U.S. patent application number 14/671262 was filed with the patent office on 2016-09-29 for garment vent.
The applicant listed for this patent is Loren J. Hilty. Invention is credited to Loren J. Hilty.
Application Number | 20160278459 14/671262 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56975928 |
Filed Date | 2016-09-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160278459 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hilty; Loren J. |
September 29, 2016 |
GARMENT VENT
Abstract
A vent on any layer of clothing that may benefit from having a
vent that allows the passage of air from the outer layer of the
particular article of clothing to the inner layer of the article of
clothing. The article of clothing has an outer surface layer and an
inner surface layer with a channel formed between the inner surface
layer and outer surface layer. There is at least one vent hole
formed through the outer surface layer. A sliding closure is
slidably positioned within the channel between the inner surface
layer and the outer surface layer. The sliding closure is
positionable between a blocked position where the sliding closure
blocks the vent hole and an unblocked position where the sliding
closure unblocks the vent hole to allow air to pass through the
vent hole of the outer layer and into the channel.
Inventors: |
Hilty; Loren J.; (Fenton,
MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hilty; Loren J. |
Fenton |
MI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56975928 |
Appl. No.: |
14/671262 |
Filed: |
March 27, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 31/14 20190201;
A41D 27/28 20130101; A41D 27/285 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A41D 27/28 20060101
A41D027/28 |
Claims
1. A vent on an article of clothing comprising: an article of
clothing having an outer surface layer and an inner surface layer;
a channel formed between the inner surface layer and the outer
surface layer; at least one vent hole formed through the outer
surface layer; and a sliding closure slidably positioned within the
channel between the inner surface layer and the outer surface
layer, said sliding closure being positioned to slide between a
blocked position where the sliding closure blocks the at least one
vent hole of the outer surface layer and an unblocked position
where the sliding closure unblocks the at least one vent hole of
the outer surface layer to allow air to pass through the at least
one vent hole of the outer surface layer and into the channel.
2. The vent on an article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the inner
surface layer is formed of mesh material having a plurality of
holes to allow air to pass from the channel through the inner
surface layer.
3. The vent on an article of clothing of claim 1 further comprising
at least one vent hole on the inner surface layer, where sliding
the sliding closure to the unblocked position allows air to pass
through the at least one vent hole of the outer, through the
channel and through the at least one vent hole on the inner surface
layer.
4. The vent on an article of clothing of claim 3, wherein the at
least one vent hole on the outer surface layer and the at least one
vent hole on the inner surface layer are aligned so that moving the
sliding closure to the unblocked position allow air to pass
directly through the at least one vent hole on the outer surface
layer, through the channel and through the at least one vent hole
on the inner surface layer.
5. The vent on an article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the
sliding closure has two opposing ends with a cord connected to each
of the two ends to permit the sliding closure to move between the
unblocked position and the blocked position by using the cords at
the ends of the sliding closure.
6. The vent on an article of clothing of claim 1 further comprising
a flexible open loom formed on the sliding closure and defining an
aperture through the sliding closure, said flexible open loom being
formed of an elastic material that extends when the sliding closure
is in the unblocked position to align and hold the aperture of the
flexible open loom with the at least one vent hole so that air will
pass though the at least one vent hold and the aperture of the
sling closure.
7. The vent on an article of clothing of claim 6 further comprising
a neck portion of the channel where the flexible open loom will
bend to a retracted position when the flexible open loom slides
through the neck, and when the sliding closure moves to the blocked
position material of the sliding closure will block the at least
one vent hold and the flexible open loom will expand and be held in
place by the neck portion in the channel.
8. The vent on an article of clothing of claim 1 further comprising
a flexible open loom and a flexible closed loom formed on opposing
sides of the sliding closure, wherein the flexible closed loom has
material of the sliding closure extending across the flexible
closed loom, while the flexible open loom forms an aperture through
the sliding closure, wherein the flexible closed loom and the
flexible open loom are both elastic and capable of moving between a
contracted position and an expanded position.
9. The vent on an article of clothing of claim 8 further comprising
an upper neck formed in the channel and a lower neck formed in the
channel and the sliding closure is configured to slide within the
channel, wherein the upper neck and the lower neck divide the
channel into three regions designated as a upper channel region, a
middle channel region, and a lower channel region, wherein the
flexible closed loom of the sliding closure slides into the upper
channel region when the sliding closure moves to the unblocked
position and the flexible open loom will be positioned within the
middle channel region, wherein the flexible open loom will slide
into the lower channel region and the flexible closed loom will
move into the middle channel region when the sliding closure is
moved to the block position whereby the flexible closed loom will
block the at least one vent hole in the outer layer.
10. The vent on an article of clothing of claim 8, wherein the
flexible closed loom and the flexible open loom each have a
teardrop or snowshoe shape with a large diameter portion and a
narrow diameter portion, where the large diameter portion of the
flexible closed loom has material extending across the flexible
closed loom to block the at least one vent hole in the outer
surface when the sliding closure is in the closed position and the
large diameter portion of the flexible open loom form the aperture
that aligns with the at least one vent hole to hold the at least
one vent hole in the open position, wherein each respective the
narrow diameter portion of the tear drop of the flexible closed
loom and the flexible open loom cause the flexible closed loom and
the flexible open loom to flex more easily when the sliding closure
slides in the channel.
11. The vent on an article of clothing of claim 8 wherein the
flexible closed loom further comprises a layer of fur connected to
the material of the sliding closure extending across the loom that
aligns with and extends through the at least one vent hole when the
sliding closure is in the blocked position.
12. A vent on an article of clothing comprising: an article of
clothing having an outer surface layer and an inner surface layer;
a channel formed between the inner surface layer and the outer
surface layer; at least one vent hole formed through the outer
surface layer; a sliding closure slidably positioned within the
channel between the inner surface layer and the outer surface
layer, said sliding closure being positioned to slide between a
blocked position where the sliding closure blocks the at least one
vent hole of the outer surface layer and an unblocked position
where the sliding closure unblocks the at least one vent hole of
the outer surface layer to allow air to pass through the at least
one vent hole of the outer surface layer and into the channel, and
at least one vent hole on the inner surface layer, where sliding
the sliding closure to the unblocked position allows air to pass
through the at least one vent hole of the outer, through the
channel and through the at least one vent hole on the inner surface
layer.
13. The vent on an article of clothing of claim 12, wherein the at
least one vent hole on the outer surface layer and the at least one
vent hole on the inner surface layer are aligned so that moving the
sliding closure to the unblocked position allow air to pass
directly through the at least one vent hole on the outer surface
layer, through the channel and through the at least one vent hole
on the inner surface layer.
14. The vent on an article of clothing of claim 12, wherein the
sliding closure has two opposing ends with a cord connected to each
of the two ends to permit the sliding closure to move between the
unblocked position and the blocked position by using the cords at
the ends of the sliding closure.
15. The vent on an article of clothing of claim 12 further
comprising an open loom formed on the sliding closure and defining
anaperture through the sliding closure, said flexible open loom
being formed of an elastic material that extends when the sliding
closure is in the unblocked position to align and hold the aperture
of the flexible open loom with the at least one vent hole so that
air will pass though the at least one vent hold and the aperture of
the sling closure.
16. The vent on an article of clothing of claim 15 further
comprising a neck portion of the channel where the flexible open
loom will bend to a retracted position when the flexible open loom
slides through the neck, and when the sliding closure moves to the
blocked position material of the sliding closure will block the at
least one vent hold and the flexible open loom will expand and be
held in place by the neck portion in the channel.
17. The vent on an article of clothing of claim 12 further
comprising an open loom and a flexible closed loom formed on
opposing sides of the sliding closure, wherein the flexible closed
loom has material of the sliding closure extending across the loom,
while the flexible open loom forms an aperture through the sliding
closure, wherein the flexible closed loom and the flexible open
loom are both elastic and capable of moving between a contracted
position and an expanded position.
18. The vent on an article of clothing of claim 17, further
comprising an upper neck formed in the channel and a lower neck
formed in the channel and the sliding closure is configured to
slide within the channel, wherein the upper neck and the lower neck
divide the channel into three regions designated as a upper channel
region, a middle channel region, and a lower channel region,
wherein the flexible closed loom of the sliding closure slides into
the upper channel region when the sliding closure moves to the
unblocked position and the flexible open loom will be positioned
within the middle channel region, wherein the flexible open loom
will slide into the lower channel region and the flexible closed
loom will move into the middle channel region when the sliding
closure is moved to the block position whereby the flexible closed
loom will block the at least one vent hole in the outer layer.
19. The vent on an article of clothing of claim 17, wherein the
flexible closed loom and the flexible open loom each have a
teardrop or snowshoe shape with a large diameter portion and a
narrow diameter portion, where the large diameter portion of closed
loom has material extending across the flexible closed loom to
block the at least one vent hole in the outer surface when the
sliding closure is in the closed position and the large diameter
portion of the flexible open loom form the aperture that aligns
with the at least one vent hole to hold the at least one vent hold
in the open position, wherein each respective the narrow diameter
portion of the tear drop of the flexible closed loom and the
flexible open loom cause the flexible closed loom and the flexible
open loom to flex more easily when the sliding closure slides in
the channel.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a vent for an article of
clothing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In the field of outwear and clothing in general, it is
important when outdoors to stay at a comfortable temperature. When
a person wearing clothing becomes too hot, they begin to perspire
and sweat accumulates and can cause the clothing layers adjacent
the skin to become damp. When the weather is cold outside, this can
actually cause a person to become cold because the air temperature
begins to wick away heat from the damp inner layers of clothing. It
is therefore ideal to stay both dry and warm, but not necessarily
to the point of perspiring. With many activities it can become
difficult to regulate body temperature because when first entering
the outdoor environment, a person may not be moving around as much
or they may be moving and then staying stationary for a period of
time. Thus, it is desirable to have clothing that can be adjusted
to accommodate various levels of activity and personal body
temperature preferences without having to remove or shed layers of
clothing. Removing or shedding layers of clothing is particularly
undesirable when it is raining or snowing because the person will
be expose their inner layer(s), which need to remain dry, to wet
elements in order to remove them. Therefore, there is a need to
provide adjustable ventilation for outer wear or outer layers of
clothing that allow for air to pass through the outer layers to the
inner layers of clothing and prevent the person wearing the
clothing from becoming overheated and perspiring.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention is directed to a vent on an article of
clothing that can be a jacket, pants, shirt, or any other layer of
clothing that may benefit from having a vent that allows the
passage of air from the outer layer of the particular article of
clothing to the inner layer of the article of clothing. The article
of clothing has an outer surface layer and an inner surface layer
with a channel formed between the inner surface layer and outer
surface layer. There is at least one vent hole formed through the
outer surface layer. A sliding closure is slidably positioned
within the channel between the inner surface layer and the outer
surface layer. The sliding closure is positionable between a
blocked position where the sliding closure blocks the vent hole and
an unblocked position where the sliding closure unblocks the vent
hole to allow air to pass through the vent hole of the outer layer
and into the channel. It is also within the scope of this invention
to further include one or more vent holes on the inner surface
layer that allow air within the channel to pass through the inner
surface layer when the sliding closure is in the unblocked
position.
[0004] Further areas of applicability of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter.
It should be understood that the detailed description and specific
examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the
invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are
not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description and the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0006] FIG. 1 is an environmental view of an article of clothing
having one or more vents;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a second environmental view of an article of
clothing having one or more vents;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of one embodiment of the
sliding closure in accordance with the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional plan view of a vent in
accordance with the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a second cross-sectional plan view of a vent in
accordance with the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 6 is a side view of a sliding closure in accordance
with a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 7 is a sliding closure in accordance with a third
embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 8 is a schematic top plan view of the sliding closure
of the second embodiment sliding within the channel; and
[0014] FIG. 9 is a schematic top plan view of the sliding closure
of the third embodiment sliding within the channel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is
merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the
invention, its application, or uses.
[0016] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an article of clothing 10 in
the form of a jacket is shown, while a second article of clothing
12 in the form of a pair of pants is shown. Each article of
clothing 10, 12 has one or more vents 14, 14' located thereon that
are individually moveable between a blocked and unblocked position.
As shown in FIG. 1, vents 14' are shown in the blocked position,
while vents 14 are shown in the unblocked position. While FIGS. 1
and 2 show articles of clothing 10, 12 that are jackets and pants,
it is within the scope of this invention for the vents 14, 14' to
be used on virtually any type of clothing including shirts, gloves,
hats, shorts, or any other article of clothing that would benefit
from the use of vents 14, 14'. The vents 14, 14' are movable
between an open and closed position using pull cords which causes a
sliding closure 18 of each of the individual vents 14, 14' to slide
within a channel 20 in order to move the vents 14, 14' between the
open and closed position, which will be described in greater detail
below.
[0017] While FIGS. 1 and 2 show a total of three vents 14, 14' on
the article of clothing 10 that is depicted to be a jacket and two
vents 14' on the article of clothing 12 that is depicted to be a
pair of pants, it within the scope of this invention for a greater
or lesser number of vents 14, 14' to be present on any given
article of clothing. It is also within the scope of this invention
for the location of the vents 14, 14' to be located at virtually
any location on the article of clothing.
[0018] Referring now to FIG. 3, a side perspective view of the
sliding closure 18 in accordance with the first embodiment of the
invention is shown and described. The sliding closure 18 has a body
22 that is a type of fabric material. Connected to the body is a
first pull cord 24 connected to one end of the body 22 and a second
pull cord 26 connected to a second end of the body 22. Generally
speaking, the pull cords 24, 26 are configured to extend parallel
to the longitudinal axis of the body 22; however, it is within the
scope of this invention for the first pull cord 24 and second pull
cord 26 to extend in any particular direction. The first pull cord
24 and second pull cord 26 can be attached to the body 22 using
adhesives, stitching or any other suitable method. Additionally,
the first pull cord 24 may be connected directly to a flexible open
loom 28 formed or stitched into the body 22. The second pull cord
26 may be connected to a flexible closed loom 30 also connected to
the body 22.
[0019] FIG. 3 shows a layer of fur 32 that is connected to the
flexible material of the body 22. The flexible open loom 28 has an
aperture 34 that extends through the body 22. The flexible open
loom 28 is made of a flexible plastic or rubber material that
allows the shape of the loom to bend or compress inward when
pressure is applied to the side or edges of the loom. The flexible
open loom 28 is also made of elastic material so that the flexible
open loom 28 and flexible closed loom 30 will spring back to an
original shape or form when pressure is no longer applied.
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a partial cross-sectional plan
view of the sliding closure 18' is shown within an article of
clothing 10, 12. As shown, the article of clothing 10, 12 has a
channel 20 located between an outer surface layer 36 and an inner
surface layer 38. Referring now to FIG. 4, the outer surface layer
36 has a vent hole 40 formed through the outer surface layer 36.
The inner surface layer 38 in FIG. 4, has a vent hole 42 that is
aligned with vent hole 40 to allow for the passage of air or heat
through the vent holes 40, 42. The sliding closure 18' is
configured to slide within the channel 20 in order to open and
close the vent hole 40 and vent hole 42 of the outer surface layer
36 and the vent hole 42 of the inner surface layer 38. FIG. 5 shows
an alternate embodiment of the invention where the inner surface
layer 38 has a mesh material 44 having a plurality of holes, which
eliminates the need to have a vent hole on the inner surface layer
38 that aligns with the vent hole 40 on the outer surface layer
36.
[0021] FIGS. 4 and 5 also show the sliding closure 18' in the open
position, as shown in FIG. 4 and in the closed position as shown in
FIG. 5. The sliding closure, when in the open position shown in
FIG. 4, is moved into place by pulling the second pull cord 26 in
order to cause the aperture 34 of the flexible open loom 28 to
align with the vent hole 40 and vent hole 42. In the embodiment
shown in FIG. 5 where mesh material 44 is used, the movement of the
sliding closure 18' so the flexible open loom 28 is aligned with
vent hole 40 will allow for the clear passage of air between the
vent hole 40 of the outer surface layer 36 and the plurality of
holes of the mesh material 44.
[0022] FIG. 4 further shows that a portion of the body 22 of the
sliding closure 18' will fold and create a bunched area 46 within
the channel 20 when the pull cord 26 is pulled causing the sliding
closure 18' to slide in the direction of the pull cord and thereby
causing a portion of the body 22 to create bunched material 46.
When the pull cord 24 is pulled as shown in FIG. 5, the sliding
closure 18' will slide through the channel 22 in the opposite
direction as shown in FIG. 4 causing the flexible open loom 28 to
move away from the vent hole 40 of the outer surface layer 36 and
the vent hole 42, or mesh material 44 of the inner surface layer
38, so that the fur 32 of the body will be positioned within the
vent hole 40 of the outer surface layer 36. Placement of the fur 32
within the vent hole 40 closes the vent hole 40 and prevents air
entering from the outside of the article of clothing 10, 12 as well
preventing the loss of heat through the vent hole 40 from inside of
the article of clothing 10, 12.
[0023] When the sliding closure 18' slides to the closed or blocked
position as shown in FIG. 5, the bunched material 46 extends and is
pulled taut and there is a connection 48 at the end of the body 22.
The connection 48 is a connection between the body 22 and the inner
surface layer 38. The connection 48 may be an adhesive connection
or it might be by other means such as a fabric stitching. The
connection 48 prevents the body 22 from sliding too far within the
channel 20 when the first pull cord 24 is pulled in order to move
the sliding closure 18' to the position as shown in FIG. 5.
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 6, the sliding closure 18 as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown. In this particular embodiment of the
invention, the sliding closure 18 has a body 22 with the flexible
open loom 28 and the flexible closed loom 30. The flexible open
loom 28, a flexible closed loom, or both sewn into the body 22
which may have multiple layers of fabric. The flexible closed loom
30 further has material of the body 22 extending across the
flexible closed loom 30. FIG. 6 further shows the fur material 32
connected to the material of the body 22 that extends across the
flexible closed loom 30. The use of the flexible closed loom 30
keeps the material of the body 22 taut so that there is a tighter
seal when the flexible closed loom 30 is aligned with the vent hole
40 of the outer surface layer 36 when the sliding closure 18 is
moved to the blocked position. The flexible open loom 28 and the
flexible closed loom 30 both bend or flex as they slide through the
channel 20. As shown and described later, the channel 20 has
portions which cause the flexible open loom 28 and the flexible
closed loom 30 to bend as the sliding closure 18 moves through the
channel 20.
[0025] FIG. 7 depicts an alternate embodiment of the invention
where there is a flexible closure 18'' where there is a flexible
open loom 28' and a flexible closed loom 30' that each have a tear
drop or snowshoe shape that each have a large diameter portion 50
and a narrow diameter portion 52. The large diameter portion 50 of
the flexible open loom 28' and the flexible closed loom 30' causes
the flexible open loom 28' and the flexible closed loom 30' to flex
more easily when the sliding closure 18'' is sliding through the
channel 20. The flexible movement of the flexible open loom 28, 28'
and the flexible closed loom 30, 30' of the sliding closure 18,
18'' in accordance with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is
shown in greater detail in FIG. 8, which is described below.
[0026] FIGS. 8 and 9 depict schematic top plan views of the sliding
closures 18, 18'' within the channel 20 of one of the vents 14, 14'
shown in the articles of clothing 10, 12 in accordance with FIGS. 1
and 2. As described above, FIGS. 1 and 2 show the sliding closure
18; however it is within the scope of this invention for the
sliding closure 18' or the sliding closure 18'' to be incorporated
into the articles of clothing 10, 12 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The
main difference being the structure of the sliding closure 18, 18',
18'' being incorporated. It is also within the scope of this
invention for the various sliding closures described herein to be
used in combination on a particular article of clothing. Thus, any
one particular application of the present invention does not
necessarily need to be used consistently within the same article of
clothing. For example, it may be more practical to have the sliding
closure 18'' used in connection with one of the vents 14, 14' while
another vent 14, 14' of the article of clothing 10, 12 may benefit
from using the sliding closure 18, 18', 18'' from one of the other
aspects of the present invention.
[0027] Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, the channel 20 is shown
schematically and has a first neck portion 54 which is a narrowing
section of the channel 20 that can be created by stitching,
welding, or using adhesives to seal the sides of the channel 20,
while providing a passage 56 through the first neck portion 54 so
that the flexible open loom 28, 28' is able to bend to a retracted
position when the flexible open loom slides through the passage 56
of the first neck portion 54 and then flex back to the unretracted
position in order to hold the flexible open loom 28, 28' at a first
end portion 58 of the channel 20. A middle portion 60 of the
channel contain the vent hole 40 of the outer surface layer 36 and
also the vent hole 42 of the inner surface layer 38 (when present)
and is located adjacent the first neck portion 54 so that the
flexible closed loom 30, 30' is positioned to block the vent hole
40 when the sliding closure 18, 18'' is in the blocked position.
The use of the first neck portion 54 helps to hold the sliding
closure 18, 18'' in position since the flexible open loom portion
28, 28' has expanded and is frictionally held in place within the
first end portion 58. In order to move the sliding closure 18, 18''
to the unblocked position, the pull cord 26 is pulled causing the
flexible open loom 28, 28' to flex and bend as the sliding closure
18, 18'' slides through the channel causing the flexible open loom
28, 28' to bend and flex past the first neck portion 54 and slide
into place and align with the vent hole 40 allowing the passage of
air through the vent hole 40.
[0028] FIGS. 8 and 9 also shows another aspect of the invention
where the channel 20 further includes a second neck portion 62
formed within the channel 20 creating a passage 63. The second neck
portion 62 creates a second end portion 64 of the channel 20 that
causes the flexible closed loom to bend to a retracted position and
slide past the second neck portion 64, where the flexible closed
loom 30, 30' then expands back to an unretracted position and is
held in place within the second end portion 64 of the channel 20.
This prevents the flexible open loom 28, 28' from becoming
misaligned with the vent hole 40 since the flexible closed loom 30,
30' is now in the unretracted position and secure within the second
end portion 64 of the channel 20.
[0029] The description of the invention is merely exemplary in
nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of
the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention.
Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *