Download Page 1 of 2 Gerbing`s Heated Clothing // How it Works 02/11/2009

Gerbing's Heated Clothing // How it Works
Page 1 of 2
ABOUT MICROWIRE®
Gerbings developed Microwire™ in response to a Department of Defense contract for
heated clothing for Special Ops Forces. Of the conventional heating systems employed
in heated motorcycle clothing at the time, none of it was up to the stress and strains
that a soldier would put these items through, especially the demands of Special Ops.
Carbon fiber wires were too brittle and thick, and common copper wire heated too
slowly and eventually the military was able to get it to it fail. In a nutshell, the military
wanted something stronger and more durable, thinner and lighter, and which would
heat more rapidly. The answer to all these requirements was what we call Microwire™.
And when we were done developing it, we patented it.
Thermal factors such as air temperature,
radiant temperature, air velocity and
humidity all contribute to our thermal
comfort. Stubbornly, Mother Nature
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refuses us the ability to control these
thermal factors. However, personal
factors such as the type of clothing we
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wear and the activity levels we perform
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are two elements of thermal comfort we
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can control.
A jacket liner with our copper wire,
Our new Microwire®
as seen through an infrared camera.
in the new jacket liner.
The wire in Microwire™ consists of bundles of hundreds microscopic stainless steel
strands, each about 12 microns thick (about 1/4th the thickness of a human hair),
twisted and wrapped in a thin Teflon-derived coating. Because heat escapes these
strands from their circumferences, and because there are so many of these strands and
they’re so tiny, Microwire™ heats instantly. No more waiting for the heat. It's there
RIGHT NOW!
In the R&D process, we found that by altering the number of these strands in each wire,
we were able to custom-tune the amount of heat. Additionally, by using these wires
either in a heating pad, in a woven pattern or in our patented ribbon matrix, we could
further tune how the heat is delivered. More, when using the ribbon matrix, we could
refine the heat delivery to an even greater degree by altering the number of wires in the
ribbon (from 2 up to 6). It is this “tunability” to each garment application that is one of
the major advantages of Microwire™. But it doesn’t stop there.
Being as tiny as they are, and made from stainless steel, our strands (and therefore our
wire) is incredibly flexible and exceptionally rugged. Also, at about .025” (vs. about .075
for the copper resistance wire that’s been in use all these years), Microwire is
exceptionally thin. So much so you can’t feel the wires. Another advantage is at this tiny
size we’ve been able to reduce more than a pound from the weight of our Jacket Liner,
with similar weight reductions in our other Microwire garments.
So, in the end, Microwire is thinner, lighter, stronger and more durable. And it heats up
in just 10% of the time that the old copper wire required.
Microwire is substantially more expensive to produce. However, it is Gerbings' intention
to absorb this cost and hold its current retail prices, at least through the end of 2009.
Microwire is currently available in our Jacket Liners, G3 Gloves, Hybrid Gloves, T5
Gloves, Nubuck Gloves, Glove Liners and Insoles. It will be available in our Vests and
Pant Liners by Sept 1, 2009, and in our latest outerwear at approximately the same
time.
HOW IT WORKS
When colder outside temperatures are detected, the nervous system restricts blood flow
to the extremities to maintain the body's core temperatures. The toes and the fingers
quickly become uncomfortably cold.
Other factors besides just cold weather or wind chill aggravate the situation even more.
Poorly fitting clothing, physical activity levels, individual physiology, and improper
selection, use, and care of your clothing are all additional factors that increase the
negative effects of the cold. Also, the presence of moisture increases thermal transfer
significantly. This causes heat to escape more rapidly and cold to penetrate faster.
Although we all have different tolerance levels for the cold, we all know what it is like to
be warm and comfortable. Gerbing's Heated Clothing works with the body's natural
ability to generate heat. Adjusting the intensity of the heat allows the user to stay warm
and comfortable in a wider range of temperatures without tapping into the resources the
http://www.gerbing.com/Technology/howItWorks.html
02/11/2009
Gerbing's Heated Clothing // How it Works
Page 2 of 2
body needs to maintain its other health dependent functions. Our products allow you to
concentrate heat to specific areas of the body such as just your hands, feet or your
entire core, helping to offset the effects of being cold.
You know how it feels when you put on warm clothes
right out of the dryer? Cozy, right? All of us, even
those who live in the warmest climates, face the cold
at one time or another. It may be an early morning
spring frost, a blustery fall afternoon or a bonechilling winter evening after the sun goes down.
Gerbing's Heated Clothing products will prevent you
from suffering in these environments and help you
better enjoy them regardless of your outdoor activity
by providing that "just out of the dryer feeling."
http://www.gerbing.com/Technology/howItWorks.html
02/11/2009