Article of apparel utilizing zoned venting and/or other body cooling features or methods

Abstract

Garments may include: (a) one garment portion having an air permeability of less than 550 ft 3 /min per ft 2 ; and (b) another garment portion including one or more vented zones, wherein a material forming the vented zones has an air permeability of at least 550 ft 3 /min per ft 2 . The vented zones may extend along a center back portion and/or along at least one side portion of the garment. Methods for forming such garments may include: (a) providing one garment portion having an air permeability of less than 550 ft 3 /min per ft 2 ; (b) providing another garment portion including at least one vented zone, wherein a material forming the vented zone has an air permeability of at least 550 ft 3 /min per ft 2 ; and (c) forming a garment structure including these garment portions. The vented zones may extend along a center back portion and/or along at least one side portion of the garment structure. In some instances, apparel or equipment (including garments having zoned venting) may be wetted and worn by the athlete prior to the event or exercise, in order to pre-cool the athlete's body.

1 . A garment, comprising:
 a first garment portion formed of a fabric material, wherein the first garment portion has an air permeability of less than 500 ft 3 /min per ft 2  measured according to ASTM D737-96;   a second garment portion forming a garment structure with at least the first garment portion, wherein the second garment portion includes a first vented zone having an air permeability of at least 550 ft 3 /min per ft 2  measured according to ASTM D737-96, and wherein the first vented zone extends along a center back portion of the garment structure from proximate a neck opening to proximate a waist are of the garment structure, wherein the first vented zone is at least 12 in 2 ;   a third garment portion forming part of the garment structure, wherein the third garment portion includes a second vented zone separate from the first vented zone, wherein the second vented zone has an air permeability of at least 550 ft 3 /min per ft 2  measured according to ASTM D737-96, wherein the second vented zone extends along a first torso side of the garment structure from proximate a first underarm seam or a first arm opening to proximate the waist area of the garment structure, wherein the second vented zone is at least 12 in 2 ; and   a fourth garment portion forming part of the garment structure, wherein the fourth garment portion includes a third vented zone separate from the first vented zone and the second vented zone, wherein the third vented zone has an air permeability of at least 550 ft 3 /min per ft 2  measured according to ASTM D737-96, wherein the third vented zone extends along a second torso side of the garment structure from proximate a second underarm seam or a second arm opening to proximate the waist area of the garment structure, wherein the third vented zone is at least 12 in 2 .   
     
     
         2 . A garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the air permeability of a material forming the first vented zone is at least 600 ft 3 /min per ft 2 . 
     
     
         3 . A garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the fabric material of the first garment portion is a non-mesh material, and wherein the first garment portion provides a majority of the garment structure. 
     
     
         4 . A garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the garment structure further includes two leg openings. 
     
     
         5 . A garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the fabric material of the first garment portion is the same as a fabric material forming the first vented zone, and wherein the first vented zone includes a plurality of perforations formed in the fabric material at a location of the first vented zone. 
     
     
         6 . A garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the air permeability of a fabric material forming the first vented zone is at least 600 ft 3 /min per ft 2 . 
     
     
         7 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the first garment portion has an air permeability of less than 450 ft 3 /min per ft 2 . 
     
     
         8 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein materials forming the first, second, and third vented zones have air permeabilities of at least 700 ft 3 /min per ft 2 . 
     
     
         9 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein materials forming the first, second, and third vented zones have air permeabilities of at least 800 ft 3 /min per ft 2 . 
     
     
         10 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the first garment portion, the first vented zone, the second vented zone, and the third vented zone are made from a single type of fabric material, and wherein the first, second, and third vented zones are formed by increasing the air permeability of the fabric material at locations of the first vented zone, the second vented zone, and the third vented zone. 
     
     
         11 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the first garment portion, the first vented zone, the second vented zone, and the third vented zone are made from a single piece of fabric material, wherein the first, second, and third vented zones are formed by increasing the air permeability of the single piece of fabric material at locations of the first vented zone, the second vented zone, and the third vented zone. 
     
     
         12 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the first garment portion forms a majority of the garment structure. 
     
     
         13 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the garment structure is a tight, body-fitting garment selected from the group of a track suit, a wrestling uniform, or a leotard. 
     
     
         14 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third vented zones are the only vented zones in the garment. 
     
     
         15 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first, second, or third vented zones is shaped so as to form or partially form printed information, a logo, or a trademark. 
     
     
         16 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the first garment portion is a non-mesh fabric material, and wherein each of the first vented zone, the second vented zone, and the third vented zone is formed of a mesh material. 
     
     
         17 . A garment, comprising:
 a first garment portion formed of a fabric material, wherein the first garment portion has an air permeability of less than 550 ft 3 /min per ft 2  measured according to ASTM D737-96;   a second garment portion forming a garment structure with at least the first garment portion, wherein the second garment portion includes a first vented zone, wherein a material forming the first vented zone has an air permeability of at least 600 ft 3 /min per ft 2  measured according to ASTM D737-96, and wherein the first vented zone extends along a center back portion of the garment structure from proximate to a neck opening to proximate a waist opening of the garment structure, wherein the first vented zone is at least 12 in 2 ;   a third garment portion forming part of the garment structure, wherein the third garment portion includes a second vented zone separate from the first vented zone, wherein the second vented zone is formed from a material having an air permeability of at least 600 ft 3 /min per ft 2  measured according to ASTM D737-96, wherein the second vented zone extends along a first torso side of the garment structure from proximate to a first underarm seam or a first arm opening to proximate to the waist opening of the garment structure, wherein the second vented zone is at least 12 in 2 ; and   a fourth garment portion forming part of the garment structure, wherein the fourth garment portion includes a third vented zone separate from the first vented zone and the second vented zone, wherein the third vented zone is formed from a material having an air permeability of at least 600 ft 3 /min per ft 2  measured according to ASTM D737-96, wherein the third vented zone extends along a second torso side of the garment structure from proximate to a second underarm seam or a second arm opening to proximate to the waist opening of the garment structure, wherein the third vented zone is at least 12 in 2 .   
     
     
         18 . A garment according to  claim 17 , wherein the air permeability of a material forming the first vented zone is at least 600 ft 3 /min per ft 2 . 
     
     
         19 . A garment according to  claim 17 , wherein the fabric material of the first garment portion is a non-mesh material, and wherein the first garment portion provides a majority of the garment structure. 
     
     
         20 . A garment according to  claim 17 , wherein the garment structure further includes two leg openings. 
     
     
         21 . A garment according to  claim 17 , wherein the fabric material of the first garment portion is the same as a fabric material forming the first vented zone, and wherein the first vented zone includes a plurality of perforations formed in the fabric material at a location of the first vented zone. 
     
     
         22 . A garment according to  claim 17 , wherein the air permeability of a fabric material forming the first vented zone is at least 600 ft 3 /min per ft 2 . 
     
     
         23 . The garment according to  claim 17 , wherein the first garment portion has an air permeability of less than 450 ft 3 /min per ft 2 . 
     
     
         24 . The garment according to  claim 17 , wherein materials forming the first, second, and third vented zones have air permeabilities of at least 700 ft 3 /min per ft 2 . 
     
     
         25 . The garment according to  claim 17 , wherein materials forming the first, second, and third vented zones have air permeabilities of at least 800 ft 3 /min per ft 2 . 
     
     
         26 . The garment according to  claim 17 , wherein the first garment portion, the first vented zone, the second vented zone, and the third vented zone are made from a single type of fabric material, and wherein the first, second, and third vented zones are formed by increasing the air permeability of the fabric material at locations of the first vented zone, the second vented zone, and the third vented zone. 
     
     
         27 . The garment according to  claim 17 , wherein the first garment portion, the first vented zone, the second vented zone, and the third vented zone are made from a single piece of fabric material, wherein the first, second, and third vented zones are formed by increasing the air permeability of the single piece of fabric material at locations of the first vented zone, the second vented zone, and the third vented zone. 
     
     
         28 . The garment according to  claim 17 , wherein the first garment portion forms a majority of the garment structure. 
     
     
         29 . The garment according to  claim 17 , wherein the garment structure is a tight, body-fitting garment selected from the group of a track suit, a wrestling uniform, or a leotard. 
     
     
         30 . The garment according to  claim 17 , wherein the first, second, and third vented zones are the only vented zones in the garment. 
     
     
         31 . The garment according to  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first, second, or third vented zones is shaped so as to form or partially form printed information, a logo, or a trademark. 
     
     
         32 . The garment according to  claim 17 , herein the first garment portion is a non-mesh fabric material, and wherein each of the first vented zone, the second vented zone, and the third vented zone is formed of a mesh material.