Abstract:
A method for creating rainwear that is waterproof yet allows the body&#39;s heat and moisture to vent is disclosed, including a shell and a liner, wherein the shell material is waterproof, and the liner material is waterproof and may or may not be breathable and vents placed at intervals in the fabric of the liner that allow for free air flow between the interior and exterior of the garment to achieve breathability by virtue of the vents. The garment may be made of materials that are inherently flame resistant for use where there is a danger of flash fire, such as high-voltage electrical work and petroleum production. In some embodiments, vents are inserted within apertures defined by a garment and include a base with inner and outer ridges surrounding a central opening and a cover having a perimeter extending between the inner and outer ridges.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     The application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/835,272, filed Mar. 15, 2013, and entitled BREATHABLE GARMENT, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to windproof and waterproof clothing when used by persons who are engaged in active pursuits, such as those involving either work or recreation. Specifically this invention relates to a method for protecting persons from the negative effects of wind or rain, while simultaneously providing means for the hot, moist air generated by their body to vent to the exterior of their clothes so that the vapor doesn&#39;t condense inside their clothes and make them wet. This problem has been recognized and ventilation systems have been created for clothing that can be opened by various means such as zippers, however in the event of rain these vents must be closed to prevent water from entering into the clothing from the outside and then the moist air created by the body condenses on the interior of the clothing. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Waterproof clothing has until the present time been constructed either from coated fabric such that it is absolutely windproof and waterproof, or from fabric with a membrane that keeps water (such as rain) from penetrating the fabric from the exterior but which is, to some degree, permeable to vapor such as that created by the human body under exertion. However, neither material allows substantial amounts of heat or moisture to move from the interior to the exterior of clothing constructed from the material. The result is that heat and moisture will accumulate within a very short time when the user is active. This in turn results in overheating, a drop in performance, and the wearer becoming wet from moisture condensing inside the clothing. Conversely in a colder environment, the wearer sweats during active times then the dampness remaining on the wearer&#39;s body over chills the body during rest periods. The term clothing as used in the description of the present invention relates to jackets, trousers, shirts, and headgear. 
     Other methods have been developed to allow for the venting of wind and waterproof clothing while preventing the intrusion of rain. U.S. Pat. No. 7,043,767 to Jaeger discloses a ventilation system for clothing utilizing a shingled construction. However, this system is expensive to construct and is very limited in the range of materials that can be used. 
     Similarly, Japanese Patent No. 2008038323 Fukuyama Teruyoshi discloses a similar shingled construction to create ventilation, but suffers from the same drawbacks as Jaeger. 
     Another method of allowing for ventilation while preventing rain from penetrating is US Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0242149 to Mickle et al., which discloses a series of vents using spacer materials as baffles to allow air flow while keeping rain water out. This approach, however, is expensive to construct, can only use a limited range of materials and is bulky. 
     The prior-art techniques attempt to prevent the intrusion of water while allowing for the venting of vapor. But the prior methods have a number of disadvantages: a) the construction costs of creating the vents using elaborate combinations of materials are prohibitive; b) the shingled construction with multiple layers of materials creates added bulk that feels awkward and constrains movement; c) the amount of air flow through the vents is limited by the various meshes it has to pass through; and d) the designs limit the range of materials that can used to create the clothing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates to windproof and waterproof clothing for use by persons who are engaged in active pursuits involving either work or recreation as well as other applications in which both waterproofing and breathability are important. In particular, the present disclosure is related to an apparatus including at least one panel defining one or more apertures and including a flexible material. One or more vent assemblies are secured to the at least one panel for each aperture of the one or more apertures. Each vent assembly includes a base portion secured to the at least one panel and defining an opening overlapping the each aperture. An outer ridge is secured to the base portion and an inner ridge secured to the base portion, the inner ridge being encircled by the outer ridge. A cap is secured to the base portion and has an outer perimeter positioned between the inner ridge and the outer ridge, the cap, inner ridge, and outer ridge defining a channel in fluid communication with the opening. The base may include a flange for bonding to the panel. 
     In some embodiments, the outer ridge defines one or more notches, which may be non-uniformly distributed around the outer ridge. The outer ridge may extend outwardly from the base more than the inner ridge. The perimeter of the cap may be offset from the base a distance less than the extent of the outer ridge outwardly from the base. 
     In some embodiments, the base defines a plurality of receptacles and the cap has a plurality of posts secured thereto and sized to insert within the receptacles. The end portions of the plurality of posts may include a widened portion configured to resist removal of the end portions from the receptacles. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings. These depict particular embodiments of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention set forth in the claims. 
         FIG. 1  shows a front view of the liner portion with molded synthetic fittings in the front panels of the jacket. 
         FIG. 2  is a view of the molded vent openings as seen from below showing how they create an arch, which allows air to flow from the interior to the exterior of the liner. 
         FIG. 3  is a section view of the molded vent opening showing how it protects the opening from water intrusion while still allowing air to flow from the interior to the exterior of the liner. 
         FIG. 4  shows a side view of the liner portion with vents in the front and rear of the jacket, as well as on the sleeve. 
         FIG. 5  is a view of the vents created by a piece of fabric with a stiffened edge tacked down in a manner that creates a series of arches to allow airflow. 
         FIG. 6  is a section view of the overlapping fabric panels with the upper panel having a stiffened edge, and the lower panel having a raised dam portion on the interior of the opening. 
         FIG. 7  is a section view of the overlapping fabric panels on the sleeve with the upper panel having a stiffened edge, and the lower panel having a raised dam portion on interior of the opening, with an additional dam portion on the exterior of the opening. 
         FIG. 8  is a cut away view of the front panels of the shell portion of the jacket showing the liner portion with the molded synthetic fittings. 
         FIG. 9  shows a front view of the liner portion of the trousers with the molded synthetic fittings in the front panels. 
         FIG. 10  is a cut away view of the front panels of the shell portion of the trousers showing the liner portion with the molded synthetic fittings. 
         FIGS. 11A and 11B  are upper and lower isometric views of a vent assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 12A and 12B  are upper and lower isometric views of a base portion of a vent assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 13A and 13B  are upper and lower isometric views of an upper portion of a vent assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a side cross-sectional view of a vent assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a partial side cross-sectional view of a vent assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a front elevation view of a garment including vent assemblies in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  is an isometric view of a tent including vent assemblies in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1  which shows the liner  21  of a jacket with vents  20  set into the fabric of the anterior upper-thorax region wherein the materials used in the construction may be inherently flame resistant such as Nomex, FR (Flame Resistant) Modacrylic, FR Urethane and FR Vinyl.  FIG. 2  shows a view from below of the opening of the vent  20 , which will allow for the movement of warm moist air away from the body.  FIG. 3  shows a section view of vent  20  showing how the vent includes a vent hood affixed to the material of the jacket liner such that it surrounds a hole in the liner such that air can escape but water is prevented from entering. 
       FIG. 4  shows another embodiment of the method for creating a series of vents  22  in the liner portion of the current invention utilizing a series of shingle-like, over-lapping panels of fabric arranged so that water running down will fall from panel to panel until reaching the lower hem of the garment. For purposes of illustration, only a single row of vents  22  are shown; however, any number of rows of vents  22  can be included. In addition, the vents  22  are not necessarily in rows, but rather can be arranged individually in any suitable pattern or in an arbitrary pattern. The fabric panels are joined together at intervals allowing gaps in the seams that will allow airflow to carry hot, moist air away from the user&#39;s body. The material of the fabric panels itself may not be breathable; however, by virtue of the vents the hot, moist air is permitted to exit the garment and therefore achieve breathability. 
       FIG. 5  shows a view of the vent  22  from below showing how the vent panel  22  is fastened. A sewn construction is utilized that is later sealed against water intrusion. Alternatively the vent panel  22  is fastened with Radio Frequency welding methods  26  at intervals to the liner  21 . Preferably, a dam portion  23  is also employed, which prevents water from moving up and through the vent. 
       FIG. 6  shows a cross sectional view of the construction details of the vent  22  with the core stiffening element  25  and the placement and construction of the dam  23  with its core element  24 .  FIG. 7  shows the same cross section view as  FIG. 6  with the addition of a second dam portion  23  placed outside of the vent  22  to provide additional protection from water moving into and through the vent opening. 
       FIG. 8  shows a cut-away view of the shell portion  27  of the jacket revealing the vents  20  in the liner portion  21  of the jacket.  FIG. 9  shows the liner  28  of a pair of trousers with vents  20  set into the fabric of the anterior upper-thigh region.  FIG. 10  shows a cut-away view of the shell portion  29  of the pair of trousers revealing the vents  20  in the liner portion  21  of the trousers. 
       FIGS. 11A and 11B  illustrate a vent assembly  30  that may be used to provide breathability for a garment or in other applications. The vent assembly  30  may include an upper portion  34  and a lower portion  32 . The lower portion  32  may define a base plate  36  having a generally planar shape. The vent assembly  30  may secure to a garment or some other device by means of the base plate  36 . 
       FIG. 12A  and  FIG. 12B  illustrate the base portion  32  of the vent assembly  30 . The base portion  32  may define an outer ridge  38  and an inner ridge  40 . The outer ridge  38  encircles the inner ridge  40 . The ridges  38 ,  40  may be separated from one another by a gutter portion  42 . The ridges  38 ,  40  extend outwardly from the base plate  16  in the same direction and to a greater extent than the gutter portion  42 . The gutter portion  42  may be defined as a portion of the base plate  36  positioned between the ridges  38 ,  40 . In the illustrated embodiment, the ridges  38 ,  40  and base plate  36  all have a circular perimeter shape. However, other perimeter shapes may also be used. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer ridge  38  defines one or more grooves  44  to facilitate drainage of fluids that may collect in the gutter portion  42 . The grooves  44  may be distributed non-uniformly around the outer ridge  38 . For example, the grooves  44  may only be present in one half of the outer ridge  38 . In this manner the un-grooved portion of the outer ridge  38  may be positioned vertically above the grooved portion thereby allowing water to drain from the gutter portion  42  but hindering falling water from entering the gutter portion  42 . 
     As will be described in greater detail below, the upper portion  34  may mount to the lower portion by means of receivers  46  secured to the base plate  36 . The receivers  46 , outer ridge  38 , and inner ridge  40  may be disposed about an aperture  48  defined by the base plate  36 . The aperture  48  is preferably large, e.g. have a diameter larger than 50%, preferably larger than 75%, of the diameter of the outer ridge  38 . In the illustrated embodiment, the outer ridge  38  and inner ridge  40  are concentric with each other and the aperture  48  and the receivers  46  protrude into the aperture  48 . However, other configurations may also be used, including eccentric configurations. 
       FIG. 13A  and  FIG. 13B  illustrate the upper portion  34  of the vent assembly  30 . The upper portion  34  may define an outer cover  50  that provides a continuous waterpoof area within a perimeter  52 . The cover  50  may have posts  54  or some other fastening structure extending from a lower surface thereof to enable securement of the cover  50  to the base portion  32 . The posts  54  may protrude from the outer cover  50  or from pedestals  56  or some other structure secured to a lower surface of the cover  50 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , in the illustrated embodiment, the posts  54  may be inserted into the receivers  46  in order to fasten the upper portion  34  to the lower portion  32 . The posts  54  may be secured within the receivers  56  by means of adhesives, an interference fit, or some other means. In the illustrated embodiment, the posts  54  have a widened distal portion  58 . During insertion one or both of the distal portion  58  and the receiver  46  may elastically deform. When the distal portion  58  emerges from the receiver  46 , one or both of the distal portion  58  and receiver  46  may elastically return to approximately their original dimensions such that the widened distal portion  58  will resist removal of the posts  54  from wtihin the receivers  46 . In the illustrated embodiment, the receivers  46  have a tapered, e.g. conical, shape to facilitate insertion of the widened portion. The receivers  46  may be formed in a member  60  that protrudes into the aperture  48 . When the posts  54  are inserted within the receivers  46 , the pedestals  56  may abut the members  60 . 
     The base plate  36  may define a flange  62  extending radially outward therefrom enabling securement of the vent assembly  30  to a sheet  64  of material defining an aperture for receiving the vent assembly  30 . In the illustrated configuration, the flange  62  secures to an inner surface of the sheet  64  and the ridges  38 ,  40  and cover  50  extend through the sheet  64  and extend outwardly from an outer surface of the sheet  64 . However, other configurations are possible. For example, the lower surface of the flange  62 , and additionally or alternatively other areas of the base plate  36 , could secure to the outer surface of the sheet  64 . In such embodiments, the sheet  64  may define an aperture that overlaps with the aperture  48  when the vent assembly is installed. 
     In any of these configurations, the base plate  36  may secure to the sheet  64  by means of adhesives, stitching, welds (e.g. high frequency or radio frequency welds), or some other bonding technique. The lower portion  32  and upper portion  34  may be formed of a rigid material or a flexible material. For example, where the vent assembly  30  is incorporated into a garment a flexible vent assembly  30  may facilitate movement of the wearer and reduce the likelihood of the vent assembly  30  tearing out of the garment. However, vent assemblies  30  including a rigid or semirigid material may also be suitable for many applications. Even with a rigid material, the vent assembly  30  can function well with a flexible material in a garment, for example. The vents may be small enough that when strategically placed they do not interfere with movement and comfort. The vent assembly  30  may be constructed of vinyl, coated urethane, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or other polymer materials. 
     The sheet  64  may be a breathable or non-breathable material. The vent assembly  30  is particularly useful with materials that are waterproof but not breathable inasmuch as these materials are less expensive than breathable materials. The sheet  64  may be a flexible material, however rigid and semirigid materials may also be used as the sheet  64 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 15 , the inner ridge  40  has a height  66 , the outer ridge  38  has a height  68 , and the perimeter portion  52  of the cover  50  has an offset distance  70  relative to a deepest point of the gutter portion  42 . As shown, the height  68  may be greater than the offset distance  70  such that the outer ridge  68  is able to hinder ingress of water under the cover  50 . The height  66  of the inner ridge  40  may be such that there is a gap between the lower surface of the cover  50  and the inner ridge  40 . There may likewise be a circumferential gap between the perimeter  52  of the cover  30  and the outer ridge  38 . In this manner, air flow  72  is permitted through the aperture  48 , between the inner ridge  40  and the cover  50 , and through the gap between the outer ridge  38  and the perimeter  52 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 16 , a garment  74 , such as a jacket, windbreaker, pants, or the like may incorporate vent assemblies  30  as described hereinabove in one or more panels of material forming the garment  74 . For example, a garment may include upper vents  76  and lower vents  78  such that the upper vents  76  are higher than the lower vents  78  when the garment  74  is worn by a person standing upright. In this manner, convection will tend to draw air through the lower vents  78  and expel air through the higher vents  76 . Vents may be placed at other strategic areas, such as vents  80  placed in the armpit area of the garment  74 . As noted herein, each vent  76 ,  78 ,  80  may be placed in or over an aperture defined by the panel in which it is placed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 17 , in other applications, vent assemblies  30  may be incorporated into a tent  82 , such as a single-walled tent. In single-walled tents, a single layer of material must provide both a waterproof covering and permit venting for breathing and to reduce condensation on the inner surface of the tent. Accordingly, a panel of the tent  82  may have vents  84 ,  86  mounted thereto, such as vents  84 ,  86  embodied as a vent assembly  30  described herein. As for the embodiment of  FIG. 16 , the tent  82  may include upper vents  84  and lower vents  86  positioned such that the upper vents  84  are vertically above the lower vents  86  when the tent is set up, thereby promoting venting due to convection. 
     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.