FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a garment having an integrated filter panel.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

There are health risks associated with airborne particulate matter. For example, inhalation of smoke, soot, dander, dust, asbestos fibers, etc., can lead to serious and potentially debilitating respiratory problems and perhaps even fatalities. Additionally, airborne diseases may be transmitted by inhalation of airborne pathogens, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Such airborne diseases include, for example, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19), influenza (the flu), the common cold, mumps, chickenpox, measles, tuberculosis (TB), whooping cough, and diphtheria. According to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource center (https://coronavirus.jhu.edu), as of September 2020, approximately 30 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported on a global basis, with over 6 million cases of COVID-19 being reported in the United States, and over 900,000 COVID-19-related deaths have been reported in a global basis, with over 190,000 COVID-19-related deaths being reported in the United States.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), whose stated mission is to protect America from health, safety, and security threats, both foreign and in the U.S., conducts critical science and provides health information that protects the U.S. against expensive and dangerous health threats and response when they may arise. The CDC reports that masks help stop the spread of COVID-19 and recommends wearing masks in public settings around people who live outside of one's own household and when one cannot stay at least six feet away from others.

There are numerous types of face masks that may be effective against transmission of airborne diseases. For example, N95 respirators are commonly used by healthcare workers who require an extremely high level of protection. They are tight fitting and are made of a high- filtration material to thereby filter out approximately 95% of airborne particles. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for N95 masks skyrocketed, making them a scarcity for those needing them the most, i.e., healthcare workers.

KN95 masks are similar to N95 masks and are designed to fit tightly around the wearer's face to provide 95% protection against airborne particles. Surgical masks, also referred to as procedure masks, are generally made of disposable materials and have the ability to protect wearers against contact with, for example, splashed liquids. Surgical masks do not fit as tightly as N95 or KN95 masks and are, therefore, more easily tolerated by the wearer for extended periods of time.

A one-ply mask is generally made of one layer of material and typically include loops to secure the mask around the wearer's ears and/or string ties that may be tied around the wearer's neck or head.

A multi-ply mask is similar to a one-ply mask but is formed of two or more layers of material. The increased number of layers may reduce droplet spread.

A neck gaiter (also referred to as a neck warmer or buff) is an article of clothing worn about the neck, e.g., depending on the material, for warmth, cooling, sun protection, etc. A neck gaiter is formed of a closed tube of material that can be slipped on and off over the wearer's head. It can also be pulled up over the mouth, e.g., for protection of wind, sand, sun, etc. A balaclava is similar to a neck gaiter but is further configured to cover the wearer's head and/or portions of the wearer's face, e.g., so that only the eyes and/or mouth are exposed.

Certain neck gaiters include a filter pocket formed on an interior of the fabric tube. The filter pocket is configured to receive a filter therein. One example of such a neck gaiter with a filter pocket is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0030859, which is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto. One disadvantage of such as neck gaiter is that the pocket adds an additional layer of material, which could reduce airflow, thereby making breathing more difficult. Additionally, the exposed edges of the pocket or its stitching may cause irritation or chaffing to the wearer. Moreover, the wearer is required to purchase and replace the filter, leading to additional expense, and, unless secured in the pocket, the filter can easily be lost or slide out of position.

SUMMARY

According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a garment includes: a tube of fabric material extending from a first open end to a second open end forming an interior space, the fabric material including an outer-most layer of material and an inner-most layer of material; and a filter panel formed of breathable material provided between the outer-most layer of material and the inner-most layer of material of the tube of fabric material, the filter panel adapted to provide greater filtration of airborne particulate matter than the outer-most layer of material and/or the inner-most layer of material. The filter panel may extend from the first open end toward the second open end and may be spaced apart from the second open end.

The filter panel may be spaced apart from the first open end and from the second open end.

The tube of fabric material may be formed of a first panel of material and a second panel of material connected together at opposite sides thereof.

Slits may be formed in seams connecting the opposite sides of the first panel and the second panel, and the slits may be adapted to receive ears of a wearer.

The filter panel may be sized and positioned relative to the tube of fabric material to cover a wearer’ s mouth and/or nose.

The tube of material may have a circumference of 18” to 20” and a height of 10” to 21” between the first open end and the second open end

The tube of material may have a circumference of approximately 18” and a height of approximately 10.5” between the first open end and the second open end.

Each of the outer-most layer of material and the inner-most layer of material may be formed of an elastic, stretchable, and/or breathable material.

A mesh size of the filter panel is smaller than a mesh size of the outer-most layer of material and the inner-most layer of material.

The filter panel may be bonded, laminated, sewn, and/or adhered to the outer- most layer of material and/or the inner-most layer of material.

The outer-most layer of material and/or the inner-most layer of material may be formed of an approximately 130 to 190 g/m ² fabric.

The outer-most-layer of material and/or the inner-most layer of material may be formed of approximately 92% polyester and approximately 8% spandex.

The outer-most layer of material and/or the inner-most layer of material may be formed of 75% to 95% polyester and 5% to 25% spandex.

The first panel may be visually and/or tactilely different than the second panel.

The filter panel may be located in the first panel.

An elastic band and/or cinch tie may be provided at the first open end and/or the second open end.

The garment is arranged as a neck gaiter and/or a balaclava.

The garment may be wearable so that the filter panel selectively covers a wearer’s mouth and/or nose.

The filter panel is adapted to reduce transmission of airborne illnesses. Further features and aspects of example embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail below with reference to the appended Figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a garment, in the form of a neck gaiter, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side perspective view of the neck gaiter illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front perspective view of a garment, in the form of a neck gaiter, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a side perspective view of the neck gaiter illustrated in Figure 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a neck gaiter 10 according to an example embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a side perspective view of the neck gaiter 10 illustrated in Figure 1. Neck gaiter 10 is generally tubular and may be formed, for example, of elastic, stretchable, and/or breathable material. For example, the neck gaiter 10 may be formed of the textile described in PCT/US19/15239, the textile and/or fabric described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 16/077,353, the fabric described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 16/100,939, the fabric described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 16/749,016, the fabric described in PCT/US2020/014529, and/or the material described in PCT/US 2020/041593, each of which is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto.

Neck gaiter 10 has a main body portion 12, which is generally tubular and extends between a first end 16 and a second end 18. Thus, an interior space 20 is formed inside of the neck gaiter 10. The neck gaiter may be worn by a user by passing their head through the interior space 20 so that the neck gaiter 10 covers the wearer’s neck, or at least a portion thereof, extending through the interior space. The top portion of the neck gaiter 10 may be worn under the chin or may be worn to cover the wearer’s mouth and/or nose, or at least a portion thereof. The first end 16 and/or the second end 18 may have, for example, elastic bands, cinch ties, other adjustment devices, etc., to provide for an adjustable fit.

The neck gaiter 10 may be 9” to 10” wide, while laying flat, creating a circumference of 18” to 20”, and may be 10” to 21” tall. For example, the neck gaiter 10 may be approximately 9” wide, while laying flat, creating a circumference of approximately 18”, and may be approximately 10.5” tall. The main body portion 12 may be formed of two or more layers of material or fabric, each layer being a 130 to 190 g/m ² fabric with a 95% polyester / 5% spandex to 75% polyester / 25% spandex circular knit composition, for example. For example, each fabric layer may have an approximately 92% polyester 1 8% spandex circular knit composition. To facilitate manufacturing, the main body portion 12 may be formed of two panels of double layers material, each panel being, for example, 9” to 10” wide and 10” to 21” tall, stitched together at opposite ends to form a first side seam 32 and a second side seam 34. For example, each panel may be approximately 9” wide and approximately 10.5” tall. The side seams 32 and 34 visually and/or tactilely differentiate between a front 28 and a rear 30 of the neck gaiter 10. Slits 38 may be provided in the side seams 32 and 34 in a vicinity of the first end 16 for receiving the wearer’s ears, to maintain the neck gaiter 10 in position when worn to cover the wearer’ s mouth and/or nose.

In addition to the side seams 32 and 34 providing for demarcation between the front 28 and rear 30 of the neck gaiter 10, the front 28 and rear 30 may further be differentiated by, for example, different colors, patterns, textures, heat seals/transfers, woven or other labels, grommets, embroidery, laser or other perforations, printing, other embellishments, etc.

The front 28 of the neck gaiter 10 includes a filter panel 14, formed of, for example, three layers 22, 24, 26 of material. The first layer 22 may correspond to the outer-most layer of material of the main body portion 12 in the region of the filter panel 14, and the third layer 26 may correspond to the inner-most layer of material of the main body portion 12. Depending upon the number of layers forming the main body portion 12, one or more intermediate layers may be provided between the first layer 22 and the third layer 26. The filter panel 14 includes a second layer 24 located between the first layer 22 and the third layer 26, it being understood that one or more intermediate layers may be arranged between the first layer 22 and the second layer 24 and/or between the second layer 24 and the third layer 26. It should be further understood that second layer 24 may itself include multiple layers of material. Thus, the filter panel 14 provides one or more additional layers of material as compared to the remainder of the main body portion 12.

The second layer 24 may be arranged as an ultra-thin, breathable membrane to provide a filter to enhance and improve the ability of the neck gaiter 10 to filter airborne particles when the neck gaiter 10 is worn to cover the wearer’s mouth and/or nose in a position where the filter panel 14 is positioned proximate to the wearer’s mouth and/or nose and where the user inhales and exhales through the neck gaiter 10 in the vicinity of the filter panel 14. In contrast to the front 28 of the neck gaiter 10 providing for enhanced filtration, the opposite rear 30 of the neck gaiter 10 may provide a cooling side, particularly if the neck gaiter 10 is formed of one or more of the materials mentioned above. The second layer 24 may be formed of a material adapted to provide greater filtration of particulate matter than the first layer 22, the third layer 26, and/or any intermediate layers locate between the first layer 22 and the third layer 26. For example, the second layer 24 may have a smaller mesh size than the first layer 22, the third layer 26, and/or any intermediate layers locate between the first layer 22 and the third layer 26

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, for example, the filter panel 14 may extend from the first end 16 toward the second end 18. As illustrated, for example, in Figures 3 and 4, the filter panel 14 may be positioned in between the first end 16 and the second end 18 but not extend to the first end 16. The filter panel 14 may alternatively extend from the first end 16 to the second end 18. The second layer 24 may be, for example, bonded, laminated, sewn, adhered, etc., to the first layer 22 and/or the third layer 26 to thereby form a sandwich-like construction.

While the filter panel 14 has been described herein in connection with a neck gaiter 10, it should be appreciated that such a filter panel 14 may be provided in alterative articles. For example, a filter panel 14 may be provided in a balaclava, scarf, ski mask, face mask, etc., in a region corresponding to the wearer’s mouth and/or nose.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

10 Neck gaiter

12 Main body portion

14 Filter panel 16 First end

18 Second end

20 Interior space

22 First layer

24 Second layer 26 Third layer

28 Front

30 Rear

32 First side seam

34 Second side seam 38 Ear slit