Ventilation vest

Abstract

A wearable garment for providing passive ventilation to a wearer such as when worn under an over-garment such as body armor. In at least one embodiment, a vest-configured garment constructed from a three-dimensional, flexible, honeycomb-type configured material having a compressible thickness.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION DATA [0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 556,060, filed Mar. 25, 2004, similarly titled, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to a wearable garment capable of providing passive ventilation to a wearer such as when worn under an over-garment such as body armor. In at least one embodiment, the invention relates to a vest-type garment constructed from a three-dimensional, flexible honeycomb-like configured material. In at least one preferred embodiment, this invention relates to a garment having a predetermined thickness and memory thereof such that the garment is capable of maintaining an over-garment at a selected spatial distance from the body of the wearer. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Due to its effectiveness, use of body armor by military and law enforcement personnel has become increasingly common during recent years. In some cases, fo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] In at least one embodiment, passive air flow is possible through the garment in at least two dimensions of space, but more preferably, in three dimensions thereof. In such an embodiment or embodiments, the openings in the top and bottom layers extend between the top and bottom layers and may be joined to openings extending perpendicularly (or extending at some other angle or combination of angles predetermined or random) thereto. Such embodiments exhibit excellent passive air flow properties.

[0014] In a still further embodiment, the middle portion elements have a memory such that if they are compressed by a force, the middle portion elements will return substantially to their original configuration when the force is removed. In some embodiments, this memory helps maintain the spacing between the top and bottom layers during extended use.

[0015] In yet further alternative embodiments, the three-dimensional fabric or a portion thereof may be flame resistant or retardant or may offer protection from projectiles (alone or in combination with armor, for example) and / or may be melt resistant.

Problems solved by technology

Although the use of such equipment provides important safety benefits, principally protection from gunfire, conventional body armor (e.g., bulletproof vests) are heavy and constructed from thick, non-breathable materials which are uncomfortable and / or do not allow the wearer's body to cool itself naturally (due to the inhibition of evaporation of perspiration).

In such climates, the use of conventional body armor, combined with the wearing of backpacks and other equipment, subjects soldiers to risks related to high body temperatures such as heat exhaustion and / or heat casualties (in addition to simply being uncomfortable).

As a result, despite the obvious safety benefits of body armor, it is not uncommon for a soldier or law enforcement officer, lulled into a false sense of security, to simply not wear the body armor at all in some scenarios.

This, in turn, puts the soldier or police officer, for example, in substantial danger should ballistic-type conflict be encountered.

For example, in order to provide active circulation or pumping functions, some prior art garments utilize a fan and associated power supply and, therefore, are more expensive and complicated to manufacture, as well as susceptible to failure during field use.

Furthermore, such active-type garments, because of the components they employ, add significant weight which is extremely disadvantageous to a soldier, in particular, because of their already heavy pack loads.

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