U.S. patent application number 12/510902 was filed with the patent office on 2010-02-11 for high visibility safety apparel.
Invention is credited to William L. Grilliot, JR., William L. Grilliot, Mary I. Grilliott, Patricia K. Waters.
Application Number | 20100031417 12/510902 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41651548 |
Filed Date | 2010-02-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100031417 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Grilliot; William L. ; et
al. |
February 11, 2010 |
High Visibility Safety Apparel
Abstract
A high visibility garment is provided for use by fire fighters
and other emergency workers, and allows for large adjustment in
size to accommodate both small and large body sizes, as well as
worker apparel that can vary from a t-shirt to bunker gear or other
heavy duty protective outerwear.
Inventors: |
Grilliot; William L.; (West
Milton, OH) ; Grilliott; Mary I.; (West Milton,
OH) ; Grilliot, JR.; William L.; (Dayton, OH)
; Waters; Patricia K.; (Tipp City, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.;PATENT SERVICES
101 COLUMBIA ROAD, P O BOX 2245
MORRISTOWN
NJ
07962-2245
US
|
Family ID: |
41651548 |
Appl. No.: |
12/510902 |
Filed: |
July 28, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61188453 |
Aug 8, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/102 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 13/01 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/102 |
International
Class: |
A41D 1/04 20060101
A41D001/04 |
Claims
1. A high visibility safety vest for use comprising: an adjustable
torso covering portion of high visibility material, the torso
covering portion having a first state wherein the high visibility
material is fitted to completely encircle a torso of a first
circumferential dimension, and a second state wherein the high
visibility material is fitted to completely encircle a torso of a
second circumferential dimension, the second circumferential
dimension being at least 40% larger than the first circumferential
dimension.
2. The vest of claim 1 wherein the second circumferential dimension
is at least 50% larger than the first circumferential
dimension.
3. The vest of claim 1 wherein the torso covering portion comprises
a back panel of high visibility material and at least one
adjustable side portion of high visibility material that is
adjustable relative to the back panel to provide the first and
second states.
4. The vest of claim 3 further comprising an adjustable connection
between the back panel and the at least one adjustable side
portion.
5. The vest of claim 4 wherein the adjustable connection comprises
hook and loop connectors on the back panel and the at least one
adjustable side portion.
6. The vest of claim 5 wherein the hook and loop connectors
comprise an array of hook and loop patches.
7. The vest of claim 3 wherein the torso covering portion comprises
at least one front/side panel and the at least one front/side panel
comprises the at least one adjustable side portion.
8. The vest of claim 3 wherein the at least one adjustable side
portion comprises two adjustable side portions spaced on opposite
sides of the back panel.
9. The vest of claim 8 wherein the back panel has a transverse
width and each of the side panels have a transverse width that is
sized to extend over half or more of the transverse width of the
back panel.
10. The vest of claim 9 wherein each of the side portions is
overlaid by half or more of the transverse width of the back panel
in the first state, and wherein each of the side portions is
overlaid by less than half of the transverse width of the back
panel in the second state.
11. The vest of claim 8 wherein the torso covering portion
comprises a pair of front/side panels and each of the front/side
panels comprises one of the adjustable side portions.
12. A high visibility safety vest comprising: a back panel of high
visibility material having a transverse width sized to extend over
the back of a wearer; a pair of front/side panels of high
visibility material, each including an adjustable side portion
having a transverse width sized to extend over about half or more
of the transverse width of the back panel; and an adjustable
connection between each of the adjustable side portions and the
back panel; the adjustable connection having a first connected
state wherein the transverse width of the adjustable side portion
is overlaid by about half or more of the transverse width of the
back panel; and a second connected state wherein the transverse
width of adjustable side portion is overlaid by less than 25% of
the transverse width of the back panel.
13. The vest of claim 12 wherein the adjustable connection
comprises hook and loop connectors on the back panel and the side
portions.
14. The vest of claim 13 wherein the hook and loop connectors
comprise an array of hook and loop patches.
15. The vest of claim 14 wherein the hook and loop connectors
further comprise circumferentially extending hook and loop strips
arranged for engagement with the hook and loop patches.
16. A high visibility safety vest comprising: a back panel of high
visibility material having a transverse width sized to extend over
the back of a wearer; a pair of front/side panels of high
visibility material, each including an adjustable side portion
having a transverse width sized to extend over about half or more
of the transverse width of the back panel; and an adjustable
connection between each of the adjustable side portions and the
back panel; the adjustable connection having a first connected
state wherein the transverse width of the adjustable side portion
is overlaid by about half or more of the transverse width of the
back panel; and a second connected state wherein less than 75% of
the transverse width of the adjustable side portion is overlaid by
the transverse width of the back panel.
17. The vest of claim 16 wherein the adjustable connection
comprises hook and loop connectors on the back panel and the side
portions.
18. The vest of claim 17 wherein the hook and loop connectors
comprise an array of hook and loop patches.
19. The vest of claim 18 wherein the hook and loop connectors
further comprise circumferentially extending hook and loop strips
arranged for engagement with the hook and loop patches.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of
U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/188,453, filed Aug. 8, 2008,
which is hereby incorporated by reference.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable.
MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE
[0003] Not Applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
Background of the Invention
[0004] Federal regulations require that all workers within the
right-of-way of a federal aid highway who are exposed either to
traffic or to construction equipment within the work area wear
high-visibility safety apparel. This requirement applies to
firefighters and other emergency workers who are often required to
wear other highly specialized protective garments, such as fire,
heat, chemical and/or biohazard resistant protective garments
depending upon the particular emergency situation they are
responding to, and are sometimes required to also wear specialized
breathing apparatus, such as a self-contained breathing apparatus
having a backpack mounted oxygen/air tank.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A high visibility garment is provided for use by fire
fighters and other emergency workers, and allows for large
adjustment in size to accommodate both small and large body sizes,
as well as worker apparel that can vary from a t-shirt to bunker
gear or other heavy duty protective outerwear.
[0006] As one feature, the garment is provided in the form of a
vest.
[0007] In one feature, the garment has a torso covering portion
made of high visibility material that completely encircles the
torso of a wearer in the circumferential direction in both is
smallest size state and largest size state.
[0008] According to one feature, the torso covering portion has a
first state wherein the high visibility material is fitted to
completely encircle a torso of a first circumferential dimension,
and a second state wherein the high visibility material is fitted
to completely encircle a torso of a second circumferential
dimension, with the second circumferential dimension be at least
40% larger than the first circumferential dimension.
[0009] According to one feature, the torso covering portion
includes a back panel having a transverse width sized to extend
over the back of a wearer; a pair of front/side panels, each
including an adjustable side portion having a transverse width
sized to extend over about half or more of the transverse width of
the back panel; and an adjustable connection between each of the
adjustable side portions and the back panel. Each adjustable
connection having a first connected state wherein the transverse
width of the adjustable side portion is overlaid by about half or
more of the transverse width of the back panel, and a second
connected state wherein less than 75% of the transverse width of
the adjustable side portion is overlaid by the transverse width of
the back panel.
[0010] Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention
will become apparent from a review of the entire specification,
including the appended claims and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a high visibility
safety garment embodying the invention shown in a donned position
on a wearer of a larger size;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but taken from the left
side;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing an
adjustment of the garment in an open state;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but taken from the
back;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the garment
on a wearer of a smaller size;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective front view of the garment of FIG. 1
in first size configuration;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but showing the garment
in a second size configuration;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIGS. 6 and 7, but showing an
adjustment of the garment in an open state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] A high visibility safety garment 10 is shown in the form of
a high visibility safety vest 12 having an adjustable torso
covering portion 14 made of high visibility material 16,
preferably, a fluorescent yellow-green, a fluorescent orange-red or
a fluorescent red. Additionally, retroreflective trim or strips 18
are also provided and include at least one retroreflective band 18A
completely encircling the torso 14. Preferably, the garment 10
meets the current and/or any future standards under ANSI/ISEA 107
or ANSI/ISEA 207 (high visibility garment/vest standards developed
by the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) and
published by the American National Standards Institute, Inc.).
[0020] The torso covering portion 14 has a first state (as shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6) wherein the high visibility material 16 is fitted to
completely encircle a wearer's torso with a first circumferential
dimension C.sub.1, and a second state (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7)
wherein the high visibility material 16 is fitted to completely
encircle a wearer's torso with a second circumferential dimension
C.sub.2. In one preferred embodiment, the second circumferential
dimension C.sub.2 is at least 40% larger than the first
circumferential dimension C.sub.1. In another preferred embodiment,
the second circumferential dimension C.sub.2 is at least 50% larger
than C.sub.1. It is anticipated that in some embodiments the second
circumferential dimension C.sub.2 could be twice as large as
C.sub.1, such as, for example going from a chest size of 32 inches
to a chest size of 64 inches. Even larger ratios of C.sub.2/C.sub.1
are possible.
[0021] In the embodiment shown in the Figs., the torso covering
portion 14 includes a back panel 20 of the high visibility material
16 having a transverse width W.sub.B in the circumferential
direction sized to extend over the back of a wearer; a pair of
front/side panels 22 of the high visibility material 16, each
including an adjustable side portion 24 having a transverse width
W.sub.S sized to extend over half of the transverse width W.sub.B
of the back panel 20, and an adjustable connection 26 between each
of the adjustable side portions 24 and the back panel 20. Each
adjustable connection 26 has a first connected state (shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6) wherein the transverse width W.sub.S of the
corresponding adjustable side portion 24 is overlaid by half of the
transverse width W.sub.B of the back panel 20, and a second
connected state (shown in FIGS. 2 and 7) wherein less than 75% of
the transverse width W.sub.S of the adjustable side portion 24 is
overlaid by the transverse width W.sub.B of the back panel 20.
[0022] Each adjustable connection 26 includes one or more
releasable fasteners 28 which, in the illustrated embodiment, are
shown in the form of mating hook and loop connectors 30 on the back
panel 20 and each of the adjustable side portions 24. In this
regard, in the illustrated embodiment, three hook and loop strips
32 extend circumferentially across the back panel 20, and each of
the adjustable side portions 24 includes an array of hook and loop
patches 34 that are arranged to allow at least three adjustment
positions. It should be appreciated that any suitable releasable
connector or fastener 28 could be used, include buttons, snaps, and
ties.
[0023] A zipper 36 or other suitable releasable connector is
preferably provided at the front of the vest 12 to allow the
front/side panels 22 to be connected and disconnected when donned
by a wearer.
[0024] While the torso covering portion 14 is shown as defining a
pair of arm holes 38 for the vest 14, it should be appreciated that
while the high visibility garment 10 may also be provided as a
garment that includes sleeves extending from the location of the
arm holes 38, such as for example, a garment that would satisfy
Class 3 requirements under the aforementioned ANSI standards.
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