US3837007A - Reflectorized sleeves - Google Patents

Abstract

A shirt or jacket having sleeves with spaced wide stripes of reflectorized material running from the wrist to the shoulder and/or a pair of light weight similar auxiliary sleeves adapted to be worn over a traffic officer''s uniform after dark or during inclement weather. The high degree of visibility of the long reflectorized stripes illuminated by vehicular headlights not only facilitates the clear discernment of an officer''s traffic directions regardless of the position in which he is standing, thus eliminating possible uncertainty and confusion on the part of drivers and pedestrians, but also protects him from accidents.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 Girest Sept. 24, 1974 REFLECTORIZED SLEEVES 1,245,628 10/1960 France 350/98 Inventor: George G. Girest PO. Box 930,197 H1948 France 2/126 Belmar, NJ. 08736 Primary ExaminerWerner H. Schroeder [22] Flled 1973 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lucke & Lucke [21] Appl. No.: 349,830

[52] US. Cl 2/93, 2/59, 2/126, ABSTRACT 350/98 51 1111.01... A41d 27/10, A41d 29/00 G02b 5/12 A Jacket. havmg sleeves Spaced 9 [58] Field of Search 2/2 16 90 91 93 stnpes of reflectonzed material runmng from the wrist 2/94 108 1 6 to the shoulder and/or a pair of light weight similar auxiliary sleeves adapted to be worn over a traffic offi- [56] References Cited cers unlform after darlt or durmg 1nclement weather. The h1gh degree of v1s1b1l1ty of the long reflectonzed UNITED STATES PATENTS stripes illuminated by vehicular headlights not only fa- 807,628 12/1905 cilitates the clear discernment of an officers traffic 9421980 H1910 directions regardless of the position in which he is 33 standing, thus eliminating possible uncertainty and 3 691 564 9/1972 LaMarre 2/59 x confusion on the part of drivers and pedestrians, but

FOREIGN PATENTS also protects him from accidents 1,074,476 10/1954 France 2/94 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1 REFLECTORIZED SLEEVES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention avoid being hit by moving traffic, and also .forthose directing traffic to better enable driversand pedestrians alike to correctly interpret the meaning of their manual and arm motions.

2. Description of the Prior Art Patents have been granted for reflecting collars, belts or even .a patch sewn onto the back of a garment, for a form-sustaining elongated cuff or armband which only produce .undiscern'able bright spots in the dark. Or a cap with or without flowing I material attached thereto, which is incapable of projecting traffic signals. There are also jackets with reflecting material disposed on the front or back thereof. The deficiency of these known ,devices is that if an officer or other person in the midst of traffic stands sideways, the reflecting portion of such garments are not visible from either side, thereby increasing the danger of accident to himself as well as to pedestrians and moving vehicles.

A preliminary search for novelty developed the following U.S. Pat. Nos:

1,739,289 Dec. 10, 1929 Carter; 2,656,763 Oct. 27,

1953 Frost; 3,038,381 June 12, 1962; 3,276,416 Oct. 4, I966 Dirks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A pair of light weight sleeves with light reflecting stripes of reflectorized material running longitudinally from the wrist band to the shoulder portion are adapted to be slipped over the sleeves of a uniform jacket or shirt. One end of a strap sewn to the inner portion of the top of the sleeve is threaded through the epaulet of the jacket and then the free end of the strap temporarily secured to a Velcro patch affixed to the outer surface of the sleeve to hold each sleeve in place.

For use over attire having no epaulets, an elastic member or device having a closed loop at each end can be worn across the shoulders. The free end of the straps which pass through the end loops of the device are then secured to the sleeve. With the sleeves thus attached, the device can then be shortened or lengthened to retain the thus connected sleeves at shoulder level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an officer wearing the sleeves shown in FIGS. 1 and.2 with the straps looped under the epauletson his uniform;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of an officer wearing a pair of reflectorized sleeves and an elastic member worn across the shoulders adapted to connect the sleeves and hold them upright in proper position; and

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a sleeve with its strap looped under an epaulet on an officers uniform.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a full fashioned sleeve auxiliary 10 made of stripes of light weight material preferably of a dark color in contrast to a plurality of white reflectorized stripes ll sewn or otherwise attached thereto in mutually spaced relation along the full length of the sleeve. It will be seen from the drawings that the dark and light stripes of the sleeve are of substantially equal width.

It will be seen that the sleeves are of ample width enabling them to be easily pulled over even heavy uniforms, yet have elastic bands or the like 12 for a snug fit around the wrist. This anchors the sleeve and keeps it from riding up during active arm movements. The full length of the wide, reflective stripes are plainly visible from all directions so that arm motions are easy to decipher.

One end 13 of a short strap 14 is sewn or otherwise attached to the under surface of the sleeve proximate the shoulder portion 15 thereof. The free end 16 of the strap carries a Velcro hook patch 17, see FIG. 1, on its underside which meshes with a Velcro pile patch 18 attached to the upper surface of the sleeve. The hook patch is spaced rearwardly from the termination of the free end to provide a gripping tab 19 by which the Velcro closure can be readily ripped apart to remove the sleeve.

FIGS. 3 and 5 show the sleeves retained at shoulder height by looping the free end 16 of strap 14 through each epaulet 20 of a uniform 21 before meshing the Velcro hook patch 17 on the strap with the pile patch 18 on the sleeve.

FIG.2 shows each strap 14 hooked around a shoulder belt 22.

FIG. 4 illustrates another means of retaining the top of the sleeves at shoulder level when worn with uniforms 21' having no epaulets. Here an elastic member 23 provided with loops 24 at each end is used. Straps 14 are threaded through loops 24 before their Velcro patches are meshed. Then the member is adjusted for the proper length between the sleeves. The wearer slips on each sleeve over his uniform before stretching the member over his head for retracted correct wearing position across his shoulders.

These light weight, soft sleeves 10 are readily foldable and can be stored compactly in a small pouch or other pliable container, not shown, and kept in a pocket for ready use.

' Although the invention has been illustrated and discribed relative to a pair of removable sleeves to be worn over conventional attire, it is understood that it also encompasses separate articles of clothing, such as shirts, Windbreakers and the like having similar reflectorized sleeves.

The forms of the invention here described and illustrated are presented merely as examples of how the in- LII tive means for retaining the bottom of each said sleeve at wrist position, one end of each said strap being permanently fastened to each said sleeve and the other end of said strap adapted to pass under one of said epaulets, and means for releasibly securing it to its respective sleeve, thus retaining the top of each said auxiliary sleeve at shoulder height.

2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said stripes are stitched together longitudinally to form the body of said sleeves.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,837,007 Dated September 24, 1974 Inventor-(s) George G- GlreSl It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Inventor: George G. Gires'i 1224 Oakwood Road 1261mm; N. J. 07719 Signed and sealed this 4th day of February 1975.

(SEAL) 1 Attesg: v

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. Attesting Officer C. MARSHALL DANN Comissioner of Patents

Claims (2)

1. In combination with an officer''s uniform having a jacket with epaulets and standard sleeves, a pair of auxiliary full length sleeves adapted to be separately pulled up over said standard sleeves, each of said auxiliary sleeves comprising alternate wide longitudinal stripes of reflective and non-reflective material, a releasible strap disposed at the top of each said sleeve and restriCtive means for retaining the bottom of each said sleeve at wrist position, one end of each said strap being permanently fastened to each said sleeve and the other end of said strap adapted to pass under one of said epaulets, and means for releasibly securing it to its respective sleeve, thus retaining the top of each said auxiliary sleeve at shoulder height.

2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said stripes are stitched together longitudinally to form the body of said sleeves.

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