WO1999048561A1

WO1999048561A1 - Emergency kit and associated articles

Info

Publication number: WO1999048561A1
Application number: PCT/GB1999/000756
Authority: WO
Inventors: George Lyall Walker
Original assignee: Polar Wrap Limited
Priority date: 1998-03-20
Filing date: 1999-03-15
Publication date: 1999-09-30
Also published as: GB2335345B; GB2335346A; GB2335345A; GB9905918D0; GB9806052D0; GB2335346B; AU2740999A; GB9905916D0

Abstract

Emergency apparel kit of temporary weatherproofs for use in adverse weather conditions exposure e.g. cold winds and precipitation, by e.g. building fire evacuees, comprises a container, weatherproofs and a printed identification sign. Comprising a drapable film such as metallised polyester or pigmented poly(ethylene) or poly(vinyl chloride), which may be printed, adhesively labelled, taped, metallised, air entraining or inflatably quilted, the weatherproofs can be impermeable blankets, wraps, capes or pullovers, optionally provided with pleated hoods, having rectangular panels. Arm or leg sleeve or body survival bag weatherproofs are made from film panels incorporating tape-to-tape joins and have attachment means to allow attachment to torso covering weatherproofs in use. All such weatherwraps may be provided with high visibility features e.g. luminescent or retroreflective, on their exterior or for other applications camouflaging print and used as survival equipment in their own right. Aluminised film weatherproofs offer higher thermal protection.

Description

1

EMERGENCY KIT AND ASSOCIATED ARTICLES

This invention generally relates to the provision of means for protecting people who are exposed out of doors to adverse weather conditions, usually by surprise, for example in emergency situations, by the provision of an kit containing emergency use apparel , and to improved personal weatherproof articles of apparel for use by persons exposed to adverse weather conditions. In one aspect the invention relates to an emergency use kit comprising a container which contains a set of weatherproofs suitable for use in such an emergency and which also comprises a visually associated identification sign. The kit is typically for installation in or adjacent to evacuable buildings.

Such kits are typically intended to be available so that evacuees immediately after leaving a building e.g. when occasioned by the sounding of a true or false fire alarm, can be provided with weather protecting, temporary apparel when the evacuees have reached a safe place such as formally designated outdoors assembly points .

The invention also relates to improved, weather protecting apparel including capes, body covers, enveloping sleeves, muffs or covers for limbs, and sleeping-style bags for use by people in adverse weather emergencies, and their methods of manufacture. The novel improved weatherproof articles of apparel may be used in their own right during camping, outdoor spectator events, as part of vehicle emergency breakdown kits and the like.

In the preferred embodiments of the invention the weatherproofs are made of plastic film materials such as poly (ethylene terephthalate) , poly(vinyl chloride), poly (ethylene) or poly (propylene) , which may be reflectively metallised for example with vapour deposited aluminium to provide thermal reflection of body heat when in use. The films can also be doubled and hermetically 2 sealed with matrix-like internal bonding so that when filled with air in use the weatherproof panels inflate to form an air quilt and provide increased thermal insulation. The novel weatherproofs may be printed with printing ink or labelled including with printed labels or high visibility labels, and may be provided with fastening means .

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

When fire evacuation alarms sound in buildings, it is a requirement for the occupants to leave immediately by the nearest escape route. The occupants are instructed by safety signs and notices, and by prior evacuation training, that they must leave immediately by the nearest available exit and, moreso, not ever to delay to collect any of their personal belongings such as any outdoor wear. Short evacuation times, and the personal safety of evacuees and rescuers and the injured are of the essence in such situations. Buildings are normally completely evacuated within a few minutes of the alarm sounding. Evacuees are then normally required to assemble at one or more safe assembly or muster points where head counts may be taken.

While such evacuation procedures usually protect the building occupants from the immediate danger of being caught in the fire or other emergency situation, little or no thought appears to have been given to the personal safety of those who have been evacuated, in respect of the prevailing weather if it is adverse and if they have to remain outside. Commonly evacuees have to wait at an open air muster point pending a roll call . They may have to wait there for some considerable time. Employees are usually not free to leave at will . Usually they are required by their employers' safety procedures to assemble at a designated point and wait there pending instructions. Evacuated hotel guests may have no where else to go and may anyway be in a foreign country. Typically evacuated hotel guests 3 assemble in the street or the hotel's car park unless it is out of bounds.

Evacuees are not normally allowed to return to the evacuated building for several minutes at the very least, even if the alarms turn out to be false. If there is a fire, the evacuees may have to wait outside for a period of hours until the situation resolves itself and might never be allowed to return to the building to resume work or collect their personal effects. Hotels and places of employment are sometimes located in areas where there is adjacent readily available shelter available at all times of day and night. However in many cases, surprisingly even in town and cities, there may be no immediately available place to shelter and any places which there are simply may not have the capacity to hold the large number of people evacuated. Even if there is a nearby shelter, it may be a few minutes' walk away during which the evacuees could easily be soaked with rain or exposed to sleet and a biting wind.

Despite the widespread placement of fire alarm systems and fire extinguishing systems, first aid equipment, emergency signing and emergency lighting in buildings, and many rescue and survival products which have been described in patent literature, there are no products which are practically suitable for providing emergency temporary apparel quickly to a random group of people, which could number hundreds, and which can mitigate the effect of adverse weather exposure. At present when evacuated from a building in inclement weather, the evacuees may quickly become cold and wet. The experience in bad weather can be very unpleasant and lead to personal discomfort, even potentially medical distress, as well as rain damage to clothing. If the evacuees are allowed to return to the building shortly after the alarm sounding such as if the evacuation was as a result of a false alarm, exposure recovery time may be needed and 4 this for employers may have an adverse economic effect in temporarily lost productivity.

If the weather is warm, if it is dry and if the evacuation occurs during daylight, the evacuees may not be greatly inconvenienced; they may even enjoy a break from work. However it is in the very nature of most evacuations that they occur with no notice and this can easily be in adverse weather conditions and sometimes in darkness or restricted light conditions. It is therefore important for premises safety managers to plan for evacuation in any reasonably likely weather conditions according to the geographical locality but taking a likely worst case scenario.

Many evacuees will stand outside while wearing their indoor clothing. Some might be able to take their coats before they evacuate the building but this is likely to be random as it depends on the persons being in proximity of their coats at the instant of any alarm.

An outdoor coat may also only offer limited protection; some are rain resistant rather than waterproof and may be designed more for the needs of fashion than practicality. Much bodily heat is lost from the head and neck region and coats and hats even if available may not be adequate. In another situation people may be exposed outdoors to adverse weather conditions if their transport breaks down, if good weather changes to bad unexpectedly when they are in the countryside and where there is no immediately available shelter.

It is known for kits to be provided for emergency situations and the nature of the kit reflects the requirements of the emergency.

US5483956 discloses a kit having a fire emergency night light container which contains a smoke inhalation prevention escape mask. This kit is to aid occupants of the building when they are in the building.

US5664642 discloses a fire evacuation kit including an housing securable within a residence beneath a window 5 thereof, which contains a rope ladder.

US5156274 discloses an emergency breakdown assistance kit for disabled motorists. The kit includes an envelope having a transparent front panel and an HELP sign is mounted to an upper portion of the front panel. The kit may have a magnetic strip to facilitate attachment.

US5560491 discloses a rescue alert kit which includes a preferably transparent envelope which can be hung from a wall and includes a chemiluminescent light, fire evacuations safety instructions, an attention flag which has a plurality of safety appliques thereon, and an high decibel whistle.

US5572820 discloses a roadside emergency kit comprising a brightly coloured signalling banner with a compact stowage device and a device for cleaning the windows of a vehicle .

US 4456126 discloses a safety kit comprising an housing or box structured compactly to contain warning devices to give notice of a vehicle in distress. US5515974 discloses an emergency and security kit that includes in case an array of articles such as a flashlight, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, etc.

US4437568 discloses a metal fire and smoke emergency kit of generally rectangular cross section and having an hinged front. Its contents enable one to extinguish a small fire, provide temporary first aid, provide emergency clothes and breathing apparatus to evacuate an area. The contents are protected from theft by a lead seal lock or optional room key. US 5102360 discloses a shipboard container for survival equipment, for use at an above-deck location. The container is an elongated tube shape having an end cap at either end thereof and is provided with a rope tether.

Reflective material and identifying indicia are provided on the exterior surface. A widely varied set of contents is included for sea survival purposes and it is designed for floating 40lbs of equipment. The contents may 6 simultaneously include first aid materials, food ration packs, gloves, lights and more than twenty other categories of goods .

US4075078 discloses a survival kit container with a variety of items for first aid, direction finding and food supplying.

US5620058 discloses an emergency evacuation system comprising an inflatable descent tube.

US 5479743 discloses an inflatable emergency shelter for use in cold conditions.

GB2148129A discloses a survival blanket for transporting and holding an injured person.

US4294352 discloses a catastrophic-exposure emergency kit suitable for trips, drives and hikes, which contains a metallised foil pouch adapted to form a cap for the user and containing a metallised foil sheet in the form of a poncho. The pouch also contains a supply of vitamins .

US5385164 discloses a cold weather personal shelter device for use by hunters, fishermen or sports fans.

US 5101513 discloses foul weather apparel which has a tubular enclosure maintained in a cylindrical shape by hoops .

US4142254 discloses a fully ventilated storm suit comprising four components to be used in combination.

US4495659 discloses a cold weather muff which has a chemical heating element.

LifeSystems Limited supplies a thermally insulating sleeping bag comprising folded metallised polyester film, the fold being at the foot of the bag, the sides of which are sealed by adhesive tape which is halfway attached to a long edge of the folded sheet along half its length starting at one end and folded over to attach to the overlapping folded half. The same occurs on the other side. The tape is also provided across each of the open top sides being halfway attached to one edge margin and then folded over to the other side of the film. It is 7 however difficult to make an attractive and complete fold. There is a need for better manufacturing methods of such bags .

US 4091482 discloses an inflatable sleeping bag. GB2281031 discloses a survival blanket which is inflatable and can be used as a splint.

GB 2232872A briefly speculates about sleeping bags and articles of wearing apparel which are fallible with liquid or air to provide insulation. No methods of manufacture are given, nor specific exemplification.

GB 2177292A in integral air cushioned sleeping bag or bed. Emergency rescue kits for use by those trapped in burning buildings and which include respirators have also been disclosed. US5728145 discloses a thermal blanket with central air inlet for medical purposes .

Clothing apparel can be made from a wide variety of materials depending on the intended use but in the context of this invention, it is noted that it is already known to make clothing from polymeric films such as poly (ethylene) , and non-woven and woven materials which may be provided with water repellant or waterproofing such as wax or a polymeric film coating. It is also known to use reflectively metallised fabrics and films. For example GB 1263071 describes a metallised film article suitable for wrapping around babies to keep them warm in medical emergencies .

The human body is not at thermal equilibrium with the environment and our clothes provide our personal micro- climate environments so that we keep warm. The low thermal conductivity of air is vital to our maintenance of body warmth. Special measures are required to provide clothing which is adequate, practical and comfortable. This subject is reviewed in "Protective Clothing Systems and Materials" by M Ravel, Marcel Decker Inc. (1994), and in "Clothing: The Portable Environment" by SM Watkins, Iowa State University Press (1984) . 8

Examples of special clothing for foul weather and other applications are given in "Clothes for the Job" J. Smart, The Science Museum, London, published by HMSO (1984) . Further examples of protective clothing are given in current health and safety suppliers' catalogues such as that of RS Components Limited which also discloses a typical range of first aid products, head protection products, hand and foot protection products.

Much of the safety clothing which is supplied is of the personally planned variety where individuals who are to use the apparel select sizes suitable for their body shape. Also much of the apparel is for continual, day to day use, and is re-usable.

In weather emergency situations there is not time for having a personal fitting, the apparel is for relatively short term protective use and disposable.

Physiologically the human body will react to low temperatures to maintain the core body temperature so that the brain is kept warm. The vasoconstriction and vasodilatation functions of the autonomous nervous system in the body alter the blood flow to the limbs. Exposed skin will radiate heat but when clad, much heat is usually lost from the hands and the head and neck. In cold weather vasoconstriction causes the blood flow to the hands and arms, and the feet and legs especially to be reduced. In the worst freezing conditions frostbite may ensue and these limbs may have to be amputated. Hypothermia may also set in if the core body temperature drops to much under about 30 Celsius. For personal well- being in a freezing wind, it is important to protect the head and neck from wind and wetness, where about a third of the body's heat may be lost through these areas alone if unprotected.

There is also evidence of psychological susceptibility to adverse weather conditions as well as physiological . This is discussed in "Survival At Sea" Lieut. Comdr. GWR Nichols RN, G Harrap & Co Ltd. (1960) 9 who also noted "It was impractical to expect men to be able to carry all their [survival] equipment about with them at all times.". He also commented that safety wear for use in emergencies was not suitable if it were inaccessible or unreachable. The equipment has to be in the right place, of the right size and at the right time.

This lesson equally applies to building evacuations and there appear to be no products provided to satisfy this very special need when the weather is adverse. Many factors have to be taken into account in specifying products for this market such as by providing ideally, universally sized products, lightness of weight, waterproofing, compactness, durability, low storage bulk, easy foldability and hygiene. At present, within minutes of being comfortable in a warm and dry building, people may be subjected to wind and rain, hail or snow, perhaps in darkness, and experiencing a level of personal distress and discomfort . Rain wetness can cause body heat to be lost faster for example by matting hair on the head and arms, and because of the energy needed to evaporate the water. At rest the adult human body generates about 100 watts of heat energy. Body heat loss can be higher in windy conditions as the warm air enveloping the body and trapped by clothing is displaced. Rain wetness may evaporate more quickly if the relative humidity is low causing skin cooling.

In addition to the physiological cost of exposure, rain water can also cause damage clothing, in some cases irreversibly, leading to financial cost.

Even if dry, exposure to biting winds can lead to shivering and much personal discomfort in perishing conditions .

The combination of a wind-chill factor, wetness and low temperatures can lead to even healthy evacuees experiencing at least discomfort, chilling and, in extreme conditions, continual loss of body heat can lead 10 eventually to clinical hypothermia. Other physiologically adverse effects may also occur for example if an evacuee is recovering from an illness or is unwell.

There are other circumstances where adverse weather conditions may be suddenly experienced by people such as during hill walking. Here instructions are given to those participating to take protective clothing. Usually the participants have adequate time for planning and can exercise judgement whether to venture outdoors if the weather forecast is for bad weather. Here however the individuals concerned have time to plan and if necessary to buy clothes which fit and last. Such clothes are necessarily quite heavy and bulky and not an universal size . It is clearly impractical for people at work inside a building constantly to carry such bulky clothing, just in case there might be a fire evacuation. The cost of buying such clothing is also relatively high.

One problem in providing emergency weatherproofs for those who may be evacuated is their different heights and weights and thus needs for different clothing sizes.

Similar adverse weather exposure problems can occur in other emergency situations where groups of people are unexpectedly exposed to the rigours of the climate. For example there may be an major outdoor accident, a bomb scare or an earthquake.

There have also been reports of groups of people present at public open air gatherings such as open air all-day concerts can be quickly exposed to sudden bad weather such as a squall. Again this demonstrates the need for protection and the general unpreparedness which ordinary members of the public experience.

Though this invention is mainly aimed at providing levels of wind and rain and sometimes thermal conservation of body heat, in tropical countries, strong solar radiation may have to be avoided and weatherproofs may be needed for that purpose . 11

It is clear that despite many kinds of emergency and survival kits they are not products suitable for installation in or associated with evacuable buildings as part of the safety products. For example though a first aid kit could contain one or two metallised film blankets for use with the injured, a first aid kit is only prepared for and intended to be used form medical purposes. Such a kit is unsuitable for and should not be confused with an adverse weather conditions emergency supply kit. Neither would a cardboard box holding a few metallised blankets be adequate as a suitable safety product, even with a marking written by marker pen on its side, because in an emergency its location and nature may not be clear, notwithstanding the collapsing effect which rain may have on cardboard. Such a product would thus be unsuitable and unreliable and be unlikely to meet legal standards .

There are already a variety of lightweight, disposable weatherproof garments available for other uses, and safety product supplier catalogues may show stretch suiting for use in cleanrooms made of non-woven materials such as spun bonded polyolefin. There are also a variety of clothing products made from poly (ethylene) sheeting. In the RS Components Limited Heath and Safety Catalogue of 1997 there is disclosed poly (ethylene) visitor coats for use in the food processing industry. They appear to be intended for indoor use; they have sleeves and are this fashioned garments but the head, neck and hands would become wet in rain if used outside. There are also poly (ethylene) disposable glove, sleeve and apron products for industrial and medical use. Other products are made from spunbonded-meltblown-spunbonded ("SPAS") poly (propylene) fabric, others from "Tyvek" non-woven poly (ethylene) and others from polyester fabric coated on both sides with colour pigmented poly (vinyl chloride) .

Some travel accessory companies supply short life 12 plastic coats, waterproof ponchos and hooded capes, possibly made of poly (ethylene) for the tourist market. Here the products are bought individually. These are intended to be re-used and thus apparently heavier in weight than, say, food industry visitor coats which are made of clear 15 micron poly (ethylene) .

Some camping supply companies sell hooded capes made of poly (ethylene) and such weatherproofs may also be supplied to people such as tourists who may be exposed to splashing in pleasure boat trips in turbulent water.

Though capes are effective in some cases, the "A" line of the design may mean that they billow in the wind and it follows that they may less suitable for retaining warmth around the body such as the legs in windy places . Hooded capes used for camping and hill walking and which are believed to be made of orange coloured poly (ethylene) are supplied by Coughlan's Limited of Canada and The Canadian Coleman Company Limited also of Canada . Some first aid kits contain re-usable metallised blankets or disposable metallised blankets. These are rectangular in shape and principally intended for thermally insulating casualties pending their arrival in hospital . The disposable thermal blankets are made of reflectively metallised film and may have a size of about 2.1m x 1.4m. These may be provided in a disposable plastic or cardboard box for individual personal use. In some cases metallised sheets are provided in first aid kits to wrap around wounds; here such sheets have a paper liner to prevent the blanket from sticking to the wound. Plain metallised plastic film blankets are also sometimes included in the equipment of those who engage in hazardous weather pursuits such as mountaineers, hill walkers and those undergoing outdoor survival training. Such emergency thermal "space" blanket are provided packed singly or in pairs in packs. The metallised film has also been printed and such printed metallised film 13 blankets have been provided to runners of marathons and the like at the end of their courses to help their thermal recovery.

Sterilised versions of these are available for the medical supplies market. Thus plain metallised film blankets which may have a silvery or golden reflective appearance are also used by healthcare services for preserving the body heat of patients who have been injured outside for example in a motor traffic accident, pending their being cut free from wreckage.

Campers may also take survival bags made or heavy- duty poly (ethylene) with them and more recently an thermal survival bag of doubly folded metallised film has been produced. Metallised plastic film blankets are sold for use as emergency blankets, to conserve body heat. The sheets can provide limited shelter from the rain but they are not fashioned.

US4118802 discloses disposable hooded garments made from rectangular shells comprising two layers of plastic or paper, which may be dispensed from a box.

US4225977 discloses disposable plastic film aprons prepared from plastic film strip material.

It is an object of the present invention to means to facilitate the rapid and immediate supply of weather protecting apparel to a number of building or other evacuees when they are exposed to adverse weather conditions and located in a safe place.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a range of new and useful forms of apparel suitable for such weather exposure emergencies, for example to provide cover variously the torso, neck, head and limb portions of the body.

There is also a need to provide improved sleeping bag products made of metallised film for use in adverse exposure situations and which may be supplied as part of a safety kit . 14

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is an emergency apparel kit for use by one or more people exposed to adverse weather conditions, the kit comprising: a container, a plurality of weatherproofs packed in said container, and a safety sign comprising a plain background bearing one or more visibly distinct symbols thereon selected from alphabetic characters, graphical image shapes and mixtures thereof, said safety sign visually indicating the presence of the weatherproofs in the container and the use of the weatherproofs . DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The emergency kit has been created for and is intended for a very specific purpose because no other emergency or survival kits are suitable for the purpose of quickly and rapidly disseminating a range of weatherproof apparel to a wide range of people during an adverse weather emergency. As shall be described later a wide range of weatherproof articles of apparel can be employed in the kit and these can offer different levels and kinds of emergency protection with a view to at least mitigating the effect of bad weather.

Such emergency weather apparel kits are intended for installation by building owners, employers, hoteliers and the like for indicating the presence of and provision of emergency weatherproofs for general use by evacuees should their premises need to be suddenly evacuated during physiologically adverse weather conditions . The emergency apparel kit is intended to be installed in the right place for the right time and to contain a plurality of weatherproofs, in preferred embodiments, of one or more general sizes as appropriate to the occupants, or one or more kinds. The contents of the container are substantially all weatherproofs described but may also 15 comprise other minor articles such as a torch. The kit may also comprise associated safety instruction signs or brochures, user information signs or brochures, re-order forms . It is generally intended that when a container is opened its principal contents are weatherproofs of a single or variety of kinds so that other than for product related information only the weatherproofs are dispensed when the kit is opened. This reduces the number of articles in the kit to those which are essential for the purpose of emergency personal weather protection.

The safety sign may be provided on or visibly through the surface of the container, on a separate sign board or sign label in visually associative proximity to the container, or preferably both.

The safety sign prominently visually indicates the presence of the kit and its existence will therefore be clearly established to regular occupants prior to such an emergency. Thus the kit may be usefully provided near an exit of a building or in an outdoor container such as one which is plinth or post mounted, typically provided at a designated evacuation assembly point. Here the safety sign could be provided on the outer casing of the container. Kits which are located within buildings may have one or more containers positioned adjacent fire exit doorways so that the person responsible for taking the kit out to the assembly point can pick up the kit from its hanger or stand without disturbing the exiting flow. It is intended that only when individuals have assembled at the assembly point or another safe area away from the building will the container be opened and the weatherproofs dispensed.

A kit may comprise a plurality of safety, kit identification signs and a plurality of containers, each container containing a plurality of weatherproofs of one or more sizes.

In some cases building owners can assemble the kit by 16 locating the sign components in associative proximity of one or more containers of weatherproofs. Preferably the sign on any wall plaque is visually identical to the sign on the kit, except perhaps for any difference of size. If the containers of weatherproofs are stored indoors near exits, on a fire alarm the containers will be taken from their location, carried to the muster point and, in adverse weather conditions, broken open for example by bursting open a seal on a carrier bag or by breaking a tamper indicating seal or label, so that the weatherproofs can then be dispensed.

In certain embodiments the weatherproofs are intended to provide exposure protection such as from either wind, rain or a low temperature, or any combination. The purpose of the safety identification sign is to provide a clear visual indication of the presence of the kit and its function or use so avoiding confusion in an emergency. Any building may have one or more kits, preferably a plurality. Kits may also be provided in passenger transporters or in refuge stations situated out of doors in remote places.

Kits may comprise two or more weatherproofs, and can be provided in packs of two, three, four, six, eight, nine, ten, twelve, sixteen, twenty, twenty four, thirty, thirty two, thirty six, forty or more.

At least half of the number of weatherproofs in any kit and sometimes all are identical products other than for any minor differences in labelling for example for numbering purposes. Though providing universal sizing is an aim, in practice the kit may comprise different sizes or different kinds of weatherproofs.

The portable containers must be light so that they can be readily carried to assembly points. Thus in the simplest form if the container held twenty thermally reflective "space" blankets made of aluminised polyester film of approximately 23μ calliper for twenty people the weight would typically only be between one and two 17 kilograms, each thermal blanket weighing typically 50g to 80g.

Such thermally reflecting or other film blanket wraps or weatherproofs may be provided with adhesively bonded retroreflective tape segments to impart high visibility. There may be one, two three, four or five kinds of weatherproofs such as different sizes or constructions in any kit but preferably each kit only contains a few kinds at most for reasons of simplicity. The container may comprise a plurality of torso weatherproofs and a plurality of limb sleeves, preferably all comprising reflectively metallised plastic films and there being means for attaching the sleeve to the torso covering weatherproof, for example by a pressure sensitive adhesive tab which is supplied with a peelable cover so that in use the sleeves may be attached by the user to torso cover by the adhesive of the tab, so reducing the likelihood of the sleeve of being lost or dropped by the user. In order to provide water repellency, lightness of weight, low bulk, high durability, disposability, and ease of manufacturing, the temporary weatherproofs preferably comprise a waterproof plastic film, a film forming coating or a low surface energy coating such as a fluoropolymeric coating or a polysiloxane coating.

Thus in many embodiments the weatherproofs may be substantially or partly formed of one or more conformable plastic film such as poly (ethylene) , poly (propylene) , poly (ethylene terephthalate) or poly (vinyl chloride) film, their copolymers and blends, which may be pigmented with colouring pigments or dye with colouring dyes, which may be wholly or partially reflectively metallised such as aluminised, which may be printed or which may be labelled such as with printed labels or high visibility labels, or a combination as appropriate. The films may be plasticised to impart flexibility.

Weatherproofs can also be substantially formed of 18 waterproofed woven fabrics made of natural or synthetic materials such as woven polyester or woven nylon, or non- woven or spunbonded fabrics. Waterproofing to the woven and non-woven materials is preferably imparted by a filmic coating or laminate such as a poly (vinyl chloride) or fluoropolymer coating which may pigmented with a colourant, a natural or synthetic rubber coating or a microcrystalline wax coating, though in some cases the material may inherently be waterproof. The materials which form the basic structural panels of the waterproofs may also have been printed with printing inks or transfers, or by applying printed or unprinted labelling or accessories such as self adhesively applied hook and loop fasteners, revealable adhesive tab fastenings, and retroreflective patches or retroreflective tapes.

A weatherproof article of apparel is drapable over part of the body and may a plastic film blanket wrap such as a metallised film blanket wrap, a cape with optional hood, a cloak, a poncho, a coat, a pullover, shawl or other such body wrap, an head hood, or a limb covering sleeve such as an arm muff or hand mitten, or a survival (sleeping-style) bag. Preferably there are substantially formed from polymeric film material which may be reflectively metallised for example with a thin layer of aluminium or the like.

A weatherproof is preferably substantially or principally formed of a plastic film for lightness. For example plastic films of thickness in the range 10 microns to 70 microns can be used, more preferably in the range 10 microns to 30 microns. The thickness chosen is partly dependent on the strength of the polymer used in the film. It is also important that the plastic film is sufficiently conformable to the body and flexible rather than inflexible in all conditions of use including low temperatures and that the film does not readily break or tear . 19

Films which are prone to tearing can have their edges protected by a suitable self-adhesive tape.

For example a weatherproof blanket wrap may be a rectangle of reflectively metallised plastic film of area at least 1 square metre, but preferably, for adults at least two square metres, and possibly at least three square metres but less than five square metres unless doubly folded, and which may have dimensions of 1.4m x 2.1m. Such metallised thermally reflecting blanket wraps are simple and effective as a first line of defence against the weather . They may be provided in the kit in one or more sizes for example for use by adults and by children. Preferably all such metallised film blanket wraps are at least either printed or labelled for example with branding, usage instructions, safety instructions and manufacturer's details. In certain cases the metallised film blanket wraps could be printed on one side with a bright, possibly light fluorescing ink or the plastic could include such bright coloured pigments . For example the plastic film may incorporate red, orange, yellow, green, or blue pigments, preferably pure coloured, and additionally visibly luminescent, so that the film was brightly coloured and but reflective. In this case high visibility can be built in as a safety measure as the weatherproof may be used by an individual at night .

In other circumstances the plastic films or other weather protecting articles may be provided with a camouflage pattern for example by printing. The camouflage printing will normally be on one side the film, usually the outer surface in use, and will typically use waterproof inks . Thermal camouflage patterns are disclosed in US4529633 for example. Thus a thermal emergency blanket wrap or other weatherproof article of the invention may, whether wholly or partly made of reflective film such as specularly 20 reflective film may be designed to provide specular reflectivity on one side but a camouflage pattern on the other. Various forms of camouflage pattern are known. Other than being on a thermally reflecting metallised film blanket wrap, the camouflage pattern can also be provided on plastic films used to make capes, ponchos and the like.

Because metallised blanket wraps are lightweight rectangles of metallised plastic, they are unfashioned and require no tailoring. For certain kits they can provide a basic level or adverse protection. An user must grip the edges of the blanket wrap and draw them together and hold them in front of the torso. The user can also cover his or her head with the blanket wrap to provide some rain and wind protection.

Such plastic film blanket wraps such as metallised film blanket wraps may be provided with edge connectors such as hook and loop fasteners, welded or riveted poppers or fastening studs, eyelets which may be provided with ties or treasury-style tags, or revealable pressure sensitive adhesive tabs. In order to increase the strength of the edges of the films pressure sensitive adhesive tapes or other adhesively bonded ribbon material mat be attached. In a production line the tape may be rolled onto the stretched film and the two bonded.

The taped edge may be more readily perforated or punched. In certain cases gathered layers may be held together with nylon tags applied with a needle gun such as of the kind supplied by Tach-It UK Limited. In another embodiment of the invention the kit may comprise in or associated with the container from one to five spring clips per weatherproof to allow each weatherproof to be clipped and gathered about the wearer. Clipping is unexpectedly useful for thermally reflecting film blanket wraps which tend to flap in the wind unless secured. The spring clips can be of the kind could otherwise be used for stationery products for example 21

"Snopake" brand handled, wide (40mm) jaw, clips which are made of moulded plastic plus a wire spring. Spring tension hold the clips closed. Purely spring clips, for example painted green or bade of stainless steel can be used e.g. Rapesco "Supaclip" brand clips and clip dispensers. Plastic "click" clip fasteners can also be used as grips, as can peelable adhesive tabs or hook and loop fasteners .

As shall be more fully explained later the kit may also comprise novel weatherproofs which are similar to metallised film blanket wraps but which have folded or pleated hood panels and arm ports, or which may comprise a pull-over body cover, made of metallised or unmetallised plastic film panels which approximately form a tube for covering at least the torso. In some cases the lower hem extends down below the user's knees and they preferably have an integral folded or pleated hood panel for the head to provide cover for the neck and head, especially in wet weather or in very cold conditions. The kit may also comprise weatherproof sleeves for arms or legs, preferably made of metallised plastic such as aluminised poly (vinyl chloride) or poly (ethylene terephthalate) panels or tubes. Such tubes may be open at both ends or closed at one end then to act as mittens, leggings or arm muffs.

It must be appreciated that in an emergency situation weather protecting apparel is needed instantly and the principal objective is to mitigate potential personal discomfort or harm which continued exposure would bring. Thus in certain cases kits may be provided which purely contain weatherproofs which are designed principally to cover the torso and preferably continuously the head and neck regions from which body heat is readily lost. Other kits may comprise limb covers for use in protecting exposed arms or legs, these to be used in association with the torso covers. In certain embodiments of the invention the torso weatherproof and 22 the limb weatherproofs may have compatible fastenings so that one may be attached by a wearer to the other. For example hook and loop fastening or adhesive tabs or clips may be used. In other embodiments of the invention a kit may comprise a plurality of torso covering weatherproofs and a plurality of limb covering weatherproofs.

Kits may also be provided with special purpose weatherproofs such as for babies, toddlers, infants, children and those with special needs.

Because it may be difficult to predict the body sizes needed, kits may contain a few metallised film blankets to acts as wraps.

It has been found that relief from adverse weather conditions comes by the provision of a cover which stops further rain wetting and wind cooling which should minimally reduce the rate of deterioration experienced by a weather exposed individual .

The kit is used in association with a safety identification sign. Safety signing is an highly characteristic form of signing and is generally characterised by the presence of visually distinctive unpatterned markings on a signing substrate such as signing board or printable sign stock. A safety sign generally comprises at least one of plain pictorial and plain text markings in usually one visually distinctive colour on a plain visually contrasting background and using a signing board or signing label stock as the substrate for the sign. Generally there is a visually significant area of plain margin around the symbols or pictograms and there may also be a printed margin which denotes the periphery of the sign.

Thus for example in the European Union safety signs are by regulation composed of one or more pictogram or graphical image symbols in white on a green background. An example of a standard is The European Safety Signs Directive 92/58/EEC. Such signing (i.e. sign printed 23 substrate) is generally placed in an area away from visual clutter and made visually separate from other printed information or pictorial matter including other signs . There may be a border provided and in some cases the sign supplied in the form of a sign board.

Workplaces are normally provided with fire safety signing and additionally first aid facility signing. The emergency weather apparel kit signing introduces a new class.

The symbols on the sign may be graphical pictograms or plain bold text in the form of one or more words, usually not exceeding ten and preferably less than six words, or a combination. So for example text may state "EMERGENCY WEATHER PROTECTION" , "EMERGENCY PERSONAL WEATHER PROTECTION", "EMERGENCY WEATHERPROOFS KIT" , "EVACUATION WEATHERPROOFS" , "EMERGENCY WEATHER WRAPS" , "BUILDING EVACUEES KIT" or the like.

Lone pictorial symbols must be clear and indicate the nature of the kit as a generic symbol meaning only

"safety" is insufficient as would be, say, a medical first aid cross where there could also be confusion between the two kinds of kits .

Thus a pictorial symbol may be formed of pictorial elements which may variously convey the meaning

"emergency" or "urgency" such as an exclamation mark, "weather" such as by depicting stylised raindrops, hail, sleet, snow, low or freezing temperatures, strong winds, solar radiation, skin burning, ultraviolet radiation, and high temperatures, blown sand, "protection" such as by a barrier, "clothing" such as by a stylised cape, blanket wrap, mitten, hood or other body cover, and "person" such as by the stylised figure of a person, perhaps depicted in a distress mode. These may be used in any appropriate combination.

Additional but separate from this, even if printed on an extension of the material forming the identification 24 sign are user, safety and responsible person information details or symbols, and product details. So for example on a container there may be printed information about the kind of weatherproofs contained, and the number of such weatherproofs in the container.

The colour on the identification sign is preferably of two strong, plain, visually contrasting colours selected from the group comprising white, green, red, orange, yellow, blue, violet with one being used exclusively for the symbol and the other for the background. A third colour or fourth could be added from this group as could black. The colours are generally pure and bright. Luminescent pigments can be used to aid visibility in darkness. Either the symbol portion or the text portion or both may be printed. The symbols are not hand written.

The area for the sign may be denoted by the physical boundaries of the substrate provided there are substantially no other markings on the viewable side of the substrate. The area of the sign can also be denoted by the printing or other provision of a framing border. In this case one substrate could be printed with the signing symbology and in other areas, warning signs, user instructions or safety advice. The identification sign can be made using printing methods, embossing methods, transfer lettering or other transfer film methods.

The kit identification sign may be provided on the cover of the container, on packaging associated with the container, or on signs for example for attachment to a wall, suspension from a ceiling or support by a plinth. The sign can be mounted on a post or a stanchion. Preferably the safety sign is provided on a separate entity such as a wall, floor mounted or is a ceiling supported sign. Such a sign may be formed of colour pigmented, screen printed semi-rigid PVC sheeting. Signs can also be made from self adhesive vinyl. Some signs 25 can be made by thermal transfer printing methods. The signs are water resistant in nature.

The signing maybe provided by printing or by using printed labels. A wide variety of safety signing materials is available from companies such as RS

Components Limited, Signs and Labels Limited, and Seton Limited.

The safety sign may also be a photoluminescent sign, such types being known. It can also be an illuminated safety sign. The safety luminaire may be permanently illuminated or illuminated when the fire alarm sounds being switched on by the fire alarm operating system.

The safety sign may additionally be provided on the weatherproofs such as by labelling or printing. The present invention enables immediately identifiable kits of weatherproofs to be provided as part of the essential safety equipment of buildings, in the general manner of fire extinguishers and first aid kits. In certain embodiments the weatherproofs may at least provide torso cloak protection for evacuees and in many embodiments of the invention will act as temporary outer clothing garments. Preferably a hood is provided, more preferably integral with the body cloak. Such hooded capes may be used as weatherproofs in the invention. Retroreflective tape portions can be applied to them for greater visibility in darkness when illuminated.

The meaning of a "weatherproof" article of apparel is to be taken to mean that the user when experiencing adverse weather conditions and wearing the article will be physically less exposed to at least one of precipitation such as rain, hail, sleet or snow, or wind, or low temperature such as temperatures close to or below the freezing point of water, blown dust such as sand and solar radiation and the like, and that the article will survive the use for the intended period.

The apparel may cover only part of the body such as the head and torso or the exposed limbs. 26

In particular weatherproofs which offer protection against the combination of precipitation and wind are important in reducing the risk of wind-chilling. The water non-absorbent weatherproofs made for example of plastic film will not themselves become heavy with rain as it soaks in as may happen with conventional textiles used in the construction of coats, because their outer surfaces are substantially water repellant and impermeable . Weatherproofs which are used against intense solar radiation may have a metallic appearance and be made of a reflectively metallised thermoplastic film or an opaque film. They may be used as solar radiation-protecting blanket wraps. In this case the use of a loose blanket wrap, cape or cloak is desirable to allow as much air flow as possible around the body so keeping the relative humidity around the body as close to environmental levels as possible.

The weatherproofs of the invention are not intended for use within the area restricted during the management of the immediate cause of the emergency. Rather they are for those who have been safely evacuated and who have assembled at a waiting point, outside the temporarily restricted area, for example pending a roll call. The weatherproofs in the container or otherwise provided in the proximity of the kit identification sign will generally be substantially similar in that they will have a substantially identical appearance for example because of a common material, a common appearance, a common method of construction, a common size, or a combination of these.

Sets of such weatherproofs may be provided, each set being comprised of substantially identical members. Generally at least five, ten or more members of the plurality will be substantially similar. Where possible as few sizes as possible are provided and the weatherproofs may be provided in one size for "universal" 27 adult use. Even if more complex constructions of weatherproofs are provided, it may be desirable to include a few thermally reflecting blanket wraps for example to allow children to be protected. The members of the plurality may be provided with weatherproof identification or instruction labels for example attached by a pressure sensitive adhesive.

In a preferred series of embodiments, the weatherproofs comprise a substantial proportion of thermoplastic sheeting such as film or synthetic non- woven web paper-like fabrics. The film and fabrics may be metallised either directly by transfer metallisation to provide reflectivity for retaining body heat and high visibility. In many embodiments of the invention, it is desirable to employ thin plastic film or thin synthetic non-woven plastic sheets, but in some circumstances binary layers of a film or waterproof membrane which may be breathable with respect to moisture may be used in conjunction with a thin woven or non-woven or a thin fleece or flocked lining.

It is however desirable for many applications to reduce the storage volume and weight of the weatherproofs and thus a panel of the materials employed in the weatherproofs should have an uncompressed thickness of less than 2mm, and in many cases less than 1mm. In some cases the flexible plastic film may have a thickness in the range of 10-50 microns.

Although the thermoplastic film is effective in keeping wind and rain out, it and may have an air space under it, the film itself may not itself be adequately thermally insulating to conducted heat. Thus expandable quilt linings or air entrained plastic linings or claddings which will be described later may be incorporated in any of the weatherproof articles of apparel described here and which incorporate one or more plastic films or polymer coated hermetic fabrics. Here 28 for example the expandable chambers may be inflated with lung blown air to provide an even quilt of at least 5mm thickness, preferably at least 1cm thickness. The effect created may be thought of as being analogous to air entrained bubble-wrap packaging films.

It is preferable to use such hermetically sealed inflatable quilt portions because this offers much lower bulk than if air is trapped. This is not however to exclude the use of permanently trapped air filled plastic films for some applications. Such bubble films could for example be used only in the hood portions of the weatherproofs or in limb envelopes with the other sheets or panels being single skin materials.

Fire alarm klaxons generally operate on different a number of occasions such as on falsely triggered alarms, on intended evacuation rehearsal drills, on security alerts, as well as fires proper. In each case the occupants are likely to be required to evacuate the building whatever the weather and may be required to assemble at an assembly point. The present invention provides immediate means for adverse weather protection. If stored within a building rather than outside, the emergency use weatherproof kits should be stationed near the fire exits of the building, from where they can be carried to a safe area before being dispensed to the evacuees . The containers may be attached to handers or supports by breakable security tags.

The containers may be supported on brackets attached to walls, or in shelves or racks. Thus in a building which houses hundreds of people a large number of kits will be provided, each perhaps holding ten to thirty weatherproofs, and these may be supplied near the exits or externally on racks. Here one sign may be associated with a plurality of containers which contain emergency weatherproofs

Depending on its nature, the container can be discarded or re-used once replacement weatherproof 29 supplies are obtained. For example the container could be a hinged, green pigmented, moulded polypropylene case or a transparent or opaque bag of the kind used in for retail garment display. As the container may be left near an exit, to reduce the likelihood of theft a wall plate for example a shelved wall plate may be provided and the container loosely attached to it by means of a breakable tag connected to an eyelet on the wall plate. The wall plate may also exhibit one or more the safety sign pictogram, user instructions and safety instructions, whether provided by printing, labelling or attachable plaques.

In another form of the invention the container may be provided in a wall mounted container, accessible by a "break glass" catch. Though the enclosure could be locked, it is desirable that the container which has the weatherproofs be readily accessible in an emergency.

In one embodiment of the invention the stand, such as the shelved wall plate or box for the weatherproofs container, comprises an alarm which is sensed when the container is removed and a visual or audible alarm is activated.

In other embodiments, the container can be situated within private grounds associated with the building and thus permanently located at a safe distance from the building. Here the container can be located on a plinth and be of weathertight construction, having a door which is openable in an emergency and following the breaking a tag or seal or opening of a lock. Outdoor containers which have break seal capability for lifebelt storage are already well known and for example such products are available from Glasdon Group Limited. In another embodiment the container could be a cabinet built into a wall with only its door showing. For many situations the weatherproofs can be of a simple, universal lightweight style of the kinds described later. They are provided in the kit is packed 30 form. This may mean that singly or otherwise they are packaged for inclusion in the kit . The packaging wrap may also carry printed markings or labels. In addition to blankets, wraps, capes, and whole body envelopes, a kit may contain a plurality of limb envelopes as shall be later described more fully or a kit may substantially comprise there. The container can comprise a plurality of torso weatherproofs and a plurality of limb sleeve weatherproofs. In one embodiment of the invention is it desirable that the limb envelopes whether they be sleeve weatherproofs such as mitt weatherproofs, hand muff weatherproofs, or the like are readily attachable by a wearer to a weatherproof from the kit . This is achieved by providing attachment means (including an attachment component) .

Thus either the sleeve or the weatherproof, usually on an external surface may be provided with means for attaching one to the other. This can be an adhesive tab attached to one or the other, or supplied independently in the kit, which has a removable cover on the adhesive so allowing one to be bonded to the other. Other means provided in the kit or attached to one or other of a sleeve or weatherproof (including the novel weatherproofs described later herein) such as spring or other clips, hoop and look fastening pads, eyelets for use with ties, pop fasteners and the like may also be used. A pair of sleeves may be attached to form a bonded pair. The emergency kit may comprise means for attaching a torso weatherproof to a sleeve weatherproof. At least a part of the attachment means may be attached to a weatherproof .

In some situations, for example where freezing temperatures are commonly encountered, the emergency container can contain one or two piece weatherproof suits for example made of pigmented PVC coated fabric . Such suits are available from a number of suppliers such as 31

RS Components Limited. They can be made of a welded poly (vinyl chloride) or other water repellant coated fabric. Both an hooded coat or anorak portion and a trousers portion can then be provided. Such suits are however elaborate and less suitable for a wide range of body sizes. More sizes may therefore have to be stocked. They may be one part suits or two parts. Such suiting is also bulky but for certain situations its use may be appropriate. Such suits are available from RS Components and other companies.

In various embodiments of the invention the container can be of different types for example a case, a locker, a cabinet, a carrier bag, a carrier sack, or a package.

When the embodiment is a case, locker or cabinet, it can be formed of a moulded thermoplastic composition. In a preferred embodiment the case or cabinet is hingedly openable, the opening secured by clips, clasps or a burstable seal.

A case can be made of polypropylene or a polycarbonate, poly (vinyl chloride) or like thermoplastics, from recycled materials or metal. Preferably the casing is outwardly coloured green, orange, yellow, or the like, for ready identification. Moulded plastic cases are available from many companies such as Stewart Plastics Limited.

The case may comprise an attached or integral carrying handle or a strap . In another embodiment the case or container can be attached to a support which can be an external wall of the building or a plinth fixed to the ground.

The container should be reasonably rain tight when unopened and of water resistant construction. This is achieved by including close fitting seals and providing a plastic or similar water resistant material case. When the container is a bag, such as a shoulder bag, it should be of a waterproof construction. The surface of the bag can be formed substantially from waterproofed 32 coated or close woven fabric. The bag or case may have a number of compartments. These may house different sizes of weatherproofs . Shoulder bags of the general type are known for containing first aid supplies. They are usually made of stitched nylon.

In a simpler form the weatherproofs can be provided in a suitably labelled film package which is broken open, for example by means of a pull strip, when needed, and the packing then recycled. The packaging material may be substantially formed of a polymeric film material such as poly (ethylene) , poly (propylene) , cellulose acetate or the like.

The packaging film can be printed e.g. with green or white ink. It can be labelled by means of a printed adhesive label which may carry a product identifying bar code for sales purposes, or safety or user instructions. Packs of this kind are supplied may many companies such as Index Systems Limited. The packs may be reclosable or they may be provided with moulded plastic hangers . Packages containing weatherproofs can be placed within outer cases or bags . The case and bag containers are preferably refillable. Refill packs comprising a plurality of weatherproofs of one, two or more types maybe used . In this case the containers are re-usable and are closable by locking, clipping or other securing means. Preferably the container opening is sealed by a tape seal or a breakable tag to prevent tampering.

The container can also comprise locking means for the opening means e.g. a key operated lock. The key can be provided within a break-glass or break-seal housing such as is commonly used for the tamperproof protection of fire alarm push buttons.

Preferably the container is weatherproof to avoid it or its contents being damaged by rain, snow, etc. The container may comprise a carrying handle so that it can be carried from the building to a safe zone. 33

The surface of the container preferably exhibits a strong colour selected from the group consisting of white, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, copper, silver and gold. Generally it is desirable to provide noticeable and plain colouring.

The container is preferably plainly coloured, decorated, marked or labelled in one or two colours. Thus the surface of the container can be substantially coloured blue, green, orange or yellow or the like. The container can take the form of an hanger with individual weatherproofs attached by tags or a display board to which are attached individually packed weatherproofs .

The safety sign symbol can be provided on the main exterior front surface of the container e.g. printed or labelled, to indicate the nature of the safety product. This may be done by labelling or screen printing methods. Other labels or markings are also provided in the kit for product naming and price coding information. Any necessary warning signs such as prohibiting smoking when the weatherproof is in use, are preferably printed and associated with a red colour on white, and these may be provided on each weatherproof, on each container and safety sign. By providing information signing in visually distinctive symbolic form in the visual proximity of the contained weatherproofs, they can be immediately located by association during a fast moving emergency situation such as the evacuation of a building. The symbols can be large alphabetic letters or readily identifiable graphical image shapes. A combination of symbols can be employed to provide one or more words, or a collection of shapes which together provide the necessary information in graphical form. The symbols are generally intended to be plain, easy to read shapes, recognisable from a distance of a few metres.

Roman (or other) alphabetic characters and other main 34 symbol elements should preferably be at least 15mm high and the width of the lines forming the characters at least 2.5mm.

Both words and designs can be used in the sign. The symbols should be provided plainly and on an unpatterned background. A typical sign thus has a minimum size of 10cm by 15cm or a broadly equivalent minimum* area. If the background is part of a case and the symbols printed on a flat surface of the case, there should be a visually plain area of the above size within which the symbols are centrally placed.

The principal surface of the safety sign generally presents two colours such as two selected from white, green, red, yellow, orange and blue. The sign can be provided as a plaque or a label for example.

In certain embodiments the weatherproofs are disposable and thus brand new for each person.

Various forms of weatherproofs can be employed in the practice of this invention. A weatherproof should at least provide cover for substantially all of the torso and preferably also the arms, and the head.

An hood for the head can be a separate item but it is preferably integrally attached or part of the body of the torso weatherproof . The weatherproof may be provided with integral sleeves or an integral covering cowl for the arms and hands . Most preferably the weatherproof is capable of covering the torso, arms and head. It is also preferable that legs are protected. This may be done by providing sufficient length in the weatherproof. Protection for the feet is also desirable although care must be taken that the weatherproof does not cause a trip hazard by its excessive length.

Weatherproof limb covers may be made by making a tube of thermoplastic film, preferably of metallised plastic of size suitable for the arm or leg. The covering tube may be open ended to allow slipping along an arm or leg, or it may be sealed at one end, optionally with a 35 burstable seal, like an elongated mitten.

The limb cover may be provided with ties or pulls made of thermoplastic ribbon or cord to enable the ends to be drawn round the limb. Similarly weatherproofs made of plastic films may be provided with plastic ribbon ties. These ties are sealed to the film by heat, ultrasonic welding or RF welding or by an adhesive or sewing or stapling. The limb cover whether mitten, muff, legging or the like may be provided with fastening means which enables it to be attached to the torso cover such as a cape . Here the fastening can be by hook and loop fasteners or adhesive tabs, popper studs or the like.

The limb covers may comprise reflectively metallised film such as aluminised poly (ethylene) , aluminised polyester or aluminised poly (vinyl chloride) formed into a flat bag shape suitable for an arm or leg. The bag may be closed at one end, optionally with an reclosable adhesive such as of the kind used on 3M Corporation "Post-It" brand notelets. The bag may take the form of a tube which is open at both ends.

The limb envelope can also comprise an inner layer of a water absorbent sheet material such as wet strength paper or a non-woven web fabric.

The limb envelope can also comprise gathering means such as a tie or hoop and loop fastener to enable it to be gathered around the limb, at an end, if necessary.

The limb envelope can also comprise external attachment means to enable it to be attached to a torso cover. Thus for example the user of the hooded cape described herein or a prior art polythene poncho or metallised film blanket wrap, can thereby attach two limb envelopes for the arms to the outer surface of the torso cover enabling the envelopes to be attached at a suitable height ready for occasional use. Attachment may conveniently be by a self adhesive tab which is protected by a release layer until used, and hook and look fastener arrangement, popper studs, ties or the like. 36

In other embodiments the limb covers may be made of a double skin of thermoplastic film which is hermetically welded at the edges and spot welded in a dot matrix manner to provide an inflatable quilt . The hermetic chamber is accessed by means of a thin rubber tube which is adhesively hermetically sealed to the polymeric film at a flange. The user inflates the quilt with air and the limb cover then provides improved thermal insulation. Such a structure when made of the polymeric films preferably has gathering pulls or ties provided. The lower portion may be provided with one or more lines of perforations made by a perforator to allow the user to reduce the length by tearing off the unwanted portion.

Gathering pulls are typically strips of plastic tape which are secured at end points to the material of the weatherproof and located within a tunnel which contains apertures. The tape or cord may then be pulled through the aperture. This causes the weatherproof to gather. The drawn end of the drawn tape may then be tied. The drawn tape may be perforated across it width so that the tape can be torn apart when the wearer is removing the weatherproof .

At least some of the weatherproofs in the container are preferably substantially formed of one or more thermoplastic films. The films can be selected from the group consisting of poly (ethylene) , poly (propylene) , poly (vinyl chloride) , poly (ethylene terephthalate) , a polycarbonate, a polyacrylate, a nylon, and blends, co- extrudates and copolymers thereof . The polymeric compositions may be plasticised to provide flexibility to the films. The films can be printed, metallised or have one side which is attached to a fibrous medium such as a non-woven material.

The films are generally of thickness within the range 10 microns to 70 microns, preferably in the range 10 to 30 microns. For example an aluminised polyester film suitable for the invention may have a thickness of 37 approximately 12 microns, or 23 microns.

In certain embodiments of the invention a weatherproof may thus have three functional parts and these can be made of the same or different materials. Different materials can be attached by adhesively attached, heat bonded, ultrasonically or RF bonded, laminated, riveted, stapled, tagged, clipped, taped or stitched.

A plurality of metallised film survival blanket wraps may be contained within the container and each have a typical size in the range 1.3m - 1.6m by 1.9m - 2.5m. The weight of each such protecting blanket wrap is very approximately 50 grams at a thickness of 12 microns.

The film used for manufacturing the weatherproofs can be coloured e.g. by the inclusion of dyes or pigments and for example a yellow dye will enable the aluminised film to have a golden appearance when viewed through the yellow film. The impermeable films can be printed e.g. by flexographic, gravure or screen printing methods to impart background colour, user instructions, logos, identification numbers, or a combination. Printed designs may be created for aesthetic or publicity reasons.

An emergency weatherproof may also be provided with affixed adhesive tapes or labels. These can be applied in line by an automatic applicator which has a reciprocating action and which is able to roll adhesive labels onto the flattened surface of the weatherproof. The labels may include instruction labels for example in different languages, sales code labels and reflective such as retroreflective labels.

For added thermal insulation, the entire weatherproof may be made of an inflatable quilted structure and each portion of the weatherproof may be independently inflatable. In other embodiments only a portion such as a shoulder protecting area may be inflatable or made of an air entrained plastic film which could be of the sealed bubble wrap kind used in packaging, in which a plurality 3 8 of identical cells trapping air are provided at geometrically regular intervals. The film may be metallised to provide thermal reflectivity.

Gathering means may be provided to enable a weatherproof to be gathered around the wearer's body.

This for example can reduce wind circulation around the body and enable the wearer to maintain a volume of bodily warmed air in the immediate vicinity of the wearer's body and clothing. The gathering means may include ties such as made of tape, or drawable tapes.

An advantage of using plastic film materials for making emergency weatherproofs is that it can be provided in reel form and various processing methods are already well established for use on reel fed plastic films. For example the film can be cut into sheets, slit, perforated, folded, bonded or laminated, labelled, printed, coated, punched, gathered, or die cut. Plastic film converting technology is well established as are methods for controlling the unwinding of reels. Processing methods are well known including sheeting methods. Such methods are described in trade journals such as "Converting Today" and "Plastic, Film and Foil Converter" .

Specialist equipment for use in film converting lines is available from companies such as Park Air Corporation and may variously include attachments for continuous and intermittent hole punching , zippers, handle cutting and handle attachment. It also provides roller sealers, slit sealers, header sealers, draw tape attachments, gusset sealers, rotary serrators, slitting knives, and rewinding equipment. Further accessories are for film overlap sealing , cutting and placing a valve fitment. Much of this equipment was designed for plastic bag making but by modification the technology can be used for making emergency weatherproofs from film or other web such as non woven web materials.

In addition many kinds of fastenings are well known 39 in the garment industry such as snap or pop fasteners, eyelets, nylon filament tagging, sewing and the like, because some plastic films may be prone to tearing, the films may be provided with a tape border for example from a self adhesive tape or an other wide laminated or bonded tape . For example masking tape has proved to be an useful reinforcement because it adheres well and is water resistant but has the qualities of paper.

The plastic film can be converted by reel to reel processing. Printing can be undertaken on a continuous rotary basis for example by gravure or flexography. The inks are chosen such that when dry they do not wash off with water: a wide variety are available.

In some embodiments each of the weatherproofs can have a printed, weatherproof adhesive label attached by an adhesive^' or tagged, which provides instructions.

Instructions may cover how to use the weatherproof and warnings such as not to use the weatherproofs in the area which is restricted during the emergency. In order to provide users with higher visibility when using the weatherproofs, the colour of the weatherproof is preferably substantially a single colour in outward appearance such as white, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, copper, silver or gold, although a binary or ternary combination is possible.

The weatherproof may comprise a visually luminscent colour-marking to render high visibility. This can be fluorescent or phosphorescent .

In certain embodiments at least some of the weatherproofs may exhibit at least one reflective area or the weatherproof can be substantially wholly reflective.

The reflectivity of the area can be diffuse, specular and retroreflective .

The reflective area can be formed by a tape which is attached e.g. adhered, to an externally viewable surface of the weatherproof. Preferably viewable surfaces on the front and the back are reflectively marked. 40

Retroreflective tapes or labels can be applied to the outer viewable surface of the apparel such as 3M Corporation's "Scotchlite" retroreflective tape.

If to be used in situations where there is the danger of fire, the weatherproofs may formed of a material which is flame retardant or self-extinguishing such as a film substantially comprising poly (vinyl chloride) .

As an alternative to film panels in the apparel, weatherproofed, optionally fire retardant, fabric such as synthetic non-woven or woven fabrics can be employed.

Adhesively backed or weldable tapes may also be used in the fabrication of the weatherproofs for securing connecting different panel materials or for panel edge protection especially of the film is prone to tearing. The weatherproofs can be supplied individually folded and packed in the container.

If the reel-drawn manufacturing process allows, at least some of the weatherproofs in the container are provided detachably attached to other weatherproofs. Tearable perforated detachment lines can be provided by the actuation of a perforator located in the converting line .

The connected weatherproofs can be supplied in fan- folded form or on a reel, possibly folded to reduce the width. Those stored on a reel can be drawn off from the reel very rapidly. The container may have means for supporting the reel such as a shaft on bearings so that it can rotate freely within the container.

The container for the weatherproofs can also be a bag such as a thermoplastic coated fabric bag or pack which is made of water resistant nylon fabric and which may have a flap, tie or zipped opening. The container, especially if a bag, may also have a shoulder or hand carrying strap. The strap can be adjustable. The emergency weatherproofs can be provided in a haversack, such as a water resistant nylon fabric haversack and this can be compartmentalised. Attached to the kit in other 41 compartments there could be first aid equipment pack, or other emergency use equipment such as a torch or a chemiluminescent light generating pack.

The container may also have printed on it or attached to it for example by an adhesive label or a swing tag, one or more further signs . For example this sign may indicate the number of weatherproofs in the kit and the product kind. The additional sign can also indicate the identification letter or number for the assembly point to which the container is to be taken before opening, in use. Thermal transfer printed adhesive labels which are on a waterproof substrate such as white pigmented PVC may be used.

A kit may comprise a first identification sign on the surface of the container, on or associated with the weatherproofs in the container such as on the packaging for a group of weatherproofs and a second sign, identical in symbolic content to the first, perhaps larger or smaller, printed on sign stock and optionally in addition to one or both further signs such as labels or sign stock based signs.

The new weatherproofs described herein can be manufactured to include drawstring gathering pulls in a manner similar to draw pulls used in plastic carrier bags, or these can be supplied on an adhesive tape for the wearer to attach to the garment .

Such drawstrings can be formed by providing an elongate pocket which has a regular plurality of apertures through which the tape or string within the pocket can be picked by a finger. The tape or string is secured to the opposing furthest ends of the elongate pocket and when pulled away from the pocket the string causes the pocket forming fabric or film to gather.

The principal aim of the apparel is functional . In many embodiments they are used to prevent wind-chill cooling of the body and to prevent the wetting by rain, hail or snow, for a comparatively short duration, 42 typically up to a few hours though in some cases this may be longer. After use the weatherproofs can be collected for reclamation or re-use of the materials.

The weight of a weatherproof is intended to be low, preferably within the range of 25g to 200g, more preferably within the range of 50g to 150g.

Certain types of these film based adverse weather conditions garments can be made rapidly and compactly so that a large number can be packed within a volume leading to reduced bulkiness of the container. This is especially important if a building such as a sky scraper having hundreds of occupants, is being evacuated.

It is desirable that the emergency clothing be packable in a substantially flat pack format so that the packing density within the container is high. Sometimes the weatherproofs can be provided a reel or rolled up together, say ten or more at a time.

Apart from use in building evacuations, the emergency clothing kits can be useful for other forms of occasions such as public gatherings e.g. outdoor sports events or outdoor festivals where the weather suddenly turns adverse .

A refill pack of emergency weatherproofs for the kit can also be provided, a kit refill pack usually comprising at least six identical weatherproofs. The pack may carry a printed replica of the identification sign in accordance with the invention and in such a case constitutes at kit even though it may be used as a refill for another kit container. If included, spring clips are for the purpose of gripping parts of the weatherproof so that the user can gather the weatherproof material or panels more closely around the user's body if appropriate. Other kinds of fastening means can be provided such as hook and loop fasteners and these can be adhesively attached to the material when dry.

The kit has also led to the creation of a new range 43 of emergency weatherproofs for immediate short term single use by a wide variety of people who may be caught in building evacuations and other adverse weather emergencies. Here sheet, especially plastic film, converting methods can be used.

There is a need for further article of emergency adverse weather apparel which provides enhanced protection against adverse weather conditions over that accorded by a reflectively metallised plastic film blanket wrap.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a weatherproof article of apparel for use in an adverse weather conditions outdoor emergency, said article being a cape which consists of a substantially rectangular back panel portion (when in use) to act as a cover for at least a portion of each of the back and sides of a standing wearer's body and attached continuously (relative to when in use) widthwise to the uppermost edge of said back panel a front panel the upper edge attached continuously (relative to when in use) continuously widthwise to said rear panel, in which the opposing end portion of said front panel upper edge is gathered to form a plurality of pleats having folds running in a (relative to when in use) widthwise direction, said pleat gathering being secured at its opposing (relative to when in use) width ends to corresponding opposing edge portions of said rear panel such that when the rear panel is held in a layflat manner said front panel and pleats also lay flat, and such that, in use, an individual may insert respectively right and left arms through the right and left arm ports formed at each (relative to when in use) width side between where said two panels overlap but are not secured together, and such that when drawn around the body the user may unfurl the pleated portion so forming an extendible hood to cover the user's head.

Such a pleat-hooded cape is preferably at least 44 substantially made of impermeable sheet material such as flexible plastic film material which may be metallised, printed, labelled or provided with attachments, or a combination. An hooded cape of this kind is surprisingly effective despite its simplicity. It offers a better level or protection than a thermally reflecting film blanket wrap because the cape will sit over the shoulders without being held by the hands and the pleated portion acts as a collar. When the hood is extended, the article is supported by the head and the pleats form tensioned structural elements which enables the head and neck and to a degree the face to be protected.

The two panels may be formed from a single sheet and the joint between the two is integral and takes the form of a fold. The pleated section of the front panel may be formed of the same sheet as forms the other portion of the front panel or a different one in which case the two portions are widthwise (relative to when in use) bonded. The pleats may be all of the same or a substantially similar depth and there can be from three to ten or more. The pleats may be formed by making a concertina-like gathering, or by rolling the film and them flattening it. A multiple pleat can be made by folding the portion allocated for pleats in half so forming a widthwise pleat, then folding the folded portion in half and them optionally repeating the process (so giving seven folds) and securing the opposite ends. This may be further rolled or folded in a concertina like manner. For ease of flat packing the number of pleats is kept relatively low and the depth of each high.

The edge portions may be joined by using an hot melt adhesive, by an adhesive sheet dispensed from a roller using a dispensing device, by welding or laminating, by stitching, by clipping, by eyeletting, by riveting, or by short nylon thread tagging or the like. If the plastic film is tearable, the edge portions can be reinforced 45 with tape such as a non-migrating pressure sensitive adhesive tape for example of the masking tape kind.

In a preferred embodiment the hooded cape described also comprises one or more fastening elements arranged in a vertical (relative to when in use) manner so that wearers may secure the vertical (relative to when in use) sides together so forming a closed cape structure in for example rain. In hot wet weather the wearers may elect not to use the fastenings. Such fastening may be done with a pressure sensitive adhesive tab which is adhesively bonded to the panel material, this being protected before use by a peelable cover. Alternatively pop fasteners, hoop and loop fasteners, eyelets with ties or tape or ribbon ties may be used.

Retroreflective tape segments may be adhesively attached to the weatherproofs for higher visibility.

Thus such a weatherproof article of apparel, when in use for providing an user with protection against adverse weather conditions, may comprise a first substantially rectangular panel of conformable material to be used in landscape orientation as a rear body panel and having a panel area within the range of from one to three square metres inclusive, said article also comp [rising a second rectangular panel of conformable material of length substantially similar to that of the width of said first panel, said second substantially rectangular panel having a depth within the range of 20% to 40% inclusive of the depth of said first panel, said first and second panel being mutually lengthwise attached along a longest edge of each, said article further comprising a third substantially rectangular panel of conformable material, said second panel being attached by its other longest edge to a longest edge of said third panel, said third panel having a length substantially similar to that of the width of the first panel, said third panel having an unpleated depth which is in the range of 10% to 50% of 46 the depth of said first panel, said third panel comprising a plurality of gathered parallel pleats in which the pleat folds are parallel with the longest edges of said third panel, in which article said third panel when pleated is connected at each of its length edges to overlapping (when said panels are laid flat) edges of said first panel at respective first and second connection points thereby forming opposing arm apertures for an user, such that when first panel is laid flat, said second panel and said third pleated panel overlap said first panel and together all panels form a substantially taught layflat structure, whereby in use the user may don the article and after passing right and left arms respectively through the right and left arm apertures allow the article to be drawn up partly and so rest on the user's shoulders, and whereby the user may further centrally ungather the pleats and draw the ungathered portion over the head as an hood for protecting the user's head and neck from exposure. Such an article is of relatively simple construction and can be made by folding a sheet of film or other impermeable material and appropriately securing the pleated portion to the rear panel. It is compact, is lightweight, is durable, is foldable and can accommodate a wide range of sizes of users.

If removable clips are used to join the pleated portion to the rear panel, on removing the clips a blanket wrap results.

Preferably the article is made from metallised plastic such as metallised polyester film of approximately 23 microns thickness because of the additional benefit from reflectivity of heat radiated from the body. Though the article is described as having three panels, it can be formed from wider length of plastic film or the like which is folded to give effect to the three panel construction. If different films or materials are used, they can be attached to each other at 47 their edges or by using tape or other bridges. The different films need not be joined precisely in the fine edge line. Attachment in the close vicinity of the edges such as on the faces of the panels, in the edge regions, is anticipated and more easily described as a joint or attachment or connection at the edge.

The article improves on a plain thermal blanket wrap which is merely a rectangle of film and which is not designed to fit the body in any way, by providing arm ports and an extendible hood. The user's shoulders and head may then advantageously act as fulcra for supporting the weatherproof .

By the term "landscape" it is meant that in use the panel will be presented for wearing in the manner of the dimensions of a landscape picture. A "portrait" is the opposite and means the height is greater than the width.

The article is described as having panels and in various embodiments the article may be made from one piece of material or two, three or more. Plastic films including metallised plastic films are preferred materials. Hermetically sealed air quilts including of the inflatable kind may form one of the panel portions. This allows improved insulation and may be especially useful for providing head thermal insulation for those who have thin or no hair on their head. The air inflatable may be quilt made of two plastic films which are hermetically sealed and have an air inlet pipe, and which are matrix bonded to control the expanded thickness of the quilt when inflated under mild pressure. Materials used herein as panels in the weatherproof articles of apparel are selected to be conformable to the body in accordance with their intended use. In certain cases conformability of the plastic films used in the weatherproofs may be adversely affected by a severely low temperature. This may happen for example with some plastic films.

The attachment between the panels may be at a fold, 48 in which case the material is substantially continuous, or by welding or other means of attachment such as those which use tapes such as adhesive tapes.

Thus in certain embodiments the hood could be made of conformable metallised plastic film and if aluminised polyester this could be attached to the second panel, perhaps polythene film by a pressure sensitive adhesive tape such as PVC tape, masking tape or fabric reinforced tape. The plastic films may be laid up from reels and drawn off folded and pre-registered for final finishing such as by adding the connections and any accessories such as draw tapes or reflective patches or labels, after which individual articles are cut from the continuous web . The panels may be formed from a larger sheet which is ^•folded to form the panel portions, or from two or more sheets which are seamed together. The material forming the panels may be plastic film, which may have been printed, metallised or labelled, or any combination before fabricating the waterproof. The article is lightweight and suitable for manufacture by film converting methods.

The article may made of a plastic film such as poly (ethylene) , poly (propylene) , poly (ethylene terephthalate), poly(vinyl chloride) or the like, or a combination. The film may be colour pigmented or printed with ink. For added thermal protection the film may also be reflectively metallised with aluminium.

The article may also comprise an air entrained plastic film or plastic sheet. The article can also include a lining of or be made from water resistant, and water repellent, non-woven web or film coated woven web materials .

The article may have a line of perforations provided so that the user can tear off a lower portion to reduce the height of the apparel .

The article may be made with a different colour from 49 one side to the other. Thus for example if yellow tinted aluminised polyester is used, one side may appear silvery and the other golden. The cape may also be readily reversed. The seams may be made by heat sealing or RF or ultrasonic welding, taping or sewing in accordance with the materials, or folding . Because the article is rectangular in shape and has a layflat capability it is readily suitable for folding for packaging. In this case once the article is made it may be laid flat, then lengthwise and breadthwise folded until the packing size is reached. In another embodiment the article may be folded into a narrow strip shape which can then be rolled and banded. The above pleated cape may be made by unreeling one or more component panel forming materials and drawing these under tension along a series of rollers and at least one of causing seams to be made as necessary and folds to be introduced, so that the panels are in relative registration, connecting said panels together by bonding means at the width end regions of article lengths and thereafter cutting the composite web in register to create individual article units. Various means for connection may be used including welding, riveting, stapling, adhesive bonding, taping, tabbing, tagging, clipping and the like as appropriate.

Labels and tapes may be attached during the line processing or once individual weatherproof sections have been introduced. The above novel article improves on a simple reflecting film blanket wrap by offering greater degree of cover in adverse weather conditions and the article is more easily supported by the wearer by means of the arm ports and pleated hood. In other forms of the invention the hood need not be pleated.

It is preferable that the pleated portion is in 50 between the second and first panels. An adult size weatherproof of this type uses approximately 3 square metres of film. In some embodiments only the second or third or both panels may be metallised, or the first may be.

A weatherproof cape of simpler design may also be made by simply folding a sheet so as to form first and second panels, securing the opposite end extremities of the smaller panel to the larger backing panel and providing pull ties or other gathering means.

To avoid tearing of the more delicate films at the edges any of the weatherproofs they may be provided with adhesive tape borders or seamed folds. Seams and joins which are described at edges can be made precisely at the edges or in regions close to the edges.

A further temporary weatherproof which is made using similar processes and materials to that above may be made.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided emergency apparel in which the emergency apparel kit is positioned . adjacent an emergency exit . Such an article may comprise a first substantially rectangular panel of conformable material of area at least one square metre which in use functions as a body weatherproofing panel and a second substantially rectangular panel of conformable material comprising a series of parallel pleats which are parallel to one end of said panel, said pleats being gathered and joined at their edges, said pleated portion when unfurled in use acting as a weatherproof hood.

This is of simple construction and acts as a wrap. Preferably the film used in its manufacture is metallised for added thermal reflectivity. This simple wrap may have the features described for other wraps and covers herein as appropriate to its structure and composition.

There is however a need for emergency weatherproofs which offer better protection in more severe weather 51 which are lightweight, of small volume and suitable for accommodating a range of body sizes.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a weatherproof article of apparel, said article being a cape which consists of a substantially rectangular back panel portion when in use to act as a cover for at least a portion of each of the back and sides of a standing wearer's body and attached continuously (relative to when in use) widthwise to the uppermost edge of said back panel a front panel the upper edge attached continuously (relative to when in use) widthwise to said rear panel, in which the opposing end portion of said front panel upper edge is gathered to form a plurality of pleats having folds running in a (relative to when in use) widthwise direction, said pleat gathering being secured at its opposing (relative to when in use) width ends to corresponding opposing edge portions of said rear panel such that when the rear panel is held in a layflat manner said front panel and pleats also lay flat, and such that, in use, an individual may insert respectively right and left arms through the right and left arm ports formed at each (relative to when in use) width side between where said two panels overlap but are not secured together, and such that when drawn around the body the user may unfurl the pleated portion so forming an extendible hood to cover the user's head, such an article of apparel may comprise a rear body panel element, a lower front body panel element, one or more upper front body panel elements, such that when pulled over the head and body and worn in use: the rear body and front body panel elements form a generally tubular, tight structure over most of the height of the wearer's body, an upper front panel overlaps the lower front panel such that the wearer's arms may be covered by the cowl effect of the lower portion of said upper front panel while being able to move across the top of the 52 lower front panel so freeing the wearer's hands, and an upper front panel forms the front neck portion, and the parallel pleated element which is joined to the neck portion of the rear panel when expanded by the wearer forms an hood for covering the head and neck of the wearer.

Such an article is preferably made from impermeable plastic film material such as a reflectively metallised plastic film material.

For example the weatherproof article of apparel, when in use for providing an user with protection against adverse weather conditions, comprises, when stretched flat a first substantially rectangular panel of conformable material to be worn in portrait orientation and having respectively top, bottom, left and right edges, and superimposed on said first panel a second substantially rectangular panel of conformable material and having respectively top, bottom, left and right edges, said second panel having a width which is substantially identical to the width of said first panel and a length which is at least 60% of the length of said first panel, said second panel being positioned such that it entirely overlies said first panel and such that said bottom of said second panel overlaps said bottom of said first panel and such that said left and right edges of said second panel are entirely lengthwise attached to the corresponding left and right respective edges of said first panel, said article also comprising a third substantially rectangular panel of conformable material and having respectively top, bottom, left and right edges, said third panel having a width which is substantially identical to that of said first panel and an extended depth which is in the range of from 15% to 70% of the length of said first panel, said third panel overlying said first and second panels, said third panel being lengthwise attached by its left and right sides to 53 the corresponding left and right respective edges of one of said first and second panels, and at least a part of the top of said third panel being attached to another substantially rectangular panel, said third panel also being positioned such that its bottom edge overlies said second panel and such that the portion of material of the second panel which overlies the first panel and not covered by said third panel is substantially impervious, said article comprising a fourth substantially rectangular panel of conformable material having respectively top, bottom, left and right edges, said fourth panel having a length which is substantially identical to that of the width of said first panel, said fourth panel being symmetrically attached to said first panel, wherein, in use said first panel functions as a rear body cover, said second panel functions as at least a lower front body cover, said third panel comprises a cowl for protecting arms and said fourth panel functions as a hood to protect the head and neck. In a preferred embodiment the fourth panel is preferably parallel pleated with pleat fold being parallel to said top of said fourth panel and the pleats are gathered and joined at both ends. In this and indeed other pleated articles disclosed herein may comprise a two pleat folds, three, four, five, six, eight, or ten folds. In many embodiments the pleats are of identical width and could be 10cm wide. The pleated panel cannot be ungathered where joined at the ends by the pleats may be centrally ungathered. In some embodiments of the invention the arm cowl at its bottom edge may comprise a fold, with a portion of the third panel material being folded back and inwardly joined to the second panel or other upper front panel so that the cowl has a "shelf" for the arms. It is generally intended that the arm cowl may be

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56 for the head. The panels can also be of the double skin, hermetically sealed, inflatable chamber variety.

The article may be made by registering respective panel materials on a film reel converting line, and introducing controlled folding and bonding as necessary. At intervals weatherproof article units are made by lateral heat sealing, taping or the like to enable bonding and individual units are thereafter provided by a cutting operation for example using knives or heat radiating laser knives.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a weatherproof article of apparel which is a sleeve-like cover for protecting at least one of an hand, an arm, a foot, leg and full body against adverse weather conditions in an emergency, said sleeve comprising a tubular structure which is open at one end to allow entry of said hand, arm, foot, leg, or feet led body, the external surface of said sleeve consisting of plastic film, said sleeve comprising gathering means to enable fitting to the user in use, said sleeve also comprising at least one of firstly an high visibility marking device on at least part of the external surface of said sleeve whereby said sleeve is rendered highly visible in use, secondly camouflage means on substantially all of said external surface of said sleeve whereby said sleeve is camouflaged, and thirdly an attachment component whereby said sleeve may be attached to an item of apparel when simultaneously worn by said user.

This article of apparel is drapable in use. The sleeve-like or bag-like cover for protecting at least one of an hand, an arm, a foot, a leg and the full length body (then acting like a survival sleeping bag) against adverse weather conditions in an emergency is intended to provide immediate temporary cover to that part of the body in use. The cover may be permanently sealed at one end or open to allow sliding up, say, an arm. The cover can be reclosably or openably sealed at one end to allow 57 it to be used as a closed tube or an open tube. Such sealing may be done by using a burstable hot melt adhesive or other adhesive composition or by providing a burstable paper seal, the paper being laminated to polythene or the like.

The cover may comprise an inner lining of woven or non-woven web material or an air expanded polymeric film. Such lining is preferably moisture absorbent. For thermal reflectivity, the cover preferably comprises reflectively metallised polyester film.

The cover may be formed of an hermetically sealed quilt-like structure which may be inflated via an inflation tube to form an air quilt blanket wrap. This can provide additional thermal insulation such as in very cold ambient conditions of use.

Though mainly intended for the use as universal mittens, muffs, arm and leg protectors, in one embodiment of the invention the cover may be of the survival sleeping-bag format to allow an user to cover most of the body in an emergency in severe weather.

Techniques and materials which may be used in fabricating such a cover have been described elsewhere herein with reference to other articles of apparel.

The gathering means to enable fitting to the user for example the user's arm or leg may comprise a tie, an adhesive tab, an eyelet, an hook and loop fastener, a pop fastener, draw or pull tape assemblies or the like.

This gathering allows a better fit, given that the covers will generally be available in very few sizes and in wet windy weather will reduce the ingress of rain and the loss of warmed air around the limb.

The high visibility marking device on at least part of the external surface of said sleeve may be a visible light luminscent composition such as a printed fluorescent ink or composition containing a luminescent pigment and this may be applied as a print, on an adhesive label, adhesive tape or the like. The high 58 visibility marking device can also be a retroreflective adhesive label or tape.

The camouflage means on substantially all of said external surface may provided by printing inks printed onto the plastic surface of the cover in a camouflaging pattern.

The attachment component whereby said sleeve can be attached to an item of apparel simultaneously worn by said user can be a self adhesive tab protected by a release layer, adhesively bonded to the outer surface of the cover or one part of an hook and loop fastener, a pop stud or pop stud socket, clip or the like.

It is mainly intended that the limb envelope covers will be used in conjunction with the emergency weatherproofs and that users can attach the covers to the main torso covering weatherproof so that the sleeves, mittens or leggings are not likely to be lost when if the user needs, say, to free a hand. The revealable adhesive tab is useful in that it does not require a mating component on the torso weatherproof.

The benefit of the sleeve is that it can offer protection to exposed arms and legs which because of their exposure may proportionately cool faster in adverse cold weather conditions. In certain embodiments of the invention the sleeve may comprise high visibility or camouflage markings and the attachment means .

In one embodiment of the limb cover invention said article may comprise two rectangular panels of identical size and made of a reflectively metallised conformable material, the two panels overlapping and being attached together continuously along their opposing major edges and at one end of the tube thereby formed there is provided gathering means and at said other end means selected from the group consisting of gathering means and closing means which respectively make the article open at both ends and open at one end, a said rectangular 59 panel having an area within the range of 0.035 to 0.20 square metres .

The sleeve panels may be pleated with parallel pleats and the pleats can be gathered at one end. Elastic gathering means may also be included in the cover.

The sleeve article may be made by unreeling lengths from film or other material provided on a reel and using bonding and cutting methods. The article is preferably made of metallised poly (vinyl chloride) or metallised poly (ethylene terephthalate) film such as aluminised film. The methods of construction for panel materials and various features are generally also described herein in connection with other articles.

The article may carry additional printing or labelling. This may be applied to the article before or after manufacture.

A general difficulty which has been encountered in the manufacturing of weatherproof articles of apparel made from plastic film materials is how to form joins conveniently when it may be necessary to join a plurality of films of different kinds in a simple but effective manner. Some materials may be incompatible in heat bonding methods. For example metallised polyester, being biaxially orientated, tends to shrink rapidly and uncontrollably when heated beyond a certain temperature For an example of the problems a prior art survival bag is made of metallised plastic film by Medik Cl Limited and has a .8m length of film which is 0.9m wide. This is folded in half to form a 2.4m long bag and the sides are taped with yellow adhesive tape. The manufacturer has applied the tape to one edge and then tried to folds it evenly onto the other. Because of the thinness and flexibility of the film the taping is however uneven. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a weatherproof article of apparel which comprises first and second panel 60 components, each said panel component having at least one straight edge, in which first and second adhesive tapes are lengthwise partly bonded along the respective straight edge margins of said first and second panels leaving first and second portions of nominally exposed adhesive, and in which said first and second portions of nominally exposed adhesive are in face to face contact such that no face adhesive is exposed, so linking said panels . Preferably the material for a panel is a plastic film such as a reflectively metallised or printed plastic film.

The method is effective for a range of different materials. The joint can be made by laying out a length of self adhesive tape, adhesive up and securing this to a table. Next the straight edge margin of the first panel is laid on top and secured to half the width of the tape. Then the next straight edge is laid over this and secured in position if necessary using a small band of the exposed adhesive. Finally a further length of tape is placed over the assembly with its edge most distant from the panel overlapping the most distant edge of the underlying tape and the two brought into face to face register. The tapes are then rolled together to form the bond .

The method may be used in a converting machine supplied with two reels of film and two tapes when a continuous seam can be formed.

The tapes can be high visibility marking device tapes, having retroreflecting or luminescent properties as well as ordinary tapes which can be have a coloured appearance. The tapes may also be printed with printing ink for example to depict a logo.

The method is effective and simple and may be used in joining drapable plastics which have different characteristics .

Many kinds of adhesive tapes are widely available and 61 these include plastic film tapes such as PVC tapes, masking tapes, polymerically coated fabric re-inforced tapes, metallised film tapes and retroreflective tapes. The exposed first and second tape portions come in face to face contact and preferably the tapes overlap entirely so that no adhesive is left. By use of a wider tape and remaining adhesive other panels may be attached, preferably with a further tape applied in a similar manner. Thus in the case of a survival bag which can function of as a cover for the majority of the body, such as when prone, this may comprise one or more panels of plastic film or the like and a pair of face to face adhesively bonded tapes which are used to secure pairs of overlapping panels at their edges and make a better seal . It is also possible to affix ribbons, stiffening elements or other items to the adhesive. By using this method metallised polyester can be joined to polythene film or PVC. The panel materials used in the present invention are flexible, conformable and waterproof. Panel material which is inflexible is generally unsuitable for forming the main elements of the garment. Drapable films are preferred because of their lightness of weight and small volume.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is weatherproof article of apparel for use in an adverse weather conditions emergency, said article comprising a torso weatherproof cover for covering to which is attached a sleeve weatherproof cover for covering at least part of a limb selected from the group comprising an arm and a leg, said sleeve being attached to said torso weatherproof by means of at least one of the group consisting of pressure sensitive adhesive fastening means, hook and loop fastening means, clipping means, and tying means .

The torso weatherproofs and limb sleeves are made of 62 one or more drapable materials such as the films and materials described herein and may be of the kinds described herein. Metallised drapable films are preferred such as aluminised polyester. The limb sleeves are generally provided as pairs for each torso weatherproof and can also be used within survival or survival style bags such as of the metallised plastic kind, which cover the main part of the body. The attachment means for such sleeves have been described elsewhere herein.

Fire retardant or self extinguishing panel and film materials are desirable in many embodiments of the invention. Fire retardant materials include those which have fire retarding additives present or which are inherently self extinguishing such as halogenated polymers or which are non-flammable. If necessary the polymeric films may be treated with antistatic agents and they may incorporate colouring dyes or pigments, plasticisers and the like. Aspects of the present invention will now be described by reference to certain drawings .

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1, in parts A to E, represents schematically certain components of an emergency apparel evacuation kit.

Figure 2 represents an identification sign for use in the emergency apparel evacuation kit.

Figure 3, in A and B, illustrates the main structural elements and a view of a major side of a personal weatherproof article of the hooded cape kind.

Figure 4, in A and B, illustrates the main structural elements and a view of a major side of a personal weatherproof article of the hooded body cover type.

Figure 5 illustrates the elements and a view of a major side of a personal weatherproof article of the thermally insulating arm or leg sleeve type.

Figure 6 illustrates the joining of two panels in a LU OJ to to H μ>

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H Hj CQ μ- CQ φ Hj 0J Φ tr CQ s: .— *. d rt 0 3 rt tr σ m O 0 Hi — ^ rt μ- — ** H Hj μ- d tr

0 Φ Φ φ μ- TJ φ 3 μ- Φ Φ 3 Hj Φ 3 - tr μ- 0 ta Hj Hi 0 0J iQ - 3 3 Hj ^ ε ft 3 H-* 3 ft Hh 3 Ω Ω Hi 0 μ- CQ φ rt H-^* TJ H( OJ 3 tr ≤ < Φ

H 0J ø⁾ μ- rt μ- d ØJ d Φ rt rt Hi CQ ^ φ cn jo Ω rt 3 rr μ- 3 Φ CQ Φ ft OJ d o H tr μ-¹ Ω Ξ H-¹ H-* ii ^ 0J d Φ Ω o H-- tr Ω ft • 3 Φ 0J 0 3 3

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CQ 3 H- Hj Hh CD tr 3 Φ TJ <! ^■£ CQ Hj z. OJ ^■ rt μ* ft tr Hi Hi 3 tr Hi rt cn Hi Ps rt μ- ft ft Hi M μ- 3 3 ^ μ- O 3 • r σ φ 0 μ- TJ rt rt OJ rt OJ d μ- μ- 3 - — μ- 0J ft — - .--. 0 0 3 3 ^> φ d 3 Hi 0 rt •<:

0 μ- Hi 3 r Ω CQ 0 3 tr φ - H d H-^* Hi Φ rr μ- rt ^• — ^* OJ 0 rt iQ 0 tr Φ

3 rt cQ tr Hi 3 rt Φ ft O μ-* OJ Hi O 3 tr tr ii i-h 0 ft Φ 3 0 O

Ω μ- tr • φ Hi Hh ØJ Φ • 0 — ft tr 0 • Φ Φ μ- cn to Hh Hj μ- ti H

3 Φ μ- Hi ft ft Hj • φ Φ Hi rt to 3 OJ LΠ cn OJ H-^* rt μ- CQ Hi 0 Φ ft OJ tr CQ rt o s* μ- rt 5 03 J 3 3 rt 3 3 φ tr μ- tr CQ μ- CQ μ- o

0 tr tr CQ ( ! Φ tn tr 3 o

Hh φ Φ Φ 3 rt Q o o -J tn

Os

OJ OJ to CO H H cn o cn o cn σ LΠ

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OJ Φ φ ^ φ tr CQ 0J tr tr rr 3 0 tr 0 HJ H φ rt cn φ μ- μ- OJ Φ o

3 μ- cn 3 H φ 0 3 0 rt φ Φ tr rt 0 μ* 0J φ φ μ- 0 ^ TJ TJ 3 φ ^**] 3 Φ rr ffi tr 3 ft μ- tr H-^* H-^* •n 0 tr ft φ μ- φ H 0 ii tr ^• tr CQ CD T Φ rt μ- cn 3 H- Dd Φ μ- tr 3 Φ rt μ- Hi Φ μ- 3 Ω 3 ft 3 rt <! μ- tr 0 Ω Φ ft *-

OJ CQ rt rt ϊ-d tr 3 ØJ μ- ii 3 tr tr CQ Hi 3 tr 0 - tr ØJ H-¹ φ l-*-¹ rt OJ tr ØJ rt CQ d Φ μ- TJ OJ OJ φ CD 3 TJ OJ 0J Φ d φ 0 ^■n 3 ≤ OJ Φ H-^* μ- ft tr 3 ØJ H Φ

H-* Hj OJ ft Ω ϊ-ϋ Ω Ω 3 CQ Hj ^ Ω H{ Φ Φ 3 ft μ- tr TJ μ- 3 cn rt tr μ- Φ <! Φ S CD μ- φ ØJ O Ω P? rr CQ 0 PT μ- Φ CQ 3 rt ^ iQ μ- 0 rt 0 - • ; 3 σ φ HJ

CQ cQ μ- rt O 0 CQ CQ Hi rt 0 tr Φ 3 p¹ •» d 3 μ- tr rt OJ OJ CQ IX) Φ CD 0J 0 φ OJ Hi 3 μ- 3 Hi φ tr Φ ft <J to cn 0 Ω Hi ø⁾ ^ tr 0 rt 3 Φ tr TJ Hh ft Φ 0 CO TJ 0 Ω φ Φ CD Φ ft OJ 0 Φ rt rt ≤ Φ Hi 3 OJ Pϊ TJ 3 0 OJ 0 ii Φ TJ 3 OJ d 0 3 d 3 3 Hi Φ μ- <! μ- tr Φ Hi Φ Φ TJ Φ 0J Φ TJ ≤ . Φ rt

TJ Φ 3 • 3 3 d Ω 0 en H- rt Φ Φ 3 TJ φ H 0 Φ ØJ rt Φ rt 3 Hi Φ cn 3 3 tr

0 ^■P OJ CQ μ- ft μ-¹ μ- 0 Hi φ rt μ- TJ < Φ OJ Hj Dd 3 3 rt Φ Hi tr Φ 0J 3 <! φ

H-^* Hi tr μ- μ- φ • ft 3 3 ft tr 0 Hi Φ 3 Ω cn • Φ ir- 3 0 Φ σ •S Φ ≤ TJ Φ

• ; φ ØJ 3 CQ H ft ØJ r 0 3 Φ en rr pr rt Φ o ii μ- OJ ii CQ ft tr Φ H-* Hi

CQ Ω 3 3 H tr CQ 0J 3 0 OJ cn • - 0J —- tr TJ r 0 Φ 3 3 0J PT μ- Hj 0 Φ

Φ~ Φ ? tr tr 3 Φ Φ μ- 3 μ- φ CQ H φ 0 TJ ft CQ ft TJ 0 μ- ≤ Ω TJ Ω rt 3 CQ 0 3 0 ^ 3 rt TJ 3 3 OJ Φ cn ii 3 ii μ- H-^* CQ cn Hh 3 μ- tr TJ Φ rr tr rt Hi I-¹ OJ rt ø⁾ 0 φ tr rt Hi rt - φ Ω 0 3 Φ ØJ ft rt OJ OJ

^ cn 0 ft ^ tr rt d 3 ii Φ tr φ s cn TJ 0 tr 0 Φ Ω _^^ Ω TJ tr Ω Ω OJ 3 μ^** d Φ Φ Hi TJ Φ CD tr ØJ 0 μ- 0 3 rt tr 3 ØJ OJ CO 0 T HJ CQ φ OJ 3 H-¹ Ω Hi X rt ii OJ 0 ≤ CD μ- ØJ Ω 3 01 CQ CQ rt μ- Hi 0 Hi TJ d 3 3 0 d

3 3 ft φ 0 rr tr H- HJ Φ Ω d Ω T rt Φ CQ 3 μ- rr Hi Φ TJ ØJ TJ 0 d H-¹

Φ rt 3 Φ Φ 3 S ØJ 0 Hi tr cn OJ tr ØJ 0 0 CQ CQ ^ Hi TJ 3 Hj 3 OJ tr rt TJ 3 CQ Hi OJ tr PT rr 3 φ ØJ CQ Hj 3 Hi Hh 0 tr CQ • d Φ ft Hi rt 0 Φ Hj tr d H μ- μ- tr rt rt Φ Φ d TJ Hh rr rt tr OJ μ- OJ CD CD

Φ 0 H μ- 0 Ω Φ ^ rt rt Φ OJ CQ tr Φ Φ 3 ØJ TJ 0J OJ 0 Φ CD TJ rt tr ' in ft cn cn ft tr φ » Hi μ- φ Φ rt 0 Ω o 3 rt TJ ≤ cn tr ft 0J tr

Φ φ - φ μ- ^ TJ 3 3 ^ Hh tr φ pr ^ tr Φ μ^** 3 φ Φ TJ d Ω Φ 0J

TJ ft 3 OJ 0 Φ σ 0 ii Φ CQ cn 0 Hi ØJ * Φ • d Hj tr ii 3 Φ μ- 3 tr rt 0 φ CQ ft ØJ HJ 0 Hi μ- μ- cn 0 Φ CQ rt o 0 •» μ- o ^ Φ ft Hi Ps rt Ω 3 3 3 μ- H-* Ω 0 - rt 1 5 μ- rt ft ft Φ tr Hh μ- ii φ ØJ CQ φ tr Φ tr ØJ rt 3 0 p 0J μ- 3 CQ tr Φ — Φ 3 Φ cn CQ cn CQ Hi tr rr

ØJ J μ- ^< CQ φ Ξ CQ cn 0 < 3 Φ ft - ---. 3 ^■n <! cn CQ φ r d 0J o φ Ω S 3 HJ Ω 3 φ μ- Hi H Φ μ- φ Ω TJ 0 OJ ii CD 3 ft ε

ØJ 0J rt rt Dd rt H- 0 0 0 cn .-_^ 3 Ω 0 cn CQ 3 Φ OJ μ- rr φ TJ P? μ- Hj rt 01 H-¹ Φ tr to CQ 3 d 3 Hi rt OJ H ØJ ØJ ii — Ω d rt 3 Ω cn μ- . Hj Φ φ OJ

Φ d X Φ Q OJ 3 tr tr ft TJ -J TJ - 0J Hi μ- rt Φ 0 μ- rt CD TJ tr "< rt Dd rt CQ ft μ- tn φ tr Hi ^• — ^• H-¹ Φ 0 TJ Φ 0 ft OJ 01 3 ω 3 .

01 x 3 tr Φ 3 d φ 0 ^ CQ μ- Hh φ CQ 3 0 r d Φ d CQ 0J rt μ- 0 μ- o φ tr OJ Hi TJ CQ < μ- - 3 CQ Hi OJ Φ tr HJ Ω Hj ^■-3 3 μ- ØJ 3 Hh rt κ| 0 d rt Hh OJ μ- μ- 3 μ- rt ω rt OJ rt Hi CQ ^ tr TJ 0J ε; ft

H-^* 3 TJ 3 rt μ- ØJ Ω < ft 3 0 0J tr 0 tr 3 ØJ rt Hj TJ 0

3 rt s- rt μ- 0 Ω φ φ ø) cn H| 3 ii H| r φ CQ Hi ØJ Ω Ω Φ CD CD μ- tr tr Ω ØJ μ- 3 Φ CD • ft Ω d - 0 Φ 0 Φ φ 3 0 H-* cn TJ 0

0J μ- μ- rt 3 • cn Ω μ- rr Φ rt Ω CQ tr r 3 μ- m OJ 0J

H-^* rt CQ 0 TJ 0 •-3 ØJ 0 0⁾ μ- tr tr ch ØJ rt d μ- μ- TJ J d 3 Ω

I-h tr cn rt •d

H φ CQ Hj 0 Hi ii 3 Φ tr Φ CQ ø) H-^* 1X5 ØJ OJ CQ Hi ft p 0

^■ : ii μ- rt tr μ- ft μ- ii 0 φ TJ 0⁾ tr 3 φ cn H| π

3 μ- OJ 3 tr Φ en ØJ OJ 3 0 Φ ii μ-- μ- 3 . rt 3 —

3 3 3 0⁾ φ 3 CQ ft μ- μ- ^ Φ ØJ tr 0 Cl

0J ft ii HJ Ω Φ T CQ OJ cn •<; Φ ØJ ft ^ Φ ft φ 3 Φ ft δ o

1

66

Figure 3A a schematic sideways or sectional view is shown of the three main components of the weatherproof . Here the major panel (18) which will cover the back of the user, is widthways continually attached at its upper end (19) to the upper end (20) of panel 21. The attachment can be notional such as a fold or a physical joint. The other, lower, end (22) of panel 21 is widthways attached by lower end 23 of a pleated panel (24) . The other end (25) of the hood is unattached. At the opposing width extremities of the gathered, parallel pleated section the layers are connected together (line X-X, at the nearest end to the reader) . The layers are therefore bonded or connected at that point such as by using an adhesive film This local bonding can be by thermally induced bonding, ultrasonic welding, RF welding, stitching, laminating, taping, stapling, riveting or the like, as appropriate .

In Figure 3B a front view of the assembled article (26) is shown. Each "X" represents a local bonding position.

The article when laid flat will lie substantially in one plane and it is substantially rectangular in shape. The article may be made of one or more weather resistant films or fabric materials. In certain cases although illustrated as separate components, the article can be made from a wider folded film. A series may be made by introducing controlled folding by unreeling the plastic film and winding it under tension along a converting line. At the end individual wearer portions are cut after spot bonding (at X-X) .

Once the completed articles come off the line they can be labelled and packed if necessary.

The articles of apparel may comprise a series of laterally positioned high visibility devices e.g. tape bands (not shown) , spaced at regular intervals across panels, one being a bright fluorescent orange tape and u> OJ CO to H H

Lπ o LΠ o σι O cn

ε TJ rt rt rt tr o 3 Ω rt CD 0 TJ 0 3 TJ TJ φ OJ CD l _^ rt μ- rt

0 0 0 tr tr Φ 0 OJ OJ 0 μ- φ fi TJ Hi Φ Hi 0 ft Hi 0 tT φ to tr o LΠ tr μ- Φ Φ rt 3 ft OJ 0 rt 0 rr rt 0 Hj CQ 0 0 -~ -J φ Ω o Φ

Φ 0 3 Φ 0 Φ Hi φ <: 3 μ- rt Φ OJ rt r Φ d rt rt Hh - 3 Ω O

3 O 3 ØJ H3 3 d Hi TJ OJ Φ Φ 0 Φ 3 μ- Φ tn H3 3 tr to d H 3 H 0 πT rt Φ Hi ^ TJ Hj μ- Hj ft 3 3 Ω μ^** Ω - to tr ft ØJ CD ØJ oo cn 3 tr rt ε rr tr ω rt μ- CD 0J Φ CD d 0 r 3 3 OJ rt ft μ- rt CD Φ rt tr ft TJ — Φ 0 s; d tr

Φ tr φ 0 d μ- 3 0 Hh 0 Ω tr ft H-* μ- Φ cα μ- μ- rt 0 tr Φ Hj 3 3 μ- CD Φ tr ^ ii Hh Ω Ω CQ : CD Φ Φ ft φ Φ Hi H-* 0 cn φ 0 rt HJ 3 tr rt ≤ φ Φ CQ CQ ft H tr Φ d 0 Hj tr tn Hi 0J ^ 3 μ- ft 3 Φ m Φ tr 3 cα H CD Φ φ 0J

CD φ TJ rt φ 0 ft Ω Hi 0⁾ Φ rt μ- H! Ω cn φ φ * μ- OJ OJ OJ d 3 tr ii tr tr tr ØJ ØJ rt 3 Ω ØJ Hh μ- OJ rt Hi d < tr 0J rt 3 0⁾ 3

Ω φ 0J Φ rt rt tr H-* d φ 3 Ω tr ii tr μ- 3 3 cn cn < OJ φ H-* Hi tr ft 3 ØJ HI tr cn ØJ 0 CQ ØJ OJ *< CD ft Φ Φ rr μ- 0 H-* μ- ft φ Φ ii φ 3 Φ ft μ- φ rr rt φ TJ OJ CD CD Φ OJ tr J 3 Φ 3 Hi HJ 0 0 ii Hi Φ rt CD r 3 rt

ØJ Φ μ* ft φ Φ rt rt ft Hi Hh Φ H-* φ TJ • OJ Φ 3 3 - rt OJ ØJ tr μ- Hi

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Φ φ OJ φ Φ μ- φ μ- 0J TJ 3 TJ ft tr H3 tr 3 rt rt Ω rt CD 0⁾ rt Hj o 0J Hi

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Φ OJ CD μ- tr d μ- μ- Ω tr φ • ft Φ rt 3 ØJ Ω rt Φ ØJ . ii Φ tr tr 3 μ- OJ Ω

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≤ TJ CD Φ ø⁾ CQ TJ ft φ CQ Φ tr Hj Ω Φ Ω rt < O μ- tr 3 0 ØJ

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t

68

Films and webs and fabrics may be used in combination if necessary.

The films may be printed before assembly, or afterwards printed or labelled, for example if it is necessary to apply retroreflective patches, luminous print patches, or safety, information, branding, product identification or pricing labelling or printing. Such production methods may also be used for the articles described in Figures 4 and 5. Labelling of the films or of the wholly or partly completed articles can be done manually or by using electronically controlled labelling applicators of the kinds typically supplied by Avery Products Corporation, Weber Marking Systems Limited or Monarch Marking Systems Limited. Such methods may also be used for the articles described in Figures 4 and 5 or other weatherproofs made of film, polymeric coated materials or non-woven webs. The weatherproof hereby formed is of surprisingly simple in construction, yet is lightweight and of low bulk, suitable for a range of people sizes and effective in certain types of adverse weather conditions.

A further example of a weather wrap similar to Figure 3 uses a sheet of one side aluminised polyester film measuring 190cm long (the nominal length of three panels) and 140cm wide. The sheet is given a 10cm fold so reducing the length to 180cm and the flap edges are bonded to the backing sheet with double sided adhesive tape measuring approximately 10cm by 3cm. A further 10cm fold of the same size in the same rotational direction of folding is made so reducing the back panel to an 170cm length. This further flap is similarly bonded and a further 10cm fold of the same size is made again in the same rotational direction making the length 160cm.

A 40cm fold is then made so reducing the length of the sheet to 120cm and when the folded elements lie in a flat position over the back panel this is also secured at the edges with approximately 10cm by 3cm double side 69 adhesive tape. The wrap so formed is thus approximately 120cm long (or high, in use) and 140cm wide, and now has arm ports at opposite edges .

This wrap is thus formed of three nominal panels each 140cm wide and measuring respectively 120cm, 40cm and 30cm (in 3 x 10cm pleats) . A label is attached to the outer surface of the second panel (21) for product identification. A film identification label may also be attached. Two double sides adhesive tabs, each measuring about 4cm by 5cm are placed at down one edge at intervals of 40cm and 20cm from the top (19) of the first panel, on the flap side of the panel . These tabs are protected by removable siliconised paper covers which are slightly larger than the area of the adhesive so forming a finger grip. In use the covers are peeled and the adhesive used to bond the other side of the wrap around the body.

The speculary reflecting silver appearance wrap is then folded in one direction until about 8cm side and then the folded assembly is folded or rolled to form about a 12cm assembly which is then inserted into a reclosable clear polythene bag bearing a film based adhesive label which can be an identification sign label . The wrap is compact and weighs about 60g. A moulded, hinged polypropylene container tinted blue which carries a screen printing of the identification sign graphics on its main viewing surface is then packed substantially full with a number of the packed wraps such as ten, twenty or thirty in accordance with the size of the container and a breakable plastic tag used to secure the handle .

A further printed label is placed on the outer surface of the case to indicate the kind or wraps and the quantity and further labels attached for product identification and instructions.

In another embodiment of the invention similar to that described in Figure 3, the panel 22 is omitted and ω OJ to to H H n o cn o LΠ O cn

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3 Φ

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^ Ω μ-

Φ cn CD 0 CQ Φ 1-3 ft OJ rt ft o Hi 0 Φ tr CQ cn 0 tr 3 ft

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CQ 01 Hi rt ØJ Hi μ- φ 3 ØJ 0 3 CQ 3 3 ft rt tr Hi Φ Hi Hh φ OJ 0 μ- Φ tr - 3 μ- ft Hj tr ft HJ Hh φ CQ CQ tr 0 μ- 3 Hh

0J d 0 μ- φ μ- 0 Φ 3 Ω OJ φ 0 Φ α

3 cn rr ft Ch 3 3 0 ft CQ X tn Hh 3 ft 0 ^ o CQ ft CQ en δ o cn

t

72 with the user wearing light summer clothes, the user found immediate respite on donning the article. During the first five or so minutes the trapped inner air temperature rose to between 12 and 19 Celsius, which is human comfort temperature range .

Despite the severe weather which would otherwise have caused the wearer immediate and increasingly severe distress, the weatherproof provided immediate emergency protection and a satisfactory level of comfort . Surprisingly warm air rose by convention from the neck aperture into the hood and thus, over the wearer's face and kept the nose and ears warm. The wearer was able to walk about in reasonable comfort .

By not having sleeves as in a coat, the users hand could be tucked in to the body with the arms folded and this generated considerable comfort in harsh conditions. With sleeves the hands would have been wet and become increasingly cold. They would still have been wet even if the sleeved arms were folded and quickly become colder and colder in the bitingly cold conditions.

The wearer' s clothes were initially wetted by the weather, before the weatherproof was unwrapped and donned. The experiment showed that the wearer's clothes also dried out during the test . This test was conducted for twenty five minutes and only discontinued because physiological stability and comfort had long since been reached.

An advantage of having a tube construction in severe weather is that warm air is kept around the body moreso than in the case of a cape or blanket wrap.

An additional experiment was conducted in summer rain with the ambient temperature of about 22 Celsius. The article was found to prevent rain soaking and excess inner air temperature was avoided by allowing the neck to remain wide and to convect air in volume.

In these experiments green pigmented polyethylene film was used for the article. On other embodiments 73 metallised film could be used.

The article is simple to make, lightweight and has low storage bulk, yet surprisingly effective in use. Referring to Figure 5, the thermally insulating, waterproof emergency sleeve, is made in the manner of the articles of Figures 3 and 4. The cover consists schematically of two panels (47,48) of reflectively metallised film such as aluminised PVC or aluminised polyester. There is a plastic ribbon tape (49) provided for use as a tie. Fastening studs or hoop and loop fasteners or draw pulls (not shown) are also provided to allow gathering at the open end. A strong paper tape (50) may be bonded between the films to provide a burstable seal should it be necessary to open the closed end of the film can be laminated or adhesively bound to the wet strength paper.

Referring to Figure 5B, the two main drapable film panels are joined along lines arrowed to form a tube-like sleeve (51) . It is possible however to use one panel and fold it, for example on the web to make a notional joint.

The top part is unsealed and open for arm or leg entry. In another embodiment not shown the other end of the tube could be identical to this and thus the article could act as through sleeve or hand protecting muff. For a closed sleeve, an extended form of thermal mitten, the two panels are bonded along line Y-Y either to each other or, if an openable seal is required, bonded to high burst strength paper tape (50) . The seal is broken by pressing on edge 54 and tearing the paper seal apart .

The thermal sleeves may optionally have an inner lining made of a panel of non-woven web material.

An double sided adhesive tab (55) protected by a peelable cover (not shown) and an high visibility adhesive tape (56) having retroreflecting properties are provided for adhesive attachment to panels 48 and 47 of 74

Figure 5A. The retroreflecting tape (56) which has a surface printing of ink chevrons is shown in Figure 5B on the viewing surface of the sleeve. The other tape is on the other side. Only one portion of the high visibility tape is shown in Figures 5A and 5B for clarity but other bands can be provided. In another embodiment waterproof labels which have a visible light luminescent appearance as a result of the presence of luminescent e.g. fluorescent ^Mday-glo" style pigments. When the peelable cover (not shown) for the tab (55) is removed the exposed pressure sensitive adhesive enables the sleeve to be attached to the surface of another sleeve or to a torso weatherproof such as a plastic film blanket wrap , cape, cloak, poncho or the like.

In other examples the torso weatherproofs may have such a tab and thus may be used for attachment to a sleeve .

The sleeve is of simple design but effective for protecting arms and legs in certain adverse weather and use conditions. Metallised films are preferred but metallised non-woven materials or bright metal printed plastic films may also be used. The metallised surface should be such that infrared radiation radiated from the skin can be reflected back.

Each of the weatherproofs described in Figures 3 , 4 or 5, is able to be laid flat, substantially forming a single plane when under mild tension and has a generally rectangular shape . Any of the weatherproofs disclosed generally herein or within Figures 1, 3, 4, and 5 may comprise an hermetically sealed, double film skinned panel and provided with an inflation aperture.

Thus the protecting blanket wrap, the hooded cape, the hooded body cover with arm cowl and the thermally insulating weatherproof sleeves, may incorporate one or more such air expandable panels. In the articles the 75 hermetic panels are rectangular in shape and bonded in parallel line or dot matrix manner to allow the formation of an air quilt. The maximum expanded thickness if the quilt is normally less than 10cm and may be less than 5cm, or 3cm though normally greater than 0.5cm.

Bubblewrap-like film can be used to make these and other articles of apparel of the invention articles but articles made this way though lightweight take up considerable storage bulk. Also air expanded, air entrapped plastic panelling can alternatively be used.

The articles of apparel made of films and the like may also incorporate press-fit zips which have elsewhere been used in the marking or re-sealable bags. Here there are two linear strips of extruded plastic, one with a parallel track of pincers and one with a single track of a strip which will fit in between the pincers and be retained by the pinching action. The single track can be removed, opening the seal by pulling the parts apart. Generally these are made of extruded poly (ethylene) or the like and could be provided on a tape which is adhered to the article.

Articles can also be provided where appropriate with seals which are formed by the presence of a tacky heat sealable adhesive material. Typically a linear track about 5mm wide is applied onto a conformable material such as a plastic film by using a heated roller supplied with a metered amount of adhesive and then a second panel is applied over the top and the two are pressed together to form a seal which can in many cases be undone by a tearing action.

In Figure 6 is shown a panel assembly method suitable for any of the articles shown in Figures 3 to 5 inclusive . Here the schematic sectional view or two panels (57 and 58) of metallised polyester plastic film with straight edges are each bonded to a pressure sensitive so 1Λ f-

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Claims

77CLAIMS

1. An emergency apparel kit for use by one or more people exposed to adverse weather conditions, the kit comprising: a container, a plurality of weatherproofs packed in said container, and a safety sign comprising a plain background bearing one or more visibly distinct symbols thereon selected from alphabetic characters, graphical image shapes and mixtures thereof, said safety sign visually indicating the presence of the weatherproofs in the container and the use of the weatherproofs.

2. An emergency apparel kit as claimed in Claim 1 in which said symbols are recognisable from a distance of a few metres .

3. An emergency apparel kit as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which each symbol is at least 15mm high and the width of the lines forming the alphabetic characters is at least 2.5mm.

4. An emergency apparel kit as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the safety sign has a minimum size of 10cm by 15cm.

5. The emergency kit as claimed in any preceding claim in which said safety sign comprises a graphical image shape.

6. The emergency kit as claimed in any preceding claim in which the safety sign has a major surface comprising two principal signing colours.

7. The emergency kit as claimed in Claim 6 in which the principal surface of said safety sign comprises two 78 principal signing colours selected from the group consisting of white, green, red, orange, yellow and blue.

8. The emergency kit as claimed in any preceding claim in which the safety sign is illuminable.

9. The emergency kit as claimed in any preceding claim in which the safety sign is in the form of a pressure sensitive adhesive label or in the form of a plaque.

10. The emergency kit as claimed in any preceding claim in which the safety sign printed on or secured to the container.

11. The emergency kit as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a plurality of safety signs at least one of which is separate from the container.

12. The emergency kit as claimed in any preceding claim in which said container is a hinged case.

13. The emergency kit as claimed in any preceding claim comprising at least four weatherproofs of one kind.

14. The emergency kit as claimed in any preceding claim comprising weatherproofs of two kinds.

15. The emergency kit as claimed in any preceding claim in which a said weatherproof is substantially rectangular.

16. The emergency kit as claimed in any preceding claim in which a said weatherproof is substantially rectangular in shape when laid flat and substantially coplanar when mildly stretched flat.

17. The emergency kit as claimed in any preceding claim 79 in which a said weatherproof is in the form of a cape.

18. The emergency kit of Claim 17 in which a said weatherproof is in the form of a hooded cape.

19. The emergency kit of any one of Claims 1 to 16 in which a said weatherproof is in the form of a coat .

20. The emergency kit of any one of Claims 1 to 16 in which a said weatherproof is in the form of a torso cover .

21. The emergency kit of Claim 20 in which a said weatherproof is in the form of a hooded torso cover.

22. The emergency kit as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 16 in which a said weatherproof comprises a pleated hood.

23. The emergency kit as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 16 in which a said weatherproof is in the form of a sleeve selected from a limb sleeve weatherproof and a body sleeve weatherproof .

24. The emergency kit as claimed in Claim 23 in which said container comprises a plurality of torso weatherproofs and a plurality of limb sleeve weatherproofs .

25. The emergency kit as claimed in Claim 23 or Claim 24 which comprises means for attaching a torso weatherproof to a sleeve weatherproof.

26. The emergency kit as claimed in Claim 25 in which at least a part of said attachment means is attached to a weatherproof . 80

27. The emergency kit as claimed in any preceding Claim in which a said weatherproof is at least partly made of plastic film.

28. The emergency kit as claimed in any preceding Claim in which a said weatherproof is at least partly made of reflectively metallised plastic film.

29. The emergency kit as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 26 in which a said weatherproof is at least partly made of an air entrained plastic film.

30. The emergency kit as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 26 in which a said weatherproof is at least partly made of an air inflatable hermetically sealable quilt.

31. The emergency kit as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 26 in which a said weatherproof is at least partly made of a non-woven web material .

32. The emergency kit as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 26 in which a said weatherproof is partly made of polymeric film coated panelling.

33. The emergency kit as claimed in any preceding claim in which a said weatherproof comprises a plastic film which is pigmented.

34. The emergency kit as claimed in Claim 33 in which a said weatherproof comprises a plastic film which is pigmented with a visibly luminescent pigment .

35. The emergency kit as claimed in any preceding claim in which a said weatherproof has printing thereon and/or comprises a label.

36. The emergency kit as claimed in any one of Claims 1 81 to 33 in which a said weatherproof comprises camouflage markings .

37. The emergency kit as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 35 in which a said weatherproof comprises a high visibility marking device.

38. The emergency kit as claimed in Claim 37 in which said marking device is luminescent or retroreflective .

39. The emergency kit as claimed in any preceding claim which additionally comprises fastening means for gathering together a weatherproof around a person when in use.

40. The emergency kit as claimed in Claim 39 which comprises a plurality of spring gripping clips.

41. The emergency kit as claimed in any preceding claim additionally comprising a package for each weatherproof.

42. The emergency kit as claimed in any preceding claim additionally comprising identification sign printed at least one weatherproof and/or a package for a said weatherproof.

43. The emergency kit as claimed in any preceding claim in which said container substantially entirely contains a plurality of weatherproofs.

44. A method for providing emergency apparel for persons evacuating a building or vehicle which comprises installing an emergency apparel kit as defined in any preceding claim adjacent the escape route of said vehicle or building or at an assembly point outside the building such that the safety sign is prominently visible. 82

45. A method for providing emergency apparel as claimed in Claim 44 in which the emergency apparel kit is positioned adjacent an emergency exit.

46. A weatherproof article of apparel for use in adverse weather conditions formed of conformable material which when laid flat under mild tension has a substantially rectangular outline, the article comprising one or more planar panel elements which function as a body weatherproofing panel and a further substantially rectangular panel folded to provide a series of parallel pleats which are parallel to one end of said panel, the pleats being gathered and joined at their edges, the pleated portion being arranged such that it may be unfurled to act as a hood.

47. A weatherproof article of apparel as claimed in Claim 46, said article being a cape which consists of a substantially rectangular back panel portion when in use to act as a cover for at least a portion of each of the back and sides of a standing wearer's body and attached continuously (relative to when in use) widthwise to the uppermost edge of said back panel a front panel the upper edge attached continuously (relative to when in use) widthwise to said rear panel, in which the opposing end portion of said front panel upper edge is gathered to form a plurality of pleats having folds running in a (relative to when in use) widthwise direction, said pleat gathering being secured at its opposing (relative to when in use) width ends to corresponding opposing edge portions of said rear panel such that when the rear panel is held in a layflat manner said front panel and pleats also lay flat, and such that, in use, an individual may insert respectively right and left arms through the right and left arm ports formed at each (relative to when in use) width side between where said two panels overlap but are not secured together, and such that when drawn around 83 the body the user may unfurl the pleated portion so forming an extendible hood to cover the user's head.

48. A weatherproof article of apparel for use in an adverse weather conditions emergency, which when laid flat under mild tension has a substantially rectangular outline and is formed of one or more planar panel elements which are substantially rectangular in shape, and a parallel pleated element having pleats which are gathered and joined at their edges, the elements being arranged in such a manner that, when pulled over the head and body and worn in use, a generally tubular structure dimensioned to cover over most of the height of the wearer's body is formed, the tubular structure having one or more apertures to allow the wearer's arms to emerge from the tubular structure, and the parallel pleated element which is joined to the neck portion of the rear panel when expanded by the wearer forms a hood for covering the head and neck of the wearer.

49. A weatherproof article of apparel as claimed in Claim 48 which comprises a rear body panel element, a lower front body panel element , one or more upper front body panel elements, such that when pulled over the head and body and worn in use : the rear body and front body panel elements form a generally tubular, structure over most of the height of the wearer's body, an upper front panel overlaps the lower front panel such that the wearer's arms may be covered by the cowl effect of the lower portion of said upper front panel while being able to move across the top of the lower front panel so freeing the wearer's hands, and an upper front panel forms a front neck portion.

50. A weatherproof article of apparel for use in an 84 adverse weather conditions emergency, said article comprising a first substantially rectangular panel of conformable material of area at least one square metre which in use functions as a body weatherproofing panel and a second substantially rectangular panel of conformable material comprising a series of parallel pleats which are parallel to one end of said panel, said pleats being gathered and joined at their edges, said pleated portion when unfurled acting as a weatherproof hood.

51. A weatherproof article of apparel, which is a sleeve-like cover for protecting at least one of a hand, an arm, a foot, a leg and a full length body against adverse weather conditions in an emergency, said sleeve comprising a tubular structure which is open at one end to allow entry of said hand, arm, foot, leg, or feet led body, the external surface of said sleeve consisting of plastic film, said sleeve comprising gathering means to enable fitting to the user in use, said sleeve also comprising at least one of : a high visibility marking device on at least part of the external surface of said sleeve whereby said sleeve is rendered highly visible in use, camouflage means on substantially all of said external surface of said sleeve whereby said sleeve is camouflaged, and an attachment component whereby said sleeve may be attached to an item of apparel when simultaneously worn by said user.

52. A weatherproof article of apparel which comprises first and second panel components, each said panel component having at least one straight edge, in which first and second adhesive tapes are lengthwise partly bonded along the respective straight edge margins of said first and second panels leaving first and second portions 85 of nominally exposed adhesive, and in which said first and second portions of nominally exposed adhesive are in face to face contact such that no face adhesive is exposed, so linking said panels.

53. An article as claimed in any one of Claims 46 to 52 in which said article comprises a drapable plastic film.

54. An article as claimed in any one of Claims 46 to 52 in which said drapable plastic film is reflectively metallised.

55. An article as claimed in any one of Claims 46 to 52 in which said article comprises an air entrained plastic film.

56. An article as claimed in any one of Claims 46 to 52 in which said article comprises an air inflatable hermetically sealable quilt.

57. An article as claimed in any one of Claims 46 to 52 in which said drapable film is an ink printed film.

58. An article as claimed in any one of Claims 46 to 52 in which said ink printing forms a camouflage pattern.

59. An article as claimed in any one of Claims 46 to 52 in which said drapable plastic film is attached to a high visibility device.

60. An article as claimed in Claim 59 in which said high visibility device is retroreflective or light luminescent .

61. An article as claimed in any one of Claims 46 to 60 which comprises at least part of attachment means for attaching said weatherproof to another weatherproof, said 86 at least part means being attached to said article.

62. An emergency kit comprising an article of apparel according to any one of Claims 45 to 61.

63. An emergency kit as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 42 containing an article of apparel according to any one of Claims 45 to 61.

64. A weatherproof article of apparel for use in an adverse weather conditions emergency, said article comprising a torso weatherproof cover for covering to which is attached a sleeve weatherproof cover for covering at least part of a limb selected from the group comprising an arm and a leg, said sleeve being attached to said torso weatherproof by means of at least one of the group consisting of pressure sensitive adhesive fastening means, hook and loop fastening means, clipping means , and tying means .