Replaceable/configurable heating system for apparel

Abstract

The present inventive concept relates to electrically-powered, thermally-regulated apparel or heated garments and a controller and related methods of operation thereof. The thermally-regulated apparel item can include one or more heating elements that can be mounted at spaced locations about the body of the apparel item, such as being received in pockets, or by being attached to the body by releasable fasteners. The heating elements also can be connected together is series to form a combined or composite heating element assembly for the apparel item having a user selected or defined configuration and coverage along the body of the apparel item.

1 . A thermally regulated garment comprising:
 a garment body having a series of body sections with seams defined between adjacent connected body sections;   a series of heating elements removably mounted to the garment body at user selectable locations, the heating elements including electrically conductive materials adapted to provide a predetermined thermal output in response to an electrical current being applied thereto; and   at least one power transmission line extending along at least one of the seams of the garment body and having a connector attached to a distal end thereof and which is configured to couple the at least one power transmission line to a power source;   wherein the heating elements are releasably connectable to the at least one power transmission line for receiving electric current therefrom; and   wherein a user can select a number of heating elements of a desired size, type and/or thermal output, and the locations at which the selected heating elements are to be positioned about the garment body, to configure the thermally regulated garment according to their user preferences.   
     
     
         2 . The thermally regulated garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment body comprises a series of pockets formed along one or more of the body sections. 
     
     
         3 . The thermally regulated garment of  claim 2 , wherein the pockets are configured to receive a heating element of a corresponding size and/or configuration therein. 
     
     
         4 . The thermally regulated garment of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the pockets of the series of pockets comprises a releasably engageable closure element or partition located along a portion of the pocket for selectively sectioning the pocket for receiving a heating element of a smaller size than the pocket therein. 
     
     
         5 . The thermally regulated garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment body further comprises an inner layer and an outer layer, and at least one pocket configured for receiving a heating element therein located between the inner and outer layers. 
     
     
         6 . The thermally regulated garment of  claim 1 , wherein the heating elements each comprise a heating pad including a carrier, a conductive wire material applied to a surface of the carrier in a pattern, and a releasable connector mounted to an end of the conductive wire and configured to releasably couple to the at least one power transmission line; wherein the conductive wire material and/or the pattern by which it is applied to the carrier are selected to provide a predetermined thermal output for the electric current applied thereto. 
     
     
         7 . The thermally regulated garment of  claim 6 , wherein the garment body comprises a series of pockets configured to receive at least one heating pad therein. 
     
     
         8 . The thermally regulated garment of  claim 6 , wherein the heating pads include a series of releasable fasteners mounted to the carrier and adapted to matingly engage corresponding fasteners mounted about the garment body.