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.

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.