GB2465203A

GB2465203A - A garment with apertures through which an electrical lead may pass

Info

Publication number: GB2465203A
Application number: GB0820610A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sean Stone
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-11-11
Filing date: 2008-11-11
Publication date: 2010-05-12
Also published as: GB0820610D0

Abstract

A garment 1 has an aperture 10 near the neck and an aperture 9 near the waist for a lead 12 to pass through to attach devices 13, 14 at respective apertures. Aperture 10 is preferably at the back of the neck. There may be a second waist aperture 8 opposite aperture 9 and/or an aperture (23, 24: fig 4) near a sleeve's cuff 6, 7. The lead 12 can be restrained within the garment, possibly by a loop. The apertures are preferably three centimetres long and initially sewn shut. Ideally the garment and/or the collar 2 and cuffs 6, 7 have a fluoropolymer coating.

Description

A Garment

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a garment and in particular to a garment which obscures from view the interconnecting leads between devices located about the wearer's upper body.

Review of Art known to the Applicant The closest art known to the application is a garment which covers the wearer's upper body and obscures any interconnecting leads between devices located about the wearers upper body by threading the interconnecting lead so that it protrudes from the garment via an upper aperture through which the wearer's head and neck will emerge in use. The opposite end of the interconnecting lead protrudes from the garment via a lower aperture through which the user's waist and legs emerge. The interconnecting lead protruding through the upper aperture is capable of moving around the aperture and protrude in front of the user's face. This does not allow the discrete use of the devices worn by the user, and is also possibly hazardous to the user.

Another known method is to wear a first layer of clothing, typically a collared shirt, attach a device to the collar of the shirt via clip. The interconnecting wires from the attached device are then laid over the first layer of clothing and are then subsequently hidden from view by a second layer of clothing which is placed over the interconnecting leads. The interconnecting leads placed between the two layers of clothing, may cause the interconnecting leads to get caught between the two layers of clothing. This may result in excess strain on the interconnecting leads, which may cause them to fracture or disconnect from the devices on which they are attached. The clipping of the device to the collar of the shirt may impede the movement of the wearer's neck and not allow the discrete use of the device, if the device is seen to protrude from the collar.

Summary of the Invention

In a broadest independent aspect, the invention provides a garment comprising a first aperture disposed substantially adjacent that portion of said garment from which, in use, a wearer's neck will emerge; and a second aperture disposed in the region of the waist portion of said garment; wherein at least one lead member, in use, is disposed within said garment and externally protrudes one end from said first aperture to facilitate attachment to at least one device; the opposite end of said wire member externally protrudes from said second aperture to facilitate attachment to at least one device.

This configuration is advantageous because if the garment is worn under a jacket and when the jacket is removed, none of the interconnecting leads between the devices located about the wearer's body are visibly exposed. The interconnection leads are enclosed underneath the garment to enable the garment wearer to discretely use the devices located about the wearer's body.

Another advantage of this configuration is that it prevents the interconnecting leads from getting tangLed between two or more layers of clothing. The likelihood of the interconnecting leads getting tangled increases if it comes in to contact with a damp layer, caused by the sweat of the wearer. If the interconnecting leads get tangled, they could impede the wearer's movement and become disconnected from the devices located about the wearer's body.

In a subsidiary aspect in accordance with the invention's broadest independent aspect said first aperture is disposed on the back portion of said garment substantially adjacent that portion of said garment from which, in use, a wearer's neck will emerge.

This configuration is particularly advantageous because the interconnecting lead which protrudes from the first aperture is restrained to be in close proximity to where the wearer's neck will emerge, therefore preventing the interconnecting lead from moving about the user's neck and interfering with the user's face and neck.

In a further subsidiary aspect in accordance with the invention's broadest independent aspect further comprising a third aperture disposed in the region of the waist portion of said garment opposite said second aperture.

This configuration is particularly advantageous because it enables the wearer to use a device, located in the waist region, on either side of the wearer's body.

In a further subsidiary aspect in accordance with the invention's broadest independent aspect said apertures are substantially three centimetres in length.

This configuration is particularly advantageous because it enables the threading of the interconnecting lead through the aperture while preventing the device upon which it is attached, from moving back through the aperture into the garment.

In a further subsidiary aspect in accordance with the invention's broadest independent aspect said apertures are initially sewn shut.

This configuration is particularly advantageous because it enables the garment to be used without any devices located about the wearer, therefore preventing any unused apertures from gaping open.

In a further subsidiary aspect in accordance with the invention's broadest independent aspect further comprising a fluoropolymer coating.

This configuration is particularly advantageous because if the garment is constructed from a dark material, the fluoropolymer coating, typically PTFE coating. Therefore preventing the garment from fading due to subsequent bleaching by washing powders and detergents as the garment is washed over a number of cycles.

In a further subsidiary aspect in accordance with the invention's broadest independent aspect said garment's collar and cuff members further comprise a fluoropolymer coating.

This configuration is particularly advantageous because fluoropolymer coating, typically PTFE coating repels dirt and grime which is inadvertently placed on surfaces of the garment's collar and cuff. Therefore reducing the number of wash cycles required by the garment.

In a further subsidiary aspect in accordance with the invention's broadest independent aspect further comprising an attachment means for restraining said lead.

This configuration is particularly advantageous because it prevents the interconnecting lead contained within the garment from moving around within the garment causing possible tangling and discomfort to the wearer.

In a further subsidiary aspect in accordance with the invention's broadest independent aspect said attachment means is at least one loop.

This configuration is particularly advantageous because it enables an efficient method of restraining the interconnecting lead using the materials required for manufacturing the garment. Therefore the loops do not become a distinctive feature of the garment and do not inhibit the durability of the garment.

In a further subsidiary aspect in accordance with the invention's broadest independent aspect further comprising an aperture disposed substantially adjacent that portion of said garment from which the user's hand or arm will emerge.

This configuration is particularly advantageous because it enables a microphone device to be located about the wearer's wrist or arm without the microphone's associated interconnection lead being displayed upon said garment's outer surface.

Brief Description of the Figures

Figure 1 shows a front plan view of the preferred shirt embodiment of the garment.

Figure 2 shows a rear plan view of the preferred shirt embodiment of the garment.

Figure 3 shows a front plan view of an alternative T-shirt embodiment of the garment.

Figure 4 shows a front plan view of an alternative shirt embodiment of the garment incorporating additional sleeve apertures.

Detailed Description of the Figures

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention in the form of a collared shirt 1.

The shirt incorporates a collar 2 around the portion of the garment where the wearer's head will emerge. The garment incorporates a breast pocket 3, which is located upon the wearer's left breast. The shirt 1 incorporates two long sleeve portions 4 and 5, each sleeve portion 4 and 5 having a cuff portion 6 and 7 at their unattached, distal end. The collared shirt 1 incorporates two apertures 8 and 9, which are either oval or slotted in shape.

Apertures 8 and 9 are located opposite each other, at the waist region of the shirt, on shirt's left and right sides. The collared shirt 1 incorporates an aperture 10, which is either oval or slotted in shape and adjacent the collar 2, on the rear portion of the shirt 11. An interconnecting lead 12 is shown to protrude from aperture 10 and is connected to a flexible ear piece device 13. The opposite end of interconnecting lead 12 is shown to protrude from aperture 9 and is connected to a communication device 14. The communication device 14 is typically a mobile phone or a two may radio device to enable the wearer to communicate with other people within the vicinity.

Figure 2 shows the collared shirt 1, which incorporates an aperture 10 centrally located adjacent to collar portion 2 on the upper rear portion of the shirt 11. The interconnecting lead 12 is shown to protrude through aperture 10 and connected to the ear piece device 13. Apertures 8 and 9 are located opposite each other at the waist region of the shirt, on the shirt's left and right sides. The opposite end of interconnecting lead 12 is shown to be protruding from aperture 9 and connected to the communication device 14.

Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention in the form of a T'-shirt 1 5.

The T'-shirt incorporates two apertures 20 and 21, which are either oval or slotted in shape. Apertures 20 and 21 are located opposite each other, at the waist region of the T'-shirt 1 5, on the T'-shirts left and right sides. The T'-shirt 15 incorporates an aperture 16, which is either oval or slotted in shape and adjacent a substantially larger aperture 1 7, through which the wearer's head will emerge. An interconnecting lead 18 protrudes through the aperture 16 and is connected to a flexible ear piece device 19. The opposite end of the interconnecting lead 18 is shown to protrude aperture 21 and is connected to a communication device 22.

Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention in the form of a collared shirt similar to the collared shirt shown in Figures 1 and 2, which incorporates two additional apertures 23 and 24. Aperture 24 shows an interconnecting lead 25 which protrudes through aperture 23 and connects to a microphone device 26.

Figure 4 also shows two close up views of potential apertures in views A and B. View A shows an oval shape aperture with its edge reinforced by extra threading about the edge.

In an optional but particularly inventive embodiment, an edge is reinforced with a thread of greater wear resistance than the rest of the garment. For example a Kevlar thread might be used instead of simple cotton.

View B shows an aperture as an oblong aperture. The range of the aperture sizes is preferably between 1 and 4cm. Optionally, its edge is reinforced by extra threading.

In addition, the apertures may be presented in a shirt as initially close. This may be achieved by providing a pattern of reinforcing threads around the actual shirt material.

This would allow the aperture to be revealed by cutting the short material between the reinforcing threads.

The area between the reinforced threads may also incorporate perforations which facilitate tearing to open up the aperture.

In a further embodiment, the area of the aperture may incorporate a layer of lining to further mask the presence of an aperture. The lining may also be present throughout the shirt to prevent the wires entering into contact with the wearer's skin.

In a preferred embodiment, the lateral apertures are positioned a few centimetres above the location where a user's belt would be provided. The lateral apertures or single lateral apertures is preferably positioned adjacent to a seam provided between the shirt's front and rear panels.

In a further preferred embodiment, the aperture is positioned on the seam.

In a further preferred embodiment, either the front panel or the rear panel overlap one another at a seam portion so as to conceal an aperture.

Similarly, the shirt's shoulder panel incorporates a seam between the shoulder panel and the rear panel. The seam incorporates an opening to constitute the aperture located adjacent to the shirt's neck aperture.

In use, the shirt would be worn by security personnel, such as personal body guards or doormen. The shirt is intended to hide from sight the interconnecting leads between the communication devices located about the wearer's body, therefore enabling the wearer to discretely use the communication device, without bringing to other peoples attention the fact that they are security personnel. The interconnecting leads may be located within the shirt before or after the wearer has put the shirt on. The interconnecting leads are in contact with the wearer's skin while located within the shirt. The interconnecting leads are intended to protrude from apertures within the shirt at relevant positions which are in close proximity to the devices located about the shirt, therefore minimising the length of the interconnection lead exposed.

Claims

Claims 1. A garment comprising a first aperture disposed substantially adjacent that portion of said garment from which, in use, a wearer's neck will emerge; and a second aperture disposed in the region of the waist portion of said garment; wherein a lead member, in use, is disposed within said garment and externally protrudes one end from said first aperture to facilitate attachment to at least one device; the opposite end of said wire member externally protrudes from said second aperture to facilitate attachment to at least one device.
2. A garment in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first aperture is disposed on the back portion of said garment substantially adjacent that portion of said garment from which, in use, a wearer's neck will emerge.
3. A garment in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a third aperture disposed in the region of the waist portion of said garment opposite said second aperture.
4. A garment in accordance with any of the preceding claims, wherein said apertures are substantiaLly three centimetres in length.
5. A garment in accordance with any of the preceding claims, wherein said apertures are initially sewn shut.
6. A garment in accordance with any of the preceding claims, further comprising a fluoropolymer coating.
7. A garment in accordance with any of claims 1 to 5, wherein only said garment's collar and cuff members comprise a fluoropolymer coating.
8. A garment in accordance with any of the preceding claims, further comprising an aperture disposed substantially adjacent that portion of said garment from which the user's hand or arm will emerge.
9. A garment in accordance with any of the preceding claims, further comprising an attachment means for restraining said lead.
10. A garment in accordance with claim 9, wherein said attachment means is at least one loop.
11. A garment substantially as hereinbefore described and in reference to the accompanying drawings.