GB2594953A

GB2594953A - Protective garment

Info

Publication number: GB2594953A
Application number: GB2006983.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Witzenfeld Mark
Original assignee: Dck Concessions
Current assignee: Dck Concessions
Priority date: 2020-05-12
Filing date: 2020-05-12
Publication date: 2021-11-17
Also published as: GB2594953A8; GB202006983D0

Abstract

A garment (eg a shawl, snood, continuous annulus, wrap, scarf, infinity scarf, chute) 10 is disclosed that can cover part of the face and neck of the user, where at least a portion is made of an air permeable fabric 12 with an attachment or a pocket (or pouch, compartment, holder) 18 on the inner 14 surface. The garment could be made from a stretchable fabric and the facemask 20 could be held in place by an open frame or straps. The pocket 18 may be rectangular and sealed along two or three of the sides. The face mask pocket may be hidden from the outer surface 16 due to the internal location of the pocket. The pocket could be attached either by sticking with an adhesive, stitched on, or attached through ultrasonic welding. If in the form of an infinity scarf, the garment could also have a drawstring on one or both of the circumferential edges 22.

Description

Protective Garment

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to clothing and more specifically to providing a protective barrier relevant to combatting the spread of viruses.

Background of the invention

During the recent COVTD-19 pandemic, the use of facemasks has become widespread in order to prevent or slow down the spread of the virus. Facemasks are intended to reduce contact between the wearer and the outside world, either by touch, or exposure to airborne particles or droplets.

ic Typically, the user may touch an infected person or surface then touch their face, nose, eyes or mouth, any of which make transfer of the virus far more likely. The wearing of a facemask creates both a physical and a mental barrier which reduces involuntary touching of these areas, which are most likely to spread the virus. Instead regular hand washing kills the virus before it has had the chance to spread to another host.

Wearing a facem ask presents a challenge in that it can be uncomfortable when worn for extended periods of time and impacts the appearance of the user. In a hospital setting, the appearance and comfort of the wearer are secondary to the function of the mask and so are not primary considerations.

During times of pandemic, the use of facemasks may be recommended to all members of the public to reduce the spread of the virus even in less critical environments such as on the streets or in shops. In these situations, comfort and appearance may be considered more of a priority to the user and there is therefore a need to address these issues in attempt to encourage users to remain diligent keep their PPE (personal protective equipment) in place where it can have the greatest impact in slowing the spread of the virus.

Summary of the invention

With a view to mitigating the foregoing disadvantage, the present invention provides a garment as set forth in claim 1 of the appended claims and features of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

Brief description of the drawing

The present invention will now be described further by way of example with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a photograph of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing an annular scarf or snood, ic Figure 2 is photograph showing the side view of a person wearing the snood of Figure 1, demonstrating how the snood fits over the nose and mouth of the wearer, and Figure 3 is a photograph showing the back of the neck of the person shown in Figure 2.

Detailed description of the drawings

This invention relates to any conventional garment that may have an ability to cover the face in some way. Such garments include jackets or coats with hoods, balaclavas, and, as is the preferred embodiment, scarves.

Scarves are typically elongate in shape and made of a stretchable fabric. The 20 scarf may be tied in a loose knot to form a wrap around the neck for warmth. Because of the proximity of the neck to the face, it is possible for the scarf to be pulled over the face.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention is a snood 10, this being a scarf having the form of an annulus to fit around the neck of the wearer. The fabric 12 of the snood is stretchable to enable it to by pulled over the head of the wearer.

The axial length of the snood is greater than the length of the neck of the wearer and as a result, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the wearer can pull the upper edge of the snood over his or her nose and the snood will remain stably in this position, on account of the stretchiness of the fabric, without causing the wearer any discomfort.

The snood in Figure 1 has an inner side 14 and an outer side 16. A pocket 18 is provided on inner side 14 of the snood 10 into which there can be slid a ic facemask 20. The fabric 14 can allow air to pass while acting to a limited extent as a filter. However, because the fabric can be stretched, its mesh size may be relatively large making it less efficient at preventing inhalation of smaller particles. The facemask 20 may however have a considerably smaller mesh size to provide greater protection. The positioning of the pocket 18 ensures that the facemask should fully cover the mouth and nose of the wearer.

The upper edge of the snood in Figure 1 is folded over and sewn to form an annular sleeve 22 for receiving and elastic band or an adjustable drawstring to prevent the snood from slipping dovvn the bridge of the wearer's nose.

The means of retaining the facemask 20 in place in the illustrated embodiment of the invention is a rectangular pocket 18 that is sealed along three of its four sides to form a closed-ended tube. It is however possible to employ any other means of maintaining the position of the facemask. For example, the pocket may be sealed along only two opposite sides to form a tube open at both ends. Alternatively, the facemask may be held in place by means of an open frame or straps for retaining the facemask to the garment.

Though the facemask pocket in the illustrated embodiment is provided on the inner side of the snood, it cannot be seen through the fabric of the snood. This, however, is only for the purpose of maintaining the aesthetic effect of the snood when worn. If it is desired for aesthetic or other reasons that the facemask be visible when worn, then it may be secured to the outer side of the snood, or in the case of the snood in Figure 1, it may be worn inside out.

In addition to being sewn to the garment, the facemask retaining pocket may be attached to the garment by means of an adhesive or by ultrasonic welding or it may be sewn in place.

ic The invention has been described above with reference to a specific embodiment but the person skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims. In particular the garment is not limited to being a scarf or a snood but may be any garment having a portion that can be positioned to overly the face, in particular the mouth and nose, of the wearer.

Claims

Claims 1. A garment including at least a portion for covering the face of a user at least partially and surrounding the neck of the user, which portion is made of an air permeable fabric and has an attachment or pocket on its inner side for retaining a replaceable facemask over the mouth and nose of the wearer.
2. A garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fabric is stretchable.lo
3. A garment as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the pocket is in the form of an open frame or straps for retaining the facemask to the garment.
4. A garment as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pocket is rectangular and sealed along three of its four sides forming a closed-ended tube for receiving the facemask.
5. A garment as claimed in claims Ito 3, wherein the pocket is rectangular and sealed along two opposing sides of its four sides forming an open-ended tube, for receiving the facemask.
6. A garment as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the gall lent has an inward facing surface and an outward facing surface and the pocket is provided on the inward facing surface.
7. A garment as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the pocket is not visible through an outward surface of the garment.
8. A garment as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pocket is attached to the garment by means of an adhesive.
9. A garment as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pocket is attached to the garment by means of stitching
10.A garment as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pocket is attached to the garment by means of ultrasonic welding.ic
11.A garment as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the garment is a scarf.
12.A scarf as claimed in claim 11, wherein the scarf is in the form of a continuous annulus.
13.A scarf as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a drawstring arranged on at least one of its two circumferential edges in order to adjust the size of the scarf to accommodate different wearers.