GB2585337A

GB2585337A - A safety band

Info

Publication number: GB2585337A
Application number: GB1904429.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nightingale Paul
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-03-29
Filing date: 2019-03-29
Publication date: 2021-01-13
Also published as: GB201904429D0

Abstract

The flexible cover 10, particularly for attachment to an infrastructure component (e.g. scaffolding, bollard or post), displays high visibility material 12 when in use, and comprises at least one releasable fixing to fix together a first and a second region of the cover. Said regions may be close to opposing ends 14,16 of the cover. The cover may be relatively thin with substantially two surfaces. The fixing(s) may comprise two parts 18,20 attached (e.g. stitched or sewn) to the respective regions, which parts may be different from each other, on opposite surfaces and ends of the cover, such that in use the cover forms a loop with end portions, which may be small relative to the cover, overlapping one another. One of the surfaces may be visible in use and may comprise high visibility material and/or a region on which a sign may be disposed. The cover may comprise an elastic material and/or an identification tag (e.g. RFID).

Description

A Safety Band

Field of the Invention

The present inventive concept relates to safety bands. More especially, the present inventive concept provides a highly visible and/or reflective wrap or sleeve to fit around infrastructure components such as scaffolding, tubes, barriers, bollards, chain link, pipes or posts with the aim of dearly identifying the presence of an infrastructure component.

Background to the Invention

The closest prior art of which the applicant is aware is the arrangement of a foam tubing around a post. Usually this arrangement provides a thick foam tube having a slit formed therein, the slit being opened to effect placement of the foam tube around a post. While the foam tube can be brightly coloured, this arrangement is predominantly intended to provide shock absorbance to mitigate injury risk from collisions with a said post. Similar foam tubes are also sometimes used for insulation. -2 -

High visibility clothing is also known.

Summary of Invention

The present inventive concept provides a flexible cover suitable for attachment to an infrastructure component, the cover being substantially elongate and displaying-when in use -high visibility material, the cover further comprising means adapted to releasably affix a first region of the cover to a second region of the cover.

The means adapted to releasably affix a first region of the cover to a second region of the cover provides for the affixing of the cover to an infrastructure component by, for example, wrapping the cover around the infrastructure component and affixing the first region to the second region.

The cover, being substantially elongate, has two ends and two sides, the two ends being at least as far apart from one another as the sides are as far apart from one another.

Preferably, the first region is close to one end of the cover and the second region is dose to the other end of the cover. This arrangement minimises any overlap; in turn this reduces any mitigation of high visibility and reduces excess material.

The means adapted to releasably affix the first and second regions may comprise a stitched or sewn arrangement. Such an arrangement can be released by unstitching or cutting, for example.

The means adapted to releasably affix the first and second regions may comprise two parts which can interact with each other to provide the affixing. One part may be at or near one end of the cover and the other part may be at or near the other end of the cover.

The said two parts may be different from each other. There may be more than one of each type of parts at or near each respective end of the cover. Different interacting parts may be placed at or near the same end, with corresponding parts at or near the other -3 -end. For example, one end may be provided with alternating different parts and the other end may be provided with corresponding different parts.

For example, the means adapted to releasably affix the first and second regions may comprise hook and loop fasteners, or button and buttonhole fasteners, or snap fasteners.

The cover may be relatively thin. Therefore the cover may have substantially two surfaces. The first and second regions may be on opposite surfaces to one another.

Preferably, the first region and the second region are on opposite surfaces of the cover to one another and at approximately opposite ends thereof. Thus, the cover may be arranged so that the cover forms substantially a loop with one end portion of the cover overlapping the other end portion. As mentioned, such overlap is preferably minimised. Preferably, the overlapping portion is small in Length relative to the length of the cover. Thus, if the means adapted to releasably affix the first region to the second region is of less high visibility that the rest of the surface, the overall visibility is maximised.

Preferably, the cover is sized to fit an intended infrastructure component. Ideally, the length of the cover is approximately equal to the circumference of the infrastructure component to which it is intended to be used. If the cover is to be affixed by way of overlapping, the cover will preferably be at least slightly longer than the circumference of the said component.

In use one of the said two surfaces will form a visible surface. The other surface will be enclosed.

Preferably the visible surface comprises high visibility material.

The visible surface may be substantially coated with or enveloped by high visibility material.

The cover may be substantially coated with or enveloped by high visibility material. The cover may substantially consist of high visibility material. -4 -

The high visibility material may comprise material having a colour that is easily discernible from the background. The high visibility material may comprise highly reflective material properties, such as reflective strips and the like. The high visibility material may comprise fluorescent material.

The visible surface may comprise a region to which a sign may be disposed. Such a sign may be attached to the visible surface. For example, a sign may be adhered to the visible surface. The said region may comprise a material suitable for printing thereon. The said region may comprise a material suitable for dye sublimation or screen printing.

The said sign may be disposed by embroidery.

Thus, a sign may be provided to inform a person who views the cover. Such information may include, for example, cautions or highlighting of risks, the contents of the relevant infrastructure component, directions or the like.

For example a sign may include the words "caution -hot surface", "danger -explosive atmosphere" or the like. A sign may direct pedestrians to walk a particular route. A sign may provide information on the direction of fluid flow within a conduit. A sign could comprise a graphic representation, for example a graphic warning of "hot" or "cold".

The cover may comprise an elastic material. A cover including an elastic material may be stretched to install, in use, and then allowed to relax; thus the cover can be held tightly to a infrastructure component The cover may comprise a material that maintains its integrity in low temperature environmental conditions. The cover may comprise a material that maintains its integrity in high temperature environmental conditions. The cover may comprise a fire retardant material; for example the material may be suitable for use in power stations for use with steam boilers, turbines and hot pipes and the like.

The cover may comprise woven or unwoven material. The cover may comprise polyester. The cover may comprise woven polyester. The cover may comprise polythene. The cover may comprise a woven fabric. The cover may comprise a heat resistant material. The -5 -cover may comprise a waterproof material. The cover may comprise an anti-static material. Anti-static material would be advantageous for use with conduits for highly-inflammable materials, such as for aviation fuel, oil or gas lines.

The cover may comprise an identification tag. Such an identification tag can be associated with the infrastructure component to which the cover is to be attached. An identification tag may comprise alphanumeric information or machine-readable information such as barcodes or the like, or radiofrequency identification ("RFID") tags.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Embodiments of the present inventive concept will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure lA shows a plan view of an embodiment Laid out flat; Figure 1B shows the same embodiment as in Figure 1A, wrapped into a cylinder; Figure 2A shows a plan view of a further embodiment Laid out flat; Figure 2B shows the same embodiment as in Figure 2A, wrapped into a cylinder; Figure 3 shows a plan view of a further embodiment laid out flat; Figure 4A shows a plan view of a further embodiment Laid out flat; Figure 4B shows the same embodiment as in Figure 4A, wrapped into a cylinder; Figure SA shows a plan view of a further embodiment laid out flat; Figure 5B shows the same embodiment as in Figure 5A, wrapped into a cylinder and sewn; Figure 6 shows a further embodiment, wrapped into a cylinder; and Figures 7 through 9 inclusive show further variants on the underlying inventive concept. Certain features are not explicitly mentioned in certain descriptions of certain embodiments and the skilled reader will appreciate that certain features are nonetheless present in such embodiments.

Figure 1A shows a cover 10 having a substantially rectangular piece of high visibility material 12, which is longer along length L than along width W. The material 12 has two ends 14, 16. Near the ends 14, 16, respectively, are arranged a strip of hook material 18 and a strip of Loop material 20, each being arranged substantially parallel to the ends 14, -6 - 16 of the material. The strips of hook 18 and loop 20 material are arranged on opposite surfaces of the material 12.

Figure 1B shows the same cover 10 as in Figure 1A in a wrapped formation. End 14 (not shown in Figure 1B) has been brought around to meet and slightly overlap end 16 (not shown in Figure 1B), and strip 18 of hook material has been brought around to overlay strip 20 of loop material. Thus, a hook and loop fastening has been made between ends 14 and 16. The cover 10 thus forms a sleeve with diameter D which can be wrapped around a suitable infrastructure component.

The embodiment of Figures 1A and 1B is especially suitable for use with an infrastructure component of a known circumference. In other words, the embodiment may be of a length corresponding to slightly in excess of the circumference of the infrastructure component with which it is intended to be used.

Figure 2A shows a cover 10 having a substantially rectangular piece of high visibility material 12, which is long along Length L than along width W. The material 12 has two ends 14, 16. Towards the ends 14, 16, respectively, are arranged strips 18, 18' of hook material and strips 20, 20' of loop material. The strips 18, 18', 20, 20' are arranged substantially perpendicularly to the ends 14, 16 of the material. The arrangement and Lengths of the strips 18, 18', 20, 20' enable the cover 10 to be wrapped to a range of diameters, in dependence on the size of the infrastructure component with which it is to be used.

Figure 2B shows the same cover 10 as in Figure 2A in a wrapped formation. End 14 (not shown in Figure 2B) has been brought around so that ends 14 and 16 are close to one another and somewhat overlapping. Strips 18, 18' of hook material have been brought around to overlay strips 20, 20' of loop material. Thus, a hook and loop fastening has been made between ends 14 and 16. The cover 10 thus forms a sleeve with diameter D which can be wrapped around a suitable infrastructure component.

The embodiment of Figures 2A and 2B is especially suitable for use with an infrastructure component of unknown precise circumference. In other words, the embodiment may be used with a range of infrastructure components of differing circumference.

Figure 3 shows a further embodiment, similar in arrangement to that shown in Figures 1A and 1B. The material 12 is highly reflective.

Figure 4A shows a cover 10 having a substantially rectangular piece of high visibility material 12, which is Longer along Length L than along width W. The material 12 has two ends 14, 16. Near the ends 14, 16, respectively, are arranged a row of female press stud fastenings 30 and a row of male press stud fastenings 32, each of those rows being arranged substantially parallel to the ends 14, 16 of the material. The strips of hook 18 and loop 20 material are arranged on opposite surfaces of the material 12.

Figure 4B shows the same cover 10 as in Figure 4A in a wrapped formation. End 14 (not shown in Figure 4B) has been brought around to meet and slightly overlap end 16 (not shown in Figure 4B), and the female 30 and male 32 press stud fastenings have pressed together to form a fastening. The cover 10 thus forms a sleeve with diameter D which can be wrapped around a suitable infrastructure component.

The embodiment of Figures 4A and 4B is especially suitable for use with an infrastructure component of a known circumference. In other words, the embodiment may be of a length corresponding to slightly in excess of the circumference of the infrastructure component with which it is intended to be used.

Figure 5A shows a cover 10 having a substantially rectangular piece of high visibility material 12, which is longer along length L than along width W. The material 12 has two ends 14, 16. Substantially at the ends 14, 16, respectively, is arranged an interface with portions 40, 40' which are adapted to be fastened together by a sewn fastening.

Figure 5B shows the same cover 10 as in Figure 5A in a wrapped formation. Interface portions 40, 40' have been brought together and fastened together by a sewn fastening. The cover 10 thus forms a sleeve with diameter D which can be slid over a suitable infrastructure component. -8 -

The embodiment of Figures 5A and 5B is especially suitable for use with an infrastructure component of a known circumference. In other words, the embodiment may be of a length corresponding to approximately equal to the circumference of the infrastructure component with which it is intended to be used.

Figure 6 shows a cover 10 having a substantially rectangular piece of high visibility material 12 which has been wrapped into a cylinder. The cover 10 has had a sign 50 attached to the material 12.

Figure 7A shows by way of variant an embodiment in which the cover 10 is wrapped, in use, around a circular-cylindrical elongate pipe P and one region of the cover is releasably fixed to the other by hook -and -loop fasteners of the kind sold under the well-known trade mark VELCRO (which is currently a registered trade mark in the United Kingdom). Inserts I are bonded to the inside of the cover 10 and extend along its length; and there are four such inserts as shown, one at each respective internal elongate corner region of a cover 10 which has been deliberately preformed to wrap itself into a square, rather than circular, cross-section.

This preforming of an essentially flexible cover 10 causes it to wrap, as just stated, into a broadly square cross-sectional shape when in place around the pipe. The inserts I are each made of an inherently flexible material, such as a sponge, synthetic foam, plastics, and so simultaneously space the cover 10 from the pipe P whilst cushioning any external blows aimed at the cover from reaching the pipe as such.

As shown in the arrowed highlighted section of Figure 7A, at the top region thereof, this particular pipe P has been preformed with an external rib R extending along substantially the whole of its length. One advantage of the inserts I pre-moulded into the inside of the cover 10 is that, as shown, one of them will tend to nest against the rib R and this again assists in locating the cover 10 around the pipe in all normal usages.

Figure 7B shows in end view how the cover of Figure 7A folds when not in use.

Figure 8 shows a cover 10 on whose inside surface a preformed pad P-P extends down the whole length of the cover so that, when a circular-cylindrical pipe P is surrounded -9 -by the wrapped cover, cushioning is again provided with the same intent as the cushioning inserts I of Figures 7A and 7B.

Figure 8A shows, in part-view only, a modification of the cover of Figure 8 in which tear-off tape T, of a kind known in itself, protects the preformed cushioning protuberances of the internal padding P-P from being abraded, in use, by what is very often a rough finished metal pipe P. Figure 8B shows a variant on that of Figure 8A in which the protective taping consists of individually and successively spaced tapes T. In certain circumstances this can have advantages and costs Less than the complete run of tape which is otherwise needed to provide this particular feature of the invention.

Finally, Figures 9A and 9B show yet another embodiment of the invention in which, like the embodiment of Figure 7A and 7B, the cover 10 is preformed so as to assume an essentially square shape and viewed end-on and wrapped around the circular-cylindrical pipe P (i.e. when viewed as in Figure 9B). This time however, the inserts I of the Figure 7A/7B embodiment are not present and so, as Figure 9A shows, the cover whilst preformed still falls down into an altogether more acceptably compact format than that of Figures 7A and 7B.

Also in the Figure 9A/9B variant, the hook and loop elongate fastening strips which, in use, secure the overlapping regions of the cover one to another when that cover is wrapped into place around the pipe or other object it is intended to protect, are recessed into the cover material as such; as shown in the separate highlighted view of Figure 9B.

In all the other embodiments of Figures 7 and 8, the filamentary tapes are sewn or otherwise secured onto the material of the cover 10 and so, when the cover is folded down and not in use, they bulk out the projection of the respective cover region. The construction of Figures 9A and 9B overcomes this problem.

Claims

-10 -O 15 C\I (7) C 20 Claims 1. A flexible cover suitable for attachment to an infrastructure component, the cover being substantially elongate and displaying -when in use -high visibility material, the cover further comprising means adapted to releasably affix a first region of the cover to a second region of the cover.
2. A flexible cover according to claim 1, wherein the first region is close to one end of the cover and the second region is dose to the other end of the cover.
3. A flexible cover according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the means adapted to releasably affix the first and second regions comprises a stitched or sewn arrangement 4. A flexible cover according to any preceding claim, wherein the means adapted to releasably affix the first and second regions comprises two parts which can interact with each other to provide the affixing.5. A flexible cover according to claim 4, wherein one part is at or near one end of the cover and the other part is at or near the other end of the cover.6. A flexible cover according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the said two parts are different from each other.7. A flexible cover according to any preceding claim, wherein the cover is relatively thin.8. A flexible cover according to claim 7, wherein the cover has substantially two surfaces.9. A flexible cover according to claim 8, wherein the first region and the second region are on opposite surfaces of the cover to one another and at approximately opposite ends thereof.10. A flexible cover according to any preceding claim, wherein the cover forms substantially a loop with one end portion of the cover overlapping the other end portion.11. A flexible cover according to claim 10, wherein the overlapping portion is small in length relative to the length of the cover.12. A flexible cover according to any preceding claim, wherein the cover is sized to fit an intended infrastructure component.13. A flexible cover according to any preceding claim, wherein in use one of the said two surfaces will form a visible surface and the other surface will be enclosed.14. A flexible cover according to claim 13, wherein the visible surface comprises high visibility material.15. A flexible cover according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the visible surface comprises a region to which a sign may be disposed. O 1516. A flexible cover according to any preceding claim, comprising an elastic material.O 17. A flexible cover according to any preceding claim, comprising an identification tag. a)