AU2009238215B2

AU2009238215B2 - Protective work wear

Info

Publication number: AU2009238215B2
Application number: AU2009238215A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Lee Simon Dancey
Original assignee: MACMAHON CLAIRE
Current assignee: MACMAHON CLAIRE
Priority date: 2008-04-16
Filing date: 2009-04-16
Publication date: 2012-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2029-04-16
Also published as: NZ589272A; AU2009238215A1; WO2009127005A1

Abstract

Work shorts (10) include a fabric portion (11) and a protective portion (12) hinged to it and movable from a protective position located over the knee and a stowed position against the thigh. The protective portion (12) includes a pocket (20) adapted to receive a protective insert, and includes an insert-retaining pocket flap (21). The protective insert is a pad of foam material shaped and conformable to protect the knee. A pair of straps (23) are adapted to selectively secure the protective portion (12) in the protective and stowed positions. The straps (23) are double-sided with the pile or hook part respectively of hook-pile fastening tape. Supplementary securing means comprising the pile part (24) and the hook part (25) of hook-pile fastening tape are affixed to shorts leg portion and the side edges (26) of the protective portion (12) respectively.

Description

WO 2009/127005 PCT/AU2009/000472 1 PROTECTIVE WORK WEAR FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to protective work wear. This invention has particular application to knee-protective work shorts, and for illustrative purposes the 5 invention will be described with reference to this application. However we envisage that this invention may find use in other applications such as knee protective long pants and protective clothing protecting elbows, hips and the like. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 10 The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the referenced prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia. In general work wear is made from the light canvas or denim fabrics collectively 15 called drill. Such work wear does not generally include specific protective elements apart from the protective nature of the rugged material per se. Specifically, the protection of the joints such as knees and elbows, which are prone to impact injuries, is not provided by conventional work wear. 20 Protective knee and elbow guards are known. However, they are not in common use unless mandated on-site. Knee and elbow guards have several disadvantages. These include that the user must carry them around when they are not in use. Another is the tendency to be dragged out of position by the clothing when the joint is flexed. Where the first disadvantage is overcome by 25 leaving the protective device in position, joint mobility and comfort may be compromised in situations where the protective property is not needed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect the present invention resides broadly in protective work wear 30 including: a fabric portion extending to a flexible joint region of a user; WO 2009/127005 PCT/AU2009/000472 2 a protective portion hinged to the fabric portion and movable from a protective position located over said joint region and a stowed position away from said-joint region; and respective securing means adapted to selectively secure said protective 5 portion in said protective and stowed positions. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The protective work wear may be selected from work wear including but not limited to long pants, shorts, overalls or boiler suits, shirts or the like. The joint protected 10 may be selected from knees, elbows, shoulders and hips. The invention will be further described with reference to its application to work shorts. In this embodiment, the protective work wear may comprise a conventionally tailored, long or work short of cotton drill, cotton/polyester or other material. Such 15 work wear may include conventional open or flap-closure pockets and special pockets such as mobile phone pockets. Flap closures may be unsecured or secured by press-studs, buttons or hook-pile fasteners. The shorts may be elastic waisted and/or provided with a tie cord, or may include a zip fly with button, press stud or hook-pile waistband closure. The shorts may be belted through belt loops. 20 The shorts may include accessories such as hammer loops. The protective work wear shorts may be configured to protect one or more of the hips or the knees. For example, a fabric portion of the shorts may extend over the front of the flexible knee joint region of a user to support a protective portion 25 adapted for protection of the kneecap region. Alternatively, the shorts may have the fabric portion extending to above the knee, with the protective portion forming a flap extending in use to below the knee to selectively protect the knee. The protective portion may take any form consistent with the function of being 30 hinged to the fabric portion and movable from a protective position located over the joint region and a stowed position away from the joint region. The protective portion may comprise a fabricated or monolithic protection member. Alternatively the protective portion may include a pocket adapted to receive a protective insert.

WO 2009/127005 PCT/AU2009/000472 3 The pocket may include a closure such as a zipper, pocket flap or the like. The pocket flap may be secured in a closed position by any suitable means including means selected from press studs, buttons and hook-pile fastenings. 5 The protective portion may be formed of or include impact and/or pressure resisting foam material. The protective portion may be formed to a protective shape and/or may be resilient to conform to the protected joint. The protective portion for a knee may be formed with ribs or stitched portions to provide shaping ability when secured over, for example, the knee joint. The insert when used may 10 be moulded with a plurality of self hinges to provide the insert with greater conformability. The protective portion may be hinged to the fabric portion in any suitable orientation. For example, in the case of knee protection the protective portion may 15 be suitably hinged to the fabric portion above or below the knee of the user. Preferably, the protective portion is hinged to the fabric portion at a location above the knee of the user. This provides for stowage against a broader field of lesser curvature, which may be material in the case of protective portions having a shaped form. 20 The respective securing means adapted to selectively secure said protective portion in said protective and stowed positions may be the same or different in each case. For example, one or both of the securing means may be selected from buttons, straps and buckles, and hook-pile fastenings. In one embodiment of the 25 present invention the securing means comprises a single strap or pair of straps located at an edge set of the protective portion opposite the hinge and adapted to selectively secure the over the knee of the user in the protective position and secure the protective portion to the leg of the user in the stowed position. The strap or straps may comprise a double-sided hook or pile tape adapted to 30 cooperate with a complementary pile or hook tape portion provided on the leg of the clothing or on the second strap.

WO 2009/127005 PCT/AU2009/000472 4 Supplementary securing means may be provided along each side edge of the protective portion extending between the hinge end and the edge opposite the hinge. The supplementary securing means is advantageously hook-pile fastening. 5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described with reference to the following non-limiting embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the drawings and wherein: Fig. 1 is a front view of protective clothing apparatus in accordance with the 10 present invention, operatively stowed; Fig. 2 is a rear view of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side view of the apparatus as illustrated in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a front view of protective clothing apparatus in accordance with the present invention, operatively deployed; 15 Fig. 5 is a rear view of the apparatus of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a side view of the apparatus as illustrated in Fig. 5. In the figures there is provide a pair of work shorts (10) including a fabric portion (11) extending to the knee region of a user. A protective portion (12) is hinged to 20 the fabric portion at sewing line hinge (13) and movable from a protective position located over the knee as per Figs. 4 to 6 and a stowed position away from the knee as per Figs. I to 3. The work shorts (10) are a conventionally-tailored work short of cotton drill, 25 including conventional flap-closure back pockets (14), a mobile phone pocket (17) and front pockets (18). The shorts (10) are belted through belt loops (15). The shorts include a hammer loop (16). The protective portion (12) includes a pocket (20) adapted to receive a protective 30 insert (concealed). The pocket includes an insert-retaining pocket flap (21). The protective insert is a pad of impact and pressure resisting foam material both shaped and conformable to protect the knee. The protective portion (12) is formed WO 2009/127005 PCT/AU2009/000472 5 with stitched portions (22) to provide shaping ability when secured over the knee joint. Securing means comprises a pair of straps (23) located at the edge of the 5 protective portion (12) opposite the hinge (13) and is adapted to selectively secure the protective portion (12) over the knee of the user in the protective position of Figs. 4 to 6 and secure the protective portion (12) to the thigh of the user in the stowed position of Figs. 1 to 3. The straps (23) are double-sided with the pile or hook part respectively of VELCRO® hook-pile fastening tape to provide the means 10 to secure the protective portion (12) in either the protective position or the stowed position. Supplementary securing means comprising the pile part (24) and the hook part (25) of VELCRO® hook-pile fastenings are affixed to shorts leg portion and the side 15 edges (26) of the protective portion (12) respectively. It will of course be realised that while the above has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to 20 fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is set forth in the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. Protective work wear including: a fabric portion extending to a flexible joint region of a user; a protective portion hinged to the fabric portion and movable from a protective position located over said joint region and a stowed position away from said joint region; and respective securing means adapted to selectively secure said protective portion in said protective and stowed positions.

2. Protective work wear according to claim 1, wherein the joint is the knee joint.

3. Protective work wear according to claim 2, wherein the protective work wear is selected from long pants and short pants extending over the knee.

4. Protective work wear according to claim 2, wherein the protective work wear is shorts having the fabric portion extend to above the knee joint, with the protective portion forming a flap extending in use to below the knee joint to selectively protect the knee joint.

5. Protective work wear according to claim 1, wherein the protective work wear is accessorized by one of more of conventional pockets, a mobile phone pocket, and a hammer loop.

6. Protective work wear according to claim 1, wherein the protective portion includes a pocket adapted to receive a protective insert.

7. Protective work wear according to claim 6, wherein the pocket includes an insert-retaining closure such as a zipper, pocket flap or the like.

8. Protective work wear according to claim 7, wherein the closure is a pocket flap.

9. Protective work wear according to claim 1, wherein the protective portion is formed of or includes impact and/or pressure resiting foam material. 7

10. Protective work wear according to claim 1, wherein the protective portion is formed to a protective shape and/or is resilient to conform to the protected joint.

11. Protective work wear according to claim 10, wherein the protective portion is formed with ribs or stitched portions to provide shaping ability when secured over a knee joint.

12. Protective work wear according to claim 1, wherein the protective work wear comprises long or short pants and the flexible joint region is a knee joint region, and wherein the protective portion is hinged to the fabric portion of said long or short pants below or above said knee joint region.

13. Protective work wear according to claim 12, wherein the protective portion is hinged to the fabric portion at a location above the knee of the user.

14. Protective work wear according to claim 1, wherein the respective securing means adapted to selectively secure said protective portion in said protective and stowed positions is the same or different.

15. Protective work wear according to claim 14, wherein one or both of the securing means are selected from buttons, straps and buckles, and hook-pile fastenings.

16. Protective work wear according to claim 15, wherein the securing means comprises a single strap or pair of straps located at an edge set of the protective portion opposite the hinge and adapted to selectively secure the protective portion over the knee of the user in the protective position and secure the protective portion to the leg of the user in the stowed position.

17. Protective work wear according to claim 16, wherein the strap or straps comprise a double-sided hook or pile tape adapted to cooperate with a WO 2009/127005 PCT/AU2009/000472 8 complementary pile or hook tape portion provided on the leg of the clothing or on the second strap.

18. Protective work wear according to claim 1, wherein supplementary securing means is provided along each side edge of the protective portion extending between the hinge end and the edge opposite the hinge.

19. Protective work wear according to claim 18, wherein the supplementary securing means is hook-pile fastening.