AU2002300601B2 - A Work Garment - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): BRIAN O'KANE STEVEN O'KANE Invention Title: A WORK GARMENT The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 A WORK GARMENT The present invention relates to a work garment that is suitable for workmen such as plumbers, builders and handymen. In particular, the present invention relates to a work garment having an improved structure in the knee and/or elbow region.

In the past, numerous attempts have been made to improve the durability and comfort of a work garment, however, improvements obtained in the durability of a garment have often resulted in a decrease in comfort for the worker wearing the garment or vice versa.

US patent 5038408 (De Baene) discloses a pair of denim work pants having reinforced knee and buttock regions to improve durability of the garment. The reinforced regions comprise a closed cell cushioning layer positioned adjacent to the denim fabric and an upper leather layer over the closed cell layer. The leather layer is described as having a coarse outer surface to assist the worker maintain their grip while kneeling.

US patent 5634215 (De Baene) also discloses a pair of denim work pants similar to those disclosed in US patent 5038408, except, the upper leather layer has been substituted for an abrasion resistant fabric. The inner surface of the abrasion resistant fabric, adjacent to closed cell layer, is coated with a polyurethane coating to prevent migration of moisture into the denim pants.

A disadvantage of the pants disclosed in US patents 5038408 and 5634215 is that the flexibility and therefore comfort of the garment in the knee and buttock region has been reduced in order to increase the durability of the garment.

H:\HelenF\Keep\speci\A WORK GARHEE.doc 15/08/02 3 Other attempts to improve the longevity of a garment and comfort for a worker while in a kneeling or crouching position has been to strap rubber pads over the pants of the worker using elastic bands or Velcro M type attachments. However, the strapping used to attach the pads have a tendency to cut off blood circulation and the pads often fall down as the worker walks around the worksite.

A further disadvantage with the pants disclosed in the US patents is that the outer layer of leather or abrasion resistant fabric in the reinforced regions is not waterproof. As a result, the outer layer can absorb soiled liquid which may then be expressed or squeezed from the garment when the worker kneels or crouches over. This is particularly a problem when the worker moves between outside and inside worksites and the inside worksite has carpet or tile flooring which can be stained by liquid discharged from the garment.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved work garment.

According to the present invention there is provided a work garment having legs and/or sleeves for covering the limbs of a worker, each leg and/or sleeve having an upper portion and a lower portion and interposed therebetween an intermediate portion covering the knee and/or elbow region of the worker, wherein the intermediate portion is made of a material that is more stretchable than the material of the upper and lower portions.

It will be understood by a person skilled in the art of the present invention that the term "work garment" includes, for example, a pair of overalls having legs and sleeves, a pair of pants having legs or a shirt having sleeves. In the instance when the work garment is a pair H:\He1enF\KeeP\saeci\A WORK GARENT.doc 15/08/02 4 of pants, the intermediate portion of the garment covers the knee region of the worker. Similarly, in the instance when the work garment is a shirt, the intermediate portion covers the elbow region of the worker.

It is preferred that the intermediate portion is hydrophobic. Even more preferably, the intermediate portion includes a hydrophobic outer surface.

It is preferred that a hydrophobic outer surface be a hydrophobic coating and/or film applied to the outer surface of the intermediate portion.

It is preferred that the hydrophobic coating is a hydrophobic ink or resin, such as polyurethane resin, acrylic resin, PVC or silicone resin.

It is preferred that the hydrophobic film is a polyurethane film having a thickness in the range of 0.25 to 1.00 mm.

Although it is possible that the intermediate portion may extend entirely around the knee and/or elbow region of the worker, it is preferred that the intermediate portion extends across the front portion of the garment only.

Accordingly, the upper and lower portions of the garment connect together at the rear portion of the garment or is formed by a single continuous fabric panel.

It is preferred that the intermediate portion is in the form of a unitary or single panel interconnecting the upper and lower portions. Even more preferably, the intermediate portion is in the form of a unitary panel having edges connected to edges of the upper and lower portions, such that the intermediate portion is integrally connected to the upper and lower portions.

H:\Pcabral\Keep\speci\2002300601.doc 10/04/06 5 It is preferred that the intermediate portion be elastically deformable such that when stretched or flexed it has a tendency to return to its relaxed formation.

It is preferred that the intermediate portion includes a rubbery panel interconnecting the upper and lower portions.

It is preferred that the intermediate portion includes a closed cell foam panel. It is even more preferred that the closed cell foam panel contains chloroprene, PVC or PVC nitrile rubber.

It is preferred that the closed cell foam panel forms a core that is laminated with fabric on one or both sides of the core.

It is preferred that the fabric be bonded to the intermediate portion using a flexible adhesive.

It is preferred that the fabric be bonded to the intermediate portion using a noeprene based glue.

It is preferred that the fabric be a highly elastic knitted fabric.

It is preferred that the upper and lower portions are woven fabric panels.

It is preferred that the upper and lower portions have a weight ranging from 270 to 320 gsm.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a front view of a pair of pants H;\Pcabral\Keep\speci\20O23006O1.doc 10/04/06 6 having knee panels; Figure 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the knee panels shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a knee panel before being sewn or stitched to the pants shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 illustrates a detailed cross-sectional view of closed cell foam used in the knee panels; and Figure 5 illustrates the knee panel of Figure 2 having an additional lining.

The work garment is in the form of a pair of pants having legs, wherein the front face of each leg has an upper 11 and lower 12 portion and an intermediate portion interposed therebetween in the form of a knee pad or panel 13. As can be seen in Figure 2, the knee panel 13 is inserted into a cutout between the upper 11 and lower 12 portions.

The knee panel 13 extends across the front of pants 10 and although it can not be seen from the Figures, the rear face of each leg consists of continuous fabric panel.

Interior 14 and exterior 15 seams running along the length of the pants 10 join the front and rear faces of the pants.

The upper 11 and lower 12 portions comprise a durable woven fabric, such as denim or other canvas type material, which typically has a weight ranging from 270 to 320 gsm.

In comparison to the fabric of the upper and lower portions, the knee panel 13 can be stretched to a far greater extend. Indeed, the knee panel 13 has the capacity to be stretched by an amount up to 50% of its H:\HelenF\Kee\seci\A WORK GARME4T.doc 15/08/02 7 relaxed state, thereby allowing the knee panel 13 to comfortably contour precisely to the shape of the worker's knee when in a kneeling position.

As can be seen in Figure 4, the knee panel 13 includes an inner closed cell foam core 16 that cushions the worker's knee against the ground when in a kneeling of crouched position. The inner core 16 may be made from either chloroprene, PVC or PVC nitrile rubber and is laminated by bonding an elastic jersey fabric 17 to the opposite surfaces of the core 16 using a highly flexible adhesive glue 18 such as BostikTM 2402. The knee panel is particularly characterized by its elastic properties which enables the knee panel to recoil from a flexed or stretched state.

Figure 2 illustrates that the knee panel 13 consists of a unitary or single panel that is fastened to the upper 11 and lower 12 portions by stitching or sewing 19. The jersey fabric 17 laminated to the closed cell foam core 16 provides durability to the knee panel 13 and prevents the inner core 16 from ripping at the stitching or sewing 19.

As can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, a hydrophobic coating or film 20 is applied to the outer surface of the knee panel 13. The hydrophobic coating may for example, be in the form of a hydrophobic ink or resin such as polyurethane resin, acrylic resin, PVC or silicone resin.

The hydrophobic film may be any suitable film such as polyurethane. Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the thickness of the hydrophobic outer surface as being approximately one third the thickness of the closed cell foam core 16, however, other thicknesses may be used. For instance, the present applicant has found that the knee panel 13 including a polyurethane film having a thickness ranging from 0.25 to 1.00mm and a closed cell foam core having a thickness ranging from 3 to 9mm provides adequate H?\Pcabral\Keep\speci\20023OO6O1.doc 10/04/06 8 cushioning and water resistance without restricting comfort.

It is possible that both a hydrophobic coating and film may be applied to the outer surface of the panel 13.

An advantage of using the closed cell foam core 16 is that it is substantially water impermeable which prevents liquid from accumulating in the knee panel 13. Therefore, in addition to the hydrophobic coating and/or film 20, the closed cell foam core also avoids water from being expressed or squeezed from the knee panel 13 when the worker is in a kneeling position. The closed cell foam core also isolates the worker's knees against moisture and cold wet conditions that often accentuate arthritis or similar medical complaints.

As can be seen in Figure 5, the pants 10 may also include lining material 20 extending over the knee panel 13 and is attached by stitching 21 to the upper 12 and lower 11 portions. The lining 20 overlaps the seams formed by stitching 19 to ensure comfort. The lining 20 may also be made of cotton to absorb any sweat excreted.

It will be understood by a person skilled in the art of the present invention that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

For example, the upper and lower portion may be made of any suitable material that is durable.

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Claims (17)

1. A work garment having legs and/or sleeves for covering the limbs of a worker, each leg and/or sleeve having an upper portion and a lower portion and interposed therebetween an intermediate portion covering the knee and/or elbow region of the worker, wherein the intermediate portion is made of a material that is more stretchable than the material of the upper and lower portions.

2. The work garment according to claim i, wherein the intermediate portion is hydrophobic.

3. The work garment according to claim 2, wherein the intermediate portion includes a hydrophobic coating and/or film applied to the outer surface thereof.

4. The work garment according to claim 3, wherein the hydrophobic coating is an ink or resin.

The work garment according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the hydrophobic film is a polyurethane film having a thickness in the range of 0.25 to 1.00 mm.

6. The work garment according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the intermediate portion extends across the front of the garment only and the upper and lower portions are interconnected across the back of the garment.

7. The work garment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the intermediate portion is in the form of a unitary or single panel interconnecting the upper and lower portions.

8. The work garment according to any one of the H:\Pcabal\Keep\speci\2002300601.doc 10/04/06 10 preceding claims, wherein the intermediate portion is elastically deformable such that it may be resistantly stretched or flexed.

9. The work garment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the intermediate portion includes a rubbery panel interconnecting the upper and lower portions.

10. The work garment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the intermediate portion includes a closed cell foam panel formed from one or more of chloroprene, PVC or PVC nitrile rubber.

11. The work garment according to claim 10, wherein the closed cell foam panel forms a core that is laminated with a fabric on one or both sides of the core.

12. The work garment according to claim 11, wherein the fabric is bonded to the intermediate portion using a neoprene based glue.

13. The work garment according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the fabric is a highly elastic knitted fabric.

14. The work garment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper and lower portions are woven fabric panels.

15. The work garment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper and lower portions have a weight ranging from 270 to 320 gsm.

16. The work garment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper and lower portions of the legs and/or sleeves have a cutout in the knee or elbow region which receives the intermediate portion. H:\Pcabral\Keep\speci\2002300601.doc 10/04/06 11

17. A work garment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying Figures. Dated this 10th day of April 2006 BRIAN O'KANE AND STEVEN O'KANE By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia H:\PCabral\Keep\speci\2023 00601.doc 10/04/06