Force ventilated and heated garment

Abstract

A force ventilated and heated garment including a garment body and a self-contained forced ventilator removably attachable to the garment body. A plurality of air flow channels are arranged along the garment body and are connected to an air inlet. The forced ventilator includes one or more blowers that draw ambient air into the ventilator and discharges into the air inlet connected to the air flow channels. A heating element is positioned in the ventilator to heat air passing through it before being discharged into the air inlet. A controller is provided for allowing a user to control the amount of heat generated by the heating element. A sealable vent extends through the garment for venting the interior of the garment should it become to warm.

1 . A force ventilated and heated garment to be worn by a user, comprising, in combination:
 a garment body having an exterior and an interior;   a plurality of air flow channels arranged along said garment body adapted to distribute air to said interior of said garment body;   an air inlet through said garment body, wherein said plurality of air flow channels are in fluid communication with said air inlet;   a forced ventilator housing defining an air flow passage having an air flow passage inlet and an air flow passage outlet;   one or more blowers arranged in said air flow passage and operable to cause air flow through said air flow passage where air is drawn in from said air flow passage inlet and discharged from said air flow passage outlet;   one or more heating elements arranged in said air flow passage and operable to heat said air flow;   a power source carried by said forced ventilator housing;   a controller carried by said forced ventilator housing and connecting said power source to said one or more blowers and said heating element; and   a coupling means for detachably connecting said force ventilator housing to said garment body with said air flow passage outlet in fluid communication with said air inlet.   
   
   
       2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein said garment body has a first inner layer of an air permeable material, a second inner layer of an insulating material, and an exterior layer; and wherein said plurality of flow channels are arranged between said first inner layer and said second inner layer. 
   
   
       3 . The garment of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more sealable vents extending through said garment body connecting said exterior to said interior for venting air from said interior to said exterior.   
   
   
       4 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein said garment body has a torso portion defining a waist opening and a head opening, and two arm portions having each having a wrist opening. 
   
   
       5 . The garment of  claim 4 , further comprising a hood portion. 
   
   
       6 . The garment of  claim 4 , wherein said garment body has a first inner layer of an air permeable material, a second inner layer of an insulating material, and an exterior layer; and wherein said plurality of flow channels are arranged between said first inner layer and said second inner layer; and wherein said waist opening and said wrist openings each comprises an elastic cuff. 
   
   
       7 . The garment of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 one or more sealable vents on each of said two arm portions approximate said wrist opening that extend through said exterior layer and said second interior layer, thereby connecting said exterior to said interior for venting air from said interior to said exterior.   
   
   
       8 . A force ventilated and heated garment to be worn by a user, comprising, in combination:
 a body garment having a torso portion defining a waist opening and a head opening, and two arm portions having each having a wrist opening, wherein said waist opening and said wrist openings each comprises an elastic cuff;   said body garment further having a first inner layer of an air permeable material, a second inner layer of an insulating material, and an exterior layer;   a plurality of air flow channels arranged along said garment body between said first inner layer and said second inner layer that are adapted to distribute air to said interior of said garment body;   an air inlet through said exterior layer and said second inner layer, wherein said plurality of air flow channels are in fluid communication with said air inlet;   one or more sealable vents on each of said two arm portions approximate said wrist opening that extend through said exterior layer and said second interior layer, thereby connecting said exterior to said interior for venting air from said interior to said exterior;   a forced ventilator housing defining an air flow passage having an air flow passage inlet and an air flow passage outlet;   one or more blowers arranged in said air flow passage and operable to cause air flow through said air flow passage where air is drawn in from said air flow passage inlet and discharged from said air flow passage outlet;   one or more heating elements arranged in said air flow passage and operable to heat said air flow;   a power source carried by said forced ventilator housing;   a controller carried by said forced ventilator housing and connecting said power source to said one or more blowers and said heating element; and   a coupling means for detachably connecting said force ventilator housing to said garment body with said air flow passage outlet in fluid communication with said air inlet.