construction of the article of apparel to reduce restraint of movement of a wearer person arms and body by the article of apparel and its thermal insulating liner and thereby enhancing the wearer person's freedom of movement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The construction of thermally insulating articles of apparel, such as jackets and coats, formed with a thermally insulating liner secured inside an outer fabric shell are bulky and heavy and cause restraint of movement of a wearer persons arms and body. This makes the article of apparel heavy and uncomfortable and restraining, particularly so during sports activities where the body and arms are in continuous motion. Furthermore, where the insulating fabric material overlaps, such as in the arm pit areas where the sleeve overlaps the body portion of the article of apparel, the overlapped insulation causes the wearer person to sweat in the arm pit areas.

Another disadvantage of thermally insulating articles of apparel is that they have limited use for the reason that they provide comfort only during specific climatic conditions, for example during winter months only when temperature are very cold and below freezing. If the temperature increases above freezing then the article of apparel is uncomfortable and the wearer person must resort to the use of another article of apparel adapted to a warmer environment.

It is also known to have articles of apparel with detachable insulating fabric liners attached to the outer shell by the use of zipper fasteners whereby the outer shell can be used for a prolong period of time by the removal of the liner. A disadvantage of such insulating liners is that they further restrict arm and body movements of a wearer person due to the fact that the article of apparel is bulky and adds fabric weight when pulled by arm movements and further cause a restriction to the arm movement. Still further, the liner fabric being most often made from wool material often causes a wearer person to perspire which is undesirable.

It would be desirable to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages and to provide additional features of such articles wherein such articles may have others applications and can be used for longer periods of time with different applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a feature of the present invention to provide an article of apparel which substantially overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages of thermally insulated liners used in articles of apparel and which provides additional features, uses and applications.

A further feature of the present invention is to provide a thermally insulating article of apparel wherein the thermally insulating liner is secured by tack fastening means secured at predetermined locations inside the article of apparel to reduce restraint of movement of a wearer person's arms and body by the outer shell and liner and thereby enhancing the wearer person's freedom of movement. Such article of apparel would be of great advantage for military personnel, police and firefighters, commercial fisherman and outside workers of many trades.

A further feature of the present invention is to provide a thermally insulating article of apparel wherein the thermally insulating liner is detachably secured inside the outer shell of the article of apparel providing ease of removal and replacement of the thermally insulating article of apparel with other thermally insulating liners of different thermal insulating values.

A further feature of the present invention is to provide a thermally insulating article of apparel wherein the thermally insulating liner is in the form of a vest which is detachable secured inside the outer shell of the article of apparel and can be worn as a separate article of apparel.

A still further feature of the article of apparel is to provide a thermally insulating liner in the form of a vest which is detachable secured inside the outer shell of the article of apparel and wherein the arm holes, the rear and front panels and the neck opening are provided with cord locks for sealing the openings against a wearer person's body to maintain body heat inside the vest when worn independent of the article of apparel outer jacket shell and further wherein the cord locks can be loosen to permit ventilation and air circulation inside the vest.

According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the present invention provides an article of apparel comprised of an outer fabric shell defining body portion and arm portions. The body portion has a back panel section and one or two front panel sections. A liner is secured to the back panel section and the one or two front panel sections by tack fastening means positioned at predetermined locations of the liner whereby to provide free floating displacement of the liner with respect to the outer fabric shell when worn by a wearer person to reduce restraint of movement of the wearer person's arms and body by the outer shell and liner and thereby enhancing the wearer person's freedom of movement.

According to a further broad aspect of the present invention, the liner is a thermally insulating liner having thermally insulating material and preferably, but not exclusively formed of a composite down material sheet having a stretchable down core structure.

According to a still further broad aspect of the present invention, the tack fastening means are constituted by detachable tack fasteners to permit removal of the thermally insulating liner. Further, the thermally insulating liner is a replaceable liner with other thermally insulating liners of different thermal insulating values whereby to permit a wearer person to interchange the thermally insulating liners to adapt the article of apparel to different climatic conditions. Still further, at least two or more of the thermally insulating liners are provided for removable securement to the outer fabric shell of the article of apparel.

According to a still further broad aspect of the present invention, the detachable liner is a sleeveless thermally insulating vest having front and rear interconnected body panels defining arm holes, a neck opening and a bottom opening. The sleeveless insulating vest is formed by an outer fabric shell, an inner lining material fabric and an intermediate thermally insulation material held captive between the outer fabric shell and the inner lining material. An adjustable tie means is provided along the arm holes, the neck opening and the bottom opening to provide for adjustment of the openings wherein to permit sealing of the arm holes, neck opening and bottom openings against a wearer person's body to maintain body heat inside said sleeveless insulation vest and to further permit ventilation of the wearer person's body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG.1, there is shown a jacket type article of apparel10comprised of an outer fabric shell11defined by a back panel section12and two front panel sections13and13′. A thermally insulating liner14is secured to the inner surface of the back panel section12and the two front panel sections13by tack fastening means, herein permanent stitch tack fasteners15positioned at predetermined locations along peripheral edges16of the thermally insulating liner14whereby to provide free floating displacement of the thermally insulating liner14between the tack fasteners and with respect to the outer fabric shell11when the article of apparel10is worn by a wearer person to reduce restraint of movement of the wearer person's arms and body by the outer shell11and thermally insulating liner14and thereby enhancing the wearer person's freedom of movement.

As further illustrated inFIGS.1and6, the article of apparel10is further provided with arm insulating sleeve liners17secured in each of the arm sections18of the article of apparel10by detachable tack fasteners15′ disposed spaced apart about the cuff end19of the sleeve18and a shoulder arm entry end area20of the sleeve18.FIG.6illustrates the arm insulating sleeve liner17and as herein shown it is formed with a cut-out section21formed in a peripheral area of one of an arm pit portion22of the jacket10. Alternatively, a similar cut-out portion23of the thermal insulation24and its scrim sheets25, seeFIGS.2A and28, can be made in the arm pit portion26of the body liner between the back panel section12and the two front panels13and13′ whereby when the article of apparel10is worn by a wearer person the insulation liner of the arm insulating sleeve liner17is not overlapped in the arm pit areas of the jacket10resulting in bulkiness and non-comfort in the arm pits and causing perspiration.

FIGS.2A and2Bare cross-section views of the thermally insulating construction of the liner and as herein illustrated it is comprised of a down feather sheet26formed by a thermally insulating24core of down material mixed with binder material to form a homogeneous down sheet. A scrim sheet25is bound to opposed surface of the core24. In one aspect of the present invention, there may be provided different liners having different thermally insulating values whereby to adapt the article of apparel10to different climatic conditions.FIGS.2A and2Billustrates two such liners which have their core24and24′ of different thickness to provide different thermal insulating values to adapt the outer shell11of the article of apparel to different climatic conditions. Of course, to do so, the tack fasteners15are formed as detachable fasteners, some of which are illustrated inFIGS.7A to7D. The down material insulation sheet26forms part of some of my issued US patents, but other insulating material, such as synthetic insulation, may be used in constructing the thermally insulating liner.

FIG.7Aillustrates in greater detail a stitched tack fastener15formed by a permanently sewn thread connection15″.FIGS.7B to7Dillustrates different types of detachable tack fasteners15′. The detachable fasteners15′ may be provided by magnetic fasteners30, as shown inFIG.7D, and of a type well known in the art and providing sufficient retention force to prevent detachment when there is a pulling force exerted on of the liner by displacement of the outer fabric shell. Still further, the detachable fasteners15′ may be formed by loop and hook tack fasteners31, as shown inFIG.70, or snap tack fasteners32as shown inFIG.7Bor loop and button fasteners (not shown) or other suitable detachable attachment means.

As shown inFIG.3, the article of apparel10is herein formed with an additional feature wherein the collar35is formed with a concealed pouch36retained by a stitch seam37and accessible in an internal chamber38formed between fabric layers of said collar35. The pouch36is dimensioned to receive therein the outer shell11with the liner detached therefrom to form one of a carrying pouch or a pillow. If the thermally insulating liner is not too thick, it may also be positioned in the pouch36. A pouch may also be formed in the back of the liner14to carry, in a concealed manner, other sections of the liner, such as sleeves, a hood or other associated parts or attachments or features.

In one of its aspects, the jacket10has at least two thermally insulating liners14provided therewith with the liners being replaceable and of different thermal insulating values whereby to permit a wearer person to interchange the thermally insulating liner14with an other liner of different thermal insulating value to adapt the article of apparel10to different climatic conditions.

Referring now toFIGS.4A to5there is illustrated another important feature of the present invention, wherein the body thermally insulating liner14and the arm thermally insulating sleeve liner17are displaced relative to its relationship with the outer fabric shell11due to body and arm movement or the wearer person. As shown inFIG.4A, when the wearer person40moves its arms41up and down, the tack attachments15,15′ permit movement of the thermally insulating sleeve liner17relative to the outer fabric shell11in the direction of arrows43between its tack fasteners15,15′ and thereby providing more liberty of arm movement to the wearer person. This is also the case when the arms are displaced as illustrated inFIG.4Cwhere the arms of the wearer person40pulls on the thermally insulating sleeve liner17. Accordingly, there is much less restraint as compared to full stitch seam securements where the full load of the shell and liner is displaced in unison by arm movements of the wearer person.FIG.4Billustrates a further motion of the wearer person40wherein the body portion of the thermally insulating liner14provides additional freedom of movement. As herein illustrated, when the wearer person40bends forward its back45exerts a pulling friction force47onto the liner14causing the liner to move in the free liner portions48inwardly with respect to the outer fabric shell11liberating part of the jacket load onto the back45of the wearer person40. Accordingly, the thermally insulating liner can be referred to as a floating liner in this respect in relation to the outer fabric shell to enhance the freedom of movement of a wearer person.

Referring now toFIGS.8and9, there is shown generally the liner14of the present invention formed as a sleeveless insulating vest50. The sleeveless insulating vest50is formed by a back panel51and a right and left frontal panels52and53, respectively, interconnected by a central zipper fastener54or other suitable fasteners, such as a magnetic zipper type fastener. The vest50has arm holes55and55′, a neck opening56and a bottom waist opening57. The sleeveless insulating vest50is formed of a thermally insulating construction such as described above with reference toFIGS.2A and28, with an inner lining material fabric and an intermediate thermally insulation material held captive between the outer fabric shell and the inner lining material. As shown the vest, when detached, as the detachable fasteners15′ secured thereto at different locations with relation to the openings. As herein shown the detachable fasteners15′ are in the form of “Velcro”, registered trademark of the3-M Company, patches30as shown inFIG.7D.

With additional reference toFIG.10, the sleeveless insulating vest50, as herein illustrated, is provided with an additional feature wherein an adjustable tie means, herein in the form of a draw cord58, is trained in a retention channel59formed along the arm holes55, the neck opening56and the bottom waist opening57between an outer seam edge60and an inner spaced stitch seam61interconnecting the outer fabric shell material and the inner liner material and such a channel and draw cord fastening arrangement is of a type well known in the art. As shown, in this figure, the draw cord is formed about the arm opening55and exits a channel opening62where opposed sections58′ of the draw cord are trained through a releasable clamp cord lock63to permit said draw cord to cinch and lock the arm retention channel55about a wearer persons arm. Such cord locks are well known in the art and are provided about all of the openings to seal the vest about a wearer person's body to maintain body heat inside the sleeveless insulation vest and to further permit ventilation of the wearer person's body by releasing or adjustments to some or all of the cord locks

Preferably, but not exclusively, the sleeveless insulating vest50is formed of an outer fabric shell which is a waterproof and breathable synthetic fabric material, an intermediate insulation material formed by a down material sheet having a self-supporting core mixture of down feathers and a binder throughout and an inner synthetic fabric material. The down material sheet is a also preferably a stretchable sheet as described in my U.S. Pat. No. 9,380,893, issued on Jul. 5, 2016 and which provides multi-directional stretchability to prevent fragmentation of the core mixture by body movements of the wearer person. Such a self-supporting down core mixture being formed as a uniform sheet throughout is free of cod spots formed by down material retention stitching which is illuminated by this down sheet structure.

As shown inFIGS.8and9, the sleeveless thermally insulating vest50is further provided with a hood65secured about a collar66formed at the neck opening56with the hood defining a face opening67. The hood65is also formed with thermally insulating material of the like as described above with respect to the thermally insulating structure of the vest. An adjustable tie assembly68of the type shown inFIG.10is provided along a channel69formed along the outer edge70of the face opening67to provide for adjustment of the face opening for sealing the hood65about the wearer person's face by the adjustable cord lock63′ to provide warmth to the wearer person's head. Similarly, a draw cord58is trained in a channel69′ formed about the bottom edge of the neck collar667and made adjustable by the release cord lock63″ to substantially seal the neck area of the wearer person.

Referring toFIG.11there is illustrated a further embodiment of the construction of the arm sections wherein they are fabricated as a one-piece arm section insulating liner75. The one-piece arm section liner75is comprised of arm sections76and76′ interconnected together in a predetermined spaced-apart relationship, depending on the size of the outer fabric shell14, by an intermediate back panel77. The arm sections76and76′ are also sized to fit the outer shell sleeves18. Tack fastening means in the form of magnets78are secured to the back surface of the back panel77to interconnect with associated magnets of opposed polarity secured to the inner surface of the back panel section12of the outer shell11.

It is within the ambit of the present invention to provide any obvious modifications of the embodiments described herein provided such modifications fall within the ambit of the appended claims. As examples only, the thermally insulating liner14can be formed with sections having different thermal insulating values, ie., the back section having an upper portion thicker than the bottom portion to provide more warmth in the upper back of a wearer person. The liner could also be formed with thermally insulating flaps to overlap the non-secured peripheral portions of the liner to provide insulation over the displaced areas of the liner where cold spot areas may form during displacement of the liner. The thermally insulating sleeves may also be formed by a single flat thermally insulating sheet which is overlapped by the user person and secured by strip attachments, such as magnetic strips or “Velcro” (loop and hooks), registered trademark of the3-M Company. As described, the collar of the jacket may permit the article of apparel or the shell only thereof, to be concealed in a pouch to convert the collar to a pillow to provide comfort to the user person such as when traveling in an aircraft, bus, etc. The outer fabric shell may also be formed with stretchable material sections to provide for additional freedom of movement working in concert with the thermally insulating floating liner.

It is also within the ambit of the present invention to provide a sleeveless thermally insulating vest having front and rear interconnected body panels defining arm holes, a neck opening and a bottom opening. The sleeveless insulating vest is formed by an outer fabric shell, an inner lining material fabric and an intermediate thermally insulation material held captive between the outer fabric shell and the inner lining material. An adjustable tie means is provided along the arm holes, the neck opening and the bottom opening to provide for adjustment of the openings wherein to permit sealing of the arm holes, neck opening and bottom openings against a wearer person's body to maintain body heat inside said sleeveless insulation vest and to further permit ventilation of the wearer person's body.

The floating liner concept of the present invention is also intended to have different uses such as for providing a thermally insulating barrier to tents to keep warmth in winter months and to keep the tent cool in summer months while expelling humidity. For such an application the down sheets would be fabricated as panels and retained to the walls of the tent by tack ties which may be permanent or detachable, as above described. The panels would be uniform thickness throughout and maintain this uniformity and thus eliminating cold spots formed by stitching or manipulation. The panels being formed from down feather material would be thinner than ordinary synthetic or natural insulating material making them light weight and easily packaged in small carrying bags or pack sacks. The panels could also be fabricated with different CLO counts to adapt the tent to different climatic conditions and provide for a quick adaptation to changing harsh climatic conditions, such as we find in the State of Alaska, for example. This would be of great asset for military use and commercial applications.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the present invention as described above will come to mind to a person skilled in the art to which the invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings described herein above and the drawings. Hence, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the present invention are not to be limited to the specific examples thereof as described herein and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention and the appended claims. Although the foregoing descriptions and associated drawings describe example embodiments in the context of certain examples of the elements and members and/or functions, it should be understood that different combinations of elements or substitutes and/or functions may be provided by different embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and other equivalent terms are contemplated herein with respect to the items that they relate to. It is therefore within the ambit of the resent invention to encompass all obvious modifications of the examples of the preferred embodiment described herein provide such modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.