WO2008050303A2

WO2008050303A2 - Protective garments

Info

Publication number: WO2008050303A2
Application number: PCT/IB2007/054327
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christopher James Leatt; Mark Eric Hopkins; Grant Leigh Nelson
Original assignee: Christopher James Leatt; Mark Eric Hopkins; Grant Leigh Nelson
Priority date: 2006-10-24
Filing date: 2007-10-24
Publication date: 2008-05-02
Also published as: WO2008050303A3

Abstract

A garment (10) according to the invention is configured to extend at least partly around the upper body of a wearer and includes an impact surface (40) adjacent the neck of the wearer and facing generally upwardly and a structure (18) that extends between the impact surface and the inside of the garment that faces the upper body of the wearer. The impact surface (40) is spaced from a helmet of the wearer so that it can limit movement of the helmet by contacting an underside of the helmet and the structure (18) is sufficiently resilient to transfer impact loads from the helmet on the impact surface, to the wearer's upper body.

Description

PROTECTIVE GARMENTS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to protective gear for wearing when exposed to the risk of physical injury, especially to the neck and upper cervical spine. In particular, the invention relates to protective garments.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Participants in activities where they are exposed to risks of injury often wear protective equipment such as helmets, knee and elbow guards, and the like. It is further common for participants in many activities such as sports, to wear clothing that is specifically suited for that sport, providing appropriate thermal protection, freedom of movement, ventilation, protection against abrasion and solar radiation, etc.

However, in most instances, especially when motorcycling or in motor sport, a participant typically has to gear up in a cumbersome procedure by putting on padding and clothing (the order may vary) and finally fitting a helmet. Attempts have been made to reduce the hassle of gearing up and to improve comfort by incorporating some of the padding in garments worn in these activities. However, padding of this sort typically comprises multiple layers of fabric, wear resistant outer layers, and in extreme cases, relatively small shells of resilient material. These padded garments consequently assist greatly in reducing the risk of abrasive injuries and minor bruises, but offer no protection against injuries of the neck and upper cervical spine.

A neck brace has recently been developed and is disclosed in International Patent Application No. PCT/ZA2004/000148, published as WO 2005/051251 , the contents of which is included herein in its entirety, by reference. This neck brace offers unsurpassed protection to the neck and upper cervical spine, when worn in conjunction with a helmet. However, this neck brace typically has to be worn on top of conventional garments and thus adds to the hassle of gearing up, with the consequential risk that there may be some resistance to wearing the brace.

Further, garments that have been designed for particular activities, often include features that make wearing the neck brace uncomfortable and/or that are rendered ineffectual by the neck brace. This is the case, for instance, where motorcycling suits have protuberances behind the neck of a rider, intended to improve aerodynamics and to offer a support for the rider's helmet, when pushed rearward by wind resistance at high speed. Many garments have longitudinal zips along their front or rear, which are below the neck brace in use, so that the neck brace rests on these zips, causing discomfort and so that the zips are inaccessible until the rider's neck brace has been removed.

The present invention seeks to provide a protective garment with the advantages of the neck brace of International Patent Application No. PCT/ZA2004/000148.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a garment configured to extend around the upper body of a wearer, at least in part, said garment including: at least one impact surface adjacent the neck of the wearer and facing generally upwardly, such that it is spaced from a helmet when the garment is worn with a helmet and that can limit movement of the helmet by contacting an underside of the helmet; and a structure that extends between the impact surface and the inside of the garment that faces the upper body of the wearer; wherein said structure is sufficiently resilient to transfer impact loads from the helmet on the impact surface, to the wearer's upper body.

The structure may be generally rigid and the garment may include a flange extending from the structure, said impact surface being defined on the upper surface of the flange. The garment may also include at least one retaining protuberance standing proud of the impact surface, which is configured to prevent a helmet of the wearer from sliding over the impact surface. The garment may include a column that extends along the rear of the garment, in a position corresponding with the upper spine of the wearer, said column being fixedly attached to said structure. The garment may also include an aerodynamic protuberance extending from the wearer's back, generally in the same position as the column and the protuberance may be part of the column.

The structure may include a radial protuberance, extending from its periphery, generally coplanar with the adjacent remainder of the garment and the radial protuberance may include a forward and downward extension, defining an under- surface which is shaped and configured to bear on the wearer's chest.

The structure may be in the form of a ring that can extend around the wearer's neck and the ring may comprise a U-shaped front section, a U-shaped rear section and at least one releasable latch configured to fasten said sections to each other.

The ring may be configured to open in one or more places, e.g. it may be configured to hinge on one side or both sides and to open on the side opposite from where it is hinged. The garment may include an elongate closure member such as a zip, extending from a position on the ring where it can be opened, along the remainder of the garment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of non-limiting example, to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a three dimensional view of an upper body garment in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a front view of an upper body garment in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a side view of the garment of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a front view of an upper body garment in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a side view of the garment of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a front view of an upper body padding garment in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a side view of the garment of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a front view of a full length garment in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 9 is a side view of the garment of Figure 8;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings, a garment in accordance with the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10, followed by a suffix corresponding to the number of the embodiment of the invention. Features of the different embodiments of the invention that are similar have the same reference numerals.

Referring to Figure 1 , the garment 10.1 includes a shell 12 of fabric, leather, polymeric materials, etc, similar to a conventional motorcycling jacket. The shell 12 also includes conventional padding 14 and an elongate closure in the form of a zip 16 that is positioned laterally along the front of the garment 10.1.

Around the neck of the garment 10.1 , it includes a resilient, preferably rigid, ring 18 that forms part of a neck brace, generally as described in WO 2005/051251 , mentioned above, that is integrally part of the garment. The ring 18 includes a lower flange 20 that extends generally coplanar with and is attached to the shell 12. The ring 18 further includes an upper flange 22 that is spaced from the lower flange 20 and that protrudes radially from the upper periphery of the ring. The ring 18 is configured to open or hinge at either of two openings 24 (even though it is shown in the drawings in the closed condition) and to be locked closed with a clip 26 on either side. The zip 16 is aligned with the opening 24 on the right hand side of the garment 10.1 , so that the ring 18 can be opened at that opening and the zip opened, when the a wearer puts the garment on or takes it off. The upper flange 22 defines an upwardly facing impact surface 40 that extends around the wearer's neck and the lower flange 20 defines an under-surface 42 that bears on the wearer's body, particularly on his chest.

The upper flange 22 includes a rear retaining protuberance 28 and a front retaining protuberance 30, each in the form of a ridge that extends upwardly from an edge of the upper flange at its rear and front, respectively.

The garment 10.1 includes a resilient column that extends longitudinally downwardly from the back of the ring 18 and is integrally formed with the rear of the garment to bear on the back of the wearer. The column is fixedly attached to the ring, as described in WO 2005/051251.

In use, a wearer fits the garment 10.1 in a single operation and need not fit a garment and a neck brace separately. The zip 16 and clip 26 are closed and the garment 10.1 , including the ring 18 and column are in position. In the event of high loading on a helmet of the wearer, e.g. during rapid deceleration in an accident, the underside of the helmet presses against the impact surface 40 of the upper flange, which prevents excessive rotation of the helmet and thus assists in preventing injuries to the neck and upper cervical spine. Loads imposed on the upper flange 22 are transferred to the wearer's body over large areas, by the lower flange 20 and column, both of which are padded on their insides. The front and rear retaining protuberances 28,30 are configured to prevent the helmet from sliding too far backwards or forwards during a collision.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the garment 10.2 is generally identical to the garment

10.1 , except that it does not have padding on its front and the upper and lower flanges 20,22 are not as clearly spaced apart as in 10.1.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the garment 10.3 is generally identical to the garment

10.2, except that it includes more padding 14. Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the garment 10.4 is generally similar to the garment 10.1 , except that the shell 12 comprises entirely of different pieces of padding 14, held together by straps 34. In this embodiment of the invention, the column 32 is visible.

Referring to Figures 8 and 9, the garment 10.5 is almost identical in its upper part to the garment 10.2, but includes legs 36. This garment 10.5 also includes an aerodynamic protuberance 38 extending behind the wearer's back and that is integrally part of the ring 18 and the column 32.

Claims

1. A garment (10) configured to extend around the upper body of a wearer, at least in part, said garment (10) including: at least one impact surface (40) adjacent the neck of the wearer and facing generally upwardly, such that it is spaced from a helmet when the garment is worn with a helmet and that can limit movement of the helmet by contacting an underside of the helmet; and a structure (18) that extends between the impact surface (40) and the inside of the garment that faces the upper body of the wearer; characterised in that said structure (18) is sufficiently resilient to transfer impact loads from the helmet on the impact surface (40), to the wearer's upper body.

2. A garment (10) as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that said structure (18) is generally rigid.

3. A garment (10) as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the garment (10) includes a flange (22) extending from the structure (18), said impact surface (40) being defined on the upper surface of the flange (22).

4. A garment (10) as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the garment (10) includes at least one retaining protuberance (28,30) standing proud of the impact surface (40), said protuberance (28,30) being configured to prevent a helmet of the wearer from sliding over the impact surface (40).

5. A garment (10) as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that said garment (10) includes a column (32) that extends along the rear of the garment (10), in a position corresponding with the upper spine of the wearer, said column (32) being fixedly attached to said structure (18).

6. A garment (10) as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that said garment (10) includes an aerodynamic protuberance (38) extending from the wearer's back, generally in the same position as the column (32).

7. A garment (10) as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that said protuberance (38) is part of the column (32).

8. A garment (10) as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the structure (18) includes a radial protuberance (20), extending from its periphery, generally coplanar with the adjacent remainder of the garment (10).

9. A garment (10) as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that said radial protuberance (20) includes a forward and downward extension, defining an under- surface (42) which is shaped and configured to bear on the wearer's chest.

10. A garment (10) as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that said structure is in the form of a ring (18) that can extend around the wearer's neck.

11. A garment (10) as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that said ring (18) comprises a U-shaped front section, a U-shaped rear section and at least one releasable latch (26) configured to fasten said sections to each other.

12. A garment (10) as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that said garment (10) includes an elongate closure member (16), extending from a position on the ring (18) where it can be opened, along the remainder of the garment (10).