GB2612963A

GB2612963A - Equipment-holding garment

Info

Publication number: GB2612963A
Application number: GB2116219.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Oliver Paul
Original assignee: Survitec Group Ltd
Current assignee: Survitec Group Ltd
Priority date: 2021-11-11
Filing date: 2021-11-11
Publication date: 2023-05-24
Also published as: GB202116219D0

Abstract

An aircrew ensemble 8 including a first, protective garment 10 such as a flight suit or vest, having a first plurality of attachment elements 38A, 38B. spaced apart on the garment configured to co-operate with a second plurality of complementary attachment elements of a lifejacket (30, figure 1B) that can be worn over the first, protective garment and attached by co-operation of the respective first and second pluralities of attachment elements. The ensemble further includes a second, equipment-holding garment 50 having a third plurality of complementary attachment elements 38A, 38B, such that the second, equipment-holding garment can be worn over the first, protective garment in place of the lifejacket and attached to the first, protective garment, so that the second, equipment-holding garment is interchangeable with the lifejacket.

Description

Equipment-Holding Garment

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to aircrew ensembles worn by aircrew in flight, The present invention also relates to a method of enabling an aircrew member to store equipment on their person.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Aircrew such as pilots wear an ensemble including a protective flight. garment (e.g., a flight suit or vest) when flying in aircraft. Traditionally the suit is either a single piece suit combining both jacket and trousers in a 5ingle garment or it is a two-piece suit with a separate jacket and trousers.

The orotective garment may include special equipment (Aircrew Life Support Equipment. -nLsE) that. protects the wearer against the effects of 9-acceleration or altitude and other potentially damaging factors.

When flying their aircraft over water, the pilot and crew typically have a lifejacket which is usually attached to and worn over the flight garment. When flying over water, safety equipment is carried in a iiferaft that is launched when contacting the water, however, when flying over rand the lifejacket and liferatt may be dispensed with. When flying over land a more extensive range of safety and survival equipment is carried by the pilot and crew on their persons which may include water packs, first aid kit, etc, Conventionally, this safety and survival equipment is often carried in pockets or other equipment carrying arrangements on the protective flight garment located at the upper torso of the wearer out this has a number of disadvantages; On small and particularly small female.: aircrew the 35 available surface area on the flight garment for pockets etc. Is very limited.

The equipment mounted on the chest and waist interferes with the aircrew operating the flight equipment of the aircraft around them such as flight controls etc. The equipment pockets can obstruct a harness worn by the aircrew.

The equipment when carried in the pockets cannot be easily removed for example when the aircrew are on stand-by or in the mess.

SUKMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an aircrew ensemble including a first, protective garment for covering at least a part of a body of a wearer and having a first plurality of attachment elements spaced apart on 1.5 the garment configured to co-operate with a second plurality of complementary attachment elements of a life5acket that in use can be worn over the first, protective garment and attached to the first, protective garment by co-operation of the respective first and second pluralities of attachment elements, wherein the ensemble further includes a. second, equipment-holding garment haying a third plurality of complementary attachment elements configured to co-operate with the first plurality of attachment elements of the first, protective garment such that the second, equipment--holding garment can be worn over the first, protective garment in place of the lifejacket and attached to the first, protective garment by co-operation of the respective first and third pluralities of attachment elements, so that the second, equipment-holding garment is interchangeable with the lifejacket, The second equipment--holding garment preferably has substantially the same shape as the lifejacket, such that it overlies the same area of the first, protective garment as the lifejacket. This facilitates the interchangeability, The second, equipment-holding -armenc may be generadly U-shaped, having a central portion configured to pass around the back of a wearer's neck and two arms extending from apposite sides of the a portion configured, to lie over opoosite side, in front of the wearer's torso. Other shapes are also possible -such as a single-lobe design where the lobe lies over the front of the wearer's torso.

The third urality of complementary attachment elements may comprise an attachment element at 5 posiXion corresponding to the wearer's torso, an attachment element at a position corresponding to the wearer's neck, and/or an attachment element a positron corresponding to the wearer's waist. The attachment element at a position corresponding to the wearer's torso may comprise a zipper or buckle. The attachment element a position corresponding to the wearer's neck may comprise first end of a strap extending along the wearer's back, The attachment element at a position corresponding to the wearer's waist may comprise a second end of the strap extending along the wearer's back configured for attachment to a waist belt and/or comprises a loop at a position corresponding to the front of the wearer's waist, in use, configured for attachment to a w belt.

In the embodiment, the second, equipment-holding garment includes a. plurality of receptacles for holding. equipment.

The aircrew ensemble may include the lifejacket in addition to the equipment-carrying garment, these being worn interchangeably according to the circumstances.

According Lc second aspect of the present invention there is provided a. method of enabling an aircrew member to store equipment on their person when the aircrew member is wearing a.

first, protective garment for covering at least a part of their and having-a first plurality of attachment elements spaced apart on the garment for co-cperat with a second plurality of complementary attachment elements of a lifejacket that in use can be worn over the first, protective garment and attached to the first, prptective garment by the 've first and seaend.

pluralities of attachment elements, the method including providing a second, equipment-holding garment having a third plurality of complementary attachment elements that co-operate with the first plurality of attachment elements of the first, protective garment SO that the second, equipment-holding garment is worn over the first, protective garment and attached to the first, protective garment hy the respective first and third pluralities of attachment elements in place of the lifejacket, so that the second, equipment-holding garment is interchangeable with the lifejacket, Embodiments of the invention may provide a new way of aircrew to carry their safety and survival equipment which is in the form of a "horseshoe"-shaped halter around the neck and chest.

Embodiments of the invention may provide new type of equipment pack that can be fitted onto a flight vest of suit in place of a lifejacket when the aircrew are flying over land. The equipment pack and lifejacket both use the same attachment system. The system of flight jacket or vest with the lifejacket or the equipment pack is therefore modular meaning that the aircrew can select either the lifejacket or equipment pack to attached to the flight suit or jacket, All of the features described herein may be combined with any of the above asceots, in any combination.

BRIER DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention an embodiment will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure IA shows a front elevational view of a protective flight garment over which a lifejacket is Figure 1E. shows a left side view of the protective flight. garment and lifejacket of Figure lA (other side corresponds): Figure 10 shows a paxtial rear elevational view the protective flight garment and. lifejacket of Figure ife; Figure 2A shows a front elevaticnal view of the protective flight garment similar to that shown in Figure IA over which an 5 equipment-carrying garment is worn; Figure 22 shows a left side view of the protective flight garment and equipment-carrying garment of Figure 2A (other side corresponds); and Figure 20 shows a cross-sectional view taken along lines A-A of Figures 22 and 2B; In. the drawings like elements are generally designated with the same reference sign.

DETAILED OFSCRIPTJON OF AN EMBGDII4ENT OF THE INVENTION Referring first to Figure 12, 12 and 10, an aircrew ensemble 3 includes a flight garment 10 that in this example is a giL vest (but could instead be a jacket or full body suit). The flight garment 10 may be made from an inherently fireproof fabric such as NOMEXO. The flight ganent 10 has a waist portion 12, a neck opening 14, and left and right arm hoes 16A and 162, respectively. The flight garment 10 also has a front opening 18 closed by, for example, a zipper. The flight garment 13 may also include anti --0 inflatable bladders to protect the wearer from high G-foraes.

The flight garment 10 carries equipment pockets 20. The flight garment 10 also carries a. waist belt 22 and is fitted with a channel 24 extending up the wearer's back for receiving a lifejacket back strap 26' As shown in Figures 12, 18 and 1C, a lifejacket 30 is worn over the flight garment 10. The lifejacket. 30, in the example shown, is generally U-shaped and has a central portion 32 that passes around the hack of the wearer's neck and two arms 34A and 346 extending from opposite left-and right-hand sides of the central. portion. 32 configured to lie over opposite sides in front of the wearer's torso. Other shapes and configurations of 5.. lifejacket are possible The lifejacket 30 is fitted with an inflation system 33, such as a compressed gas cylinder for inflating a bladder within the lifejacket 30.

The lifejacket 30 is typically attached to the flight garment 10 in two or three or more places.

In the example shown, at. the front torso lifejacket 30 is attached to the flight garment 10 by a pair of zippers 38A and 338.

A left-hand side zipper 38A has a first row of teeth extending longitudinally along the inner side of the left arm 84A of the lifejacket 30 and a corresponding second row of teeth extending longitudinally along the front f the flight garment 10 generally parallel and spaced to the left of the opening 18 of the flight garment 10. The left arr. 34A of the lifejacket 30 is attached to the flight garment 10 by drawing a slider (not shown) of the zipper 39A upwards, which draws the first and second rows of teeth together in the conventional manner of operation of a zipper.

Similarly, a right-hand side zipper 383 has a third row of teeth extending longitudinally along the inner side of the right arm 343 of the lifejacket 30 and a corresponding fourth row of teeth extending longitudinally along the front of the flight garment. 10 generally parallel and spaced to the right of the opening 18 of the flight garment 10. The right arm 345 of the lifejacket 30 is attached to the flight garment 10 by drawing a slider (not shown) of the zipper 385 upwards, which draws the third and fourth rows of teeth together in the conventional manner of operation of a. zipper.

Alternative attachment arrangements to zippers may Be used to attach the lifejacket 30 at the front torso to the flight. garment 10, such as by buckles or the like.

In the example shown, the arms 34A and 3413 of the jacket 30 are attached to the waist belt 22 at the left-and right-hand sides of the wearer's torso. respectively. This attachment may be by the waist belt 22 passing through a respective loop not shown) attached to the underside of the left arm 34A. and to the underside of the right. arm 3413 the lifejacket 30. These form strong anchoring points when the lifejacket 30 is inflated.

The hack strap 26 is attached at Its lower end to the waist belt 22 (e.g. by lifejacket loop 40 -see Figure p) at the centre of the rear ntorso and is attached. to the lifejacket. at. its upper end at the central portion 32 at the back of the neck. This may prevent the lifejacket 30 riding up when inflated. As mentioned above, the back strap 26 is threaded through the channel 24 of the flight garment 10 to further locate the back strap 26 The first attachment elements of the flight garment 10 may comprise: * the rows of reeth of the zippers 3A and 36P extending longitudinally along the front of the flight garment 10, O the waist belt 22, and/or the channel 24 for the back strap 26.

The corresponding second attachment elements of the lifejacket 30 may comprise: * the rows of teeth of the zippers 3dA and 383. extending longitudinally along the inner side of the left. arm. 34A and the right arm. 343 of elacket 30, * the loops attached to the underside of the left arm 34A and to the underside of the right arm 3413 of the lifejacket 30 through which the waist belt 22 passes a the back strap 26 (attached to the lifejacket 30 at its upper end), and/or e the loop 40 attached to the back strap 26 at its lover end (for connection to the waist belt 221.

As can be seen, the lifejacket 30 covers a significant proportion of the front torso of the wearer. The equipment pockets 20 are conseuuently located on the flight garment 10 at positions where space allows around the lifejacket 30 (and other equipment such 1) as a. harness As shown in Figures 2A, 25 and 2C, an embodiment of the invention Includes an equipment-carrying garment (or "halter equipment. pack") 50 that can be interchangeably fitted in place of the lifejacket 30.

The egainment-carxyind garment 30, in the example shown, is generally U-shaped and has a central portion 52 that passes around the back of the wearer's neck and two arms 54A. and 515 extending from opposite left-and right-hand sides of the central portion 52 configured to lie over opposite sides in front of the wearer's torso.

Other shapes and configurations of equipment-carrying garment SO are possible. The eauipment-carrying garment 50 and the lifejacket 10 however preferably have generally the same shape suth that they overlie substantially the same areas of the flight garment 10, The eqhipment-carrying garment SO is typically attached to the flight garment 10 in two or three or more places.

In the example shown, at the front torso, the equipment-carrying garment 50 is also attached to the tlight garment 10 by the pair of zippers 38P. and 385.

The left-hand side zipper 38A has a fifth row of teeth extending 9.

longitudinally along the inner side of the left arm 541k of the equipment-carrying garment 50. The left arm. 541k of the equipment-carrying garment 50 is attached to the flight garment 10 by drawing a slider (not shown) of the zipper 381k upwards, which draws the fifth and second rows of teeth together in the conventional manner of operation of a zipper (as described above, the second row of teeth extends longitudinally along the front of the flight garment 10 generally parallel and spaced to the left of the opening 1.8 of the flight garment 10).

Similarly, the right-hand side zipper. 388 has a sixth row of teeth extending longitudinally along the inner side of the rldn arm 5413 of the equipment-carrying garment 50. The right arm 543 of the equipment-carrying garment-50 is attached to the flight IS garment 10 by drawing a slider (not shown) of the zipper 386 upwards, which draws the sixth and fourth rows of teeth together in the conventional manner of operation of a zipper (as described above, the fourth row of teeth extends longitudinally along the front of the flight garment 10 generally parallel and spaced. to the right of the opening 18 of the flight. garment 10).

Alternative attachment arrangements to zippers may be used to attach the equipment-carrying garment 50 at the front torso to the flight garment 10, such as by buckles or the like.

In the example shown, the arms 541k and 546 of the equipmentcarryin garment 50 are attached to the waist. belt 22 at the left-and right-hand sides of the wearer's torso, respectively. This attachment may be by the waist belt 22 passing through a respective loop (not shown) attached to the underside of the left arm 541k and to the underside of the right arm 546 of the equipment-carrying garment 50.

An equipment....arrying garment back strap 56 is attached at its 35 lower end to the waist belt 22 (e.g. by eguipment-carrying garment loop 60 -see Figure 2: at the centre of the rear torso and is attached to the equipment-carrying garment 50 at its unbar end at the central portion 52 at the back of the neck. As mentioned above, the back strap 56 is threaded through the channel 24 of the flight garment 10 to further locate the back strap 26.

As mentioned above, the first attachment elements of the flight garment 10 may comprise: * the rows of teeth of the zippers 381k and 388 extending longitudinally along the front: of the flight garment 10, I0 * the waist belt 22, and/or O the channel 24 for the back strap 26.

The corresponding third attachment elements of the equipment.-carrying garment. 50 may comprise: Is O the rows of teeth of the zippers 38A and 385 extending.

longitudinally along the inner side of the left arm 541k and the right. arm 548 of the equipment-carrying garment SO, 0. the loops attached to the underside of the left arm 541k and to-the underside of the right. arm 548 of the equipment-carrying garment 50 through which the waist belt 22 passes, * the back strap 56 (attached to the equipment-carrying garment 53 at its upper end), and/or a the equipment-carrying garment loop 60 attached to the back strap 56 at its lover end (for connection to the waist belt 22).

The first and third attachment elements co-operate to attach the equipment-carrying garment 50 to the flight garment 10.

The equipment-carrying garment 50 includes pockets or pouches 76. The pockets or pouches 70 can be fitted with Velcro®, press studs or zippers (or other suitable releasable closures) to allow easy access to the different types of contents, such as safety and survival items.

The second attachment elements of the lifejacket 30 and third attachment elements of the eguipment-carrying garment 50, when worn over the flight garment 10, are configured so that they are located. at the same positions relative to the flight garment 10.

Consequently, the first attachment elements of the flight garment 10 can co-operate with second attachment elements of the lifejacket 30, when the lifejacket 30 is worn over the flight garment 10, and the first attachment elements of the flight garment 10 can also co-operate with third attachment elements io of the equipment-carrying garment 50, when the equipment.-carrying garment 50 is worn over the flight garment 10. This enables the equipment-carrying garment 50 to be readily interchangeable with the lifejacket 30, so that either may 'be worn over the same flight garment 10 at different times, 1$ according to the circumstances.

The equipment-carrying garment 50 can be fitted onto the flight garment 10 in place of the lifejacket 30 when the aircrew are flying over land and both use the same attachment system. The /0 system bi,r flight garment 10 with the lifejacket 30 or the equipment-carryimg garment 50 is therefore modular, meaning that the aircrew can select either the lifejacket 30 or equipment-carrying garment 50 to attach to the flight garment according to the circumstances.

The flight garment 10 shown in Figures 2A, 2B and 20 does not have the equipment pockets 20 shown Figures lA and 15. Tbe pockets 20 may be replaced by the pockets or pouches 70 on equipment-carrying garment 50. However, the flight garment 10 of Figures 2A, 2B and 20 may include some pockets if desired, such as a weapon carrier or beacon holder.

The above embodiments are described by way of example. Many variations are possible without departing from the invention.

Claims

CLATMSensemble including a first, protective garment for covet nu at least a part of a body of a wearer and having a first plurality of attachment elements spaced apart on the garment configured to co-operate with a second plurality of compiementary attachment elements of a lifejacket that in Use can be worn over the first, protective garment and attached to the first, protective garment by co-operation of the respective first and second pluralities of attachment elements, wherein the ensemble further includes a second, eguipment-holding garment having a third plurality of complementary attachment elements configured to co-operate with the first plurality of attachment elements of the first, protective garment such that the second, equipment-holding garment can be worn over the first. protective garment in place of the lifejacket and attached to the first, protective ga by co-operation of the respective first and pluralities of attachment elements, so that the second, equiement-belding garment is interchangeable with the lifejacket.The aircrew ensemble of claim I, wherein the second, )5 equipment-holding garment has substantially the same shape as the lifejacket_ 3. The aircrew ensemble of claim l or 2, wherein the second, equipment-holding garment is generally 1J-shaped and has a central portion configured to pass around the back of a wearer's neck, in use, and L-a= extending from opposite sides of the central oortaon configured to lie over opposite sides in front of the weatex's torso, In use The aircrew ensemble of claim 2 or 3, wherein the third olurality of complementary at achment elements setter-Ise an attachment: element at a position corresponding to the wearer's torso, in use, an attachment element at a nesition corresponding to the wearer's neck, in use, and an attachment element at a position corresponding to the wearer's waist, in use.5,. The aircrew ensemble of claim 4, wherein the attachment element at a position corresponding to the wearer's torso, in use, comprises a zipper or buckle_ The aircrew ensemble of claim 4 or 5, wherein. the attachment element at a position corresponding to the wearer's neck comprises a first end of a strap extending along the wearer's back, in use.The aircrew ensemble of claim 6, wherein the attachment element at a position corresponding to the wearer's waist comprises a second and of the strap extending along the wearer's back, in use, configured for attacnment to a waist belt and/or comprises one Or more loops at a position corresponding to the front of the wearer's waist, in use, configured for attachment to a waist belt.8. The aircrew ensemble of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the second, equipment-holding garment includes a plurality of receptacles for holding equipment.The aircrew ensemble of any one of claims 1 to 7, including the lifejacket.10. A method of enabling an aircrew member to store equipment on their person when the aircrew member is wearing a first, protective garment for covering at least a part of their and having a first plurality of attachment elements spaced apart on the garment for co-operating with a second plurality of complementary attachment elements of a lifejacket that in use can be worn over the first, protective garment and. attached to the first, protective garment by the respective first and second pluralities of attachment elements, the method including provHding a second, equipment-holding garment having a third plurality of complementary attachment elements that co-operate with the first plurality-of attachment elements of the first, protective garment 0.0 that the secbnd, equipment-holding garment is worn over the first, protective garment and attached to the first, protective garment by the respective first and third pluralities of attachment elements in place of the lifejacket, so that the second, equipment-holding garment is interchangeable with the lifejacket.11. The method of claim 10, wherein the third oral it' of complementary attachment elements comprise an attachment element at a. position corresponding to the wearer's torso, an attachment element at a posi.on corresponding to the wearer's neck, and an attachment element at a pos rHnn corresponding to the wearer's waist, 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the attachment element at a position corresponding to the wearer's torso comprises a zipper or buckle and the second, equipment-hold_ garment is attached to the first, protective garment by closing the zipper or fastening the buckle.13. The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein the attachment element at a position corresponding to the wearer's neck comprises a first end of a strap extending along the wearer's back 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the attachment elemel position corresponding to the wearer's waist comprises a second end of the strap extending along the wearer's back that is attached to a waist belt and/or-comprises a position corresponding to the front of the wearer's that Is attached to a waist belt.