US3468299A - Air-conditioned garment - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 23, i969 c. D'AMATO AIR-CONDITIONED GARMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 20, 1967 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Sept. 23, i969 c. D'AMATO AIR-CONDITIONED GARMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 20, 1967 m m W Carl D '/qmoo LA 1v1 Sept 23, i969 c. D'AMATO 3,468,29

AIR-CONDITIONED GARMENT Filed Dec. 20, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 5I N V 1;' NTUR Sept. 23, 1969 c. D'AMATo AIR-CONDITIONED GARMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed Deo. 20, 1967 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS C. DAMATO Sept. 23, 1969 AIR-CONDITIONED GARMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 20, 1967 States 3,468,299 AIR-CONDITIONED GARMENT Carl DAmato, 8784 23rd Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11214 Filed Dec. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 692,067 Int. Cl. FZSd 31/00; A41d 27/00 U.S. Cl. 126-204 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to ventilated clothing and more particularly to a protective garment which air-conditions the wearer.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a garment which protects the wearer" against the surrounding atmosphere, and promotes the comfort of the wearer.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved protective garment which may be worn continuously for a long period of time in an extremely uncomfortable environment without discomfort to the wearer.

Yet another object of the invention is to jprovide a novel garment for removing heat and moisture from the body of a wearer in a regulated manner so as to promote the wearers comfortwhile at the same time protecting the wearer against the surrounding atmosphere.

Still another object is to provide a battery operated exhaust apparatus for attachment to an impermeable garment, of simple, rugged and light weight construction and design.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a protective garment on a person, the garment embodying one form of the invention, the head gear or hood being shown removed.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the garment taken on the plane of theline 2 2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of theline 3 3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the exhaust ap paratus showing its connection to the garment.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the center of a modified form of head gear or hood.

FIG. 6 is a side viewof a protective garment on a person, the garment embodying another modified form of the invention, parts being shown 4broken away.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the exhaust apparatus of FIG. 6 removed from the gar-ment.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on the plane of the line S-S of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional View taken on the plane of the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of exhaust apparatus embodying yet another modified form of the invention, the apparatus being shown on a person wearing the garment.

FIG. 1l is a sectional view through the collar member of the apparatus shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of a hat with exhaust apparatus embodying a still further modified form of the invention attached thereto.

atent O 3,468,299 Patented Sept. 23, 1969 lCC FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 13-13 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view through the apparatus of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary perspective view of a fragment of exhaust apparatus embodying a further modied form of the invention.

FIG. 16 is a perspective detail view of the inner tube of the apparatus of FIG. 15.

Broadly the invention comprises, an outer garment which substantially covers a part of the body of a person and protects him against an unfavorable environmental atmosphere. It is so constructed and arranged that air temperature can be piped to the garment under a .pressure slightly above atmospheric and this air will ow through passages within the garment so as to reduce the garment temperature to the desired level. The air finally exhausts from the passages against the persons body surface over which it flows and is then exhausted to the atmosphere through openings specially provided for the purpose. Thus the temperature of the interior surface of the garment may be as desired and in addition the body of the person enclosed within the garment receives adequate ventilation so as to keep down the humidity level.

Referring now in detail to the views of the drawings, in FIG. 1 there is shown a garment in the form of anovercoat 10 on a person. Thegarment 10 is Composed of two elements, that is, anelongated coat 12 and a hood orhelmet 14, formed integrally with the coat. The coat and hood may be formed of any suitable coat fabric. The coat is formed with arear panel 16, and side andfront panels 18, 18, acollar 20 andsleeves 22. Thehood 14 is formed integrally with the top of therear panel 16.

In accordance with the present invention, a system or apparatus for Ventilating thegarment 10 is provided including alining 24 of rubber composition or plastic composition disposed inside the top portion of the coat and inside the hood. The lining is secured by4adhesive 25 along the bottom end edges to the rear and front and side panels as indicated at 26, along its side edges as indicated at 28, along its arm pits as indicated at 30, along the collar line as indicated at 32, and along the free end edge of the hood as indicated at 34. The remainder of the lining is unfastened to the fabric. The lining and fabric of the coat and hood define aspace 36 between the lining and fabric. Thelining 24 is formed withperforations 38 throughout its area. A pair of portable air-circulatingdevices 40. 40 is suspended from the bottom bulgedend 42 of the lining, onedevice 40 being disposed inwardly of each sleeve, each suspension being constituted by aflexible hose 43 having a iianged bushing y44 inserted through and secured around ahole 46 in said bulgedend 42 of the lining as best seen in FIG. 4. The other end of the hose is fitted in a socket opening `46 in the exhausting device. Each air-circulatingdevice 40 comprises a hollowcylindrical casing 50 closed at the end mounting the socket opening 46. The other end of the casing is open. A motor S2 is mounted on a shelf 54 inside thecasing 50. Aplug 55 closes the other open end of the casing, the plug being formed with a pair ofsockets 56 leading to contacts embedded in the plug and connected to the motor byconductors 58. Arechargeable battery assembly 60 is plugged into the plug 54 by means ofprongs 62 inserted into the sockets in the plug. The battery assembly includes batteries and aswitch 61 controlling the motor. The casing is formed withlouvres 64 along the sides thereof to permit entrance of air into thecasing 50 in the direction of thearrows 66 in FIG. 4. Anair fan 68 is mounted on the ktop of the motor as viewed in FIG. 4 and is operatively connected thereto.

In operation, according to the invention, the control of the functioning of eachair circulation device 40 is through' the medium of theswitch 61 on the battery assembly. When theswitch 61 is operated to bring themotor 52 into play, thefan 68 whirls around in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis and the blades draw in air through thelouvres 64. The air is then propelled upwardly through the hose I4? into thespace 36 thereby lling said space with air, the air escaping from the space through theperforations 38 thereby lowering the temperature of the coat and hood as desired, the air eventually escaping through theopenings 68 in the edges of the lining against the under garment of the wearer so as to provide adequate ventilation and thus passes to the atmosphere. When such a coat is worn it is apparent that comparatively light weight and inexpensive equipment will supply sufficient tempered air for the purpose of insuring the comfort of the occupant under even extremely adverse conditions.

FIG. illustrates a modified form of the invention which is similar to the form shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, except that thehood 14x may be shut off from the supply of air by means of a short line ofhose 69 interposed between the top of the coat and the hood and a valve 71 for controlling passage of air through thehose 69.

In FIGS. 6 to 9, inclusive, a modification of the inven- -tion is illustrated. In this modified form of the invention, no lining, such as lining 22, is provided for thecoat 12. Herein a portable air-circulatingdevice 40 is provided for supplying air to the system. The system consists of a horseshoe-shapedtubular collar member 70, oval in section, of plastic material, havingperforations 72 in the bottom end edge thereof. Thecollar 70 is adapted to tit around the neck of the wearer inside lthe collar of the coat. Thecollar member 70 is connected to the air-circulatingdevice 40 by means of an elongated hose '74 connected at one end to the collar member, its other end plugged into oneleg 76 of a Y-shapedconnector 78. Anotherhose 80 connects the connector to theoutlet 82 of theair exhaust device 40.

Asplit belt member 84 of suitable plastic material rectangular in section, and perforated along its top and bottom edges as indicated at 86 and 88, respectively, is adapted to be worn around the waist of the wearer inside the coat 12' by means of abuckle 90 flexibly mounted on one end of the belt and aperforated strap 92 mounted on the other end of the belt. The belt is connected to the circulatingdevice 40 by means of ashort hose 94 connected at one end to the belt and at its other end to theother leg 96 of the Y-shapedconnector 78.

Theair circulating device 40 comprises a squareshaped casing with a plurality ofbatteries 100 disposed in the corners thereof and electrically connected to each other, the circuit lbeing controlled by aswitch 102 protruding outwardly of the casing. The batteries actuate amotor 104 for driving afan 106 disposed centrally in the casing and facing awindow 108 in one wall of the casing, forming an air inlet.

In operation, when theswitch 102 is operated, the motor drives thefan 106 which forces air upwardly through thehose 80, Y-connector 78 andhoses 74 and 94, to thecollar 70 andbelt 84, respectively, the air escaping through the perforations in the collar member and belt and passing over the inner garments. Theair circulating device 40 is carried by thehand 110 of the wearer on the outside of the coat 12'; thehose 82 extending through anelevated hole 112 in the coat 12' to the inside thereof.

In FIGS. l0 and 11, still another modification of the invention is yshown wherein the system includes the use of atubular collar member 70a substantially rectangular in cross-section with apartition wall 110 extending lengthwise of the inner center thereof, thereby dividing the interior into upper andlower compartments 112 and 114, respectively. Perforations 72a are formed in the upper and lower end edges of the collar member withextensions 116 and 118 on the ends of the body of the collar member.Extension 116 supports abutton 120 and ahole 122 is formed in theextension 118 to fasten the ends of l the collar member. Aflexible hose 124 is integrally connected at one end of the partition wall and communicates with the interior of theupper compartment 112, the hose 124- passing through a hole in the collar member adjacent one end thereof. Another iiexible hose is integrally connected at one end to the collar member adjacent the other end thereof, communicating with the interior of thelower compartment 114.

Atubular split belt 84a, round in section, with perforations 86a, in the top thereof, and buckle and perforatedstrap fastening elements 90a and 92a, respectively, is connected by means of a flexible hose 82a to an air-circulatingdevice 40a similar to the device 40' but formed with louvres 64a instead of thewindow 108 ofdevice 40. Elongatediiexible hoses 130, 130, are each connected at one end to thebelt 84a at the front thereof and at the rear thereof, the rear ends of the hoses crossing each other. The crossed ends may be held in fixed position by arectangular block 132. The ends of thehoses 130, communicate with the interior of the belt. The other ends ofhoses 124 and 126 are connected to thehoses 130, 130 communicating with the interior thereof.

In use, the system or apparatus is worn under a dress with thehoses 130, 130 extending over the shoulders of the wearer as shown in FIG. 10. The hose 82a extends through a hole in the dress to the outside thereof whereby the air-circulatingdevice 40a may be carried by the hand of the wearer.

FIGS. 12 to 16, inclusive, illustrate amans hat 140 equipped with still another modified form of the invention for air-conditioning the 'head of the wearer of the hat. `In this form of the invention,` a circular strip offabric 142 is formed with an integral loop 144 along one long edge. 'Aplastic sleeve 146 is fastened along the other long edge of the body of the fabric by means of stitching 148, the sleeve forming an extension of the fabric. A solid rubber rod is enclosed in the loop 144, therubber rod 150 being slightly shorter than the loop thereby producing an elastic `crimped periphery 152. An elongatedplastic tube 154 is enclosed in thesleeve 146.Perforations 156 are formed in thetube 154 and ahandle 158 extends radially from the tube. Acutout portion 159 is formed in theouter sleeve 146 through which thehandle 158 is adapted to protrude to the outside thereof for manipulating the tube. Theperforations 156 in the tube are adapted to register withwindows 160 formed in thesleeve 146. Aninlet 162 is formed on thetube 154 and extends outwardly through acutout portion 164 in thesleeve 146. Aflexible hose 166 is connected at one end to theinlet 162 and at its other end to an air-circulating device, such as thedevice 40 of FIG. 1, which is adapted to be carried by the hand.

In use, thefabric body 142 is placed over the edge of thebrim 168 of thehat 140 with thecrimped edge 152 on the top and with the sleeved edge on the undersurface of the brim as shown in FIG. l2. By means of thehandle 158, theperforations 156 in thetube 154 may be brought into registry with thewindows 160 in thesleeve 146. By manipulating the switch in thedevice 40, air is forced through thehose 166 into thetube 146 and out through theperforations 156 andwindow 160 to the head of the wearer of the hat in the direction of the arrows 170.

As seen in FIG. 4, an electric heater E can be provided in the system in connection with this particular form or any other of the forms of the invention to provide heated air to the garments in the winter time.

The electric heater can be wired to thebattery 60 for power supply. Also a thermostat can be provided to the circuit responsive to the surrounding air for controlling the operation of the heater element E.

What is claimed is:

1. A protective article of clothing comprising an outer garment means carried by the garment means for circulating air around and out through the garment means and onto the person of the wearer of the garment, means including at least one portable electrically operated aircirculating device for supplying said air, the outer garment means being a fabric overcoat and an attached hood, the air-circulating means including a lining secured along its edges to the interior of the overcoat and hood, said lining having perforations therein and being spaced from the inner surface of the overcoat and hood, a pair of flexible hoses suspended from the lower end edge of the lining and communicating with the space between the lining and the inner surface of the overcoat and hood, the other end of each hose being operatively connected to an air-circulating device whereby air is forced through the exible hose, into the space between the lining and overcoat and hood and out through the perforations in the lining, and an electric switch in each device for controlling the operation thereof.

2. A protective article of 'clothing as dened inclaim 1, wherein the perforations in the lining are disposed over substantially the entire area of the lining.

3. A protective article of clothing as dened inclaim 1 wherein each air-circulating device includes a casing with louvres in the side walls thereof, an electric motor supported inside the casing battery means for energizing said motor, a fan operatively connected to the motor and a ilexible hose connecting the casing and the space between the lining and the overcoat and hood.

4. A protective article of clothing as defined inclaim 3 wherein the battery means includes a detachable rechargeable unit.

5. A protective article of clothing as defined inclaim 1 wherein valve controlled means is provided for controlling passage of the air to the hood.

6. A protective article of clothing comprising an outer garment means carried by the garment means for circulating air around and out through the garment means and onto the person of the wearer of the garment means, means including at least one portable electrically operated air-circulating device for supplying said air, the outer garment means being a fabric overcoat, the aircirculating means including a harness consisting of a horseshoe-shaped tubular collar member, oval in section, with perforations along its top and bottom end edges, said collar having an air inlet, a split tubular belt with fastening elements for fastening the ends thereof, said belt having perforations along the top and bottom end edges thereof, said belt being rectangular in section, said belt having an air inlet; the air-circulating device including a hollow square-shaped casing, electric batteries mounted in the corners of the casing and operatively connected to each other, a motor in the casing operatively connected to the batteries for energization by said batteries; a fan operatively connected to the motor, a switch extending outwardly of the casing for controlling operation of the motor, said casing having an air outlet, and flexible means of connection between the air-circulating device and the collar member and the belt including a flexible hose connected at one end to the outlet in the casing, a Y-shaped tubular connector attached to the other end of said flexible hose, a liexible hose connected at one end to one leg of the Y-connector and its other end connected to the inlet in the collar member, another flexible hose connected at one end to the other leg of the Y-connector and its other end to the inlet in the belt, whereby upon operation of the fan, air is forced through the collar member and belt and out through the perforations therein around the person of the wearer.

7. A protective article of clothing comprising an outer garment means carried by the garment means for circulating air around and out through the garment means and onto the person of the wearer of the garment means, means including at least one portable electrically operated air-circulating device for supplying said air, the outer garment being a dress, the air-circulating means including a harness consisting of a tubular collar member, rectangular in section, with perforations in the top and end edges thereof, a partition ywall in the tubular collar member dividing the interior of the collar member into upper and lower compartments, said collar member having an air inlet leading to said compartments, a split tubular belt with fastening elements for fastening the ends thereof, said belt having perforations along the top thereof, said belt having an air inlet and having air outlets, means of operative connection between the belt and collar member including elongated flexible hoses attached at both ends to the outlet in the belt, and short flexible hoses connected at one end to the inlets in the collar member and at the other ends to the flexible hoses attached to the outlets of the belt midway the ends of said latter hoses; the circulating device including a hollow square-shaped casing, electric batteries mounted in the corners of the casing operatively connected to each other, a motor in the casing operatively connected to the batteries for energization by said batteries, a fan operatively connected to the motor, a switch extending outwardly of the casing for controlling operation of the motor, said casing having an air outlet, and flexible means of connection between the air circulating device and the belt including a flexible hose connected at one end to the outlet in the casing and connected at the other end to the inlet in the belt.

8. A protective article of clothing comprising an outer garment means carried by the garment means for circulating air around and out through the garment means and onto the person of the wearer of the garment means, means including at least one portable electrically operated air-circulating device for supplying said air, the outer garment means being a hat, the aircirculating means including a circular strip of fabric attached over the edge of the brim of the hat and snugly engaging the top surface and the bottom surface of the brim, an integral loop on one long edge of the strip extending the length of said long v edge, a separate sleeve attached to the other long edge of the strip, said sleeve having a cutout portion and having windows therein, a plastic tube rotatably mounted in said sleeve, said tube having perforations therein, adapted to register with the windows in the sleeve, a handle on the tube projecting through the cutout portion in the sleeve, said tube having an air inlet adapted to be connected to an air-circulating device, whereby the air is blown through the tube out through the perforations therein and through the windows to the head of the wearer of the hat.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,540,547 2/1951 Rodert 165--46 X 2,826,758 3/1958 Kahn 2-81 2,989,049 6/1961 Crouzet 126-208 3,096,702 7/1963 Malone et al 2-81 EDWARD G. FAVORS, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 2-2.l, 8l

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