Insulating Clothing Systems and Methods of Use

Abstract

An insulating clothing system includes an article of clothing having a front portion and at least one pocket in the front portion. The pocket is configured to at least partially cover at least one intimate part of a user. At least one insulating insert including at least one layer of thermal insulation material is removably positioned in the pocket and configured to passively provide thermal insulation to the intimate part. The at least one insulating insert can provide an R-value of greater than about 3.5.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An insulating clothing system comprising:
 an article of clothing including a front portion and at least one pocket in said front portion, said at least one pocket configured to at least partially cover at least one intimate part of a user; and   at least one insulating insert removably positionable in said at least one pocket, said at least one insulating insert configured to passively provide thermal insulation to the intimate part and including at least one layer of thermal insulation material, wherein said at least one insulating insert exhibits an R-value greater than about 3.5.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said intimate part comprises a breast, and wherein said at least one insulating insert includes a wing portion configured to extend around at least a portion of the outside of the breast. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one insulating insert comprises at least one layer of synthetic fiber thermal insulation material secured within a cover made from a soft woven fabric. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said cover is substantially wind-resistant. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one insulating insert comprises:
 a down fill material;   an inner cover containing said down fill material;   at least one layer of synthetic fiber thermal insulation material situated on an outer surface of said inner cover; and   an outer cover containing said inner cover and said at least one layer of synthetic fiber thermal insulation material, said outer covering defining at least one exterior layer of said at least one insulating insert.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said inner cover is configured to be positioned between the skin surface of the user and said at least one layer of synthetic fiber thermal insulation material. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said outer cover includes a merino wool material or a flannel material. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one insulating insert comprises a synthetic fiber thermal insulation material and down fill. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said insulating insert is configured to at least in part conform to the contour of the intimate part. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one insulating insert exhibits an R-value greater than about 5. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said article of clothing comprises a bra. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said article of clothing comprises a female swimsuit or a t-shirt. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one pocket opening in an outer layer of said article of clothing that is in communication with said at least one pocket; and   at least one pocket closure system for selectively opening and closing said at least one pocket opening.   
     
     
         14 . An insulating bra system comprising:
 a bra including:
 a front portion configured to provide support to breasts of a user, said front portion including at least one pocket concealed within said front portion; 
 a back portion configured to extend across the back of the user; 
 side portions extending between said front portion and said back portion and configured to extend under the arms of the user, and 
   at least one insulating insert removably positionable within said at least one pocket of said bra, said at least one insulating insert including a cover and at least one thermal insulation material and configured to substantially shield and passively provide thermal insulation to the breasts of the user, wherein said at least one insulating insert positioned within said at least one pocket increase a Clo value of said bra by greater than about 10%.   
     
     
         15 . The bra system of  claim 14 , wherein said cover includes:
 a first layer;   a second layer spaced from said first layer; and   a receiving space defined between said first layer and said second layer, wherein said receiving space includes said at least one thermal insulation material comprising at least one of natural down or synthetic down material.   
     
     
         16 . The bra system of  claim 15 , wherein at least one or said first layer or said second layer include synthetic fiber thermal insulation. 
     
     
         17 . The bra system of  claim 14 , wherein said at least one insulating insert includes a third layer of a wind-resistant material configured to at least prevent wind from penetrating said at least one insulating insert. 
     
     
         18 . The bra system of  claim 14 , wherein at least one insulating insert includes one or more thermally reflective materials configured to reduce the amount of heat the user loses as thermal radiation. 
     
     
         19 . A method of thermally insulating a user's breasts, the method comprising:
 positioning a bra on the upper torso of the user, wherein the bra includes a front portion having a pair of pockets positioned over the user's breast; and   inserting an insulating insert in each of said pockets to passively provide thermal insulation to the user's breast, wherein each insulating insert includes at least one layer of thermal insulation material secured within an outer cover and exhibits an R-value greater than about 4.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said insulating insert includes a layer of down fill material.