BRAKING DEVICE FOR CLOTHING GEAR FOR MOTORCYCLISTS AND THE LIKE

Abstract

A body of one or more rubber bands or the like, which can be implemented in multiple ways on the exterior of protective clothing, such as overalls, jackets, trousers, gloves, boots and helmets. The bands or bodies are made from abrasion resistant, slide resistant fabric. The bands are sliding resistant. Each band is arranged over a cushioned or rigid base on the outside of the clothing in order to securely integrate the bands or bodies into the clothing. The elastic and slide resisting nature of the rubber bodies or bands produce an opposing force against the sliding force experienced by the wearer, such as a motorcyclist, which significantly reduces the speed of the sliding movement until the wearer stops.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a braking device being applied to clothing and other gear worn by motorcyclists or other users to brake sliding motion on a surface or terrain, such as a roadway. The braking device is applied to clothing items, such as overalls, jackets, trousers, helmets, gloves and boots. These items and others worn by a user are hereafter all referred to as clothing.

The object of the invention is providing a braking device that can preferably significantly reduce the distance that a motorcyclist or other user slides, over any type of surface or terrain, e.g. after suffering an accident and falling off, in order, for example, to prevent the user from colliding against other elements, such as guard rails or other obstacles. The user is not limited to a motorcyclist or a cyclist, but extends to any person who for any reason may be caused to slide across any surface, such as terrain, a roadway surface, etc. Any type of surface over which a user may slide is called a surface herein.

Although the braking device may be preferably designed for vehicle users, such as motorcyclists, evidently, it can also be applied to other activities from which a user may accidentally be ejected or thrown, such as riding quad bikes, practicing certain types of cycling, any activity in which sliding over a surface is possible, etc., hereinafter sliding.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Types of clothing or other gear are known for improving the safety of motorcycle riding and other activities, to protect a user who eventually falls or is otherwise caused to slide over a surface. Such clothing may include overalls, jackets and/or trousers, helmets, gloves, and boots, etc. and rider's gear which are all called clothing herein.

The clothing is preferably abrasion resistant. It may be comprised of a known abrasion resistant wearable fabric, such as a nylon like fabric sold under the trademark CORDURA®.

That clothing may be equipped with reinforcement plates and/or cushioning to minimize impact damage and sliding damage caused, for example, by falling, or being thrown or being slid, or moved over a surface or terrain, hereinafter described as sliding over a surface. These types of safety equipment are designed to prevent or damp impacts from falling or abrasion from sliding over a surface and to prevent such impact or abrasion being transmitted to the user's body and to slow and halt sliding in as short a distance as possible. In motorcycle accidents, for example, the danger may not result from falling on asphalt or other hard or rough surface, but from the inertia of the body of the motorcyclist due to the cyclist's riding speed at the time of the fall. This can cause the motorcyclist or user to collide against other surfaces or upstanding objects, like posts, fences, rails, signs, trees etc., hereinafter obstacles, after crashing on the surface and before the motorcyclist halts sliding. The impact of a fall or abrasion of the body or clothing is not spread out homogeneously over the user's body, such as when sliding or colliding against those obstacles, which may even cause amputations or death of motorcyclists.

For example, current safety systems in clothing or gear worn by motorcyclists may not be configured to slow sliding by the motorcyclist over any type of surface, which is a major cause of injury or damage in a large number of accidents.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The device described herein addresses the problems described above, since the device is to reduce impact on the user and to slow the sliding that a user, such as someone riding a motorcycle or a similar vehicle, may experience after falling on any type of surface, such as solid ground, and to prevent that person from sliding and colliding against sharp or potentially dangerous obstacles, such as guard rails, vertical signposts, posts, trees, etc.

The braking device hereof is applied to the exterior of clothing worn by the user. The clothing is configured to be highly abrasion resistant. One known type of the fabric is CORDURA® a highly abrasion resistant fabric similar to nylon, but may be effectively more resistant to abrasion than nylon.

The preferable braking device hereof comprises at least one and preferably more bodies or bands, hereafter bodies. A body herein may be an arrangement of individual bands held together to define a body. Individual bands or bodies are positioned at selected locations on the exterior of preferably abrasion resistant clothing. Alternatively, several individual bodies or bands are attached together to define a single unitary body. Acting together, they minimize and halt sliding of the wearer of the slide resistant clothing. The material of and placement of a unitary device of the invention comprised of connected bands on the wearer's clothing prevents effects of impact on the wearer and slows sliding of the wearer over a surface. Each device comprised of bodies or bands, whether of separate bands or a body of a connected assembly of bands, is preferably comprised of solid rubber or a like material. For example, the body may be comprised of a base or core of polyurethane rubber with an abrasion resistant cover of another polyurethane rubber, which resists sliding. The body preferably comprises a central core, with possibly differently shaped cross-section bands, such as triangular, rectangular, rounded, etc. The bodies or bands may be elongated in shape.

Each body or band may include a cushioned base and/or a rigid internal base for securing the body or band to an external supporting surface, or sheet, or fabric of the clothing.

The bodies or bands are preferably attached on the exterior of the wearer's clothing. The bodies or bands therefore come into direct contact with the surface over which the person wearing the clothing slides. A band may also be on the sole of a shoe or boot. The band is not itself a sole of a boot or shoe because the shape and flexing of a sole, when it is stepped on, will make walking or standing on the sole difficult.

An assembly of such bodies and/or bands defines a device or several devices hereof which is or are integrated into the items of clothing and gear. These clothing items may include overalls, jackets and/or trousers, helmets, gloves and boots. The clothing items may be made of leather or CORDURA®, an abrasion resistant cloth described as being like nylon, or may be any other material. Gear such as helmets are usually rigid and may be of leather or of metal. The bodies or bands are distributed on different parts of the clothing and gear, preferably and mainly on the areas that are statistically likely to come into contact with the surface, e.g. roadway or asphalt or gravel, terrain, etc. or any other surface on which the user may slide. The bodies or bands may be placed on the arms, the lower back, hips, upper back, the front and sides of the legs, the head, hands, feet, etc. of each item of the clothing or gear.

The bodies or bands may be distributed on the clothing in such a way that these separate elements or bands are individually positioned or are positioned to define a unitary body together. In each version, they may be configured and arranged so that several neighboring bands or bodies may extend in parallel, forming staggered sections or devices comprising an efficient braking system for the motorcyclist or user.

In an embodiment, each of many bands or bodies on the exterior of a piece of clothing may have an axis along which the band extends. Each band may be oriented on the clothing so that its axis extends in a direction in which that band is likely to slide after striking the surface. Such orientation enhances the resistance to sliding because there is a larger dimension of the band resisting motion along the axis of the band.

The elastic and slide resisting nature of the rubber bands or of other slide resisting materials and their above described orientations create an opposing force against the sliding experienced by the user. This significantly reduces a user's movement speed until he stops.

A respective foam core interior region may be present in every band to provide a damping effect on impact, e.g. from a fall, in addition to the cores of the bodies or bands being secured to the clothing. The abrasion resistant or slide resistant body fabric, provides abrasion resistance that prevents the clothing from itself tearing. Foam placed under a band or body and at the surface of the clothing damps the effect of impact of a band or body with a surface or object.

According to a variant of an embodiment of the invention, the base of the band or body may have slightly larger length and width dimensions than the rest of the body or band or the core above it. The base of a band acts as a support for securing the band(s) to the respective clothing or gear, preferably by stitching or gluing the base to the clothing. The base of a band may alternatively be secured to the clothing by adhesives. For securing by stitching, the base of the band or body may have orifices lining the perimeter of the band or the body to facilitate their being stitched in place.

In a similar fashion, several rubber bands or bodies can be integrated together forming a single-piece device hereof that forms a profile based on more bands than a single band. The assembly may include triangles, rectangles or semicircle, et al shape bands that protrude significantly in side directions out from the foam or damping material base.

The device described herein can work alongside other commonly used protection systems for this type of protective clothing gear, such as internal protection plates, cushioning, airbags, etc.

Optionally, a layer of cushioning material, such as foam or the like, can be arranged between a plastic base supporting the rubber bands and the relevant clothing or gear, to act as a damping element on impact.

Similarly, the rubber bands can have other configurations, different than the longitudinal or axial ones mentioned above, in order to offer additional design and aesthetic features, which include adopting letter shaped configurations, curved forms, drawings, or any other design criteria.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complete the invention described below and in order to give a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred embodiment thereof, this description is accompanied by a set of drawings in which the figures described below have been represented, for purely illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting:

FIG. 1. shows a representation corresponding to an elevational view of one of the bands comprising the braking device for clothing or gear for users and designed to satisfy the object of the invention.

FIG. 2. shows a profile view of the band of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3. shows a perspective view of the band of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4. shows a form of a clothing item for a motorcyclist equipped with device hereof comprised of bands or bodies of the invention shown fastened on the outside of a wearer's clothing.

FIG. 5. shows a perspective view of a band of the invention integrated into a module configured to form part of clothing or gear of a motorcyclist.

FIG. 6. shows a representation corresponding to a top plan view of a variation of an embodiment of the rubber bands.

FIG. 7. shows a perspective view of the band of the FIG. 6.

FIG. 8. shows a bottom plan view of the band of FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 9. shows a top plan view of a plastic base that forms part of the device of the invention.

FIG. 10. shows a sectional view of the device after it has been assembled and attached on a clothing item or gear, and shown with an interposed layer of cushioned material.

FIG. 11. shows a perspective view of the general aspect of the band before it is assembled.

FIG. 12. shows a perspective view of another version of clothing or gear of a motorcyclist equipped with another embodiment of a braking device of the invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The drawings show bands (1) of the invention comprised of a plurality of pieces or bands obtained from a rubber sheet. The bands have different shape cross-sections. FIG. 2 shows a triangular cross-section band, with the rubber (2) band designed to define or support an adhesive below the band element. Each band is configured to function to slow the sliding of a wearer on a surface, such as a cyclist on a road, and reduce the distance of a slide until the wearer stops.

The rubber (2) band is provided with a bottom layer that provides cushioning (3). The band comprises a damping means that allows an assembly of the bands or a body to deform and prevents, as much as possible, injuries to protected parts of the body of the user.

Each band has a cross-sectional shape that raises at least its central region above the surface of the fabric of the clothing, perhaps by about a centimeter. Other geometric shape cross-sections may be used. The shapes raise the top exposed sliding resistant and abrasion resistant surface of each band a short height above the clothing to which the band is attached. This exposes the band to the surface over which the band slides along with exposing the clothing to which the band is attached. There may be a cushion 3 on which each band is attached to the clothing item.

As shown in FIG. 4, the bands or bodies are distributed on strategic areas over the outer surface of the protective clothing in order to maximize the amount the wearer is slowed while sliding over any surface.

The device in FIG. 4 may comprise individual bands or multi-band bodies, including modules affixed to the clothing. A group or possibly all of the individual bands or modules thereof may be integrated into one or more bodies on the surface of the clothing. The bands and/or bodies are placed on the clothing at locations likely to contact a surface.

FIG. 4 illustrates an entire garment particularly overalls. In addition to the slide resisting bands or bodies, there may be additional impact absorbing pieces 10 inside the garment, e.g. at 10, that absorb impact. They may be of metal, hard plastic, cushioning material, and may give the clothing item shape and fit it to the wearer's body. They also shield the areas where those pieces are located from direct impact on the wearer.

Each band in FIG. 4 is preferably oriented so that its axis is generally along a direction in which that area of the exterior of the clothing slides on the ground or surface. The axis of each band is selected in an effort to maximize resistance to sliding as much as possible.

Referring to FIG. 5, the illustrated embodiment integrates a device comprised of several of the rubber bands, which are held together to form a body, and are secured onto the wearer's clothing. The device comprises one or more of the bands which are complemented by side pieces (4) made of made of a highly abrasion resistant fabric and/or leather that form part of the design of the clothing in which they are integrated. Side pieces (4) extend outward of lateral sides of one of or an assembly of bands or a device hereof. The side pieces (4) are fixed by adhesive to the sides of the rubber (2) bands. The resultant side pieces define side wings that may be used for securing the device to the clothing (5) of the wearer, such as overalls, like the one garment represented in FIG. 4, or trousers, and/or a jacket, boots, etc. The pieces can also be integrated into helmets, gloves, and any other clothing or gear of the wearer, such as a motorcyclist and other clothing items for other uses and users.

FIG. 5 shows a device where each band can form part of the pieces that forms part of the body that is integrated onto the clothing of the user, so that the fixing side wings (4) of the device form part of the abrasion resistant leather or pieces of the clothing (5) or gear. These can be complemented on the ends thereof with finishing pieces (4′), including the aforementioned cushioning (6) on the inside thereof, which can be independent, or a common sheet for several rubber bands (2) or a device hereof.

According to a variant embodiment of FIG. 6, a device of the invention can also be comprised of a plurality of rubber pieces or bands (2′), which are all single-piece and have triangular sections in the example embodiment. The rubber bands (2′) may be configured to define a slide resistant, and an abrasion resistant element to slow the sliding of the user such as a cyclist.

In FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, during manufacture of the device, the rubber bands are partially attached on a laminate base (3′) made of rigid, semi-rigid or soft plastic, which is slightly protruding on the sides of one or more bands in relation to the rubber bands (2′) in order to define a perimeter edge (6) with a line of orifices (7) for such a device. These orifices facilitate stitching the base to the wearer clothing or gear (5), with a layer of cushioned material (8) that can also be interposed between both elements, as shown in FIG. 5.

Optionally, the base could be attached by adhesive instead of stitching, and the rubber bands (2′) could have a hollow core, or a foam core or a core filled with a stiffening material, without affecting the essence of the invention.

In the alternative structure, as shown in FIG. 12, the bands are distributed to be separated bands attached on strategic areas over the surface of the protective clothing in order to absorb impact and to maximize how much the wearer slows the his sliding over any surface.

It was proven experimentally that the device of the invention reduces up to 50% the distance travelled by a motorcyclist after falling and sliding over different types of surfaces until they stop, as compared to conventional clothing gear.

Claims

1-9. (canceled)

10. A braking device for use on an exterior of clothing for reducing sliding over a surface by a person wearing the clothing, wherein the braking device is configured for attachment of the braking device to the exterior of the clothing and is configured for the braking by reducing the sliding of the person in the clothing and of the clothing over a surface on which the clothing slides, the braking device comprising: at least one band or body of a slide resisting and braking material attached to the exterior of the clothing and placed on the exterior of the clothing at such location that as the person wearing the clothing slides across the surface, an exterior area of the clothing and of the at least one band or body are pressed against the surface to slide on the surface as the at least one band or body is pressed by the body of the person against the interior of the clothing and one or more of the bands or of the body at the exterior area for braking the sliding of the person over the surface;the at least one sliding band or body includes a cushioned base for the band for enabling securing of the band to the exterior of the clothing, thereby providing a band which resists sliding of the clothing with the body and the at least one band thereon against the surface over which the person in the clothing slides; andthe band is comprised of a material with high frictional resistance over the surface on which the band and clothing slide.

11. The braking device of claim 10, wherein the body or the bands are comprised of a slide resisting material including a slide resisting surface of the band or body.

12. The braking device of claim 10, wherein the at least one band or the body has a cross-sectional shape or shapes to raise the surface of the band above a surface of the clothing where the band is attached.

13. The braking device of claim 12, wherein the body or the at least one band has a cross-section of a geometric shape including at least one of a triangular, rectangular, rounded or other shaped cross-section.

14. The braking device of claim 12, wherein there are a plurality of the bands located on the exterior of the clothing at locations on the clothing where the bands of the plurality may slide over a surface.

15. The braking device of claim 14, wherein each of the bands has an axis over the length of the band and around which the cross-section of the band is defined.

16. The braking device of claim 15, wherein a plurality of the bands are oriented on the clothing so that the respective axis in each band of the plurality of the bands is oriented in a likely respective direction of the sliding of the clothing on the surface, whereby the plurality of the bands slide on a surface in respective directions to slide along the axis of at least some of the plurality of the bands.

17. The braking device of claim 10, wherein the body or the bands include side wings outward of the respective bands and the side wings define part of a material of the clothing on which the side wings are integrated into the clothing.

18. The braking device of claim 17, wherein the side wings attached to the body or the bands are side wings independent of the clothing, and securing devices securing the bands and integrating the side wings into the clothing.

19. The braking device of claim 10, wherein the body or the at least one band is comprised of a resilient material with friction resistance at the surface of the band and the body or the band is further comprised of a laminate base which is of a greater external dimension than the respective bands or the body, defining a part of the base that extends to a greater external dimension beyond the body or the band that is attached to the clothing.

20. The braking device of claim 19, wherein the base is comprised of one of a rigid, semi-rigid or soft plastic material.

21. The braking device of claim 19, further comprising the base of the body or the at least one band protrudes from sides of the body or band defining a perimeter around the band, and fastening devices on the perimeter for receiving fixing devices to fix the body or the band to the clothing.

22. The braking device of claim 10, further comprising a layer of cushioning material between the clothing and the base of the at least one band or the body.

23. The braking device of claim 10, wherein the body or the at least one band can have any selected single axis or selected path of the band on the clothing.

24. The braking device of claim 10, wherein the band has an external covering and has a core in the band and the core is one of hollow or filled with a stiffening material for the band.