EP4355156A1

EP4355156A1 - Protective garment for motorcyclists

Info

Publication number: EP4355156A1
Application number: EP22733481.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giovanni Mazzarolo; Tomaso BACIGALUPO
Original assignee: Alpinestars Research SpA
Current assignee: Alpinestars Research SpA
Priority date: 2021-06-18
Filing date: 2022-06-15
Publication date: 2024-04-24
Also published as: IT202100016022A1; CN117615685A; WO2022264049A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a protective garment (10) for motorcyclists, which comprises a front portion (14), designed to extend over the chest of the user. The front portion (14) includes a right front portion (14a) and a left front portion (14b) which are separated from each other to define a front opening (15). The right front portion (14a) and the left front portion (14b) are configured to be removably fastened together by means of a zip fastener (16). According to the invention, the protective garment (10) comprises at least one fastening device (23) separated and independent from the zip fastener (16) and positioned at a predetermined area (M) of the front portion (14). The at least one fastening device (23) is designed to move from a release condition into a closed condition and vice versa. In the closed condition said at least one fastening device (23) is designed to selectively and removably move closer two opposing sections of the right front portion (14a) and left front portion (14b).

Description

“Protective garment for motorcyclists”

The present invention relates to a protective garment for motorcyclists.

Usually, the protective garments for motorcyclists are provided with a front opening to make the wearing of the garment easier.

Such an opening generally is closed by a zip fastener having the function to fasten opposing portions of the garment.

As it is known zip fasteners consist in two rows of metal or plastic teeth, provided on either side of the opening to be closed.

The teeth are designed to be removably interlocked to each other by means of a sliding tab having two channels in it.

As the sliding tab is pulled up or down, the teeth slide along the channels and are pushed into each other so as to firmly connect the portions to which they are applied.

These closure means are particularly convenient since they are easy to operate. However, if used in combination with a protective garment for motorcyclists, to guarantee a firm connection between the fabric portions to be closed, the sliding tab needs to reach the upper stop of the zip fastener, namely the block which has the function to prevent the sliding tab from moving past an upmost position on the zipper fastener.

As a matter of fact, if the sliding tab has not reached its end position or if the motorcyclist has forgotten to properly close the closure to the end position and thus the opening is not fully closed, during use of the garment, the high speed of the motorcycle can cause air to get under the neck of the rider, thereby ballooning the garment.

Generally, the zip fasteners are provided with locking mechanisms designed to prevent the sliding tab from sliding down.

However, the high force generated by the air entering into the garment and acting on the zip fastener can overcome the resistance offered by the locking mechanism of the zip fastener. Similar notes are valid for the protective strip which is usually applied at the proximity of the upper stop of the zip fastener. Such a protective strip has the function to cover the sliding tab and to protect it.

However, this strip is not effective in preventing air from passing under the neck of the rider so as to enterand inflate from inside the garment. Consequently, the risk that the zip fasteners become loose during the use of the garment exists.

Such an occurrence can be easily solved if the zip fastener is used for closing a generic garment, but in case of a protective garment for motorcyclists it is highly risky.

As a matter of fact, the rider necessarily needs to stop and to close his garment again since, in case of an accident, although the protective garment is generally made with abrasion resistant leather, if the opening is not fully closed, the rider would unavoidably be exposed to dangers. A similar danger situation can happen even in case of a failure of the zip fastener, regardless whether it has been properly closed or not.

Also in this case, if the teeth of the zip are not firmly closed, air can enter inside the garment so as to cause a loosening of the zip closure with the same problems mentioned above.

Finally, the protective garments for motorcyclists are generally made of leather or leather like material. These materials are effective in protecting the rider from abrasion and impact against the ground, but they are also more rigid with respect to textile materials.

The consequence is that in some cases, particularly if the garment fits snugly on the body of the user, the latter can experience difficulties in closing the zip fastener, since the edges of the opening oppose resistance to get close and to be fastened by the sliding tab.

Consequently, in this case, the rider can take some time in closing the opening of his garment. The object of the present invention is to provide a protective garment for motorcyclists, which solves at least partly the above mentioned problems and drawbacks.

In particular, an aim of the present invention is to provide a protective garment for motorcyclists, suitable for assuring that the zip fastener provided at the front opening of the garment does not become loose during the use of the garment in case of a failure or a not properly closing.

Moreover, an aim of the present invention is to provide a protective garment for motorcyclists, suitable for making easier the closing of the zip fastener provided at the front opening of the garment.

These and other objects and aims are achieved by a protective garment according to claim 1. The advantages and the characteristic features of the invention will appear more clearly from the following description of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the protective garment with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

- figure 1 shows a front view of a first embodiment of the protective garment according to the invention in a first operating configuration;

- figure 2 shows the protective garment of figure 1 in a second operating configuration;

- figure 3 shows a front view of a second embodiment of the protective garment according to the invention in a first operating configuration;

- figure 4 shows the protective garment of figure 3 in a second operating configuration;

- figure 5 shows a schematic enlarged view of a particular of the protective garment according to the invention;

- figure 6 shows a schematic enlarged cross-sectioned view of a different embodiment of the particular of figure 5;

- figure 7 is a figure similar to figure 6, but relating to a different embodiment; - figure 8 is a figure similar to figure 5, but relating to a different embodiment;

- figure 9 shown the particular of figure 8 in a different operating configuration;

- figures 10 and 11 are figures respectively similar to figures 3 and 4, but relating to a different embodiment.

With reference to the enclosed figures, an example of a protective garment for motorcyclists according to the invention is indicated as a whole by the reference 10. The protective garment 10 can also be used in activities similar to motorcycling.

The protective garment can be manufactured as a jacket (see figures 1-2) or as a one-piece suit (see figures 3-4 and 10-11).

Alternatively, the protective garment 10 can be manufactured as a vest.

Preferably, the protective garment 10 is at least partially made with a material resistant to abrasion, for example leather or leather-like material.

The protective garment 10 can also comprise stretch inserts 11 having the function to improve the comfort of the garment. Such inserts 11 can be in the form of accordion leather stretch insert.

Advantageously, the protective garment 10 can comprise rigid impact protections 12.

In the embodiment of figures 1-2, the rigid impact protections 12 are positioned at portions of the protective garment 10 designed to be superimposed in use over the shoulders and elbows of the user.

In the embodiments of figures 3-4 and 10-11 the rigid impact protections 12 are also positioned in portions of the protective garment 10 designed to be superimposed to knees and front lower limbs of the user.

The protective garment 10 can also be provided with an inflatable protection device designed to offer an additional protection to specific body areas of the user.

As shown in the enclosed figures, the protective garment 10 comprises a front portion 14 designed to extend over the chest of the user. The front portion 14 includes a right front portion 14a and a left front portion 14b which are separated from each other to define a front opening 15. Such a front opening 15 has the function to allow an easy wearing of the protective garment 10.

The right front portion 14a and the left front portion 14b are designed to be removably fastened together by means of a zip fastener 16.

Advantageously, the zip fastener 16 can include two rows of teeth 18a, 18b; a first row of teeth 18a being coupled to an edge of the right front portion 14a and a second row of teeth 18b being coupled to an edge of the left front portion 14b.

The zip fastener 16 also includes a sliding tab 20 designed to slide over the teeth 18a, 18b up or down so as to interlock or release to each other the teeth 18a, 18b in order to close or open the front opening 15 according to the needs of the user.

According to the invention, the protective garment 10 comprises at least one fastening device 23 separated and independent from the zip fastener 16 and positioned at a predetermined area M of the front portion 14. Said fastening device 23 is designed to move from a release condition (see for example figures 1, 3 and 10) into a closed condition (see for example figures 2, 4 and 11) and vice versa. Preferably the fastening device 23 is actuated manually by the user.

In the closed condition the fastening device 23 is designed to selectively and removably move closer two opposing sections of the right front portion 14a and left front portion 14b. In other words, the fastening device 23 is able to locally move closer the right front portion 14a and left portion 14b independently from the zip fastener 15 (see figures 2, 4).

Preferably, the fastening device 23 is positioned at a central mid-area of the front portion 14. In the following description, as “central mid-area” of the front portion 14 there will be indicated a central section of the front portion 14 delimited by a first limit Ml and a second limit M2; the first limit Ml being suitably spaced apart, for instance by at least 10 cm, from the upper stop 21 of the zip fastener 16 and the second limit M2 being spaced apart, for instance by at least 20 cm, from the lower stop 22 of the zip fastener 16 (see figure 1). Consequently, in case of a zip fastener having a length of 50 cm, the fastening device 23 can be positioned for example anywhere in an area of the front portion having a length of 20 cm and having two limits spaced apart from the upper stop of the zip fastener, which is usually positioned near the neck portion of the garment, and from the lower stop of the zip fastener, which is usually positioned near the waist of the garment.

At the same time, in the following description with “to move closer” there will be indicated that the distance between right front portion 14a and left front portion 14b is reduced when the fastening device 23 moves from its release condition into its closed condition. Preferably, the distance between right front portion 14a and left front portion 14a with the fastening device 23 into the closed condition is not greater than 10 cm.

Obviously, when the zip fastener 15 is closed, the left front portion 14b is joined to the right front portion 14a.

Preferably, the fastening device 23 comprises at least one strip 24 designed to selectively and removably move a section of the right front portion 14a closer to a facing section of the left front portion 14b (see figures 7-9).

Preferably, the at least one strip 24 has a first end firmly connected in proximity of the edge of the right front portion 14a, for example by means of seams 40, and a second free end provided with releasable fastening means 26, 26a.

To move the fastening device 23 into the closed condition, the second end of the strip is designed to engage inside a slit 28 connected in proximity of the facing edge of the left front portion 14b (see figure 8). The strip 24 after having engaged the slit 28 may be folded onto itself so as to be then closed by the fastening means 26 (see figure 9).

The fastening means 26 can comprise press-fit closing means or hook-and-loop fasteners. Alternatively, as shown in figure 7, to move the fastening device 23 into the closed condition, the releasable fastening means 26a provided at the second end of the strip 24 can be directly joined to corresponding fastening means 26b provided in proximity of the facing edge of the left front portion 14b.

In figures 7-9, the strip 24 is schematically shown as being fixed at the right front portion 14a. Similar comments are still valid if the strip 24 is fixed at the left front portion 14b and the slit 28 or the releasable fastening means 26b are provided in proximity of the edge of the right front portion 14a.

In a further embodiment, the fastening device 23 comprises a first strip 28a and a second strip 28b designed to be removably joined to each other (see figures 5-6) when the fastening device 23 moves into the closed condition.

The first strip 28a has a first end firmly connected in proximity to the edge of the right front portion 14a, for example by means of seams 40, and a free second end.

Similarly, the second strip 28b has a first end firmly connected in proximity to the edge of the left front portion 14b, for example by means of seams 40, and a free second end.

The second end of the first strip 28a and the second end of the second strip 28b are each provided with corresponding closing means 30 designed to removably join the first strip 28a to the second strip 28b.

In a first embodiment such closing means 30 can consist in a buckle having a receiving part or female buckle element 31 connected to the first strip 28a (or to the second strip 28b) and an insertion part or male buckle element 32 connected to the second strip 28b (or to the first strip 28a). The receiving part 31 is designed to interlock with the insertion part 32 of the buckle so as to join first and second strips 28a, 28b to each other and to move the fastening device into the closed condition (see figure 5).

The receiving part 31 and/or the insertion part 32 can be magnetic elements, namely elements capable of being magnetized or attracted by a magnet. In other words, receiving part 31 and insertion part 32 can be either a magnet or a ferromagnetic body. In this way, an attraction magnetic force is exerted between the receiving part 31 and the insertion part 32 once they are interlocked to each other. Such magnetic force is helpful in reducing the risk that the buckle is inadvertently open.

Alternatively, the closing means 30 can consist in automatic buttons or in hook-and-loop fastening means 30a, 30b designed to be superimposed to each other when the strips 28a, 28b need to be joined (see figure 6).

In the embodiments of figures 5-9, the strips 24, 28a, 28b are preferably made of a textile material.

Preferably, the strips 24, 28a, 28b are at least partially made of elastic material.

Moreover, the protective garment 10 can be provided with a plurality of fastening devices 23 positioned in a spaced apart configuration at a predetermined area of the front portion 14. Preferably, in case of a plurality of fastening devices 23, such devices are positioned at the central mid-area M of the front portion 14.

Furthermore, as it is shown in figures 1-4, the fastening device 23 can be positioned inside the front portion 14 of the protective garment 10, namely in a position which is not in sight when the front opening 15 is closed.

Alternatively, as shown in figures 10-11, the fastening device 23 can be positioned outside the front portion 14 of the protective garment 10, namely in a position which is in sight when the front opening 15 is open.

In the first case, the fastening device 23 needs to be actuated by the user before closing the zip fastener 16.

In the second case, the fastening device 23 can be actuated by the user after having closed the zip fastener 16. In any case, also in this embodiment, with the zip fastener 16 open, the fastening device 23 is able to move closer two opposing sections of the front portion 14.

As schematically shown in figures 2, 4 and 11, the function of the fastening device 23 is to assure that, at least in a selected part of the front portion 14, the right front portion 14a and the left front portion 14b stay close to each other, regardless whether the zip fastener 16 is correctly closed or not.

In particular, the function of the fastening device 23 is to reduce the stress acting on the zip fastener 16 in case the latter is not properly closed so as to avoid that during the use of the garment, the air entering inside the garment do not cause the loosening of the zip fastener.

At the same time, the fastening device 23 can prevent, in case of a sudden failure of the zip fastener, that the right front portion 14a and the left front portion 14b can be rapidly spaced apart with high risks for the rider.

Moreover, in case the fastening device 23 is positioned inside the garment, the fastening device 23 by reducing the stresses acting on the zip fastener 16 can also be effective in helping the rider during the closure of the front opening of the garment.

With regard to the embodiments of the protective garment 10 described above, the person skilled in the art may, in order to satisfy specific requirements, make modifications to and/ or replace elements described with equivalent elements, without thereby departing from the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. Protective garment (10) for motorcyclists, comprising:

- a front portion (14), designed to extend over the chest of the user; the front portion (14) including a right front portion (14a) and a left front portion (14b) which are separated from each other to define a front opening (15); the right front portion (14a) and the left front portion (14b) being configured to be removably fastened together by means of a zip fastener (16); characterized in that it comprises at least one fastening device (23) separated and independent from the zip fastener (16) and positioned at a predetermined area (M) of the front portion (14); said at least one fastening device (23) being designed to move from a release condition into a closed condition and vice versa; in the closed condition said at least one fastening device (23) being designed to selectively and removably move closer two opposing sections of the right front portion (14a) and left front portion (14b).

2. Protective garment (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one fastening device (23) comprises at least one strip (24), said at least one strip (24) having a first end firmly connected in proximity of the edge of the right or left front portion (14a, 14b) and a second free end provided with releasable fastening means (26; 26a).

3. Protective garment (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that said second free end of the at least one strip (24) is designed to engage inside a slit (28) connected in proximity of a facing edge of the left or right front portion (14b, 14b); said at least one strip (24) after having engaged the slit (28) being suitable for being folded onto itself to be closed by the releasable fastening means (26).

4. Protective garment (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the releasable fastening means (26a) provided at the second end of said at least one strip (24) can be directly joined to corresponding releasable fastening means (26b) provided in proximity of the facing edge of the left or right front portion (14b, 14a).

5. Protective garment (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one fastening device (23) comprises a first strip (28a) and a second strip (28b) designed to be removably joined to each other when said at least one fastening device (23) moves into the closed condition.

6. Protective garment (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that said first strip (28a) has a first end firmly connected in proximity of the edge of the right front portion (14a) and a free second end and in that said second strip (28b) has a first end firmly connected in proximity of the edge of the left front portion (14b) and a free second end; the second end of said first strip (28a) and the second end of the second strip (28b) being each provided with corresponding closing means (30) designed to removably join said first strip (28a) and said second strip (28b).

7. Protective garment (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that the closing means (30) consist in a buckle having a receiving part (31) connected to the first strip (28a) and an insertion part (32) connected to the second strip (28b); the receiving part (31) being designed to interlock with the insertion part (32) to join first and second strips (28a; 28b) and to move said at least fastening device (23) into the closed condition.

8. Protective garment (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that the receiving part (31) and/or the insertion part (32) are magnetic elements.

9. Protective garment (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that said closing means (30) comprise automatic buttons or hook-and-loop fastening means (30a, 30b) designed to be superimposed to each other when the first strip (28a) and the second strip (28b) need to be joined.

10. Protective garment (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one strip (24, 28a, 28b) is at least partially made of elastic material.

11. Protective garment (10) according to claim 1, characterized by comprising a plurality of fastening devices (23).

12. Protective garment (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one fastening device (23) is positioned inside the front portion (14) of the protective garment (10) .

13. Protective garment (10) according to any one of the claims 1-11, characterized in that said at least one fastening device (23) is positioned outside the front portion (14) of the protective garment (10).

14. Protective garment (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one fastening device (23) is positioned at a central-mid area of the front portion (14).