Patent Grant
10894176
The present disclosure relates generally to garments, and more specifically to garments including a garment port compatible for use with a safety harness, and associated methods thereof.
Certain activities performed at elevation can include use of a safety harness to protect the wearer from falls. Examples of such activities can include daily elevated work, such as utility work, construction work, and other such work, as well as recreational activities such as hunting (e.g., deer hunting and, in particular, whitetail deer hunting, or any other type of hunting from an elevated position such as when a tree stand is used). A person performing such elevated activities, such as a hunter, may wear the safety harness underneath his clothing. An end of a safety strap is then attached to the safety harness and another end is attached to an anchor point (e.g., a tree, tree stand, utility pole, or other stable object) to protect the wearer from potential falls.
A person wearing or operating the safety harness may have multiple layers of garments or clothing based on the environmental conditions. Due to changing environmental conditions (or other factors), the person may want to remove or add layers of garments. In some conventional garments, the safety harness must be untethered from the anchor point in order to add or remove the garment layer and, only after the garment layer is added or removed, can a user reattach to the anchor point. This removal from the anchor point can increase the likelihood of a fall from the elevated position. In other conventional garments, the safety harness tether exits the garment above the top of the collar and against the wearer's neck which is uncomfortable. With this type of garment, the wearer may add and remove layers of garments, but the harness and tether are uncomfortable, decreasing the likelihood that the safety equipment will be used.
According to one example (“Example 1”), a garment has an inner surface and an outer surface and is usable with a safety strap. The garment includes a collar configured to at least partially encircle an upper portion of the garment. The garment also includes a garment port arranged on or adjacent to the collar and forming a channel between the inner surface and the outer surface of the garment. The garment port has at least three sides. One of the sides is open to form the channel. The garment also includes a flap coupled to the collar and configured to move between a closed configuration, which covers the garment port and allows passage of the safety strap through the channel between the inner surface and the outer surface of the garment, and an open configuration, which allows removal of the safety strap through the garment port. The garment also includes a closure device arranged with the flap and configured to maintain the flap in the closed configuration.
According to another example (“Example 2”) further to Example 1, the closure device includes at least one of a snap, a zipper, a hook and loop fastener, a magnetic closure, and a button.
According to another example (“Example 3”) further to Example 2, the closure device includes a snap arranged on a side portion of the flap and a magnetic closure arranged along a bottom portion of the flap.
According to another example (“Example 4”) further to Example 1, the flap is configured to form a hinge with a lateral portion of the collar and swing open at least partially circumferentially relative to the collar.
According to another example (“Example 5”) further to Example 1, the flap is one of a pentagon, a square, a rectangle, an oval or a trapezoid.
According to another example (“Example 6”) further to Example 1, the channel forms a shape with at least one open side. The at least one open side is arranged along a top surface of the collar.
According to another example (“Example 7”) further to Example 1, a bottom portion of the flap is straight, triangular, ovular, or circular.
According to another example (“Example 8”) further to Example 1, the garment is one of a jacket, a shirt, or a vest.
According to another example (“Example 9”) further to Example 1, the garment also includes a hood. The hood is removably coupled to at least a portion of the top surface of the collar but is not coupled to the flap.
According to another example (“Example 10”) further to Example 1, the flap comprises a first side, a second side, a top side, and a bottom side. The bottom side is open and forms the passageway.
According to another example (“Example 11”), a garment includes a channel forming an opening between an inner surface and an outer surface of the garment. The channel forms a shape with at least one open side. The garment also includes a flap coupled to the channel and configured to move between an open configuration allowing access to the channel and a closed configuration covering the channel.
According to another example (“Example 12”) further to Example 11, the garment also includes a first closure device arranged along a lower portion of the flap and a second closure device along another portion of the flap.
According to another example (“Example 13”) further to Example 12, the first closure device comprises at least one of a snap, a zipper, a hook and loop fastener, a magnetic closure, and a button.
According to another example (“Example 14”) further to Example 11, the garment also includes an insulating strip oriented along a bottom surface of the collar and arranged underneath the flap.
According to another example (“Example 15”) further to Example 11, a bottom portion of the flap is aligned with the bottom surface of the collar.
According to another example (“Example 16”) further to Example 11, the bottom portion of the flap extends below the bottom surface of the collar.
According to another example (“Example 17”) further to Example 11, the garment also includes a magnetic strip oriented along at least a portion of the flap.
According to another example (“Example 18”), a method for forming a garment having a garment port includes forming a flap in the garment. The flap is configured to move between an open configuration allowing access to the garment port and a closed configuration covering the garment port and forming a channel. The channel forms a shape with at least one open side. The channel allows passage between an inner surface and an outer surface of the garment. The flap is configured to move between the open configuration to allow for routing of a safety strap through the garment port without removal of the garment from a wearer and a closed configuration covering the garment port.
According to another example (“Example 19”) further to Example 18, the method also includes attaching a closure device to the flap to maintain the flap in the closed configuration.
According to another example (“Example 20”) further to Example 18, when the flap is in the closed configuration, the safety strap is routed through the channel.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.
Persons skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various aspects of the present disclosure can be realized by any number of methods and apparatus configured to perform the intended functions. It should also be noted that the accompanying drawing figures referred to herein are not necessarily drawn to scale, but may be exaggerated to illustrate various aspects of the present disclosure, and in that regard, the drawing figures should not be construed as limiting.
Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward garments that enable a wearer to add or remove a layer of clothing while the wearer remains attached in an elevated position and safely anchored to the elevated position via a safety harness, a safety strap and an anchor point. The wearer is not required to detach the safety strap from the anchor point or from the harness in order to add or remove the garment while the safety harness remains connected to the safety strap and anchor point. In this manner, the garment allows for efficient and quick donning or removal of the garment without jeopardizing the wearer's safety by requiring detachment from the safety strap. Prior garments that are designed to be compatible with harnesses and safety straps do not enable efficient and quick donning or removal of the garment without jeopardizing the wearer's safety. For example, garments that include a hole or slit in the garment (e.g., at the wearer's mid-back, upper back, or shoulder area) for the safety strap to pass through require that the user detach the safety strap when donning or removing the garment. The garments discussed herein enable continuous use of a tethered safety harness while enabling safe, quick, and efficient donning and removal of garments.
As used herein, the phrase “safety harness” means a device worn by a wearer when in an elevated position to protect the wearer from falls. In some instances, the safety harness encircles one or more of the user's shoulders, torso and/or legs. The phrase “safety strap” or “strap” means a relatively strong tether that is permanently or releasably attached to the safety harness or to the anchor point. The phrase “anchor point” is a device that is permanently or releasably attached to an elevated structure, for example, a tree or a scaffold. In some embodiments, the safety harness and the safety strap are permanently attached to one another and the safety strap and the anchor point are able to connect to one another, for example, by a loop in the safety strap and a carabineer on the anchor point so that the safety strap and the anchor point can be attached and detached relatively easily. In other embodiments, the safety strap can be permanently attached to the anchor point and the safety strap and the safety harness can be releasably coupled to each other. The described safety harness, safety strap and anchor point are able to bear the weight of the wearer so that, if the wearer slips or falls from an elevated position, the wearer falls only a short distance, for example, a few centimeters to less than one meter, and the threat of injury from the fall is minimized or eliminated.
As discussed above, efficient removal of garments is beneficial during a variety of activities, such as activities in which the wearer's safety depends upon attachment to an anchor point via a safety harness and strap. One specific example is that of a hunter wearing a tree stand safety harness. Certain types of hunting (i.e., deer hunting and, in particular, whitetail deer hunting) are commonly performed in tree stands. Thus, to ensure the safety of the wearer and protect from falls, the hunter may wear a safety harness, such as a shoulder harness or a full-body harness, underneath outer garments or various layers of clothing such as jackets, mid-layers, insulating layers, and waterproof or water-resistant layers, among others.
The hunter may wear multiple layers of clothing (i.e., multiple jackets, a mid-layer and a jacket, and other combinations) and may desire to add or remove garments throughout the day for increased comfort and/or functionality in response to changing environmental conditions. The garment of the present disclosure allows the hunter, for example, to add or remove layers while remaining attached to the safety strap and anchor point. The garment also allows for quick and easy donning or removal of layers, thus improving the speed at which the hunter can safely add and remove the garment. Because the hunter is not required to detach from the safety strap and anchor point, the hunter does not increase his or her risk of falling by adding or removing layers of clothing.
The present disclosure relates to a garment having an inner surface and an outer surface, for use with a safety strap, the garment comprising a collar configured to at least partially encircle an upper portion of the garment; a garment port arranged on or adjacent to the collar and forming a channel between the inner and outer surface of the garment, the garment port having at least three side, one of the sides being open to form the channel; a flap coupled to the collar and configured to move between a closed configuration covering the garment port and allowing passage of the safety strap through the channel between the inner and outer surface of the garment and an open configuration allowing for movement of the safety strap through the garment port; and a closure device arranged with the flap and configured to maintain the flap in the closed configuration. In other embodiments, the garment comprises a channel forming an opening between an inner surface and an outer surface of the garment, the channel forming a shape with at least one open side; and a flap coupled to the channel and configured to move between an open configuration to allow access to the channel and a closed position covering the channel.
In some embodiments, the body portion 113 of the garment 100 includes an inner surface (not shown) and an outer surface 104. In some embodiments (i.e., where the garment 100 is a coat or jacket), the inner surface of the garment contacts the wearer of the garment or another layer of clothing worn by the wearer, for example, a mid-layer. The outer surface 104 of the garment is directly exposed to the environment. In other embodiments (i.e., where the garment 100 is a mid-layer, for example), the outer surface 104 of the garment may contact an additional layer of clothing worn outside of the mid-layer.
Though the garment 100 shown in
As shown in
The garment port 110 can be any of a variety of shapes. For example, the garment port 110 can be square, rectangular, triangular, or any other shape as desired. In some examples, the garment port 110 may simply be a gap between portions of the collar. In other examples, the garment port 110 may be a cut-out or shape formed into the collar. In various examples, the garment port 110 may have at least three sides (e.g., a first side 112, a second side 114, and a third side 116), while in other examples, the garment port 110 may have four sides (e.g., a first side 112, a second side 114, and a third side 116, and a fourth side 118), or the garment port 110 may have more than four sides. At least one of the sides of the garment port 110 is open to form the channel 111 between the inner surface and the outer surface 104 of the garment 100. In some embodiments, the bottom portion of the collar, for example, side 114 of the garment port 110 remains open or unattached to the garment to form the channel 111. However, any of the sides could be open to form the channel 111. Detachment of a strap 136 from a safety harness 138 or anchor point presents various safety risks if the wearer is elevated when donning or removing the garment. The garment port 110 having at least one open side to form the channel 111 allows for donning and removing of the garment without detachment of the strap 138 from the safety harness 138 or anchor point. The strap 138 can pass freely through the garment port 110 while the wearer is removing or adding the garment 100.
The garment further comprises a flap 120 that is coupled to the collar 106. The flap 120 is configured to move between an open configuration and a closed configuration (as shown in
The flap 120 also includes a top portion 128 and a bottom portion 130. In some embodiments, the bottom portion 130 of the flap 120 extends below the bottom surface 109 of the collar 106, as shown in
In some embodiments, the flap 120 may be integral with the collar 106. In other terms, the flap 120 is part of the collar 106 and, more specifically, is a portion or strip of the collar 106 that extends over the garment port 110. In other embodiments, the flap 120 can be a separate portion, for example, a completely removable portion that is removably attached to the collar 106 on both sides of the flap 120. The flap 120 may be removably attached to the collar, for example, by one or more of a snap, a button, a zipper, a hook and loop fastener, a magnetic closure, or a combination thereof.
In some embodiments, a closure device 132 is arranged with the flap 120 and is configured to maintain the flap 120 in the closed configuration. The closure device 132 may include one or more suitable closure devices, for example, a snap, a button, a zipper, a hook and loop fastener, a magnetic closure, or a combination thereof.
The closure device 132 may be arranged on the flap 120 near one of the sides of the flap 120. For example, the closure device 132 may be arranged near the first side 124 or the second side 126. In some embodiments, the closure device 132 is located on the opposite side of the flap 120 as the hinge 122. For example, if the hinge 122 is located on the first side 124 of the flap 120, the closure device 132 may be located on the second side 126 and vice versa. In some embodiments, the closure device includes a snap arranged on a side portion of the flap and a magnetic closure arranged along a bottom portion of the flap. In still further embodiments, a first closure device is arranged along a lower portion of the flap and a second closure device along another portion of the flap.
In some embodiments, the flap 120 includes more than one closure device, as shown in
As shown in
In some embodiments, the insulating strip 140 is a narrow strip of insulating material or fabric capable of preventing cold air and/or moisture from entering the garment port 110. In other terms, the insulating strip 140 may form a seal between the garment port 110 and the flap 120. Examples of suitable insulating materials include, for example, down, foam, synthetic insulation, available from 3M, St. Paul, Minn., synthetic insulation blended with down, synthetic insulation blended with wool or other natural fibers, wool, cotton, or a combination thereof. Any known garment insulation may be used.
The hood 150 can be attached to the collar 106 in a variety of ways. In some examples, the hood 150 can be removably attached to the collar 106 such that the hood 150 can be attached and/or removed easily and readily by the wearer. For example, at least a portion of the hood 150 can be detached from the collar 106 such that a safety strap can be passed through the garment port 110. The hood 150 can then be quickly reattached once the safety strap is in place. Examples of suitable attachment devices include one or more of a snap, a zipper, a hook and loop fastener, a magnetic closure, a button or a combination thereof.
The garment 100 disclosed herein can be formed in a variety of ways. In some examples, a method for forming the garment 100 includes forming the garment port 110 and the flap 120 in the garment 100 to provide a channel between the inner surface and the outer surface 104 of the garment 100. As discussed above, the garment port 110 forms a shape having at least one open side. The method also includes coupling a flap 120 to the garment such that the flap 120 covers the garment port 110. The flap 120 can move between the open configuration and the closed configuration to allow for routing of a safety strap through the open side of the channel, for example. Thus, the safety strap can be routed through the channel without the wearer having to remove the garment 100. In other embodiments, the method for forming a garment having a garment port comprises: forming a flap in the garment, the flap configured to move between an open configuration allowing access to the garment port and a closed configuration covering the garment port and forming a channel, the channel forming a shape with at least one open side wherein the channel allows passage between an inner surface and an outer surface of the garment; and the flap being configured to move between an open configuration allowing access to the garment port to allow for routing of a safety strap through the garment port without removal of the garment from a wearer and a closed configuration covering the garment port.
In some embodiments, the method also includes attaching at least one closure device 132 to the flap 120 and to the garment, for example, the collar 106 to optionally maintain the flap 120 in the closed position. In some examples, more than one closure device may be attached. For example, a first closure device 132 and a second closure device 134 may be attached to the flap 120 on different sides of the flap 120 to maintain the flap 120 in the closed position.
The invention of this application has been described above both generically and with regard to specific embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the embodiments without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, it is intended that the embodiments cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20200078616 A1 | Mar 2020 | US |
