Ventilation system for protective apparel

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cape for protecting a user from containments. The cape includes a neck portion adapted to be secured to a neck of the user and a main body portion having opposing front and rear portions extending from the neck portion adapted to cover the user. A translucent window assembly is provided on a front portion of the cape for providing visual access to a user's personal item disposed behind a rear portion of the cape. A vent assembly is provided which is coupled to the translucent window assembly for providing ventilation of air above and below the cape.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cape for protecting a user, comprising:
 a main body having opposed front and rear portions and defining a neck portion and a cutout, the neck portion configured and adapted to be secured to a neck of the user;   a translucent window panel affixed to the front portion of the main body and sized to cover the cutout, the translucent window panel configured and adapted for providing visual access to a personal item of the user; and   a vent assembly operatively associated with the cape for providing ventilation to air respectively above and below the front and rear portions of the cape, the vent assembly coupled to both the translucent window panel and an edge of the cape defining the cutout.   
     
     
         2 . A cape according to  claim 1 , wherein the vent assembly is mounted for movement between a closed configuration in which the vent assembly and translucent window panel are substantially flush with the front portion and an open configuration in which the vent assembly and translucent window panel extend outward relative to the front portion. 
     
     
         3 . A cape according to  claim 2 , wherein the vent assembly is configured and adapted for accordion movement between the open and closed configurations. 
     
     
         4 . A cape according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one corner portion of the translucent window panel is affixed to the front portion, and at least an adjacent portion of the translucent window panel is movable relative to the front portion. 
     
     
         5 . A cape according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one corner portion of the translucent window panel is affixed to the edge of the cape defining the cutout. 
     
     
         6 . A cape according to  claim 1 , wherein the vent assembly is mounted for movement between a closed configuration in which the vent assembly is substantially covered by the translucent window panel, and an open configuration in which the assembly is substantially uncovered. 
     
     
         7 . A cape according to  claim 1 , wherein the edge is a bottom edge, whereby the vent assembly is operatively disposed in a substantially elevated position relative to a personal item of the user during use. 
     
     
         8 . A cape according to  claim 1 , wherein the translucent panel member is detachably affixed to the front portion. 
     
     
         9 . A cape according to  claim 1 , wherein the translucent panel member is treated with anti-fogging materials. 
     
     
         10 . A cape according to  claim 1 , wherein the translucent panel member includes a portion configured to visually magnify a personal item of the user disposed below the translucent panel member. 
     
     
         11 . A cape according to  claim 1 , further comprising a supporting assembly for securing a personal item of the user to the rear portion of the cape. 
     
     
         13 . A cape for protecting a user, comprising:
 a main body having opposed front and rear portions and defining a neck portion and a cutout, the neck portion configured and adapted to be secured to a neck of the user;   a translucent window panel affixed to the front portion of the main body and sized to cover the cutout, the translucent window panel configured and adapted for providing visual access to a personal item of the user;   a pouch assembly mounted to the rear portion of the cape adjacent the cutout and configured and adapted to store a personal item of the user; and   a vent assembly for providing ventilation to air respectively above and below the front and rear portions of the cape, the vent assembly operatively associated with the pouch and coupled to both the translucent window panel and an edge of the cape defining the cutout.   
     
     
         14 . A cape according to  claim 13 , wherein the vent assembly is mounted for movement between a closed configuration in which the vent assembly is substantially flush with the front portion and an open configuration in which the vent assembly extends outward relative to the front portion. 
     
     
         15 . A cape according to  claim 14 , wherein the vent assembly is configured and adapted to move from the closed configuration toward the open configuration when a personal item of the user is inserted into the pouch assembly. 
     
     
         16 . A cape according to  claim 13 , wherein the pouch assembly includes a rear panel member affixed to the rear portion of the main body such that the rear panel member covers the cutout on a rear side thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A cape for protecting a user, said cape, comprising:
 a main body portion defining a neck portion adapted to be secured to a neck of the user, the main body portion having opposing front and rear portions; and   a pouch assembly provided in the main body, the pouch assembly including:
 a first cutout portion formed in the main body; 
 a second cutout portion formed in the main body, wherein the second cutout portion is formed adjacent the first cutout portion; 
 a rear panel member affixed to the rear portion of the main body such that the rear panel member covers both the first and second cutout portions and has an open edge portion free from the rear portion of the main body providing user access to a pouch formed between the rear panel member and the rear portion of the main body; and 
 a translucent window panel affixed on the front portion of said main body such that the translucent window panel is sized to cover the first cutout portion and not the second cutout portion, the translucent window panel adapted for providing visual access to a user's personal item disposed in said pouch formed between the rear panel member and the rear portion of the main body; and 
 a vent assembly operatively associated with the cape for providing ventilation to air respectively above and below the front and rear portions of the cape, the vent assembly coupled to both the translucent window panel and an edge of the cape defining the cutout. 
   
     
     
         18 . A cape according to  claim 17 , wherein the vent assembly is configured and adapted for accordion movement between open and closed configurations. 
     
     
         19 . A cape according to  claim 18 , wherein the first cutout portion defines a bottom edge, and the vent assembly is coupled to the bottom edge of the first cutout portion whereby the vent assembly is disposed in a substantially elevated position relative to a personal item of the user during use. 
     
     
         20 . A cape assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the translucent panel member is detachably affixed to the front portion of the main body.