GB2531737A

GB2531737A - High-visibility article

Info

Publication number: GB2531737A
Application number: GB1419163.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward Mcclellan James
Original assignee: Cmiii! Ltd
Current assignee: Cmiii! Ltd
Priority date: 2014-10-28
Filing date: 2014-10-28
Publication date: 2016-05-04
Also published as: GB201419163D0

Abstract

A high-visibility article 1, which can be worn or carried by a user, comprises a high-visibility sheet 5 removably attached to a jacket 3 by hook and loop fastening material. The jacket 3 is article is provided with a plurality of first releasable engagement portions 7 and the high-visibility sheet 5 is provided with a plurality of second releasable engagement portions 9 on its reverse side 11. In use, engagement of both sets of releasable engagement portions, enables the high-visibility sheet 5 to be mounted to the back of the jacket. The high-visibility sheet 5 may be used as a safety feature by cyclists, joggers, pedestrians or road workers. The high-visibility sheet 5 may also be fastened to luggage items or backpacks.

Description

Intellectual Property Office Application No. GII1419163.9 RTM Date:27 February 2015 The following terms are registered trade marks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document:

VELCRO

Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.gov.uk /ipo High-visibility article The present invention relates to a high-visibility article, as well as to an article and to a high-visibility sheet of a high-visibility article, and to a high-visibility garment system, garment and portion of flexible, high-visibility material.

It may be desirable to increase the visibility of individuals such as cyclists, motorcyclists, joggers, school children, road workers, pedestrians and similar in a number of scenarios. This may for example be beneficial for the safety of the individual or individuals in question, particularly in low lighting conditions and/or where the individual or individuals is e.g. to travel on or near a road or in proximity to moving machinery. Further reasons exist for wishing to increase visibility, for example to facilitate the ready location of an individual or individuals e.g. for a group of children on a school trip.

However, the inherently visually striking nature of such clothing generally means that it is perceived as being inappropriate for casual or formal wear when high-visibility qualities are not explicitly called for. As a result, a user would typically resort to having to carry a high-visibility item for sporadic or occasional use e.g. in low lighting conditions. This carrying is inconvenient, and could result e.g. in the high-visibility garment being lost, forgotten, or not to hand in unforeseen circumstances. A casual user may even dispense with high-visibility clothing altogether in view of these difficulties.

A similar perceived image issue means that other articles e.g. luggage articles such as backpacks, seldom if at all incorporate any high-visibility element.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to seek to alleviate the above identified problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a high-visibility article, comprising: an article to be worn or carried by a user; and a high-visibility sheet arranged to be removably attached to the article, wherein the article is provided with a plurality of first releasable engagement portions and the high-visibility sheet is provided with a plurality of second releasable engagement portions for releasable engagement with the plurality of first releasable engagement portions.

Preferably, the high-visibility sheet comprises a high-visibility panel.

Preferably, the plurality of first releasable engagement portions are located at discrete positions on the article and the plurality of second engagement portions are located at discrete positions on the high-visibility sheet.

Preferably, the plurality of first and second releasable engagement portions together comprise hook and loop material. In a further preferable alternative, the plurality of first and second releasable engagement portions may together comprise at least one of magnets, poppers or buttons.

Preferably, the high-visibility sheet is sufficiently flexible to permit its overall dimensions to be reduced by folding and/or rolling.

Preferably, the high-visibility sheet comprises at least one of a fluorescent material, a reflective material or a retroreflective material.

Preferably, the high-visibility sheet comprises high-visibility fabric.

Preferably, the article comprises an article of clothing.

Preferably, the article of clothing comprises a back portion for covering the back of a user, and the high-visibility sheet is removably attachable to the back portion.

Preferably, the high-visibility sheet may be folded up for storage when not in use.

Preferably, the high-visibility sheet is provided with one or more cutaway portions to facilitate movement of a user wearing the article of clothing with the high-visibility sheet attached.

Preferably, the high-visibility sheet is shaped to conform with the article.

Preferably, the high-visibility sheet comprises resilient material to increase the durability of the high-visibility sheet.

Preferably, the high-visibility sheet carries graphics and/or at least one alphanumeric symbol.

Preferably, the article and the high-visibility sheet are manufactured to include the plurality of first releasable engagement portions and plurality of second releasable engagement portions, respectively. In a further preferable alternative, the plurality of first releasable engagement portions and/or the plurality of second releasable engagement portions may be added on to the article and/or the high-visibility sheet by a user after manufacture of the article and/or sheet.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the high-visibility sheet of the high-visibility article of the first aspect.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the article of the high-visibility article of the first aspect.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a high-visibility garment system, comprising: a garment for wear by a user; and a portion of flexible, high-visibility material arranged to be removably attached to the garment.

Preferably, the portion of flexible, high-visibility material is sufficiently flexible to permit its overall dimensions to be reduced by folding and/or rolling.

Preferably, the portion of high-visibility material may be folded up for storage when not in use.

Preferably, the garment is provided with first attachment means and the portion of flexible, high-visibility material is provided with second attachment means which co-operates with the first attachment means to removably attach the portion of flexible, high-visibility material to the garment.

Preferably, the garment is manufactured to include the first attachment means. In a further preferable alternative, the first attachment means and/or the second attachment means may be added on to the garment and/or portion of flexible, high-visibility material by a user after manufacture of the garment and/or portion of flexible, high-visibility material.

Preferably, the first attachment means comprises a plurality of first releasable engagement portions and the second attachment means comprises a plurality of second releasable engagement portions for releasable engagement with the plurality of first releasable engagement portions.

Preferably, the plurality of first releasable engagement portions are located at discrete positions on the garment and the plurality of second engagement portions are located at discrete positions on the portion of flexible, high-visibility material.

Preferably, the first and second attachment means together comprise hook and loop material. In a further preferable alternative, the first and second attachment means may together comprise at least one of magnets, poppers or buttons.

Preferably, the portion of flexible, high-visibility material comprises at least one of a fluorescent material, a reflective material or a retroreflective material.

Preferably, the portion of flexible, high-visibility material comprises high-visibility fabric.

Preferably, the garment comprises a back portion for covering the back of a user, and the portion of flexible, high-visibility material is removably attachable to the back portion.

Preferably, the portion of high-visibility material is provided with one or more cutaway portions to facilitate movement of a user wearing the garment with the portion of high-visibility material attached.

Preferably, the portion of flexible, high-visibility material is shaped to conform with the garment.

Preferably, the portion of flexible, high-visibility material carries graphics and/or at least one alphanumeric symbol.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the garment of the high-visibility garment system of the fourth aspect.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the portion of flexible, high-visibility material of the high-visibility garment system of the fourth aspect.

Within this specification embodiments have been described in a way which enables a clear and concise specification to be written, but it is intended and will be appreciated that embodiments may be variously combined or separated without parting from the invention. For example, it will be appreciated that all preferred features described herein are applicable to all aspects of the invention described herein.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: FIGURES 1A and 1B are views showing a high-visibility article according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a rear view of a high-visibility sheet of the high-visibility article of Figs. 1A and 1B; FIGURE 3 is a front view of the high-visibility sheet of Fig. 2; FIGURE 4 shows the high-visibility sheet of Fig. 2 in a folded condition; FIGURE 5 shows a high-visibility sheet according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and FIGURES 6A and 6B show a third embodiment of the present invention.

Figs. 1A and 1B show a first embodiment of a high-visibility article 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which comprises an article (being a jacket 3 in the present embodiment) and a high-visibility sheet 5 which may be removably attached to the article.

In the present embodiment, the high-visibility sheet 5 is removably attached to the jacket 3 by Velcro hook and loop material. To this end, the reverse of the jacket 3, which covers the back of the user when the jacket is worn, is provided with four portions of loop material 7, and the high-visibility sheet 5 is provided with four portions of hook material 9 on its reverse side 11, which each cooperate with a respective one of the four portions of loop material 7 to attach the high-visibility sheet 5 to the jacket 3 in a readily removable fashion.

In the present embodiment, each portion of loop material 7 is located adjacent a respective corner area of the reverse of the jacket 3 and the high-visibility sheet is sized accordingly, such that it covers substantially the entire reverse side of the jacket 3 when attached thereto. In the attached condition shown in Fig. 1B, the front side 13 of the high-visibility sheet 5 is readily seen when looking at a wearer from behind.

The high-visibility sheet 5 is shown in greater detail in Figs. 2 to 4. The high-visibility sheet 5 of the present embodiment is generally rectangular in form and comprises a portion of high-visibility fabric 15, being a portion of fluorescent material in the present embodiment, with a heavy-duty fabric edging 17 provided around its periphery to limit wear at the edges of the high-visibility sheet 5.

To enhance visibility, the front side 13 of the high-visibility sheet 5 of the present embodiment is further provided with strips of reflective material 19A, 19B, 19C, 19D. In the present embodiment, these are strips of retroreflective material of which two 19A, 19C are located so as to be vertical when in use, and two of the strips 19B, 19D are located so as to be horizontal. A first of the horizontal strips 19B is located at the bottom ends of the vertical strips 19A, 19C and the second of the two horizontal strips 19D is located at the bottom of the high-visibility sheet 5, spaced from the combination of the vertical strips 19A, 19C and first horizontal strip 19B.

The top edge 21 of the high-visibility sheet 5 of the present embodiment slopes downwardly either side of a cutaway portion 23 provided to accommodate movement of the neck and collar area of the jacket 3.

Use of the high-visibility article 1 of the present embodiment will now be described.

A user wishing to make use of the high-visibility qualities of the high-visibility article 1, for example upon encountering low-light conditions or when travelling to a particular destination, attaches the high-visibility sheet 5 to the reverse of the jacket 3 using the hook and loop material 7, 9. The visibility of the user wearing the jacket 3 may then be increased, and the plurality of discrete fixture points provided by the hook and loop material 7, 9 and to ensure that the high-visibility sheet 5 remains properly attached to the jacket 3 during the period of high-visibility usage. Although the present embodiment utilises four fixture points, a greater or lesser number may be provided depending upon the intended use of the article. For example, a motorcycle jacket may require more or stronger attachments than a school jacket in order to resist wind pressure.

Once the user no longer wishes to make use of the high-visibility qualities, for example when lighting conditions have improved or when the user has arrived at their destination, they may simply remove the high-visibility sheet 5 from the jacket 3. The user may then continue to wear the jacket 3 as desired; as will be appreciated, the appearance of the jacket 3 is then largely indistinguishable from a standard garment.

In the present embodiment, storage of the high-visibility sheet 5 is particularly convenient, as it may simply be rolled or folded up into a storage condition such as that shown in Fig. 4 for storage e.g. in a pocket of the jacket 3.

As will be appreciated, the user may attach and remove the high-visibility sheet 5 to the jacket 3 at will, as circumstances dictate, simply by following the procedures outlined above.

Further embodiments of the present invention will now be described, with like parts being given like reference numerals.

A high-visibility sheet according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 5.

The high-visibility sheet 5 of the second embodiment has a generally pentagonal shape and on its reverse side 11 is provided with a plurality of portions of hook material. More particularly, in the present embodiment one portion of hook material 9A is provided at a respective one of each of four corners of the high-visibility sheet 5. Two further portions of hook material 9B are optionally further provided according to the present embodiment, one on each side of the cutaway portion 23. The jacket of the present embodiment (not shown) is provided with a corresponding plurality of portions of loop material for co-operation with the portions of hook material 9A, 9B to removably attach the high-visibility sheet 5 to the jacket. The high-visibility sheet 5 and jacket of the second embodiment are otherwise as described above in relation to the first embodiment.

A third embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figs. 6A and 6B.

In the third embodiment, the article is an item of luggage, and more particularly a backpack 25, rather than a garment. The backpack 25 is provided with three portions of loop material 7 on its rear face 27 but is otherwise conventional.

In the present embodiment, the high-visibility sheet 5 is triangular in shape, and is provided on its reverse side 11 with three portions of hook material 9, each for co-operation with a respective one of the portions of loop material 7 in order to removably attach the high-visibility sheet to the backpack 25. The high-visibility sheet 5 is otherwise as described above in relation to the first embodiment.

As will be appreciated, the present embodiment allows the visibility of a user carrying the backpack 25 to be increased as circumstances dictate by removably attaching the high-visibility sheet 5 to the backpack 25 as circumstances dictate. When not attached, the high-visibility sheet 5 may for example be conveniently stored in the backpack 25; the backpack may for example be provided with a dedicated compartment for this purpose.

In the above described embodiments, portions of loop material are provided on the article and portions of hook material are located on the high-visibility sheet. This need not be the case, however, and this relationship may for example be reversed.

Yet further, hook and loop material need not be employed and the releasable attachment of the high-visibility sheet to the article may for example be affected by other means according to further embodiments e.g. by magnets, poppers or buttons.

The above-described embodiments relate to jackets and a backpack, however the invention is widely applicable to other articles to be worn or carried by a user e.g. other items of clothing such as trousers, jumpers, shorts, skirts etc. and to other articles to be carried by a user e.g. handbags, umbrellas etc., and the high-visibility sheet may according to further embodiments be attached to various locations on an article e.g. to the sleeves of a shirt or legs of trousers. In further embodiments of the present invention, more than one high-visibility sheet may be attached to a given article.

It is envisaged that articles and high-visibility sheets to form part of a high-visibility article would be sold with suitable releasable engagement portions (e.g. portions of hook or loop material, poppers, buttons etc.) already attached, but the releasable engagement portions could according to further embodiments be readily retro-fitted to an existing article or high-visibility sheet.

Although the embodiments described above are intended for use by humans, further embodiments may be provided to enhance the visibility of animals e.g. pets such as dogs or cats, or horses.

In further embodiments, graphics and/or text e.g. a logo, artwork or slogan may be carried by the front side of the high-visibility sheet, for display when attached to the article, for example to increase the visibility of a user and/or to make use of the high-visibility sheet more appealing to a user.

In the above-described embodiments, the high-visibility sheet is generally rectangular, pentagonal or triangular. However, the high-visibility sheet may take other forms according to other embodiments of the invention e.g. may take another geometric form such as circular or square, may be cross-shaped, may be in the form of an elongate strip, etc. In the present application, substantially means at least 70%, preferably 80% or more and most preferably 90% or more.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications are covered by the appended claims.

As shown herein, an embodiment of the present invention provides a "pennant" in the form of a sheet of material that can be easily attached and detached to clothing or another article worn/carried by a person (such as a bag or rucksack) using fixings. When not attached it can be folded up and kept in a small space such as a pocket or small bag.

The purpose of the pennant is to make the wearer more visible particularly in times of low light.

The pennant can be made of high-visibility material and can be enhanced with graphics such as a logo, artwork or slogan. The purpose being to make the wearer more visible.

In times of good visibility the pennant can be folded away and easily stored.

There are numerous anticipated uses for the pennant and these extend beyond just making the wearer more visible.

The pennant can be used, by cyclist, motorcyclist, joggers, school children, commuters etc. where light conditions may vary and something to make them more visible would be recommended. The portability of the pennant means they can easily carry it with them whether it's needed or not.

The pennant can be designed to be worn on pretty well any part of a person's clothing (trousers, sleeves, back or even front) as well as on other articles (such as bags and rucksacks).

A back pennant (i.e. for attachment to the back of a user) is likely to be the most popular form of pennant.

Pennants may be attached using a variety of types of fixing such as, but not limited to, Velcro, magnets, poppers or buttons. These are placed on corresponding points on the garment/article and the pennant such that they connect. These can be built in at the time of manufacture or added on later using fixing kits.

The number of attachments may vary depending on the use of the garment i.e. a motorcycle jacket may require more or stronger attachments than a school jacket in order to resist wind pressure.

In time when the pennant has become widely accepted it is envisaged that pennants can be designed in a number of standard sizes such that clothes can incorporate the relevant fixing points and a variety of pennants can be worn according to taste.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A high-visibility article, comprising: an article to be worn or carried by a user; and a high-visibility sheet arranged to be removably attached to the article, wherein the article is provided with a plurality of first releasable engagement portions and the high-visibility sheet is provided with a plurality of second releasable engagement portions for releasable engagement with the plurality of first releasable engagement portions.
2. A high-visibility article according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of first releasable engagement portions are located at discrete positions on the article and the plurality of second engagement portions are located at discrete positions on the high-visibility sheet.
3. A high-visibility article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of first and second releasable engagement portions together comprise hook and loop material.
4. A high-visibility article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the high-visibility sheet is sufficiently flexible to permit its overall dimensions to be reduced by folding and/or rolling.
5. A high-visibility article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the high-visibility sheet comprises at least one of a fluorescent material, a reflective material or a retroreflective material.
6. A high-visibility article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the high-visibility sheet comprises high-visibility fabric.
7. A high-visibility article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the article comprises an article of clothing.
8. A high-visibility article according to claim 7, wherein the article of clothing comprises a back portion for covering the back of a user, and the high-visibility sheet is removably attachable to the back portion.
9. A high-visibility article according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the high-visibility sheet is provided with one or more cutaway portions to facilitate movement of a user wearing the article of clothing with the high-visibility sheet attached.
10. A high-visibility article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the high-visibility sheet is shaped to conform with the article.
11. A high-visibility article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the high-visibility sheet comprises resilient material to increase the durability of the high-visibility sheet.
12. A high-visibility article according to any one of the receding claims, wherein the high-visibility sheet carries graphics and/or at least one alphanumeric symbol.
13. The high-visibility sheet of the high-visibility article of any one of the preceding claims.
14. The article of the high-visibility article of any one of claims 1 to 12.
15. A high-visibility garment system, comprising: a garment for wear by a user; and a portion of flexible, high-visibility material arranged to be removably attached to the garment.
16. A high-visibility garment system according to claim 15, wherein the portion of flexible, high-visibility material is sufficiently flexible to permit its overall dimensions to be reduced by folding and/or rolling.
17. A high-visibility garment system according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the garment is provided with first attachment means and the portion of flexible, high-visibility material is provided with second attachment means which co-operates with the first attachment means to removably attach the portion of flexible, high-visibility material to the garment.
18. A high-visibility garment system according to claim 17, wherein the first attachment means comprises a plurality of first releasable engagement portions and the second attachment means comprises a plurality of second releasable engagement portions for releasable engagement with the plurality of first releasable engagement portions.
19. A high-visibility garment system according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of first releasable engagement portions are located at discrete positions on the garment and the plurality of second engagement portions are located at discrete positions on the portion of flexible, high-visibility material.
20. A high-visibility garment system according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the first and second attachment means together comprise hook and loop material.
21. A high-visibility garment system according to any one of claims 15 to 20, wherein the portion of flexible, high-visibility material comprises at least one of a fluorescent material, a reflective material or a retroreflective material.
22. A high-visibility garment system according to any one of claims 15 to 21, wherein the portion of flexible, high-visibility material comprises high-visibility fabric.
23. A high-visibility garment system according to any one of claims 15 to 22, wherein the garment comprises a back portion for covering the back of a user, and the portion of flexible, high-visibility material is removably attachable to the back portion.
24. A high-visibility garment system according to any one of claims 15 to 23, wherein the portion of high-visibility material is provided with one or more cutaway portions to facilitate movement of a user wearing the article of clothing with the portion of high-visibility material attached.
25. A high-visibility garment system according to any one of claims 15 to 24, wherein the portion of high-visibility material is shaped to conform with the article.
26. A high-visibility garment system according to any one of claims 15 to 25, wherein the portion of flexible, high-visibility material carries graphics and/or at least one alphanumeric symbol.
27. The garment of the high-visibility garment system of any one of claims 14 to 26.
28. The portion of flexible, high-visibility material of the high-visibility garment system of any one of claims 14 to 26.
29. A high-visibility article substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
30. An article substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
31. A high-visibility sheet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.