EP2580974A1

EP2580974A1 - Trousers for cook

Info

Publication number: EP2580974A1
Application number: EP11184851.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andrea Ravazzolo
Original assignee: Ravazzolo Srl
Current assignee: Ravazzolo Srl
Priority date: 2011-10-12
Filing date: 2011-10-12
Publication date: 2013-04-17

Abstract

Cook trousers (10) are describe comprising at the part that in use surrounds the waist of the user a tubular sleeve (30), the sleeve being coupled to the rest of the trousers and comprising a portion (30) of spongy fabric adapted to contact the user's back, and a flexible element (40) which is associated with the sleeve and runs substantially the entire circumference thereof so that it can be pulled to tighten the sleeve around the user's waist.

Description

The invention relates to trousers for a cook, in particular equipped with the relevant belt.
The work of a cook requires many hours of hard effort, especially in front of hot stoves. The cook uniform must be not only comfortable and practical but also breath-able or at least with the quality of drying sweat.
E.g. the cook's trousers are made of a single smooth fabric made of polyester-cotton or cotton. There is no addition of different fabric, and the belt is formed by folding the fabric at the waist to create a tunnel in which to thread a string. These trousers are practical to wear but have intrinsically poor ability to absorb sweat, because the fabric is thin and soaks in a short time, leaving the wearer with an uneasy feeling while working.
Another type of trousers is described in WO 99/49744 (CLEMENT ). Classic polyester-cotton trousers are associated with a polymer-foam tube (polyurethane or neoprene) - or in general a fabric capable to absorb sweat - placed around the waist. The tube serves to enhance the absorption of sweat. To tighten the waist a rubber band is arranged inside the tube, which can be tightened by pulling a buckle and fixing it at the waist with some Velcro. The big disadvantage of this model is that while moving or after putting objects in the pockets the trousers do not stand up and fall. To avoid this, the tension of the elastic should be increased, but that would cause an increase in length of the strips of Velcro, which cost, are unaesthetic and can lengthen the manufacturing process.
The art then needs trousers ensuring the cook, or an operator in general, not only the necessary comfort but also a safe and reliable wearability.
This is indeed the object of the invention, and trousers and a method according to the attached claims achieve it.
In keeping with the invention the cook trousers comprise

at the part that in use surrounds the waist of the user a tubular sleeve or tunnel, wherein the sleeve comprises a portion of spongy fabric and is coupled to the rest of the trousers (e.g. by means of sewing, inserting or adhesives),
a flexible element which is associated with the sleeve, inside it or by external loops and runs substantially the entire circumference thereof so that it can be pulled to tighten the sleeve around the user's waist.

The sleeve is preferably made entirely, or with a portion, of 100% cotton terry, a material which proved in tests to be the most performing in absorbance and prolonged comfort. The part of the belt made of 100% cotton terry absorbs completely the back's sweat, better than polyester or the like. It gives better comfort too, especially for protracted periods, and does not cause skin rash or scratch the skin. The sleeve could be made of 100% polyester or microfiber, e.g. 100% microfiber.
The portion of spongy fabric is at least located on the interior of the belt, facing the user's back. The trousers can also comprise two portions made of spongy fabric on the inside and outside of the belt.
The sleeve can also be attached to existing trousers, which are generally made of different material.
To tighten the trousers it is preferable to use a string that runs inside said sleeve. This way a belt is obtained being very comfortable and dry, which also remains very tight to the user's waist in spite of weights in the pockets. For the same reason, preferably the string is an inextensible body.
A variant of the material constituting the sleeve can be a polyester-fiber material, which absorbs the sweat very well (better than cotton).
A variant of the material constituting the sleeve can be a fabric having threads formed by two inorganic layers, or some other equivalent polyester fiber.
The material constituting the sleeve can generally comprise silver ions, which bring down the bad smell of sweat.
The rest of the trousers the sleeve is applied on can be made of cotton or polyester/cotton.
To improve the fit the sleeve can comprise, internally or externally, a support rubber band or support elastic strap or portion that can extend throughout the sleeve (for better support) or only on part of it. The flexible element, e.g. a string, stretchable or not, for the blocking, can be fixed, preferably slidingly, to such rubber band or elastic strap. The flexible element can be located for example inside the sleeve or attached to it by means of loops.
The method defined in claims 11 to 14 can be carried out e.g. by the machines located in a dressmaker's shop and/or by the workers thereof.
The method teaches to take a spongy fabric, e.g. by cutting the proper part from a coil, and with it to form a tube by folding the cut piece on itself.
The method can comprise the phases to carry out the sleeve as described and/or claimed, and for the sake of conciseness they will not be repeated.
The advantages of the invention will be clearer from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the trousers, making reference to the annexed drawing in which

Figure 1 shows part of a pair of trousers;
Figure 2 shows the trousers of Fig 1in cross-sectional view,
Figure 3 shows a variant of the trousers in Fig. 1.

By 10 is in general shown a pair of trousers having a portion 20, which covers the legs, and a belt or waist portion 30.
The (portion of) belt 30 is formed by 100% cotton spongy fabric that is folded back on itself to form a sleeve to apply or sew to the portion 20, for example by a stitching 50 (see Fig. 2). So the strip both towards the user's back and towards the outside is made of spongy fabric, for better collecting the sweat of the back. Inside the sleeve thus formed is preferably inserted (see Figure 2) a string 40 whose free ends come out of the sleeve and are available to tighten the sleeve on the waist.
The portion 30 can be produced on its own, and then coupled to a pair of trousers. So one can turn little comfortable trousers into trousers of optimal fit and comfort during the work.
Inside the sleeve there is also preferably inserted (see Fig 3) an elastic strap 60, that can be attached or coupled to it by a sewing 66 or other means.
The strap 60 and string 40 are optional, but together give good support to the belt at the waist and tightening regulation. It is preferred to run the string 40 inside the sleeve and the strap 60, to keep it at the center of portion 30. This results in higher compactness of the belt and the string 40 can tighten all the elements thereof. Or the string 40 can be coupled to the strap 60 in various ways, e.g. by loops or running at the center thereof.
The length of the strap 60 can cover that of the string 40 around the waist of the trousers, or it can be shorter supporting it only along a part of the waist. The choice between the two options depends on how tight the belt is desired to be and/or on which part of the waist it is preferred to have more pressure (for comfort and best fit).

Claims

Cook trousers (10) comprising
at the part that in use surrounds the waist of the user a tubular sleeve (30), the sleeve being coupled to the rest of the trousers and comprising a portion (30) of spongy fabric adapted to contact the user's back,
a flexible element (40) which is associated with the sleeve and runs substantially the entire circumference thereof so that it can be pulled to tighten the sleeve around the user's waist.
Trousers according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve is made of material different from that forming the rest of the trousers.
Trousers according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the portion (30), or the entire sleeve, is constituted by 100% cotton, 100% polyester or 100% microfiber.
Trousers according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible element comprises a string that runs inside the sleeve.
Trousers according to claim 4, wherein the string is made of inextensible material.
Trousers according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sleeve or the fabric that forms the sleeve comprises silver ions.
Trousers according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sleeve comprises two superficial portions made of spongy fabric, one facing in use the user's waist and another facing outside.
Trousers according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a flexible strap (60) coupled to the sleeve for tightening it to the user's waist.
Trousers according to claim 8, wherein the flexible element is slidingly arranged in the strap.
Trousers according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the strap is arranged inside the sleeve.
Method for producing trousers (10), wherein
a spongy fabric is taken and with it a tube (30) is formed by folding the fabric on itself;
the tube is applied to the waist zone of the trousers.
Method according to claim 11, characterized by arranging a string (40) inside the tube so that it can be pulled to tighten the tube.
Method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized by arranging an elastic strap (60) inside the tube so that it makes the tube adhere to the user's waist.
Method according to claim 11 and 13, characterized by slidingly arranging the string inside the elastic strap.