GB2541922A

GB2541922A - Improvements to a garment

Info

Publication number: GB2541922A
Application number: GB1515696.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lyon Rolf
Original assignee: RLEPL Ltd
Current assignee: RLEPL Ltd
Priority date: 2015-09-04
Filing date: 2015-09-04
Publication date: 2017-03-08
Anticipated expiration: 2035-09-04
Also published as: GB201515696D0; GB2541922B

Abstract

A garment 10, such as a cold-environment jacket, comprises a body portion 11 and a limb portion 13, both joined together along an endless joint including a band 14 having opposed long edges and formed of an elastics material, which extends at least partially around the joint. The band 14, which may be formed of a polyester/elastane mix, is joined along one long edge to the body portion 11 and along the other long edge to the limb portion 13. The elastic nature of the material provides freedom of movement whilst preventing loss of body heat.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS TO A GARMENT

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a garment and in particular to a garment for use in cold conditions. The garment especially contemplated is a jacket, although trousers and overalls can also be considered as included within the scope of invention.

Background to the Invention

Cold weather clothing is continually developing to protect a wearer from extreme environments. Such environments can be either natural such as occur at high altitude or latitude or during the winter period.

Alternatively, some artificial environments such as food storage depots where fresh food is stored need to be maintained at low temperatures. Meats especially are stored at temperatures of down to -30°C and certainly below -12°C, the highest temperature at which the meat is considered within the industry to be frozen throughout. It is understood that many cold storage facilities operate at the lower end of this temperature range as the recommended storage time before degradation reaches unacceptable levels for most meats is at least double that of the higher temperature.

Persons therefore who are exposed to such conditions, for example as part of their employment, need to be protected from frostbite or hypothermia. To this end clothing has been developed over the years which increases the protection afforded and also the comfort provided to the wearer. Several routes to increase said protection are available to a clothing designer. For example, the garment can be made of a thicker layer of material than used for conventional clothing. This can be effective, but can render movement by the wearer more difficult as the bulkiness of the garment makes movement difficult. A second route is to form the material from a number of layers. Insulation is usually improved or at least equal to that of a single layer of material of equal thickness because of the layers of air between neighbouring layers of material, which layers of air act as an additional insulator. Nevertheless, the material is typically of such a thickness as to restrict the wearer's movement. A third route is to select a material which is a good thermal insulator: often such materials inherently comprising layers or pockets of air within their overall structure such as fibrous materials, foam materials etc. Additionally, the fibres of fibrous materials can themselves be hollow to again provide a layer of relatively static air.

Irrespective of which of the above or other routes available, either singly or in combination is used, cold-environment clothing inevitably restricts the wearer's ability to move freely. One aspect of this lack of movement typically involves the region of a joint such as that between the sleeve and the main body of the garment. Although this region could be provided with a lower degree of insulation this would compromise the effectiveness of the garment towards heat retention and protection against cold and result in localised tissue damage.

An additional, less recognised problem is that cold air, which can enter through a sleeve (or trouser leg) opening, can penetrate between the limb and the inner surface of the garment and eventually to the torso of the wearer. The cooling of the major organs which can thereby occur is particularly dangerous.

It is an object of the current invention to seek to provide a solution to the above problems and to improve the protection afforded and the movement possible in a cold-environment garment.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a garment, the garment comprising at least a first portion and a second portion; the first portion and the second portion being joined together along a join, the join including a band having opposed long edges and formed of an elastics material extending at least partially along the join, the band being joined along one long edge to the first portion and along the other long edge to the second portion.

The band allows greater movement by the user whilst wearing the garment, particularly where the material from which the garment is made is bulky, as is typical for a cold-environment garment.

Optionally, the band comprises two or more layers of material, an insulating material being sandwiched between inner and outer layers of material. The insulation prevents localised frostbite to a wearer in the region of the band.

Optionally the band co-operates with an inner join between a layer or layers of each of the first portion and the second portion to provide a join which is stronger and flexible.

Further optionally, insulating material is provided between the band and a layer adjacent the band to improve protection and heat retention.

Preferably the band extends completely along the join, and is further preferably the sole joining means between the first portion and the second portion. Such an arrangement affords the join yet further flexibility.

Advantageously the first portion and the second portion are formed from a fabric having a first layer comprising an at least water resistant fabric, a second layer bonded to said first layer and comprising an insulating material, and a third layer comprising an at least water-resistant fabric the first and third layers providing the outer and inner layers respectively.

The second layer is further advantageously formed from a polyester material and also further advantageously from a fibrous material. The first and third layers are preferably secured together along one or more seams to prevent migration of insulating material.

Optionally, the first and third layers are formed of a polypropylene or a polyamide such as a nylon plastics material.

Preferably, the first portion is a body portion and the second portion a limb portion of a garment, the freedom of movement thus being allowed to the limb being of benefit to the wearer.

Optionally, a long edge of the band is concave to allow for easier movement of the limb, the concave edge being further optionally attached to the limb portion. Yet further optionally, both long edges of the band are curved and still yet further optionally one edge is concave and the other edge convex.

Preferably, the elastics material is elastic both in a direction along the band and across the width of the band to provide easier and greater range of movement to the wearer.

The elastics material is preferably a polyester/Lycra (RTM) mix.

Optionally, the band is attached to the garment so that in use the band is in the region of the armpit of the wearer, to give better movement to the wearer.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention is now illustrated with respect to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, five embodiments of a garment. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an image of a join between the sleeve and a torso portion of a first embodiment of a garment;

Figure 2 illustrates a join between the sleeve and a torso portion of a second embodiment of a garment;

Figure 3 illustrates a join between the sleeve and a torso portion of a third embodiment of a garment;

Figure 4 illustrates a join between the sleeve and a torso portion of a fourth embodiment of a garment; and

Figure 5 illustrates a join of the present invention as applied to a pair of trousers.

Detailed Description of the Invention

When working or spending long periods in a cold environment, it is essential that the garments worn protect the wearer against low temperatures. By cold, in this document can mean temperatures of -30°C or below, although the garments are obviously suitable to be worn above these temperatures.

Such garments typically include one or more layers of thermally insulating material in which the material itself has a low coefficient of thermal conductivity, but can also include layers of material and/or other volumes or layers of air within its structure to reduce heat transfer across the material.

The difficulty to the wearer therefore is that such insulating materials and the garments thereby formed are relatively bulky. Although the materials are not rigid, the movement of the wearer is often hindered.

Irrespective of the effectiveness of the insulating material, the wearer needs to also be protected against cold air penetrating beneath the garment and into contact with the wearer's body through the open ends of the sleeve or a trouser leg. Once the cold air has penetrated into this region, air can reach the wearer's torso and cool down the major organs, which is obviously undesirable.

The present invention, as described below aims to address both of the above problems and provide improved movement to the wearer, along with the restriction of air-movement beneath the garment. The wearer is therefore enabled to carry out more tasks with more ease, as well as to remain in the cold conditions for longer periods. The invention is described particularly in relation to a join between a body or torso portion of a garment and a limb portion. It will be recognised however that the invention can be applied to two body portions to afford greater movement, for example across the back of a garment.

Referring initially to Figure 1, this illustrates a first embodiment of the invention, and shows the shoulder region of a cold-environment jacket. The jacket, generally referenced 10 has a torso section 11 at one end of which is a neck region 12. Extending from the torso section 11 is an arm 13, which torso section 11 and arm 13 are attached or joined together by means of a seam.

In prior art garments a join is usually a sewn or welded seam and the seam is normally an endless seam which extends completely around the circumference of the sleeve. In the present invention this is not the case and the seam, if present extends only partially around the circumference of the arm 11.

The material from which the torso section 11 and the arm 13 are made typically comprises an inner and an outer layer, along with an insulating material sandwiched therebetween. Particularly where the jacket is for use outdoors, where the user may be subject to rain or snowy weather, but also when the jacket is for indoor use, perhaps cold-store use when surface condensation is an issue, then the inner and outer layers of the fabric from which the jacket is made can be formed of a water resistant material to keep the wearer dry.

In addition the inner layer can be of a type of material, well known in the art, often referred to as ‘breathable’ which allows water from the user's body to pass through the material, yet prevents water from passing through in the other direction. Materials which are suitable for use for the inner and outer layers are polypropylene or a polyamide such as nylon, and having a density of from 10 to 50grrr2 preferably 10 to 30grrr2 and especially preferably 30gnr2.

An insulating layer has the properties and structure as indicated above. Suitable materials from which the insulating material can be formed are polyester materials such as a terephthalate (including alkyl terephthalates) polyester or a polyalkylene such as polypropylene. The insulating material can be provided in the form of fibres, which can in some embodiments be held together as a fibrous mat, and which fibres have a mean length of from 50 to 70mm. The fibres can, further, be hollow with the diameter of the internal lumen optionally then being around 20% of the overall diameter of the fibre. A suitable density of the fibrous material is from 80 to 170gnr2 and especially from 100 to 150gnr2, in the form of a needle punch felt. Additionally, a bi-component material can be used such as formed from a mixture of polyethylene/polypropylene.

The layers of the fabric are secured together using conventional methods such as sewing or heat welding which bond the layers of the fabric together. Although there is a main seam around the outside of the garment or portion thereof, sub-seams within the body of, for example, a limb or torso portion can also be formed in order to prevent migration of insulating material, which would reduce the insulating effect.

Further, in respect of Figure 1, the arm 13 and the torso section 11 are not joined together at all by a conventional seam. As indicated above, this need not be the case and a conventional seam can be included between a part of the end of the arm 13 and the torso section 11. The seam, although limiting to some extent mobility can add to the stability and strength of the garment.

Where there is no seam between the arm and torso sections 13, 11 the join is provided by a band 14. The band 14 extends at least partially about the join and at least where a conventional seam is not present. If desired, a band can extend across any conventional seam between two sections of a garment. The band 14 is secured separately to each of the arm and the torso sections 13, 11 along its length such that air penetration between the band 14 and the arm and torso sections 13, 11 is minimised, and cooling of the joint or part of the body beneath the band thereby reduced.

The band 14 is formed of an elastics material, which is conveniently able to stretch both along its length and also across its width. Although many materials known in the art are suitable for the manufacture of a band 14, a polyester or Lycra (RTM) or a mix thereof is preferred. The means by which the band 14 is secured to the garment needs to be chosen such that no damage is done to the elastics material or the garment on securing, and also such that the join is strong enough to cope with the restoring force in the elastics material when the band 14 is under tension, especially when the wearer is, for example, working actively.

The advantages in using a band as described above to join together separate sections of the garment are two-fold. Firstly, the section of the band which is not directly attached to the garment, but which thereby flexibly bridges the sections to which it is attached, in itself allows greater movement to the user as the bridging section of the band can fold and become taut so changing the effective size of the combined sections. Additionally, the elastic nature of the material provides additional freedom of movement to the wearer along the lines of elasticity of the band.

In addition to the above, the tension in the band acts to hold the material of the garment snugly against the wearer's body and so minimises the flow of air across the join and between the wearer and the garment. The escape of warm air energy from around one region, such as the torso is minimised and, importantly the flow of cold air into the torso region is also minimised.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, and in which one of the sections is a limb section, the sole join is the band 14. This enables the limb to be moved more easily around the whole 360° of rotation of the limb.

In Figure 2, a further aspect of the invention is shown in which a band 24 joins together an arm 23 and a torso section 21 of a jacket 20. One of the long edges at 25 of the band 24 has a section having a concave shape. The concave section is orientated towards the end of the limb. Moreover, one end of the concave sections is located in the shoulder region and the other end in the region of the wearer's armpit, which results in the concave section being towards the front of the garment. This gives particular movement to the wearer in moving the limb in a direction to and from extending to the front of the wearer. It will be appreciated that where the band 24 extends around the join between the torso section 21 and the arm 23, the rear facing edge can also have a concave shape.

In Figure 3, is shown a garment 30 having a band 34 having two forward facing concave edges 35, 36 which allow a user to have even greater movement. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3, the bands 14, 24, 34 each extend about the limb from the shoulder region to below the armpit.

In Figure 4 a further embodiment of a band 44 extends from the shoulder region, across the torso section 41 of the garment 40. The additional length of the band 44 allows the tension in the band 44 as the wearer moves, to be spread along a greater length and so reduce the magnitude of the stress (per unit length) along the length of the join between the band 44 and the arm and torso sections 43, 41.

In Figure 5, an embodiment of the invention in which a band 54 is utilised in the join between a trouser leg 53 and the remaining section of the garment 50 is shown.

It will be recognised that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A garment comprising at least a first portion and a second portion; the first portion and the second portion being joined together along a join, the join including a band having opposed long edges and formed of an elastics material extending at least partially along the join, the band being joined along one long edge to the first portion and along the other long edge to the second portion.

2. A garment according to Claim 1, wherein the band comprises two or more layers of material, an insulating material being sandwiched between inner and outer layers of material.

3. A garment according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the band co-operates with an inner join between a layer or layers of each of the first portion and the second portion to provide a joint.

4. A garment according to Claim 3, wherein insulating material is provided between the band and a layer adjacent the band.

5. A garment according to any preceding claim, wherein the band extends completely along the join.

6. A garment according to Claim 5, wherein the band is the sole joining means between the first portion and the second portion.

7. A garment according to any preceding claim, wherein the first portion and the second portion are formed from a fabric having a fabric having a first layer comprising an at least water resistant fabric, a second layer bonded to said first layer and comprising an insulating material, and a third layer comprising an at least water-resistant fabric the first and third layers providing the outer and inner layers respectively.

8. A garment according to Claim 7, wherein the second layer is formed from a polyester material.

9. A garment according to Claim 8, wherein the second layer is formed from a fibrous material.

10. A garment according to Claims 7 to 9, wherein the first and third layers are secured together along one or more seams to prevent migration of insulating material.

11. A garment according to claims 7 to 9 wherein, the first and third layers are formed of a polypropylene or a polyamide plastics material.

12. A garment according to any preceding claim wherein the first portion is a body portion and the second portion a limb portion of the garment.

13. A garment according to any preceding claim, wherein a long edge of the band is concave.

14. A garment according to Claim 13, wherein the concave edge is attached to the limb portion.

15. A garment according to Claim 14, wherein both long edges of the band are curved.

16. A garment according to Claims 13 to 15, wherein one long edge is concave and the other long edge convex.

17. A garment according to any preceding claim, wherein the elastics material is elastic both in a direction along the band and across the band.

18. A garment according to any preceding claim, wherein the elastics material is a polyester/Lycra mix.

19. A band substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by tne accompanying drawings.

19. A garment according to any preceding claim, wherein the band is attached to the garment so that in use the band is in the region of the armpit of the wearer.

20. A garment substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

21. A band substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

1. A garment comprising at. least a first portion and a second portion; the hrst portion and the secono portion being joined together along a join, the join including a band having opposed long edges and formed of an elastics material extending at least partially along the join, the band being joined along one long edge to the first portion and along the other long edge to the second portion, the band comprises two or more layers of material, an insulating material being sandwiched between inner and outer layers of material.

2. A garment according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the band co-operates with an inner join between a layer or layers of each of the first portion and the second portion to provide a joint

3. A garment according to Claim 3, wherein insulating materia! is provided between the band and a layer adjacent the band,

4. A garment according to any preceding claim, wherein the band extends completely along the join. o, A garment according to Claim 5, wherein the band is the sole joining means between the first portion and the second portion.

6, A garment according to any preceding claim, wherein the first portion and the second portion are formed from a fabric having a fabric having a first layer comprising an at least water resistant fabric, a second layer bonded to said first layer and comprising an insulating material, and a third layer comprising an at least water-resistant fabric the first and third layers providing the outer and inner layers respectively,

7, A garment according to Claim 7, wherein the second layer is formed from a polyester material.

8. A garment according to Claim 8, wherein the second layer is formed from a fibrous material.

9. A garment according to Claims 7 to 9, wherein the first and third layers are secured together along one or more seams to prevent migration of insulating material

10. A garment according to claims 7 to 9 wherein, the first and third layers are formed of a polypropylene or a polyamide plastics material.

11. A garment according to any preceding claim wherein the first portion is a body portion and the second portion a limb portion of the garment

12. A garment according to any preceding claim, wherein a long edge of the band is concave.

13. A garment according to Claim 13, wherein the concave edge is attached to the limb portion.

14. A garment according to Claim 14, wherein both long edges of the band are curved. A garment according to Claims 13 to 15, wherein one long edge is concave and the other long edge convex. A garment, according to any preceding claim., wherein the elastics material is elastic both in a direction along the band and across the band. 1A A garment according to any preceding claim, wherein the band Is attached to the garment so that in use the band is in the region of the armpit of the wearer,

18. A garment substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.