Inflatable Garment

Abstract

A garment having a first layer of fabric and a second layer of fabric at least partially coupled together via adhesive to form a plurality of cavities where each cavity is configured to receive air. The garment can further include a valve in fluid communication with at least one air cavity of the plurality of cavities and is configured to inflate the plurality of cavities to a target volume.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment comprising:
 a first material;   a second material; and   a valve;   wherein the first material and the second material are cooperatively configured such that at least a portion of the first material is coupled to at least a portion of the second material at one or more locations;   wherein the one or more locations of coupling form cavities between the first material and the second material, the cavities configured for inflation and deflation of media; and   wherein the valve is in media communication with at least one of the cavities and is configured to inflate or deflate at least a portion of the cavities to a target volume.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first material is a first layer of a fabric;   the second material is a second layer of the fabric;   the first layer of fabric and the second layer of fabric are coupled at locations via the application of an adhesive to one or both of the first layer and the second layer, which locations are adhesively coupled; and   the media is air.   
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first layer of fabric and the second layer of fabric is substantially fluid-impermeable. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 2  further comprising a heat reflective layer in thermal communication with the second layer of fabric. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 2 , wherein the cavities are arranged in a predetermined pattern formed by locations in which the adhesive is applied between the first and the second layers. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined pattern corresponds to the cavities having a substantially rectangular shape. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the target volume is based at least in part on an ambient temperature. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment is a jacket. 
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is configured for manual inflation of the media therethrough. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein the valve is positioned in a location accessible to the user. 
     
     
         11 . The garment of  claim 2 , wherein the first layer of fabric and the second layer of fabric are coupled together to form a main body and two arm sleeves. 
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is configured for inflation of the media therethrough; and
 wherein the media is not supplied by the user.   
     
     
         13 . A method of manufacturing an inflatable garment comprising:
 forming a plurality of inflatable portions from a first layer of a fabric and a second layer of the fabric;   providing an inflation means to at least one of the inflatable portions; and   assembling the plurality of inflatable portions into an inflatable garment.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein forming the plurality of inflatable portions comprises:
 cutting a sheet of the fabric into the plurality of portions based at least in part on an intended use of the inflatable garment;   applying adhesive in a predetermined pattern on at least one of the first layer of fabric and the second layer of fabric of the plurality of portions; and   joining the first layer of fabric to the second layer of fabric to form the plurality of inflatable portions.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein assembling the plurality of inflatable portions into an inflatable garment comprises sewing together the plurality of inflatable portions. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising cutting an opening into the first layer of fabric, the opening being sized to receive the inflation means comprising a valve. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising uniting one or more borders of the first layer of fabric and the second layer of fabric. 
     
     
         18 . An inflatable garment produced by a process comprising:
 providing a sheet of fabric having a first layer and a second layer;   cutting the sheet of fabric into a plurality of portions based at least in part on an intended use of the inflatable garment;   applying adhesive in a predetermined pattern on at least one of the first layer of fabric and the second layer of fabric of each portion of the plurality of portions;   joining the first layer of fabric to the second layer of fabric of each portion of the plurality of portions to form a plurality of air cavities;   affixing a valve to the first layer of fabric on at least one portion of the plurality of portions; and   sewing together the plurality of portions.