Patent Application
20240245149
This relates to a coverall suitable for use over a body harness, the body harness being worn by a person to assist or support that person with one or more lines or ropes attached to that body harness during an activity or if the person should fall, with the body harness having a plurality of safety rings suitable for attaching the body harness to a plurality of lines or ropes, wherein the coverall is provided with a plurality of protective sleeves specifically designed to allow the safety rings that are attached to the body harness to be available to the exterior environment of the coverall and be held in place by an elasticized cuff at the end of each protective sleeve, so that the safety rings are available for attachment to safety lines or ropes while protecting both the straps of body harness and the wearer from the environment.
Garments having a single conduit in the back for the passage of an exterior safety support rope from the exterior to the interior of the garment, for the purpose of attaching the support rope to an internal safety harness worn by a worker, are known. Representative publications include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,548,842 to Wiseman and 11,103,017 to Samaniego et al.
Body harnesses that have a single attachment ring in the back are normally used to support the body during and after the arrest of a fall. However, a person during hobby activity or a worker during work (person, worker, and wearer are used interchangeably herein) may face multiple situations where exterior support is needed, and there are multiple types of body harnesses for such situations. For example, there are body harnesses with attachment rings located on the front that are designed for suspension or controlled decent of the wearer from a height or are used with various fall restrict systems when the wearer is climbing. There are body harnesses that have attachment rings in the shoulder area that are designed to support a wearer in a position that reduces the wearer's profile during passage through a limited access area, as when hoisting a person upward through a vertical passage. Additionally, there are body harnesses that have attachment rings at the waist area that are designed to horizontally position and/or stabilize a person.
It is possible a person may wear a body harness that has multiple attachment rings in various locations so that the person can be attached with multiple safety ropes or lines for multiple types of support. For example, a person may need to wear a body harness that is simultaneously attached to a first safety line in the back for emergency fall support, a second safety line in the front for vertical movement, with two additional safety lines opposingly attached at the hips for horizontal positioning. Additionally, workers also need protective apparel to protect the worker from hazards in the environment. Wearing the body harness over a protective garment is not a desirable situation in that body harnesses are generally more expensive than the protective garment, and the body harnesses can become compromised with each successive exposure to a hazardous or dirty environment. Therefore, it is desirable to have no exposure of the body harness straps to a hazardous or dirty environment, especially the straps of the body harness that attach the safety rings to the harness. What is needed therefore, is a protective garment, particularly a coverall, that can be worn over a body harness that protects not only the worker, but also protects the body harness straps from any hazards or particulate that are external to the coverall.
This invention relates to protective coverall suitable for use over a body harness worn by a person to support that person with safety lines or ropes attached to that body harness during an activity or if the person should fall,
This invention also relates to protective coverall suitable for use over a body harness worn by a person to support that person with safety lines or ropes attached to that body harness during an activity or if the person should fall,
This invention relates to a protective coverall suitable for use over a body harness worn by a person to support that person with safety lines or ropes attached to that body harness during an activity, or if the person should fall. The coverall is suitable for use with a body harness having a plurality of safety rings suitable for attaching the body harness to a plurality of lines or ropes. The body harness typically has an upper front area worn on an upper front of the body, a back area worn on a back of the body, and a hip-waist area worn in a hip or waist area of the body.
By “body harness” it is preferably meant what is known in the art as a full body harness formed from a series of straps or other restraints that encircle or partially encircle the torso of a body and can extend down the thighs. Generally, this type of harness has some combination of over-the-shoulder, chest, back, and waist straps attached by various buckles for securing the harness in place on the torso. The body harness additionally has a plurality of safety rings attached to, or available to, the outside surface of the body harness for attachment to a line or rope. Some exemplary types of body harnesses are shown in
As used herein, the areas of “upper back” and “upper front”, in regard to the location of features of the body harness or the protective coverall, are preferably meant to include or cover an area of either the back or the front, respectively, of the torso or body portion that has a lower horizontal boundary that is approximately the center of the torso or body portion and extends upward to the tops of the shoulders as the upper horizontal boundary. Additionally, as used herein, features at the “tops of the shoulders” are considered to be part of the upper front of either the body harness or protective coverall. Additionally, for the purposes herein, the lower horizontal boundary of the upper front or upper back includes the horizontal center of the front or back of the torso or body portion. The “upper back” and “upper front” are preferably vertically bounded at the sides of the coverall where the back of the coverall meets the front of the coverall under the arms, and preferably this meeting point is a vertical line drawn through the center of the arm sleeve on each side of the body portion.
The area referred to herein as “hip-waist” area is considered to be either the hip area or waist area, or both, of the body harness or protective coverall. Additionally, the “hip-waist area” in regard to the location of features of the body harness or the protective coverall is preferably meant to include the torso or body portion (in either the front, back, or sides of the body harness or protective coverall) that has a upper horizontal boundary that is approximately the center of the torso or body portion and extends downward to at least the tops of the legs or the pants sleeves of the coverall, and this hip-waist area may include areas including a part of the thighs or the upper part of the pants sleeves covering the thighs. Additionally, for the purposes herein, the upper horizontal boundary of the hip-waist area excludes the horizontal center of the front, back, or sides of the torso or body portion. “Hip rings” from the body harness can additionally be positioned on the sides of the torso or body portion at waist level, hip level, or even a bit lower on the thighs.
As used herein, features on the coverall are considered vertically oriented if they are parallel to a vertical line drawn generally from head to toe while the coverall is worn by a standing person. Features on the coverall are considered horizontally oriented if they are perpendicular to that vertical line. That is, the orientations “vertical” and “horizontal” as used herein, refer to the coverall as viewed when worn by a standing person as shown in
While only a few body harnesses and safety ring positions are shown and described herein, it is understood that body harnesses can be of many different types with many different arrangements of safety rings. Further, it is understood that all of the safety rings on a harness may not be used at the same time. For example, a 5-point harness may be used as a four-point harness if one of the safety rings is not attached to a line or rope.
As used herein, a safety ring is a part having a ring attachment section suitable for attaching the part to a line or safety rope, and an attachment shank for securing the part to a body harness. Typically, safety rings are made from durable material such as metal. The most common type of safety ring is called a D-ring because it has a D-like shape, although other types of ring shape are possible.
The coverall has an interior surface for facing the body harness when worn by the person over the body harness; and the coverall has an exterior surface for facing an exterior environment. The coverall further has a front side associated with covering the front of a person's body (and/or the front side of the body harness) and a back side associated with covering the back of a person's body (and/or the back side of the body harness).
The coverall has a body portion for covering a person's torso when the coverall is worn by a person; the body portion having at least one torso opening for donning the coverall and a neck opening for a person's head and neck. The at least one torso opening and neck opening may be connected when the at least one torso opening is not closed. The body portion further has a plurality of openings for a person's limbs, including a first opening ending in a first sleeve for receiving a portion of a person's right arm when the person wears the coverall, and a second opening ending in a second sleeve for receiving a portion of a person's left arm when the person wears the coverall, with each of the sleeves further having an opening for a person's wrist and hand. The body portion also has a third opening ending in a first pant sleeve for receiving a portion of a person's right leg when the person wears the coverall, and a fourth opening ending in a second pant sleeve for receiving a portion of a person's left leg when the person wears the coverall, with each of the pant sleeves further having an opening for a person's ankle and foot.
The body portion of the coverall additionally has a plurality of safety ring openings with each safety ring opening provided with a safety ring sleeve for receiving a safety ring attached to the body harness, with each safety ring sleeve further ending in an elasticized cuff. Each elasticized cuff has a size compatible with the size of the safety ring received in the safety ring sleeve, such that the elasticized cuff can expand to allow the safety ring to extend through the cuff, or partially extend through the cuff, to the exterior environment of the coverall and the elasticized cuff holds the safety ring in that position. Preferably the safety ring is held by the elasticized cuff so that the entire ring attachment section is exterior to the coverall and available for attachment to a line or safety rope, while the safety ring attachment shank remains interior to the coverall, with the safety ring sleeve covering and protecting the harness strap(s) that attach the safety ring to the harness.
In some embodiments, the body portion of the coverall has a plurality of safety ring openings, with each safety ring opening provided with a safety ring sleeve for receiving a safety ring attached to the body harness, that includes a back ring opening with back safety ring sleeve for receiving a back safety ring attached to the back area of the body harness, and a first front ring opening with first front safety ring sleeve for receiving a front safety ring attached to the upper front area of the body harness.
In some embodiments, the body portion of the coverall has a plurality of safety ring openings with each safety ring opening provided with a safety ring sleeve for receiving a safety ring attached to the body harness, and includes a first hip-waist (hip or waist) safety ring opening for a first hip or waist safety ring sleeve for receiving a first hip or waist safety ring attached to the hip-waist area of the body harness, and optionally, a second hip-waist safety ring opening for a second hip or waist safety ring sleeve for receiving a second hip or waist safety ring attached to the hip-waist area of the body harness.
The coverall can have seams where the protective fabric is sewn together to create the coverall, the protective fabric having been cut into shapes that are advantageous to manufacturing of the coverall. For example,
In some embodiments, the neck opening of the body portion of the protective coverall ends in a hood for the head.
As shown in
Preferably, the body portion of the protective coverall has at least one safety ring opening that has a circular, round, or rounded shape. In some embodiments, the rounded shape safety ring opening has a major dimension or diameter of about 6.5 to 15 inches. In some other embodiments the rounded shape safety ring opening has a major dimension or diameter of about 6.5 to 9 inches.
In some preferred embodiments, the body portion of the protective coverall has at least one safety ring opening that has an oval shape. It is believed an oval-shaped safety ring opening is a preferred method of accommodating the varying location of the safety rings on different body harnesses.
In some embodiments, the at least one oval-shaped safety ring opening in the body portion has a long dimension having a length and a perpendicular short dimension having a width, and preferably the short dimension width is at least 1.0 inches (2.54 cm) wider than the diameter of the safety ring that will be used with the coverall (the diameter of the safety ring being the nominal width of the safety ring perpendicular to the long dimension of the safety ring that is not the thickness of the safety ring). In some embodiments, the oval-shaped safety ring opening has a long dimension length of about 6.5 to 15 inches. This oval-shaped safety ring opening can further have in some embodiments a perpendicular short dimension length of 3.5 to 9 inches. In some other embodiments the oval-shaped safety ring shape opening has a long dimension length of about 6.5 to 9 inches. The oval-shaped safety ring opening can further have in some embodiments a perpendicular short dimension length of 3.5 to 6 inches.
Preferably, the protective coverall has at least one safety ring sleeve that is conical or cone-shaped with the widest opening of the sleeve being at the safety ring opening in the body portion and narrowest opening of the sleeve being the elasticized cuff. The at least one safety ring sleeve in the protective coverall can comprise two sleeve plies that are sewn together, and the elasticized cuff can comprise a free-floating elastic band encapsulated by the two sleeve plies.
In an alternative embodiment, the at least one safety ring sleeve comprises one single ply of the protective fabric, or multiple plies of the protective fabric sewn together, wherein elastic band is attached to the plies to form the elasticized cuff. The elastic band can be attached by many different methods, but attaching the elastic band to the protective fabric by stitching is a preferred method. One preferred such method is to attach the elastic to the edge of the sleeve by use of an overedge stitch, preferably with the elastic positioned on the interior surface of the safety ring sleeve. Alternatively, the elasticized cuff can be made by fully covering or encapsulating both sides of the elastic with the protective fabric and then stitching, which would then keep the elastic attached to the safety ring sleeve. For example, the elastic of the freely floating cuff described in
The elastic band in the elasticized cuff has a size (generally an inner relaxed circumference) that is compatible with the size of the safety ring received in the safety ring sleeve, such that the relaxed elasticized cuff can expand to allow the safety ring to extend through the cuff, or partially extend through the cuff, to the exterior environment of the coverall and hold the safety ring in that position. The elastic band may be purchased as a continuous circular band (like an elastomeric band) or may be fabricated by sewing (or joining) a length of an elastic strip to create a continuous circular elastic band.
In some embodiments, the elasticized cuff comprising the elastic band has a relaxed circumference of about 3 to 5 inches, meaning the relaxed circular cuff has a diameter of about 0.95 to 1.60 inches. As used herein, the word “relaxed” means the elasticized cuff comprising the elastic band is unstretched or untensioned, the elastic band in the cuff being unstretched or untensioned or generally present without any retracting force. It is believed this relaxed elasticized cuff circumference, when stretched to accommodate the width of the safety ring, is adequate to grip and hold the attachment shank of typical safety rings, preferably safety rings having attachment shanks with a circumference of about 4 to 9 inches. Such safety rings can include those with the attachment shanks have a nominal thickness of about 0.125 inches with the attachment shanks having a nominal width perpendicular to the long dimension of the safety ring of about 2.25 inches to 4.0 inches wide. This means many typical attachment shanks can range from a generally rectangular circumference of about 4.75 (i.e., 2.25+0.125+0.125+2.25) to about 8.25 inches or a little more or less.
The relaxed size and elasticity (the stretch and retraction) of the elasticized cuff comprising the elastic band preferably allows the elasticized cuff at the exterior sleeve opening to fit and hold in place safety rings having attachment shanks that are at least 15% larger in circumference than the relaxed elasticized cuff circumference. Such elasticized cuffs are further believed to suitable for holding in place safety rings having attachment shanks that are as large as 110% larger in circumference (i.e., over twice the relaxed elasticized cuff circumference) than the relaxed circumference of the elasticized cuff.
The two-ply hollow sleeve is a preferred embodiment because it has been found that the two-ply sleeve unexpectantly helps block the sleeve opening if the sleeve is not used with a safety ring. It is believed the extra layer of fabric on the inside crumples inside the sleeve if the sleeve is not used and helps prevent a significant amount of particulates and other matter from passing through the sleeve.
In some embodiments, the sleeve (with elasticized cuff) has an overall length of about 5.75 to 16 inches, the length being measured parallel to the centerline of the hollow sleeve; that is, the sleeve (with elasticized cuff) can extend 5.75 to 16 inches perpendicularly from the outside surface of the body portion of the coverall. In some preferred embodiments, the sleeve (with elasticized cuff) has an overall length of about 5.75 to 12 inches, the length measured parallel to the centerline of the hollow sleeve; that is, the sleeve (with elasticized cuff) can extend 5.75 to 12 inches perpendicularly from the outside surface of the body portion of the coverall. In some more preferred embodiments, the sleeve (with elasticized cuff) has an overall length of about 5.75 to 9 inches, the length measured parallel to the centerline of the hollow sleeve; that is, the sleeve (with elasticized cuff) can extend 5.75 to 9 inches perpendicularly from the outside surface of the body portion of the coverall.
The safety ring sleeves can be attached to the coverall by sewing, or otherwise attached by a suitable method, with each sleeve attached to the coverall material surrounding each safety ring opening. For example,
As shown in
Additional figures showing possible orientations and placement of the safety ring openings are shown in
Specifically, in some embodiments, the protective coverall, having a plurality of safety ring openings with each safety ring opening provided with a safety ring sleeve, can comprise a third waist safety ring opening positioned on the body portion in the center waist area or between the first and second hip or waist safety ring openings, the third waist safety ring opening being either on the front side or the back side of the coverall, along with its associated safety ring sleeve.
In some embodiments, the protective coverall having a plurality of safety ring openings with each safety ring opening provided with a safety ring sleeve can comprise, in addition to a first front ring opening with a first front safety ring sleeve (preferably for receiving a first front safety ring attached to the front area of a body harness), a second front ring opening with a second front safety ring sleeve for receiving a second front safety ring attached to the front area of the body harness. In some embodiments, the first and second front safety ring openings for the first and second front safety ring sleeves are symmetrically positioned on the body portion on the upper front of the coverall. Coverall versions including the first and second front safety ring openings (147-157) for the first and second front safety ring sleeves (148-158) are illustrated in
In some embodiments, the protective coverall, having a plurality of safety ring openings with each safety ring opening provided with a safety ring sleeve, can comprise a first back ring opening with a first back safety ring sleeve (preferably for receiving a first back safety ring attached to the back area of a body harness), a second back ring opening with a second back safety ring sleeve for receiving a second back safety ring attached to the back area of the body harness. In some embodiments, the first and second back safety ring openings for the first and second back safety ring sleeves are symmetrically positioned on the body portion on the upper back of the coverall. Coverall versions including the first and second front safety ring openings (166-176) for the first and second front safety ring sleeves (167-177) are illustrated in
The protective coverall can have additional desirable features. For example, in some preferred embodiments, the at least one torso opening for donning the coverall is a vertical opening horizontally centered on the front side of the coverall. The coverall further preferably comprises a fastener for opening and closing said vertical opening. Additionally, as shown in
In some embodiments, when the vertical opening horizontally centered on the front side of the coverall with a fastener is present, and additionally a first front safety ring sleeve is present, the first front safety ring sleeve (or any other front safety ring) can be horizontally offset on the front of the coverall from the centered vertical opening and fastener. In this instance, the first ring opening is also necessarily horizontally offset on the front of the coverall from the centered vertical opening and fastener. The first front safety ring sleeve (16, 26) shown in
Alternatively, in some embodiments, when first front safety ring sleeve (and first ring opening) is present and is horizontally centered on the front side of the coverall, and a vertical opening with a fastener for the coverall is additionally present, the vertical opening with a fastener can be horizontally offset on the front of the coverall from a centered location. That is, the location of the vertical opening and fastener is horizontally offset on the front of the coverall from the first front safety ring opening and first front safety ring sleeve.
As shown in
Additionally, while the closing flap covering the vertical opening and fastener is shown on the body portion parallel with the centerline of the body portion; that is, parallel with a line running from the center of the neck of the coverall to the crotch of the coverall, the orientation of the closing flap covering the vertical opening is not limited and could be more or less angled from vertical. For example, the closing flap along with the vertical front opening and fastener could angularly traverse the body portion from the right chest or shoulder area toward the left hip-waist area, or from the left chest or shoulder area towards the right hip-waist area.
In some embodiments, the protective coverall is suitable for use over a body harness worn by a person to support that person with safety lines or ropes attached to that body harness during an activity or if the person should fall, with the body harness having a plurality of safety rings suitable for attaching the body harness to a plurality of lines or ropes, the body harness having an upper front area worn on an upper front of a body, a back area worn on a back of the body, and a hip-waist (hip or waist) area worn in a hip or waist area of the body. The coverall has an interior surface for facing the body harness when worn by the person over the body harness and the coverall having an exterior surface for facing an exterior environment; and the coverall further having a body portion for covering a person's torso when the coverall is worn by the person; the body portion having at least one torso opening for donning the coverall and a neck opening for a person's head and neck.
The body portion has a plurality of openings for a person's limbs, including a first opening ending in a first sleeve for receiving a portion of a person's right arm when the person wears the coverall, and a second opening ending in a second sleeve for receiving a portion of a person's left arm when the person wears the coverall, with each of the sleeves further having an opening for a person's wrist and hand. The body portion also has a third opening ending in a first pant sleeve for receiving a portion of a person's right leg when the person wears the coverall, and a fourth opening ending in a second pant sleeve for receiving a portion of a person's left leg when the person wears the coverall, with each of the pant sleeves further having an opening for a person's ankle and foot. The body portion additionally has a plurality of safety ring openings with each safety ring opening provided with a safety ring sleeve for receiving a safety ring attached to the body harness, each safety ring sleeve further ending in an elasticized cuff. Each elasticized cuff has a size compatible with the size of the safety ring received in the safety ring sleeve, such that the elasticized cuff can expand to allow the safety ring to extend through the cuff, or partially extend through the cuff, to the exterior environment of the coverall, and hold the safety ring in that position. Additionally, in a preferred embodiment, the plurality of safety ring openings includes
In some embodiments, the protective coverall can further comprise
In some embodiments, the protective coverall has at least one safety ring sleeve that is cone-shaped, with the widest opening of the cone being the safety ring opening in the body portion and narrowest opening of the cone being the elasticized cuff. In some embodiments, the at least one safety ring sleeve comprises two sleeve plies, and in some embodiments the elasticized cuff is a free-floating elastic band encapsulated by the two sleeve plies.
In some embodiments, the protective coverall has at least one torso opening for donning the coverall that is a vertical opening horizontally centered on the body portion on the front side of the coverall, and the coverall further include a fastener for opening and closing said vertical opening. In some embodiments, the ii) front ring opening with first front safety ring sleeve is horizontally offset on the front side of the coverall from the vertical opening and fastener. The neck opening and the at least one torso opening may be connected when the fastener is not closed.
In some embodiments, the protective coverall has at least one torso opening for donning the coverall that is a vertical opening horizontally offset on the body portion on the front side of the coverall from a ii) front ring opening with first front safety ring sleeve that located on the centerline of the body portion surface on the front side of the coverall; the coverall further include a fastener for opening and closing said vertical opening. The neck opening and the at least one torso opening may be connected when the fastener is not closed.
In some embodiments the protective coverall is a single-use garment, that is, it is used only once and then disposed of or responsibly recycled. In some embodiments the protective coverall is a limited-use garment that is used, decontaminated, and re-used for a limited number of times; for example, 2 to 5 times.
The protective coverall can preferably be made from a protective apparel fabric. The term “protective apparel fabric” is meant to include a wide variety of protective garment fabrics, barrier fabrics, laminates, and films. The term “protective apparel fabric” also includes nonwoven and/or woven fabrics and laminates of such materials with films or multilayer films. In some embodiments, the protective fabric comprises a chemically-resistant outer layer. In some preferred embodiments the protective apparel fabric, and therefore the coverall material, is a multilayer-film-and-nonwoven laminate. In some embodiments the overall material is a nonwoven that resists penetration by liquids and/or particulates, such as a nonwoven like DuPont™ Tyvek® spunbonded polyethylene, or other types of nonwovens, like polyester or polypropylene, etc., spunbonded and melt-blown sheets and laminates, and other nonwoven constructions, including coated and film-laminated versions. In some embodiments the protective fabric is flame resistant or provided with a flame retardant; in some embodiments the protective fabric is flame resistant or provided with a flame retardant in addition to providing particulate, liquid, and/or chemical-or bio-challenge protection. One preferred protective coverall fabric is DuPont™ Tychem® 2000 fabrics, which feature a coated Tyvek® fabric. These fabrics provide barrier protection against a wide range of inorganic chemical and biological hazards yet are lightweight and comfortable. Other useful fabrics can include other film-laminated Tyvek® fabric styles, and fabrics such as those used in DuPont™ Tychem® 6000 FR, DuPont™ Tychem® ThermoPro, and DuPont™ ProShield® SFR. In addition, other useful protective coverall fabrics that protect against a wide variety of threats can be used and include but are not limited to those generally disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,626,947 (Hauer et al.); 4,855,178 (Langley); 4,272,851 (Goldstein); 4,772,510 (McClure); 5,035,941 (Blackburn); 4,214,321 (Nuwayser); 4,920,575 (Bartasis); 5,162,148 (Boye); and 4,833,010 (Langley).
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63440546 | Jan 2023 | US | |
| 63591251 | Oct 2023 | US |
