Abstract:
A cold weather garment system including various features to improve usability of the garments. The garments may include drains made from mesh fabric to enable bulk water, moisture, heat, and perspiration to escape from the garment. The garments may also include adjustable length pant legs, a beverage holder, or a removably fastenable towel.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/645,551, filed May 10, 2012, and entitled COLD WEATHER SUIT, said application being hereby fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to cold or inclement weather outer apparel used for open water fishing, ice fishing, sailing or boating, snowmobiling and general colder weather use, and more specifically, to features of such apparel that lend to overall usability and convenience of such apparel. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Cold or inclement weather apparel typically includes a jacket or parka, plus pants or bibs. An attribute of some types of cold or inclement weather outerwear is including a flotation liner with buoyancy properties sufficient to assist the user in floating in open water while wearing the suit if the user should somehow fall into the water. This flotation liner typically includes one or more layers of expanded low density polyethylene foam sheeting stitched to or otherwise attached to the garment shell or lining. 
         [0004]    One major drawback of this flotation lining is that moisture accumulating inside the garment shell can cause mold and deteriorate the garment shell and inner lining. Even PU coated waterproof/breathable shells take time to breathe and thus will not release moisture accumulating inside the garment. 
         [0005]    Another drawback of prior garments with a flotation liner is the inability of the garment to release trapped water if the user falls into open water. This accumulated water inhibits the user&#39;s ability to escape the open water because of the added water weight. A further drawback with cold weather suits is the inability to vent excess heat during periods of strenuous activity or in warmer ambient temperatures. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, what is needed in the industry is a garment design which allows for the expedited removal of accumulated water or moisture between the outer shell and the inside lining, and a means to vent excessive heat generated by the user. 
         [0007]    Additionally, most cold or inclement weather pants and bibs have a fixed inseam length requiring various garment sizes. One drawback of this is that multiple inseam sizes must be offered to accommodate persons of various heights with differing inseam size. This requires retailers to offer multiple SKUs or size models to fit various customers. Accordingly, what is needed in the industry is a pant leg design that allows the user to permanently adjust the inseam length from the standard length without deconstructing the garment or folding and sewing the pant leg. 
         [0008]    Still further, many people wearing cold weather outer apparel have a need or interest in drinking beverages while enjoying passive outdoor activities. Often, there will not be any place in the user&#39;s environment where the beverage can be set down before it is consumed so that the user can use both hands to accomplish tasks. What is needed in the industry is a means of holding beverage containers by a garment appurtenance so that it does not spill while in the standing or sitting position. 
         [0009]    Finally, an attribute of outer apparel is its incidental use as a means of wiping or cleaning the user&#39;s hands or nose. This is often a necessity for cleaning or drying hands or dripping nose during cold weather outdoor activities including such as fishing, skiing, hunting, boating, running and snowmobiling. Such usage, however, is unsanitary and undesirable in that the outer apparel can be difficult to clean. Accordingly, what is needed in the industry is an external wiping towel temporarily attached to the outer garment shell by mechanical means which can be easily removed and replaced. This eliminates the need to clean the entire garment and provides an alternative wiping surface which might have improved cleaning or wiping properties than the garment shell. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The above-mentioned needs of the industry are addressed in various embodiments of the present invention. In embodiments of the invention, mesh fabric drains are provided at key locations in the garment(s) to allow expedite release of trapped moisture by means of gravity. These mesh fabric drains may be disposed at or near the bottom hem of the jacket and/or at the arm cuffs and the leg cuffs. In addition, embodiments of the invention can include exterior shell zipper vents providing direct path from the exterior environment through the flotation lining to the user by means of cuts or holes in the open cell polyethylene lining. These vents can provide a path for the relatively rapid escape of trapped water if the user should become immersed and then is able to escape from the water. Further, the vents can provide a path for escape of moisture inside the suit created by perspiration. 
         [0011]    Other embodiments of the present invention include a multi-hem system with mechanically fastening closure straps to enable the user to reset the hem location from the longest or standard inseam setting to any one of multiple shorter settings. In certain embodiments, hook-and-loop material such as Velcro® is provided on the bottom hem and in attachment strips provided at higher locations on the pant leg. In other embodiments, snaps can arranged along the bottom hem and at vertically spaced intervals along the pant leg, to enable the bottom hem to be snapped in place at any of the vertical intervals. 
         [0012]    Other embodiments of the present invention can include a cylindrical shaped flexible beverage can or bottle holding device with enclosed bottom that is connected to the garment by a flexible strap or cord which can be tucked away during non-use. The flexible beverage can or bottle holding device can be made from natural or polymer based fabric, and may be easily compressible or foldable so as to enable easy stowage in a pocket of the garment. The holder can have an elastic top band to provide a snug fit around the beverage container to prevent loss of the beverage container. 
         [0013]    Further embodiments of the invention can include an outside separable towel panel attached to the garment exterior shell by means of snaps, hook-and-loop fastening material, or other suitable means so that the towel can be easily detached and reattached for purpose of cleaning or replacing. 
         [0014]    In an embodiment, a cold weather garment system includes a jacket including a jacket body and a pair of sleeves attached to the jacket body, the jacket body and each of the sleeves comprising an inner liner, an outer shell, and at least one ELDPE flotation layer disposed therebetween. A bottom end of the jacket body presents a hem, and the inner liner and outer shell are operably coupled by fabric mesh material at the hem, so that a space defined between between the inner liner and the outer shell is fluidly communicable with the external environment. 
         [0015]    In an embodiment, each of the jacket sleeves presents a sleeve hem at a distal end thereof, and the inner liner and outer shell are operably coupled by fabric mesh material at the sleeve hems, so that the space defined between between the inner liner and the outer shell is fluidly communicable with the external environment at each sleeve hem. 
         [0016]    In a further embodiment, at least one vent defines an opening through the jacket extending from inside the inner liner to the external environment, wherein the at least one vent is selectively closable with a mechanical fastening device. The mechanical fastening device can be a zipper. 
         [0017]    In an embodiment, the cold weather garment system can further include a bib garment including a bib body and a pair of pant legs attached to the bib body, the bib body and each of the pant legs comprising an inner liner, an outer shell, and at least one ELDPE flotation layer disposed therebetween. A bottom end of each pant leg of the bib garment can present a hem, and the inner liner and outer shell may be operably coupled by fabric mesh material at the hem, so that a space defined between between the inner liner and the outer shell is fluidly communicable with the external environment. 
         [0018]    In a further embodiment the cold weather garment system can include a pull-out beverage holder attached to the bib garment. The system can also include a fabric towel attached to one of the jacket or the bib garment. 
         [0019]    In another embodiment a cold weather garment includes a body and a pair of pant legs attached to the body, the body and each of the pant legs comprising an inner liner, an outer shell, and at least one ELDPE flotation layer disposed therebetween, each of the pant legs presenting a lower margin at a distal end thereof, wherein a first mechanical fastening component is disposed proximate the lower margin of each pant leg and at least one mating mechanical fastening component is disposed on each pant leg in the proximal direction relative to the lower margin, wherein the first mechanical fastening component can be selectively coupled to the mating mechanical fastening component to alter a length of the pant leg. The first mechanical fastening component and the mating mechanical component may be hook-and-loop material or snaps. 
         [0020]    In an embodiment, the first mechanical fastening component and the mating mechanical component can be hook-and-loop material, and the first mechanical fastening component may be a strip of hook-and-loop material positioned parallel with the lower margin of each pant leg. The mating mechanical fastening component may be a strip of hook-and-loop material positioned generally perpendicular with the lower margin of each pant leg. 
         [0021]    In another embodiment, the first mechanical fastening component and the mating mechanical component may be hook-and-loop material, with the first mechanical fastening component being a strip of hook-and-loop material positioned parallel with the lower margin of each pant leg, and the mating mechanical fastening component being a strip of hook-and-loop material positioned generally parallel with the lower margin of each pant leg. In another embodiment, the garment may include a plurality of spaced apart mating mechanical fastening components, each comprising a strip of hook-and-loop material positioned generally parallel with the lower margin of each pant leg. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    The embodiments of the present invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a view of the hem of the jacket of  FIG. 1A , taken at inset  1  of  FIG. 1A , depicting a mesh fabric drain according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 1A  is a front elevation view of a jacket according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 1B  is a front elevation view of a cold weather garment system according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 1C  is a cutaway view of the jacket body of the garment system of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 1D  is a front elevation view of the jacket of the garment system of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 1E  is a cutaway view taken at inset IE of  FIG. 1D ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the cuff of the jacket of  FIG. 1A  taken at inset  2  of  FIG. 1A , and depicting the mesh fabric drain; 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  is a front elevation of a bib with a pant cuff mesh fabric drain according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an exterior armpit zipper vent in the jacket of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an exterior radial body vent in the jacket of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 6A  is a front elevation view of a bib with multi-inseam system according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a multi-inseam system in the bib of  FIG. 6A  incorporating three different fixed inseam settings; 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a multi-inseam system in the bib of  FIG. 6A  incorporating infinite inseam settings; 
           [0036]      FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of the exterior pant leg of the bib of  FIG. 6A  at the longest inseam setting and with the leg formed in its closed configuration; 
           [0037]      FIG. 8B  is a perspective view of the exterior pant leg of the bib of  FIG. 6A  at the longest inseam setting and with the leg in its open configuration; 
           [0038]      FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of the exterior pant leg of the bib of  FIG. 6A  at the middle inseam setting and with the leg formed in its closed configuration; 
           [0039]      FIG. 9B  is a perspective view of the exterior pant leg of the bib of  FIG. 6A  at the middle inseam setting and with the leg in its open configuration; 
           [0040]      FIG. 10A  is a perspective view of the exterior pant leg of the bib of  FIG. 6A  at the shortest inseam setting and with the leg formed in its closed configuration; 
           [0041]      FIG. 10B  is a perspective view of the exterior pant leg of the bib of  FIG. 6A  at the shortest inseam setting and with the leg in its open configuration; 
           [0042]      FIG. 11A  is a perspective view of a pull-out beverage container in the bib of  FIG. 6A ; 
           [0043]      FIG. 11B  is a view of the beverage container of  FIG. 11A  with a beverage in the pocket; and 
           [0044]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an external removable wiping towel according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
       [0045]    While the present invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the present invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0046]    In  FIG. 1B , there is depicted a cold weather garment system  18  according to an embodiment of the invention. Garment system  18  generally includes jacket  20  and bib  34 . Jacket  20  generally includes jacket body  80  and sleeves  82 . As depicted in  FIGS. 1-2 , jacket  20  incorporates a ventilation and drainage system according to an embodiment of the invention. As depicted in  FIG. 1A  and the cutaway view of  FIG. 1C , jacket body  80  and sleeves  82  generally include inner liner  150  presenting inner surface  151 , outer shell  152 , presenting outer surface  153 , one or more expanded low-density polyethylene (ELDPE) foam floatation layers  154  disposed between inner liner  150  and outer shell  152 , and insulation layers  156  between ELDPE foam flotation layers  154  and inner liner  150 . Outer shell  152  and inner liner  150  may be made from woven material, either natural fiber (e.g., cotton) or synthetic material (e.g. nylon or polyester) or any suitable blend thereof. Jacket  20  may include one or any other number of ELDPE foam flotation layers  154 , which are typically non-woven material, and may have front zipper  156  to close the front side of the jacket, which may be concealed from view with zipper flap  158 . Jacket body  80  may also have one or more pockets  84  affixed on outer surface  153 . 
         [0047]    As depicted in  FIGS. 1 ,  1 A,  1 B,  1 D,  1 E and  2 , mesh fabric vent material  90  may be included in jacket  20  at jacket hem  22  and cuffs  24  of each sleeve  82 . As depicted in  FIG. 1E , mesh fabric vent material  90  couples, and spans between, inner liner  150  and outer shell  152  at both of these locations. A space defined between between inner liner  150  and outer shell  152  is fluidly communicable with the external environment outside jacket  20 . In this way, excess warm air, trapped water, or perspiration induced moisture between inner liner  150  and outer shell  152  of jacket  20  may escape by venting or draining through mesh fabric vent material  90  located in jacket hem  22  as depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 1E , and/or sleeve cuffs  24  as depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0048]    As depicted in  FIGS. 1B and 3 , bib  34  generally includes bib body  100  and pant legs  102 . Similar to that depicted in  FIGS. 1-2  for jacket  20 , bib  34  incorporates a ventilation and drainage system according to an embodiment of the invention. Bib body  100  and pant legs  102  generally include an inner liner (not depicted) presenting inner surface (not depicted), outer shell  160 , presenting outer surface  162 , one or more expanded low-density polyethylene (ELDPE) foam floatation layers (not depicted) disposed between the inner liner and outer shell  160 , and insulation layers (not depicted) between the ELDPE foam flotation layers and the inner liner. Bib  34  may include one or any other number of ELDPE foam flotation layers, and may have front zipper  164  to close the front side of the bib, which may be concealed from view with zipper flap  156 . 
         [0049]    Mesh fabric vent material  90  may be included in bib  34  at pant leg hem  28  as depicted in  FIG. 3 . As depicted similarly in  FIG. 1E  for jacket  20 , mesh fabric vent material  90  couples, and spans between, the inner liner and outer shell  160  at both of these locations. Excess warm air, trapped water, or perspiration induced moisture between the inner liner and outer shell  160  of bib  34  may escape by venting or draining through mesh fabric vent material  90  located in pant leg hems  28  as depicted in  FIGS. 1B and 3 . 
         [0050]    A further feature of jacket  20  in some embodiments can be one or more zipper vents  30  located at armpits  120 , and/or radial zipper vents  32 . As depicted in detail in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , each of zipper vents  30  and radial zipper vents  32  generally include an opening  170  defined through jacket  20  from outer shell  152  to inner liner  150 . Opening  170  is defined by opposing margins  172 ,  174 , and is selectively closable with zipper  176 . Mesh fabric  90  spans between margins  172 ,  174 . Excess warm air or moisture is enabled to selectively escape from the user&#39;s skin through zipper vents  30  and radial zipper vents  32 , simply by opening and closing zipper  176 . Similar vents can be provided in bib  34  if desired. 
         [0051]    In  FIG. 6A  there is depicted a bib garment  34  with adjustable leg cuffs  36 . Three-setting style adjustable cuff  36  as depicted in  FIG. 6  generally includes horizontal female hook-and-loop material (Velcro®) bands  38 ,  40 ,  42 , and male hook-and-loop material band  44 . Male band  44  can be attached any one of female bands  38 ,  40 ,  42 , to adjust the leg length of bib  34  to any of three different inseam settings. The gap formed between lateral margins  46 ,  48 , can be closed by snapping together closure tabs  50 ,  52 . 
         [0052]    In an alternative embodiment, leg cuffs  36  can be infinitely adjustable as depicted in  FIG. 7 . As depicted, male hook-and-loop strip  54  is provided at the bottom of cuff  36  as before, but one or more vertically oriented female hook-and-loop strips  56  are provided. Male strip  54  can be attached anywhere along strips  56  to form an inseam length of any desired length within the range permitted by the length of female strips  56  and the legs of the bib itself. Again, closure tabs  50 ,  52 , can be snapped together to close the gap between lateral margins  46 ,  48 . 
         [0053]    According to the embodiments of  FIG. 6 , the leg cuff in longest setting is depicted in  FIGS. 8A and 8B . Leg cuff in intermediate setting is depicted in  FIGS. 9A and 9B . Leg cuff in highest setting is depicted in  FIGS. 10A and 10B . 
         [0054]    It will be appreciated that the described adjustable leg cuff feature could also be applied to pant garments other than bibs, such as snow pants and the like. 
         [0055]    In a further embodiment, pull-out beverage holder  59  is depicted in  FIGS. 11A and 11B . Beverage holder  59  generally includes cylindrical holder  64  made from fabric mesh material and top elastic band  60 . Beverage holder  59  can be attached to bib  34  with strap  68 . Pull-out beverage holder  59  can be selectively stowed inside concealed pocket  66  of bib  34  using strap  68 . 
         [0056]    In a further embodiment depicted in  FIG. 12 , external fabric towel  69  attaches to the outer shell of bib  34  using hook-and-loop material  70  or corner perimeter snaps  72  as depicted in  FIG. 12 . Towel  69  is selectively removable by detaching hook-and-loop material  70  or corner perimeter snaps  72 . 
         [0057]    The foregoing descriptions present numerous specific details that provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various embodiments, having been disclosed herein, may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, components as are known to those of ordinary skill in the art have not been described in detail herein in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments are set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of various embodiments, this disclosure is illustrative only. Other embodiments may be constructed that nevertheless employ the principles and spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the invention. 
         [0058]    For purposes of interpreting the claims for the present invention, it is expressly intended that the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112(f) are not to be invoked unless the specific terms “means for” or “step for” are recited in a claim.