Multifunctional forearm band

Abstract

A multifunctional forearm band incorporating modulated airflow control to regulate temperature and moisture of a user's lower arm, hand, and fingers. The forearm band has a tubular member with openings at a first and a second end thereof. The forearm band can encapsulate or cover the lower arm in a first position and the lower arm, fingers, and hand in a second position. The second end can include at least one storage cavity, while the first end includes a first cavity for encapsulating the fingers and a second cavity for encapsulating the thumb when the forearm band is used in the second position. The user can open and close the opening in the first end of the tubular member to permit or restrict airflow or fluid flow across the lower arm, fingers, and hand allowing fully modulated airflow and fluid flow control to regulate the temperature and moisture about the lower arm, fingers, and hand.

Description

FIELD[0001]This invention relates generally to multifunctional forearm bands. More particularly, the invention concerns forearm bands that may be worn in various configurations to provide utility and protection against the elements in a variety of weather conditions and user activities.BACKGROUND[0002]While engaging in activities such as running, biking, fishing, trekking, mountaineering, hunting, skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating, it is critical to protect the bodies' extremities from the elements and retain heat while at the same time maintain freedom of movement. This is particularly important with respect to the lower arm, fingers, and hands. Typically, lower arm, finger, and hand protection comes in the form of gloves, mittens, wristband or forearm bands. The advantages associated with each of these garments include aesthetic appearance, body heat retention, and protection from the elements. However, these garments do not allow the convenience for users to maintain comfort ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The disclosed invention is an improved garment that allows modulated ventilation, allowing the user to control the amount of air that passes through the garment. The multifunctional forearm band also provides unobstructed airflow into the garment, free of any fabric or construction material that may reside between the thumb and the opening end of the garment resulting from an aperture or exterior protruding thumb pocket. This ensures that the garment is always comfortable and air flow is always unrestricted.

Problems solved by technology

However, these garments do not allow the convenience for users to maintain comfort by actively regulating the temperature and airflow about the covered area, without engaging the opposing hand, as conditions and physical exertion change.

Conventional garment designs for protecting the lower arm, fingers, and hand suffer from a number of deficiencies, including an inability to adapt to the varying temperatures and varying levels of activity of the user.

By way of example, gloves and mittens are typically designed to provide maximum insulation for the user's lower arm, fingers, and hand, but cannot easily be adjusted while in use, without using the opposing hand, to controllably ventilate, and thereby cool, a portion of the covered area.

The constant removing and replacing of the garment can cause disruption in the activity and varying degrees of uncomfortable temperatures and / or moisture levels.

Further, the user typically has to carry the garment separately in the hands or a pocket creating further disruption.

Other attempts to address the problem include, for example, providing ventilation holes or material that allows air to flow through the garment; however, such designs do not allow for modulated airflow controlled by the user without the use of the opposing hand.

Moreover, conventional gloves and mittens do not allow for the multifunctional applications of the disclosed forearm bands, which allow for use as a storage device, forearm band, and / or wristband as well as providing protection and ventilation for the hands and fingers.

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