GB2547938A

GB2547938A - Protection or comfort apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2547938A
Application number: GB1603740.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leslie Williams David
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-03-04
Filing date: 2016-03-04
Publication date: 2017-09-06
Anticipated expiration: 2036-03-04
Also published as: GB201603740D0; GB2547938B

Abstract

A protection or comfort apparatus comprising a garment 1 and a displaceable device 2, wherein the displaceable device 2 is arranged, in use, to be received on the garment 1 and connectable to the garment 1 at least two discrete locations, in which the garment 1 and the displaceable device 2 comprise a connection mechanism for mutual engagement. The displaceable device may be a pair of kneed pads to be used in conjunction with a pair of trousers. The pads may be attached via hook and loop fasteners such as Velcro (RTM). The garment may comprise a flap that extends over at least part of the connection mechanism, the flap may be closed at three sides. The connection mechanism may be provided on two opposing ends of the device 2, and/or on opposing faces. The apparatus allows for the pads to be easily removed and reattached as necessary.

Description

PROTECTION OR COMFORT APPARATUS Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to protection or comfort apparatus, in particular and for example workwear; more particularly provision of protection and comfort for a user’s knees.

Background

Increasing awareness and complication of health and safety matters, aesthetics and concentration of quality and standard of a users’ built environment leads many users to either work on their domestic or commercial surroundings, or employ third parties to do so.

Such work can be long and tiring and can lead to stresses and strains on the users’ body.

In particular the knees of users may become damaged over time, through kneeling: or alternatively and additionally discomfort is often felt during kneeling. As a consequence many users may use knee pads. These can be problematic to keep in place and any means used therefor can be problematic when not in use as it becomes contaminated or made less effective by extraneous matter.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following:

United States patent application US 2008 289 072 (SHIN) discloses work pants equipped with knee protection pads is provided. Four male clip buttons are placed on each leg member of the pants surrounding knee contacting portion of the work pants to avoid contact with knees when a wearer of the work pants kneel down. The knee protection pads for the work pants according to current application is equipped with four female clip buttons on the pad that receive the four male button clips on the pants. The knee protection pads are easy to detach from the work pants to wash the pants and pads separately. Objects such as wood chips, soil, nails, etc., get inserted between the pants and pads are easily removed by detaching the pad and sweeping them out.

German patent application DE 4 338 404 (NIERHAUS) discloses an invention based on trousers with a kneepad intended therefor, in the case of which fastening elements are provided on the trousers and on the kneepad which permit detachable fastening of the kneepad. In order to avoid soiling of and damage to the fastening elements located on the trousers, by virtue of the invention the fastening elements are arranged in a concealed manner below a flap on the trousers and/or in a pocket of the trousers such that the fastening elements are accessible by actuation of the flap and/or removal from the pocket.

United States patent application US 4 561 124 (THOMPSON) discloses a knee protector for insertion in a pocket in the legs of work pants or the like is of a V-shaped cross-sectional configuration to improve appearance of the pants with the pad in place, to reduce inconvenience of wearing the protector and to provide a self centering effect reducing inadvertent sidewise shift of the padded part of the leg away from its operative position in front of the wearer's knee. A pocket for use with the pad is of a width sufficient for stitching the pocket to the pant leg along a stitch line coincident with the inseam and the outseam of the leg to enable further improvement in the appearance by concealing the stitch line and placing the pocket inside the respective leg. Both the pad and the pocket can also be used with a different pocket or pad, respectively.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a protection or comfort apparatus comprising a garment and a displaceable device, wherein the displaceable device is arranged in use to be received on the garment and connectable to the garment at least two discrete locations, in which the garment and the displaceable device comprise a connection mechanism for mutual engagement.

In some embodiments the garment comprises a vertically upstanding portion in use, wherein the device is placeable between two vertically spaced apart locations of the portion.

In some embodiments the locations provide elongated connection between the garment and device in use. Advantageously such connection permits the garment and device mutual rearrangement or movement intermediate the locations, and/or mutual movement along the connection.

In some embodiments the locations comprise elongated linear strips. In some embodiments the locations may comprise strips of connection material. For example such material may comprise hook or loop material such as Velcro (RTM).

In some embodiments the locations are spaced apart equally, so as to advantageously provide a section therebetween defining an area protected by the device in use. Such section may be arranged with enhanced or variant material with respect to the remainder material of the garment. For example in some embodiments the section may be provided in thicker, coated or otherwise more robust material.

In some embodiments the device includes location areas of a corresponding connection mechanism, which may comprise elongate linear strips, and/or a connection material such as Velcro (RTM).

For example the device may include an elongate connection mechanism arranged to connect with the garment’s connection mechanism along an elongated connection location, so as to permit a range of movement between the garment and device intermediate locations of the connection mechanism.

The device may comprise a planar part, for example comprising resistant, substantially rigid parts or padding.

The connection mechanism may be arranged at or adjacent peripheral areas of the device.

In some embodiments the connection mechanism may be provided on opposing edges of the device, and in some embodiments the connection mechanism may be provided on more than one side of the device. In this way the connection mechanism may provide four differing locations, which locations may be adjusted to correspond with locations of the garment.

In some embodiments the connection mechanism comprises protection means for the connection mechanism, for example the garment and/or device comprises such protection means. The protection means may comprise a cover for the connection mechanism; for example such the cover limits damage to or breakage of the connection.

Without limitation such protection means may comprise a cover covering the connection mechanism in whole or part. This cover may be wholly or only partly displaceable, so as to allow a user to access or install the device.

Such protection means may be arranged to advantageously or incidentally consolidate the connection, wherein the protection means comprises a pressure or force acting against the connection so as to enhance it.

For example in some embodiments the protection means comprises a cover over the garments’ connection means location and insertion of the device connection location is intermediate the cover and garment, so as to clamp the device therebetween.

In some embodiments the protection means may comprise elasticity or resilient deformation. In some embodiments the protection means may comprise a majority of sealed or closed sides.

In this way the device may be advantageously entered into an open side so as to be better maintained in place and protected from ingress or egress.

In some embodiments the garment may be substantially flexible, for example comprising a pair of work trousers as known in the art. The garment may be arranged with connection mechanism locations at the knees, so as to receive devices.

In some embodiments the device may be substantially flexible, or formed in flexible fabric. In this way when in use the devices may be envisaged to cause minimal impact to the user or user’s knee.

In further embodiments the garment may comprise a jacket or upper body covering garment: wherein the devices are arranged for example to connect to the elbows.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1a shows an isometric view of an embodiment of a garment and device in use, according to the present invention;

Figure 1b shows an isometric view of the embodiment of the garment shown in Figure la, opened for receipt of the device;

Figure 2 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiments shown in Figure la;

Figure 3 shows a side view of the embodiments shown in Figure la, with the device partially displaced; and

Figure 4 shows a reverse isometric exploded view of the embodiments shown in Figure la.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the figures there are shown two of one embodiment of the device 2 in use on an embodiment of the garment 1; wherein the garment is a pair of trousers and the devices are planar pads for insertion into discrete locations at the garment’s knees comprising the connection mechanism.

The garment has legs, comprising a front face 10 and rear face 11, which are joined by a substantially vertical seam 12.

The connection mechanism comprises strips of hook and loop material such as Velcro (RTM). These strips are provided in locations above 4,5 and below 6,7 the knee of the garment, such that the devices may be connected thereto to provide padding over the knee in use.

The locations comprise elongate areas stretching around the leg horizontally, such that the device is curved in use around the knee cap.

The devices are of a rectangular planar form, and comprise three layers 16,17,18. The layers may comprise different textures, material or properties.

The devices additionally comprise locations 21,22,23,24 of connection mechanism. Such locations on the device are adjacent the top and bottom of the device.

In this way the sides of the device are loose, advantageously better enabling movement of the knee cap and leg of the user.

The device has locations of connection mechanism on both faces, such that the device may be connected to the garment to fore and aft in use.

The locations may differ in provision of hook or loop, wherein the device may be reversible or arrangeable in a single orientation.

The garment’s locations of connection mechanism are similarly arranged such that the locations face inwards and outwards in the connection area. In order to achieve this the garment comprises protection means providing a flap to top 3 and bottom 9 of the connection area, which flap covers the locations and is sewn to the garment along three sides to leave an open side for insertion of the device. The flaps have a substantially vertical side sewn into the seam.

The flaps are parallel and have open sides facing each other. This then provides a rectangular knee cap area 8 on the garment, over which the device is arranged in use, bound above and below by the flaps, under which the device is inserted in use. The flap underside and the area may comprise complementary or identical hook and loop material.

The locations face each other before such insertion, and in some embodiments may be envisaged to comprise both hook and loop material to create a connection when the device is not inserted, and limit ingress of dirt or matter into the connection mechanism when not in use.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims, in particular but not solely combination of features of described embodiments.

Claims

1. A protection or comfort apparatus comprising a garment and a displaceable device, wherein the displaceable device is arranged in use to be received on the garment and connectable to the garment at at least two discrete locations, in which the garment and the displaceable device comprise a connection mechanism for mutual engagement

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the garment is a pair of trousers.

3. Apparatus according to either of claims 1 and 2, wherein the displaceable device is a knee pad.

4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the connection mechanism comprises hook and loop material such as Velcro (RTM).

5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the garment further comprises a protection means for the connection mechanism.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the protection means comprises at least one flap arranged in use to extend over at least part of the connection mechanism.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the flap is closed to three sides.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the locations are parallel.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the locations are vertically spaced.

10. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the device is provided with the connection mechanism on two opposing faces.

11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the displaceable device is provided with the connection mechanism on two opposing ends.

12. Apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the figures.

13. A garment for apparatus according to any of the preceding claims.

14. A device for apparatus according to any of the preceding claims.