GB2261810A

GB2261810A - An anti-g sock

Info

Publication number: GB2261810A
Application number: GB9224179A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Williams
Original assignee: BTR PLC
Current assignee: BTR PLC
Priority date: 1991-11-27
Filing date: 1992-11-18
Publication date: 1993-06-02
Anticipated expiration: 2012-11-18
Also published as: GB9224179D0; GB9125237D0; GB2261810B

Abstract

The sock comprises a single-layer sole 1 portion and a double layer side/upper portion 2 defining a space into which pressurising fluid may beefed. The portion 2 comprises a number of parts joined together by adhesive and tape (Figs. 2 & 3). The sock is connectable to the associated trouser leg (39, Figs 4 & 5) of an anti-g suit, some of the pressurising fluid from the trouser passing to the sock through connecting means 3. The sock may be manufactured readily in a range of sizes and is easily fitted or removed. <IMAGE>

Description

ANTI-G GARMENT This invention relates to an anti-g garment worn by air-crew flying high-speed aircraft e.g. jetpowered combat airplanes.

Aircrew flying in high-speed aircraft may experience accelerations of up to llg and garments have been devised which may be pressurized in order to apply pressure to the wearers legs and lower torso in order to prevent flow of blood and other body fluids away from the head and other vital organs.

However it has been found that not only do the lower torso and legs need to be protected from 'g' forces but also the feet require to be pressurized.

The design of a suitable sock presents two problems: sizing and ease of donning and doffing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an anti-g garment, particularly a sock, which provides a solution to the aforementioned problems.

In accordance with the invention an anti-g sock comprises a sole portion, an upper portion comprising two layers of impermeable fabric with a space therebetween, and connecting means for connecting the space to a source of pressurizing fluid which on entering the space applies anti-g pressure to the wearer's foot. The sole portion may comprise a single layer of fabric, and each layer of fabric for the upper portion comprises a plurality of parts e.g. 3 parts, joined together by adhesive and tape.

The connecting means preferably comprises a stub pipe positioned on one side of the sock to extend upwards towards the source. The upwardly extending pipe may be connected to a downwardly extending pipe connected to one of the lower leg regions of a pair of anti-g trousers and to the space for pressurizing fluid therein.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows a side view, partly in cross-section, of an anti-g sock in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view on line A-A of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view on line B-B of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a side view, partly in cross section, of the anti-g sock shown in Figure 1 in position relative to a boot and lower trouser leg; and Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view on line C-C of Figure 4.

It should be noted that in Figures 2, 3 and 5 the thickness of the adhesive at the joints between fabric is greatly exaggerated.

As shown in Figure 1 the anti-g sock of the invention comprises a sole portion 1, an upper portion 2 and a connecting means 3.

The sole portion 1 comprises a single layer of impermeable fabric joined to the lower edge of the upper portion 2 by means of adhesive 4 and two layers of tape, one 5 on the inside, and the other 6 on the outside. The upper portion 2 comprises three regions 7,8,9 (see Figure 3), each region comprising two layers of fabric 7a,7b; 8a,8b; 9a,9b. The inner layers 7a,8a,9a are butt-jointed together and bonded by means of adhesive 10 and two tapes 11, 12 at each join.

The outer layers 7b,8b,9b are butt jointed and bonded by means of adhesive 13 and two tapes 14,15 at each join. A space 16 is thus defined between the two layers, the tapes 12,14 on the sides of each joint within the space 16 being wider e.g. 20 mm wide than the tapes 11,16 outside the space 16, e.g. 15 mm wide.

The height of the inner layers is less than the height of the outer layers (see Figure 2). The lower edge 25 of the inner layers 7a,8a,9a is bonded to the outer layers at a position a small distance e.g. about 5 mm above the lower edge of the outer layers 7b,8b,9b by adhesive 17 and two tapes, one 18 on the inside of the inner layers 7a,8a,9a to overlap the lower edge and the other 19 between the inner and outer layers. The last-mentioned tape 19 is folded along its length and one half adheres to the inner layers and the other half adheres to the outer layers. The upper edge 26 of the inner layers 7a,8a,9a is joined to the outer layers at a line about 40 mm below their upper edge. The joint is formed similar to that formed at the lower edge and comprises adhesive 20, an overlapping tape 21 and a folded tape 22 between the layers.

The connecting means comprises a conventional connecting pipe fitted to the upper portion 2. In order to mate with another pipe as will be described, the connecting pipe is fitted to the inside leg section of a right sock and to the outside leg section of a left sock.

As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5 the connecting pipe 30 comprises an L-shaped length of piping provided at its usually vertically extending upper end with a mating screw-threaded locking mechanism 31. The lower end which usually extends generally horizontally is formed with a circular flange 32 which is connected to the outer surface of an outer layer e.g. 8b by adhesive 33. A ring of fabric 34 is positioned over the flange and overlaps the outer edge 35 of the flange to bond the connecting pipe firmly to the sock. The pipe connects with the space 16 between inner and outer layers of fabric. Pressurising fluid may be fed through the pipe to the space to apply pressure to the wearer's foot and give anti-g force protection.

When worn, the upper region extends over the two sides, the rear, heel, part and the front, upper, part of the wearer's foot and extends upwards to the wearer's lower calf region.

The sock is worn inside a boot (see Figure 4) and extends above the top edge of the boot and well above the lower edge of one of the leg portions of the trousers of an anti-g suit (pressure garment).

As can be seen in Figure 5 the trousers comprise four layers of fabric 40,41,42,43 and the space 44 between the inner two layers 41,42 joined together at their lower edges by two tapes 45,46 and adhesive 47 may be pressurized with fluid to provide anti-g protection to the wearer's leg. A connecting pipe 50 formed with a flange 51 is joined to one 42 of the inner layers by means of adhesive 52 and an overlapping fabric ring 53, and is positioned to extend downwardly to connect readily with the upwardly extending part of the connecting pipe 30 on the sock by a further locking mechanism 54. Thus when pressurizing fluid is fed to the space 44 to pressurize the leg of the trousers, some of the fluid flows through the mating connecting pipes 50 and 30 to the space 16 in the sock and apply pressure to the wearer's foot.

The wearer may also wear an immersion coverall 60 part of which is shown in dotted outline in Figure 4, under the trousers and inside the sock. The sock may also be attached to an immersion coverall as a standard fit when an anti-g suit (pressure garment) is not worn.

It is an object of the present invention that the sock may be manufactured in a range of sizes to suit individual aircrew, and is readily donned and doffed. In particular the trousers may be disconnected from the sock and removed without the need to remove the wearer's boot.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An anti-g sock comprising a sole portion, an upper portion comprising two layers of impermeable fabric with a space therebetween, and connecting means for connecting the space to a source of pressurising fluid which on entering the space applies anti-g pressure to the wearer's foot.

2. An anti-g sock according to Claim 1 wherein the upper portion extends over the two sides, the rear, heel, part and the front, top, part of the wearer's foot when worn.

3. An anti-g sock according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the upper portion extends upwards from the wearer's foot to the wearer's lower calf region when worn.

4. An anti-g sock according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the sole portion comprises a single layer of fabric.

5. An anti-g sock according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each layer of fabric for the upper portion comprises a plurality of parts.

6. An anti-g sock according to Claim 5 wherein each layer of fabric for the upper portion comprises three parts.

7. An anti-g sock according to Claim 5 or Claim 6 wherein a plurality of parts are joined together by adhesive and tape.

8. An anti-g sock according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the connecting means comprises a stub pipe positioned on one side of the sock to extend upwards towards the source of pressurising fluid.

9. An anti-g sock according to Claim 8 wherein the stub pipe is connectable to a downwardly extending pipe connected to one of the lower leg portions of a pair of anti-g trousers.

10. An anti-g sock substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.