U.S. patent application number 10/066837 was filed with the patent office on 2003-05-15 for method and apparatus for preventing belt abrasion.
Invention is credited to Batters, Elaine, Batters, Robert C..
Application Number | 20030088901 10/066837 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26747203 |
Filed Date | 2003-05-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030088901 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Batters, Robert C. ; et
al. |
May 15, 2003 |
Method and apparatus for preventing belt abrasion
Abstract
A protective device and associated method for protecting a
wearer of a work belt from abrasion and irritation in the region of
the wearer's hip bone. One or more padded loop(s) of material
is/are secured around the trouser belt and/or the work belt of a
wearer, and are positioned on either or both side(s) of the crest
of the ilium to create a recess between the belt and the wearer and
thereby reduce or prevent abrasion and irritation.
Inventors: |
Batters, Robert C.; (College
Park, GA) ; Batters, Elaine; (College Park,
GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GARDNER GROFF, P.C.
PAPER MILL VILLAGE, BUILDING 23
600 VILLAGE TRACE
SUITE 300
MARIETTA
GA
30067
US
|
Family ID: |
26747203 |
Appl. No.: |
10/066837 |
Filed: |
February 4, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60333271 |
Nov 14, 2001 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/46 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 27/12 20130101;
A41D 13/0506 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/46 |
International
Class: |
A41D 027/12 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system for protecting a wearer, comprising: a garment to be
worn adjacent a body portion of the wearer; and at least one
protective device attached to said garment and having at least a
portion thereof interposed between the garment and the wearer.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the garment is a belt to be worn
around the waist of a wearer, and wherein the protective device is
a loop of material attached around the belt.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the loop of material is
padded.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein the loop of material comprises a
polyester fabric.
5. The system of claim 2, wherein the loop of material comprises a
multi-layer construction.
6. The system of claim 2, wherein first and second protective
devices are attached to the belt, the first protective device
positioned adjacent a first side of an iliac crest of the wearer,
and the second protective device positioned adjacent a second side
of the iliac crest of the wearer.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the protective device comprises a
three-dimensional knit spacer fabric.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the protective device comprises a
strip of material having a hook portion of a hook-and-loop fastener
system at a first end thereof, and a loop portion of the
hook-and-loop fastener system at a second end thereof.
9. A protective device for mounting to a belt, said protective
device comprising a loop defining an opening therethrough for
receiving the belt.
10. The protective device of claim 9, wherein the loop is formed
from a strip of material having first and second ends thereof
releasably fastened to one another.
11. The protective device of claim 10, wherein the strip of
material has a hook portion of a hook-and-loop fastener system at a
first end thereof and a loop portion of the hook-and-loop fastener
system at a second end thereof.
12. The protective device of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of
the protective device is padded.
13. The protective device of claim 12, at least partially
comprising a polyester fabric.
14. The protective device of claim 13, comprising a multi-layer
construction.
15. The protective device of claim 9, at least partially comprising
a three-dimensional knit spacer fabric.
16. A work belt comprising: a belt to be worn around the waist of a
wearer, the belt having a buckle end, a free end and a length; a
first protective device mounted to the belt on a first side of a
first positional point located about 20-25% of the belt's length
from one end of the belt; and a second protective device mounted to
the belt on a second side of said first positional point, opposite
from the first protective device.
17. The work belt of claim 16, wherein the first and second
protective devices are each spaced a distance of about 1"-4" from
said first positional point on the belt.
18. The work belt of claim 16, further comprising: a third
protective device mounted to the belt on a first side of a second
positional point located about 75-80% of the belt's length from
said one end of the belt; and a fourth protective device mounted to
the belt on a second side of said second positional point, opposite
from the third protective device.
19. A method of protecting a wearer from irritation by a work belt,
comprising: installing a first padded loop of material on the work
belt; securing the work belt about the wearer's waist; and
positioning the first padded loop at a first position on the work
belt adjacent the wearer's iliac crest.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising installing a second
padded loop of material on the work belt, and positioning the
second padded loop at a second position on the work belt adjacent
the wearer's iliac crest and separated a distance from the first
padded loop.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Serial No. 60/333,271, filed Nov. 14, 2001, the
entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein for
all purposes.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to protective
devices, protective clothing, and physical therapeutic methods and
devices, and more particularly to a protective device and method
for preventing or reducing abrasion and irritation caused by tool
belts, duty belts, gun belts and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Police officers, iron workers, carpenters and others who
must wear tool belts, duty belts, gun belts and the like (generally
referred to herein as "work belts") are often bothered by abrasion
and irritation over their hip bones, particularly over and around
the crest of the ilium (the "iliac crest"). Often work belts are
worn over the wearer's ordinary trouser belt, and for some wearers
such as police officers, uniform requirements mandate that the work
belt be worn directly over the trouser belt, sometimes aggravating
the irritation. A method that is currently used to address this
problem is the provision of suspenders on work belts or of
shoulder-holsters for law enforcement officials. Because these
solutions have their own inherent problems, most of the work force
involved has adapted a tough-it-out attitude toward this chronic
problem.
[0004] Thus it can be seen that needs exist for protective devices
and methods that prevent or reduce the abrasion and/or irritation
commonly caused by wearing a work belt. It is to the provision of
improved methods and apparatus meeting these and other needs that
the present invention is primarily directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In its various forms, the present invention provides
improved protective devices and methods for preventing or reducing
the abrasion and irritation commonly caused by wearing a work belt.
Advantageously, the present invention is easily adapted to use with
work belts including gun belts with holsters, tool belts, lumbar
support belts for lifting, and the like. The protective devices of
the present invention can be retrofit to a variety of existing work
belts, or can be provided as a component of or an addition to new
work belts.
[0006] Briefly described, in one aspect, the present invention is a
system for protecting a wearer. The system preferably includes a
garment to be worn adjacent a body portion of the wearer, and at
least one protective device attached to the garment and having at
least a portion thereof interposed between the garment and the
wearer.
[0007] In another aspect, the present invention is a protective
device for mounting to a belt, the protective device preferably
including a loop defining an opening therethrough for receiving the
belt.
[0008] In still another aspect, the present invention is a work
belt. The work belt of the present invention preferably includes a
belt to be worn around the waist of a wearer, the belt having a
buckle end, a free end and a length. The work belt preferably also
includes a first protective device mounted to the belt on a first
side of a first positional point about 20-25% of the belt's length
from one end of the belt, and a second protective device mounted to
the belt on a second side of the first positional point opposite
from the first protective device.
[0009] In yet another aspect, the present invention is a method of
protecting a wearer from irritation by a work belt. The method of
the present invention preferably includes installing a first padded
loop of material on the work belt, securing the work belt about the
wearer's waist, and positioning the first padded loop at a first
position on the work belt adjacent the wearer's iliac crest.
[0010] The specific techniques and structures employed by the
present invention to improve over the drawbacks of the prior
systems and accomplish the advantages described herein will become
apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments
of the invention and the appended drawings and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wearer of a work belt
being equipped with protective devices according to a preferred
form of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a protective device
according to a preferred form of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the protective device of
FIG. 2.
[0014] FIG. 4 shows two protective devices positioned overlying the
crest of the ilium, according to a preferred form of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0015] Referring now to the drawing figures, in which like
reference numbers refer to like parts throughout, preferred forms
of the present invention will now be described by way of example
embodiments. It is to be understood that the embodiments described
and depicted herein are only selected examples of the many and
various forms that the present invention may take, and that these
examples are not intended to be exhaustive or limiting of the
claimed invention.
[0016] As seen best with reference to FIG. 1, in one preferred
form, the present invention comprises a protective device 10 for
installation on a belt of a wearer. The device 10 is preferably
installed in the form of a loop around one or both of the trouser
belt 12 of the wearer and/or a work belt 14 worn generally over or
adjacent the trouser belt. For example, at least one, and more
preferably two or more protective devices 10 are installed on the
belt(s) of a wearer. A protective device 10 can be installed on one
or both sides of a holster, handcuff carrier, or other items
carried on the workbelt 14 and/or the trouser belt 12 to reduce
discomfort from abrasion by the carried item(s). The protective
device 10 preferably is a separate component that is mounted onto
or otherwise releasably attached to the belt(s). Alternatively, the
protective device 10 is integrally formed with or otherwise
permanently attached to either or both of the trouser belt 12
and/or the work belt 14. Although the protective device 10 is shown
attached to a belt secured about the waist of a user, it will be
understood that the device 10 can also be attached to other
garments for use on other body portions of a wearer. For example,
smaller forms of the device 10 can be attached to the strap of an
ankle holster to protect the wearer's ankle region.
[0017] An example embodiment of the protective device 10 of the
present invention is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2 and 3. The
protective device 10 preferably comprises a padded strip of
material 16 having first and second ends, first and second sides,
and first and second faces. In an example embodiment, the strip 16
comprises a three-dimensional knit fabric such as a
polyesterfabric. The D3 three-dimensional knit spacer fabric
MSHR715, produced by Gehring Textiles, Inc., Miltex Division, New
York, N.Y. has been found to be an acceptable material of
construction. Optionally, the strip 16 is reinforced, as by one or
more panel(s) of leather or other material (unshown) stitched,
adhered, or otherwise attached to the strip of material 16.
[0018] The strip 16 of the protective device 10 preferably
comprises a multi-layer construction for additional cushioning and
greater user comfort. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the material
forming the protective device 10 is preferably folded upon itself
one or more times to form two or more layers, or alternatively can
be cut and stacked in multiple layers. The layers of construction
of the strip 16 are preferably secured in place relative to one
another by stitching 30, adhesive, or by other attachment
means.
[0019] In one preferred form, the strip 16 of the protective device
10 is preferably about 11/2" wide by about 61/2" long. In alternate
forms, the strip is wider or narrower, and/or longer or shorter.
The length of the strip is preferably selected to define an opening
having a size sufficient to accommodate the belt or belts intended
to be received therein when the strip is formed into a loop. For
example, a protective device intended to be installed around both a
trouser belt and a work belt will typically be longer than a device
intended to be installed around only one belt, for example about 8"
long, and in this manner can also serve as a beltkeeper to secure
the work belt 14 in place relative to the trouser belt. Many police
departments have uniform requirements specifying that an officer's
gunbelt be positioned over the trouser belt for a neat uniform
appearance. Securing a protective device 10 in place around both
belts not only protects the wearer from abrasion, but also serves
to secure the belts to one another in the desired positions.
[0020] The first end of the protective device 10 preferably
comprises a hook portion 20 of a hook-and-loop fastener system, and
the second end of the protective device preferably comprises a loop
portion 22 of the hook-and-loop fastener system. Alternatively,
interengaging snap couplings, a button and buttonhole, a hook and
eyelet, or other releasable fasteners are provided at opposite ends
of the strip 16 for coupling to one another to form the protective
device 10, or the protective device is integrally formed as a
continuous loop as by stitching or molding. The fastener means are
preferably stitched, rivited, adhesively attached, integrally
formed, or otherwise attached to the strip 16. Both interengaging
elements of the fasteners can be attached on the same face of the
strip 16 as shown in FIG. 2, or alternatively on opposite faces of
the strip 16.
[0021] Most preferably, the protective device(s) 10 are installed
in pairs around first and second portions of the belt(s), whereby a
first device 10a lies over or adjacent one side an iliac crest 30
of the wearer and a second device 10b lies over or adjacent the
other side of the iliac crest, as shown for example by FIG. 4. If
desired, two pairs of protective devices 10a, 10b are installed on
the belt(s) of a wearer, a first pair bracketing the wearer's left
iliac crest, and the second pair bracketing the wearer's right
iliac crest. For example, when the belt is worn, the wearer's left
iliac crest may lie adjacent the belt about 20-25% of the belt's
length from the buckle end of the belt (the belt's "length"
excluding any portion of belt's free end that extends through the
buckle when fastened), and the right iliac crest may lie adjacent
the belt about 75-80% of the belt's length from the buckle end. In
this instance, one pair of protective devices may be attached to
the belt at positions on either side of, and spaced about 1"-4"
from, a point about 20-25% of the belt's length from the buckle
end; and/or another pair of protective devices may be attached to
the belt at positions on either side of, and spaced about 1"-4"
from, a point about 75-80% of the belt's length from the buckle
end. One or more protective device(s) 10 of the present invention
may also be worn over the lumbar or abdominal region to relieve
pressure in these areas. Provision of one or more protective
devices 10 according to the present invention advantageously
reduces or prevents irritation and/or abrasion of the wearer by his
or her work belt. The device(s) preferably work to create a space
between the wearer's skin and the work belt, and/or to provide a
cushioning layer therebetween.
[0022] While the invention has been disclosed in preferred forms
for illustration purposes, those skilled in the art will readily
recognize that many modifications, additions, and deletions can be
made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention as set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *