Cold Weather System

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a wearer with the everyday components of the system according to the invention, with sleeping bag and moisture handling pad shown in their compressor bags, and bivvy sack in its storage sack;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a wearer utilizing the cold weather parka and face tunnel with the garments of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a wearer with wind garments over the everyday garments of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view showing the details of the shirt of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the shirt of FIG. 4, on a wearer, with no venting so that maximum warmth is provided;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the shirt of FIG. 4, on a wearer, with maximum venting;

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the shirt of FIG. 4 in maximum venting position;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the pants of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the pants of FIG. 8 on a wearer, with full venting;

FIG. 10 is a rear view of the pants of FIG. 8 illustrating the rear drop seat in dropped condition;

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of a portion of the system of FIG. 2, showing the windskirt of the parka;

FIG. 12 is a front detail perspective view showing the wind pants of the system of FIG. 3 in more detail;

FIG. 13 is a front perspective view showing the utilization of the wind shirt with the parka as an emergency sleeping bag;

FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of the moisture handling pad, bivvy sack, and sleeping bag laid out, and the compressor bags collapsed; and

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the construction of a number of the component garments of the system according to the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates utilization of the everyday components of the cold weather system according to the invention. The major components of the system include the shirt 10, pants 11, footwear 12, mittens 13, and hat 14. The mittens, footwear, and hat 13, 12, 14, respectively, are described fully in the co-pending applications identified above (the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein), and will not be further described herein.

The shirt 10 is seen most clearly in FIGS. 4 through 7. It provides cold weather protection over a temperature range of about -20.degree. F. to +40.degree. F.

With particular reference to FIG. 15, the construction of the shirt includes a lining fabric 16, a layer of insulating foam 17, an insulation covering fabric 18, and a shell fabric 19. All components of the system must be made of synthetic material in order to have the appropriate moisture handling properties. The wearer must be sure to wear only 100% synthetic (e.g. polyester or nylon) undergarments (if any). The lining 16 may be constructed from a wide variety of materials, and a wide variety of techniques. One preferred form is 100% nylon tricot jersey.

The foam layer 17 preferably comprises a polyurethane foam, which may be skinned, and may have a widely varying thickness. Typical thicknesses are from 1/8 inch--one inch. When convoluted foam, or specialty types of foam, are utilized, the thickness may be decreased, and minimized.

Outside of the foam 17 an insulation covering fabric 18 is provided. The insulation covering fabric 18 is desirable primarily in those areas that will be exposed when the garment is vented. The layer 18 is unnecessary for areas of the garment (if any) that are not vented. The fabric 18, too, may be produced from a wide variety of materials, and from a wide variety of techniques. One particularly suitable fabric 18 is very porous 100% polyester warp knit mesh.

The outermost fabric 19, the shell fabric, preferably is of a wind resistant construction. Exemplary wind resistant constructions are illustrated and described in the co-pending applications identified above, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein, i.e. have fine denier synthetic yarns with tightly woven construction. Typically the shell 19 could be VERSATECH, or tightly woven nylon.

The various layers 16 through 19 of the shirt 10 are held together by stitching, and at areas where stitching is provided 100% polyester knit rib trim may be utilized.

The components 16 through 18 have high air permeability, while the component 19 has low air permeability. The connection of the shell 19 to the rest of the components is in such a manner that a wide variety of different degrees of venting may be provided. The cold weather shirt 10 and cold weather pair of pants 11 each thus have a thermally insulating high air porosity inner portion, and a low air porosity outer portion. The inner and outer portions are connected together (as by stitching only at selected areas) so that the outer portion can be moved from a first position in which it selectively covers substantially the entire inner portion to provide maximum warmth and wind resistance, to a second position in which it exposes a portion of the inner portion to atmospheric air to thereby reduce the warmth and wind resistance provided by the shirt or pants.

Specifically, for the shirt 10 according to the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 through 7, note that the outer portion of the shirt is provided by the outermost shell 19, while the shell may be "peeled back" to vent the wearer's body area, exposing the air permeable layer 18 and underlying materials. The arms, too, are formed by an outer covering 19 that is wind resistant, which may be pushed back (compare the left and right arms in FIG. 4) to expose the air permeable layer 18.

The jacket 10 comprises an open front which is closed by fasteners, such as plastic snap fasteners 21. Pockets 22 are provided on the layer 18. The collar of the inner thermal insulating, high porosity portion of the shirt is closable with closures 23, such as hook and loop fasteners. The outer shell 19, of low porosity material, is closable utilizing cooperating closure components 26, provided on flaps, such as flap 27, to seal the inner components from the outside air when the outer shell 19 is closed. The components 26 preferably comprise hook and pile fasteners. Note that stitching 24 (see FIG. 7) is provided at the top of the components to hold them together around the top back neck area thereof. The inner and outer components are also connected together at the bottom 25 thereof (see FIG. 7). FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate storage pockets 28 which are provided on the outer shell 19, with closure means 29 (such as cooperating hook and pile fasteners) therefor. Hand warmer pockets, such as the pocket 30 illustrated in FIG. 4, may also be provided.

The outer shell includes sleeve portions 31, 32, which can be moved to cover or expose (compare the left and right arms in FIG. 4) the inner shell 18 at the wearer's arms.

In addition to the wind seals 26 provided on flaps 27, the front of the outer shell 19 is closed utilizing zipper 33 (see FIG. 4), or like fasteners.

Attached to the outer shell 19, and at the back of the garment to both the inner and outer shells, is the hood 34 having rain bill portion 35. The interior cloth layer 37 forming the hood preferably is of VERSATECH, and the hood 34 otherwise has a three part construction including an inner foam layer and outer layer, also of VERSATECH or tightly woven nylon, generally as illustrated in FIG. 15. The hood can be tightly closed around the wearer's face utilizing draw cord 39 with external cord locks 40, the draw cord extending through a head seal 43 which is adapted to go around the wearer's face. The cord locks 40 are mounted so that they are away from the face of the wearer, as can be seen most clearly in FIG. 5. Stitching 38 (FIGS. 4 and 7) is provided connecting the hood 34 to the back portions of the garment 10.

The chin portion of the hood 34 is sealed when the garment is not vented by fasteners 41 mounted on cooperating flaps 42. The fasteners 41 preferably are cooperating hook and loop fasteners, as illustrating in FIGS. 4 and 7.

Other components for facilitating venting or tight wind resistant protection for the shirt 10 include the sleeve closures 45 which have fastener portions 46 (see FIG. 5) thereof. The sleeve closures 45 are straps that may be manipulated with one hand, and tightened to tighten the bottom of the sleeve at the wrist. The straps 45 are held in the tightened position, as illustrated in FIG. 5, by attaching them to the fastener portions 46. Preferably the strap 45 includes cooperating hook and loop fastener portions, one on the inside of the free end of strap 45, and the other on the portion 46. Note that on the sleeves 31, 32, a D ring 47 is provided, for facilitating attachments of mittens.

In order to facilitate venting, snaps, such as snap 49 in FIG. 4, can be provided on the inner shell to which the lapel snap portions 21 may be snapped. This maximum venting position is illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. Note also that maximum venting is facilitated by the cooperation between fasteners 51 (see FIG. 4) and 52 (see FIGS. 4, 6, and 7).

Using the shirt 10, the wearer can go from a maximum vented position as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 on warm days, to an intermediate position as illustrated in FIG. 4, to a maximum warmth position as illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIGS. 8 through 10 illustrate cold weather pants 11 according to the present invention. The pants 11, like the shirt 10, have maximum venting or maximum warmth providing positions, the maximum venting position illustrated in FIG. 9 and the maximum warmth portion in FIG. 8. The pants include an inner and outer component construction, just like the shirt 10, with the outer shell fabric being wind resistant and the inner face fabric covering the foam 17 or the like being air permeable. The inner and outer components are connected together only at spaced locations so that air may be selectively allowed between the inner and outer components.

The pants 11 includes large side leg cargo pockets 55 with weather proof flaps 56 which are closed by sealing closures such as hook and pile fasteners 57. At the waist portion of the pants 11, suspender loops 58 are provided as well as a back bib 59. A waistband portion 60 is provided opposite the bib 59. The bib 59 includes side portions connected to straps 61 having fasteners 62 at the ends thereof, the fasteners cooperating with fastener receiving clasps 63 mounted on the waistband portion 60. The adjustable quick side release buckles 62 and cooperating clasps 63 are preferably made of plastic, or a like thermally insulating material. The components 62, 63 may be those such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,464, and sold by FASTEX of Des Plaines, Ill. FIG. 9 shows the pants with the bib attached in front, while FIG. 10 illustrates the buckle 62 detached from the clasps 63 so that the bib 59 is dropped to allow the wearer to perform normal bodily functions.

The pants 11 also comprise side pockets 65 that allows the wearer to insert his hands in exterior compartments. The pockets 65 are provided by extra flaps of the outer fabric 19, the lining of each pocket 65 including the fabric 19 over the inner fabric 18.

The pants are also closed in front by a fly area 66 which includes an air seal fastener system (such as hook and pile strips) while a zipper is provided in the inner shell (not shown), again for allowing normal bodily functions. Also, side gussets 67, seen most clearly in FIG. 8, are provided, which are closed by plastic zippers 67' (see FIG. 10). Of course suspenders, shown schematically at the front in FIG. 10, may be connected to the suspender loops 58 to also hold the pants in place.

Vent means are provided in the outer component to allow air to flow into contact with the inner component at the thigh, crotch, and buttocks portions of the pants. Such vent means are preferably provided by the outer covering component 68, and the inner component 69 at the thigh area with a plurality of generally vertically disposed slits 70 formed in the portion 68 above the portion 69, on opposite sides of the crotch. The vents 70 extend from just below the bottom of the crotch portion of the pants (e.g. 4 inches below) to approximately the waist area of the pants as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. The slits 70 are closed by fasteners, such as plastic zippers 71 (see FIG. 9). The vents 70 are located where they are since the normal walking or running movement of the wearer will cause a type of pumping action which will pump ambient air into the area between the components 68, 69, ventilating the entire thigh, crotch, and buttocks area of the wearer in the maximum venting position illustrated in FIG. 9.

Stitching means 72 are provided for attaching the outer component portion 68 to the inner component 69 along the entire peripheries thereof at a point just below (e.g. 3 inches below) the bottom termination of the vent slits 70. The stitching means 72 are provided in order to prevent snow, or other material, which may enter vent slits 70 from passing completely down the legs of the pants.

The pants 11 further comprise leg portions 73 and of course leg openings at the bottom thereof. In an alternative embodiment, the leg openings include gussets 74 which may be accessed by zippers 75, and plastic snaps 77 for tightening up the pants adjacent the bottoms 76 of the legs (which bottoms 76 define the leg openings). This construction utilizing the gussets 74, snaps 77, and zippers 75 allows the pant legs 73 to be tightened at the portions 76 to facilitate insertion of the wearer's legs into footwear 12, which overlies the pants 11 at the portions 76 (see FIG. 1).

FIGS. 2 and 11, illustrate a cold weather parka 80 which may be used in especially cold weather conditions. A wind tunnel 79 can be utilized with the parka 80. A wind tunnel 79 is shown in co-pending application Ser. No. 52,989 filed May 22, 1987. The parka has a three layer construction with the inner lining fabric, foam (about 1/8-1" thick), and outer wind resistant fabric, as illustrated in FIG. 15 (without the layer 18), and attached hood with chin cover essentially the same as for the shirt 10. Parka 80 also includes a depending bottom portion which terminates with stitching and a ridge at the bottom 80', the bottom 80' being disposed generally at the wearer's knee level. Double acting zipper 81 (see FIG. 11) is the main closure for the front of the parka, but a wind seal with Velcro closures is also provided just like for the shirt 10.

At the inner bottom of the parka 80, as illustrated in FIG. 11, there is a windskirt portion 82 formed of wind resistant material, such as VERSATECH, or fine denier closely woven nylon fabric, such as nylon woven fabric having a warp count between about 63-79 (e.g. 79) and a filling yarn count of between about 56-61 and having an air permeability of less than 15 cubic feet/min./ft..sup.2 at 0.5 inches head of water, and a moisture vapor transmission of at least 500 grams/m..sup.2 /24 hr., and preferably at least 1,000. At the bottom of the windskirt 82 is provided an elastic band sewn within a hem, as illustrated at 83. The top of the windskirt is tightened by a draw cord 84' having cord locks 84 for locking it into any position into which it has been tightened. The front of the windskirt is closed up so as to tighten up the elastic hemmed band 83 around the legs by snap fasteners 85.

The shirt 10 and pants 11, with cooperating head gear, hand gear, and footwear, provide cold weather protection between the temperatures of about -35.degree. F. and +20.degree. F. Parka 80 cooperates with the shirt and pants for extending the effective range of comfort when the worn with such shirt and pants about 25.degree. F. (e.g. down to about -60.degree. F. in still air). However in cold weather environments there often are excessive winds which, even despite the wind resistance provided by the outer shell 19 of the clothing system according to the invention, result in some extra and undesirable heat loss from the wearer. Therefore according to the invention wind protecting garments are also provided. The wind protecting garments include (see FIG. 3) a wind shirt 87, wind pants 88, and wind mitts 89. The shirt 87 preferably includes an integral hood 90.

The wind protecting garments 87 through 89 are made of 100% fine denier polyester, or nylon, fabric such as VERSATECH. They have low air porosity but high moisture transport capabilities, as described for the shell fabrics in co-pending application Ser. No. 885,444 filed July 14, 1986; i.e. an air permeability of less than about 15 cubic feet/min./ft..sup.2 at 0.5 inches head of water, and a moisture vapor transmission rate of at least about 500 grams/m..sup.2 /24 hr., preferably at least about 1,000. They are dimensioned to fit over the shirt and pants, or over the shirt, pants, and parka, and may be held in place by elastic, snap fasteners, draw cords, or any other conventional means. Typically there is no front closure associated therewith, and elastic is provided at the sleeves and at the bottom of the pant legs. The wind protecting garments increase the effective comfort range of the other garments, when utilized therewith, about 10.degree. F.-20.degree. F. in still air, and by lowering the effective comfort wind chill factor by about 50.degree. F. Utilizing the wind garments over the parka, the cold weather garment system according to the invention is capable of keeping the wearer comfortable from the thermal standpoint at temperatures as low as -60.degree. F. in winds up to 100 miles per hour.

The wind garments typically would be of low weight. For example the wind shirt 87 would typically weigh about 1.3 pounds, and the wind pants 88 about 0.5 pounds, with the wind mitts 89 less. The winds mitts 89 are more fully disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 58,891 filed June 5, 1987.

FIG. 3 illustrates an elastic bottom portion 91 disposed within a hem and closable by snap fasteners 91' at the bottom of the wind shirt 87 for tightening at the bottom. FIG. 12 illustrates a draw cord 92 at the top of the wind pants for tightening it. Both the wind shirt and wind pants are preferably stored for easy transportation in their own self-contained pouch, made of the same material as the wind garments themselves. Such a pouch 93 connected by a strap 94 to the wind pants 88 itself, and closable by a draw cord 95, is illustrated in FIG. 12. A similar pouch is provided connected to the wind shirt 87.

In order to enhance the flexibility of the system, the wind shirt and parka can cooperate together to form an emergency sleeping bag. The manner in which this is done is illustrated in FIG. 13. First, the wind shirt 87 is turned inside out, the draw cord 90' for the hood 90 is pulled tight, and the sleeves are kept on the inside, as illustrated schematically at 96 in FIG. 13. Connected to the inside of the wind shirt 87, and normally extending outwardly therefrom, is a skirt portion 97. A pair of straps 98 having clasps 98a at the ends thereof are connected to the skirt 97. These straps 98 and clasps 98a cooperate with straps 99 which are attached to, and stored within, pockets 99a of the parka 80, the straps 99 having buckles 99b attached thereto. The clasps and buckles 98a, 99b may be of the type such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,464, and sold by Fastex in Des Plaines, Ill.

In using the parka 80 and wind shirt 87 as an emergency bivac sleeping bag, the user forms the wind shirt 87 essentially into a bag with an open top by tucking in the sleeves 96, and pulling the draw string 90' (see FIG. 3) at the neck opening at the hood 90 tight to essentially completely close up the neck opening. Then the wearer steps into the bag through the open top thereof (FIG. 13) and fastens the fasteners 98a, 99b on the straps 98, 99 to hold the wind shirt and parka in a position in which an emergency bivac sleeping bag is provided.

The invention also contemplates a sleeping system, the components of which are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 14, and include accessory components for facilitating comfort for the user when he is sleeping. These accessory components include a sleeping bag and a moisture handling pad both in compressor bags, and a bivvy sack which is disposed within its own self-contained bag. The compressor bag 100 is for the sleeping bag, and is preferably of 100% woven nylon. It includes a draw cord 103 surrounding the access opening to it, and polypropylene strapping 104 with ladder locks 105. The function of the compressor bag 100 is to compress the sleeping bag 111 into a manageable size for carrying on a pack. The sleeping bag 111 has an inner fabric shell, an open cell foam insulation interior, and another shell fabric, much as is illustrated in FIG. 15 (without layer 8). The actual construction of the top of the bag is per se shown in co-pending application Ser. No. 12,954 filed Feb. 10, 1987. This is done by rolling up the sleeping bag, opening the draw cord 103 so that the maximum opening of the compressor bag 100 is provided, slipping the compressor bag over the rolled up sleeping bag, and then pulling on the strapping 104 to tighten them as tight as possible at the ladder locks, and compress the bag 111.

The compressor bag 101 for the moisture handling pad 110 is essentially identical to the bag 100 except that it is smaller, having a draw cord 106 at the opening, polypropylene strapping 107, and ladder locks (not shown). The moisture handling pad 110 is rolled up and placed into the compressor bag 101 as described above with respect to the sleeping bag.

The moisture handling pad/deicing cloth 110 is placed underneath the sleeping bag to handle moisture that migrates from the sleeping bag. Moisture will be moved away from the bottom of the sleeping bag and collect and freeze in the deicing cloth rather than in the sleeping bag, and ice thus can be readily removed from the deicing cloth. The moisture handling pad/deicing cloth preferably comprises a covering fabric such as 100% woven nylon rib stock, with insulation such as open cell polyurethane foam provided interiorly of the covering fabric. Polypropylene webbing loops 112 are provided in association with it so that the sleeping bag may be removably attached to it by passing straps 113 from the sleeping bag through the webbing loops 112 and snapping them in place with plastic fasteners 114.

The bivvy sack 102 also is an important part of the sleeping system. The bivvy sack 102 may be collapsed into its own pouch, and shown in the collapsed position in its own pouch in FIG. 1, and in the open position in FIG. 14. The bivvy sack 102 preferably is formed of VERSATECH or the like fabric having good wind resistance and high moisture vapor transmission. The bivvy sack includes an opening 115 through which the sleeping bag/moisture handling pad/deicing cloth combination may be inserted, with an excess of material 116 that may function as a tent provided adjacent the opening 115, and on the opposite side of the opening 115 from the main body 117 of the bivvy sack, into which the majority of the sleeping bag/moisture handling pad/deicing cloth system is inserted. Once the sleeping bag/moisture handling pad/deicing cloth system is in the bivvy sack 102, with the snorkel hooded portion 118 of the sleeping bag 111 at the top and overlaid by the tent forming portion 116, the user can either fold the tent flap 116 down so that it is not in use, or stake it to the ground over his head. Polypropylene webbing loops 119 are provided at various positions along the tent flap 116 to allow it to be staked.

The bivvy sack functions to provide additional wind and precipitation protection for the sleeping bag and the moisture handling pad.

A vapor barrier, such as a plastic sheet, may be provided beneath the bivvy sack, on top of the ground, when the sleeping system is being utilized.

It will be seen that components of the cold weather system according to the present invention effectively cooperate to provide comfort to the wearer between about -60.degree. F.-+40.degree. F., and in wind conditions up to 100 miles per hour. While the invention has been herein shown and described in what is presently conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment thereof, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications may be made thereof within the scope of the invention, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation of the appended claims to encompass all equivalent structures and systems.