GB2221380A - Garment - Google Patents

Abstract

A garment particularly for emergency or rescue service personnel includes a storage pocket or pouch which comprises a surface for holding items of equipment within the pocket or pouch as by elastic strips 19, 20, and means for exposing said surface so that equipment held thereby is rendered accessible for use. Preferably the pocket or pouch has a front flap which is hingeably connected to the exterior of the garment along the lower edge and is releasable about the remainder of its periphery by zip fasteners 18 whereby it folds down in use, preferably no further than the wearer's knees, to expose the equipment carried therein. <IMAGE>

Description

GARMENT This invention relates to garments being articles of clothing especially but not exclusively for use by persons working in the emergency or security services field.

First aid or rescue personnel are required for efficient and adequate performance of their duties to have ready access to a variety of equipment, such as dressings, bandages, syringes, scissors and the like.

To be prepared for any reasonably foreseeable occurrence, the range of equipment available must be broad and it is generally packed and carried in a bag or case. However, despite the wide range of equipment which must of necessity be available, experience has taught that for most emergencies the necessary range is more restricted, at least for the purpose of administering immediate first aid or other form of primary relief. Furthermore, the items comprising the more restricted range should be almost instantaneously available to hand without visual searching, particularly in dark or smokey conditions. To this end, storing these items of equipment in a bag or case together with other, less frequently used, items is not conducive to a quick and effective response to an emergency.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a means for overcoming the above problem.

According to the invention, a garment includes a storage pocket or pouch, in which the pocket or pouch comprises a surface adapted for holding items of equipment within the pocket or pouch and means for exposing said surface so that equipment held thereby is rendered accessible for use.

Although the surface within the pocket or pouch could be constituted by rolled-up or folded material in strip form and including loops or other equipment holding means, so that the material unfurls on operation of the exposure means, it is preferred that the said surface comprises the opposed inner-facing surfaces of the pocket or pouch itself. The pocket or pouch may be of the type including a front or exterior flap, the flap being releasable about its periphery and preferably hingeably connected to the exterior of the garment, whereby operation of the exposure means causes the hitherto inner-facing surfaces to become exposed.

Items of equipment may be held within the pocket or pouch and on or against the said interior surface in for example loops or partial enclosures of webbing, elasticated material or the like.

It is generally the case that the victim of an accident or incident is lying on the ground, probably in a condition in which substantial movement of the victim is precluded. The first aid or rescue officer will therefore, in all probability, be working in a kneeling position. It is therefore preferred that garments according to the invention comprise jackets or vests and the pocket or pouch is situated on the front facings thereof and is dimensioned so that on operation of the exposure means the interior surface extends downwards no further than the wearer's knees so that, when the wearer is in the kneeling position, the lower end of the interior surface is in most situations clear of the ground. However, subject to this constraint, the interior surface should be as long as possible in the exposed or extended condition, to allow the maximum area for holding items of equipment.

Garments according to the invention may be made from any fabric material suitable for the intended use, depending on whether warmth, water-resistance, fire retardancy or the like is the primary requirement.

However, for general first aid emergency use a suitable material is 70z. flame retardant nylon. The equipment holding means is conveniently constituted by elastic strip material formed in loops or open-sided pockets and secured at intervals on the interior surface of the pocket or pouch.

Garments according to the invention may also include traditional pockets, light fitting attachments, security markings, and the like, and may also include permanent or detachable hoods, sleeves and the like, according to specific -user requirements.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing.

The drawing illustrates a sleeveless jacket according to the invention, viewed from the front. The jacket 11 is fastened by a zip fastener 12 and has front pockets 13, 14, one on each front facing. Pocket 13 is shown closed whereas pocket 14 is open to reveal the contents. Each pocket has a front flap, respectively 15, 16, hingeably attached at the lower edge of the pocket to the garment and releasably attachable around the remainder of the periphery by a zip fastener, respectively 17, 18, with a security lock.

The interior surfaces of each pocket have parallel strips 19 of elastic material attached at intervals to define loops 20 for holding items of equipment.

In use and having released the zip fasteners 18, the front flap 16 falls forwards and downwards so that equipment stored in the loops is readily available for use and may easily be located by the wearer even in dark or smokey conditions. ' Preferably the length of the pocket is such that the bottom edge (in use) 21 of the front flap reaches just above the ground when the wearer is kneeling.

As showri, the garment also includes side pockets 22, 23, and light fitting attachment 24, and may be provided on the back facing with suitable high-visibility panels, warnings, logos or the like.

Although the invention has been particularly described with reference to a garment for use by emergency or rescue personnel, garments according to the invention could also be used by photographers, fishermen or other sportspersons or hobbyists requiring access to a variety of equipment.

Claims (8)

1. A garment including a storage pocket or pouch, in which the pocket or pouch comprises a surface adapted for holding items of equipment within the pocket or pouch and means for exposing said surface so that equipment held thereby is rendered accessible for use.

2. A garment according to Claim 1, in which the said surface comprises the opposed inner-facing surfaces of the pocket or pouch.

3. A garment according to Claim 2, in which the pocket or pouch includes a front or exterior flap which is releasable about its periphery.

4. A garment according to Claim 3, in which the flap is hingeably connected to the exterior of the garment, whereby operation of the exposure means causes the flap to fold about the connection to expose the inner-facing surfaces of the pocket or pouch.

5. A garment according to any preceding claim, in which the inner surface of the pocket or pouch is adapted for holding items of equipment by means of loops of webbing or elasticated material.

6. A garment according to any of Claims 3 to 5, in which the pocket or pouch is located on the front facings thereof and the flap folds downwardly and is dimensioned such that in the exposed condition the flap extends downwards no further than the wearer's knees.

7. A garment according to any preceding claim, further including traditional pockets, light fitting attachments, security markings, permanent or detachable hoods, and/or permanent or detachable sleeves.

8. A garment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.