Heated Garment System

Abstract

A flexible garment system which is capable of emitting heat when an electrical current is applied, comprising an electrically insulating fibre rich base structure ( 4 ) incorporating an electrically and thermally conductive area ( 1 ) and at least two power supply lines ( 2 ). The heating element consists of a woven, knitted or non-woven fabric ( 1 ) containing fibres that are both electrically and thermally conductive. Two or more fabric-based power supply lines ( 2 ) are incorporated to supply the panel with electric current, which are connected to the power supply via suitable electrically conductive fasteners ( 3 ).

1 . A flexible garment system which is capable of emitting heat when an electrical current is applied, comprising an electrically insulating fibre base structure with an electrically and thermally conductive area and at least two power supply lines, all of which are incorporated during the textile manufacture stage.  
   
   
       2 . A garment as described in  claim 1  where the electrically insulating base structure is woven, knitted or non-woven fabric made of natural, regenerated or synthetic fibres.  
   
   
       3 . A garment as described in  claim 1  where the electrically and thermally conductive area may be a woven, knitted or non-woven fabric made of one of the following fibres: 
 a.) Metal fibres    b.) Carbon fibres    c.) Metallised polymer fibres    d.) Conductive polymer coated fibres    e.) Conductive polymer fibres    f.) or from a combination of these materials.    
   
   
       4 . A garment as described in  claim 1  wherein the electrically and thermally conductive area comprises a woven, knitted or non-woven fabric made of fibres selected from the group consisting of metal fibres, carbon fibres, metallised polymer fibres, conductive polymer coated fibres, conductive polymer fibres and a combination thereof, blended with a woven, knitted or non-woven fabric made of natural, regenerated or synthetic fibres.  
   
   
       5 . A garment as described in  claim 1  that is power by connection to a self-contained power supply.  
   
   
       6 . A garment according to  claim 1  which has a further base structure with a thermally conductive area applied to thus form a more advanced garment system.