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US5021280A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Waterproof sweat-transmitting clothing insulation

Assignee: Department of National Defence
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Filing: 1989-09-06
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Granted: 1991-06-04
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Expires: 2009-09-06
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Abstract

Abstract The invention relates to a composite fabric which will provide insulating properties in the presence of water and which will also permit the passage of perspiration therethrough. The fabric includes a first layer of a water-impermeable insulating material, two layers of a wicking fabric, such layers being positioned adjacent the inner and outer surfaces of the first layer, and a plurality of wicking threads passing through the first layer and securing the wicking fabric layers to the first layer. The insulating layer helps prevent water from reaching the wearer. Perspiration from the wearer is picked up by the inner wicking layer and transferred by capillary action through the threads to the outer wicking layer from which it can evaporate to the atmosphere. If desired the outer wicking layer can be covered by a liquid-water impermeable but water-vapor permeable material.

Inventors

  • 👤 Brian Farnworth
  • 👤 Rita M. Crow

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 11:43
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B5/00; B32B5/22; B32B5/24; B32B5/26; A; A41; A41D; A41D31/00; A41D31/04; A41D31/10; A41D31/102; B32B25/00; B32B25/16; B32B27/00; B32B27/32; B32B5/02; B32B5/024; B32B5/026; B32B5/06; B32B5/245; B32B2266/00; B32B2266/08; B32B2305/00; B32B2305/10; B32B2305/18; B32B2305/186; B32B2305/188; B32B2307/00; B32B2307/70; B32B2307/726; B32B2319/00; B32B2323/00; B32B2323/04; B32B2437/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/92; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24033; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249953; Y10T428/249976; Y10T428/249977; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/30; Y10T442/3325; Y10T442/335; Y10T442/40; Y10T442/469

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 104 words
A composite insulating garment laminate comprising a layer of water-impermeable insulating material having inner and outer surfaces, a thin first layer of a wicking fabric on said inner surface, a thin second layer of a wicking fabric on said outer surface, and sewing thread means of a wicking material extending through said insulating material in a conventional stitching pattern and connecting said first layer of wicking fabric to said second layer of wicking fabric, whereby moisture absorbed by said first layer of wicking fabric can advance through said insulating material via said thread means to said second layer of wicking fabric for evaporation therefrom.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 104 words
A composite insulating garment laminate comprising a layer of water-impermeable insulating material having inner and outer surfaces, a thin first layer of a wicking fabric on said inner surface, a thin second layer of a wicking fabric on said outer surface, and sewing thread means of a wicking material extending through said insulating material in a conventional stitching pattern and connecting said first layer of wicking fabric to said second layer of wicking fabric, whereby moisture absorbed by said first layer of wicking fabric can advance through said insulating material via said thread means to said second layer of wicking fabric for evaporation therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
The laminate of claim 1 wherein said insulating material is a closed-cell foam insulating material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
The laminate of claim 2 wherein each of said first and second layers of wicking fabric is a knitted fabric.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
The laminate of claim 2 wherein each of said first and second layers of wicking fabric is a woven fabric.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 39 words
The laminate of claim 3 wherein said thread means includes conventional sewing threads of cotton and/or spun polyester extending through said insulating material in a conventional stitching pattern to connect said first and second layers of wicking fabric together.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 32 words
The laminate of claim 5 wherein said stitching pattern comprises a plurality of straight lines of stitches of about five stitches per centimeter and about 1 centimeter between adjacent lines of stitches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 39 words
The laminate of claim 4 wherein said thread means includes conventional sewing threads of cotton and/or spun polyester extending through said insulating material in a conventional stitching pattern to connect said first and second layers of wicking fabric together.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 32 words
The laminate of claim 7 wherein said stitching pattern comprises a plurality of straight lines of stitches of about five stitches per centimeter and about 1 centimeter between adjacent lines of stitches.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 46 words
The laminate of claim 1, including an outermost protective layer of a water-vapour permeable but water impermeable material secured to said second layer of wicking fabric, permitting the evaporation of moisture therethrough from said second layer but prohibiting the passage of water therethrough towards said laminate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 46 words
The laminate of claim 5, including an outermost protective layer of a water-vapour permeable but water impermeable material secured to said second layer of wicking fabric, permitting the evaporation of moisture therethrough from said second layer but prohibiting the passage of water therethrough towards said laminate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 46 words
The laminate of claim 7, including an outermost protective layer of a water-vapour permeable but water impermeable material secured to said second layer of wicking fabric, permitting the evaporation of moisture therethrough from said second layer but prohibiting the passage of water therethrough towards said laminate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 113 words
A composite insulating laminate consisting essentially of a layer of water-impermeable insulating material having inner and outer surfaces, a thin first layer of a wicking material adjacent said inner surface, a thin second layer of a wicking material adjacent said outer surface, and a plurality of thread means of a wicking material extending through said insulating material and said first and second layers in a conventional stitching pattern and connecting said first layer of wicking material to said second layer of wicking material, whereby moisture absorbed by said first layer of wicking material can advance through said insulating material via said thread means to said second layer of wicking material for evaporation therefrom.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 113 words
A composite insulating laminate consisting essentially of a layer of water-impermeable insulating material having inner and outer surfaces, a thin first layer of a wicking material adjacent said inner surface, a thin second layer of a wicking material adjacent said outer surface, and a plurality of thread means of a wicking material extending through said insulating material and said first and second layers in a conventional stitching pattern and connecting said first layer of wicking material to said second layer of wicking material, whereby moisture absorbed by said first layer of wicking material can advance through said insulating material via said thread means to said second layer of wicking material for evaporation therefrom.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 175 words
A composite insulating laminate consisting essentially of a layer of water-impermeable insulating material having inner and outer surfaces, a thin first layer of a wicking material adjacent said inner surface, a thin second layer of a wicking material adjacent said outer surface, and a plurality of thread means of a wicking material extending through said insulating material and connecting said first layer of wicking material to said second layer of wicking material, whereby moisture absorbed by said first layer of wicking material can advance through said insulating material via said thread means to said second layer of wicking material for evaporation therefrom, and an outermost protective layer of a water-vapor permeable but water impermeable material secured to said second layer of wicking material, permitting the evaporation of moisture therethrough from said second layer but prohibiting the passage of water therethrough toward said laminate, said thread means extending only through said insulating material and said first and second layers of wicking material such that said outermost protective layer is secured other than by said thread means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 175 words
A composite insulating laminate consisting essentially of a layer of water-impermeable insulating material having inner and outer surfaces, a thin first layer of a wicking material adjacent said inner surface, a thin second layer of a wicking material adjacent said outer surface, and a plurality of thread means of a wicking material extending through said insulating material and connecting said first layer of wicking material to said second layer of wicking material, whereby moisture absorbed by said first layer of wicking material can advance through said insulating material via said thread means to said second layer of wicking material for evaporation therefrom, and an outermost protective layer of a water-vapor permeable but water impermeable material secured to said second layer of wicking material, permitting the evaporation of moisture therethrough from said second layer but prohibiting the passage of water therethrough toward said laminate, said thread means extending only through said insulating material and said first and second layers of wicking material such that said outermost protective layer is secured other than by said thread means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 49 words
A composite insulating laminate as claimed in claim 12 wherein said insulating material consists essentially of a single thickness of water-impermeable, closed cell foam of thickness between about 3 mm and 10 mm, and each said layer of wicking material is a wicking fabric of knitted or woven construction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 49 words
A composite insulating laminate as claimed in claim 13 wherein said insulating material consists essentially of a single thickness of water-impermeable, closed cell foam of thickness between about 3 mm and 10 mm, and each said layer of wicking material is a wicking fabric of knitted or woven construction.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4530873A Cited
US4469740A Cited
US4608298A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-06-03 1994-12-03 1995-06-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-06-03 1998-12-03 1999-06-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-06-03 2002-12-03 2003-06-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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