AU2009100427A4

AU2009100427A4 - Modular Snake Bite Protector

Info

Publication number: AU2009100427A4
Application number: AU2009100427A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Heath Michael Watt
Original assignee: HEATH WATT
Current assignee: HEATH WATT
Priority date: 2009-05-06
Filing date: 2009-05-06
Publication date: 2009-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 2017-05-06
Also published as: US20100319098A1; AU2009100427A6

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: Modular Snake Bite Protector Applicant: Heath Michael Watt The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me.

1 I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to custom protective clothing for preventing snake bites. In a particular application the invention provides a modular snake bite protector assembly. 5 II. BACKGROUND A risk that is posed to people that work and take recreation in natural environments is that of snake bite. 10 In regions where snakes are common the risk of snake bite is all too real and presents a serious danger. For example, it is reported in the article Snakebite in tropical Australia: a prospective study in the "Top End" of the Northern Territory (by Bart J Currie in the Medical Journal of Australia 2004; 181 (11/12): 693-697,) that in an eight year period between 1989 and 1998 there were 348 suspected snake bites reported with 15 114 evacuations to Royal Darwin Hospital for treatment being required. People that work in regions where snakes are prevalent may take precautions such as wearing long trousers of thick material in addition to sturdy leather boots. In US patent No. 4,057,853 there is described a legging for preventing snake guards that is made of stainless steel mesh and which is shaped in the form of a stocking 20 without a foot sole. The main body is shaped like a long stocking which on its rear has a vertical slit that can be widened so that a person's leg can be inserted. The foot of the legging is integrally formed with the leg portion. Leather straps and buckles are provided to secure the legging about a wearer's let and foot. In the preferred 2 embodiment that is described there are fourteen buckles on each legging and seven straps per legging. While the above-described anti-snake bite legging affords protection against snake bite it is accompanied by a number of draw backs. For example, it is time consuming for a 5 person to don the legging since numerous straps and buckles must be fastened. Once the leggings have been donned the wearer's ankle flexibility is greatly reduced since the leg and foot portions of the legging are formed in one piece. Furthermore, over time there may be a tendency for the mesh to crimp or otherwise bend. It is the inventor's aim to provide snake protection guard assembly that addresses the 10 above described drawbacks that are associated with the prior art discussed above. III. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a modular snake bite protector assembly for the lower limb including: 15 a shin protector module of curved metal mesh; a calf protector module of curved metal mesh; and straps for fastening the shin protector to the calf protector about a wearer's leg. Preferably the modular snake bite protector assembly further includes an instep foot protector module of curved metal mesh. 20 A flexible ankle protector may be provided between the instep foot protector module and the shin protector module. Reinforcement ribs may be provided to strengthen the curved metal mesh.

3 According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a modular snake bite protector assembly for a wearer's leg including at least one protection module comprising a shin protector, calf protector or instep foot protector, made of a metal mesh curved to complement a corresponding portion of the leg of the wearer and 5 including hook and loop straps for attachment of said module to the wearer. Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following detailed description, which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The detailed description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The 10 detailed description will make reference to a number of drawings throughout as follows. IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 depicts a modular snake bite protector according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 15 Figure 2 depicts a modular snake bite protector according to a second embodiment of the invention. Like reference numbers are used throughout the figures to refer to like items. V. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 20 Referring now to Figure 1, there is depicted a modular snake bite protector according to an embodiment of the present invention. The snake bite protector is comprised of three modules being a front of leg or shin protector 1, a rear of leg or calf protector 3 and an instep foot protector 5.

4 Each of the protector modules is formed of a strong stainless steel mesh 7 that is curved to complement the anatomy of the corresponding part of the leg that it is intended to fit over. The mesh is fine enough, and strong enough to prevent a snake's fangs from penetrating through the mesh in the event of a snake bite to the wearer's leg 5 or foot occurring. A border 17 is provided around the mesh 7 of each of the protector modules to add to the rigidity of the protectors and to protect the user from the sharp ends of the mesh. Complementary fasteners, in the form of hook and loop straps 9 and patches 11 are provided in order to fasten the calf protector 3 to the shin protector 1 about a wearer's 10 leg in use. The hook and loop straps and patches are preferably Velcro®. The instep foot protector 5 is provided with a further hook and loop sole strap 13 that is also preferably Velcro® and which is intended to extend under the wearer's shoe in use for fastening to a corresponding Velcro@ patch 15. In order to add strength to the mesh construction of the protector modules, 15 reinforcement ribs 21 may be attached to the mesh as shown in Figure 2. It will be realized that the ankle gap between the instep foot protector 5 and the shin guard 1, indicated as item 25 in Figure 1, constitutes a region of vulnerability to snake bite. In order to reduce this vulnerability an ankle protector 23 may be provided to cover the gap 25 as shown in Figure 23. Preferably the ankle protector 23 is made of a 20 strong, thick flexible material, such as leather and is fastened between the instep foot protector 5 and the shin protector 1.

5 While the preferred embodiment is made of a metallic mesh, such as a stainless steel mesh, the various modules may alternatively be made of some other fang-impenetrable material, for example a sheet of thick, flexible plastic or leather. In the present specification and claims, the word "comprising" and its related and 5 derivative terms, including "comprises" and "comprise", are to be interpreted in an inclusive sense as including each of the stated integers but without excluding the inclusion of one or more further integers. In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention 10 is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A modular snake bite protector assembly for a wearer's leg including: a shin protector module of curved metal mesh; a calf protector module of curved metal mesh; and straps for fastening the shin protector to the calf protector about the wearer's leg.

2. A modular snake bite protector assembly according to claim 1, further including an instep foot protector module of curved metal mesh.

3. A modular snake bite protector assembly according to claim 2, further including a fang resistant flexible ankle protector between the instep foot protector module and the shin protector module.

4. A modular snake bite protector assembly for a wearer's leg according to any one of the preceding claims wherein reinforcement ribs are provided to strengthen the curved metal mesh of one or more of said modules.

5. A modular snake bite protector assembly for a wearer's leg substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 1. * * *