Planar thermal-insulating device, in particular for the human body

Abstract

The invention relates to a planar heat insulating device, in particular, an item of clothing or a cover for the human body, comprising a shell ( 2; 12 ), which is filled with a heat-insulating material ( 3, 13 ). The shell ( 2, 12 ) has at least one outlet ( 32 ) provided, by means of which a reduction of the gas volume in the thermal-insulating device is possible. The insulating power of the thermal-insulating device can thus be varied, in particular reduced, by, for example, a factor of 10, by means of a considerable volume reduction. An item of clothing can thus be produced which may have thermal-insulation properties, optimised to suit the wearers activities with differing levels of physical exertion.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A sheetlike heat-transfer control article, especially a garment or a blanket for the human body, having a sheath ( 2 ;  12 ) which is filled with a thermally insulating material ( 3 ,  13 ), characterized in that the sheath ( 2 ,  12 ) is provided with at least one outlet ( 32 ) through which the volume of gas in the heat-transfer control article can be reduced.  
     
     
         2 . A heat-transfer control article according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the sheath consists of an inner sheet ( 12 ) and an outer sheet ( 2 ) which are airtightly joined to each other at the edges and/or in that the sheath is provided or laminated with an outer as a protective layer to protect against mechanical damage.  
     
     
         3 . A heat-transfer control article according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the airtight connection provided at their edges is a connection which is detachable over a predetermined length at one or more locations.  
     
     
         4 . A heat-transfer control article according to any of  claims 1  to  3 , characterized in that the sheaths ( 2 ,  12 ) consist of air-and water-impervious film or in that the sheaths ( 2 ,  12 ) are breathable internally and externally and consist of a breathable water-impervious and air-impervious material and/or of a material selected from the group consisting of polyester, PTFE and hydrophilic or microporous PU.  
     
     
         5 . A heat-transfer control article according to any of  claims 1  to  4 , characterized in that the filling of the thermally insulating material ( 3 ,  13 ) is a bulkable material.  
     
     
         6 . A heat-transfer control article according to any of  claims 1  to  5 , characterized in that the filling of the thermally insulating material is a nonwoven ( 13 ) and/or in that the filling consists of hollow fibers and/or of down feathers ( 3 ) and/or that the filling is realized using self-relaxing material and/or loopformingly knitted or woven spacer fabric.  
     
     
         7 . A heat-transfer control article according to any of  claims 1  to  6 , characterized in that the outlet ( 32 ) is a valve.  
     
     
         8 . A heat-transfer control article according to any of  claims 1  to  7 , characterized in that the sheath ( 2 ,  12 ) is subdivided into individual chambers ( 41 ,  42 ,  43 ).  
     
     
         9 . A heat-transfer control article according to any of  claims 1  to  8 , characterized in that there is an electronic controller ( 31 ) whereby, via a pump ( 31 ), a predetermined gas which is storable in a reservoir and/or ambient air is removable from or blowable into the heat-transfer control article.  
     
     
         10 . A heat-transfer control article according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the air quantity to be removed is determinable for the electronic controller ( 31 ) via a flow meter and/or a thickness meter between the sheaths ( 2  and  12 ) and/or a timer, and/or in that the gas quantity to be removed is predeterminable by means of a temperature sensor and/or a hygrometer, and/or in that a calibrating curve is stored in the electronic controller ( 31 ) and is self-regulatingly active.