Electrically heated garment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12127308-B2
Application number	US-202217826410-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2022
Priority date	Nov 6, 2009
Publication date	Oct 22, 2024
Grant date	Oct 22, 2024

Abstract

An article of clothing includes a garment body, a heater coupled to the garment body, a heater supply cable in electrical communication with the heater, a battery pack including a plurality of cells configured to supply power to the heater, and a battery holder separate and removable from the garment body. The battery holder is configured to receive the battery pack and connects electrically to the battery pack. The battery holder includes an electrical port that is electrically connectable with the heater supply cable. The garment body includes a compartment configured to receive the battery pack and the battery holder. The garment body also includes a closure configured for closing the compartment and opening the compartment. The heater supply cable extends into the compartment for electrically connecting with the battery holder.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An article of clothing comprising:
a garment body including an inner surface configured to rest against a user's body when worn and an outer surface opposite the inner surface;
a heating system coupled to the garment body, the heating system including a heater configured to heat the garment body and a heater supply cable for providing electrical power to the heater;
a battery pack including a plurality of cells for supplying power to the heating system; and
a battery holder separate and removable from the garment body, the battery holder configured to receive the battery pack and configured to connect electrically to the battery pack, wherein the battery holder includes an electrical port that is selectively electrically connectable with the heater supply cable, the electrical port configured to provide electrical power from the battery pack to the heating system;
wherein the garment body includes a compartment configured to hold the battery pack and the battery holder, the garment body also including a closure configured for closing the compartment and opening the compartment to provide selective access to the battery pack and the battery holder such that the battery pack and the battery holder are removable from the compartment,
wherein the heater supply cable extends into the compartment to electrically connect with the battery holder while the compartment is closed, and wherein the battery holder is removable from the compartment when the heater supply cable is disconnected from the electrical port.

2. The article of clothing of claim 1 , wherein the battery holder includes a housing portion configured to house a circuit board.

3. The article of clothing of claim 1 , wherein the battery holder includes:
power terminals configured to mate with corresponding power terminals on the battery pack, and
communication terminals configured to mate with corresponding communication terminals on the battery pack.

4. The article of clothing of claim 1 , wherein the battery holder includes a USB port for charging other devices.

5. The article of clothing of claim 1 , further comprising a controller for selectively providing power from the battery pack to the heater.

6. The article of clothing of claim 5 , further comprising a user input member for selecting a mode of the controller.

7. The article of clothing of claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to monitor a condition of a heating zone.

8. The article of clothing of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of cells has a capacity rating of at least 1.2 Ah.

9. The article of clothing of claim 1 , wherein the battery pack has a nominal voltage of at least 10.8 volts.

10. An article of clothing comprising:
a garment body including an inner surface configured to rest against a user's body when worn and an outer surface opposite the inner surface;
a heater coupled to the garment body;
a heater supply cable in electrical communication with the heater;
a battery pack including a plurality of cells for supplying power to the heater; and
a battery holder separate and removable from the garment body, the battery holder configured to detachably latch to the battery pack and configured to connect electrically to the battery pack, the battery holder including an electrical port that is selectively electrically connectable with the heater supply cable for providing electrical power from the battery pack to the heater;
wherein the garment body includes a compartment configured to hold the battery pack and the battery holder, the garment body also including a closure configured for closing the compartment and opening the compartment,
wherein the heater supply cable extends from the garment body into the compartment to electrically connect to the battery holder while the compartment is closed, and wherein the battery holder is removable from the compartment when the heater supply cable is disconnected from the electrical port.

11. The article of clothing of claim 10 , wherein the battery back and the battery holder each include a portion of a latching arrangement for detachably latching the battery holder to the battery pack, wherein the latching arrangement includes:
latching tabs configured to mate with corresponding recesses, and
actuating portions coupled to the latching tabs and configured to selectively disengage the latching tabs from the recesses.

12. The article of clothing of claim 10 , wherein the battery holder includes:
power terminals configured to mate with corresponding power terminals on the battery pack, and
communication terminals configured to mate with corresponding communication terminals on the battery pack.

13. The article of clothing of claim 10 , wherein the battery holder includes a housing portion configured to house a circuit board.

14. The article of clothing of claim 10 , wherein the battery holder includes a USB port for charging other devices.

15. An article of clothing comprising:
a garment body;
a heater coupled to the garment body;
a heater supply cable in electrical communication with the heater;
a battery pack including a plurality of cells configured to supply power to the heater; and
a battery holder separate and removable from the garment body, the battery holder configured to receive the battery pack and configured to connect electrically to the battery pack, wherein the battery holder includes an electrical port that is electrically connectable with the heater supply cable;
wherein the garment body includes a compartment configured to receive the battery pack and the battery holder, the garment body also including a closure configured for closing the compartment and opening the compartment,
wherein the heater supply cable extends into the compartment for electrically connecting with the battery holder.

16. The article of clothing of claim 15 , wherein the battery holder includes a housing portion configured to house a circuit board.

17. The article of clothing of claim 15 , wherein the battery holder includes:
power terminals configured to mate with corresponding power terminals on the battery pack, and
communication terminals configured to mate with corresponding communication terminals on the battery pack.

18. The article of clothing of claim 15 , wherein the battery holder includes a USB port for charging other devices.

19. The article of clothing of claim 15 , further comprising a controller for selectively providing power from the battery pack to the heater, and a user input member for selecting a mode of the controller.

20. The article of claim 15 , wherein the battery holder includes an on/off button, a control button, or a display, or any combination thereof.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Gray Rick
• Zick Jonathan A
• Fry Paul

Classifications

• A41D13/0051

  Heated garments (heated divers' suits B63C11/28) · CPC title

• H05B1/0272 Primary

  For heating of fabrics · CPC title