Disclosed are insulating materials, and in particular materials that offer improved insulation properties without compromising breathability. The insulating materials may include a base material having a moisture vapor transfer rate (MVTR) of at least 2000 g/m.sup.2/24 h (JIS 1099 A1); a plurality of heat-reflecting elements coupled to a first side of the base material, each heat-reflecting element having a heat-reflecting surface and being positioned to reflect heat towards an underlying surface; and a plurality of spacer elements coupled to the first side of the base material, each spacer element sized and shaped to reduce contact of the heat-reflecting elements with the underlying surface.

An active-insulation paneling component and garments including an active-insulation paneling component. The active-insulation paneling component includes insulated panels separated by gussets. The gussets are configured to expand upon an outward pulling force to allow the active-insulation paneling component and/or garment to expand even where the active-insulation paneling component and/or garment are not manufactured from elastic materials.

A protective garment comprises a thermal liner, a moisture barrier, and an outer shell. The thermal liner includes one or more augmented portions located at predetermined areas to enhance thermal properties of the thermal liner, and thereby the protective garment. In some embodiments, the augmented portions of the thermal liner each comprise an enhanced thermal layer and at least one of a facecloth layer and a first insulation layer.

A wearable garment comprising a customizable and reusable top and a bottom portion are disclosed. The top portion comprises a vest for an upper part and the bottom portion comprises a short for lower part of the body. Both the portions are attached to each other using a plurality of straps which comprise of pouches filled with a phase change material and are in direct contact with the body. The top and bottom portions of the wearable garment have equally divided sheets or pouches to prevent leakage of energy from the body and maintain body temperature for extended working hours. The phase change material can be eutectic ice or humps fat to cool/heat the body by dissipating/absorbing the heat generated by the body. The top and bottom portions and the straps are immersed in a mixture material comprising of a mixture of hydrocarbon chain, water and a salted base.

A wearable garment comprising a customizable and reusable top and a bottom portion are disclosed. The top portion comprises a vest for an upper part and the bottom portion comprises a short for lower part of the body. Both the portions are attached to each other using a plurality of straps which comprise of pouches filled with a phase change material and are in direct contact with the body. The top and bottom portions of the wearable garment have equally divided sheets or pouches to prevent leakage of energy from the body and maintain body temperature for extended working hours. The phase change material can be eutectic ice or humps fat to cool/heat the body by dissipating/absorbing the heat generated by the body. The top and bottom portions and the straps are immersed in a mixture material comprising of a mixture of hydrocarbon chain, water and a salted base.

A baffled insulating garment/blanket panel may include a first layer, a second layer, an insulating particle layer and a third layer. The second layer may have folds forming trough-shaped walls comprising a first wall, a second wall and a third wall, each of which is secured to the first wall. The insulating particle layer may include a first portion between the first wall and the second wall and sandwiched between the first layer and the second layer and a second portion between the second wall and the third wall and sandwiched between the first layer and the second layer. The third layer may include folds forming consecutive trough-shaped walls comprising a fourth wall secured within the first wall and a fifth wall secured within the third wall, wherein portions of the third layer between the fourth wall and the fifth wall span across a top of the second wall.

The present disclosure generally relates to intelligent garments that provide thermal regulation in a variety of environments. The garments may include different layers such as a hydrophobic layer in direct contact with a wearer's skin surface and saturated with an aqueous mixture, a spacer layer, a reflective layer, and an outer hydrophobic layer. The layers of the garment may work together to reduce the metabolic expenditure of the wearer in extreme environmental conditions or during demanding physical activity. A variety of sensors may be displaced throughout the garments so as to enable the collection of data associated with wearers as well as environmental conditions. Wearers may control the thermal balance and other properties of the garments as desired.

Examples of a sleeve for a garment are disclosed. The sleeve comprises an outer panel attached along respective side edges thereof to form an outer sleeve and an inner panel attached along respective side edges thereof to form an inner liner of the sleeve. The inner liner and the outer sleeve are attached at least along respective edges of their respective lower ends forming a hand opening. An elastic band is attached to the inner liner proximate a wrist area of the sleeve and is spaced apart from the outer sleeve. The elastic band is configured to draw the inner liner into contact with and hug a wrist area of the wearer while the outer layer is loosely fitted around the wrist area of the wearer.

A protective device for maintaining body temperature in a living being is provided. The inventive protective device comprises a first sheet member having a left portion and a right portion. The first sheet member has a left edge and a right edge. A first channel member defines structure defining a first channel. The first channel member defines structure which is secured to and overlies a first portion of the left portion of the first sheet member and overlies a first portion of the right portion of the first sheet member. A second channel defining structure defines a second channel, the second channel defining structure secured to and overlying a second portion of the left portion of the first sheet member and overlying a second portion of the right portion of the first sheet member. Each of the channels have a first side and an opposite side opposite the first side. A variable length member is disposed on and extends along the length of each of the channels. There is a connection structure positioned proximate the left edge; and a mating connection structure positioned proximate the right edge.

A protective device for maintaining body temperature in a living being is provided. The inventive protective device comprises a first sheet member having a left portion and a right portion. The first sheet member has a left edge and a right edge. A first channel member defines structure defining a first channel. The first channel member defines structure which is secured to and overlies a first portion of the left portion of the first sheet member and overlies a first portion of the right portion of the first sheet member. A second channel defining structure defines a second channel, the second channel defining structure secured to and overlying a second portion of the left portion of the first sheet member and overlying a second portion of the right portion of the first sheet member. Each of the channels have a first side and an opposite side opposite the first side. A variable length member is disposed on and extends along the length of each of the channels. There is a connection structure positioned proximate the left edge; and a mating connection structure positioned proximate the right edge.