Garment ventilation structure

Abstract

A garment such as a sports shirt has concealed ventilation channels; which provide a continuous air channel between permanent openings. In one embodiment, the channels are flexible and non-intrusive and the openings are maintained by springy eyelets The eyelets and channels are attached to the main fabric of the garment providing a robust and a streamlined construction. Another embodiment incorporates active ventilation structures within the channels the structures having a natural vibration frequency matched to a motion frequency spectrum of the wearer. In a further embodiment, the ventilation channels are made of shape memory polymer and change shape in response to changes in temperature.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to garments including leisure apparel, protective apparel, armoured apparel, footwear, sports apparel, and more particularly to sports shirts. Although the invention is described primarily in terms of shirts, it also has relevance to other kinds of clothing in which ventilation is important, for example, dresses, trousers and waterproofs. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] In many activities, where protective sports and leisure apparel is worn, there is a demand for lightweight apparel, which is cool and comfortable, and has other desirable properties including moisture and perspiration transmission away from the wearer. In addition, fabrics and shirts with good wear characteristics and machine washability are desirable. [0003] Manufacturers skilled in the art have developed a variety of synthetic fabrics that provide many properties advantageous to their use as sports-shirts fabric. COOLMAX® for example, is a polyester fabric, wh...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] Unlike traditional sports shirts, the present invention is directed to improve wearer comfort by providing novel air channels for ventilation at selected points around the wearer's torso. Other structures may be provided in conjunction with the ventilation channels. Unlike a shirt that might provide ventilation by simple open holes or a large mesh, the channel openings in the present invention are concealed, thus protecting the wearer from sunlight and harmful U.V. radiation. It may also be desirable for aesthetic reasons to conceal the holes in the garment. Improved fabrication techniques, which exploit the thermoplastic nature of synthetic fabrics are also employed. It is well known that thermographic analysis of the human body shows that strenuous activity generates localised heat build-up around the chest and back as well as the upper arm. The thermal profile will naturally vary depending on many factors such as body size and the type of activity. Generally, the heart and main upper body muscles are the major areas of heat generation. Such heat generation induces perspiration in the body, causing the shirt wearer discomfort. Perspiration and discomfort can occur anywhere on the body if covered by a heavy or insulating layer.

Problems solved by technology

Such heat generation induces perspiration in the body, causing the shirt wearer discomfort.

Perspiration and discomfort can occur anywhere on the body if covered by a heavy or insulating layer.

This is in contrast to a traditional shirt or garment, which, even if made from high performance moisture transport fabrics, results in poor cooling as the high performance fabric benefits are limited if covered by another garment layer.

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