FIELD OF THE INVENTION
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The invention relates generally to safety wearing apparel. In particular, this invention relates to a safety band with comfort cuff.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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Several designs for safety armbands are presently available. Most such designs consist of a reflective band that may be wound around the arm or leg of a wearer and secured in place using Velcro™ or other fastening means. Alternative designs incorporate a self-coiling metal strip which grips around the arm or leg of a wearer.
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While various prior designs for safety bands have some degree of isolated merit, none fully meets all the objectives of providing a safety band that is easily mounted on an arm or leg of a wearer, constricts about the wearer's arm or leg thereby being retained in position, and is comfortable to wear.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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An objective of the present invention is to provide a safety band with comfort cuff that is easily mounted on an arm or leg of a wearer, constricts about the wearer's arm or leg thereby being retained in position, and is comfortable to wear.
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In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a safety band with comfort cuff comprising: a) a tubular outer shell having a first end and a second end longitudinally opposed thereto; b) a tubular inner sleeve having a first rim and a second rim longitudinally opposed thereto, the first rim of the inner sleeve circumferentially secured to the first end of the outer shell; wherein the inner sleeve projects into the outer shell and is concentric therewith. The inner sleeve is designed and constructed from a resilient material whereby when an appendage of a wearer is inserted into the inner sleeve of the safety band the inner sleeve expands upon donning and thereby inherently constricts about the appendage of a wearer thus maintaining the outer shell in a desired position on the appendage of the wearer.
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In an embodiment of the present invention there is provided a string comprising at least one light source. The string is circumferentially fixed to and encircles the tubular outer shell of the safety band.
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In another embodiment of the present invention, the safety band includes a zipper means on the outer shell to provide a larger opening to the safety band and to facilitate the insertion of an appendage of the wearer into the safety band.
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In another embodiment of the present invention, the outer shell is designed and constructed with a band of retroreflective material to aid in visibility of the wearer to others.
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One advantage of the present invention is that the inner cuff provides improved comfort to the user during wearing of the safety band compared to currently available models. A further advantage of the present invention is that band is easily mounted on the arm or leg of a wearer without having to adjust strapping means.
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The design of the safety band is versatile, cost effective, and comfortable to wear.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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The present invention will be further understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings of a representative safety band with comfort cuff according to the invention, in which all views are schematic and may not be to scale.
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FIG. 1, in a partially exploded front elevation view, illustrates a safety band with comfort cuff of an embodiment of the present invention.
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FIG. 2, in a partially exploded front elevation view, illustrates a safety band with comfort cuff of another embodiment of the present invention having a string of lights embedded therein.
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FIG. 3, in a front perspective view illustrates an embodiment of the present invention including a zippered outer shell.
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In the drawings, preferred embodiments of the safety band with comfort cuff according to the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be understood that the description and drawings are only for the purpose of illustration and as an aid to understanding, and are not intended to be a constraint on the limits of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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Referring to FIG. 1, in a partially exploded front elevational view, there is illustrated an embodiment of the safety band with comfort cuff 1 of the present invention. The safety band 1 comprises an outer tubular shell 2 having a first end 4 and a second end 6 longitudinally opposed thereto. Preferably, the shell 2 has a band of retroreflective material 8 affixed thereto.
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A tubular inner sleeve 10, having a first rim 12 and a second rim 14 longitudinally opposed thereto, is circumferentially secured within the outer tubular shell 2 such that the inner sleeve 10 projects into the outer tubular shell 2 and is concentric therewith. The first rim 12 of the inner sleeve 10 is circumferentially secured to the first end 4 of the outer tubular shell 2 whereas the second rim 14 of the inner sleeve 10 lies freely within the outer tubular shell 2 such that the second end 6 of the outer tubular shell 2 is not in contact with the appendage of a wearer of the safety band having a comfort cuff 1. The inner sleeve 10 has a central opening 16 designed and configured to receive an arm or leg of a wearer inserted therein. The inner sleeve 10 is preferably designed and constructed from a textile such as knitted or woven fabric exhibiting a resilient characteristic tending to cause the inner sleeve 10 to constrict about the leg or arm of the wearer and thereby be retained in position. It is understood that other construction techniques and materials may be used for the inner sleeve 10. It is to be understood that the resilient characteristic of the inner sleeve 10 is of particular advantage in that with appropriate sizing of the inner sleeve 10 the inner sleeve 10 will be expanded upon donning and thereby inherently result in constriction about the wearer's arm or leg. This has the advantage in that it aids in maintaining the connected outer shell 2 in a desired position on the wearer's leg or arm. Further, the safety band is easily mounted on the arm or leg of the wearer without the need for adjustment of any strapping means. The inner sleeve 10 provides the further advantage that it is constructed from a material that is comfortable to wear thus providing a comfortable cuff for the safety band 1.
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Referring to FIG. 2, in an exploded front elevational view, there is illustrated an illuminated safety band 21 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The illuminated safety band 21 comprises a tubular illuminated outer shell 22 having a first illuminated end 24 and a second other end 26 longitudinally opposed thereto. Preferably, the illuminated shell 22 has another band of retroreflective material 28 affixed thereto.
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A tubular inner comfort sleeve 30, having a first circular rim 32 and a second circular rim 34 longitudinally opposed thereto, is circumferentially secured within the outer illuminated shell 22 such that the inner comfort sleeve 30 projects into the outer illuminated shell 22 and is concentric therewith. The first circular rim 32 of the inner comfort sleeve 30 is circumferentially secured to the first illuminated end 24 of the outer illuminated shell 22 whereas the second circular rim 34 of the inner sleeve 30 lies freely within the illuminated outer shell 22 such that the second other end 26 of the illuminated outer shell 22 is not in contact with the appendage of a wearer of the illuminated safety band 21. The inner comfort sleeve 30 has a central comfort opening 36 designed and configured to receive an arm or leg of a wearer inserted therein. The inner comfort sleeve 30 is preferably designed and constructed from a textile such as knitted or woven fabric exhibiting a resilient characteristic tending to cause the inner comfort sleeve 30 to constrict about the leg or arm of the wearer and thereby be retained in position. It is to be understood that other construction techniques and materials may be used for the inner comfort sleeve 30. It is to be understood that the resilient characteristic of the inner comfort sleeve 30 is of particular advantage in that with appropriate sizing of the inner comfort sleeve 30 the inner comfort sleeve 30 will be expanded upon donning and thereby inherently result in constriction about the wearer's arm or leg. This has the advantage in that it aids in maintaining the connected outer illuminated shell 22 in a desired position on the wearer's leg or arm. The inner comfort sleeve 30 provides the further advantage that it is constructed from a material that is comfortable to wear thus providing a comfortable cuff for the illuminated safety band 21.
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An electrically conductive string 40 having at least one light source 41, such as a high intensity light emitting diode (LED), attached thereto and in electrical communication therewith, is fixed to the first illuminated end 24 of the outer illuminated shell 22 whereby the string 40 encircles the first illuminated end 24 of the outer illuminated shell 22 and the at least one light source 41, when activated, is visible to other parties in the vicinity of the wearer of the illuminated safety band 21. It is understood that the inner comfort sleeve 30 provides a comfortable barrier between the string 40 and the arm or leg of the wearer of the illuminated safety band 21.
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Preferably, the string 40 is in electrical communication with a battery connector 43, such as a 9V battery connector. A storage pocket 44 is fixed to the inner comfort sleeve 30 near the second circular rim 34. The storage pocket 44 is designed and configured to accept a battery (not shown) for powering the string 40. The string 40 is dimensioned and configured such that the battery connector 43 reaches the pocket 44. The pocket 44 and the battery connector 43 are accessible by the wearer through the second other end 26 of the illuminated safety band 21. It is understood that the pocket 44 is mounted between the illuminated shell 22 and the inner comfort sleeve 30 such that the inner comfort sleeve 30 provides a comfortable barrier between the battery (not shown) inserted into the pocket 44 and the arm or leg of the wearer of the illuminated safety band 21.
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Preferably, the string 40 is in electrical communication with a switch 42 mounted near the second circular rim 34 such that the switch 42 is accessible by the wearer through the second other end 26 of the illuminated safety band 21. The switch 42 is designed and configured for activating the at least one light source 41. It is understood that the switch 42 is mounted between the illuminated shell 22 and the inner comfort sleeve 30 such that the inner comfort sleeve 30 provides a comfortable barrier between the switch 42 and the arm or leg of the wearer of the illuminated safety band 21.
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Referring to FIG. 3 there is illustrated in a front perspective view, a zippered safety band 51, according to another embodiment of the present invention. The zippered safety band 51 comprises a tubular zippered outer shell 52 having an input end 54 and an output end 56 longitudinally opposed thereto. An opening 64 is located at the input end 54. A zipper 58 is fixed in a longitudinal seam 60 of the zippered outer shell 52 such that the zipper 58 opens from the output end 56 to near the input end 54. FIG. 3 depicts the zippered safety band 51, in its opened condition, wherein the zipper 58 has been unzipped to reveal the details of a tubular inner cuff 62, said inner cuff 62 circumferentially secured within the zippered outer shell 52 at the input end 54. It is understood that when the zipper 56 is fully open, as shown in FIG. 3, the inner cuff 62 remains circumferentially secured to the zippered outer shell 52 at the input end 54, accordingly, the zipper 58 opens to near the input end 54 rather than opening through the input end 54.
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The inner cuff 62 is preferably designed and constructed from a textile such as knitted or woven fabric exhibiting a resilient characteristic tending to cause the inner cuff 62 to constrict about the leg or arm of the wearer and thereby be retained in position.
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The zipper 58, when in the opened condition, facilitates the insertion of an appendage of a user into the zippered safety band 51. For example, when a user inserts a foot into the opening 64, while having the zipper 58 in the opened condition, the inner cuff 62 expands beyond the circumference of the output end 56 of the zippered outer shell 51 thereby facilitating ease of entry of the foot into the zippered safety band 51. As the user continues to pull the zippered safety band 51 farther up a leg of the user, the inner cuff 62 constricts about the leg of the user and thereby is retained in position. The zipper 58 may then be closed.
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Other variations and modifications of the invention are possible. For example, it is further understood that the switch 42 and the pocket 44 may be mounted on either the outer illuminated shell 22 or on the inner comfort sleeve 30 near the second other end 26 of the illuminated safety band 21. The outer shell may be constructed from retroreflective material. Other re-sealable means may be used in place of the zipper. All such modifications or variations and others that will occur to those skilled in the design of such systems are considered to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.
