Garment Components and Garments Including Temperature Control Features

Abstract

Garments have heating and/or cooling functionality provided by temperature modifying units engaged with the garment. Aspects of this technology relate to the manner in which the temperature modifying units may be incorporated into the garment structure, structures for better positioning the temperature modifying units to apply heating and/or cooling to the wearer's body, and/or structures for helping assure that the temperature modifying units remain functional.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment, comprising:
 a base garment formed from one or more parts and including a front portion and a back portion, wherein a body containing region of the garment is defined between the front portion and the back portion; and   a temperature modifying unit engaged with the base garment, the temperature modifying unit configured to heat and/or cool at least a portion of an interior of the garment, the temperature modifying unit including: (i) a mount surface at which at least a portion of the temperature modifying unit is mounted to the base garment and (ii) an exterior surface including a plurality of air passages defined therethough, wherein the exterior surface faces away from the mount surface, and wherein the exterior surface has a contoured shape.   
     
     
         2 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface comprises an outer cap for a housing, and wherein the housing includes a housing base in which electrical components of the temperature modifying unit are housed. 
     
     
         3 . The garment according to  claim 2 , wherein the outer cap is removably engaged with the housing base. 
     
     
         4 . The garment according to  claim 3 , wherein the contoured shape of the exterior surface forms a recessed region between an outer top edge of the exterior surface and a center of the exterior surface, and wherein the recessed region includes a valley that is located closer to the mount surface than is the center. 
     
     
         5 . The garment according to  claim 3 , wherein the contoured shape of the exterior surface is smoothly curved and forms an annular recessed region located between an outer top edge of the exterior surface and a center of the exterior surface, and wherein the annular recessed region extends around the center and includes a valley that is located closer to the mount surface than is the center. 
     
     
         6 . The garment according to  claim 3 , wherein the contoured shape of the exterior surface is smoothly curved and forms: (i) an annular outer edge, (ii) a central peak, and (iii) an annular valley located between and connecting the annular outer edge and the central peak. 
     
     
         7 . The garment according to  claim 1 , further comprising a strap system to secure the garment to a wearer's body. 
     
     
         8 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature modifying unit comprises a Peltier module. 
     
     
         9 . The garment according to  claim 1 , further comprising a battery mounted to the base garment, the battery supplying power to the temperature modifying unit. 
     
     
         10 . The garment according to  claim 9 , wherein the battery is mounted to the back portion of the base garment. 
     
     
         11 . The garment according to  claim 1 , further comprising a control panel mounted to the base garment, wherein the control panel is configured to provide user input for controlling the temperature modifying unit. 
     
     
         12 . The garment according to  claim 11 , wherein the control panel is mounted to the front portion of the base garment. 
     
     
         13 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the garment is a vest. 
     
     
         14 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the garment comprises an upper body garment. 
     
     
         15 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the contoured shape of the exterior surface is smoothly curved in a direction from one side edge of the exterior surface across a center of the exterior surface to an opposite side edge of the exterior surface. 
     
     
         16 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the contoured shape of the exterior surface forms a peak within a central region of the exterior surface, and wherein the peak extends in a direction away from the mount surface. 
     
     
         17 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the contoured shape of the exterior surface forms a recessed region between an outer top edge of the exterior surface and a center of the exterior surface, and wherein the recessed region includes a valley that is located closer to the mount surface than is the center. 
     
     
         18 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the contoured shape of the exterior surface is smoothly curved and forms a peak within a central region of the exterior surface, wherein the peak extends in a direction away from the mount surface. 
     
     
         19 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the contoured shape of the exterior surface is smoothly curved and forms an annular recessed region located between an outer top edge of the exterior surface and a center of the exterior surface, and wherein the annular recessed region extends around the center and includes a valley that is located closer to the mount surface than is the center. 
     
     
         20 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the contoured shape of the exterior surface is smoothly curved and forms: (i) an annular outer edge, (ii) a central peak, and (iii) an annular valley located between and connecting the annular outer edge and the central peak.