AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Innovation Patent Applicant (s): BRIAN O'KANE and STEVEN O'KANE Invention Title: A GARMENT The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method for performing it known to me/us: -2 A WORK GARMENT FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 The present invention relates to a work garment that is suitable for tradesmen such as plumbers, builders, painters, electricians or handymen. In particular, the present invention relates to a work garment having an improved structure in the knee region. 10 BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION In the past, numerous attempts have been made to improve the durability and comfort of garments by reinforcing the 15 knee or buttock region of the garments. Another attempt to improve the longevity of a work garment and, indeed the comfort for worker who spends an amount of time in either a kneeling or crouched position has been to place rubber pads over the garment using strapping comprising elastic 20 bands or Velcro attachments. However, in our experience the strapping has a tendency to create localised regions of increased pressure, particularly in areas on the back of the legs, and the pads often fall down as the worker walks around the worksite. 25 It is an objective of the present invention to provide an alternative work garment. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 30 According to the present invention there is provided a work garment with legs having a knee pad for covering the knee region of a person wearing the garment, the knee pad including an abrasion resistant outer layer that includes 35 yarns having synthetic fibres or filaments and/or leather, the abrasion resistant outer layer is applied to a polymeric cushioning substrate without a polyurethane 22013551 (GHMatters) 25/02/10 - 3 coating that is substantially water impermeable between the abrasion resistant layer and the polymeric cushioning substrate. 5 The polymeric cushioning substrate may be a layer of the knee pad including ethylene vinyl acetate polymers (EVA), polyvinylchloride polymers (PVC), polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). The polymeric substrate may also be any closed cell foam including foams such as 10 polychloroprene (neoprene), polyethylene foam and polystyrene foam. Suitably, the closed cell foam has a thickness in the range of 3 to 9mm. It will be appreciated that the term "abrasion resistant 15 fabric" relates to the ability of the fabric to withstand rubbing, scratched and alike physical action. It will be appreciated that the "abrasion resistant fabric" is more abrasion resistant than the cushioning substrate, wherein the cushioning substrate may either include an external 20 jersey knitted fabric, or where the jersey knitted fabric is absent. Suitably, the abrasion resistant fabric is also more abrasion resistant than an outer fabric of legs of the garment such as a denim fabric that may form the upper and lower portions of the legs. 25 In an embodiment, the yarns of the abrasion resistant layer are made entirely of synthetic fibres including any one or a combination of polypropylene, polyester, polyamides including nylons and Cordura", aramid 30 polyamides such as Kevlarm and carbon fibres. Suitably, the yarns of the abrasion resistant layers have a weight of at least 300 denier, and even more suitably a denier in the range of 500 to 1000. 35 In an embodiment, an adhesive is used to laminate the abrasion resistant layer to the polymeric cushioning substrate, and suitably, the adhesive bonds the abrasion 22013551 (GHMatters) 25/02/10 -4 resistant layer directly to the polymeric cushioning substrate without any other additional material between the abrasion resistant layer and the polymeric cushioning substrate. 5 In an embodiment, the knee pad includes an inner face comprising a fabric layer on the polymeric cushioning substrate. Although the fabric layer laminated to the inner face may be a woven fabric, suitably, the fabric 10 layer is in form a jersey knitted fabric. According to one embodiment, the legs of the garment include a fabric that is included in at least one of the upper and lower portions of the legs of the garment, and 15 the fabric of at least one of the upper and lower portions of the garment is absent from a knee region of the legs of the garment, and the knee pad is located in position over the knee region. 20 According to one embodiment, the legs of the garment include an upper portion and a lower portion that are each defined by a fabric, and the fabric of at least one of the upper and lower portions is absent from a knee region of the garment at which the knee pad is attached. 25 In an embodiment, the legs of the garment include a fabric that extends over upper and lower portions and the fabric is absent from a knee region of the garment at which the knee is located. 30 In an embodiment, the legs of the garment include an upper portion and a lower portion defined by an outer fabric and intermediate of the upper and lower portions an opening in the outer fabric is provided in the knee region, and the 35 knee pad is located over the opening. In an alternative embodiment, the fabric of at least one 2201355_1 (GHMatlers) 25/02/10 -5 of the upper or lower portions extends over the knee region of the garment and the knee pad is attached either to an outside or inside face of the fabric in the knee region of the garment. 5 In an embodiment, the fabric is suitably a denim or cotton fabric. The fabric of the upper and lower portions may also include any blend of natural fibres and synthetic fibres including cotton/polyester blends, cotton/nylon 10 blends, cotton/polypropylene blends and blends comprising proteinacous fibres and synthetic fibres. The present invention also relates to a work garment with legs having a knee pad for covering the knee region of a 15 person wearing the garment, the knee pad including an abrasion resistant outer layer that includes yarns comprising synthetic fibres or filaments, the abrasion resistant outer layer is bonded to a closed cell foam substrate without a substantially water impermeable 20 material between the abrasion resistant layer and the closed cell foam substrate, wherein the legs of the garment include an upper portion and a lower portion defined by an outer fabric and intermediate of the upper and lower portions an opening in the outer fabric is 25 provided in the knee region of the legs of the garment, and the knee pad is located at the opening. The absence of a water impermeable material between the abrasion resistant layer and the closed cell foam 30 substrate provides a simple but effective knee pad structure. The water impermeable material includes any substantially water impermeable material such as, but by no limited to polymeric films and coatings including films and coatings made from polyurethane and polypropylene. 35 The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a garment, the method including the steps 2201355_1 (GHMatters) 25/02/10 -6 of: a) applying an abrasion resistant outer layer that includes yarns having synthetic fibres or filaments and/or leather to a polymeric cushioning substrate 5 without a substantially water impermeable material between the abrasion resistant layer and the polymeric cushioning substrate to form a knee pad; and b) applying the knee pad to a knee region of the legs of 10 the garment. In an embodiment, step a) includes bonding the abrasion resistant layer to the cushioning substrate using a flexible adhesive. 15 In an embodiment, the legs of the garment include an upper portion and a lower portion defined by an outer fabric and intermediate of the upper and lower portions an opening in the outer fabric is provided in the knee region, and the 20 knee pad is located over the opening, and step b) includes applying the knee pad to the openings in each leg of the garment. In an embodiment, the method includes the preliminary step 25 of forming an opening in the fabric in the knee region of the legs of the garment and step b) includes attaching the knee pad over the opening in each leg. In an embodiment, the method may include a step of 30 applying a hydrophobic agent to the abrasion resistant layer. Suitably, the hydrophobic agent is applied to the abrasion resistant layer prior to the knee pad being applied to the knee region of the legs of the garment according to step b). 35 The hydrophobic agent may include silicone containing agents, waxes and alike. 2201355_1 (GHMatters) 25/02/10 - 7 It will be understood that the term "work garment" includes, for example, overalls having legs, trousers or pants having legs. 5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 10 Figure 1 schematically illustrates the front of a pair of pants or overalls having knee pads according to a preferred embodiment; Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a knee region of the garment shown in Figure 1 in which the 15 knee pad is located in a cutout in the outer fabric of the legs of the garment; Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a knee region of the garment shown in Figure 2 to which a inner liner has been added to enhance comfort for the 20 wearer; and Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a knee region of a garment according to an alternative embodiment. 25 DETAILED DESCRIPTION The work garment 10 is in the form of a pair of pants having legs, wherein the front face of each leg has an upper and lower portion 11 and 12 and an intermediate 30 portion 13 interposed therebetween in the form of a knee pad 14. In the case of the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the knee pad 14 is inserted into a cutout or opening between the upper and lower portions 11 and 12. 35 The upper and lower portions 11 and 12 of the garment 10 comprises a durable woven fabric, such as cotton, denim or other canvas type material, which typically has a weight 22013551 (GHMatters) 25102/10 - 8 ranging from 270 to 320 gsm. The knee pad 14 extends across the front of the garment 10 but does not extend across the rear face of leg of the garment 10. Although it can not be seen from the Figures, the rear face of each s leg consists of a continuous fabric panel. The knee pad 14 is position in the cutout in the fabric of the legs about its perimeter to: i) the upper portion 11, ii) the lower portion 12, and iii) the back fabric panel 10 extending over the rear face of the legs of the garment 10 by means of stitching, sewing and/or gluing 17. As can be seen in Figures 2 to 4, the knee pad 14 includes a cushioning substrate 15 or layer that cushions the 15 worker's knee against the ground when in a kneeling or crouched position. The cushioning substrate 15 may be any polymeric material, but is suitably a closed cell foam including either chloroprene (neoprene), PVC or PVC nitrile. One of the properties of the cushioning 20 substrate 15 is that it is inherently impermeably to water. Although not particularly clear from the Figures, a jersey knitted fabric 16 is laminated to an inner face of the closed cell foam 15 using a highly flexible and elastic adhesive such as Bostik' 2402 adhesive. The 25 jersey fabric layer 16 provides durability to the knee pad 14 and reduced the risk of the closed cell foam 15 ripping at the stitching or sewing. Applied directly to an outer face of the closed cell foam 30 15 is a high abrasion resistant outer layer 20. The abrasion resistant layer 20 may be of any form including woven and knitted fabrics, leather or even extruded sheets. Suitably, the abrasion resistant layer 20 consists of synthetic yarns that have been woven into a 3s fabric having weight in the range of 150 to 320gsm. Suitably, the synthetic yarns of the abrasion resistant layer 20 have a weight in the range of 500 to 1000 denier 22013551 (GHMatters) 25/02110 - 9 and may comprise any one or combination of polypropylene, polyester, polyamides including nylons, aramid polyamides such as Kevlarm and carbon fibres. One example of the suitable high abrasion resistant layer 20 is a fabric sold 5 under the trade name Cordura. The abrasion resistant layer 20 is laminated or bonded directly to the closed cell foam 15 using a flexible and stretchable adhesive such as Bostika 2402 adhesive. One 10 of the features of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the abrasion resistant layer 20 is at least some extent inherently hydrophobic and importantly, a separate water-resistant coating or water-proofing layer is not require, and thus is not provided, between the 15 closed cell foam and the abrasion resistant layer. In addition, the closed cell foam also offers a level of water resistance. 20 A benefit of the preferred embodiment is that the step of bonding the abrasion resistant fabric to the closed cell foam is a simple and improved structure that is able to be accomplished using a single adhesive. The absence of a polyurethane layer or a water impermeable layer between 25 the abrasion resistant fabric and the closed cell foam enables the abrasion resistant fabric to be bonded to the closed cell foam without compromised. Specifically, in the case where a polyurethane layer or other water impermeable layer is present, bonding would need to take 30 into account the water proofing layer and is likely to involve bonding in to be completed in multiple steps using multiple reagents or different types of adhesives. Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a knee 35 region of the garment shown in Figure 2 and, in addition, includes an inner liner 21 fitted over the inner face of the knee pad 14 to enhance comfort to the wearer. The 22013551 (GHMatters) 25/02110 - 10 liner may be made of the cotton, lycra, satin or suitable materials. The liner may be attached by stitching 22 to the upper portion 11, lower portion 12 as shown in Figure 3, or optionally the liner 21 may also be attached to the 5 rear portion of the legs of the garment 10. The liner 21 may or may not be bonded or laminated directly to inner face of the knee pad 14. Figure 4 illustrates yet another embodiment in which, 10 unlike the embodiments shown in Figures 2 and 3, the outer fabric of the upper and lower portions 11 and 12 extends across the knee region intermediate of the upper and lower portions 11 and 12, and the knee pad 14 is applied to the outer face of the garment 10. The knee pad 14 is fixed in 15 position to the outer fabric using stitching or sewing 17 about the perimeter of the knee pad 14. An adhesive may also be included between the knee pad 14 and the fabric of the legs of the garment as desired. Although not shown in Figure 4, an additional inner liner material may be 20 provided on the inside of the legs of the garment 10. Although not shown in detail in the Figures, the outer face of the knee pad 14 may also be treated with a hydrophobic agent such as an agent including silicone or 25 waxes to increase the hydrophobicity of the abrasion resistant outer layer 20 of the knee pad 14. It will be understood by a person skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made to the 30 embodiments described above without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 22013551 (GHMatters) 25/02110