Waterproof/breathable technical apparel

Abstract

The apparel is constructed from various combinations of layers of materials with moisture transfer properties. A first liner of moisture transfer fabrics abuts a second layer of structural material such as foam. The second layer can abut a breathable membrane and/or an insulating material. Finally, carefully selected outer fabrics complete the combination to provide apparel with improved performance characteristics. The outer fabrics are treated in various ways to enhance performance.

1 . An article of apparel, of which at least a portion of the article is a combination of moisture transfer, breathable and anti-microbial layers comprising:
 a first inner layer of a breathable polypropylene or polyester blended fabric;   a second layer, abutting the first inner layer, including a breathable, open cell, anti-microbial, hydrophilic foam mechanically bonded to an absorbent, moisture transferring, anti-microbial nonwoven composite; and   a third layer, abutting the second layer, of a stretchable, breathable, hydrophobic polyester, polypropylene or nylon blended exterior soft-shell moisture transfer nonwoven fabric,   wherein the absorbent, moisture transferring, anti-microbial nonwoven composite includes shaped and grooved polyester and silver fibers.   
     
     
         2 . The article of apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the first, second, and third layers are attached to each other by lamination. 
     
     
         3 . The article of apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the first, second, and third layers are attached to each other by ultra-sonic or adhesive bonding. 
     
     
         4 . The article of apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the second layer is treated with thermal regulating technology. 
     
     
         5 . The article of apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein the third layer is treated by nano-technology or encapsulation technology for waterproofing. 
     
     
         6 . The article of apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein the third layer is coated by a breathable, waterproof adhesive, coating or a film for waterproofing. 
     
     
         7 . The article of apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein the third layer is water repellant and treated with a nano-technology for waterproofing. 
     
     
         8 . The article of apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein the third layer is treated with a breathable, waterproof, thermally regulated microsphere technology and a nano-technology coating or spray for waterproofing. 
     
     
         9 . An technical composite apparel, of which at least a portion of the article is a combination of moisture transfer, breathable and anti-microbial layers comprising:
 a first exterior layer comprised of a hydrophobic, stretchable nonwoven material;   a second layer, backing the first layer, including a breathable, hydrophilic, adhesive and/or coating; and   a third layer, backing the second layer, attached to the breathable, hydrophilic, adhesive comprising a flocked fiber blend of shaped, grooved, hollow and silver fibers.   
     
     
         10 . The technical composite apparel according to  claim 9 , wherein the third layer includes stretchable fibers and natural wool fibers. 
     
     
         11 . The technical composite apparel according to  claim 9 , wherein the first layer includes synthetic and natural fibers. 
     
     
         12 . The technical composite apparel according to  claim 9 , wherein the third layer includes natural wool and lyocell fibers. 
     
     
         13 . The technical composite apparel according to  claim 9 , wherein an open cell foam is disposed between the adhesive of the second layer and the first exterior layer. 
     
     
         14 . The technical composite apparel according to  claim 9 , wherein at least two of the first, second, and third layers are attached to each other by lamination. 
     
     
         15 . The technical composite apparel according to  claim 13 , wherein the open cell foam is coated with the adhesive and attached to the flocked fiber blend to form a flocked foam composite attached to the waterproof exterior fabric. 
     
     
         16 . The technical composite apparel according to  claim 15 , wherein a portion of the flocked foam composite is treated with a hydrophilic, enhanced thermal regulating coating. 
     
     
         17 . The technical composite apparel according to  claim 9 , wherein the first exterior layer includes an elastomeric nonwoven which is waterproofed with a waterproof breathable film or membrane. 
     
     
         18 . The technical composite apparel according to  claim 17 , wherein the elastomeric nonwoven is attached to an open cell foam coated with the adhesive and the flocked fiber blend. 
     
     
         19 . The technical composite apparel according to  claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the flocked fiber blend is treated with nano-technology for water resistance. 
     
     
         20 . The technical composite apparel according to  claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the flocked foam composite is treated with nano-technology for water resistance. 
     
     
         21 . The technical composite apparel according to  claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the flocked foam composite is treated with nano-technology for waterproofing. 
     
     
         22 . The technical composite apparel according to  claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the flocked foam composite is treated to have enhanced thermal regulating properties. 
     
     
         23 . The technical composite apparel according to  claim 15 , wherein the flocked foam composite is treated to have enhanced thermal regulating properties. 
     
     
         24 . The technical composite apparel according to  claim 15 , wherein the flocked foam composite is attached to the first exterior layer by ultra-sonic or adhesive bonding. 
     
     
         25 . The technical composite apparel according to  claim 9 , wherein the exterior layer is treated by encapsulation for waterproofing. 
     
     
         26 . The technical apparel according to  claim 9 , wherein the third layer is a moisture transfer, breathable, anti-microbial, knitted or woven fabric that is water repellant. 
     
     
         27 . A technical composite apparel having on at least a portion of the apparel, a combination of waterproof, anti-microbial layers comprising;
 a first inner layer, selected from a stretchable, breathable polypropylene or polyester blended nonwoven fabric containing hollow and grooved shaped fibers;   a second layer, abutting the first layer, including a breathable, anti-microbial, foam treated with enhanced thermal properties; and   a third exterior shell layer comprised of a stretchable, breathable polyester, polypropylene, or nylon fabric blend containing shaped and grooved fibers abutting the second foam layer,   wherein the first and third layer are treated to have waterproof properties.   
     
     
         28 . The technical composite apparel according to  claim 27 , wherein the first inner layer and the third exterior shell layer are treated with waterproof nano-technology. 
     
     
         29 . A technical composite apparel according to  claim 27 , wherein at least one or more layers are treated to have enhanced thermal properties. 
     
     
         30 . A technical composite apparel according to  claim 27 , wherein the technical exterior fabric is optional an elastomeric nonwoven. 
     
     
         31 . The technical composite apparel according to  claim 27 , wherein the breathable, anti-microbial, foam is an open cell foam. 
     
     
         32 . The technical composite apparel according to  claim 27 , wherein at least two of the first, second, and third layers are attached to each other by lamination.