Garment for tubing management

Abstract

A garment having a tubing management system incorporated therein is provided. The tubing management system includes at least one conduit and a coupling system for the conduit. The coupling system has at least one coupling point, which is located, for example, at the neck opening of the garment. The coupling system defines a path for the conduit, i.e., there is more than one attachment point, therefore the path of the conduit may be controlled. In this configuration, the conduit moves with the user and, as such, there is a reduced chance that the user's movements, even while asleep, will cause the facemask to be pulled from its proper position.

1 . A garment ( 10 ) comprising:
 (a) a covering ( 12 ) structured to be disposed over at least a portion of the upper body, wherein the covering includes an inner side ( 16 ), an outer side ( 18 ), a neck opening ( 20 ), and a waist portion ( 22 ); and   (b) a tubing management system ( 14 ) including:
 (1) a conduit ( 50 ) extending from the waist portion to the neck opening, and 
 (2) a coupling system ( 30 ) adapted to couple the conduit to the covering, and wherein the conduit is adapted to be coupled to a supply conduit ( 2 ) and a facemask conduit ( 3 ). 
   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit comprises a flexible tube ( 52 ) coupled to the inner side or the outer side of the covering, and wherein the coupling system includes a first loop coupling ( 70 ) coupled to the flexible tube and the covering. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 2 , wherein the first loop coupling is disposed proximal to the neck opening ( 20 ), and wherein the coupling system includes a second loop coupling coupled to the flexible tube and the covering and disposed proximal to the waist portion. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 2 , wherein the first loop coupling includes an elongated loop extending between the neck opening and the waist portion. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit includes a lower first manifold, a plurality of flexible tubes, and an upper second manifold, wherein the upper second manifold is structured to be coupled to the facemask conduit ( 3 ), and wherein the first loop coupling is coupled to the upper second manifold. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit includes a flexible tube having has a lower first end, a medial portion, and an upper second end, and wherein the coupling system includes a first magnetic material operatively coupled to a portion of the covering and a second magnetic material operatively coupled to a portion of the conduit such that the first magnetic material and the second magnetic material interact to couple the conduit to the covering. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 6 , wherein conduit includes a at least one slug ( 122 ) made from the second magnetic material, wherein the at least one slug is fixed to the flexible tube. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling system includes an elongated sheet of a first magnetic material adapted to be coupled to the covering, wherein the conduit includes a lower first manifold, a plurality of medial flexible tubes, and an upper second manifold, wherein the upper second manifold is structured to be coupled to such a facemask conduit, and wherein the coupling system further includes a sheet of a second magnetic material structured so as to be coupled to the sheet of a first magnetic material with the medial tubes disposed therebetween. 
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the covering has at least a portion with an inner layer and an outer layer, the inner and the outer layers forming a plenum ( 136 ) therebetween, wherein the plenum has a first lower opening disposed proximate to the waist portion, and a second upper opening disposed proximate to the neck opening, and wherein the plenum is the coupling system. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein the conduit is at least one flexible tube extending through the plenum. 
     
     
         11 . The garment ( 10 ) of  claim 9 , wherein the conduit includes a lower first manifold, a plurality of medial flexible tubes, and an upper second manifold, wherein the upper second manifold is adapted to be coupled to such a facemask conduit, and wherein the plurality of medial flexible tubes extend through the plenum. 
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein the inner layer and the outer layer include a gas impervious material and the plenum forms a bladder ( 150 ) defining the conduit, and wherein the conduit includes:
 a first lower opening having a conduit interface structured to be coupled to such a supply conduit, and   a second upper opening having a conduit interface structured to be coupled to such a facemask conduit.   
     
     
         13 . The garment of  claim 12 , wherein the bladder is filled with a matrix of rigid material. 
     
     
         14 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein the inner layer and the outer layer include a gas impervious material and the plenum forms a plurality of bladders ( 180 ) defining the conduit. 
     
     
         15 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the covering includes leggings ( 24 ) and the conduit extends through at least a portion of the leggings.