AU2010101366A4 - Safety vest protector - Google Patents

Description

1 SAFETY VEST PROTECTOR FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a jockey/driver safety vest. 5 BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Jockeys and trotting drivers are required to wear a safety vest while riding horses during both trackwork and in races. This is required by law in some jurisdictions, and/or a requirement of some insurance companies. The vests are typically padded to prevent serious injury from occurring 10 should the jockey fall from the horse. During races the vest is typically worn underneath the jockey's silks. In trackwork the vest may be worn over the jockey's clothing, or in cold weather underneath a jacket. A jockey typically rides 6-7 days each week, and on up to 5 horses each day. This means that the safety vest is worn for many hours each week. 15 The vest typically gets worn out and dirty very quickly. In some cases the inner padding falls out which exposes the jockey to the risk of not being covered by insurance should an accident occur. In other cases holes are formed in the vest material from sweat and general rubbing of the material against the jockey's skin during wear. The wear and tear therefore requires the jockey to purchase a 20 new vest. For many jockeys, the vests need replacing at least twice a year, resulting in significant expense. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides, in one form, a removable cover for a jockey/driver safety vest, the safety vest having an inner surface and an outer 25 surface, the cover including: an inner layer and an outer layer, the inner layer being fastened to the outer layer to form an interior cavity between the inner and outer layers; and an opening in one of the inner or outer layers configured to permit insertion and removal of the safety vest into and from the interior cavity; wherein the inner and outer layers are dimensioned to substantially cover the 30 inner and outer surfaces of the safety vest when in use. The cover may, in one embodiment, include a releasable fastener for securing the opening to prevent inadvertent removal of the safety vest from the interior cavity.

2 The outer layer may include reflective material for added safety when in use. In one form, at least part of the inner layer and/or outer layer is formed of polyester cotton. This material imparts some resiliency to the cover. 5 The present invention provides a protective covering for the safety vest and alleviates the need for frequent replacement of the vest. The vest rubbing against the wearer's skin is minimised which prolongs the life of the vest. The cover can also be easily removed from the vest for washing and drying. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 10 An illustrative embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures. Further features and advantages of the invention will also become apparent from the accompanying description. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a typical jockey safety vest; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a cover according to one 15 embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 shows a front view of the cover of Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a rear view of the cover of Figure 2; Figure 5 shows a side view of the cover of Figure 2; Figure 6 shows the cover of Figure 2 in use over a safety vest; 20 Figure 7 shows an alternate embodiment of a cover in use over a safety vest; Figure 8 shows a pattern for the outer layer of the cover of Figure 2 according to one embodiment; and Figure 9 shows a pattern for the inner layer of the cover of Figure 2 25 according to one embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed 30 embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is 3 to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. Figure 1 shows a typical jockey/driver safety vest 1. The vest 1 includes an inner surface 2 which is positioned against the body or clothing of the wearer 5 during use, and an outer surface 3 facing away from the wearer. Padding 6 is inserted at various positions between the inner 2 and outer surfaces 3 to protect injury to the wearer during a fall. The front portion 4 of the vest is fastened at the centre by a zipper 7, although other suitable fastening means could be used such as Velcro, buttons, or eyelets and laces. 10 The front portion 4 and the rear portion 5 are connected at the sides by laces 8 threaded through eyelets 9 to enable the vest to be resized as necessary. Other adjustable fastening means could also be used, for example Velcro. Alternatively, the front portion 4 and rear portion 5 may be sewn/stitched at the sides so as to be permanently fastened, or alternatively elastic could be used to 15 allow some resiliency in the side portions. Figures 2 to 6 show one embodiment of a removable cover 10 which can be used for the vest shown in Figure 1. The cover 10 includes an inner layer 12 and an outer layer 13. The inner 12 and outer layers 13 may be formed of any suitable material, for example, cotton, nylon, polyester or other synthetic, or 20 combinations of such materials, and/or may be waterproof. Preferably the material is polyester cotton due to its enhanced resiliency/stretch to other material. In some embodiments the material may be fluorescent or have a fluorescent coating for enhanced visibility. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the outer layer 13 includes strips of reflective material 16, again for 25 enhanced visibility. The inner layer 12 is fastened to the outer layer 13 around the perimeter, for example by a permanent fixing means such as a sewing thread 22, with the exception of the front portion 19. An interior cavity 14 is then formed between the inner 12 and outer layers 13. 30 The inner 12 and outer 13 layers at the front portion 19 is ideally fastened by a Velcro strip. This allows the zipper on the vest 1 to be fastened and unfastened while positioned inside the cover 10. One part of the Velcro strip 23a is sewn (or otherwise) onto the outside of the outer layer 13, with the 4 corresponding mating portion 23b being sewn (or otherwise) onto the inside of the outer layer 13. The Velcro strips 23a and 23b can then overlap when the vest 1 is positioned inside the cover 10 to secure the front portion 19. In other embodiments, the perimeter of the layers 12, 13 may be fastened by releasable 5 means such as Velcro, buttons, eyelets and laces, zippers, or press studs. An opening 15 is provided in the inner layer 12 for inserting and removing a jockey/driver vest into and from the interior cavity 14. In the embodiment shown, the opening 15 is positioned vertically down the centre of the rear of the cover 1. However, the opening may be positioned at any location on the inner 12 10 or the outer layer 13 as long as it is appropriately configured to allow a safety vest to be inserted between the layers 12, 13. For example, the opening could be located at the front or sides of the cover 10. The opening 15 is preferably secured by a releasable fastener such as a zipper, Velcro, buttons, press studs, eyelets and laces, or hooks and eyes, to 15 prevent the vest from inadvertently falling out of the cover 10 and flapping around when in use. However, a fastener is not essential and the opening 15 could be left unsecured. Alternatively, a resilient or elastic material could be used which sufficiently secures the opening without a further fastener being required. The inner 12 and outer layers 13 are dimensioned to substantially cover 20 the inner 2 and outer 3 surfaces of the vest 1 when in use. Preferably, the dimensions and shape are comparable to, but slightly larger than, the dimensions and shape of the jockey vest 1 to be inserted. Having the dimensions slightly larger than the vest 1 will allow easier insertion of the vest 1 into the cover 10. Preferably the cover 10 is not significantly larger than the vest 1 so as to prevent 25 unwanted movement and flapping of the cover 10 when being worn by a jockey in a race or in training. Ideally, the inner 12 and outer layers 13 completely surround or cover the vest 1 to provide maximum protection for the vest 1. However, in some embodiments only parts of the vest 1 may be covered, for example the lower 30 back region which rubs against the wearer's skin and becomes one of the most damaged parts of the vest 1. There may also be openings in the surface, for example to make a jockey's name or a sponsorship logo or the like visible.

5 The shoulder portions 18 of the cover 10 are integrated with the front and rear portions in the embodiment shown so that a size adjustment is not possible. However, in other embodiments the shoulder portions 18 may be adjustably fastened by Velcro, eyelets and laces, buttons, zippers, elastic or the like. 5 The side portions 17 of the cover 10 ideally include sixteen eyelets 21, four corresponding eyelets on the front and back portions on each side of the cover 10. The position of the eyelets 21 will preferably correspond with the position of the eyelets 21 on the vest to be inserted. Once the vest 1 has been inserted into the cover 10, laces 8 may be threaded through the eyelets 21 of both the vest 1 10 and the cover 10 to tie the side portions together, and to tie the cover to the vest 1. Figure 6 shows the cover 10 having a vest 1 inserted in the cover 10. To achieve this, the threads 8 are removed from the eyelets 9 in the vest 1, and the zipper 7 is unfastened. The vest 1 can then lie substantially flat, with the front 15 and back portions connected by the shoulder portions. The opening 15 in the rear portion of the cover 10 is then opened and the vest 1 contorted to fit into the cavity 14 inside the cover 10 and into the corresponding location within the cover 10. Once the vest 1 is in place, the eyelets 9 should align with the corresponding eyelets 21 on the cover 10. The thread 8 can then be re-inserted through the 20 eyelets 9, 21 to join the cover 10 and vest 1 together, and to join the side portions together. The jockey/driver can then put the garment on his/her body and the zipper 7 on the vest 1 can be fastened. Lastly, the Velcro strips on the front of the cover 10 can be overlapped and secured. In other embodiments, the side portions 17 may be permanently fixed, for 25 example by sewing/stitching the sides together, or adjustably fastened by Velcro, buttons, zippers, elastic or the like. Generally, the type of fastening means should match the type of fastening means on the corresponding vest to be inserted. For example, if the side portions of the vest are connected by Velcro, then 30 holes or slits 24 may instead be formed in the sides of the cover. Velcro strips 25 on the vest can then be inserted through the holes/slits 24 in the cover to connect the side portions together and to connect the cover to the vest. This alternative embodiment is shown in Figure 7.

6 Figures 8 and 9 show one embodiment of a pattern for manufacturing the cover of Figure 2. In this embodiment, the cover 10 is made from only two pieces of material. The first piece of material forms the inner layer 12, and the second piece of material forms the outer layer 13. The shape of the patterns for the inner 5 12 and outer layers 13 are similar to those of a typical safety vest. Once the patterns are cut from the desired material, the inner layer 12 and the outer layer 13 are fastened together at the perimeter by a sewing thread, with the exception of the front chest portions which are ideally fastened by Velcro. The rear portions are indicated by reference 20, the shoulder portions by reference 18, and the 10 front portions by reference 19. The position of the opening in the rear portion 20 of the inner layer 12 is indicated by reference 15. While the patterns shown in Figures 8 and 9 are one way of manufacturing the cover 10, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other patterns, shapes, and methods of manufacture may be used. For example, the cover 10 15 may be formed from more than two pieces of material in embodiments where the corresponding vest to be inserted into the cover has adjustable shoulder portions/straps. Alternatively, it may be formed from one piece of material if desired. Numerous shapes and dimensions can be used depending upon the shape and length of the safety vest 1 intended to be used with the cover 10. 20 The pattern and embodiment of the cover shown in the figures is designed to be used over a safety vest which is connected at the sides by eyelets and laces. As described previously, if the corresponding vest is connected at the sides by Velcro, slits/holes may be positioned where the eyelets are shown. The cover provides a protective layer between the safety vest and the 25 wearer's body or clothing, alleviating the wear and tear on the vest. This results in a significant cost saving to the wearer as it minimises the need for frequent replacement of the vest. Rather, the cover may be replaced at a much lower cost than the vest. The outer layer protects the vest from becoming dirty and soiled. Rather, the cover can be easily removed from the vest for washing and drying. 30 As the vests are padded and can soak up a significant amount of water during wet weather, the cover can be made from waterproof material to wear in wet weather, again prolonging the life of the vest.

7 Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases "in 5 one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations. It will be appreciated that persons skilled in the art could implement the 10 present invention in different ways to the one described above, and variations may be produced without departing from its spirit and scope. Any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the invention. It should not be taken as an admission that any of the material forms part of the prior art base or 15 the common general knowledge in the relevant art, in any country, on or before the filing date of the patent application to which the present specification pertains.

Claims (5)

1. A removable cover for a jockey/driver safety vest, said safety vest having an inner surface and an outer surface, said cover including: an inner layer and an outer layer, said inner layer being fastened to said 5 outer layer to form an interior cavity between said inner and outer layers; and an opening in one of said inner or outer layers configured to permit insertion and removal of said safety vest into and from said interior cavity; wherein said inner and outer layers are dimensioned to substantially cover said inner and outer surfaces of said safety vest when in use. 10

2. A removable cover according to claim 1 further including a releasable fastener for securing said opening.

3. A removable cover according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said outer layer includes reflective material.

4. A removable cover according to any one of the preceding claims wherein 15 at least part of said inner layer and/or outer layer is formed of polyester cotton.

5. A removable cover for a jockey vest substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying figures. PIERRE JACQUES JEAN GAEL SYLVIO JOHN CLAITE WATERMARK PATENT & TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS