An atmospheric suit includes a torso portion with one or more layers, and fibers of a first material arranged in each of the one or more layers. Optical fibers are interspersed with the fibers of the first material in each of the one or more layers.

A lawn mower or stand-on powered drivable machine has an electrical port that receives current from an alternator powered by the engine or motor. The port receives a plug from a garment worn by the lawn mower operator. The garment includes one or more thermo-electric elements that are powered from current extending through the port. The thermo-electric (TEC) elements may be resistive heaters to warm the operator or TEC coolers to cool the operator. Furthermore, the garment may include a rechargeable battery that powers the thermo-electric elements when the plug is disconnected from the port.

An apparatus includes a flexible substrate; at least one sensor mounted on the flexible substrate arranged to provide an electrical output signal dependent upon a first parameter; and at least one conductive trace provided on the flexible substrate arranged to provide a direct current path to the at least one sensor and having an electrical property dependent upon a second parameter and arranged to provide an electrical output signal indicative of the second parameter.

A flexible and/or stretchable structural system for transmitting electrical signal between first and second rigid portions comprises a body structure and said first and second portions arranged to said body structure. The modulus of elasticity of said first portion is lower than the corresponding modulus of elasticity of said second portion. In addition the modulus of elasticity of said body structure is lower than the corresponding modulus of elasticity of said second portion. The system comprises also an interface portion, such as e.g. an electrically conducting fabric, textile or knit, which is arranged to said body structure and between said first and second portions. The interface portion electrically connects said first and second portions. The modulus of elasticity of said interface portion is lower than the corresponding modulus of elasticity of said second portion.

Air microfluidics and minifluidics enabled active compression apparel enhances mobility and quality of life for individuals by minimizing risks of injuries, enhancing rehabilitation, and maximizing comfort. Balloon actuators, integrated with a garment, provide active compression and augmenting forces to anatomical portions of the human body. The balloon actuators are actuated by fluidic pressurization hardware. The air microfluidics and minifluidics system miniaturizes fluidic pressurization hardware and makes it wearable, ultra lightweight, and ultra formfitting. The air microfluidics and minifluidics system includes micro and mini channels of various lengths, cross-sectional areas, and functions via principles of equivalent hydraulic resistance allowing for fluidic transportation, passive delay in pressurization of the balloon actuators, and digital soft fluidic actuation where the compression force is based on the number of inflated balloon actuators instead of their pressure.

A connector includes a contact connected to a flexible conductor, a housing that is attached to a flexible substrate and retains the contact, and a protection sheet that is constituted of an insulating film having a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer formed on one surface thereof and is disposed between the housing and the flexible substrate such that the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer faces the flexible substrate, the protection sheet being disposed so as to cover at least a front surface part of the flexible substrate on which the flexible conductor is formed, and is adhered to the flexible substrate with the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, the housing having a flat surface facing the flexible substrate, an adhesive layer bonding the housing to the protection sheet being disposed between the flat surface and the protection sheet.

An upper torso garment includes a torso section extending from a waist region to a neck region, a front region positioned adjacent to a chest of a wearer of the garment, and a back region positioned adjacent to a back of the wearer. The torso section includes a left torso region and a right torso region. A quick draw pocket is positioned on the left or right lateral side of the front region of the torso section, proximate to the waist region. The quick-draw pocket includes a pocket opening on a laterally outer side of the quick-draw pocket and a holster pocket opening on a longitudinal top edge of the quick-draw pocket. The pocket opening leads to a pocket chamber, and the holster pocket opening leads to a holster pocket chamber separate from the pocket chamber. The holster pocket chamber overlaps the pocket chamber in a stacked configuration.

In selected examples, a hanger couples to an electrically-powered garment, to provide electrical energy to the garment to recharge the battery of the garment. The electrical energy may be transferred from the hanger to the garment using inductive coupling. The electrical energy may also or instead be transferred using contact coupling facilitated by magnet(s) in the interfaces of the hanger system and the garment. The garment may include biometric, environmental, and other sensors to collect data. The hanger system-garment interfaces may provide for data flow between the hanger and the garment. In selected examples, a smart garment may be controlled by a smartphone or another mobile device. The smartphone may control several smart garments, which may be connected in series and/or in parallel, with one of the smart garments being a master connected to the smartphone, and the other garments being slave garments connected to the smartphone through the master.

A heated garment including a garment body, a heater array supported by the garment body, and a power supply interface. The heater array includes a heating wire that forms a closed loop, the closed loop defining a shape having a plurality of cantilevered fingers. The power supply interface is configured to couple to a power source that provides power to the heater array.

Aspects herein are directed to an apparel thermo-regulatory system that actively heats or cools a wearer. The apparel thermo-regulatory system comprises an apparel item, a dimensionally stable frame comprising at least one aperture that is affixed to an outer-facing surface of the apparel item at a predetermined location, an absorbent material applied to an exposed face of the dimensionally stable frame, and at least one thermoelectric module that is releasably positioned within the aperture of the dimensionally stable frame.