U.S. patent application number 13/834186 was filed with the patent office on 2013-10-03 for flowing zipper vent system for garments.
The applicant listed for this patent is David A. Getzen, Luis M. Ortiz. Invention is credited to David A. Getzen, Luis M. Ortiz.
Application Number | 20130254969 13/834186 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49232885 |
Filed Date | 2013-10-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130254969 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Getzen; David A. ; et
al. |
October 3, 2013 |
FLOWING ZIPPER VENT SYSTEM FOR GARMENTS
Abstract
A garment including one or more flowing zipper vents (e.g.,
opposing slider pairs on a zipper, etc) sewn onto a seam of the
garment. The garment can include pants legs, wherein each of the
pant legs respectively incorporate the fasteners, which when opened
allow for venting of air to the interior of the pants to cool a
wearer's legs. The garment can include sleeves, wherein each of the
sleeves respectively incorporate the fasteners, which when opened
allow for venting of air to the interior of the sleeves to cool a
wearer's arms. Breathable mesh material can be included with the
flowing zipper vent, inside the garment, to hold the garment
together and protect skin from full exposure.
Inventors: |
Getzen; David A.;
(Albuquerque, NM) ; Ortiz; Luis M.; (Albuquerque,
NM) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Getzen; David A.
Ortiz; Luis M. |
Albuquerque
Albuquerque |
NM
NM |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
49232885 |
Appl. No.: |
13/834186 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61612466 |
Mar 19, 2012 |
|
|
|
61648798 |
May 18, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/108 ; 2/227;
2/270; 2/69 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41B 1/10 20130101; A41D
1/02 20130101; A41D 27/00 20130101; A41D 27/285 20130101; A41D 1/06
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/108 ; 2/270;
2/227; 2/69 |
International
Class: |
A41D 27/00 20060101
A41D027/00; A41D 1/02 20060101 A41D001/02; A41B 1/10 20060101
A41B001/10; A41D 1/06 20060101 A41D001/06 |
Claims
1. A flowing zipper vent system for garments, comprising: a zipper
sewn along the inner or outer seam of a pant leg or sleeve and at
least one opposing slider pair integrated along said zipper; and
breathable mesh material sewn within said seam along said zipper;
wherein said at least one opposing slider pair allows said garment
to open at the seam and vent and allows air to flow into the
garment and cool a person wearing the garment when the at least one
opposing slider pair are pulled apart to create the vent.
2. The flowing zipper vent system for garments of claim 1, wherein
said zipper includes at least two opposing slider pairs movable
along the zipper and separable on closed zipper and garment
material between said at least two opposing slider pairs.
3. The flowing zipper vent system for garments of claim 1, wherein
said flowing zipper vent system is integrated within at least one
of an inner seam and an outer seam of a pant garment.
4. The flowing zipper vent system for garments of claim 2, wherein
said flowing zipper vent system is integrated within at least one
of an inner seams and an outer seams of a pant garment.
5. The flowing zipper vent system for garments of claim 1, wherein
said flowing zipper vent system is integrated within at least one
of an inner seam and an outer seam of a sleeve.
6. The flowing zipper vent system for garments of claim 2, wherein
said flowing zipper vent system is integrated within at least one
of an inner seam and an outer seam of a sleeve.
7. A pants garment, comprising: a zipper sewn along the inner or
outer seam of a pant leg or sleeve and at least one opposing slider
pair integrated along said zipper; and breathable mesh material
sewn within said seam along said zipper; wherein said at least one
opposing slider pair allows said garment to open at the seam and
vent and allows air to flow into the garment and cool a person
wearing the garment when the at least one opposing slider pair are
pulled apart to create the vent.
8. The pants garment of claim 7, wherein said zipper includes at
least two opposing slider pairs and said at least two opposing
slider pairs are movable along the zipper and separable by zipper
and closed garment material between said at least two opposing
slider pairs.
9. The pants garment of claim 7, wherein said flowing zipper vent
system is integrated within the inner seam and the outer seam of a
pants garment.
10. The pants garment of claim 8, wherein said flowing zipper vent
system is integrated within the inner seam and the outer seam of a
pants garment.
11. A jacket or shirt garment, comprising: a zipper sewn along the
inner or outer seam of a sleeve of the jacket or shirt garment and
at least one opposing slider pair integrated along said zipper; and
breathable mesh material sewn within said seam along said zipper;
wherein said at least one opposing slider pair allows said garment
to open at the seam and vent and allows air to flow into the
garment and cool a person wearing the garment when the at least one
opposing slider pair are pulled apart to create the vent.
12. The jacket or shirt garment of claim 11, wherein said zipper
includes at least two opposing slider pairs and said at least two
opposing slider pairs are movable along the zipper and separable by
zipper and closed garment material between said at least two
opposing slider pairs.
13. The jacket or shirt garment of claim 11, wherein said flowing
zipper vent system is integrated within the inner seam and the
outer seam of a shirt or jacket garment.
14. The jacket or shirt garment of claim 12, wherein said flowing
zipper vent system is integrated within the inner seam and the
outer seam of a jacket or shirt garment.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PROVISIONAL APPLICATION
[0001] This patent application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/612,466
entitled, "Pants Garment Apparatus With Intermittent Fastener for
Venting," which was filed on Mar. 19, 2012 and is incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety. This patent application also
claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(e) of U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 61/648,798 entitled "Flowing Zipper Vent
System for Garments," which was filed on May 18, 2013 and which is
incorporated hereby reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention is generally related to devices and
techniques for cooling a garment wearer. More particularly, the
present invention is related to a flowing zipper vent system for
use in pant legs and sleeves on garments.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Working or playing hard in extremely warm conditions can be
uncomfortable and dangerous to the human body. Under certain
circumstances, however, limbs must be fully covered. Such is the
case in construction occupations where materials and tools can
present a problem to exposed skin of workers, and in motorsports
where the risk of a wipe out can pose a risk to skin.
[0004] One of the difficulties with wearable pants is the inability
to cool a wearer's legs, particularly in hot and/or humid weather.
The problem also exists where protective jackets are used. At
worksites, for example, workers routinely find themselves
struggling in such weather because their legs become warm in
garments that are typically heavy and unbreathable, such a denim
workpants. The discomfort of becoming warm makes it difficult to
work efficiently, particularly when wearing work pants or jeans. In
other cases, such as in-door situations, buildings can become hot
and humid. It is thus believed that a need exists to efficiently
vent work casual and sports-related garments for the comfort of a
wearer.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 8,001,618 describes garments incorporating
zipper vents to cool the users of garments in warm conditions.
Zipper openings in a fixed location on the torso and back of a
jacket and integrated breathable material in the form of a mesh
enable airflow and moisture to evaporate. The zipper opening are
less than a foot in length. When incorporated into pants, zipper
opening are similarly limited to a length of less than a foot long
and limited to a fixed location along a pant leg.
[0006] What is needed is a venting system for the leg and arm
sections of a garment that can enable a user to change vent
locations along the majority length of the leg or arm in order to
maximize cooling off in various areas, or along expanded areas, of
the users extremities. What is also desirable is for more than one
ventable location to be made available along a limb. These features
are now achievable given the present invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0007] The following summary is provided to facilitate an
understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the
disclosed embodiment and is not intended to be a full description.
A full appreciation of the various aspects of the embodiments
disclosed herein can be gained by taking the entire specification,
claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole.
[0008] It is a feature of the present invention to provide a
flowing zipper vent system for garments.
[0009] It is also a feature of the present invention to provide a
flowing zipper vent system for garments including a zipper tape
sewn along the inner or outer seam of a pant leg or sleeve, at
least one opposing slider pair integrated along said zipper tape
and breathable mesh sewn within the garment and along the seam and
along zipper tape. The at least one opposing slider pair allows the
garment to vent and air to flow into the garment and cool a person
wearing the garment when the at least one opposing slider pair are
pulled apart to create a vent.
[0010] It is another aspect of the disclosed embodiments to provide
zippers for a garment venting apparatus that incorporates at least
one zipper head pair that is movable along the majority length of a
leg or sleeve along the leg or sleeve seam. Incorporating the
zipper within and along a seam allows it to be hidden and is also a
logical location for a full-length zipper system. A breathable mesh
material can also be incorporated along the entire opening created
by the flowing zipper system. The mesh can hold together the main
garment material if the zipper system is opened entirely or in a
manner that reveals a large opening for venting. The mesh also
keeps skin from being completely exposed and provides privacy.
[0011] In an alternate embodiment, more than one opposing slider
pair (sliders facing each other to create an opening when pulled
apart, or to close an opening when moved towards each other) is
incorporated along a zipper tape. Zipper stops can be located and
the far ends of the zipper opening (i.e., near the bottom of the
leg and near the waist on a pant leg). A flowing zipper vent can be
created by opening an opposing slider pair and allows for vented
opening of varying size in more than one location along a leg or
arm seam. For example, a user can create an opening in the thigh
area as well as beneath the knee when two opposing slider pairs are
used. As another example, whether one or more opposing sliders
pairs are used along a pant seam, a user can decide to open the
entire length of a seam for maximum venting. This would be an ideal
feature for a construction worker taking a break. The main garment
material would remain around the users leg because the mesh
material maintains the general shape of the pant leg by keeping the
material close together, but vented, behind the zipper.
[0012] The aforementioned aspects and other objectives and
advantages can now be achieved as described herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals
refer to identical or functionally-similar elements throughout the
separate views and which are incorporated in and form a part of the
specification, further illustrate the disclosed embodiments and,
together with the detailed description of the invention, serve to
explain the principles of the disclosed embodiments.
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a pair of pants garment
that includes one or more flowing zipper vent system therein, in
accordance with the disclosed embodiments;
[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates a generally rear view of the pants
garment apparatus shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with the disclosed
embodiments;
[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a generally front view of the pants
garment apparatus shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with the disclosed
embodiments;
[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of pants with one flowing
zipper vent system integrated along most of the exterior side seam
of a pant leg, in accordance with the disclosed embodiments;
[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates an interior of a pant leg with a mesh and
zipper arrangement integrated therein along the pant seam, in
accordance with the disclosed embodiments; and
[0019] FIGS. 6-7 illustrate a side views of a pant leg with a
flowing zipper vent in a closed and opened condition.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] The particular values and configurations discussed in these
non-limiting examples can be varied and are cited merely to
illustrate at least one embodiment and are not intended to limit
the scope thereof. Note that identical or similar parts or elements
are generally indicated by identical reference numerals.
[0021] The embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which illustrative
embodiments of the invention are shown. The embodiments disclosed
herein can be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather,
these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be
thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the
invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like
elements throughout. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any
and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed
items.
[0022] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of
the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and
"the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood
that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this
specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude
the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
[0023] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and
scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this
invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such
as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be
interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their
meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be
interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly
defined herein.
[0024] The bulk of a zipper consists of two strips of fabric tape
(herein referred to as "zipper tape"), each affixed to one of the
two pieces of garment fabric to be joined, carrying from tens to
hundreds of specially shaped metal or plastic/nylon teeth (herein
referred to as "coil"). These teeth can be either individual or
shaped from a continuous coil, and are also referred to as
elements. The slider, operated by a handle, moves along the rows of
teeth. Inside the slider is a Y-shaped channel that meshes together
or separates the opposing rows of teeth, depending on the direction
of the slider's movement.
[0025] In many jackets, pants and similar garments, the opening is
closed entirely when the slider is at one of the ends of the tape.
The mechanism allows for partial fastening where only some of coil
on the tape is fastened together, but various movements and
pressures may move the slider along the coil associated with the
tape. In many kinds of luggage, there are two sliders (herein
referred to as "opposing slider pair") on the zipper, mounted in
opposite directions; the part of the zipper between them is
unfastened. When the sliders are located at opposite ends of the
tape, the zipper is fully unfastened; when the two sliders are
located next to each other, which can be at any point along the
tape, the zipper is fully closed. Stops can be located at each end
of the zipper tape to prevent a slider from being removed from the
coil and to keep the zipper from coming completely apart.
[0026] Zipper systems may increase or decrease the size of an
opening to allow or restrict the passage of objects, as in the fly
of trousers or in a pocket, join or separate two ends or sides of a
single garment, as in the front of a jacket, dress or skirt, attach
or detach a separable part of the garment to or from another, as in
the conversion between trousers and shorts or the
connection/disconnection of a hood and a coat, and decorate an
item. These variations are achieved by sewing one end of the zipper
together, sewing both ends together, or allowing both ends of the
zipper to fall completely apart.
[0027] FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a pants garment 100. The pants garment
100 includes pants legs 120 and 122. A seam 105 is shown in FIG. 1
with respect to patents leg 120. Similarly, a seam 105 is shown in
FIG. 1 with respect to pants leg 122. The pants garment 100 can
have one or more flowing zipper vents 102 for venting. Venting is
caused by the flowing zipper vents 102 when an opposing slider pair
103/104 is opened along a zipper tape (not shown) that is sewn
along a seam 105 of a pant leg 120/130. Flowing zipper vents 102
can be opened by pulling apart an opposing slider pair 103/104
anywhere along a zipper tape that is sewn into and along the seam
105 of a patent leg 120/122, or along a jacket/shirt sleeve (not
shown), and several vent locations can be created along a zipper
tape depending on the number of opposing slider pairs 103/104 that
are incorporated onto a zipper tape. In FIGS. 1 and 2, each seam
105 is shown having two flowing zipper vents 102. It should be
appreciated, however, that flowing zipper vents 102 can be
incorporated into only one seam 105 per leg (on only the inner or
outer seam); however, incorporation of a flowing zipper vent system
into both inner and outer seams will create better air flow through
a pant leg or sleeve.
[0028] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the pants garment apparatus
100 comprises pants, although it should be appreciated that it can
easily be incorporated into jacket or shirt sleeves. Thus, such
pants are configured to cool a person's legs at work or in any
other environment while walking, exercising or otherwise moving in
a hot climate and while involved in a heat-generating activity. If
a slight breeze is present, this will assist in the venting
process, while simultaneously keeping the person's skin covered.
When two opposing slider pairs are incorporated into a pant
garment, the wearer can decide to open a vent near the thigh area
of a pant leg, and can open another vent near the calve area. This
form of venting for garment has not been taught before disclosure
of the present invention. When opposing slider pairs are also
located on the inner leg, or inside stitching area the pant leg,
additional vents can be opened in inside thigh area and the inside
calve area opposite the outer vents. The opening of multiple vents
can maximize cooling of the person wearing the vented pants using
the system taught herein. Note that it can also be determined that
the flowing zipper vent system should only be incorporated in the
inside thigh area in order to better conceal the system's presence
or to minimize snag events.
[0029] Note that in some embodiments, the stitching area can be
designed and selected in a manner that easily conceal a fastener
(e.g., a zipper) such that if, for example, the pants garment
apparatus comprises dressy pants, one cannot readily discern the
fastener location. This is best illustrated in FIG. 3, wherein the
flowing zipper system cannot be seen from the front view of the
pants because it is concealed by the seam, or a flap of pant
material that overlaps the system toward the rear of the pants. It
can be appreciated, therefore, that a seam provides the most
logical place for the flowing zipper vent system because of its
location(s). A flap 115 can be provided as shown in FIG. 6 to
further conceal the flowing zipper vent system.
[0030] FIG. 4 illustrates the side exterior portion of a pants leg
120 with a flowing zipper vent 102 integrated along a seam, in
accordance with features of the present invention. Zipper stops 106
and 107 are shown at the top and bottom of the seam. The opposing
slider pair 103/104 can be moved anywhere along the seam 105
between the stops 106/107, and then opened to any size vent desired
by the user. In fact, the opposing slider pair 103/104 can be
opened from zipper stop 106 to zipper stop 107, creating a very
large vent that is almost as long as the entire pant seam 105. Such
a large opening is possible even if more than one opposing slider
pair 103/104 is incorporated into the same seam 105. It this case,
only one opposing slider pair 103/104 would be used to create the
large opening, while other opposing slider pairs 103/104 would be
moved to one end or the other along the seam 105 (outside of the
opened opposing slider pair 103/104).
[0031] FIG. 5 illustrates an interior of pants leg with a
breathable mesh material 107 sewn along the seam 105 with the
flowing zipper vent arrangement, in accordance with the disclosed
embodiments. In the configuration shown in FIG. 5, sliders 103 and
104 are partially opened (pulled part) on a coil 109 in an area
along zipper tape 110. When the zipper tape 110 is opened, the
breathable mesh 107 helps keep the sides 111/112 of the garment
together in addition to enabling the flow of air through the vent
113. The breathable mesh 107 can be incorporated all along the
zipper system and stitched to the garment such as pants 100 at or
near the same location as the zipper tape. The mesh 107 will likely
be sewn just outside the boundaries of the zipper tape 110 onto the
garment 100, but could be sewn on top of the material portion of
the zipper tape 110 in a manner that would not interfere with the
zipper portion 109 of the zipper tape 110 and the sliders
103/104.
[0032] FIGS. 6-7 illustrate respective exterior closed and open
views of a flowing zipper vent portion of a pants garment
apparatus. FIG. 6 illustrates a seam 105 wherein a partial flap 115
is created to hide the flowing zipper vent system. Handles 116/117
for the two opposing sliders are shown exposed for illustrative
purposes only. The handles 116/117 can naturally fall/lay within
the flap 115 and/or seam 105 in hiding. In FIG. 7, an opened
flowing zipper vent is shown for the seam 105 illustrated in FIG.
6. When opened, the opposing slider pair 103/104 are pulled apart
by slider handles 116/117 to expose a vent. As stated hereinbefore,
the sliders 103/104 can be pulled up or down to relocated the vent
location along a tape and then they can be pulled apart to vary the
size of the vent opening. FIG. 7 also shows breathable mesh
material 107 that keeps skin from exposure and also helps keeps the
garment material from coming apart too much, thereby regulating the
size of the opening and maintaining the structural integrity of the
garment.
[0033] It will be appreciated that variations of the above
disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives
thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different
systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or
unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or
improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in
the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following
claims.
* * * * *