WO2008009839A2 - Exterior protective case integrated in a protective cover or into clothes - Google Patents

Abstract

Said exterior protective case (4) is made of a sheet or a plate consisting of a rigid polymer material. It is provided with a plurality of partial incisions (5) suitable for defining clearly articulated patterns between each other for providing said case with a certain global flexibility and a local rigidity as well as with air permeability.

Description

 EXTERNAL PROTECTION COVER, IN PARTICULAR FOR INTEGRATING WITHIN A PROTECTIVE COVER OR CLOTHING, COVER AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING INCORPORATING SUCH A COVER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates in the first place to a protective shell combining both anti-abrasion, anti-perforation and anti-tear qualities, and qualities of flexibility to allow its adaptation to the external shape of an object to be protected or to the morphology of the wearer of a garment, besides the different movements that it is likely to make for the practice of a physical activity, sports or industrial in particular.

The invention also relates to a protective cover provided with such a shell, especially for all types of object likely to require such protection, including office equipment, such as laptop, PDA, etc., or equipment of sport, such as for example a gliding board, a float (windsurfing, surfing), etc.

It also relates to a protective clothing provided with such a shell, but also other elements, including damper, said clothing being more particularly intended for use in the field of sports and recreation but also in the industrial world, in that of security or in the field of transport.

PRIOR STATE OF THE ART

The integration of protection or cushioning elements in clothing is a recurring concern. Indeed, a number of sports or leisure activities are generating shock and blows, such as including but not limited to skiing, ice hockey, horseback riding, cycling, etc.

One of the areas traditionally protected because of its vulnerability and the subsequent consequences of such shocks is the backbone or spine. Thus, with regard to the ski and more particularly the practice of the descent, the official regulations now require the wearing of a protective shell extending substantially along the entire spine, and worn under the outer protective clothing against cold, bad weather etc .... The wearing of such a protective shell is also imperative in the practice of cross-country events for the same purpose.

While these protective elements certainly provide the function assigned to them, they prove inconvenient for the user because of a part of the intrinsic rigidity of the protective shell, and secondly the additional thickness that they generate, likely to limit, even partially, the movement of the particular members of the user's upper or the various flexions of the back generated by the practice concerned. Indeed, these protection elements are traditionally made of relatively thick shock absorber elements.

In some cases, such elements are devoid of protective shell to recover flexibility. However, experience shows that they are insufficient in terms of efficiency (shock and abrasion), especially for the practice of skiing or motorcycling.

Clothes incorporating damping elements at the level of sensitive zones are also known. Classically, these are distributed in so-called "at risk" areas, for example shoulders, elbows, knees. They consist for example of two layers, respectively external and internal, made of flexible materials, porous, "breathable" and substantially non-elastic, separated from each other by a plurality of substantially elastic damping cushions in contact with each other. others, allowing some flexibility. Such garments are for example described in WO 00/16652.

While certainly, these clothes have the advantage of offering a certain comfort and a certain hygiene, on the other hand their capacity of protection is limited since this one is reduced to simple damping.

In the field of protective covers, the products available in general confer a relatively reduced protection against shocks. Indeed, in order not to excessively weigh down the product coated with its protective cover, it is usually reduced to a textile envelope, flexible, more likely to protect the product against dust than to effectively provide an effective barrier against the shocks. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to propose first of all, a protective shell having both to offer the qualities of rigidity, for the purpose of combating abrasion in case of drop and / or slip, against perforations and tears, and flexibility, to allow its adaptation as high as possible to the shape of the object to protect or the morphology of the user and the movement of its members or parts of his body.

The invention also relates to clothing incorporating such a shell, said garment being further provided with damping elements, in particular. It also relates to a protective cover for any type of object incorporating such a shell.

Thus, the invention relates first of all to an external protective shell. This shell is characterized in that it is made from sheets or sheets of rigid polymeric material, and in that it has a plurality of partial cutouts suitable for defining substantially articulated patterns between them, intended to confer on said shell some global flexibility and local stiffness of impact distribution and resistance to abrasion and tearing.

In other words, the invention consists in providing a shell at the base made of a rigid material, of limited thickness, and whose partial cuts made within its thickness according to particular patterns allow it to be given flexibility. sought, the cohesion of the whole being preserved through the bridges or material nodes preserved between the cuts, these bridges of material may be more or less narrow, so more or less flexible, depending on the base material.

According to the invention, the material constituting the shell may be a traditional base polymer (Butadiene Acrylate Styrene - ABS, Polycarbonate, Polypropylene, etc.), or a composite polymer, in particular with a thermoplastic matrix. In the latter case, such a material may be based on woven polypropylene fibers, embedded in a matrix also made of polypropylene, and such as for example sold by the company LANKHORST under the trademark PURE® particularly suitable for this application. Thus, with the use of fibrous composite materials which are particularly resistant to tearing, a protective shell is provided that satisfies the essential functions assigned to it, namely anti-abrasive, anti-perforation, anti-tearing, by the implementation of woven fibers, which also allows to distribute the energy in case of shocks, due to a greater flexural modulus than pure thermoplastic materials. In addition, one can play on the sizing more or less important material nodes present between the cuts, depending on the nature of the polymer used, in particular fibrous nature to adulate the flexibility and strength of the shell to the area to protect and / or the activity concerned.

Thus, if one wishes to protect the backbone, one can implement larger nodes, to obtain a more rigid protective shell, and corollary more protective. Admittedly, the flexibility is affected, at least in part, but in the case of an area to protect relatively plant, the back in this case, this decrease in flexibility is not prohibitive. On the other hand, if the zone to be protected consists of a joint, elbow or knee, for example, the nodes used are smaller, in order to confer the necessary flexibility to the hull.

According to the invention, such a shell is "breathable" because of the cuts made therein.

It has a very light density, typically less than 0.8 g / cm ³ if for example it is made of self-reinforced polypropylene PURE® type.

Finally, it turns out to be relatively low cost, by the implementation of an economic material, and by its realization by a process of transformation, in this case cutting (with the help of piece, laser or jet of water) requiring investment in molds reduced or even zero ..

The patterns of the cuts can be both geometric and repetitive, such as triangles or other circles, that "morphological", that is to say, optimized to better marry the area to protect. In both cases, the aim is to optimize both the cutting operation and the flexibility. The invention further relates to protective clothing more particularly intended for the practice of sports and leisure. These comprise a number of areas deemed sensitive to knocks and shocks, said zones being provided with a protective shell of the type described above.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, this garment consists of a sweater, a sweet-shirt or a jacket and the sensitive areas are essentially constituted by the spine, shoulders and elbows, even arms, forearms and pectorals.

According to another embodiment, this garment consists of pants and the sensitive area is essentially constituted by the hips, tailbone, knees and shins.

In all cases, the protective shell at the sensitive areas is associated with a damping layer.

This is advantageously constituted by a polymer foam (polyethylene base, EVA, polypropylene, polyurethane, etc.) which is naturally aerated (for example open cell foams or porous foams, such as for example sold by BROCK). ), or micro perforated through a passage between perforating calendering rollers or by flat punching.

The damping layer may also consist of a three-dimensional mesh, denominated in the field considered by 3D mesh (textile or plastic polymer) having Z-shaped fibers (that is to say oriented in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the fabric ) providing good compressive strength while maintaining flexibility and breathability.

Finally, and advantageously, the entire garment comprises a biometric comfort and hygiene layer, which can also be made in 3D mesh of the aforementioned type (polymer textile having Z fibers to space the outer fabrics and improve comfort performance and breathability) associated with thermoregulatory or hydrophobic fabrics (polyester, polyamide, polypropylene base, etc.) as marketed by Dupont de Nemours under the trademark Coolmax®, by the company NIKE under the trade name Dry-fit® or by the company ADIDAS under the trade name Climalite®, or also open-cell foam of low density, advantageously viscoelastic. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The manner in which the invention can be realized and the advantages which result therefrom will emerge more clearly from the following exemplary embodiment given by way of non-limiting indication and with the aid of the appended figures.

Figure 1 is a schematic representation in section of the modeling of the structure according to the invention, more particularly intended to be implemented for a garment. Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, to illustrate the flexibility of the structure.

Figure 3 is a schematic representation illustrating a method of securing the structure of the invention on a garment.

Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the particular areas of the garment for viewing the protective shell according to the invention.

Figure 5 is a schematic representation of the structure of the invention, in its application to a protective cover of a laptop.

Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description is more particularly oriented towards a garment. However, it is understood that this application is in no way limitative of the present invention, and that any use of the specific shell of the invention, in particular for the production of protective covers, for example for computer tools, or articles sports, is covered by the invention.

As already stated, FIG. 1 is intended to model the objective sought by the present invention. The structure of a protective garment according to the invention is thus schematically represented.

In line with a protective zone with which it is provided, and beginning with the face of the garment in contact with the skin of the user or an undergarment, said garment firstly comprises a layer of hygiene (1), then a layer of biometric comfort (2), these two layers can actually be one. Conventionally, these layers of hygiene and biometric comfort are made of technical textile materials, especially three-dimensional textile type (3D mesh). As already indicated, such textiles have Z-fibers providing good compressive strength while maintaining flexibility and breathability.

These textile materials are also advantageously associated with thermoregulatory or hydrophobic fabrics (polyester base, polyamide, polypropylene, etc.). Such fabrics are for example marketed by the company DuPont de Nemours under the trade name Coolmax®, by the company NIKE under the trade name Dryfeat® or by the company Adidas under the trade name Climalite®.

These biometric comfort (2) and hygiene (1) layers may also consist of a low density open cell foam, advantageously viscoelastic.

They are intended to fulfill a number of functions, among which first of all, the biometric comfort by the implementation of voluminal textile or open-cell foam of low density.

In doing so, they provide the necessary softness and drain the air and sweat. They are also intended to give hygiene to the garment, through the implementation of breathable or micro-encapsulated materials.

In addition, these biometric and hygiene layers are required to be light, this quality being obtained by the use of said bulk textile or low-density open cell foam, and to be flexible, it is to be able to perfectly marry the morphology of the user, statically or dynamically. This layer is naturally flexible.

Finally, these layers are given a damping capacity, optimizing the damping function implemented by the damping layer itself described hereinafter in more detail. The volume textile used, or the low density foam, participates in this damping function. With reference to FIG. 1, this biometric comfort and hygiene layer is associated with a damping layer proper (3). In this case, the latter has been shown on the modeling by a layer of a thickness substantially greater than that of the other layers (1, 2). In addition, and advantageously, this damping layer is simply inserted between the comfort and hygiene layer, and the protective shell (4) described hereinafter in more detail. In doing so, there is greater flexibility of the garment in these particular areas, due to the preservation of the sliding capacity of the layers relative to each other.

In this case, this damping layer (3), intended as its name indicates to dampen shocks and knocks, is advantageously constituted by a polymer foam. This layer can be naturally aerated because of its manufacturing process or its constituents. Indeed, the polymerization generating the foaming phenomenon allows to obtain open cells, which let air through. For other foams, such as those marketed by BROCK, they consist of the agglomeration of closed beads, the air flowing between the balls. Finally, the foam may be micro-perforated via a passage between perforating calendering rollers (large series) or by flat punching (small series).

Due to the possibility of air circulation, this damping layer (3) is also breathable.

Another possibility for this damping layer is to use a textile volume (3D mesh textile or plastic) having Z-fibers providing good compressive strength while maintaining flexibility and breathability qualities.

Moreover, this damping foam (3), like the 3D mesh, is light, of a typical density of between 30 and 60 g / l, and flexible, inherent to its nature.

Finally, because of its nature and its mode of production, it turns out to be a low cost of production.

It should be noted that it is also possible to use other damping materials (gels, silicones, viscoelastic polymers, etc.) even if they do not offer the same characteristics of lightness and flexibility, such as the viscoelastic silicone gums stiffening depending on the speed of mechanical stress. The specific areas of the garment according to the invention are further provided with an outer shell (4), having both properties of local rigidity and overall flexibility. It can be fixed on the edges of the garment by sewing, welding or gluing, see figure 3). By this method of attachment, especially at the side areas of implantation of the hull, the latter is likely to slide relative to the damping layer (3) underlying. In addition, said damping layer is itself capable of sliding relative to the biometric comfort and hygiene layers.

In the present case, and according to the invention, this outer shell (4) is made of a pure or preferably composite thermoplastic polymer material, in particular with a thermoplastic matrix. According to an advantageous characteristic, woven polypropylene fibers, embedded in a matrix also made of polypropylene, are used as the polymer. Such a material is marketed under the trademark PURE®.

According to a feature of the invention, this outer shell (4) has cutouts (5), regular or not, in an optimized pattern, in this case triangles, which allows in the first place to give said shell the required flexibility to allow the adaptation of the latter, on the one hand to the morphology of the user and on the other hand to its movements involved in the practice of the activity in question.

Moreover, it should be noted that this shell is made from sheets or plates made of such a material, which allows to treat it with the same technical means of transformation as textiles (patronage, cutting, sewing, welding, gluing ...) without obligatory recourse to tools of thermo forming, thermocompression or injection.

The use of such a thermoplastic matrix composite material also makes it possible to confer on this shell the essential properties which are devolved on it to know how to fight against the abrasion, against the perforation, against the tear likely to intervene during shocks or when sliding on an abrasive surface, such as snow, ice, pavement, etc. These functions of anti-abrasion, anti-perforation and anti-tear are made possible by the implementation of woven fibers constituting said material . Polypropylene fibers are also non-aggressive in case of breakage, unlike glass or carbon fibers, which gives them an additional advantage, especially in terms of comfort and safety. In addition, the use of such a composite material makes it possible to have a significantly higher flexural modulus than pure thermoplastic materials. In doing so, the implementation of such an outer shell makes it possible to better distribute the energy and corollary the impact of shocks likely to intervene at its level.

The cuts implemented allow to give this hull a breathable character. In fact, the breathability of the structure has been symbolized by the upward arrows in FIG.

In addition, depending on the nature of the polymer used, these cuts (5) may be more or less important. Thus, with a pure thermoplastic material, the cutting density is lower and / or the thickness of the sheet or constituent plate is greater.

As a corollary, with a composite thermoplastic material, the density of cuts may be higher, with a smaller thickness of the plates, and this, due to the presence of woven polymer fibers.

In addition, the particular choice of the material constituting the shell, and in particular the self-reinforced polypropylene, in addition to the presence of these cuts, makes it possible to have a material with a density of less than 0.8 g / cm ³ and, therefore, to confer on this shell the lightness required in relation to the application envisaged at the level of clothing.

Figure 2 is intended to illustrate the flexible nature of the complete structure, besides the propensity to the outer shell (4) to slide easily on any type of coating, and symbolized by the arrow.

Of course, the different zones of implantation or integration of the outer shell and the damping material, and in general of the entirety of the structure described in relation with FIGS. 1 and 2, depend on the destination of the garment. question.

FIG. 4 shows, for example, the back of a T-shirt having a plurality of protective zones (6, 7) according to the invention, provided at the level of the vertebral column, of shape and shape. more or less important surface depending on the location. These implantation zones can be obviously multiple and, for example, in particular be located in the most exposed areas, and more particularly the shoulders and clavicle, the outside of the arms, including the elbow, the arm and the forearm, but also at the level of the pecs.

It is conceived in fact that because of the choice of the material constituting the shell in addition to its structure, and in particular its cuts in appropriate patterns, such a garment is naturally flexible, favoring its use for many applications.

According to a variant of the invention shown in connection with Figure 6, more particularly for a garment application, the outer shell (4) is glued on a pre-stretched elastic support, textile or foam (8).

While said support (8) is held stretched, and subsequent to the bonding, the shell (4) is cut as in the previous description, while taking care not to leave any bridge or node between the cuts thus made.

It then stops the stretching of the support (8), and because of its elasticity, it is retracted, inducing, due to cuts made in the shell, the formation of flakes (9), independent one others, and likely to overlap partially. We then contribute to the optimization of the protective nature of the shell, and in addition, we increase the flexibility of the final structure.

In addition, the invention also relates to the protective covers using the external protective shell described above. Such a cover is likely to be implemented for all types of object.

FIG. 5 shows the implementation of the principle of the invention adapted to a portable computer (10). In this case, this protective cover has on its outer surface an outer shell (4), for example of the same nature as that described in relation to Figures 1 to 4.

This outer shell (4) is associated with a damping layer (3), also similar in nature to that described above. In this application also, the breathability of these different layers can be appreciated. Thus, when the object to be protected is constituted by a surf, a pair of ski, etc., in short, an element capable of being wet when it is introduced into the cover, this breathable nature makes it possible to evacuate this humidity rapidly, and thus, promote the durability of the object in question. In the case of computer equipment (PDA, Notebook ...), the breathability is appreciated in that it allows the heat generated by this type of equipment to evacuate.

Claims

1. outer protective shell (4) characterized in that it is made from a sheet or plate of a rigid polymeric material; and in that it has a plurality of partial cuts (5) capable of defining substantially articulated patterns between them, intended to give said hull a certain overall flexibility, and local rigidity, as well as breathability. 2. outer protective shell according to claim 1, characterized in that it is made of a thermoplastic material, preferably selected from the group comprising ABS (Acrylate Butadiene Styrene), polycarbonate, polypropylene. 3. outer protective shell according to claim 1, characterized in that it is made of a thermoplastic composite material, advantageously self-reinforced, said material being in particular made of woven polypropylene fibers embedded in a polypropylene resin 4. outer protective shell according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the patterns are of repetitive or morphological geometric shape. 5. Garment having a number of zones of protection against knocks and shocks, characterized in that at least part of said zones is provided with an outer protective shell (4) according to one of claims 1 to 4. 6. Garment according to claim 5, characterized in that the sensitive areas consist essentially of the spine, shoulders and elbows, or even the arms, forearms and pectorals, as well as the hips, coccyx, knees and shins. 7. Garment according to one of claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the outer protective shell is associated with a damping layer (3), preferably consisting of a polymer foam, naturally ventilated or micro perforated, or a 3D mesh, also airy. 8. Garment according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a biometric comfort layer and hygiene (1, 2), preferably made of either 3D mesh associated with breathable mesh or foam open cell low density. 9. Garment according to one of claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the outer shell (4) is associated with the garment by welding, gluing or sewing. 10. Garment according to one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the outer protective shell (4) is slidable relative to the damping layer (3), the latter being itself capable of sliding relative to biometric comfort and hygiene layers. 11. Garment according to one of claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the outer protective layer (4) is bonded to an elastic support (8), and defines a plurality of flakes (9) independent of each other . 12. Protective cover of an object, characterized in that it comprises on at least part of the surfaces which define an outer protective shell (4) according to one of claims 1 to 4. 13. Protective cover of an object according to claim 12, characterized in that the outer protective shell is associated with a damping layer (3).