Ventilation jacket with wings

Abstract

To provide a ventilated jacket with a wing.SOLUTION: A ventilated jacket includes a body portion having a front side and a rear side, a sleeve portion 28 extending from the body portion, and a ventilation system including a plurality of vent openings configured to allow airflow into and out of the jacket. The ventilation system includes an underarm vent 38 having a first end 42 and a second end 46, and the underarm vent extends across a seam 50 between the body portion and the sleeve portion. The jacket further includes a wing 54 that follows a path established by a rear side of the underarm vent. The wing includes a first end 62 adjacent to the first end of the underarm vent and a second end 66 adjacent to the second end of the underarm vent. The wing extending outward from the underarm vent is configured to channel oncoming air into the underarm vent when the sleeve portion is held in an extended orientation away from the body portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a jacket having a ventilation system, such as a motorcycle jacket.

Background Art

[0002] A motorcycle rider encounters oncoming wind when riding a motorcycle, especially on a motorcycle with only partial or no front fairing. A jacket may be worn by a motorcycle rider for protection. In warmer weather conditions, the jacket may be ventilated for air flow.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] In one aspect, the present invention provides a ventilated jacket, the ventilated jacket comprising a torso portion having a front side and a rear side; sleeve portions extending from the torso portion; and a ventilation system including a plurality of vent openings configured to allow an air flow to enter and exit the ventilated jacket, the ventilation system including an underarm vent having a first end and a second end, the underarm vent extending across a seam between the torso portion and the sleeve portions, the ventilation system; and a wing following a path established by the underarm vent and located behind the underarm vent, the wing including a first end adjacent to the first end of the underarm vent and a second end adjacent to the second end of the underarm vent, the wing extending outwardly from the underarm vent and configured to direct incoming air to the underarm vent when the sleeve portions are held in an extended position away from the torso portion.

[0004] In another aspect, the present invention provides a ventilation jacket, the ventilation jacket including an underarm vent including a first fastening member configured to move the underarm vent between an open position and a closed position; a front vent including a second fastening member configured to move the front vent between an open position and a closed position; a rear vent including a third fastening member configured to move the rear vent between an open position and a closed position; and a wing disposed on a rear side of the first fastening member of the underarm vent, the wing including a first end portion and a second end portion; the wing having a boomerang shape that guides air to the underarm vent.

[0005] In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a ventilation jacket, the ventilation jacket including a torso portion having a front side and a rear side; sleeve portions extending from the torso portion; and a ventilation system including a plurality of vent openings configured to allow an air flow to enter and exit the ventilation jacket, the ventilation system including an underarm vent having a first end portion and a second end portion, the underarm vent extending across a seam between the torso portion and the sleeve portions; and a wing that follows a vent path established by the underarm vent and is located on a rear side of the underarm vent, the wing including a first end portion adjacent to the first end portion of the underarm vent, a second end portion adjacent to the second end portion of the underarm vent, a proximal end fixed to the torso portion and the sleeve portions along the vent path, and a distal end spaced from the vent path; the wing including a central seam formed by stitching together pieces of inextensible material having curvatures facing each other.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

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Figure 8

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Before explaining any embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the details of the construction and arrangement of components described in the following description or shown in the following drawings as its application. The present invention is capable of other embodiments and may be practiced or carried out in various ways.

[0008] Figures 1 through 8 show a ventilation jacket 10, particularly a jacket for a motorcycle. The ventilation jacket 10 may be used during the operation of a motorcycle (motorcycle, autobike, two-wheeled vehicle) and also during activities other than riding a motorcycle. The jacket 10 includes a torso portion 14 (body 14), and the torso portion 14 has a front side 18 and a rear side 22 opposite to the front side 18. Between the front side 18 and the rear side 22 of the torso portion 14, a pair of sleeve portions (i.e., a left sleeve 27 defining the left side of the jacket 10 and a right sleeve 28 defining the right side of the jacket 10) extend. The lower edge 24 of the jacket 10 is defined at the lower part of the torso portion 14 and forms a waist opening. The neck opening 20 is located at the top of the torso portion 14. Both the lower edge 24 and the neck opening 20 are located between the left sleeve 27 and the right sleeve 28. A central fastening member 32 configured to switch the jacket 10 between an open position and a closed position extends along the front side 18 of the torso portion 14. The central fastening member 32 is a zipper (wire fastener), but other types of fastening members may be used. The jacket 10 is made of leather, synthetic leather, nylon, polyester, other fiber materials, or combinations thereof. Optionally, the jacket 10 may incorporate pads or armor.

[0009] The ventilation jacket 10 further includes a ventilation system, and the ventilation system includes an underarm vent 38, a front vent 90, and a rear vent 94 on each side of the jacket 10. Each vent (vent hole, vent slit) is a breathable opening (vent opening) defined in the jacket 10 for ventilating the jacket 10. The air flow can pass through the opening and penetrate the breathable material optionally provided for each vent. The ventilation system is configured to allow the air flow into and out of the jacket 10 such that each vent can function as either an inlet vent or an outlet vent of the air flow. In one configuration, in addition to the features disclosed herein, the jacket 10 can incorporate some or all of the features disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 9,301,556, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0010] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the underarm vent 38 includes a first end portion 42 and a second end portion 46 opposite to the first end portion 42. The underarm vent 38 extends across the seam 50 between the body portion 14 and one of the sleeves 27, 28. The seam 50 connects between the body portion 14 and one of the sleeves 27, 28 to form a joint. By the first fastening member 78, the underarm vent 38 is configured to move between an open position and a closed position. The air flow is enabled to pass through the underarm vent 38 when the first fastening member 78 is in the open position. In the closed position, the first fastening member 78 prevents the air flow from passing through the underarm vent 38. In one structure, the length of the first fastening member 78 is in the range of 200 mm to 500 mm (for example, 340 mm to 360 mm).

[0011] The front vent 90 extends along the front side 18 of the body portion 14 and includes a second fastening member (not shown). The rear vent 94 includes a third fastening member 86 and extends along the rear side 22 of the body portion 14. The front vent 90 and the rear vent 94 are shown to extend vertically along the body portion 14. However, the front vent 90 and the rear vent 94 may extend at an angle depending on the orientation of wearing the jacket 10. Similar to the first fastening member 78, the second fastening member 82 and the third fastening member 86 are each configured to move the front vent 90 and the rear vent 94 between an open position allowing air flow and a closed position obstructing air flow. Each fastening member is a zipper. However, in other structures, other types of fastening members such as snap members may be used.

[0012] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, 7 and 8, the jacket 10 further includes a wing 54 (gusset), and the wing 54 is located on the rear side of the underarm vent 38 and extends along the path established by the underarm vent 38. When the jacket 10 is worn while riding a motorcycle, as shown in FIG. 8, since the hands of the motorcycle driver are holding the handlebars of the motorcycle, the respective sleeves 27, 28 extend away from the body portion 14. At this position, the wing 54 is exposed to the oncoming wind. The wing 54 is configured to direct air to the underarm vent 38 and increase the air flow rate to the underarm vent 38 in order to enhance the ventilation inside the jacket 10.

[0013] When worn away from the motorcycle, in the first configuration, the sleeves 27, 28 extend downward along the body portion 14 of the jacket 10. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 1, the wing 54 is folded at the central portion, for example, folded at the central seam 114 formed on the wing 54, and hidden between the body portion 14 and the respective sleeves 27, 28. The second configuration is established when the left sleeve 27 and the right sleeve 28 are oriented at least 30 degrees from the body portion 14. This may be exemplified as the riding position of the motorcycle driver. When the wing 54 is not housed and hidden between the body portion 14 and the sleeves 27, 28, the orientation of the pair of sleeve portions stretches and pulls the wing 54 taut, maintaining the position of the wing 54, and the wing 54 is deployed and exposed to the air flow. In this configuration, the wing 54 can take a boomerang shape when viewed from the front and / or rear. Due to the boomerang shape, the wing 54 can effectively fit and function under the curvature of the area from the sleeve to the body of the jacket 10. The boomerang-shaped wing 54 is configured to capture the air flow passing near the underarm area of the jacket 10, for example, while the motorcycle is in motion, and directly direct the air flow to the underarm vent 38. From the first configuration to the second configuration, as the sleeves 27, 28 gradually move upward, the drag coefficient and the ventilation effect provided by the wing 54 increase.

[0014] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the wing 54 includes a front portion 106, a rear portion 110, a first end portion 62, and a second end portion 66 opposite to the first end portion 62. The first end portion 62 of the wing 54 is adjacent to the first end portion 42 of the underarm vent 38 and extends beyond (e.g., at least 25 mm to more than 50 mm beyond) the first end portion 42 of the underarm vent 38. The second end portion 66 of the wing 54 is adjacent to the second end portion 46 of the underarm vent 38 and extends beyond (e.g., 25 mm to more than 50 mm beyond) the second end portion 46 of the underarm vent 38. The wing 54 extending beyond the underarm vent 38 increases the front area for feeding into the underarm vent 38. Next, the inlet pressure of the underarm vent 38 is increased by the additional front area, and the air flow rate increases. The wing 54 includes a distal end 98 (tip end 98) extending between the first end portion 62 and the second end portion 66 of the wing 54, and a proximal end 102 (base end 102) spaced from the distal end 98. The proximal end 102 is fixed to the body portion 14 and the respective sleeves 27, 28 along a path established by the rear side of the underarm vent 38. The attachment end is defined by the proximal end 102 and is configured to attach the wing 54 to the ventilation jacket 10.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 4, the height H of the wing 54 is characterized as the distance between the proximal end 102 and the distal end 98. The height H varies as a function of the coordinate direction S configured to move along a path established by the rear side of the underarm vent 38. The height H is measured as the distance from the proximal end 102 to the closest point of the distal end 98 at each point along the coordinate direction S. When traversing along the coordinate direction S from the first end portion 62 to the second end portion 66, the height H changes so as to increase and then decrease. The measured value of the height H is 0 at the first end portion 62 and the second end portion 66, and is up to about 50 mm to 90 mm at maximum. The region where the maximum value is measured is at or near the center seam 114.

[0016] The wing 54 does not allow air to pass through and prevents the air flow from penetrating the wing 54. In one structure, the wing 54 is formed of a material impermeable to air, such as natural leather or synthetic leather. In another structure, the front portion 106 of the wing 54 is formed of a first material, such as nylon or other fibrous materials. The rear portion 110 of the wing 54 is formed of a second material, such as leather. By preventing the air flow through the wing 54, more air flow can be directed towards the underarm vents 38. The wing 54 is also formed of one or more non-stretch materials configured to have a stretch range of 0% to 5%. Since a pair of sleeve portions extend from the body portion 14, the range in which the material of the wing 54 is stretched helps to maintain the exposure of the wing 54.

[0017] In one structure, the wing 54 includes a cord 74 that extends along the distal end 98 of the wing 54. The cord 74 can be fixed to the body portion 14 at one end and to the respective sleeves 27, 28 at the other end. The cord 74 is configured to stretch and pull the distal end 98 of the wing 54 taut when the sleeves are held in an extended position away from the body portion 14. For example, when riding a motorcycle, if the wind contacts the wing 54, the cord 74 enables the wing 54 to maintain a boomerang shape. The cord 74 may be formed of a polymer such as PTFE (e.g., Teflon (registered trademark)), a metal cable, an adhesive formed together, or other materials. The material of the cord 74 allows folding, bending, or twisting into different shapes, enabling the mobility of the sleeves 27, 28 with respect to the body portion 14, while having high resistance to stretching. As a result, it helps to maintain the shape of the wing 54 against the wind when stretched and pulled taut.

[0018] To construct the wing 54, either the first sewing pattern method or the second sewing pattern method may be used. The first method involves sewing together two pieces of fabric having curvatures facing in opposite directions, as shown in FIG. 7. The two pieces of fabric include a first portion 118 that extends between the central seam 114 of the wing 54 and the body portion 14, and a second portion 122 that extends between the central seam 114 of the wing 54 and the respective sleeves 27, 28. Specifically, the ends of the first portion 118 and the second portion 122 have curvatures facing in opposite directions, are brought together along the dashed line in FIG. 7, and form the central seam 114. In the sewing process, the first portion 118 and the second portion 122 are stretched and tightened so that the wing 54 resists deformation when facing the force of the wind. The second method may be used to form horizontal darts (gathers) so that the fabric of the wing 54 overlaps itself, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 6. To form the horizontal darts, a triangular outline is drawn on a one-piece of fabric, the lower part of the shape is pinched in, and a vertex is created at the upper part of the shape. Thereafter, pins can be inserted into the fabric to secure the darts. Next, the horizontal darts are sewn along the triangular outline from the lower part to the vertex. Either sewing pattern method may be used to achieve the boomerang shape of the wing 54 and fit the wing 54 under the curvature of the pair of sleeve portions.

[0019] The first sewing pattern method and the second sewing pattern method generate a central seam 114 that traverses and extends across the wing 54 between the distal end 98 and the proximal end 102. The central seam 114 is configured to prevent the wing 54 from folding backward or overlapping itself when the wind contacts the wing 54. In other words, by forming the central seam 114 as described above, structural support is added to the wing 54.

[0020] In addition to guiding more air flow to the underarm vent 38, the wing 54 can further provide more operating balance to the ventilation system of the jacket 10. Unlike the underarm vent 38, the front vent 90 is directly exposed to the incoming wind. The wing 54 enhances the flow through the underarm vent 38 by simulating a forward-facing vent so that the wind flowing into the wing 54 is directed to the underarm vent 38. In the absence of the wing 54, since the underarm vent 38 generally faces laterally outward, even when the underarm vent 38 is fully open, the underarm area may receive considerably less air flow.

[0021] The various features and advantages of the present invention are set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A body portion having a front side and a rear side, Sleeve portions extending from the body portion, A ventilation system including a plurality of vent openings configured to allow a flow of air to enter and exit the ventilation jacket, the ventilation system including an underarm vent having a first end and a second end, the underarm vent extending across a seam between the body portion and the sleeve portion, A wing following a path established by the underarm vent and located on a rear side of the underarm vent, The wing includes a first end adjacent to the first end of the underarm vent and a second end adjacent to the second end of the underarm vent, the wing having a proximal end fixed to the body portion and the sleeve portion along the path, the wing extending outwardly from the proximal end and the underarm vent, and configured to direct incoming air to the underarm vent when the sleeve portion is held in an extended position pulled away from the body portion by spreading and pulling the wing. The underarm vent is defined between the proximal end of the wing, an edge portion of the body portion, and an edge portion of the sleeve portion. Further, a first fastening member configured to fasten the proximal end of the wing to the edge portion of the body portion and the edge portion of the sleeve portion and to move the underarm vent between an open position and a closed position is provided. A ventilation jacket.

2. The wing is impermeable to air, and when the sleeve portion is held in the extended position pulled away from the body portion, the wing has a boomerang shape. The ventilation jacket according to claim 1.

3. The wing further includes a central seam formed by a piece of non-elastic material having curvatures facing in opposite directions, the curvatures facing in opposite directions being stitched together to form the boomerang shape of the wing, and fitting the wing along the rear side of the underarm vent. The ventilation jacket according to claim 1.

4. The wing further includes a string portion disposed along a distal end of the wing spaced from the path, the string portion being configured to stretch and extend between the first end portion and the second end portion of the wing when the sleeve portion is held in the extended posture. The ventilation jacket according to claim 1.

5. The height of the wing measured from the proximal end and measured to a distal end spaced from the path changes so as to increase and then decrease from the first end portion to the second end portion of the wing, and is at most 50 mm to 90 mm. The ventilation jacket according to claim 1.

6. The first end portion of the wing is located in a range of 25 mm to 50 mm from the first end portion of the underarm vent, and the second end portion of the wing is located at least 25 mm to 50 mm from the second end portion of the underarm vent. The ventilation jacket according to claim 1.

7. The ventilation system further includes a front vent extending along the front side of the body portion and a rear vent extending along the rear side of the body portion. The ventilation jacket according to claim 1.

8. Further, the ventilation jacket according to claim 1, comprising means for fitting the wing along the rear side of the underarm vent.

9. A body portion having a front side and a rear side, A sleeve portion extending from the body portion, An underarm vent including a first fastening member configured to move the underarm vent between an open position and a closed position, A front vent extending along the front side of the body portion, the front vent including a second fastening member configured to move the front vent between an open position and a closed position, A rear vent extending along the rear side of the body portion, the rear vent including a third fastening member configured to move the rear vent between an open position and a closed position, A wing disposed on the rear side of the first fastening member of the underarm vent, and comprising a wing including a first end portion and a second end portion. The wing has a proximal end fixed to the body portion and the sleeve portion along a path established by the underarm vent, and the wing has a boomerang shape that guides air to the underarm vent when the sleeve portion is held in an extended posture away from the body portion so as to stretch and pull the wing. The underarm vent is defined between the proximal end of the wing, the edge portion of the body portion, and the edge portion of the sleeve portion. The first fastening member is configured to fasten the proximal end of the wing to the edge portion of the body portion and the edge portion of the sleeve portion, the ventilation jacket.

10. The wing further includes a string portion disposed along the distal end of the wing spaced from the path, and the string portion is configured to stretch and extend between the first end portion of the wing and the second end portion of the wing. The ventilation jacket according to claim 9.

11. The height of the wing measured from the proximal end and measured to the distal end spaced from the path changes so as to increase and then decrease from the first end portion of the wing to the second end portion of the wing, and is at most 50 mm to 90 mm. The ventilation jacket according to claim 9.

12. The wing is impermeable to air. The ventilation jacket according to claim 9.

13. The wing further includes a central seam, and the central seam is formed by a piece of non-elastic material having curvatures facing each other, and the curvatures facing each other are stitched together to form the boomerang shape of the wing, and the wing is fitted along the rear side of the first fastening member of the underarm vent. The ventilation jacket according to claim 9. **Claim 14**: The ventilation jacket according to claim 9, further comprising means for fitting the wing along the rear side of the first fastening member of the underarm vent. **Claim 15**: A body portion having a front side and a rear side, Sleeve portions extending from the body portion, A ventilation system including a plurality of vent openings configured to allow a flow of air to enter and exit the ventilation jacket, the ventilation system including an underarm vent having a first end and a second end, the underarm vent extending across a seam between the body portion and the sleeve portions, A wing following the vent path established by the underarm vent, the wing being located on the rear side of the underarm vent, the wing including a first end adjacent to the first end of the underarm vent, a second end adjacent to the second end of the underarm vent, a proximal end fixed to the body portion and the sleeve portions along the vent path, and a distal end spaced from the vent path. The wing includes a central seam formed by stitching pieces of inextensible material having curvatures facing opposite each other. The underarm vent is defined between the proximal end of the wing, an edge portion of the body portion, and an edge portion of the sleeve portion. Further, a first fastening member configured to fasten the proximal end of the wing to the edge portion of the body portion and the edge portion of the sleeve portion and to move the underarm vent between an open position and a closed position is provided. The ventilation jacket is provided. **Claim 16**: The ventilation jacket according to claim 15, wherein when the sleeve portion is held in an extended posture away from the body portion, the wing has a boomerang shape. **Claim 17**: The ventilation jacket according to claim 15, wherein the wing is impermeable to air. **Claim 18**: The ventilation jacket according to claim 15, wherein the ventilation system further includes a front vent extending along the front side of the body portion and a rear vent extending along the rear side of the body portion.

19. The ventilation jacket according to claim 15, wherein the height of the wing measured from the proximal end to the distal end changes so as to increase and then decrease from the first end of the wing to the second end of the wing, and is at most 50 mm to 90 mm.

20. The ventilation jacket according to claim 15, wherein the wing further includes a string portion disposed along the distal end of the wing, and the string portion is configured to extend taut between the first end of the wing and the second end of the wing.

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