Body Garment Including an Outer Protecting Portion and an Inner Breathable Portion

Prior outdoor wear garments have been constructed of various layers of material including layers of nylon, polyurethane, breathable membranes and other layers. Such garments have lacked breathability and the ability to be used in varying weather conditions.

Broadly, the invention comprises a body garment having an outer portion constructed of nylon and other synthetic materials, leather or other breathable material. Such outer garment material may have abrasive and tear resistance and may have weight and other characteristics which are particularly suitable for use by cyclists. The body garment in addition has a removable inner liner which is breathable, windproof and water proof. The inner portion may have multiple layers which include layers of nylon, a breathable membrane and insulation. The garment's outer and inner portions are readily detachable by any fastener means such as a zipper. The inner liner is normally removed in warm weather conditions.

The garment may have armor sections therein to further protect the wearer.

The body garment may include only a jacket portion or only a jacket and pant portion but preferably both the inner portion and the outer portion include both jacket and pants attached to one another or not.

The outer garment portion in addition to armor sections may include stretch material in the arms or other selected areas.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational partially cutaway view of the garment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational partially cutaway view of the garment;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the garment with zippers displayed;

FIG. 4 is a partial front elevational view of the protective jacket with armor portions and displayed sleeves; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line 5--5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line 6--6 of FIG. 1.

With reference to FIGS. 1-6, body garment 10 worn by cyclist 9 (or other wearer) includes an inner liner 11 (FIG. 3) which has an upper jacket portion 13 and a lower pants portion 15. Portions 13 and 15 may alternatively be constructed as a single unit. Body garment 10 also includes an outer protective suit portion 16 (FIGS. 1-3) which has an upper outer jacket portion 17 and lower pants portion 18. The protective suit 16 and inner liner 11 are preferably connected together by zippers 19a, 19b or other fasteners when worn (see FIG. 3). Upper jacket 13 has a jacket zipper 21 shown unzipped and open in FIG. 3. Upper outer jacket 17 has a jacket zipper 22 shown unzipped and open in FIG. 3. Inner liner pants 15 has pants zipper 23 shown partially open in FIG. 3. Area 24 in FIG. 3 is the wearer's chest skin. It is therefore seen that the garment jackets and pants each have zippers to complete their positioning on wearer 9 and for ready removability. In addition, zippers are in this embodiment used to secure the outer garment portion 16 to the inner liner garment portion 11.

Protective outer suit 16 includes a plurality of armor pads 40 selectively placed in the outer garment portions 16, 17 at various locations to protect the wearer. Pads 40 include knee pads 40a, chest pads 40b, chin pads 40c, shoulder pads 40d, back pads 40e, etc. Each pad 40 includes an outer layer of stiff foam 42, an intermediate plastic layer 43 and an inner layer of soft foam 44 (see FIG. 6).

Garment liner 11 is constructed of four (4) layers of material (FIG. 5). The outside layer 27 is nylon. The next layer 28 is a membrane which is breathable/windproof/waterproof and the next layer 29 is a insulation layer. Finally, the next and inside layer 30 is nylon. Layer 30 is the layer closest to the wearer's 9 body. Membrane layer 28 is preferably a GORE-TEX brand TEFLON membrane. The insulation layer 29 is an insulation material with binder fibers. The insulation material is preferably THERMOLITE brand material.

The protective suit 16 is constructed of leather or synthetic materials. Preferably a nylon material is used which has a tight weave such as a basket weave. Such nylon may be heavy with a denier of above 500 and preferably 1000 or greater. The nylon is highly abrasion resistant and has a high tear strength. Preferably, the nylon is CORDURA brand nylon with a basket weave. Alternatively, the protective suit 16 may be constructed of KEVLAR material or a combination of KEVLAR, LYCRA and nylon materials.

Further, outer racket 17 includes stretchable sleeves 30a, 30b made of KEVLAR brand material with zippered cuff areas 32a, 32b to ease putting on and taking off jacket 17. The legs 18a, 18b of outer pants 18 may also be made of KEVLAR. CORDURA, TEFLON, LYCRA, THEROMLITE and KEVLAR are trademarks of the DuPont Company. Gore-Tex is a trademark of W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. Lycra is a spandex fiber textile; KEVLAR is an aramid fiber; and TEFLON is a tetrafluoroethylene fiber.

Normally, both jacket and pants of the body garment including the liner are worn but in warm weather the liner may be zipped out if not needed. It is also contemplated that a pant or jacket of the outer and/or inner portion of the garment can be omitted at the option of the wearer.

Preferably, the jacket and pants of the outer portion of the body garment are a single one piece garment unit. It is also preferred that the jacket and pants of the inner liner are a single one piece garment unit.