AU2005285547A1 - Improved work garment - Google Patents

Description

WO 2006/031135 PCT/NZ2005/000247 IMPROVED WORK GARMENT FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a work garment, and in particular though not solely for a work garment with a detachable belt that can carry a load. 5 BACKGROUND There are known in the art methods for carrying a load on a user such as for example a builder's work belt or pack based systems. Such systems however tend to concentrate the load in or on one specific aspect of the users body (such as on the waist for a belt) which can lead to detrimental effects 10 over a period of time of wearing the load carrying system when combined with high weights. Modular systems for carrying loads exist in such belted systems also and in the type of load carrying equipment typified by army "webbing". Typically however these only have a limited ability to be customized for different load carrying tasks. 15 It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a work garment to at least go some way to addressing the shortcomings of the prior art, and/or to provide the public with a useful choice. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a work 20 garment wearable by a user comprising or including, a main garment portion including at least one fastening area including fastening means a waist belt attached to at least one point of said main garment portion, and at least one pouch for containing and holding tools which has complementary 25 fastening means to said fastening means of at least one fastening area to allow said pouch to be suspended from said main garment portion, the load of said pouch is borne via said main garment portion on the user's shoulders, and wherein the waist belt can be adjusted to aid support of the load of said pouch.

WO 2006/031135 PCT/NZ2005/000247 -2 Preferably said fastening area consists of a pleat or flap having on at least one concealed surface fastening means for fastening with said fastening means of said pouch. Preferably said there are two concealed surfaces and one each of said two 5 concealed surfaces presents a said fastening means. Preferably said pouch has a surface carrying said complementary fastening means. Preferably said waist belt is attached to the interior of said main garment portion. 10 Preferably said waist belt is in part retained to said main garment by and within a sleeve on said internal side of said main garment portion. Preferably said waist belt means is selectively engageable to said work garment. Preferably said waist belt has at least one area of fastening, for fastening and suspending said pouches. 15 Preferably said pleat or flap is located on the bottom periphery of said main garment portion. Preferably said pleat or flap is located proximal to the midriff line of the main garment portion. Preferably said there is a said pleat or flap both at the bottom periphery and 20 above the midriff line of said main garment portion. Preferably said waist belt means is selectively engaged with said fastening area. Preferably said belt means is selectively engageable with said pleat or flap. Preferably said main garment portion is constructed of material such as, but not limited to cotton, synthetic materials, leather or cloth-like materials. 25 Preferably said at least one part of said main garment portion is constructed from a high visibility material. Preferably said main garment portion has reflectorized tape or regions of reflectivity on its external surfaces. Preferably said main garment portion is a vest style garment with frontal access. 30 Preferably said main safety garment is a jacket with sleeves.

WO 2006/031135 PCT/NZ2005/000247 -3 Preferably said pouches can be arranged on said safety garment by said fastening system to create a customized tool or utility load carrying solution. Preferably said pouches can be layered on each other, each in part engaging either another pouch and/or said fastening means of said main garment portion. 5 Preferably said work garment or a pouch that attaches thereto has means for storage of a power means, for example but not limited to a rechargeable battery. Preferably said power means is located at the rear of the work garment. Preferably said power means is connectable to power tool means, for example but not limited to a drill, driver, saw or similar. 10 Preferably said fastening means is selected from any one or more of the following: a. one of a hook and loop fastener, b. domes, c. press -fit connections, and 15 d. clips. Preferably said complimentary fastening means is a hook and loop closure, such as that typified by and sold under the trade name Velcro TM In a second aspect the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a work belt comprising or including, 20 a belt wearable by a user said belt including at least one fastening zone including fastening means, and at least one pouch for containing and holding tools, which has complementary fastening means to said at least one fastening zone to allow said pouches to be suspended from said belt, the load of said at least one pouch is borne via said belt on 25 the user's body, and the belt can be adjusted to aid support of the load and the user. Preferably said work belt is selectively engageable to an upper body load bearing system, wherein said upper body load bearing system includes a wearable garment. Preferably said fastening zone consists of a pleat or flap having on at least one 30 surface for engagement by said complementary fastening means of said pouch.

WO 2006/031135 PCT/NZ2005/000247 -4 Preferably said there are two inner surfaces and one each of said two inner surfaces has one part each of said complimentary fastening means for said pouch to fasten to. Preferably said work belt consists of a belt and an outer support means which 5 said belt engages with. Preferably said pleat or flap is located on said outer support means. Preferably said work belt is constructed from a high visibility material. Preferably said outer support means has reflectorized tape on its external surfaces. 10 Preferably said pouches can be arranged on said safety garment by said fastening system to create a customized tool or utility load carrying solution. Preferably said pouches can be stacked or layered on each other, each in part engaging either another pouch and/or said fastening means of said belt. Preferably said work belt or a pouch that attaches thereto has means for storage 15 of a power means, for example but not limited to a rechargeable battery. Preferably said power means is located at the rear of the work belt. Preferably said power means is connectable to power tool means, for example but not limited to a drill, driver, saw or similar. Preferably said upper body load bearing system is selectively engageable to 20 said belt by a connection zone, such as hook and loop fastening, domes, clips, engaging toggles or other similar forms or fastening. Preferably said connection zone of said work belt to said upper body load bearing system is by hook and loop fastening, such as typified by the Velcro TM brand. Preferably said upper body load bearing system has at least one area of 25 fastening on the load bearing system for a further attachment point for said pouches. Preferably said at least one area of fastening on the load bearing system can be used for the selective attachment of said work belt to allow the work belt to be attached at differing positions, for example heights on said bearing system. In a third aspect the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a pouch 30 for holding or able to hold tools or utensils comprising or including, WO 2006/031135 PCT/NZ2005/000247 -5 a region to hold or adapted to hold tools or utensils (for example but not limited to pliers, knives, screwdrivers, powered tools), a region of fastening for attaching to a load bearing system to retain said pouch wherein the region of fastening allows the pouch to be located according to the users 5 needs or wants on the load bearing system, the load bearing system having a complementary region of fastening to retain the pouch. Preferably said each of two outer surfaces of said pouch has one part each of said complementary fastening means. Preferably said there is a pleat or flap or area of fastening or both at the bottom 10 periphery and at/or above the midriff line of said main garment portion. Preferably said pleat or flap there are two inner surfaces and one each of said two inner surfaces has one part each of said complementary fastening means. . Preferably said main garment portion is constructed of material such as, but not limited to cotton, synthetic materials, leather or similar cloth-like materials. 15 Preferably said at least one part of said main garment portion is constructed from a high visibility material. Preferably said region(s) of fastening are hook and loop fasteners. Preferably said load bearing system is a garment such as a belt, vest or jacket. Preferably said complimentary fastening means is selected from any one or 20 more of the following: a. hook and loop closure, b. domes, c. press - fit connections, and/or d. clips. 25 Preferably said complimentary fastening means is a hook and loop closure, such as that typified by and sold under the trade name VelcroTM. In a fourth aspect the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a method of providing a utility pouch on a work garment comprising or including the steps of WO 2006/031135 PCT/NZ2005/000247 -6 providing on a garment (whether a jacket, vest belt or other garment form) at least one area of fastening on a external surface of said garment, providing at least one pouch for containing or holding tools utensils or the like, said pouch having complimentary fastening means to said area of fastening and said 5 complimentary fastening means to allow said pouch to be hung from said garment. Preferably said area of fastening consists of a pleat or flap having on at least one inner surface a part, or parts, of a fastening system for said complementary fastening means of said pouch to engage. Preferably said there are two inner surfaces and one each of said two inner 10 surfaces has one part each of said complementary fastening means. Preferably said each of two outer surfaces of said pouch has one part each of said complementary fastening means. Preferably said there is a belt means disposed entirely on said internal surface or internal surfaces of said garment. 15 Preferably said belt means is in part retained to said garment by a sleeve on said internal surface(s) of the main portion of said garment, which sleeve said belt means at least in part passes through. Preferably said pleat or flap is located on the bottom periphery of said main garment portion. 20 Preferably said said pleat or flap is located proximal to the midriff line of said garment. Preferably said there is a pleat or flap or area of fastening both at the bottom periphery and at/or above the midriff line of said garment. Preferably said main garment portion is constructed of material such as, but not 25 limited to cotton, synthetic materials, leather or similar cloth like material. Preferably said at least one part of said main garment portion is constructed from a high visibility material. Preferably said main garment portion has reflectorized tape or regions of reflectivity on its external surfaces.

WO 2006/031135 PCT/NZ2005/000247 -7 Preferably said main garment portion is a vest style garment which has frontal access. Preferably said garment is a jacket with sleeves. Preferably said pouches can be arranged on said garment by said fastening 5 system to create a customized tool or utility load carrying solution. Preferably said pouches can be stacked or layered on each other, each in part engaging either another pouch and/or said pleat or flap. Preferably said garment or a pouch that attaches thereto has means for storage of a power means, for example but not limited to a rechargeable battery. 10 Preferably said power means is located at the rear of the work garment. Preferably said power means is connectable to power tool means, for example but not limited to a drill, driver, saw or similar. In a further aspect the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a work garment as herein described with reference to any one or more of the 15 accompany drawings. In a further aspect the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a work belt as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings. In a further aspect the present invention may be said to broadly consist a pouch 20 as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompany drawings. In a further aspect the present invention may be said to broadly consist in combination a work belt as herein described with a work garment as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and 25 features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth. 30 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS WO 2006/031135 PCT/NZ2005/000247 -8 A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings whereby, Figure 1 shows in plan a work garment in the form of a vest with a number of pouches attached to the lower periphery of the vest, 5 Figure 2 shows the vest of Figure 1 in plan view with a zip undone on the front and the vest opened up showing the belt and rear of the attached pouches, Figure 3 shows in plan view a variety of pouches that may be attached to the work garment, Figure 4 shows the same pouches of Figure 3 with tools inserted therein, 10 Figure 5 shows the area of fastening on the lower periphery of the work garment and the complementary fastening on that of the pouch, in this instance it is a hook and loop style closure, Figure 6 shows the first attachment of the pouch to the hook and loop closure, where after it is followed by closing of the flap, 15 Figure 7 shows the jacket on a user with the belt done up prior to zipping up of the front of the vest, Figure 8 shows the tools suspended from the pouches attached to the work garment when on a user, Figure 9 shows similar view to that of Figure 8 inside profile, and 20 Figure 10 shows a tail for the garment which is attached similarly to the pouches, to provide a surface to sit on, and an added area for reflective tape (on the reverse or external side). Figure 11 shows in front view a work belt which is selectively attachable to an upper body load bearing system, such as a vest as shown, and 25 Figure 12a shows a partial side view of the work belt and upper body load bearing system (as a vest) attached to each other, and b) shows the region of selective attachment on the vest, together with a further area of fastening on the vest for attachment of further pouches, and c) a close up view in perspective of the work garment and one method of selective attachment to the upper body load bearing 30 system.

WO 2006/031135 PCT/NZ2005/000247 -9 Shown in Figures 1 through 12 there is a work garment as one preferred embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A work garment 1 has a main portion 3 which goes over the body of a user 5. 5 The main portion in one embodiment is a vest as shown but alternatively it may be a jacket with sleeves or similar garment (the sleeves maybe full, partial or short in lenths). Pouches 17 can be suspended from the garment 1. The vest 1 in the embodiment shown may have a zip 4 which enables the front of the garment to be closed. Other means known in the art for closing a garment are 10 also within the scope of the invention such as domes, clips, hook and loop fasteners or other such similar means. The garment can also have a liner attached in side by similar fastening means. Preferably on the interior surface 13 of the main portion 3 of the work garment 1, there is a sleeve 29 which the belt like support means 11, in the form of an 15 adjustable belt, passes through. Thus the belt like support means is attached to the interior surface of the work garment to retain the belt to the work garment. A function of having the belt passing through a sleeve is to form a support for both the load and the user when the belt like support means is tightened up around the waste of the user. Having such an adjustable support means enables the user to stand more upright and 20 reduce loading on the lower back whilst also stabilising the load on the work garment and the user. In this way the load that is contained within the pouches is distributed over not only the stabilised lower portion of the user but also is transferred up and onto the shoulders of the user via the vest like work garment. The belt may alternatively be exterior of the main portion 3 or partially interior and exterior. 25 On the exterior surface of the main portion 3 of the work garment maybe a number of other pockets, and also a clear pouch 6 for identification or a security card. The pouches 17 have on their outer surfaces a variety of hooks, loops and pockets for the containment of tools and utensils 19. The pouches can be designed in any particular way to carry any particular tool. For example 17A is a holster for a WO 2006/031135 PCT/NZ2005/000247 -10 battery or otherwise powered drill. Other forms of the pouch designed specifically for tools or other utensils are considered to be within the scope of this invention. On the upper area of the pouch 17 is an area of complementary fastening 27. In the preferred embodiment the fastening utilised is a hook and loop closure such as for TM 5 example but not limited to Velcro . On the innermost side, shown in Figures 5 and 6, of the pouch 17 there is the hook component of a hook and loop closure. On the outermost side, shown in Figures 3 and 4, there is the loop component of a hook and loop closure. On the bottom periphery 31 of the work garment 1 there is a pleat or flap 23. In 10 the embodiment shown the pleat or flap 23 is disposed to the interior surface 13 of the garment but may equally be a flap on the external surface 9 and may be on the bottom periphery 31 or at or above or below the midriff line 33 or at any other level or position on the work garment 1. In one embodiment both are present. On one interior portion of the pleat or flap 23 there is the complementary 15 fastening means to the external surface of the pouch 17. That is in the embodiment shown a hook component of a hook and loop closure. On the other interior surface of the pleat or flap 23 there is the complementary component of a hook and loop closure to that on the internal surface, i.e. the loop component of a hook and loop closure. In assembling the pouches 17 to the work garment 1 the pleat or flap 23 is separated and 20 folded away so that the area of fastening 7 is exposed. There may be tabs 46 present to east the opening of the pleat or flap 23, enabling the user to grip the tab 46 to at least in part open the flap or pleat 23. Thereafter the complementary component of the fastening means on the pouch is located to that complementary component on the pleat of flap. Thereafter the pleat 25 or flap 23 is folded over the other complementary component of the fastening means to form a secure system. Due to the nature of the order of the fastening system i.e. hook on one surface of the pleat, loop on the other and conversely loop on one side of the pouch and hook on the other, then a number of pouches can be stacked in the same location to provide a layering effect of pouches. The pleat or flap can still be closed 30 over these pouches to hold them in position.

WO 2006/031135 PCT/NZ2005/000247 - 11 In putting the vest on a user, first the user puts the work garment 1 over their shoulders and then adjusts the belt like support means 11 to be comfortable fit around their body. Thereafter they can do the zip 4 up to close the work garment 1. The work garment is in the preferred embodiment made from a generally high 5 visibility material such as road user orange and also has areas of reflectorized tape 35 across the front, shoulders and back; thus complying with a number of safety requirements for commercial sites. Additionally a tail 37 having similar complementary hook and loop fastening means to the pouches can be located on the rear portion of the work garment 1. On the external surface of this tail there is further 10 reflectorized means to give more visibility to the garment and to make it compliant with various standards, such as for example the New Zealand Road Safety Standard relating to reflectorized and safety garments. The tail 37 also gives a convenient material for a user to sit on, for example in wet conditions. 15 In a further embodiment the work garment 1 is split along a connection zone to define a work belt 41 and an upper body load bearing system 43. The upper body load bearing system may be in the form of a vest or shirt or jacket as previously described. The connection zone may be achieved by selectively engageable means as defined by hook and loop fastenings, domes, clips, engaging 20 goggles or other similar means known the art for making a selectively disengageable join. In the preferred embodiment the connection zone is achieved by a hook and loop fastening such as that typified by the Velcro band product. The method of connection along the connection zone is similar to that described 25 above 4 the single work garment with a lower peripheral pleatable flap 23. The connection zone therefore on the upper periphery of the work belt 41 has a pleat or flap 45 having on its inner surfaces the complementary hook and fastener on one interior portion and loop fastener on another interior portion. This engages with complimentary loop and hook fastener portions on the lower periphery of the upper 30 body load bearing system 43.

WO 2006/031135 PCT/NZ2005/000247 - 12 The pleat or flap 45 formed in the upper portion of the work belt 41 may additionally have tabs 46 which allow the user to open the pleat or flap 45 in a similar way to the tabs 46 utilized in the other preferred embodiment pleat or flap 23. Alternatively the pleat or flap may be that defined on the earlier embodiment 5 namely that of 23 and the work belt 41 has a similar engagement to that pleat or flap 23 as the pouches do namely it presents a complimentary hook and loop fastener to that presented by the pleat or flap 23. The load bearing system 43 may in addition to the connection zone have further connection zones thereon such as at a midriff line 33. 10 In the preferred embodiment the connection zones of the upper body garment are identical to the pleat or flap 23 previously described. Therefore the user has the option of adding a work belt 41. The work belt additionally has pleats or flaps 23 similar to those described previously which allow pouches 17 to be attached thereto. The user therefore has full 15 configurable system whereby pouches can be mounted onto a upper body load bearing system 43 which may have selectively attached thereto a work belt 41 from which further pouches 17 may be attached. The user may then if so desired, remove the work belt 41 from the load bearing system 43 to have just a belt with pouches depending therefrom. 20 The user may alternatively just have the upper body. load bearing system 43 in the form of a vest or jacket for example from which pouches may be attached without having the requirement of the work belt 41. The work belt has in a similar fashion to that previously described a clip belt which runs through out support means and the belt engages therewith such as for example by way of a sleeve or the belt may be 25 permanently attached via stitching or similar. Depending from the outer support means is the pleat or flap 23 from which the pouches may be attached the pouches being 17. The upper body support means may be as described a vest made of a high visibility material or shirt made of a high visibility material or may alternatively may 30 be of a strapping or similar suspending nature from which the pouches and/or work WO 2006/031135 PCT/NZ2005/000247 - 13 belt 17 and 41 respectively may be swung or attached. The outer support means may additionally have high visibility material so that the work belt which is defined 41 may when used on its own provide the reflectivity and safety needed. A further embodiment of the present invention relates to having a belt like 5 support means 11 only having a pleat or flap 23 on its periphery (or on the periphery of a sleeve which the belt like support means engages with or at least in part passes through) to which pouches can be attached. This gives a simplified version of the present invention whereby the belt by itself is worn by the user 5 and the pouches 17 can be arranged and customised thereon as per the user's needs and requirements. 10 The work garment 1 therefore allows the user to have a customisable tool or utensil storage system allowing stacking and layering of pouches as well as moving the pouches to spread the load over the user. The work garment 1 together with the belt like support means 11 not only spreads the load over the user's waist and supports the user and the load but also the load is distributed over the shoulders of the user. 15 Such load distribution results in a more upright and ergonomically favourable stance of the user which reduces the fatigue on the user from carrying around such tools. A pouch 17D on the rear of the work garment 1 (not shown) is able to carry batteries or similar power supply means for powered tools. For example a battery 18 in the rear pouch 17D can be connected via a cable 20, possibly running from the 20 sleeve of the user, to a battery powered or electrically powered tool (e.g. a drill or other powered device) therefore the user does not carry the heavy density power means (e.g. the battery) on the powered tool itself but rather it is contained on the users body. Therefore the user can control a lighter tool without resulting in fatigue. Such mobile powering means also allows the user to be free of power cords and the ensuing 25 entanglement which these can result in and also allows the user a greater freedom of movement.

Claims (26)

1. A work garment wearable by a user comprising or including, a main garment portion including at least one fastening area including fastening means, 5 a waist belt attached to at least one point of said main garment portion, and at least one pouch for containing and holding tools which has complementary fastening means to said fastening means of at least one fastening area to allow said pouch to be suspended from said main garment portion, wherein the load of said pouch is borne via said main garment portion on the 10 user's shoulders, and wherein the waist belt can be adjusted to aid support of the load of said pouch.

2. A work garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fastening area consists of a pleat or flap having on at least one concealed surface, fastening means for fastening with said fastening means of said pouch. 15

3. A work garment as claimed in claim 2 wherein there are two concealed surfaces and one each of said two concealed surfaces presents a said fastening means.

4. A work garment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said pouch has a surface carrying said complementary fastening means.

5. A work garment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said waist belt 20 is attached to the interior of said main garment portion.

6. A work garment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said waist belt is in part retained to said main garment by and within a sleeve on said internal side of said main garment portion.

7. A work garment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said waist belt 25 has at least one area of fastening, for fastening and suspending said pouches.

8. A work garment as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7 wherein said pleat or flap is located on the bottom periphery of said main garment portion.

9. A work garment as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8 wherein said pleat or flap is located proximal to the midriff line of the main garment portion. WO 2006/031135 PCT/NZ2005/000247 -15

10. A work garment as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 9 wherein there is a said pleat or flap both at the bottom periphery and above the midriff line of said main garment portion.

11. A work garment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein said waist belt 5 means is selectively engageable with said fastening area.

12. A work garment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein said waist belt is permanently engaged with said fastening area.

13. A work garment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein said main garment portion is a vest style garment with frontal access. 10

14. A work garment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein said pouches can be layered on each other, each in part engaging either another pouch and/or said fastening means of said main garment portion.

15. A work garment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein said fastening means is selected from any one or more of the following: 15 a. one of a hook and loop fastener, b. domes, c. press -fit connections, and d. clips.

16. A work belt comprising or including, 20 a belt wearable by a user said belt including at least one fastening zone including fastening means,.and at least one pouch for containing and holding tools, which has complementary fastening means to said fastening means of said at least one fastening zone to allow said pouches to be suspended from said belt, the load of said at least one pouch is 25 borne via said belt on the user's body, and the belt can be adjusted to aid support of the load and the user.

17. A work belt as claimed in claim 16 wherein said work belt is selectively engageable to an upper body load bearing system, wherein said upper body load bearing system includes a wearable garment. WO 2006/031135 PCT/NZ2005/000247 -16

18. A work belt as claimed in claims 16 or 17 wherein said fastening zone consists of a pleat or flap having on at least one surface at which said fastening means are provided for engagement by said complementary fastening means of said pouch.

19. A work belt as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18 wherein said pouches can 5 be stacked or layered on each other, each in part engaging either another pouch and/or said fastening means of said belt.

20. A work garment as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

21. A work garment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 22 with reference to any 10 one or more of the accompany drawings.

22. A work belt as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

23. A work belt as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 35 with reference to any one or more of the accompany drawings. 15

24. A pouch as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

25. A pouch as claimed in any one of claims 36 to 45 with reference to any one or more of the accompany drawings.

26. In combination a work belt as herein described with a work garment as herein 20 described with reference to the accompanying drawings.