Multispectral cooling fabric

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to a base fabric for body gear and other goods having designed performance characteristics, and in particular to technical gear, such as garments, that utilize multispectral cooling elements coupled to the exterior facing surface of a base fabric.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A multispectral cooling material adapted for use with bodywear, comprising:
 a base fabric having an externally facing surface and having a performance characteristic; and   one or more multispectral cooling elements coupled to the externally facing surface of the base fabric, wherein the placement and spacing of the one or more multispectral cooling elements leaves a portion of the base fabric uncovered and enables the base material to retain at least partial performance of the performance characteristic, and wherein the multispectral cooling material reflects greater than 50% more of the solar energy in the 0.25 μm to 0.78 μm wavelength range compared to the base fabric alone, has a greater than 20% reduction in transmitted solar energy in the 0.25 μm to 2.5 μm wavelength range compared to the base fabric alone, and has a greater than 1% increase in energy emission in a 5 μm to 40 μm wavelength range compared to the base fabric alone.   
     
     
         2 . The multispectral cooling material of  claim 1 , wherein the multispectral cooling material reflects greater than 10% more of the solar energy in the 0.25 μm to 2.5 μm wavelength range compared to the base fabric alone. 
     
     
         3 . The multispectral cooling material of  claim 1 , wherein the multispectral cooling material reflects greater than 30% more of the solar energy in the 0.25 μm to 2.5 μm wavelength range compared to the base fabric alone. 
     
     
         4 . The multispectral cooling material of  claim 1 , wherein the multispectral cooling material reflects greater than 200% more of the solar energy in the 0.25 μm to 0.78 μm wavelength range compared to the base fabric alone. 
     
     
         5 . The multispectral cooling material of  claim 1 , wherein the multispectral cooling material has a greater than 30% reduction in transmitted solar energy in the 0.25 μm to 2.5 μm wavelength range compared to the base fabric alone. 
     
     
         6 . The multispectral cooling material of  claim 1 , wherein the multispectral cooling material has a greater than 2% increase in energy emission in a 5.0 μm to 40 μm wavelength range compared to the base fabric alone. 
     
     
         7 . The multispectral cooling material of  claim 1 , wherein the multispectral cooling elements comprise a white pigmented foil. 
     
     
         8 . The multispectral cooling material of  claim 1 , wherein the multispectral cooling elements comprise a metal oxide. 
     
     
         9 . The multispectral cooling material of  claim 8 , wherein the metal oxide comprises TiO 2 , ZnO, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The multispectral cooling material of  claim 1 , wherein the surface coverage area of the multispectral cooling elements is from about 15% to about 90% of the externally facing surface of the base fabric in at least one 1 inch by 1 inch unit cell. 
     
     
         11 . The multispectral cooling material of  claim 1 , wherein the surface coverage area of the multispectral cooling elements varies across different regions of the multispectral cooling material. 
     
     
         12 . The multispectral cooling material of  claim 1 , wherein the individual multispectral cooling elements are from about 0.1 mm in diameter to about 5.0 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         13 . An article of bodywear comprising a multispectral cooling material, the material comprising:
 a base fabric having an externally facing surface and having a performance characteristic; and   one or more multispectral cooling elements coupled to the externally facing surface of the base fabric,   wherein the placement and spacing of the one or more multispectral cooling elements leaves a portion of the base fabric uncovered and enables the base material to retain at least partial performance of the performance characteristic, and wherein the multispectral cooling material reflects, greater than 50% more of the solar energy in the 0.25 μm to 0.78 μm wavelength range compared to the base fabric alone, has a greater than 20% reduction in transmitted solar energy in the 0.25 μm to 2.5 μm wavelength range compared to the base fabric alone, and has a greater than 1% increase in energy emission in a 5.0 μm to 40 μm wavelength range compared to the base fabric alone.   
     
     
         14 . The article of bodywear of  claim 13 , wherein the multispectral cooling material reflects greater than 10% more of the solar energy in the 0.25 μm to 2.5 μm wavelength range compared to the base fabric alone. 
     
     
         15 . The article of bodywear of  claim 13 , wherein the multispectral cooling elements comprise a white pigmented foil. 
     
     
         16 . The article of bodywear of  claim 13 , wherein the multispectral cooling elements comprise a metal oxide. 
     
     
         17 . The article of bodywear of  claim 16 , wherein the metal oxide comprises TiO 2 , ZnO, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The article of bodywear of  claim 13 , wherein the surface coverage area of the multispectral cooling elements is from about 15% to about 90% of the externally facing surface of the base fabric in at least one 1 inch by 1 inch unit cell. 
     
     
         19 . The article of bodywear of  claim 13 , wherein the surface coverage area of the multispectral cooling elements varies across different regions of the article of bodywear. 
     
     
         20 . The article of bodywear of  claim 13 , wherein the individual multispectral cooling elements are from about 0.1 mm in diameter to about 5.0 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         21 . A method of making a multispectral cooling material, comprising:
 selecting a base fabric having an externally facing surface and having a performance characteristic; and   coupling one or more multispectral cooling elements to the externally facing surface of the base fabric, wherein the placement and spacing of the one or more multispectral cooling elements leaves a portion of the base fabric uncovered and enables the base material to retain at least partial performance of the performance characteristic, and wherein the multispectral cooling material reflects greater than 50% more of the solar energy in the 0.25 μm to 0.78 μm wavelength range compared to the base fabric alone, has a greater than 20% reduction in transmitted solar energy in the 0.25 μm to 2.5 μm wavelength range compared to the base fabric alone, and has a greater than 1% increase in energy emission in a 5.0 μm to 40 μm wavelength range compared to the base fabric alone.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the multispectral cooling material reflects greater than 10% more of the solar energy in the 0.25 μm to 2.5 μm wavelength range compared to the base fabric alone. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the multispectral cooling elements comprise a white pigmented foil. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the multispectral cooling elements comprise a metal oxide. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein metal oxide comprises TiO 2 , ZnO, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the surface coverage area of the multispectral cooling elements is from about 15% to about 90% of the externally facing surface of the base fabric in at least one 1 inch by 1 inch unit cell. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the surface coverage area of the multispectral cooling elements varies across the multispectral cooling material. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the individual multispectral cooling elements are from about 0.1 mm in diameter to about 5.0 mm in diameter.