GB2444103A

GB2444103A - Protective apron

Info

Publication number: GB2444103A
Application number: GB0616270A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Michael Heffy; Pamela Alicia Evans
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-08-16
Filing date: 2006-08-16
Publication date: 2008-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 2026-08-16
Also published as: GB2444103B; GB0616270D0

Abstract

A protective apron includes a sleeve 14 which can locate part of a conventional belt 16 and two rectangular pads 22 on the front of the garment to protect the upper thigh of a wearer.

Description

Protective Garment This invention relates to protective garments, and

particularly but not exclusively garments for protecting the upper thigh area of a person carrying heavy objects.

When carrying objects of any significant weight, such as for example during house moving, parcel deliveries, or other such activities, as well as a person using their hands and arms to carry items, the upper thigh area is also often used for additional support and leverage. In most instances the thigh area is only protected by conventional clothing. In view of this, soreness and bruising to the upper thigh can occur when carrying objects, and particularly when repeatedly carrying a number of objects.

According to the present invention there is provided a protective garment, the garment including attachment means permitting the garment to be selectively worn by a person, and one or more protective areas locatable when the garment is worn, in front of at least a part of a person's upper thigh, to provide cushioning between the thigh and items being carried by the wearer.

The attachment means may be arranged to selectively receive a part of a belt, which belt extends around a wearer, and the attachment means may be arranged such that the part of the belt which is not received by the attachment means can extend through belt loops in the wearer's clothing in a conventional manner.

The attachment means may include a sleeve, or one or more openings, which can locate part of a belt.

Two protective areas may be provided, one for each thigh of a wearer.

The or each protective area may include padding.

The garment may be dimensioned to substantially not extend below the knees of a wearer. The garment may be in the form of an apron.

At least part of the garment may be made of fabric.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a protective garment according to the invention; and Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the garment of Fig. 1 being worn by a person.

The drawings show a protective garment 10 suitable for wearing when carrying relatively heavy objects, but which otherwise can readily be removed.

The garment 10 is in the form of an apron with an upper part 12 which may be made for instance of leather or a plastics material such as PVC. The upper part includes a sleeve 14 which can locate part of a conventional belt 16 as would be used in a wearer's trousers.

A main body 18 of the garment 10 extends below the sleeve 14 and can be made of an appropriate fabric material. Two protective areas 20 in the form of rectangular pads 22 are provided on the front of the body such that in use the pads 22 locate in front of the upper thigh of a wearer.

Fig. 2 illustrates the garment 10 being worn with the wearer's belt 16 extending in a conventional manner through belt loops 24 to the side and rear of a wearer, but a front part of the belt 16 extends through the sleeve 14 to hold the garment 10 in place. The pads 22 provide protective cushioning for the wearer's upper thighs for example when carrying heavy objects which are often held against or levered on the wearer's thighs. The lower edge of the main body 18 is above the height of the wearer's knees, to avoid hindering the wearer's movement.

When the wearer has finished with the removal operation or otherwise, the garment can readily be removed by simply unthreading the belt 16 from the sleeve 14. This means that the garment 10 is only worn when required, and otherwise would not interfere with other operations such as for instance driving to or from a location.

There is thus described a garment which provides useful protective cushioning for the upper thighs of a wearer when required, but can readily be 1 5 removed or put on as and when required, so that the garment does not affect activities other than when carrying objects. The garment is of relatively straightforward construction and can thus be inexpensively and robustly manufactured.

It is to be realised that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, the protective areas may take a very different form or shape. The attachment means could be other than the described sleeve, and could for instance include a plurality of openings or loops to receive a wearer's belt.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

Claims 1 A protective garment, the garment including attachment means

permitting the garment to be selectively worn by a person, and one or more protective areas locatable when the garment is worn, in front of at least a part of a person's upper thigh, to provide cushioning between the thigh and items being carried by the wearer.
2. A garment according to claim 1, in which the attachment means is arranged to selectively receive a part of a belt, which belt extends around the wearer.
3. A garment according to claim 2, in which the attachment means is arranged such that the part of the belt which is not received by the attachment means can extend through belt loops in the wearer's clothing in a conventional manner.
4. A garment according to claims 2 or 3, in which the attachment means include a sleeve which can locate part of a belt.
5. A garment according to claims 2 or 3, in which the attachment means may include one or more openings, which can locate part of a belt.
6. A garment according to any of the preceding claims, in which two protective areas are provided, one for each thigh of a wearer.
7. A garment according to any of the preceding claims, in which the or each protective area includes padding.
8. A garment according to any of the preceding claims, in which the garment is dimensioned to substantially not extend below the knees of a wearer.
9. A garment according to any of the preceding claims, in which the garment is in the form of an apron.
10. A garment according to any of the preceding claims, in which at least part of the garment is made of fabric.
11. A protective garment substantially as hereinbef ore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
12. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.