Personal ventilating garment apparatus

Abstract

A personal ventilating garment apparatus includes a ventilation unit connected to an air distribution garment, either directly or using a hose extension, and is operable to generate a flow of air from the ambient to the air distribution garment. The air distribution garment includes a spacer material that allows substantially omni-direction airflow therein. The air distribution garment also includes an air impermeable outer fabric.

1 . A personal ventilating garment apparatus comprising: 
 an air distribution garment including an air impermeable fabric defining an interior of said air distribution garment sized to receive a wearer therein, and a spacer material that is positioned in said interior of said air distribution garment so that said spacer material contacts the wearer when said air distribution garment is worn, said spacer material allowing substantially omni-directional airflow therein; and    at least one ventilation unit that flows air through said spacer material.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said spacer material has a thickness dimension in a range of approximately 0.125 to 0.75 inch, inclusive.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said spacer material has a thickness dimension of approximately 0.25 to 0.375 inch, inclusive.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said spacer material defines a plenum between said air impermeable fabric and the wearer of the air distribution garment.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said spacer material is adjacent to said air impermeable fabric.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one ventilation unit pushes air through said spacer material.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one ventilation unit includes a heater to heat the air provided by said at least one ventilation unit.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one ventilation unit cools the wearer.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one ventilation unit pulls air through said spacer material.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further including a fabric plenum fluidically connected to said at least one ventilation unit and said spacer material, said fabric plenum including a plurality of openings that open to said spacer material.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said air impermeable fabric of said air distribution garment includes an air inlet opening to allow air to be pulled into said spacer material.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said ventilation unit includes an external power source connector.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one ventilation unit is a plurality of ventilation units.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of said plurality of ventilation units pushes air through said spacer material, and at least one of said plurality of ventilation units pulls air through said spacer material.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said air distribution garment includes at least one pocket, and said at least one ventilation unit is received in said pocket, said pocket including an opening by which air is provided to said spacer material, and a mesh wall through which ambient air is provided to said at least one ventilation unit.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one ventilation unit includes a lip extension that extends through said opening of said pocket, and a manifold that engages said lip extension and directs airflow to said spacer material.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said manifold includes an elastic cuff that engages said lip extension of said ventilation unit.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a belt that supports said at least one ventilation unit.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a duct that fluidically interconnects said at least one ventilation unit to said air distribution garment.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said duct includes at least one flexible joint.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said duct is a hose duct with corrugations.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a carrier sized to secure said at least one ventilation unit.  
   
   
       23 . An air distribution garment comprising: 
 an air impermeable fabric defining an interior of said air distribution garment that is sized to receive a wearer therein; and    a spacer material positioned in said interior of said air distribution garment adjacent said air impermeable fabric, said spacer material being in contact with the wearer and being positioned between the wearer and the air impermeable fabric when said air distribution garment is worn;    wherein said spacer material allows substantially omni-direction airflow therein.    
   
   
       24 . The garment of  claim 23 , wherein said spacer material has a thickness dimension in a range of approximately 0.25 to 0.375 inch, inclusive.