Article of Apparel

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward an article of apparel effective to regulate the temperature of the wearer. In an embodiment, the article of apparel includes a base textile with a thermal regulation membrane. The thermal regulation membrane contains a plurality of system-reactive components selectively engaged heat and/or moisture. In an embodiment, the printed coating includes a cooling agent, a phase change material, and a heat dissipation material. In operation, the article of apparel is effective to delay/diminish the rise in skin temperature (compared to a garment lacking the membrane), increasing wearer comfort.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An article of apparel comprising:
 a textile substrate including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; and   a thermal regulation membrane disposed on the first substrate surface, the thermal regulation membrane comprising a plurality of system reactive components, the system reactive materials being selectively engaged in response to conditions of a wearer wearing the article of apparel.   
     
     
         2 . The article of apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the system reactive components are selected from the group consisting of a cooling agent, a latent heat agent, and a heat dissipation agent. 
     
     
         3 . The article of apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of system reactive components include a cooling agent, a latent heat agent, and a heat dissipation agent. 
     
     
         4 . The article of apparel according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the cooling agent is a polyol selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, xylitol and erythritol; and   the latent heat agent is a phase change material comprising a paraffinic hydrocarbon.   
     
     
         5 . The article of apparel according to  claim 4 , wherein the heat dissipation agent comprises a silicate mineral. 
     
     
         6 . The article of apparel according to  claim 5 , wherein the silicate material is jade. 
     
     
         7 . The article of apparel according to  claim 6 , wherein the thermal regulation membrane further comprises a binder. 
     
     
         8 . The article of apparel according to  claim 7 , wherein the binder is polyurethane. 
     
     
         9 . The article of apparel according to  claim 8 , wherein the textile substrate is selected from the group consisting of a woven fabric, a knitted fabric, and a nonwoven fabric. 
     
     
         10 . The article of apparel according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first surface is a wearer-facing surface of the article of apparel; and   the article of apparel is oriented such that the first surface contacts the wearer.   
     
     
         11 . The article of apparel according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first substrate surface defines a surface area; and   the thermal regulation membrane covers up to 30% of the surface area of the first substrate surface.   
     
     
         12 . The article of apparel according to  claim 11 , wherein the thermal regulation membrane is discontinuous, thereby defining treated areas and untreated areas along the first substrate surface. 
     
     
         13 . A method of forming an article of apparel, the method comprising:
 obtaining a textile substrate;   applying a thermal regulation composition to a surface of the textile substrate at a first temperature and a first pressure to form a coated textile substrate;   drying the coated textile substrate to form a thermal regulation membrane disposed on the surface of the textile substrate; and   compressing the substrate with the thermal regulation membrane at a second pressure and a second temperature to position a portion of the thermal regulation membrane below the surface of the textile substrate; and   incorporating the substrate into an article of apparel.   
     
     
         14 . The method of forming an article of apparel according to  claim 13 , wherein applying comprises applying via a rotogravure apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The method of forming an article of apparel according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first pressure differs from the second pressure; and   the first temperature differs from the second temperature.   
     
     
         16 . The method of forming an article of apparel according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 the second temperature is from 25° C. to 55° C.; and   the second pressure is from about 30 to 70 lbs.   
     
     
         17 . The method of forming an article of apparel according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the second temperature is about 30° C.; and   the second pressure is about 50 lbs.   
     
     
         18 . The method of forming an article of apparel according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 applying comprises applying the thermal regulation composition in a discontinuous pattern including a plurality of linear elements to form a bimodal substrate surface defining treated and untreated areas; and   properties of the untreated areas and the properties of the treated areas cooperate to provide the article of apparel with temperature regulation properties.