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.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PROVISIONAL APPLICATION

This patent application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §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. §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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a flowing zipper vent system for garments.

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.

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.

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.

The aforementioned aspects and other objectives and advantages can now be achieved as described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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.

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;

FIG. 2 illustrates a generally rear view of the pants garment apparatus shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with the disclosed embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates a generally front view of the pants garment apparatus shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with the disclosed embodiments;

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;

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

FIGS. 6-7 illustrate a side views of a pant leg with a flowing zipper vent in a closed and opened condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.