Breathable garment

Abstract

A method for creating rain wear that is completely waterproof yet allows the body's heat and moisture to vent so that the wearer doesn't become wet from the inside said method comprising: a two part system, a shell and a liner, wherein the shell material is waterproof, and the liner material is waterproof and may or may not be breathable and vents placed at intervals in the fabric of the liner that allow for free air flow between the interior and exterior of the garment to achieve breathability by virtue of the vents. A further advantage of the present innovation is the ability to construct the garment out of materials that are inherently flame resistant making them suitable for use in environments where there is a danger of flash fire such as high-voltage electrical work and petroleum production.

1 . A garment, comprising:
 an upper section;   a lower section at least partially spaced apart from the upper section;   a vent hood coupled to the upper section and extending downward over the space between the upper section and a portion of the lower section; and   a resiliently rigid support coupled to the vent hood and configured to maintain the vent hood spaced apart from the lower section to permit air and moisture to exit the article of manufacture between the upper section and the lower section.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment comprises a jacket, wherein the upper section comprises an upper portion of the jacket and the lower section comprises a lower portion of the jacket. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment comprises pants, wherein the upper section comprises an upper portion of the pants and the lower section comprises a lower portion of the pants. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the upper section, the lower section, and the vent hood are oriented relative to one another such that when worn the upper section is above the lower section and the resiliently rigid support maintains the vent hood at least slightly open and facing downward to prevent moisture from entering the garment from above. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the vent hood is formed of a portion of material having a first length that is attached to the lower section at a first point and a second point, wherein a distance between the first point and the second point is shorter than the first length such that the portion of material stands up from the second section to form a vent. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 5  wherein the garment comprises a plurality of vent hoods formed from an elongated strip of material attached to the second section at intervals, wherein the intervals are shorter than the first length to create a plurality of vent hoods. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the resiliently rigid support comprises a portion of the fabric from which the vent hood is made. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the resiliently rigid support comprises an insert sewn into material of the vent hood. 
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the upper section, the lower section, or the vent hood comprises Nomex, flame resistant modacrylic, flame resistant vinyl, or flame resistant urethane. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the vent hood comprises a molded synthetic fitting. 
     
     
         11 . The garment of  claim 10 , wherein the molded synthetic fitting is coupled to the vent hood by at least one of sewing, press-fitting, or welding with heat and pressure. 
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the vent hood is adjustable to increase or decrease the space between the vent hood and the lower section. 
     
     
         13 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the upper and lower sections comprise a liner, the garment further comprising a shell worn over the upper and lower sections. 
     
     
         14 . The garment of  claim 13  wherein the shell is coupled to the upper and lower sections at a front opening and at extremities of the garment. 
     
     
         15 . The garment of  claim 13  wherein the liner is waterproof and breathable by virtue of the vent hood, and wherein the upper and lower sections are waterproof. 
     
     
         16 . The garment of  claim 13  wherein the shell and the liner are joined at the neck, at the wrist, and along the front closure zipper, and also joined together at intervals along the hem at the bottom to allow water to flow out between the liner and the shell and to facilitate air flow. 
     
     
         17 . The garment of  claim 1 , further comprising a first dam on the lower section and a second dam on the lower section spaced apart from the first dam, wherein the vent hood extends to an intermediate position between the first and second dams. 
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing a garment, comprising:
 forming a garment having a first section and a second section with a space between the first and second sections; and   forming a vent hood attached to the first section and extending over the space between the first and second sections and over at least a portion of the second section, wherein the vent hood is sufficiently rigid to stand up away from the second section to define an open vent between the vent hood and the second section.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising forming a dam coupled to the second section underneath at least a portion of the vent hood. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein forming the vent hood comprises forming a synthetic molded fitting that protrudes from the garment to define the vent. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein forming the first and second sections comprises forming the garment from a material that is difficult or expensive to make waterproof and breathable. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the material is one or more of Nomex, flame resistant modacrylic, flame resistant vinyl, or flame resistant urethane. 
     
     
         23 . An article of clothing, comprising:
 a first layer of material forming a liner having a plurality of vents;   a plurality of vent hoods coupled to the first layer of material to cover at least a portion of individual vents, wherein the vent hoods are sufficiently rigid to protrude from the first layer of material to permit air to pass through the vents;   a second layer of material forming a shell, wherein the shell is coupled to the liner and is substantially coextensive with the liner, and wherein the shell and liner are coupled at an interface through which air is permitted to escape the article of clothing.   
     
     
         24 . The article of clothing of  claim 23  wherein the shell is breathable. 
     
     
         25 . The article of clothing of  claim 23  wherein the liner is waterproof. 
     
     
         26 . An article of clothing, comprising:
 a first sheet of material having a vent formed therein, the vent having a span distance;   a second sheet of material attached to the first sheet of material to cover at least a portion of the vent, wherein a portion of the second sheet of material having a length greater than the span distance is positioned over the vent, and wherein the second sheet of material has sufficient rigidity to cause the second sheet of material to stand up away from the first sheet of material, and further wherein the second sheet of material arcs over the vent.   
     
     
         27 . The article of clothing of  claim 26  wherein the first sheet of material has a plurality of vents, and wherein the second sheet of material is positioned over the plurality of vents with stitchings between the vents, and with a portion of the second sheet of material arcing over the individual vents. 
     
     
         28 . The article of clothing of  claim 26 , further comprising a resilient piping member positioned at an edge of the second sheet of material to support the second sheet of material over the vent.