Patent Description:
Traditional all-weather garments generally have a set of static features that provide a fixed level of warmth and/or protection from the elements. While this may be suitable when a wearer is at rest, the options for when the wearer begins exercising are to remove the all-weather garment which may expose the wearer to cold temperatures, or continue wearing the all-weather garment which may cause the wearer to overheat.

<CIT> relates to a therapeutic thermal wrap kit to be used for treatment of body discomfort, such as muscle and/or ligament stress (e.g., tennis elbow, tendonitis of the knee, chronic sore shoulder, etc.). <CIT> relates to garments with pockets, wherein thermally insulating inserts are removably inserted in the pockets. This document discloses a garment with the features of the preamble of claim <NUM>.

The subject matter of the present invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Rather, the inventors have contemplated that the claimed or disclosed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different steps or combinations of steps similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Moreover, although the terms "step" and/or "block" might be used herein to connote different elements of methods employed, the terms should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly stated.

Traditional all-weather garments generally have a set of static features that provide a fixed level of insulation and/or protection from the elements. While this may be suitable when a wearer is at rest, the options for when the wearer begins exercising are to remove the all-weather garment which may expose the wearer to cold temperatures, or continue wearing the all-weather garment which may cause the wearer to overheat. Aspects herein are directed to an all-weather garment that includes a set of features that can be adjusted or manipulated to provide varying levels of warmth and/or protection from the elements enabling the garment to be worn over a wide range of weather and/or temperature conditions. In one example aspect, the garment may include one or more removable thermal insulation inserts. The inserts may be positioned within pockets located on the inner-facing surface of the garment when additional warmth and/or insulation is needed. When no longer needed, the inserts can be removed, folded, and stowed within, for instance, an optional detachable pocket structure located on the garment until needed again.

It is contemplated herein that the all-weather garment may take the form of an upper-body garment such as a jacket or coat. In this aspect, additional features that can be adjusted or manipulated include a hood that can be partially detached from a torso portion of the upper-body garment and stowed within a pocket located adjacent to a neck opening of the torso portion. The ability to stow the hood when not in use, as opposed to letting the hood hang freely may minimize distractions when the wearer is exercising. Additionally, configuring the hood to be partially detached, instead of fully detached, prevents inadvertent misplacement of the hood. The all-weather garment also includes sleeves that can be partially unzipped from the torso portion and stowed within pockets located inferior to the sleeve openings and positioned on an outer-facing surface of the garment. Similar to the hood, configuring the sleeves to be partially detached, instead of fully detached, prevents inadvertent misplacement of the sleeves. As well, positioning the pockets used to stow the sleeves on an outer-facing surface of the garment prevents the sleeves from contacting the wearer when stowed which may be useful if the sleeves are wet from precipitation. Yet another feature is a vent structure that can be opened and closed and is located at a central back region of the upper-body garment. The central back region of a wearer is known to be a high heat producing area based on, for example, heat and/or sweat maps of human bodies, so positioning a vent structure in this location facilitates the rapid removal of heat generated by the wearer. When the wearer no longer needs the protection and/or warmth of the upper-body garment, the garment can be folded and stowed within a pocket located on the garment. Each of these features can be used alone or in various combinations to provide an optimal level of protection and/or warmth to the wearer.

The term "garment" as used throughout this disclosure may encompass, for example an upper-body garment (e.g., jacket, coat, pullover, shirt, vest, and the like) or a lower-body garment (e.g., short, pant, legging, capri, and the like). Positional terms used when describing the garment such as front, back, sides, inner-facing surface, outer-facing surface, upper or superior, lower or inferior, and the like are with respect to the garment being worn as intended by a wearer standing upright. As such, the front of an upper-body garment is configured to cover a front upper torso area and/or front arm areas of a wearer, and the front of a lower-body garment is configured to cover a front lower torso area and front leg areas of a wearer. The back of the upper-body garment is configured to cover a back upper torso area and/or back arm areas of a wearer, and the back of the lower-body garment is configured to cover a back lower torso area and back leg areas of a wearer. The sides of the upper-body garment are configured to cover side torso areas of a wearer, and the sides of the lower-body garment are configured to cover the lateral sides of a wearer's legs. The inner-facing surface of a garment is configured to be positioned facing toward a wearer's body surface, and the outer-facing surface of the garment is configured to face away from the inner-facing surface of the garment and toward an external environment. The term "innermost-facing layer" means the layer of a garment that is positioned closest to a wearer's body surface compared to other layers of the garment when the garment is in an as-worn configuration. The term "outermost-facing layer" means the layer of a garment that is positioned to be in direct contact with the external environment and/or is furthest away from the wearer's body surface compared to other layers of the garment. The term upper or superior means located closer to a neck opening of an upper-body garment or a waist opening of a lower-body garment. The term lower or inferior means located closer to a waist opening of an upper-body garment or leg openings of a lower-body garment.

The term "thermally insulating fill material" encompasses materials used to provide insulation and may include down, loose fibers including natural fibers and/or synthetic (e.g., polyester) fibers, nonwoven sheets including sheets formed from natural fibers and/or synthetic fibers, fluids such as air, gas, or liquids, and the like. The term "removably coupled" as used herein means the ability of a structure to be repeatedly coupled to and decoupled from another structure. The term "removably attached" as used herein means the ability of a structure to be repeatedly attached and detached from another structure using technologies such as hook-and-loop fasteners, slider mechanisms, releasable adhesives, snaps, buttons, and the like. The term "reversible closure mechanism" as used herein mean a structure, such as a zipper or other type of slider mechanism, that can be used to repeatedly open and close another structure such as, for example, a pocket. The term "removably position" means the ability to repeatedly position and remove a structure, such as a thermal insulation insert, from another structure such as a pocket. The term "about" as used herein means within ± <NUM>% of an indicated value.

Unless otherwise noted, all measurements provided herein are measured when the garment is at standard ambient temperature and pressure (<NUM> degrees Celsius or <NUM> and <NUM> bar) and is in a resting (e.g., un-stretched) state.

<FIG> respectively depict front and back views of an example upper-body garment <NUM> having adjustable features. The upper-body garment <NUM> is shown in the form of a jacket or coat, but it is contemplated herein that the upper-body garment <NUM> may also be in the form of a shirt, a pullover, a vest, and the like. In example aspects, one or more textile layers of the garment <NUM> may be formed from a woven material. For example, an outer-facing textile layer including an outermost-facing textile layer of the garment <NUM> may be formed of a tightly woven material to impart a degree of wind resistance to the garment <NUM>. In some aspects, the woven material may have water-resistant or water-repellant features based on, for example, the application of a durable water repellant (DWR) finish to the woven material. It is contemplated herein that the garment <NUM> may be formed from other types of textiles including knit layers, nonwoven layers, mesh layers, and the like.

The garment <NUM> includes a front torso portion <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) and a back torso portion <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) that together define a neck opening <NUM> to which a hood <NUM> extends, and a waist opening <NUM> opposite the neck opening <NUM>. The garment <NUM> further includes a first sleeve <NUM> and a second sleeve <NUM>. The front torso portion <NUM>, in example aspects, may include a front right torso portion 110a and a front left torso portion 110b that are reversibly coupled to each other using, for instance, a closure mechanism <NUM> such as a zipper.

With respect to <FIG>, the garment <NUM> may further include a pocket <NUM> located on an upper aspect of the front right torso portion 110a. This location is just one example, and it is contemplated herein that the pocket <NUM> may be positioned at other locations on the front right torso portion 110a or the front left torso portion 110b. As explained further below, in one example the pocket <NUM> may be used to stow thermal insulation inserts when not in use. In example aspects, the pocket <NUM> may be removably attached to the front right torso portion 110a using, for example, hook-and-loop fasteners, snaps, buttons, adhesives, and the like.

The garment <NUM> may also include pocket <NUM> located on a lower aspect of the front left torso portion 110b. It is contemplated herein that the pocket <NUM> may alternatively be located on a lower aspect of the front right torso portion 110a. The pocket <NUM> includes one or more reversible closure mechanisms, such as zippers, that allow access to an interior of the pocket <NUM> when open. As explained further below, in one example aspect, the garment <NUM> may be folded and stowed within the pocket <NUM> when not in use. As such, the pocket <NUM> may be sized to adequately accommodate the stowed garment <NUM>.

With respect to the hood <NUM>, the base of the hood <NUM> may be at least partially attached to the neck opening <NUM> using a first reversible closure mechanism <NUM> and a second reversible closure mechanism <NUM> positioned respectively on the left and right aspects of the base of the hood <NUM>. Each of the first and second reversible closure mechanisms <NUM> and <NUM> includes a slider pull that it positioned in the front when the first and second reversible closure mechanisms <NUM> and <NUM> are in a closed state and the hood <NUM> is fully attached to the neck opening <NUM>. As explained below, the hood <NUM> may be partially detached from the neck opening <NUM> by tensioning the slider pulls toward the back torso portion <NUM> of the garment <NUM>.

With respect to <FIG>, the back torso portion <NUM> of the garment <NUM> includes a vent structure <NUM> located along a vertical midline of the garment <NUM>. The vent structure <NUM>, in one example aspect, is formed between opposing edges of two back panels, such as back panel 112a and back panel 112b that form, at least in part, the back torso portion <NUM>. A reversible closure mechanism <NUM> reversibly couples the back panel 112a to the back panel 112b along the vertical midline. When in an open state, a portion of the back panel 112a is decoupled from a portion of the back panel 112b to form an open communication path between an exterior of the garment <NUM> and an interior of the garment <NUM>, thus allowing heat produced by a wearer to dissipate. When in a closed state, the portion of the back panel 112a is coupled to the portion of the back panel 112b. Positioning the vent structure <NUM> along the vertical midline of the back torso portion <NUM> may be based on heat maps of a human body that indicate that the central back torso area of a human is a high heat producing area.

<FIG> depicts a side view of the garment <NUM> with the second sleeve <NUM> in a raised position to better illustrate features associate with the side of the garment <NUM>. A view of the other side of the garment <NUM> would be similar. A pocket <NUM> is shown on the side of the garment <NUM>, where the pocket <NUM> extends vertically from an area adjacent (e.g., from about <NUM> to about <NUM>) to an inferior edge of the second sleeve <NUM> where it attaches to the front and back torso portions <NUM> and <NUM> of the garment <NUM> to an area adjacent (e.g., from about <NUM> to about <NUM>) to the waist opening <NUM> of the garment <NUM>. The pocket <NUM> may be formed by positioning an outer panel of material adjacent to an inner panel of material. In example aspects, the inner panel of material may be a mesh material as shown in <FIG> to facilitate ventilation in this area. The pocket <NUM> includes a pocket opening <NUM> positioned adjacent (e.g., from about <NUM> to about <NUM>) to the inferior edge of the second sleeve <NUM>, where the pocket opening <NUM> provides access to the pocket <NUM>. The pocket opening <NUM>, in example aspects, may include an elastic band to help tension the pocket opening <NUM> to a semi-closed state when not in use and minimize distractions to a wearer. A similar pocket may be located on the opposite side of the garment <NUM> and may be positioned similarly to the pocket <NUM>. As explained further below, the pocket <NUM> may be used to stow the second sleeve <NUM> when the second sleeve <NUM> is not in use. Positioning the pocket <NUM> such that it is located on an outer-facing surface of the garment <NUM> may be useful when stowing sleeves that may be wet with precipitation or snow thereby preventing the moisture from contacting the wearer as may happen if the pocket <NUM> were located on the inner-facing surface of the garment <NUM>.

<FIG> further depicts a reversible closure mechanism <NUM>, such as a zipper that extends partially around the circumference of the proximal end of the second sleeve <NUM> where the second sleeve <NUM> is joined to the front and back torso portions <NUM> and <NUM>. More particularly, the reversible closure mechanism <NUM> includes a first end positioned on a back aspect of the proximal end of the second sleeve <NUM> and a second end positioned on a front aspect of the proximal end of the second sleeve <NUM>. An intervening portion of the reversible closure mechanism <NUM> extends around a superior aspect of the proximal end of the second sleeve <NUM>. In example aspects, a slider pull may be positioned at the first end of the reversible closure mechanism <NUM> when the reversible closure mechanism <NUM> is in a closed state, and the slider pull may be positioned at the second end of the reversible closure mechanism when the reversible closure mechanism <NUM> is in a fully open state although an opposite configuration is contemplated herein. In example aspects, the reversible closure mechanism <NUM> does not extend entirely around the circumference of the proximal end of the second sleeve <NUM> such that the second sleeve <NUM> remains permanently attached to the front and back torso portions <NUM> and <NUM> at an inferior portion <NUM> of the proximal end of the second sleeve <NUM>. The permanent attachment of the inferior portion <NUM> may be through stitching, bonding, welding, adhesives, and the like. A similar reversible closure mechanism may be associated with the first sleeve <NUM>. The reversible closure mechanism <NUM> may be used to partially detach the second sleeve <NUM> from the front and back torso portions <NUM> and <NUM> before stowing the second sleeve <NUM> in the pocket <NUM>. <FIG> additionally depicts a reversible closure mechanism <NUM>, such as a zipper, on the pocket <NUM>, where the reversible closure mechanism <NUM> may be used to open and close the pocket <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a view of an inner-facing surface of the garment <NUM>. First with respect to the hood <NUM>, the hood <NUM> includes the first reversible closure mechanism <NUM> positioned at a left aspect of the base of the hood <NUM> and additionally includes the second reversible closure mechanism <NUM> positioned at the right aspect of the base of the hood <NUM>. The first and second reversible closure mechanisms <NUM> and <NUM> are shown in an open state with the respective slider pulls positioned at a back aspect of the hood <NUM>. In the open state, the base of the hood <NUM> is partially detached from the neck opening <NUM>. A remaining portion <NUM> of the hood <NUM> at a central back aspect of the hood <NUM> is permanently attached to the neck opening <NUM> by way of, for example, stitching, bonding, adhesives, and the like. A pocket <NUM> is located on the inner-facing surface of the back torso portion <NUM> of the garment <NUM> where the pocket <NUM> has a pocket opening <NUM> that aligns or is coincident with the neck opening <NUM>. A lower edge of the pocket <NUM> may be spaced from the pocket opening <NUM> by a distance of from about <NUM> to about <NUM>. The pocket <NUM> may be used to stow the hood <NUM> when not in use as explained further below.

The inner-facing surface of the garment <NUM> includes a series of pockets <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> sized and configured to respectively house thermal insulation inserts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The pocket <NUM> is positioned on the inner-facing surface of the front right torso portion 110a, the pocket <NUM> is positioned on the inner-facing surface of the back panel 112b, the pocket <NUM> is positioned on the inner-facing surface of the back panel 112a, and the pocket <NUM> is positioned on the inner-facing surface of the front left torso portion 110b. An innermost-facing layer of the pockets <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be formed from a mesh material <NUM>, a portion of which is shown for each of the pockets. Forming the innermost-facing layer of the pockets <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> from the mesh material <NUM> facilitates that transfer or passage of heated air produced by a wearer to the thermal insulation inserts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> which help to store or trap the heated air.

The pocket <NUM> includes a pocket opening <NUM>, the pocket <NUM> includes a pocket opening <NUM>, the pocket <NUM> includes a pocket opening <NUM>, and the pocket <NUM> includes a pocket opening <NUM>. Each of the pocket openings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> is located superior to a bottom edge of the respective pockets <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and generally adjacent (e.g., from about <NUM> to about <NUM>) to the neck opening <NUM>. As shown in the magnified view of the pocket opening <NUM>, each of the pocket openings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may include a loop structure <NUM> secured to a textile edge forming the respective opening. The loop structure <NUM> may be used to receive a strap associated with the thermal insulation inserts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to help secure the thermal insulation inserts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and prevent them from shifting or displacing downward when positioned within the pockets <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The positioning of the pockets <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> is illustrative and it is contemplated herein that the garment <NUM> may include additional pockets of various sizes and shapes and located at different portions of the garment <NUM> including the first and second sleeves <NUM> and <NUM> and the hood <NUM>, where the additional pockets may be used to house various sizes and shapes of thermal insulation inserts.

<FIG> depicts an isolated view of the thermal insulation insert <NUM>, and <FIG> depicts a cross-section of the thermal insulation insert <NUM> taken along cut line <NUM>-<NUM>. The description provided for the thermal insulation insert <NUM> also applies to the thermal insulation inserts <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The thermal insulation insert <NUM> includes a first end <NUM>, a second end <NUM>, a first side <NUM> extending between the first end <NUM> and the second end <NUM>, and a second side <NUM> extending between the first end <NUM> and the second end <NUM>, where the second side <NUM> is opposite the first side <NUM>. In example aspects, the thermal insulation insert <NUM> may be generally rectangular shaped such that the first side <NUM> and the second side <NUM> have a greater length than the first end <NUM> and the second end <NUM>. However, it is contemplated herein that the thermal insulation inserts may have different sizes and shapes than that shown where the size and shape of a particular thermal insulation insert may be based upon a desired positioning of the thermal insulation insert in the garment <NUM>. For instance, a thermal insulation insert configured to be positioned in the hood <NUM> to cover an ear area of a wearer may be generally circular in shape while thermal insulation inserts configured to be positioned adjacent to torso portions of a wearer may have the rectangular shape of the insert <NUM>.

The cross-section of the thermal insulation insert <NUM> shown in <FIG> illustrates that the thermal insulation insert <NUM> includes a first textile layer <NUM> that forms a first surface of the thermal insulation insert <NUM>, a second textile layer <NUM> that forms a second opposite surface of the thermal insulation insert <NUM> and a thermally insulating fill material <NUM> positioned within a space formed between the first textile layer <NUM> and the second textile layer <NUM>. In example aspects, the first and second textile layers <NUM> and <NUM> may comprise a tightly woven construction to help prevent the fibers and/or down of the thermally insulating fill material <NUM> from penetrating the first and second textile layers <NUM> and <NUM>. Other constructions such as knit or nonwoven constructions are contemplated herein. In further example aspects, the first and second textile layers <NUM> and <NUM> may be formed from a lightweight fabric (e.g., from about <NUM> grams per square meter (gsm) to about <NUM> gsm) or an ultra-lightweight fabric (e.g., from about <NUM> gsm to about <NUM> gsm) to allow for easy folding or rolling of the thermal insulation insert <NUM>. The first and second textile layers <NUM> and <NUM> may comprise separate layers in one example aspect, where the separate layers are attached to each other at, for instance, the sides and ends of the thermal insulation insert <NUM>. It is alternatively contemplated that the first and second textile layers <NUM> and <NUM> may integrally extend from each other to form a generally seamless construction for the thermal insulation insert <NUM>.

A closure mechanism, referenced generally by the numeral <NUM> is positioned at the first end <NUM> of the thermal insulation insert <NUM>. It is contemplated herein that the closure mechanism <NUM> may be positioned at other locations on the thermal insulation insert <NUM> including, for example, the second end <NUM>. In example aspects, the closure mechanism <NUM> includes a male component <NUM>, a female component <NUM> complementary to the male component <NUM>, and a strap <NUM> extending between the male component <NUM> and the female component <NUM>. In example aspects, the male component <NUM> may be located at a first end of the strap <NUM> that is attached to for instance, the first textile layer <NUM> of the thermal insulation insert <NUM>, and the female component <NUM> may be located at the second free end of the strap <NUM>, although an opposite configuration is contemplated herein. The male component <NUM> and the female component <NUM> may include any number of complementary fastening systems including, for example, a stud of a snap and a socket of a snap, a hook component of a hook-and-loop fastening system and a loop component of the hook-and-loop fastening system, a button and a receiving slit, and the like.

In one aspect, the closure mechanism <NUM> may be used to secure the thermal insulation insert <NUM> to the loop structure <NUM> positioned at the pocket opening <NUM> when the thermal insulation insert <NUM> is positioned within the pocket <NUM>. In another aspect, and as shown in <FIG>, the thermal insulation insert <NUM> may be folded or rolled (e.g., the second end <NUM> may be rolled toward the first end <NUM>), and the strap <NUM> may be positioned to extend around a circumference of the rolled thermal insulation insert <NUM>. In this configuration, the male component <NUM> is mated to the female component <NUM> to maintain the thermal insulation insert <NUM> in a rolled form. As explained further below, the rolled or folded thermal insulation insert <NUM> may then be stowed within, for example, the pocket <NUM> of the upper-body garment <NUM>.

<FIG> depict various ways in which the upper-body garment <NUM> may be manipulated and/or adjusted to attain a desired level of protection from the elements and/or to provide a desired level of warmth. <FIG> depict a wearer <NUM> removing the second sleeve <NUM> of the upper-body garment <NUM> and stowing the second sleeve <NUM> in the pocket <NUM>. For example, <FIG> illustrates the wearer <NUM> beginning to remove his arm from the second sleeve <NUM> after partially uncoupling the proximal end of the second sleeve <NUM> by using the reversible closure mechanism <NUM>. In one example, the wearer <NUM> may grasp the slider pull positioned at the first end of the reversible closure mechanism <NUM> and exert tension on the slider pull over a superior aspect of the proximal end of the second sleeve <NUM> and toward a front aspect of the proximal end of the second sleeve <NUM> to partially detach the proximal end of the second sleeve <NUM> from the front and back torso portions <NUM> and <NUM>. The second sleeve <NUM> remains attached to the front and back torso portions <NUM> and <NUM> at the inferior portion <NUM> of the proximal end of the second sleeve <NUM>. Once partially detached, and as shown in <FIG>, the wearer <NUM> may insert the second sleeve <NUM> into the pocket <NUM> located on the outer-facing surface of the garment <NUM>.

Partially detaching and stowing the first and second sleeves <NUM> and <NUM> enables the wearer <NUM> to convert the upper-body garment <NUM> from a jacket configuration to a vest configuration which may be more suitable for warmer weather conditions. Maintaining a permanent attachment between the inferior portion <NUM> of the proximal end of the first and second sleeves <NUM> and <NUM> and the front and back torso portions <NUM> and <NUM> prevents inadvertent misplacement of the first and second sleeves <NUM> and <NUM>, and positioning the pocket <NUM> on the outer-facing surface of the upper-body garment <NUM>, as opposed to the inner-facing surface of the garment <NUM> prevents any moisture that may be present on the first and second sleeves <NUM> and <NUM> from contacting the wearer's torso.

<FIG> and <FIG> depict the wearer <NUM> partially detaching and stowing the hood <NUM>. In <FIG>, the wearer <NUM> partially detaches the right and left aspects of the base of the hood <NUM> by grasping, for instance, slider pulls associated with the first and second reversible closure mechanisms <NUM> and <NUM> and pulling the slider pulls in a front-to-back direction. As mentioned, a portion <NUM> of the base of the hood <NUM> remains permanently attached to a back aspect of the neck opening <NUM>. <FIG> depicts the wearer <NUM> tucking the hood <NUM> into the pocket <NUM> located on an inner-facing surface of the garment <NUM>, where the pocket opening <NUM> is generally aligned with the neck opening <NUM> of the garment <NUM>. Being able to easily stow the hood <NUM> in the pocket <NUM>, as opposed to letting the hood <NUM> drape over the outer-facing surface of the back torso portion <NUM> of the garment <NUM>, prevents the hood <NUM> from becoming a distraction when no longer worn.

<FIG> depict the wearer removing and stowing the thermal insulation insert <NUM> from the pocket <NUM>. In <FIG>, the wearer <NUM> grasps the first end <NUM> of the thermal insulation insert <NUM> and begins pulling the insert <NUM> out of the pocket <NUM>. This may occur after the wearer <NUM> decouples the closure mechanism <NUM> of the thermal insulation insert <NUM> from the loop structure <NUM> positioned at the pocket opening <NUM>. In <FIG>, the wearer <NUM> rolls or folds the thermal insulation insert <NUM>. For instance, the wearer <NUM> may roll the second end <NUM> of the insert <NUM> toward the first end <NUM> so that after the rolling is completed, the first end <NUM> and the second end <NUM> are adjacent to each other or are positioned next to each other. After rolling, the wearer may wrap the strap <NUM> around the thermal insulation insert <NUM> and couple the male component <NUM> and the female component <NUM> together to maintain the insert <NUM> in a rolled state.

<FIG> depicts the wearer <NUM> optionally positioning the rolled thermal insulation insert <NUM> in the pocket <NUM>. This may be done while the pocket <NUM> is still attached to the garment <NUM>, or it may be done after the wearer <NUM> has detached the pocket <NUM> from the garment <NUM>. The pocket <NUM> may include a reversible closure mechanism <NUM>, such as a zipper, to securely maintain the thermal insulation insert <NUM> within the pocket <NUM> after being stowed. The pocket <NUM> is sized to stow a number of inserts. For instance, the pocket <NUM> may be sized to stow all of the thermal insulation inserts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. <FIG> depicts the wearer <NUM> optionally removing the pocket <NUM> from the garment <NUM>. In example aspects, the pocket <NUM> may be removably attached to the garment <NUM> by a coupling system <NUM> such as, for instance, a hook-and-loop system, a releasable adhesive, a slider mechanism, and the like. The ability of the wearer <NUM> to remove some or all of the thermal insulation inserts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> from the garment <NUM> enables the wearer <NUM> to provide a customized level of insulation to the garment <NUM> in areas where it is needed.

When the wearer <NUM> wishes to increase the insulation level of the garment <NUM>, the wearer may remove the thermal insulation insert <NUM> from the pocket <NUM>, decouple the male and the female components <NUM> and <NUM> of the closure mechanism <NUM>, and unfold or unroll the thermal insulation insert <NUM> so that the first end <NUM> is spaced apart from the second end <NUM> by an entire length of the first and second sides <NUM> and <NUM> of the thermal insulation insert <NUM>, such as seen in <FIG>. The wearer <NUM> may then position the thermal insulation insert <NUM> within the pocket <NUM> and couple the closure mechanism <NUM> to the loop structure <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts the wearer <NUM> opening the vent structure <NUM> to provide an open communication path from an interior of the upper-body garment <NUM> to an exterior of the upper-body garment <NUM>. In example aspects, the wearer <NUM> may grasp a slider pull associated with the reversible closure mechanism <NUM> and pull in a downward direction to open the vent structure <NUM>. Alternatively, the reversible closure mechanism <NUM> may be configured such that the wearer <NUM> may exert the pull in an upward direction to open the vent structure <NUM>. The wearer <NUM> may open the vent structure <NUM> as needed to vent the garment <NUM> and cool the wearer <NUM>.

<FIG> depict the wearer <NUM> stowing the garment <NUM>. In example aspects, and as shown in <FIG>, the wearer <NUM> may doff the upper-body garment <NUM> and invert the pocket <NUM> while positioning the garment <NUM> within the inverted pocket <NUM>. <FIG> depicts the pocket <NUM> with the stowed garment <NUM>. The pocket <NUM> includes the reversible closure mechanism <NUM> so that the stowed garment <NUM> may remain securely within the pocket <NUM>.

It is contemplated herein that features described for the upper-body garment <NUM> may be applied to, for instance, a lower-body garment such as a pant or short. <FIG> depicts a front view of a lower-body garment <NUM> that includes a lower torso portion <NUM> having a waist opening <NUM>, a first leg portion <NUM> having a first leg opening <NUM>, and a second leg portion <NUM> having a second leg opening <NUM>.

In example aspects, the lower-body garment <NUM> may include a first pocket <NUM> and a second pocket <NUM> positioned on an inner-facing surface of the lower-body garment <NUM> as indicated by the dashed lines. The first and second pockets <NUM> and <NUM> are shown positioned over an anterior thigh area of the lower-body garment <NUM>. The first pocket <NUM> may be used to house a first removable thermal insulation insert <NUM>, and the second pocket <NUM> may be used to house a second removable thermal insulation insert <NUM>. Similar to the system described with respect to the garment <NUM>, the first and second thermal insulation inserts <NUM> and <NUM> may include a fastening mechanism that reversibly couples the first and second thermal insulation inserts <NUM> and <NUM> to a loop structure associated with each of the first and second pockets <NUM> and <NUM> as shown. The first and second thermal insulation inserts <NUM> and <NUM> may be removed when less insulation/warmth is desired, folded or rolled, and stowed within, for example, a detachable pocket structure <NUM> located on the lower-body garment <NUM>. The location of the first and second pockets <NUM> and <NUM> and the associated first and second thermal insulation inserts <NUM> and <NUM> is illustrative only, and it is contemplated herein that the lower-body garment <NUM> may include additional pockets and/or thermal insulation inserts positioned at other locations on the garment <NUM>. Additionally, the location of the detachable pocket structure <NUM> is illustrative only and other locations of the pocket structure <NUM> on the lower-body garment <NUM> are contemplated herein.

<FIG> illustrates a flow diagram of an example method <NUM> of using, for example, the upper-body garment <NUM> or the lower-body garment <NUM>. At a step <NUM>, a thermal insulation insert, such as the thermal insulation insert <NUM> is removed from a pocket, such as the pocket <NUM>, located on an inner-facing surface of the garment. At a step <NUM>, the thermal insulation insert is folded or rolled so that a first end of the insert is positioned adjacent to a second end of the insert. At a step <NUM>, a strap, such as the strap <NUM>, of a closure mechanism, such as the closure mechanism <NUM>, that is positioned at one of the first end or the second end of the thermal insulation insert is manipulated so that it encircles the folded thermal insulation insert. At a step <NUM>, a male component of the closure mechanism, such as the male component <NUM> is secured to a female component of the closure mechanism, such as the female component <NUM>. The method <NUM> may include additional steps such as stowing the folded thermal insulation insert within a pocket, such as the pocket <NUM>, positioned on the garment, and, optionally, detaching the pocket from the garment.

The method <NUM> may be executed when a wearer wishes to decrease the level of warmth and/or insulation of the garment. When the wearer wishes to increase the level of warmth and/or insulation of the garment, the wearer may release the male component from the female component of the folded thermal insulation insert's closure mechanism, unfold the thermal insulation insert so that the first end and the second end of the insert are spaced apart from one another by an entire length of the thermal insulation insert, and position the unfolded thermal insulation insert within the pocket located on the inner-facing surface of the garment. The wearer may additionally extend the strap of the closure mechanism through the loop structure positioned at the pocket opening of the pocket and mate the male and female components of the closure mechanism so that the insert does not shift or settle within the pocket.

Aspects of the present disclosure have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative aspects will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claim 1:
A garment (<NUM>; <NUM>) comprising: a pocket (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>; <NUM>, <NUM>) positioned on the garment (<NUM>; <NUM>); and a thermal insulation insert (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>; <NUM>, <NUM>) removably positioned within the pocket (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>; <NUM>, <NUM>), the thermal insulation insert (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>; <NUM>, <NUM>) comprising: a first textile layer (<NUM>); a second textile layer (<NUM>) secured to the first textile layer (<NUM>) to form the thermal insulation insert (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>; <NUM>, <NUM>), the thermal insulation insert (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>; <NUM>, <NUM>) having a first end (<NUM>) and a second end (<NUM>) opposite the first end (<NUM>); a thermally insulating fill material (<NUM>) contained within a space between the first textile layer (<NUM>) and the second textile layer (<NUM>); characterised in that
the thermal insulation insert (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) has a closure mechanism (<NUM>) positioned at one of the first end (<NUM>) or the second end (<NUM>) of the thermal insulation insert (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>; <NUM>, <NUM>), the closure mechanism (<NUM>) comprising a male component (<NUM>), a female component (<NUM>), and a strap extending between the male component (<NUM>) and the female component (<NUM>).