Garment Having Biased Opening

Abstract

The present invention provides a garment with an opening for general access or ventilation. The opening having a closure mechanism for closing the opening. The opening further having a biasing member that tends to open the opening such that when the closure mechanism is not in the closed position, the opening is held open by the biasing member.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional application 60/524,998, filed Nov. 24, 2003, titled the same, incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to garment having air ventilation openings and, more particularly, to a garment having air ventilation openings with an opening biased tending to open the air ventilation openings to facilitate increased air circulation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Outerwear garments typically have openings such as vents, pockets, and access openings that may be opened or closed. A vent, for example, may be opened or closed by a wearer to adjust the ventilation of the garment. In foul or cold weather, for example, the wearer may keep the vent closed to prevent wind and rain from entering the garment. In warmer weather or during strenuous exercise where the wearer's body temperature is elevated, the wearer may choose to open one or more vents to allow airflow into and out of the garment. The vents also allow moisture to escape from the interior of the garment through the vent.

The vents are typically constructed as an opening in the garment (such as a slit) that may be selectively opened or closed with a closure mechanism. Common closure mechanisms that are used include zippers, hook and loop closures, buttons, snaps, and the like. The vents also often include a mesh panel spanning the opening forming the vent to allow air and moisture to flow through the vent but block snow, leaves and other items from entering the garment.

When the wearer opens a vent, however, the opening forming the vent is often only a slit in the garment that is either attached such as by a zipper in a closed configuration or unattached in an open configuration. When the vent is in an open configuration, for example, the opening of the vent may be rather small if the edges of the slit are not separated from each other. The area of the vent is able to vary depending, for example, upon the motion of the wearer.

In one attempt to solve this problem, for example, a defined vent region is provided over which a cover element such as a flap can be selectively positioned to control the effective vent area of the vent. The flap has a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of the vent region. Thus the vent may be opened by folding the flap away from the vent region or closed by covering the vent region.

Thus, it would be desirous to design a ventilation opening for a garment that facilitated airflow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a garment such as a jacket, pants, shorts, an anorak, a pullover or the like including an opening. The garment comprises an inner surface, an outer surface and an opening extending from the inner surface to the outer surface along at least a portion of the garment. The garment further comprises a closure mechanism for opening and closing the opening and a bias member attached to the garment for biasing the opening towards an open configuration. The closure mechanism overcomes the biasing of the bias member when the opening is in a closed configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a first embodiment of a garment of the present invention having an opening, wherein the opening is in a closed configuration;

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, wherein the opening is in an open configuration;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along section line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along section line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of a garment of the present invention having an opening, wherein the opening is in a closed configuration;

FIG. 6 shows a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 5, wherein the opening is in an open configuration;

FIG. 7 shows a plan view of a third embodiment of a garment of the present invention having an opening, wherein the opening is in a closed configuration; and

FIG. 8 shows a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 7, wherein the opening is in an open configuration;

FIG. 9 shows a plan view of a fourth embodiment of a garment of the present invention having an opening, wherein the opening is in an open configuration;

FIG. 10 shows a hook and loop closure device;

FIG. 11 shows a button closure device; and

FIG. 12 shows an adhesive closure device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A garment of the present invention comprises one or more openings. The openings, for example, may comprise a vent for allowing air to flow between the exterior and the interior of the garment. In another embodiment, the opening may comprise an opening for accessing a pocket of the garment in which a wearer may store items such as keys, wallets, gloves or other items. The opening may also comprise an opening for allowing access to the interior of the garment without removing the garment, such as, for example, a fly or an opening adjacent to pockets in other garments worn underneath the garment.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the invention in which a garment 20 comprises an opening 22, which may comprise a vent, an airflow opening, a pocket opening, a fly, or the like. The opening 22 is shown in a closed configuration in FIG. 1 and in an open configuration in FIG. 2. The opening 22 comprises an gap 24 formed by a slit in the garment 20 and a closure mechanism such as the zipper 26 shown for selectably opening and closing the vent 22. Other closure mechanisms known in the art such as hook and loop closures 1000 (shown in FIG. 10), buttons 1100 (shown in FIG. 11), pressure sensitive adhesives 1200 (shown in FIG. 12) and the like may also be used. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, the zipper 26 is used to open or close the opening 22.

The opening 22 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 also comprises bias members elastic 28 placed adjacent the gap 24 in the garment 14. Although FIGS. 1 and 2 show bias members 28 disposed on both sides 30 and 32 of the gap 24, the opening 22 may be constructed with an elastic member 28 disposed on only one side of the opening within the scope of the present invention. Also, the bias members 28 could be disposed either external or internal to the garment. The bias members 28 are attached to the garment under tension so that they bias the sides 30 and 32 away from each other. In other words, when zipper 26 is holding the opening 22 in the closed position, the bias members 28 are in tension. When zipper 26 is moved to the open position, as shown in FIG. 2, first end 28f and second end 28s of the bias members tend to remove the tension causing the length of bias members to separate, which causes gap 24 to open.

The bias member 28, for example, may comprise one or more elastic members disposed along or generally adjacent to one or both of the sides 30 and 32 of the gap 24. The bias members 28 may be located on the outer surface of the garment 20, located on the inner surface of the garment 20 or located between the outer surface and the inner surface of the garment 20. For example, a garment 20 may comprise an inner liner and an outer liner. In such an embodiment, the bias members 28 may be disposed between the inner and outer liners. The bias members 28 may also be disposed at least partially within a protective layer, such as a sleeve, a channel or the like. The bias member(s) 28 may also assist in inhibiting loose fabric from the garment from fouling the tines of zipper 26.

As shown in FIG. 1, the closure mechanism, such as the zipper 26, overcomes the tension of the bias members 28, aligns the two sides 30 and 32 of the gap 24 and thus closes the gap 24 of the opening 22.

By biasing the sides 30 and 32 away from each other, the opening 22 is held in an open configuration to prevent the sides from coming together during normal wearing conditions. As shown in FIG. 3, when the opening 22 is in an open configuration, the bias members 28 cause the sides 30 and 32 of the opening 22 to separate. When the opening 22 is in a closed configuration as shown in FIG. 4, however, the closure mechanism, such as zipper 26, overcomes the tension of the bias member 28 and closes the opening 24 along a generally flat surface of the garment 20.

The opening 22 may also comprise a mesh panel 42 spanning at least a portion of the opening to allow air and moisture to flow through the vent but block snow, leaves and other items from entering the garment. In this case, placing the bias members 28 internal to the zipper 26 but external to mesh panel 42 allows the bias members 28 to assist inhibit the mesh panel 42 from fouling zipper 26.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an alternative embodiment of a vent construction for a garment 120 of the present invention in which bias members 128 extend outward from the opening 124. Although a plurality of bias members 128 are shown, opening 124 could be sufficiently biased with a single bias member 128. Although the bias members 128 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 extend away from the opening 124 generally perpendicular to the zipper 126 of the vent 122 when the vent 122 is in a closed configuration, the bias members 128 may also extend at any other angle from the zipper 126 sufficient to bias the sides 130 and 132 away from each other.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the bias members 128 are attached to the garment 120 away from the vent 122 at first ends 134 and are attached to the garment 122 generally adjacent to or at the sides 130 and 132 of the vent 122 at second ends 136 of the bias members 128. The bias members 128 preferably comprise elastic members attached to the garment 120 under tension. Thus, the bias members 128 bias the sides 130 and 132 of the vent away from each other. When the vent 122 is in an open configuration such as shown in FIG. 5, the sides 130 and 132 vent 122 are held apart from each other by the elastic forces imparted by the bias members 128. Because the bias members 128 are attached to the garment so that the bias members 128 are under tension when the vent 122 is in a closed configuration, as shown in FIG. 6, the bias members still tend to pull the sides 130 and 132 apart when the vent 122 is in a closed configuration, but the closure mechanism, such as zipper 126, overcomes the tension of the bias members 128, and aligns the two sides 130 and 132 of the opening 124 and thus closes the opening 124 of the vent 122.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show another embodiment of a vent construction 222 of the present invention in which bias members 228 bias the sides 230 and 232 of the vent 222 away from each other when the vent 222 is in an open configuration. As shown in FIG. 8, the bias members 228 comprise resilient members attached to the garment 220 generally adjacent to or at the sides 230 and 232 of the opening 224 of the vent 222. The resilient bias members 228 resist the sides 230 and 232 from being brought together. Thus, unlike the above, bias members 228 are under compression.

The closure mechanism, such as zipper 226, overcomes the resilient forces of the bias members 228, aligns the two sides 230 and 232 of the opening 224 and thus closes the opening 224 of the vent 222. When the closure mechanism is opened, however, the resilient forces impacted by the bias members 228 push the sides 230 and 232 away from each other and thus bias the sides 230 and 232 of the vent 222 in an open configuration.

While the bias members 228 of the vent 222 are shown extending generally perpendicular to a centerline 240 of the opening 224 of the vent 222, the bias members 228 may also be attached to the garment 220 at any other angle from the centerline 240 of the opening 224 sufficient to bias the sides 230 and 232 of the opening 224 away from each other. The resilient members may comprise, for example, springs or other known resilient members known in the art. In one embodiment, for example, a spring may be inserted into a sleeve of material and attached to the garment 220 so that the spring is compressed when the vent is in a closed configuration and will impart a resilient force to bias the sides 230 and 232 of the opening 224 apart from each other.

FIG. 9 shows yet another embodiment of the biased opening construction of a garment 320 of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the bias member 328 comprises a cord 338 that extends along at least a portion of the opening 324 of the garment 320. The cord 338, for example, may pass through a sleeve 342 generally adjacent to the sides 330 and 332 of the opening 324 as shown in FIG. 9. The cord 338 may be positioned along at least a portion of side 330, side 332 or sides 330 and 332 (as shown in FIG. 9). The cord may comprise an elastic or non-elastic cord. The garment 320 may further comprise a cord lock 340 that may be used by a wearer to adjust the positioning of the cord 338 along the opening 324.

In this embodiment, a wearer may adjust the size of the opening 324 by adjusting the position of the cord 338 in the cord lock 340. By pulling the cord 338 through the cord lock 340, a wearer may pull the sides 330 and 332 of the opening apart from each other by causing first end 320f and second end 320s to move towards each other in a pinching type movement. The wearer may also adjust the size of the opening 324 by releasing the cord 338 back through the cord lock 340 and into the sleeve 342.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in the form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A garment comprising:

a garment having an inner surface, an outer surface opposite the inner surface, and an opening extending through at least a portion of the garment;

a closure mechanism, the closure mechanism having a closed position and an open position; and

a bias member attached to the garment for biasing the opening towards an open configuration;

wherein the when the closure mechanism is in the closed position, the closure mechanism overcomes the biasing of the bias member to close the opening, and when the closure mechanism is in the open position, the bias member causes the opening to open.

2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the opening comprises a vent.

3. The garment of claim 2, wherein the opening extends through the inner and outer surface of the garment.

4. The garment of claim 2, further comprising a breathable fabric traversing a portion of the opening.

5. The garment of claim 4, wherein the breathable fabric comprises a mesh material.

6. The garment of claim 1, wherein the opening comprises a pocket.

7. The garment of claim 1, wherein the opening extends through the inner and outer surface of the garment for accessing through the garment.

8. The garment of claim 1, wherein the bias member comprises an elastic member.

9. The garment of claim 8, wherein the elastic member extends along and generally adjacent to at least a portion of the opening.

10. The garment of claim 9, wherein the elastic member is attached to the garment at a first generally adjacent to the opening and at a second end generally adjacent to the opening.

11. The garment of claim 9, wherein the elastic member is under tension between the first end and the second end when the opening is in a closed configuration.

12. The garment of claim 9, further comprising a sleeve and the elastic member extends at least partially through a sleeve.

13. The garment of claim 12, wherein the sleeve extends generally parallel to the opening of the garment.

14. The garment of claim 8, wherein the elastic member is attached to the garment at a first end generally adjacent to the opening of the garment and at a second end located away from the opening.

15. The garment of claim 15, wherein the elastic member is under tension between the first end and the second end when the opening is in a closed configuration.

16. The garment of claim 8, wherein the elastic member is attached to the garment at a first end on one side of the opening and at a second end on another side of the opening and wherein the elastic member is under compression when the opening is in a closed configuration.

17. The garment of claim 1, wherein the bias member comprises a resilient member.

18. The garment of claim 17, wherein the resilient member comprises a spring.

19. The garment of claim 18, wherein the resilient member comprises a first end attached to the garment generally adjacent a first edge of the opening and a second end attached to the garment generally adjacent a second edge of the opening.

20. The garment of claim 1, wherein the bias member comprises a cord having a first end attached to the garment generally adjacent the opening of the garment.

21. The garment of claim 20, wherein the cord is at least partially disposed generally parallel to the opening of the garment.

22. The garment of claim 21, wherein the cord extends within a protective channel attached to the garment.

23. The garment of claim 20, wherein the cord extends through a cord lock for selectively adjusting the length of the cord disposed generally adjacent the opening of the garment.

24. The garment of claim 1, wherein the closure mechanism is a zipper.

25. A garment comprising:

a garment having an inner surface, an outer surface opposite the inner surface, and an opening extending through at least a portion of the garment;

the opening having a first side and a second side;

a zipper coupled to the opening for opening and closing the opening; and

means for separating the first side from the second side such that the first side and the second side tend to move apart when the zipper is unzipped.

26. The garment of claim 25, wherein the means for separating comprises at least one elastic member under tension disposed along at least one side of the opening selected from the group of sides consisting of: the first side and the second side.

27. The garment of claim 26, wherein the at least one elastic member is disposed on the inner surface.

28. The garment of claim 26, wherein the at least one elastic member is disposed on the outer surface.

29. The garment of claim 27, further comprising a breathable fabric traversing at least a portion of the opening and the at least one elastic member disposed on the inner surface inhibits the breathable fabric from fouling the zipper.

30. The garment of claim 25, wherein the means for separating comprises at least one elastic member under compression disposed across the opening.

31. The garment of claim 25, wherein the means for separating comprises a cord coupled to a first end of the opening and extending along the opening such that pulling on the cord causes the first end to move towards the second end to open the opening.

32. The garment of claim 25, wherein the means for separating comprises at least one elastic member under tension wherein a first end of the at least one elastic member is disposed proximate the opening and a second end of the at least one elastic member is disposed distal the opening.