Reflectorized Sleeves

Abstract

A shirt or jacket having sleeves with spaced wide stripes of reflectorized material running from the wrist to the shoulder and/or a pair of light weight similar auxiliary sleeves adapted to be worn over a traffic officer's uniform after dark or during inclement weather. The high degree of visibility of the long reflectorized stripes illuminated by vehicular headlights not only facilitates the clear discernment of an officer's traffic directions regardless of the position in which he is standing, thus eliminating possible uncertainty and confusion on the part of drivers and pedestrians, but also protects him from accidents.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to attire worn by pedestrians, bicyclists, police officers and others whose safety at night or during downpours, heavy fog, etc. depends upon being visible at comparatively safe distances to avoid being hit by moving traffic, and also for those directing traffic to better enable drivers and pedestrians alike to correctly interpret the meaning of their manual and arm motions.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Patents have been granted for reflecting collars, belts or even a patch sewn onto the back of a garment, for a form-sustaining elongated cuff or arm band which only produce undiscernable bright spots in the dark. Or a cap with or without flowing material attached thereto, which is incapable of projecting traffic signals. There are also jackets with reflecting material disposed on the front or back thereof. The deficiency of these known devices is that if an officer or other person in the midst of traffic stands sideways, the reflecting portion of such garments are not visible from either side, thereby increasing the danger of accident to himself as well as to pedestrians and moving vehicles.

A preliminary search for novelty developed the following U.S. Pat. Nos:

1,739,289 Dec. 10, 1929 Carter; 2,656,763 Oct. 27, 1953 Frost; 3,038,381 June 12, 1962; 3,276,416 Oct. 4, 1966 Dirks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A pair of light weight sleeves with light reflecting stripes of reflectorized material running longitudinally from the wrist band to the shoulder portion are adapted to be slipped over the sleeves of a uniform jacket or shirt. One end of a strap sewn to the inner portion of the top of the sleeve is threaded through the epaulet of the jacket and then the free end of the strap temporarily secured to a Velcro patch affixed to the outer surface of the sleeve to hold each sleeve in place.

For use over attire having no epaulets, an elastic member or device having a closed loop at each end can be worn across the shoulders. The free end of the straps which pass through the end loops of the device are then secured to the sleeve. With the sleeves thus attached, the device can then be shortened or lengthened to retain the thus connected sleeves at shoulder level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a removable or auxiliary sleeve having spaced stripes of alternate reflecting and non-reflecting material with a short strap having a Velcro hook on its free end which can be releasibly secured to a Velcro pile patch disposed on the outer surface of the sleeve;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a police officer wearing the sleeves shown in FIG. 1 with the strap looped over a shoulder belt;

FIG. 3 is a front view of an officer wearing the sleeves shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the straps looped under the epaulets on his uniform;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of an officer wearing a pair of reflectorized sleeves and an elastic member worn across the shoulders adapted to connect the sleeves and hold them upright in proper position; and

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a sleeve with its strap looped under an epaulet on an officer's uniform.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a full fashioned sleeve auxiliary 10 made of stripes of light weight material preferably of a dark color in contrast to a plurality of white reflectorized stripes 11 sewn or otherwise attached thereto in mutually spaced relation along the full length of the sleeve. It will be seen from the drawings that the dark and light stripes of the sleeve are of substantially equal width.

It will be seen that the sleeves are of ample width enabling them to be easily pulled over even heavy uniforms, yet have elastic bands or the like 12 for a snug fit around the wrist. This anchors the sleeve and keeps it from riding up during active arm movements. The full length of the wide, reflective stripes are plainly visible from all directions so that arm motions are easy to decipher.

One end 13 of a short strap 14 is sewn or otherwise attached to the under surface of the sleeve proximate the shoulder portion 15 thereof. The free end 16 of the strap carries a Velcro hook patch 17, see FIG. 1, on its underside which meshes with a Velcro pile patch 18 attached to the upper surface of the sleeve. The hook patch is spaced rearwardly from the termination of the free end to provide a gripping tab 19 by which the Velcro closure can be readily ripped apart to remove the sleeve.

FIGS. 3 and 5 show the sleeves retained at shoulder height by looping the free end 16 of strap 14 through each epaulet 20 of a uniform 21 before meshing the Velcro hook patch 17 on the strap with the pile patch 18 on the sleeve.

FIG.2 shows each strap 14 hooked around a shoulder belt 22.

FIG. 4 illustrates another means of retaining the top of the sleeves at shoulder level when worn with uniforms 21' having no epaulets. Here an elastic member 23 provided with loops 24 at each end is used. Straps 14 are threaded through loops 24 before their Velcro patches are meshed. Then the member is adjusted for the proper length between the sleeves. The wearer slips on each sleeve over his uniform before stretching the member over his head for retracted correct wearing position across his shoulders.

These light weight, soft sleeves 10 are readily foldable and can be stored compactly in a small pouch or other pliable container, not shown, and kept in a pocket for ready use.

Although the invention has been illustrated and discribed relative to a pair of removable sleeves to be worn over conventional attire, it is understood that it also encompasses separate articles of clothing, such as shirts, windbreakers and the like having similar reflectorized sleeves.

The forms of the invention here described and illustrated are presented merely as examples of how the invention may be embodied and applied. Other forms, embodiments and application of the invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

Claims

I claim:

1. In combination with an officer's uniform having a jacket with epaulets and standard sleeves, a pair of auxiliary full length sleeves adapted to be separately pulled up over said standard sleeves, each of said auxiliary sleeves comprising alternate wide longitudinal stripes of reflective and non-reflective material, a releasible strap disposed at the top of each said sleeve and restrictive means for retaining the bottom of each said sleeve at wrist position, one end of each said strap being permanently fastened to each said sleeve and the other end of said strap adapted to pass under one of said epaulets, and means for releasibly securing it to its respective sleeve, thus retaining the top of each said auxiliary sleeve at shoulder height.

2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said stripes are stitched together longitudinally to form the body of said sleeves.