GB2261192A - Buoyancy clothing - Google Patents

Abstract

Buoyancy clothing (10) comprises a plastics material (12) having a plurality of discrete inflatable bodies (14). A suitable material is that used for bubble packaging. <IMAGE>

Description

BUOYANCY CLOTHING This invention relates to buoyancy clothing.

For the avoidance of doubt the term "buoyancy clothing" used herein refers to any clothing which is provided with means for providing enhanced buoyancy and also clothing or life jackets which may be worn over conventional clothing so as to provide enhanced buoyancy.

It is known to secure a life jacket over clothing so as to provide buoyancy should the person wearing the life jacket fall into a deep body of water.

These life jackets tend to be inflatable or comprise cork lined with a waterproof material. Both of these types of life jacket suffer from certain drawbacks. If the inflatable jacket is punctured all of the air captured within the jacket will escape from the jacket. As this air provides the requisite buoyancy the punctured life jacket will no longer function correctly.

The cork life jackets are very bulky and cumbersome. Also if the waterproof lining is punctured the water will soak into the cork and over a period of time the jacket will lose its buoyancy.

The present invention has been made from a consideration of these problems.

According to the present invention there is provided buoyancy clothing comprising a plurality of inflated bodies.

The bodies are preferably not interconnected so that deflation of one body will not affect any other bodies. The inflated bodies may be covered by an outer lining such as a textile and/or waterproof material, lightweight material is preferred. A bright coloured material is also preferred such as orange material.

The clothing of the present invention is lightweight and unlike cork life jackets is not bulky. Also if the outer lining and/or some of the inflated bodies are punctured the jacket will still provide buoyancy from the non-punctured inflated bodies. The buoyancy clothing of the present invention should be cheap to manufacture.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the inflatable bodies are provided by using a single piece of material defining a number of discreet inflatable bodies. Plastics material is preferred, such as that marketed under the trade mark "JIFFY". The material marketed as "JIFFY ROLL 40" is particularly preferred.

The material comprising the inflatable bodies preferably retains heat so that any person using the clothing for a considerable length of time in the water will not lose too much heat thus helping to prevent hypothermia setting in. In view of this heat the clothing may comprise a water absorbant inner lining on at least a part of the inside of the jacket so as to absorb perspiration from the user.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one item of buoyancy clothing in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the buoyancy clothing of Fig. 1 ; and Fig. 3 shows a length of material used in the clothing of Figs. 1 and 2 to provide the necessary buoyancy.

Referring to the drawings an item of buoyancy clothing 10 is designed to be worn as a jacket over coventional clothing. The jacket 10 comprises a waterproof outer layer inside of which a buoyant material 12 is provided. The buoyant material is illustrated in Fig. 3. This comprises a polyurethane plastics material having a number of discreet inflated bodies 14. This material is marketed under the trade mark "JIFFY". It has been found that the material is sufficiently buoyant to provide the clothing with the required buoyancy.

A fastening means 16 is provided down the front of the jacket. This may comprise a zip, but preferably comprises a hook and barb fastener such as that marketed under the trade mark VELCRO. A pair of straps 18 may be passed from the rear of the jacket under the groin and fastened to the front of the jacket by a suitable fastening arrangement such as that marketed under the trade mark VELCRO. These straps 18 serve to further secure the clothing in position and in particular stop the garment moving up the torso when the user hits the water from a height.

The clothing previously described is lightweight, buoyant, inexpensive to make as well as being reliable and safe to use.

It is to be understood that the above described embodiment has been illustrated by way of example only.

Many modifications and variations are possible.

For example working clothing can be manufactured for use at sea which includes overalls and two-piece suits, both being waterproof and buoyant.

Claims (7)

1. Buoyancy clothing comprising a plurality of inflated bodies.

2. Buoyancy clothing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bodies are not interconnected.

3. Buoyancy clothing as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the inflated bodies are covered by an outer lining.

4. Buoyancy clothing as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the clothing comprises a piece of material defining a plurality of discreet inflatable bodies.

5. Buoyancy clothing as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the clothing comprises plastics material.

6. Buoyancy clothing as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the clothing comprises material marketed under the trade mark JIFFY.

7. Buoyancy clothing substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.