Cold weather vented garment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016235147-A1
Application number	US-201615140214-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 27, 2016
Priority date	Apr 18, 2012
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention relates to breathable, vented, and insulating cold weather garments. More particularly, the present invention relates to garments with chambers to retain an insulating fill material. Perforations along the seams between the insulating chambers may achieve optimal evaporative moisture transfer from the inside (proximal to the body of a wearer) of the garment to the outside environment.

First claim

1 . A method of making a garment comprising:
providing a first panel of material; providing a second panel of material; affixing the first panel and the second panel together at predetermined sections to form a plurality of seams, wherein one or more chambers are formed between the first panel and the second panel, and between each pair of seams in the plurality of seams; perforating one or more of the plurality of seams to create a plurality of perforations on the one or more of the plurality of seams, wherein the plurality of perforations extend through the one or more of the plurality of seams, through the first panel, and through the second panel; filling the one or more chambers with a thermally insulating fill material; and forming the garment using at least the first panel of material and the second panel of material.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the thermally insulating fill material is at least one of down or a synthetic fiber.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the affixing step comprises:
stitching the first panel and the second panel together to form the plurality of seams along the predetermined sections and to form the one or more chambers between the first panel and the second panel, and between each pair of seams in the plurality of seams.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the affixing step comprises:
applying an adhesive along the predetermined sections of an inner face of one of the first panel or the second panel, and positioning an inner face of the other of the first panel or the second panel such that it is adjacent to the inner face of the respective of the first panel or the second panel with the applied adhesive.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the applied adhesive is activated by one of:
(A) heat energy; or (B) ultrasonic energy.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of seams created after affixing the first panel and the second panel together are further reinforced by one of:
(A) adding stitching along a lower edge of each of the plurality of seams, along a length of each of the plurality of seams; (B) adding stitching along an upper edge of each of the plurality of seams, along a length of each of the plurality of seams; or (C) adding stitching along an upper edge and a lower edge of each of the plurality of seams, along a length of each of the plurality of seams.

7 . A method of making an upper body garment, the method comprising the steps of:
providing at least one front panel adapted to cover a front torso area of a wearer when the upper body garment is in an as worn configuration; providing at least one back panel adapted to cover a back torso area of the wearer when the upper body garment is in the as-worn configuration; and affixing the at least one front panel to the at least one back panel such that together they help to define in part at least a neckline opening, a first sleeve opening, a second sleeve opening, and a waist opening; wherein providing the at least one front panel or the at least one back panel comprises:
(A) forming from a first fabric piece, an inner panel configured to face the wearer when the upper body garment is in the as-worn configuration;
(B) forming from a second fabric piece, an outer panel having a shape corresponding to the inner panel, the outer panel configured to be exposed to the external environment when the upper body garment is in the as-worn configuration;
(C) affixing the inner panel and the outer panel together at one or more predetermined sections to form a plurality of seams along the predetermined sections and to form one or more chambers between the inner panel and the outer panel, and between each pair of seams in the plurality of seams;
(D) perforating one or more of the plurality of seams to create a plurality of perforations on the one or more of the plurality of seams, wherein the plurality of perforations extend through the one or more of the plurality of seams, through the inner panel, and the outer panel; and
(E) filling the one or more chambers with a thermally insulating fill material.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of affixing the inner panel and the outer panel together comprises:
stitching the inner panel and the outer panel together to form the plurality of seams along the predetermined sections and to form the one or more chambers between the inner panel and the outer panel, and between each pair of seams in the plurality of seams.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of affixing the inner panel and the outer panel together comprises:
applying an adhesive on an inner face of one of the inner panel or the outer panel at the one or more predetermined sections; and positioning an inner face of the corresponding inner panel or the outer panel such that it is adjacent to the inner face of the respective inner panel or the outer panel with the applied adhesive.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the applied adhesive is activated by one of:
(A) heat energy; or (B) ultrasonic energy.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of seams created after affixing the inner panel and the outer panel together are further reinforced by one of:
(A) adding stitching along a lower edge of each of the plurality of seams, along a length of each of the plurality of seams; (B) adding stitching along an upper edge of each of the plurality of seams, along a length of each of the plurality of seams; or (C) adding stitching along an upper edge and a lower edge of each of the plurality of seams, along a length of each of the plurality of seams.

12 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the thermally insulating fill material is at least one of down or a synthetic fiber.

13 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the perforating step is done at one of:
(A) the same time as the affixing the inner panel and the outer panel step; (B) after the affixing the inner panel and the outer panel step; or (C) after the filling with thermally insulating fill material step.

14 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of perforations are formed:
(A) continuously along a length of the one or more of the plurality of seams; or (B) intermittently along a length of the one or more of the plurality of seams.

15 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of perforations comprise different sizes.

16 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of perforations comprise different shapes.

17 . A garment comprising:
at least one panel adapted to cover an upper body portion of a wearer when the garment is in an as-worn configuration; wherein the at least one panel comprises:
(A) an inner panel configured to face the wearer when the garment is in the as-worn configuration;
(B) an outer panel configured to be exposed to an external environment when the garment is in the as-worn configuration;
(C) a plurality of seams that join the inner panel and the outer panel;
(D) a chamber formed between the inner panel and the outer panel, and between at least a pair of seams in the plurality of seams;
(E) a thermally insulating fill material contained within the chamber; and
(F) a plurality of perforations located on one or more of the plurality of seams, wherein the plurality of perforations extend through the one or more of the plurality of seams, through the inner panel, and through the outer panel.

18 . The garment of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of perforations comprise different sizes.

19 . The garment of claim 17 , wherein the thermally insulating fi

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Pezzimenti Luke A
• Martin Lindsey V J
• Ilcheva Irena

Classifications

• A41D27/245

  made by welding or gluing (joining of plastics by welding or gluing B29C65/00; sewing machines for concurrently making thread and welded seams D05B17/00; thermal or chemical fixing of seams and hems D06M) · CPC title

• B29C65/5057

  positioned between the surfaces to be joined (B29C65/5035 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A41D3/02 Primary

  Overcoats · CPC title

• B29C66/729

  Textile or other fibrous material made from plastics · CPC title

• B29C66/436

  Joining sheets for making articles comprising cushioning or padding materials, the weld being performed through the cushioning material, e.g. car seats (joining through openings B29C66/304) · CPC title