EP3050447A1

EP3050447A1 - Vest convertible into a bag

Info

Publication number: EP3050447A1
Application number: EP15153480.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yves Rahier
Original assignee: Baobab Consult
Current assignee: Baobab Consult
Priority date: 2015-02-02
Filing date: 2015-02-02
Publication date: 2016-08-03

Abstract

Described herein is a security vest (100) which can be transformed into a bag by a closing mechanism (140, 142, 144) placed along edges of front and back sides (110, 120) of the vest (100).

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to vests, and is more particularly concerned with vests which can be used as bags.

Background to the Invention

Many accidents involving pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists occur because they cannot be seen by other road users. In many cases, wearing something reflective is sufficient for the person to be seen.
In order to be visible, it is strongly advised, and even mandatory to wear a safety vest when working on the street, riding a bicycle, a motorcycle, walking on a sidewalk, or even to have one in the car ready for use in case of an incident so that the wearer can be visible to other road users.

Summary of the Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vest, in particular, a safety vest, which can be converted into a bag so that a user can carry the vest with him.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a vest comprising a front side having a first front portion and a second front portion, the second front portion having an edge; a back side having a first back portion and a second back portion, the second back portion having an edge; two shoulder straps linking the first front portion and the first back portion; an aperture for a head of a user positioned between the shoulder straps; characterized in that the edge of the second front portion and the edge of the second back portion together comprise a closing mechanism configured to join the edge of the second front portion to the edge of the second back portion.
This closing mechanism placed on the edge of the second portion of the front and back sides of the vest allows to easily transform the vest into a bag.
Advantageously, the shoulder straps are reinforced.
The reinforcement of the shoulder straps allows to increase the weight of the load that the bag is capable of carrying without breaking or damaging the shoulder straps of the vest.
In a preferred embodiment, the shoulder straps comprise a double lining.
A double lining is an easy type of reinforcement to implement on a vest and strongly increases the load limit. The double lining can also provide comfort to the user when carrying the bag with the hand, and improve the hand grip.
Preferably, the closing mechanism comprises at least one of: a zipper, a hook-and-loop fastener, buttons and magnetic closure.
These different types of mechanisms are very easy to place on a vest, are easy and quick to use, and provide enough resistance for the bag to carry a load with a certain weight.
Advantageously, the closing mechanism comprises a zipper, a first part of the zipper being attached to the edge of the second front portion and a second part of the zipper being attached to the edge of the second back portion.
Advantageously, the front side and the back side each comprises a left edge and right edge, the left edge and the right edge of the second front portion being configured to be attached to the left edge and the right edge of the second back portion by at least one hook-and-loop fastener for each pair of edges.
This embodiment is for a vest where the front and the back sides are only attached together by the shoulder straps. It allows to easily attach the front and the back sides of the vest when it is worn by the user on the edges.
More preferably, the front side and the back side each comprises a left edge and right edge, the left edge and the right edge of the second front portion being configured to be attached to the left edge and the right edge of the second back portion by at least one elastic band for each pair of edges.
In this embodiment, the front and the back sides of the vest also are only attached together by the shoulder straps. It also allows to easily attach the front and the back sides of the vest when it is worn by the user.
Advantageously, either the front or the back side of the vest comprises a pocket, the pocket being configured to store the vest.
Using the pocket, the vest can be stored in a neat and more compact way.
Preferably, the pocket comprises a closing mechanism for closing the pocket when the vest is stored.
Advantageously, the vest further comprises at least one pair of eyelets formed in at least one of: the first front portion and the first back portion, each eyelet being positioned in a proximity of one of the shoulder straps.
The eyelets allow the bag to be carried with a shoulder strap. The bag can then also be easily carried when riding a bicycle. The eyelets can also be used to insert hooks and attach the corners of the bag to a shopping cart.
Preferably, the vest further comprises a strap having a releasable hook at each end thereof.
Advantageously, the front side comprises a central opening which includes a fastener so that the vest can be worn as a jacket.
In a preferred embodiment, the vest comprises polyester material.
Polyester is a very cheap material for manufacturing such a vest.
More advantageously, the vest is a security vest.
The security vest used as a bag has a dual use, it allows to improve the security of the user, and it can directly be used as a bag when the user goes for groceries or gets off his bike and puts in his biking equipment. The user will use even more his vest, since he will be able to use it as a bag, and this will also contribute to an improved safety of the user.
Preferably, the security vest is compliant with at least one of the following standards: ISO 20471:2013, TÜV Rheinland, CE, EN471, CCC.
These norms determine the colour of the vest, the width of the reflective stripes, the number of stripes, and the location of the stripes on the vest. High visibility clothing are intended to provide visibility of the user in any light condition. The user can be seen by any vehicles and therefore the security vest strongly improves the safety of the user.

Brief Description of the Drawings

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 a is a view of a front side of a first embodiment of a vest according to the invention;
Figure 1b is a view of a back side of a first embodiment of a vest according to the invention;
Figure 2a is a view of a front side of a second embodiment of a vest according to the invention;
Figure 2b is a view of a back side of a second embodiment of a vest according to the invention;
Figure 3 illustrates reinforcement of shoulder straps of the vest according to the invention as shown in Figures 1a, 1b, 2a and 2b;
Figure 4 illustrates a pocket placed on a front portion of the vest as shown in Figures 1 a and 2a;
Figure 5 illustrates a shoulder strap to be used with the vest; and
Figure 6 is a view of a front side of a third embodiment of a vest which comprises a vertical closing mechanism.

Description of the Invention

The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn on scale for illustrative purposes.
It would be practical to have a safety vest, or even a normal vest, which transforms into a bag and can be used directly for groceries, or to carry bicycle equipment such as a helmet, gloves, etc. The user does not need to carry an extra bag with him for carrying objects, or groceries, or his equipment.
Figures 1 a and 1 b respectively illustrate the front side 110 and the back side 120 of a vest 100 according to the present invention. The front side 110 comprises a first front portion 111 and a second front portion 112. Similarly, the back side 120 comprises a first back portion 121 and a second back portion 122. The dimensions of the first front and back portions and second front and back portions are similar, and in a preferred embodiment, they may be identical. The first front and back portions 111, 121 comprise an upper part of the vest and are joined together to form shoulder straps 130. The shoulder straps 130 define a head aperture 135.
In the embodiment of Figures 1 a and 1 b, the second front and back portions 112, 122 begin below the shoulder straps 130, that is, below respective dashed lines 114, 124 which indicate the division between respective ones of the first and second portions 111, 112, 121, 122 of the front side 110 and the back side 120. In this embodiment, the front and back sides 110, 120 each comprises a left edge 115, 125 and right edge 116, 126. The left and right refer to the left and right of a user wearing the vest as indicated by Figure 1 b.
The second front and back portions 112, 122 of the vest 100 are defined as a lower part of the vest, that is, under the shoulder straps 130 and below dotted lines 114, 124. Each second portion 112, 122 comprises an edge 113, 123.
According to the invention, the edges 113, 123 of the second front and back portions 112, 122 comprise a closing mechanism 140 configured to join the edge 113 of the second front portion 112 to the edge 123 of the second back portion 122. When the edges 113, 123 are joined together by the closing mechanism, the vest according to the present invention can be used as a bag with the shoulder straps 130 acting as handles.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1a and 1b, the closing mechanism 140 comprises an open-ended zipper comprising a first portion 142 attached to the second front portion 112 and a second portion 144 attached to the second back portion 122, the zipper portions 142, 144 cooperating with one another in a similar way to a front opening zipper of a jacket (not shown).
Although it is preferred that the closing mechanism 140 is a zipper, as illustrated in Figures 1 a and 1 b, it will readily be appreciated that the closing mechanism may also comprise a hook-and-loop fastener, such as Velcro® (a trademark of Velcro Industries), buttons, or a magnetic closure. The use of a hook-and-loop fastener as a closing mechanism is easy to fix on a vest and is also easy to use. The vest can be transformed into a bag in a few seconds. In addition, such closing mechanisms may be capable of supporting a load of a few kilograms.
Preferably, the left and right edges 115, 116 of the second front portion 112 can be attached to respective ones of the left and right edges 125, 126 of the second back portion 122 by at least two pairs of a hook-and-loop fastener, such as Velcro® bands, having a hook portion 118 attached to the left and right edges 115, 116 of the second front portion 112 and a loop portion 128 attached to the left and right edges 125, 126 of the second back portion 122. Naturally, the hook portions and the loop portions may be the other way around and also one hook portion and one loop portion on each of the front and back sides. The hook portions 118 and loop portions 128 can be attached by threads to the vest near the middle of the left edges 115, 125 and right edges 116, 126.
In another embodiment, the hook-and-loop fastener can be replaced by at least one piece of elastic material (not shown) for joining the left edges 115, 125 and at least one piece of elastic material (also not shown) for joining the right edges 116, 126. Preferably, the pieces of elastic material are sewn to the vest 100 in a position that does not interfere with the operation of the closing mechanism 140 and in particular the operation of a zipper. The width of the pieces of elastic material can be of any suitable size, for example, a few mm to a few cm, but not more than the length of the left edges 115, 125 and right edges 116, 126 of the vest 100.
Figures 2a and 2b illustrate a second embodiment of a vest 200 according to the present invention. In this embodiment, components which are the same as those described with reference to Figures 1 a and 1 b bear the same reference numerals.
The vest 200 comprises a front side 210 having first front and back portions 211, 221 and a back side 220 having second front and back portions 212, 222. In this embodiment, the first and second portions 211, 212, 221, 222 of the front and back sides 210, 220 are separated at a different position illustrated by the dashed lines 214, 224. In this case, the first front portion 211 and the first back portion 221 are much larger than the first front and back portions 111, 121 of the vest 100 as shown in Figures 1 a and 1 b. The dashed lines 214, 224 of the front and back sides 210, 220 cross between lower left and lower right corners respectively of the front and back sides 210, 220 of the vest 200 and the second front portion 212 and the second back portion 222 begin below the respective dashed lines 214, 224. In this embodiment, the front and back sides 210, 220 do not comprise open left and right edges as the edges are joined so that the front side and back side form a vest in which the front and back are either made of the same piece of material with openings cut for the head, arms and body, or the two sides, similar to those of Figures 1 a and 1 b, are sewn together along their left and right edges.
In the embodiment shown in Figures 2a and 2b, edges 213, 223 of the second front and back portions 212, 222 comprise a closing mechanism 240 configured to join the edge 213 of the second front portion 212 to the edge 223 of the second back portion 222. When the edges 213, 223 are joined together by the closing mechanism, the vest according to the present invention can be used as a bag.
As before, the closing mechanism 240 may comprise an open-ended zipper, similar to a zip-fronted jacket, having a first portion 242 on the second front side 212 and a second portion 244 on the second back side 222. In addition, a hoop-and-loop fastener, buttons or a magnetic closure may be used.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the shoulder straps of the vests 100, 200 illustrated in Figures 1a, 1b and Figures 2a, 2b respectively are reinforced. Figure 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment to reinforce the shoulders of the vest 100 using a double lining 131. The double lining 131 can be implemented in the same manner on the vest 200 according to the second embodiment illustrated in Figures 2a and 2b.
The material of the second layer of the double lining 131 can be the same material as or a different material to the vest 100, 200. The main purpose of the double lining 131 is to reinforce the bag at the shoulder straps 130 when the vest is used as a bag. In particular, it allows the user to carry a heavier load in the bag.
It will readily be appreciated that, as the vest is to be used as a bag, the entire vest may have a layer of reinforcing material (not shown).
Figure 4 illustrates a pocket 165 which can be sewn on the front side 110, 210, or the back side 120, 220 side of respective ones of the vests 100, 200. The pocket is shown in Figures 1 a and 2a where it is sewn on the front side 110, 210. In another embodiment, the pocket may comprise an internal pocket (not shown) which is formed on the inside of the vest with an opening to the outside of the vest.
The pocket 165 can be used for storing the vest 100, 200 when not in use. The vest 100, 200 can be first folded, and then inserted into the pocket 165. The pocket may also comprise a closing mechanism, for example, a hook-and-loop fastener 166 (only the hook or loop is shown in Figure 4). Other closing mechanisms (zipper, buttons, magnetic closure) can be used here as well. The pocket 165 can also be used for storing small objects while it is worn by a user. The pocket can be centrally located in the front sides 110, 210, as illustrated in Figures 1 a and 2a.
Figures 5 illustrates a shoulder strap 500 which can be attached to two pairs of eyelets 560 provided on the vest 100, 200, one pair on the front side 110, 210 and one pair on the back side 120, 220. The eyelets are also shown in Figures 1a, 1b, 2a and 2b. The eyelets 560 are preferably close to the shoulder straps 130, with one of each pair being placed adjacent a respective one of the shoulder straps in the first and second front portions 110, 210 of the vest 100, 200. Advantageously, two releasable hook 550 are located at each extremity of the shoulder strap 500. These releasable hook 550 permit the shoulder strap 500 to be attached to the eyelets 560 of the vest 100, 200 so that, when the closing mechanism 140 is closed, the vest 100, 200 can be used as a shoulder bag. Of course, any other suitable type of shoulder strap 500 can be used.
Advantageously, four hooks (not shown) may be inserted into the eyelets 560, each hook being dedicated to an eyelet 560, can attach the vest 100, 200 to a shopping cart when used as a bag so that it can easily be filled with groceries.
Figure 6 illustrates a third embodiment of the present invention. The front side 310 of the vest 300 comprises a vertical closing mechanism 600 so that the vest 300 can be worn as a jacket. The closing mechanism 600 may comprise any one of: a hook-and-loop fastener, such as Velcro®, a zipper, buttons or magnetic closure, as described above with reference to the embodiments shown in Figures 1a, 1b, 2a and 2b. The closing mechanism 600 may be combined with the first embodiment of the vest 100, as shown in Figure 6, but can also be combined with the second embodiment of the vest 200 (not shown).
Preferably, at least a part of the edges 113, 123, 213, 223 of the vest 100, 200, 300, the edge of the head opening 135 and the shoulder strap 130 comprise a bias binding.
In a preferred embodiment, the vest 100, 200, 300 is fabricated in a material which comprises polyester.
In another preferred embodiment, the vest 100, 200, 300 is a security vest. Preferably, the vest 100, 200, 300 is compliant with at least one of the following norms: ISO 20471;2013, TÜV Rheinland, CE, EN471, CCC.

Claims

A vest (100, 200, 300) comprising
- a front side (110; 210) having a first front portion (111; 211) and a second front portion (112; 212), the second front portion (112; 212) having an edge (113; 213);

- a back side (120; 220) having a first back portion (121; 221) and a second back portion (212; 222), the second back portion (212; 222) having an edge (114; 214);

- two shoulder straps (130) linking the first front portion (111) and the first back portion (121);

- an aperture (135) for a head of a user positioned between the shoulder straps (130);
characterized in that the edge (113; 213) of the second front portion (112, 212) and the edge (123, 223) of the second back portion (122, 222) together comprise a closing mechanism (140) configured to join the edge (113, 213) of the second front portion (112, 212) to the edge (123, 223) of the second back portion (122, 222).
Vest (100, 200, 300) according to claim 1, wherein the shoulder straps (130) are reinforced.
Vest (100, 200, 300) according to claim 2, wherein the shoulder straps (130) comprise a double lining (131).
Vest (100, 200, 300) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the closing mechanism (140, 240) comprises at least one of: a zipper, a hook-and-loop fastener, buttons and magnetic closure.
Vest (100, 200, 300) according to claim 4, wherein the closing mechanism (140, 240) comprises a zipper, a first part of the zipper being attached to the edge (113, 213) of the second front portion (112, 212) and a second part of the zipper being attached to the edge (123, 223) of the second back portion (122, 222).
Vest (100, 200, 300) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the front side (110) and the back side (120) each comprises a left edge (115, 125) and right edge (116, 126), the left edge (115) and the right edge (116) of the second front portion (112) being configured to be attached to the left edge (125) and the right edge (126) of the second back portion (122) by at least one hook-and-loop fastener (118, 128) for each pair of edges (115,116,125, 126).
Vest (100, 200, 300) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the front side (110) and the back side (120) each comprises a left edge (115, 125) and right edge (116, 126), the left edge (115) and the right edge (116) of the second front portion (112) being configured to be attached to the left edge (125) and the right edge (126) of the second back portion (122) by at least one elastic band for each pair of edges (115, 116, 125,126).
Vest (100, 200, 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of: the front side (110, 210) or the back side (120, 220) comprises a pocket (165), the pocket being configured to store the vest.
Vest (100, 200, 300) according to claim 8, wherein the pocket (165) comprises a closing mechanism (166) for closing the pocket when the vest is stored.
Vest (100, 200, 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one pair of eyelets (560) formed in at least one of: the first front portion (111, 211) and the first back portion (121, 221), each eyelet being positioned in a proximity of one of the shoulder straps (130).
Vest (100, 200, 300) according to claim 10, further comprising a strap (500) having a releasable hook (550) at each end thereof.
Vest (100, 200, 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the front side (310) comprises a central opening which includes a fastener (600) so that the vest can be worn as a jacket.
Vest (100, 200, 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vest comprises polyester material.
Vest (100, 200, 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vest is a security vest.
Vest (100, 200, 300) according to claim 14, wherein the security vest is compliant with at least one of the following standards: ISO 20471:2013, TÜV Rheinland, CE, EN471, and CCC.