Patent Application
20100293702
The present invention relates to jackets, and more specifically, to wearer-protective jackets.
Jackets are articles of clothing. They are worn over the shoulders, arms, and upper portion of a person.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a jacket.
In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention can be embodied in a protective jacket having a main jacket body to be worn about the shoulders, arms, and upper torso of a person, and configured at respective under-sleeve and side-torso areas with edges spaced apart to form respective openings respectively extending from a terminal portion of a sleeve to bottom portions of the jacket body. A pair of inner jacket bodies are respectively disposed in the openings and affixed to the main jacket body. The main jacket body is formed, at least in part, of an abrasion resistant material that protects the person from abrasive injuries, and the pair of inner jacket portions are formed, at least in part, of an elastic material that provides the person with greater flexibility while wearing the protective jacket.
The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not in limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which:
The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying figures. It should be kept in mind that the following described embodiments are only presented by way of example and should not be construed as limiting the inventive concept to any particular physical configuration, shape, size, or order.
A pair of inner jacket bodies 150 is shaped such that they can be respectively disposed in the openings and affixed to the main jacket body 110, so as to form a protective jacket.
According to an exemplary aspect of the present invention, main jacket body 210 is formed, at least in part, from an abrasion resistant material that protects the person from abrasive injuries, while inner jacket bodies 230 are formed from an elastic material that provides the person with greater flexibility while wearing protective jacket 200.
Notably, main and inner jacket bodies 210, 230 can be formed from one or more panels of material. Further, use of the term “material” throughout this disclosure is intended to include one or more materials, and such design choice is not critical to the present invention insofar as the same does not render the present invention unusable as intended. For example, a particular material used for main and/or inner jacket bodies 210, 230 can be a blend, and/or can include one or more layers of similar or different materials.
An abrasion resistant and/or elastic material can include any material consistent with the intent of the present invention. For example, an exemplary abrasion resistant material can include, at least in part, one or more of the following: leather, cotton, polyurethane, nylon, vinyl, KEVLAR, CORDURA, CORDURA PLUS (also known as as “CORDURA 1000”) and/or polypropylene, for example and not in limitation. Notably, elastic material can include, at least in part, LYCRA, SPANDEX, bull denim, or other elastic material, and notably, can be a blended material, for example and not in limitation. It should be noted that a material selected for main jacket body may also be elastic in addition to being abrasion resistant, and similarly, a material selected for inner jacket body may also be abrasion resistant in addition to being elastic.
According to another exemplary aspect of the present invention, respective colors and textures of utilized materials for main and/or inner jacket bodies can be particularly selected to provide a visually appealing appearance. For example and not in limitation, main jacket body can be formed of an indigo-colored, 14-ounce denim material, and inner jacket body can be formed of a black, polyester and SPANDEX blended material. Additionally and/or alternatively, a protective jacket according to the present invention can be “branded” or “badged” with a trademark, trade dress, and/or logo, such as the trademark “HARLEY DAVIDSON,” for example and not in limitation. Further, main and/or inner jacket bodies can optionally include various designs, patterns and/or images thereon for a visually pleasing appearance. For example and not in limitation, inner jacket bodies can include one or more of a skull, flames, checkered flags, etc.
According to an additional exemplary aspect of the invention, a safety jacket can further includes a pair of cuffs respectively attached at the respective terminal portions of the respective sleeves. Cuffs can be formed of an elastic or non-elastic material or materials.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the manner of making and using the claimed invention has been adequately disclosed in the above-written description of the exemplary embodiments and aspects taken together with the drawings.
It should be understood, however, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the specific embodiments, aspects, arrangement, and components shown and described above, but may be susceptible to numerous variations within the scope of the invention. For example, main jacket body can be formed from light-weight cotton or other light-weight material if so desired, and the same, albeit to a lesser degree than a heavy-weight material, can still provide a degree of abrasion resistance so as to protect a person from abrasive injury. Further, for example and not in limitation, the openings formed by the main jacket body edges can be staggered, such that it is intermittent along the under-sleeve and side-torso areas, whilst inner jacket body can be provided in sections. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative and enabling, rather than a restrictive, sense.
Therefore, it will be understood that the above description of the embodiments of the present invention are susceptible to various modifications, changes, and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.
