Variable garments

Abstract

A thermally adaptive garment comprising one or more adaptive garment sections. Each of the one or more adaptive garment sections comprises a pouch defined by a first and second pouch side, the pouch having a front edge and rear edge, the pouch defining a front pouch opening at the front edge and a rear pouch opening at the rear edge, the front and rear pouch openings operable to assume an open and closed configuration, the first and second pouch sides of the pouch defining an internal pouch cavity between the first and second pouch sides. Each of the one or more adaptive garment sections also comprises a lofting layer disposed within the internal pouch cavity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thermally adaptive garment comprising a plurality of adaptive garment sections, with each of the plurality of adaptive garment sections comprising:
 a pouch defined by a first and second pouch side that are coupled on parallel peripheral side edges, the pouch having a front edge and rear edge defined respectively by front and rear first pouch side edges and front and rear second pouch side edges, the pouch defining a front pouch opening at the front edge and a rear pouch opening at the rear edge, the front and rear pouch openings operable to assume an open and closed configuration, the first and second pouch sides of the pouch defining an internal pouch cavity between the first and second pouch sides, wherein at least one of the front edge and rear edge comprises a zipper assembly having zipper lines and a zipper pull configured to cause at least one of the front pouch and rear edge openings to assume the closed configuration; and   a lofting layer disposed within the internal pouch cavity, the lofting layer configured to assume a flat configuration and to assume a lofted configuration, the lofting layer having a wave-like profile comprising:
 a plurality of upper ridge lines with at least two upper ridge lines and no more than four upper ridge lines, 
 one or more lower ridge lines with at least three lower ridge line and no more than five lower ridge lines, 
 a plurality of channels defined at least in part by the lofting layer within the internal pouch cavity including at least five channels and no more than nine channels, the plurality of channels defined at least in part by the upper ridge lines or lower ridge lines of the lofting layer contacting the first or second pouch side, with the plurality of channels being contiguous and of consistent shape and size between the lofting layer front edge and lofting layer rear edge and configured to allow air to pass through the channels when the front and rear edges of the pouch are open, the lofting layer in the lofted configuration being sufficiently rigid to expand the internal pouch cavity and maintain the channels within the internal pouch cavity under pressure or weight of the first and/or second pouch sides, 
 wherein the lofting layer in the lofted configuration has a maximum loft (LM) of between 2 mm and 12 mm, 
 wherein the lofting layer comprises a temperature-responsive yarn or fiber with a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) with a magnitude greater than or equal to 1000 μm/m/K, 
 wherein the lofting layer has an average column width (CW) of between 3 cm and 10 cm, 
 wherein the lofting layer has an average column length (CL) of between 10 cm and 30 cm, 
 wherein the channels allow for an air flow therein of greater than or equal to 1.0 m/s, 
 wherein each of the plurality of adaptive garment sections enables heat flux equal to or being at least 100 W/m 2  in a dry user condition within the garment section, and 
 wherein the lofting layer is linear along a y-axis between the lofting layer front edge and the lofting layer rear edge, with the wave-like profile in an x-axis that is perpendicular to the y-axis, the wave-like profile in an x-axis maintaining a consistent wave-like profile shape along the y-axis. 
   
     
     
         2 . The thermally adaptive garment of  claim 1 , wherein the rear edge of the pouch defines a passive always-open opening without a zipper assembly or snaps or buttons or magnets. 
     
     
         3 . The thermally adaptive garment of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally adaptive garment is a jacket and wherein at least one garment section of the plurality of adaptive garment sections is disposed on a front of the jacket. 
     
     
         4 . A thermally adaptive garment comprising one or more adaptive garment sections, with each of the one or more adaptive garment sections comprising:
 a pouch defined by a first and second pouch side, the pouch having a front edge and rear edge, the pouch defining a front pouch opening at the front edge and a rear pouch opening at the rear edge, the front and rear pouch openings operable to assume an open and closed configuration, the first and second pouch sides of the pouch defining an internal pouch cavity between the first and second pouch sides; and   a lofting layer disposed within the internal pouch cavity, the lofting layer configured to assume a flat configuration and to assume a lofted configuration, the lofting layer defining a lofting layer front edge disposed at the front edge of the pouch and a lofting layer rear edge disposed at the rear edge of the pouch, the lofting layer having a wave-like profile comprising:
 a plurality of upper ridge lines with at least two upper ridge lines and no more than five upper ridge lines, 
 one or more lower ridge lines with at least one lower ridge line and no more than six lower ridge lines, 
 a plurality of channels defined at least in part by the lofting layer within the internal pouch cavity including at least three channels and no more than thirteen channels, the plurality of channels defined at least in part by the upper ridge lines or lower ridge lines of the lofting layer contacting the first or second pouch side, with the plurality of channels being contiguous and of consistent shape and size between the lofting layer front edge and lofting layer rear edge and configured to allow air to pass through the channels when the front and rear edges of the pouch are open, the lofting layer in the lofted configuration being sufficiently rigid to expand the internal pouch cavity and maintain the channels within the internal pouch cavity under pressure or weight of the first and/or second pouch sides. 
   
     
     
         5 . The thermally adaptive garment of  claim 4 , wherein the lofting layer in the lofted configuration has a maximum loft (LM) of between 2 mm and 15 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The thermally adaptive garment of  claim 4 , wherein the lofting layer comprises a temperature-responsive yarn or fiber with a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) with a magnitude greater than or equal to 10001 μm/m/K. 
     
     
         7 . The thermally adaptive garment of  claim 4 , wherein the lofting layer has an average column width (CW) of between 3 cm and 12 cm. 
     
     
         8 . The thermally adaptive garment of  claim 4 , wherein the lofting layer has an average column length (CL) of between 10 cm and 40 cm. 
     
     
         9 . The thermally adaptive garment of  claim 4 , wherein the channels allow for an air flow therein of greater than or equal to 0.6 m/s. 
     
     
         10 . The thermally adaptive garment of  claim 4 , wherein each of the one or more adaptive garment sections enable a heat flux equal to or being at least 50 W/m 2  in a dry user condition. 
     
     
         11 . The thermally adaptive garment of  claim 4 , wherein the lofting layer is linear along a y-axis between the lofting layer front edge and the lofting layer rear edge, with the wave-like profile in an x-axis that is perpendicular to the y-axis, the wave-like profile in an x-axis maintaining a consistent wave-like profile shape along the y-axis. 
     
     
         12 . A thermally adaptive garment comprising one or more adaptive garment sections, with each of the one or more adaptive garment sections comprising:
 a pouch defined by a first and second pouch side, the pouch having a front edge and rear edge, the pouch defining a front pouch opening at the front edge and a rear pouch opening at the rear edge, the front and rear pouch openings operable to assume an open and closed configuration, the first and second pouch sides of the pouch defining an internal pouch cavity between the first and second pouch sides; and   a lofting layer disposed within the internal pouch cavity.   
     
     
         13 . The thermally adaptive garment of  claim 12 , wherein the lofting layer defines a wave-like profile comprising:
 one or more upper ridge lines,   one or more lower ridge lines with at least one lower ridge line,   a plurality of channels defined at least in part by the lofting layer within the internal pouch cavity, the plurality of channels configured to allow air to pass through the channels when the front and rear edges of the pouch are open.   
     
     
         14 . The thermally adaptive garment of  claim 13 , wherein the lofting layer has an average column width (CW) of between 0.5 cm and 5 cm. 
     
     
         15 . The thermally adaptive garment of  claim 13 , wherein the lofting layer has an average column length (CL) of between 10 cm and 40 cm. 
     
     
         16 . The thermally adaptive garment of  claim 12 , wherein the lofting layer has a maximum loft (LM) of between 2 mm and 12 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The thermally adaptive garment of  claim 12 , wherein the lofting layer is configured to assume a flat configuration and to assume a lofted configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The thermally adaptive garment of  claim 12 , wherein the lofting layer has a surface mass density of less than or equal to 40 grams per square meter (gsm). 
     
     
         19 . The thermally adaptive garment of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more adaptive garment sections allow for an air flow therein of greater than or equal to 1.0 m/s. 
     
     
         20 . The thermally adaptive garment of  claim 12 , wherein each of the one or more adaptive garment sections enable heat flux equal to or being at least 50 W/m 2  in a dry user condition. 
     
     
         21 . The thermally adaptive garment of  claim 12 , wherein the lofting layer is a liner of the thermally adaptive garment. 
     
     
         22 . The thermally adaptive garment of  claim 12 , wherein the lofting layer is a non-responsive fabric. 
     
     
         23 . The thermally adaptive garment of  claim 12 , wherein the lofting layer comprises a heatset polyester. 
     
     
         24 . The thermally adaptive garment of  claim 12 , wherein the lofting layer is a moisture responsive fabric. 
     
     
         25 . The thermally adaptive garment of  claim 12 , wherein the lofting layer of the garment is separated from the outside air with a closure at at least one of the front opening and rear opening that comprises a responsive textile that adapts to a change in humidity or temperature such that the garment opens and forms one or more ventilated sections as certain environmental conditions change.