Self-ventilating body-worn articles

Abstract

A self-ventilating, self-exhausting body-worn article having a plural number of conduits extending therethrough, the conduits each having an intake opening and one-way intake valve through which warmed interior air and perspiration moisture vapor is drawn into the conduit, one or more compressible members, such as a tube, bulb or bladder, and a one-way exhaust valve and exhaust opening through which the warmed air and vapor is expelled. The compressible members are compressed by the expansion of the chest, flexing or movement of body parts, or contact with outside objects to expel the warmed air and vapor, and when the compressive forces are removed, the compressible members expand to again draw warmed air and vapor into the compressible members through the intake openings to repeat the cycle.

1 . A self-ventilating, self-exhausting body-worn article having an interior side facing a wearer and an exterior side, wherein said body-worn article draws warmed interior air and perspiration moisture vapor through said interior side and expels said warmed interior air and perspiration moisture vapor through said exterior side and into the atmosphere, said body-worn article comprising conduit means each comprising an intake opening open to said interior side of the body-worn article, at least one compressible member which is compressible by body movement, an exhaust opening open to said exterior side of the body-worn article, a one-way intake valve which allows warmed interior air and perspiration moisture vapor from said interior side of the body-worn article to be drawn in only one direction through said intake opening and into said at least one compressible member, and a one-way exhaust valve which allows said warmed interior air and perspiration moisture vapor to be expelled from said at least one compressible member and out through said exhaust opening into the atmosphere, where said warmed interior air and perspiration moisture vapor is expelled through said exhaust valve when said at least one compressible member is compressed by body movement and where said at least one compressible member expands to refill with new warmed interior air and perspiration moisture vapor drawn through said intake valve when said compressible member is not compressed by body movement.  
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , where said at least one compressible member comprises a tube.  
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1 , where said at least one compressible member comprises a bulb.  
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1 , where said at least one compressible member comprises a bladder.  
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1 , where said conduit means are joined to a manifold body which communicates with the atmosphere.  
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 1 , where said body-worn article comprises an article of clothing.  
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 1 , where said body-worn article comprises a shoe.  
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 1 , where said body-worn article comprises a helmet.  
     
     
         9 . A self-ventilating, self-exhausting body-worn article comprising means to withdraw warmed interior air and perspiration moisture vapor and means to expel said warmed interior air and perspiration moisture vapor into the ambient atmosphere; 
 wherein said withdrawal means comprises at least one compressible member, an intake opening through which said warmed interior air and perspiration moisture vapor is withdrawn, a one-way intake valve, an exhaust opening and a one-way exhaust valve, such that warmed interior air and perspiration moisture vapor flows in only one direction;    wherein said compressible member is body actuated, such that repetitive movement of a body part in contact with the body-worn article results in compression and expansion of said compressible member, which causes suction of said warmed interior air and perspiration moisture vapor through said intake opening and said intake valve and expulsion of said warmed interior air and perspiration moisture vapor through said exhaust valve and said exhaust opening.    
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 9 , where said at least one compressible member comprises a tube.  
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 9 , where said at least one compressible member comprises a bulb.  
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 9 , where said at least one compressible member comprises a bladder.  
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 9 , further comprising a manifold body, and wherein said at least one compressible member is connected to said manifold body.  
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 9 , where said body-worn article comprises an article of clothing.  
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 9 , where said body-worn article comprises a shoe.  
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 9 , where said body-worn article comprises a helmet.