GB2121360A

GB2121360A - Garment with buoyant insert

Info

Publication number: GB2121360A
Application number: GB08216903A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan G Mann
Original assignee: MANN AVIAT Ltd
Current assignee: MANN AVIAT Ltd
Priority date: 1982-06-10
Filing date: 1982-06-10
Publication date: 1983-12-21
Also published as: GB2121360B

Abstract

A garment to be worn on the upper part of the body has an internal pocket containing an inflatable section 20 arranged to extend in use over the chest and around the back of the neck of the wearer, the inflatable section being hidden within the garment and so designed that even when inflated its maximum thickness is only such that the wearer is not severely discommoded. Maximum thickness on expansion is limited by spot welds 24 to join the plastic walls. For subsequent deflation a string 25 provides a leak path. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Garment This invention relates to a garment to be worn on the upper part of the body. More particularly the invention relates to such a garment which has a facility for inflation so as to act as a buoyancy aid for the wearer.

Inflatabie life jackets are of course weli known and it is known for these to be inflated both automatically, for instance from a gas cannister, or by the user blowing into them. Known life jackets are, however, conspicuous when worn and when inflated they are extremely bulky, so that they then severely discommode the wearer if he is attempting to use his arms or hands. The reason for this is that life jackets are designed to keep the wearer face up when in the water with his head out of the water. Thus they have a major part of the inflated volume adjacent the wearer's chest so as to keep him head and face upright, and a band round the back of his neck so as to keep his face out of the water.

Among potential users of'life jackets are sporting fishermen, particularly those who fish from midstream or from a boat. However, it is unusual to find fishermen wearing life jackets even though it is easy to appreciate that in fast waters with uneven beds the chances of needing them are readily quite high. The main reason for this is that life jackets, as explained, are a considerable hindrance to movement and obviously are not convenient for fishermen who wish to move their arms a lot of the time. There is, in addition, a certain misplaced bravado amongst fishermen who tend to scorn such precautions as a life jacket.

We now propose to provide a garment to be worn on the upper part of the body and including an inflatable section arranged to extend in use over the chest and round the back of the neck of the wearer, the inflatable section being hidden within the garment and so designed that even when inflated its maximum thickness is only such that the wearer is not severely discommoded.

Thus the garment is a more attractive proposition for a user such as a fisherman who is not prepared to be significantly hampered in his movements by his clothes. In order to limit the thickness of the section when inflated it is preferred to apply connections between the front and back walls of the inflatable section at a number of points in the parts thereof which will lie over the chest of the wearer. If, as is preferred, the inflatable section is made of plastics material such as polyethylene then this can be most conveniently done by spot welding the front and back walls at appropriate positions. Preferably the maximum thickness can be limited to 10 cms, preferably 6 cms or so front to back of the section so that while still giving aid to buoyancy the garment will not obviously appear to do so.

In order that the inflatable section can be inconspicuous it is preferred to provide the garment overall with an interior pocket so that the inflatable section can be entirely located and hidden therein. Preferably the inflatable section can be removed for cleaning, drying etc.

Preferably, the garment, other than the inflatable section, is of strong lightweight material, typically a polyester/cotton blend, and if for use by fishermen it preferably has a large number of pockets closed by Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) or sliding closures so that the numerous items of equipment which a fisherman requires are readily available in individual pockets. To assist in concealing the inflatable section, an inflation pipe therefor may be located on the inside of the garment, preferably within reach of the wearer's mouth when the garment is worn to allow ready inflation and deflation. The pipe can have a screwvalve at its end.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description which is given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a garment according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the insertable inflatable section of the garment of Fig. 1.

Shown in Fig. 1 is a garment 10 in the form of a waistcoat or "vest" or "fisherman's jacket" of known general design and provided with a multitude of pockets 11 on the front, and possibly also on the inside though these are not shown, so that the user can store many different items of equipment separately. The garment is shown as being sleeveless but of course it could have sleeves, and as shown has a zip opening at the front. On the inside of the back of the garment is a closable opening 13 leading to an interior pocket which extends at least down the front of the garment where it will cover the chest of the wearer on each side, and also across behind the neck of the wearer. The pocket is formed between inner and outer layers of material.Removably inserted in this pocket is an inflatable section 20 such as is shown in Fig. 2, this being shaped to conform with the inside of the pocket and being for instance of clear thermoplastics flexible material such as polythene. The section has a valve tube at 22 with a screw-valve 23 at the end through which it can be inflated and also deflated.

This can be arranged to stick out of the pocket, but inside the garment, in a position in which the wearer can easily blow into it and thus inflate the section without taking the garment off. Equally he will be able to deflate it, sucking air out if need be.

To prevent the inflatable section from ballooning and becoming inconveniently bulky and conspicuous upon inflation spot welds 24 are provided down each side in an appropriate arrangement so that upon inflation a relatively uniform thickness is achieved and the wearer is not hampered or made uncomfortable. Indeed, provided the thickness of the inflated section is kept reasonably low for instance in the range of 6 cms or preferably as little as 2-4 cms it may be that the fact that the inflated section is inflated can go unnoticed, particularly if clothing is worn over the garment.

The inflatable section can readily be let down when the safety available is not required and to assist deflation a leak path is provided by locating a string 25 within the inflatable part. This keeps the two opposed faces thereof slightly separated, and reduces the tendency for them to stick together and entrap air when they become sliqhtlv moist.

It will be appreciated that the garment can be made of lightweight material and thus be pleasant to wear. It is envisaged that a fisherman for instance, could wear such a garment habitually, without experiencing any drawback. The garment can be worn, even when inflated, under normal clothes, and can readily be blown up and let down.

The garment of the invention could also be specially designed for the use of sailors and other sportsmen whose activities involve water and who would benefit from the safety which the garment provides.

Claims

1. A garment to be worn on the upper part of the body and including an inflatable section arranged to extend in use over the chest and around the back of the neck of the wearer, the inflatable section being hidden within the garment and so designed that even when inflated its maximum thickness is only such that the wearer is not severely discommoded.

2. A garment according to claim 1, including connections between the front and back walls of the inflatable section in parts thereof which will lie over the chest of the wearer.

3. A garment according to claim 2, wherein the inflatable section is made of plastics material and the front and back walls are spot welded to one another at appropriate positions.

4. A garment according to claim 1, 2 and 3 wherein the said maximum thickness is 10 cms.

5. A garment according to claim 4, wherein the said maximum thickness is 6 cms.

6. A garment according to any preceding claim having an interior pocket in which the inflatable section can be entirely located and hidden.

7. A garment according to claim 6, wherein the inflatable section is removable from the interior pocket.

8. A garment according to any preceding claims including an inflation pipe for the inflatable section located on the inside of the garment, and positioned so as to be within reach of the wearer's mouth in use when the garment is worn.

9. A garment according to any preceding claim including means defining a leak path from the inflatable section including a string located between the walls of that section.

10. A garment to be worn on the upper part of the body and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.