Patent Application
20180271186
This invention relates to protective trousers and chaps for use by operators of chainsaws in operations such as the felling and de-branching of trees, and the sawing of the felled trees and branches.
In this specification, a “trouser” or “pair of trousers” is construed as any garment comprising portions that separately enclose at least a substantial part of the legs of the wearer and are united at a crotch, i.e. a joint between the legs that faces downwardly in the standing position of the wearer; and the “fly” is defined by a nominal line extending upwardly and centrally in front of the wearer in a vertical plane from the crotch to the waist in the standing position of the wearer. Typically the fly is openable and closable by a zip or other fastening means. A “chaps” or “pair of chaps” is construed as a garment comprising portions that separately cover at least a substantial part of the legs of the wearer.
The principal risk arising from the operation of a chainsaw is that of contact between the moving chain and the operator, in particular the legs. To give some protection for the legs it is customary for the chainsaw operator to wear protective trousers comprising an outer layer, hereinafter referred to as the shell, which encloses a protective filler material comprising long fibres of high strength material such as para-aramid (e.g. Kevlar®), ballistic nylon, high performance filament yarn made of PET (Poly Ethylene terephtalat), PP (PolyPropylene) or PE (Poly Ethylene), PA (Poly Amide) (for example materials such as Dyneema® or Vectran® etc) which are loosely arranged, usually in multiple layers. When a chainsaw chain contacts the trousers, the outer layer is immediately cut through but the loose fibres of the filler material are drawn out and entangled by the blade so that they wrap around the chainsaw's drive sprocket, locking it solid and halting the chain, and so limiting damage to the operator's leg. After stopping a saw, the trousers are scrapped, and the saw must be field-stripped to remove the fibres and allow it to run again.
The filler material may be arranged in a fabric envelope which contains the loose layers of fibres and is sewn to the inside of the shell. This avoids the need to sew the filler material to the shell, which could restrain the fibres of the filler material and hence prevent them from stopping the blade.
Chainsaw protective trousers in the EU must comply with EN381-5 and are classified in three classes and three types, depending on the quantity and arrangement of the filler material. Class 1, 2 and 3 trousers are rated for use with chainsaws running at speeds up to 20 m/s, 24 m/s and 28 m/s respectively, with the requisite level of protection typically being provided by about 3 to about 12 or even more layers of filler material.
Apart from the standard having three protective classes (1,2,3) the standard also has three design classes A, B and C, where design class C protects the whole legs. Tree fellers, ground workers and firewood cutters typically select design class A trousers because of the low risk of being cut in the back of the leg. Climbers and tree surgeons generally have the chainsaw attached by a lanyard to their climbing harness and select design class C, as they will be cutting from a wider variety of positions. In design class A and B trousers the filler material is arranged to cover principally the front of the legs, whereas type C trousers provide filler material that extends around the front and back so as to enclose each leg. In each type, the filler material extends upwardly from the crotch for some distance on each side of the fly, while the seat (the region behind the wearer between the waist and the legs) is not filled.
Some users, like occasional or non-professional users, prefer chaps, which comprise a shell and filler material similar to those of trousers but arranged as two separate leg coverings (or attached to one another), usually lacking a seat and united by a belt or the like and providing design class A protection, and which are worn over conventional trousers.
The fibres of the filler material are relatively inelastic. In chainsaw protective trousers it is desirable for the filler material to extend as far as possible over the leg regions including the thighs, chins, knees and also the backside including the buttocks of the user since these areas are vulnerable to contact by the chainsaw blade.
The shell of chainsaw protective trousers or chaps is preferably both tough and slippery so that it protects against trivial damage which could compromise the filler material. Kneepatches of an abrasion resistant material such as a para-aramid (e.g. Kevlar®) cloth are usually sewn to the shell to protect the clothing against wear and tear.
In order to ensure that the shell is comfortable in use and does not unduly restrict the movement of the wearer, particularly when climbing trees, it is preferable to make it from a material, e.g. a warp knitted synthetic fabric, that is elastically stretchable as well as water repellent.
The inventors have realised that there is a problem in contemporary protective clothing, such as for protective chainsaw pants or chaps, but also for protective jackets, in that as the user working in nature is often forced to assume working positions requiring the user to bend, stoop, squat or otherwise bend one or more joints (particularly such as when squatting or bending a knee). The areas of the protective clothing around the bending joint will then become stretched around the corresponding limb(s) whereby the protective clothing may become taut. This may have the consequence that the filler material fibres may also become stretched and their freedom to move and be caught by a chainsaw chain may thus be compromised or reduced leading to a reduced protection in those areas in such awkward working positions.
Especially in rough terrain or such as when climbing trees where a user is forced to assume many awkward working positions, this may pose a problem, and it is this problem that the inventors have realized after insightful reasoning.
The inventors further recognises that, whereas the shell should be sufficiently elastic so as to provide comfort in use, they should also not be too loose fitting as that would decrease the comfort in that the pants would bulge.
It is the object of the present invention, some aspects of which is a problem invention, to provide protective clothing such as chainsaw protective trousers or chaps (possibly which can be secured, such as by being sown together, in the crotch area) which afford protection and comfort, even in awkward working positions.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided protective clothing such as a pair of trousers or chaps as defined in the claims.
In one embodiment there is provided a protective clothing comprising saw protective layering regions comprising saw protection filler material, wherein said saw protective layering regions has at least one reinforced section.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided joint pads to be arranged on protective clothing such as knee pads as defined in the claims. The joint pads may be removably arranged to the protective clothing. The joint pads may alternatively or additionally be sown to the protective clothing.
In one embodiment there is provided a reinforced section comprising saw protection filler material, said reinforced section arranged to be removably arranged to protective clothing.
Other features and advantages of the disclosed embodiments will appear from the following detailed disclosure, from the attached dependent claims as well as from the drawings
The invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying figures wherein:
The protective layering regions 11 comprises sections of filler material that may be attached to a shell as has been disclosed in the above for enclosing the filler material and protecting it from wetness and humidity. The prior art protective layering regions 11 is of a substantially uniform thickness.
As has been discussed in the above, the inventors have realized that when the user bends a joint for example a knee, such as when operating in awkward positions or climbing, areas of the protective layering regions 11 may become taut in areas protecting and the protective capability may then be reduced. In
The inventors have realized that the protective capability of the filler material in the protective layering regions 110 may be maintained (or even increased) even when a protected joint, such as a knee, is bent by simply and elegantly adding to the filler material layering of in such areas.
To maintain the flexibility and weight of the protective clothing at substantially the same level, the inventors have realised that the saw protective layering only needs to be improved in the areas that become taut when bent.
In
The reinforced sections 120 may be reinforced for added protective capabilities by adding more saw protection layers to the protective layering, for example by adding 2 more layers. In one embodiment 1 to 5 more layers are added. one embodiment 2 to 4 more layers are added. one embodiment 2 or 3 more layers are added.
The added layers may have a same thickness as per the non-reinforced sections, which provides for simpler material handling and acquisition during production.
The added layers may alternatively or additionally have a different thickness as per the non-reinforced sections, which provides for fewer layers needed to be added during production. The reinforced sections 120 may thus also or alternatively be reinforced for added protective capabilities by adding to the thickness of the protective layering in such areas.
The added layers may alternatively or additionally have a longer length of the fibres in the filler material as per in the non-reinforced sections.
The added layers may alternatively or additionally have a different orientation of the fibres in the filler material as per in the non-reinforced sections.
The reinforced sections thus comprise more filler material than other areas of the saw protective layering regions, whether by a higher thickness, by additional layers or by longer fibres (or other manner of increasing the amount of filler material that may be used). The reinforced sections are thus mainly reinforced by having more filler material than other areas of the protective layering regions.
The inventors further realized that adding more (and/or thicker) layers will also serve to provide added protection to the joint such as when standing on a knee, the added layering serving as a cushioning knee (or other joint) pad. To improve the cushioning effect, a spacer layer 124 may also be added to the reinforced section 120. The spacer layer 124 may be made of polyester or other suitable materials. As the spacer is relatively rigid in its structure, at least compared to the filler material, it carries an additional benefit in that as it is prone to keep its form even when it is bent, it will help to preserve the form of the reinforced section 120 thereby possibly preventing the saw protection or filler material from becoming as taut.
In one embodiment, at least one of the reinforced sections are provided in the form of a joint pad to be added to the protective clothing.
The joint pad may be added to the protective clothing by being removably inserted into a pocket of the protective clothing.
The joint pad may be alternatively be added to the protective clothing by being sown onto or into (for example under the shell layer) of the protective clothing.
By arranging the reinforced sections 120 as a joint pad that can be inserted and/or removed, the reinforcement becomes both optional and replaceable. The joint pad can thus be replaced if it is damaged without having to replace the whole trousers.
In one embodiment the joint pad 130 is arranged in a pocket by itself and simply attached to the reinforced area for example using fastening means like buttons, hook-and-loop-fastening means (such as Velcrom), zippers or other manners of removably fastening a pad to clothing.
Arranging the reinforced sections 120 as a replacable pad thus has many benefits.
As has been mentioned above, the joint pad may also be sown to the protective clothing, possibly under an outer shell, becoming part of the protective clothing. This ensures that the joint pad stays in its intended position during use and also ensures that the pads are kept in place if contact should be made with a chainsaw chain.
Alternatively, both a removably joint pad and an attached joint pad may be arranged on the protective clothing.
Furthermore, the inventors have also realized that by selecting the shell layer 125 of the reinforced section as being a water repellent (or water proof) material, and preferably a stretch material, such as NAME OF MATERIAL, the joint may also be protected against wetness or humidity.
The reinforced section 120 may thus be arranged in one embodiment as one or more saw protective layers 122, 123, a spacer layer 124 and a water repellent shell material 125 that are sown (or otherwise attached) to a lining layer 121.
The reinforced section 120 may also be arranged in one embodiment as one or more saw protective layers 122, 123 and a water repellent shell material 125 that are sown (or otherwise attached) to a lining layer 121.
The reinforced section 120 may thus be arranged in one embodiment as one or more saw protective layers 122, 123, and a spacer layer 124 that are sown (or otherwise attached) to a lining layer 121.
As has been noted above, the protective clothing 100 is merely exemplified as being saw protective trousers, but may also be protective vests, chaps, jackets, arm chaps, shoe covers or other protective clothing.
The invention has mainly been described above with reference to a few embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended patent claims.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2015/071900 | 9/23/2015 | WO | 00 |
