An article of clothing including a torso body having a front and a rear, a heating array coupled to the torso body, a battery receptacle configured to receive a battery pack and supply electrical energy to the heating array, a control button assembly positioned on an upper corner of the torso body, and a cable extending from the control button assembly away from the front of the torso body to connect the control button assembly to the heating array.

An integrated control device for mounting in electrically heated articles of apparel for controlling power to heating wires secured in the articles of apparel. The control device has a finger-operable switch integrated with electronic circuits mounted on a pcb board. The electronic circuits have a communication circuit to interface with a user person to provide message information to the user person. A waterproof envelope shields at least a portion of the control device. An input electrical connecting port is mounted on the control device and accessible from outside the waterproof envelope. The input electrical connecting port is configured to magnetically receive and retain an external electrical connector having a conductor cable secured thereto to provide power to the electronic circuits from an external electrical power source. The input electrical connecting port, and the external electrical connector positioned therein, exhibit a magnetic coupling force of a predetermined strength permitting rotational planar displacement of the external electrical connector, when a shear force is applied thereto by the conductor cable of the external electrical connector, without separating the magnetic coupling retention force between the magnet retainers.

A heated glove system incorporates a heated glove with ultrathin resistive heaters that extend on both the backside and palm side of the glove to enable higher tactility and use. A resistive heater may be a thin metal foil that is planar on a substrate material. The resistive heater may extend along a backside portion of the glove and extend up along the finger portions of the backside portion and also along a palm portion and extend up along the finger portion of the palm portion. In this way, a hand is heated on both the backside and palm side substantially over the entire surfaces. The heated glove incorporates a battery, that may be a rechargeable battery and a controller interface having an on/off button and temperature indicator and may include a wireless signal transceiver for relaying information about glove temperatures to a remote electronic device.

The invention concerns an article of clothing (10) comprising at least two conductive wires capable of transmitting an electric current, at least one conductive wire being integrated into at least one flat seam (12a); and at least one electrical interconnection between the at least two conductive wires; the electrical interconnection incorporating a weld (25) between the at least two conductive wires; the electrical interconnection is protected by two layers of fabric (21-23) attached respectively above and below the electrical interconnection; a lower layer of fabric (22) bonded to the article of clothing (10) above which the at least two conductive wires extend; and an upper layer of fabric (23) bonded to the lower layer of fabric (22) so as to form, with the lower layer of fabric (22), a protective barrier around the electrical interconnection.

Heated garments that are flexible, stretchable, and durable are described, along with methods for constructing such garments. The heated garments comprise a garment body, a heating wire forming a heater array stitched to a heating section of fabric, and a main current line for providing electrical current to the heating wire. A transition element is formed over the connection of the heating wire and the main current line to induce formation of a fabric flex line such that the heating wire is subjected predominately to torsion forces instead of flexion forces upon flexion at the fabric flex line. The heated garment includes a flexible thermally conductive and electrically resistive material covering the heating wire. The heater array may be integral to the garment body or may be removable.

A power source for a heated garment. The power source includes a housing, one or more battery cells located within the housing, a user interface positioned on the housing, an electrical interface positioned on the housing for connecting to the heated garment, and a controller located within the housing and including an electronic processor and a memory, the controller coupled to the battery cells, the user interface, and the electrical interface. The controller is configured to communicate with the heated garment and a device. Communicating with a device includes at least one of transmitting the status of the battery cells, receiving heated garment preset temperature information, and receiving desired temperature information. Communicating with the heated garment includes at least one of enabling heated garment components, receiving temperature information, receiving garment type information, and controlling heated zones within the heated garment.

A control device for mounting in electrical heated wearables for controlling power to electrical heating wires secured in the heated wearables and capable of charging one or more portable batteries associate therewith and communicating data relative thereto. The control device has a finger-operable switch integrated with electronic circuits mounted on a pcb board. The electronic circuits include a communication circuit to interface with a wearer person to provide message information to the wearer person. The electronic circuits has power input terminals adapted to receive operating voltage from the one or more portable batteries. The pcb board with the finger-operable switch, the wiring connections and the electronic circuits are encapsulated by waterproof material. A female USB symmetrical input connecting port is mounted at a user accessible location on the control device and isolated from the pcb board and the electronic circuits by a further waterproof material. The female USB symmetrical input connecting port has a cable connection capable of transmitting power and data to the electronic circuits and power input terminals. The female USB symmetrical input connecting port is oriented to provide access to a symmetrical male plug connector secured to a power supply cable capable for supplying voltage from an auxiliary battery supply or charger and for the transmission of data information.

A cooling vest module includes a flexible back plate attachable to a garment and at least one thermoelectric cooler mounted thereon. An annular gasket on an inner surface of the back plate seals against a wearer's back to define a confined recirculation space. Each cooler draws ambient air through an external inlet, discharges cooled air into the recirculation space via a cold-air outlet, and exhausts waste heat through heat-dissipation apertures. A recirculation inlet returns part of the cooled air for further cooling, while mounting features, support pads, and optional twin coolers ensure secure installation and structural integrity. The module provides efficient, true recirculating cooling and is particularly suitable for safety vests worn by environmental sanitation workers.

A power source for a heated garment. The power source includes a housing, one or more battery cells located within the housing, a user interface positioned on the housing, an electrical interface positioned on the housing for connecting to the heated garment, and a controller located within the housing and including an electronic processor and a memory, the controller coupled to the battery cells, the user interface, and the electrical interface. The controller is configured to communicate with the heated garment and a device. Communicating with a device includes at least one of transmitting the status of the battery cells, receiving heated garment preset temperature information, and receiving desired temperature information. Communicating with the heated garment includes at least one of enabling heated garment components, receiving temperature information, receiving garment type information, and controlling heated zones within the heated garment.

A heated glove system incorporates a heated glove with ultrathin resistive heaters that extend on both the backside and palm side of the glove to enable higher tactility and use. A resistive heater may be a thin metal foil that is planar on a substrate material. The resistive heater may extend along a backside portion of the glove and extend up along the finger portions of the backside portion and also along a palm portion and extend up along the finger portion of the palm portion. In this way, a hand is heated on both the backside and palm side substantially over the entire surfaces. The heated glove incorporates a battery, that may be a rechargeable battery and a controller interface having an on/off button and temperature indicator and may include a wireless signal transceiver for relaying information about glove temperatures to a remote electronic device.