WO2004066765A1

WO2004066765A1 - Protective garment with filtering and/or sanitising element

Info

Publication number: WO2004066765A1
Application number: PCT/IT2004/000027
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marco Angelo Viano
Original assignee: Marco Angelo Viano
Priority date: 2003-01-31
Filing date: 2004-01-30
Publication date: 2004-08-12
Also published as: ITBS20030013U1

Abstract

Protective garment such as, for example, a scarf, a balaclava cap, a bandanna, a jacket collar and the like, having a portion (10') adapted for covering the respiratory tract, to which is removably associated at least ad element (11) having a filtering action, that is, adapted for holding dust particles, bacteria, pollen and other noxious substances present in the air, and/or a sanitising action.

Description

DESCRIPTION

PROTECTIVE GARMENT WITH FILTERING AND/OR SANITISING ELEMENT

[0001] . The present invention relates to a protective garment such as, for example, a scarf, a balaclava cap, a bandanna, a jacket collar and the like, wherein there is a built-in filtering interchangeable element, that is, adapted for holding dust particles, bacteria, pollen or other noxious substances present in the air, and/or sanitising, that is, usable for example to help breathing.

[0002] . In fact the need of protecting from pollution is increasingly felt nowadays, especially by people who travel on foot, by bike or motorcycle in the city traffic, and especially pollution generated by the means of transport, and that occurs in the form of dusts present in the air.

[0003] . To this purpose, and also for protecting from bacteria or pollen, rigid or semi-rigid masks are used, of the disposable type, which on the one hand allow limiting the inhalation of said harmful substances but on the other hand, are quite uncomfortable, bulky and unaesthetic.

[0004] . Based on these premises, object of the present invention is that of proposing a protection means which should limit the intake of harmful substances by the respiratory tract, which should at the same time be not very bulky, cheaper, comfortable to use and aesthetically nice. [0005] . Another object of the present invention is that of providing a protective element which, besides carrying out its function, is provided with an interchangeable filtering and/or sanitising element that when the garment is worn, is arranged at the mouth and at the nose. [0006] . These objects are achieved by a protective garment conforming to the following claims. [0007] . Further features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following description, made by way of a non-limiting example, of some preferred embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

[0008] . figure 1 shows a perspective view of a portion of a scarf and an interchangeable filtering and/or sanitising element to be applied thereon, separate; [0009] . figure 2 shows the scarf with the built-in interchangeable filtering and/or sanitising element; [0010] . figure 3 shows a view similar to that of figure 1, but with a different coupling system between the scarf and the filtering element; [0011] . figure 4 shows a further example of scarf with filtering and/or sanitising element and provided with fixing means once it is worn;

[0012] . figure 5 shows the scarf of the previous figure, when worn; and [0013] . figure 6 shows a balaclava cap provided with the interchangeable filtering and/or sanitising element. [0014] . In said drawings, reference numeral 10 denotes a scarf provided with means for receiving and holding, in a safe but removable manner, an interchangeable filtering and/or sanitising element 11. Said element 11 is adapted for holding dust particles, bacteria, pollen or other harmful substances present in the air and/or releasing balms, for example to help freeing the respiratory tract, for example in case of cold. [0015] . Preferably, the interchangeable element 11 is made of a soft material, so as to not stiffen the scarf to which it is applied, to adjust to it and become integral with it .

[0016] . Advantageously, element 11 is sized in height so as to cover mouth and nose, in length to extend substantially from one ear to the other. In addition, it can narrow at the ends 11 ' , maintaining a geometrical shape anyway, substantially as a parallelogram, to optimise its industrial producibility and its transportability. For a better adherence to the face, the interchangeable element 11 can also be suitably shaped at the nose.

[0017] . In the embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2, scarf 10 exhibits an intermediate portion 10' to which element 11 is applied, and two side pockets 12, open towards said intermediate portion 10' and adapted for receiving the ends 11 ' of element 11.

[0018] . Pockets 12 can extend from the intermediate portion 10' only by the length required to allow the insertion of said ends, or to the ends of scarf 10, so as to give more weight to the latter.

[0019] . Scarf and interchangeable filtering and/or sanitising element can be connected by Velcro strips 13, as shown in figure 3 , or by other equivalent quick coupling means, which in any case should facilitate the element interchangeability.

[0020] . At the top edge of the intermediate portion 10', whereon the interchangeable element 11 is applied, the scarf can be further provided with a fabric strip 14 which, once the scarf is worn, can be folded inwards so as to prevent the inlet of air from top and serve at the same time as means for locking the filtering element. For a higher adherence to the face, said fabric strip 14 can be suitably shaped. [0021] . In a further embodiment, particularly advantageous, besides the interchangeable element 11, scarf 10 is provided with fixing means adapted for locking the scarf into position when worn, so as to ensure the arrangement of element 11 always in close contact with the respiratory tract.

[0022] . In particular, in the example shown in figures 4 and 5, scarf 10 is provided with a tape 15 inserted into a longitudinal seat 16 substantially obtained along the entire top edge of the scarf. Advantageously, said seat 16 is formed by folding the top edge of the scarf inwards and sewing it . At opposed sides relative to element 11, tape 15 is provided with at least two small loops 17 facing inside the scarf and accessible through respective openings 18 obtained in the folded edge of the scarf. Said small loops 17 can therefore be coupled with a clip 19 or an equivalent fixing element suitable for holding two opposed portions of the scarf together when worn, as shown in figure 5.

[0023] . As it is evident, and without departing from the scope of the invention, the filtering and/or sanitising element 11 can be applied, as described above, to any other garment having a portion intended to protect the respiratory tract, such as for example a balaclava cap, as shown in Fig. 6, a bandanna, a jacket collar and the like.

Claims

1. Protective garment such as, for example, a scarf, a balaclava cap, a bandanna, a jacket collar and the like, having a portion (10') adapted for covering the respiratory tract, characterised in that at least an element (11) having a filtering action, that is adapted for holding dust particles, bacteria, pollen and other noxious substances present in the air, and/or a sanitising action, is removably associated to said portion (10' ) .

2. Protective garment according to claim 1, wherein the filtering and/or sanitising element (11) is made of a soft material, so as to adhere to said portion (10') of the garment without stiffen it .

3. Protective garment according to claim 2, wherein the filtering and/or sanitising element is sized in height so as to cover mouth and nose, and in length to extend substantially from one ear to the other.

4. Protective garment according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the filtering and/or sanitising element is substantially shaped as a parallelogram, so as to optimise its industrial production and transport cost, to facilitate the "disposable" use.

5. Protective garment according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that it is provided with a pair of side pockets (12) , open at least towards the portion (10') protecting the respiratory tract, said pockets being adapted for receiving and holding the ends

(11') of the filtering and/or sanitising element.

6. Protective garment according to any one of claims 1- 4, wherein garment and filtering and/or sanitising element are provided with quick releasable coupling means .

7. Protective garment according to claim 6, wherein said quick coupling means comprise Velcro strips (13) .

8. Protective garment according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that at the top edge of the protective portion of the respiratory tract (10'), on which the filtering and/or sanitising element is applied, it is provided with a fabric strip (14) adapted for being folded inwards so as to prevent the inlet of air from top and serve at the same time as means for locking the filtering and/or sanitising element .

9. Scarf according to any one of the previous claims, further comprising fixing means for its locking into position when worn.

10. Scarf according to claim 9, comprising a tape (15) inserted into a longitudinal seat (16) substantially obtained along the entire top edge of the scarf and provided, at opposed sides relative to the filtering and/or sanitising element (11) , with at least two small loops (17) facing inside the scarf and accessible through respective openings (18) , said small loops being coupled with a clip (18) or equivalent fixing element suitable for holding two opposed portions of the scarf together when worn.