Apparel – Body garments – Union type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-22
2001-02-13
Hale, Gloria M. (Department: 3741)
Apparel
Body garments
Union type
C002S458000, C062S259300, C062S530000, C165S046000, C165S136000, C607S096000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06185742
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to micro-climate garments and more particularly to a vest or shirt adapted for use by welder's, hot metal workers and others to provide personal cooling in harsh, high temperature environments thereby allowing the wearer to work comfortably in such environments over a longer period of time before requiring relief.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a micro-climate garment particularly adapted for use by welder's, hot metal workers and others wherein that garment incorporates a phase change material having a melting/freezing temperature of, for example, 50-60° F.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a micro-climate garment including an aluminized outer skin and high temperature insulating and flame retardant protective layer to provide protection from sparks and hot metal spatter.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a micro-climate garment including an aluminized outer face that is coated with a non-glare material to prevent “flash” (reflection) from a welding arc or other intense light source that could potentially induce ocular damage to parties in the work area not wearing protection eyewear.
Additional objects, advantages and other novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned with the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
To achieve the foregoing and other objects, and in accordance with the purposes of the present invention as described herein, a welder's garment is provided including an inner, flexible liner having at least one pocket. The welder's garment also includes a pouch including a phase change material having a melting/freezing temperature between 50-60° F. that is held in the pocket. Additionally, an outer metalized, preferably aluminized, skin is provided for reflecting heat away from the wearer of the welder's garment. Still further, a non-glare coating of polyurethane enamel or other appropriate material is provided on the metalized skin in order to reduce or prevent potentially dangerous reflection of high intensity light such as a welding arc which might otherwise cause temporary visual impairment or even permanent ocular damage to unsuspecting individuals without eyewear protection in the vicinity of the work area.
Preferably, the phase change material utilized in the garment of the present invention is at least one n-alkane. More specifically, the phase change material may be selected from a group including tetradecane, pentadecane, hexadecane, heptadecane and mixtures thereof. In the most preferred embodiment the phase change material is a mixture of tetradecane and hexadecane providing a melting/freezing temperature of approximately 55° F.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the welder's garment may also include an intermediate insulating layer preferably constructed from flame retardant material. Advantageously, the metalized skin of the welder's vest provides the wearer with excellent protection against sparks and molten metal splash which may be experienced during the welding process. At the same time, the non-glare coating substantially eliminates the potential for ocular injury that might otherwise occur from dangerous reflection of high intensity light such as the welding arc on the metalized skin. Accordingly, the welder's garment of the present invention represents a significant advance in the art.
Still other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description wherein there is shown and described a preferred embodiment of this invention, simply by way of illustration of one of the modes best suited to carry out the invention. As it will be realized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
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Hale Gloria M.
King and Schickli PLLC
Patel Tejush
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