Electrically heated garment

Abstract

An article of clothing includes a garment body and a heater coupled to the garment body. A battery holder defines a cavity. A rechargeable battery pack is configured for use with at least one of a power tool and a sensing device. The rechargeable battery pack is slidably received within the cavity and detachably coupled to the battery holder by a latching arrangement. A controller selectively provides power from the rechargeable battery pack to the heater. A user input member for selecting a mode of the controller is coupled to the garment body.

1 . An article of clothing comprising:
 a garment body;   a heater coupled to the garment body;   a battery holder defining a cavity;   a rechargeable battery pack configured for use with at least one of a power tool and a sensing device, the rechargeable battery pack slidably received within the cavity and detachably coupled to the battery holder by a latching arrangement;   a controller selectively providing power from the rechargeable battery pack to the heater; and   a user input member coupled to the garment body, the user input member for selecting a mode of the controller.   
     
     
         2 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein the user input member is also configured for selecting a thermal output of the heater. 
     
     
         3 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , further comprising a display indicating a thermal output setting. 
     
     
         4 . The article of clothing of  claim 3 , wherein the display is illuminated. 
     
     
         5 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein the user input member includes a display indicating a thermal output setting. 
     
     
         6 . The article of clothing of  claim 5 , wherein the display comprises a plurality of LED lights. 
     
     
         7 . The article of clothing of  claim 5 , wherein the display further indicates a state of charge of the rechargeable battery pack. 
     
     
         8 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein the user input member comprises a button. 
     
     
         9 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein the user input member is coupled to an external surface of the garment. 
     
     
         10 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein the garment body includes a pocket for receiving the battery holder and rechargeable battery pack. 
     
     
         11 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein the rechargeable battery pack comprises a plurality of Li-ion battery cells. 
     
     
         12 . The article of clothing of  claim 11 , wherein the rechargeable battery pack further comprises
 a casing surrounding the plurality of Li-ion battery cells,   an end cap including a terminal, and   an outer housing including the latching arrangement.   
     
     
         13 . The article of clothing of  claim 12 , wherein the latching arrangement includes latching tabs for engaging the battery holder. 
     
     
         14 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein the controller monitors a state of charge of the rechargeable battery and de-energizes the heater in response to the state of charge. 
     
     
         15 . A method of operating a garment heated by an electric heater, powered by a battery pack received by a battery holder, and controlled by a controller via a control input, the method comprising:
 actuating the control input to cause the electric heater to enter a pre-heat mode;   maintaining the electric heater in a pre-heat mode for a first time period;   automatically switching the electric heater to a first thermal setting at the end of the first time period;   selectively switching the electric heater to a second thermal setting by actuating the control input.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising selectively deenergizing the electric heater by actuating the control input. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising monitoring a state of charge of the battery pack and automatically deenergizing the electric heater based upon a state of charge of the battery pack. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the control input includes an illuminated portion, the method further comprising indicating a thermal setting with the illuminated portion. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the battery pack comprises a plurality of lithium ion battery cells disposed within a housing, the housing including a latching arrangement for selectively coupling the battery pack to the battery holder. 
     
     
         20 . An article of clothing comprising:
 a garment body;   a heater coupled to the garment body;   a battery holder defining a cavity, the battery holder disposed within the garment body and electrically coupled to the heater;   a rechargeable battery pack slidably received within the cavity and detachably coupled to the battery holder by a latching arrangement;   a user input member coupled to the garment body; and   a controller for selectively providing power from the rechargeable battery pack to the heater in response to control signals from the user input member, the controller causing the heater to enter a pre-heat mode in response to a first signal from the user input member, maintaining the heater in the pre-heat mode for a first time period, automatically switching the heater to a first thermal setting at the end of the first time period, and selectively switching the heater to a second thermal setting in response to a second signal from the user input member.   
     
     
         21 . The article of clothing of  claim 20 , wherein the rechargeable battery pack is configured for use with at least one of a power tool and a sensing device. 
     
     
         22 . The article of clothing of  claim 20 , wherein the rechargeable battery pack comprises a plurality of Li-ion battery cells. 
     
     
         23 . The article of clothing of  claim 22 , wherein the rechargeable battery pack further comprises
 a casing surrounding the plurality of Li-ion battery cells,   an end cap including a terminal, and   an outer housing including the latching arrangement.   
     
     
         24 . The article of clothing of  claim 20 , wherein the latching arrangement includes latching tabs for engaging the battery holder. 
     
     
         25 . The article of clothing of  claim 20 , wherein the controller monitors a state of charge of the rechargeable battery and de-energizes the heater in response to the state of charge. 
     
     
         26 . The article of clothing of  claim 20 , further comprising a display indicating a thermal output setting. 
     
     
         27 . The article of clothing of  claim 20 , wherein the user input member includes a display indicating a thermal output setting. 
     
     
         28 . The article of clothing of  claim 20 , wherein the user input member is coupled to an external surface of the garment.