Patent Application
20240260688
This invention relates to the field of protective garments that are worn over clothing. More specifically, the present invention comprises a garment that can be temporarily worn over clothing to provide protection to the user's body and prevent the user's clothing from being soiled and/or damaged. The present device can be easily and quickly put on the user over their clothing using the attached straps.
In one embodiment, the invention comprises an apron with a multitude of pockets so that tools and implements can be stored in the garment to be used as necessary. In another embodiment, removable first and second leg covers can be attached to the apron to convert the garment so that it can be used in the manner of chaps, the first and second leg covers can be adjusted to the user's height to make wearing the garment more comfortable and practical for the user.
Additionally, the removable first and second leg covers each contain at least one pocket in which different knee pads types can be inserted and removed via an opening in the pocket. The knee pad pocket enabling at least one embodiment of the invention to be used in a manner similar to that of work trousers.
Certain tasks such as planting and weeding gardens, maintenance or do-it-yourself type work often requires the person doing the work to kneel while doing such work and carry work implements for said work. Kneeling on a hard surface may be uncomfortable and exert a strain on the user and damage the worker's clothing or body. Using a separate cushion or different type of kneeling pad can alleviate the discomfort; however, these must be moved from place to place with the user.
Devices such as a pair of work trousers with incorporated knee pads offer knee protection but do not offer the ease of putting on and taking off that the present invention offers. Garments in the Prior Art that are commonly known as Chaps, offer the same convenience for the user of putting on and taking off as the present invention along with the knee and body protection, however often they do not provide the positionally adjustable knee protection nor can the leg cover section be removed from the apron section of the chaps.
Aprons are well known in the Prior Art and are commonly used in many activities to offer protection to the user and have methods to hold tools and implements, however they do not have a method to attach removeable leg covers so, the apron can be converted and used in the manner as Chaps and work trousers and offer the user some leg and knee protection.
The subsequent list of garments have relevance to the present disclosure, and are herein described for the purposes of highlighting and differentiating the unique aspects of the present invention, and further highlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior art.
Devices known as Work Trousers are common in the prior art, most disclosing trousers with incorporated knee pockets that enable knee protectors to be installed in the pockets. U.S. Pat. No. 3,168,746A to Smith is such an example with the trousers including a pocket on each of the knee portions on the exterior of the garment. The pocket includes an opening on the upper edge of the pocket so that a knee pad can be contained therein.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,398B1 to Hennessey discloses safety trousers with removable knee pads. The pocket on the trousers comprises a closed lower end and an open upper end. The pocket can be opened so as to create more room for the knee pads inserted therein. The open upper end comprises fasteners such as hook and loop fasteners thereon for preventing the knee pads from falling out of the pocket.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,421,839B1 to Vo discloses work trousers with kneeling cushioning pockets at the knee portion, wherein the pocket is adapted to receive a knee pad therein. The knee pad and trousers are designed in such a manner such that the knee pad may be secured within the pocket via a securement device at different positions within the pocket so as to suit the user's preference.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,216,370B1 to Warner discloses trousers having a series of vertically overlapping pockets that are sewn internally at the knee portions of the trousers. The wearer of the trousers can place a knee pad in the selected pocket so as to adjust the placement of the knee pad. Furthermore, each pocket comprises a hook and loop fastener on the upper end thereof so as to secure said knee pad in the selected pocket.
The foregoing devices are all trousers that contain pockets for holding knee pads, to protect the user's knees and legs. Said trousers fully enclosing the user's legs and are not typically worn over other clothing. In contrast, the present invention provides a way to enable the user to wear protective clothing over clothing that is already being worn while also providing a manner to protect the user's knees, legs and body. Furthermore, the method in which the present invention is put on/worn and removed by the user is also different to the forgoing devices in that the present invention does not fully enclose the user's legs.
Knee pads such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,333A are also well known in the prior art. They provide a well-known method of removable protection to the user and can be shaped during the manufacturing process or adapted to be enclosed in many work trouser knee pockets.
Another embodiment of the present invention is that of an apron which is well known in the prior art. Aprons are used in many environments that include protecting a user's clothing while providing a plurality of methods for storing items and implements that are required by the user. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 133,954S to Siegle and U.S. Design Pat. No. 257,596 to Rosenbloom III illustrate aprons that include a plurality of pockets for storing items.
U.S. Pat. No. 20160088885 A1 to Campbell describes an apron with a split lap, that may be partially wrapped around the user's legs and secured in place using straps. U.S. Pat. No. 7,007,832B1 to Payne describes an artians apron, the provides a utility apron for the carriage of items in a plurality of pockets. The apron includes a belt portion with two separate leg portions that are connected securely to the belt.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,428,962A to Slimovitz illustrates a barbecue apron having pockets and VELCRO strips for securing mittens to the apron. US Pat. No. 20020166155A1 to Katz illustrates a gardening garment, of which one embodiment provides for an apron to protect the users, the garment also comprising a multitude of pockets and a kneeling pad attached to the bottom of the apron.
Despite the existence of these aprons and garments, they can be improved and adapted by the present inventions method of attaching removable leg covers and enclosed knee pads so to improve the user's experience by the having of adjustable knee pads on the garment.
Garments commonly known as Chaps are well known in the prior art, they provide the user with protection in the lower half of their bodies, to both the clothes being worn by the user and the user themselves.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,839,917B1 to Landwehr discloses a garment similar in manner and method to the present invention. There is a plurality of permanent and snap-on pockets, it is worn over clothing and held in place on the user by means of a plurality of straps. The garment would be worn from the user's waist to below their knee.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,164B1 to Howard is similar to Landwehr's invention, the main difference being that Howard's invention is longer and is designed to protect the feet and footwear of the user. U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,215B1 to Sauter discloses a protective apron for the user's waist and upper thighs. It provides for the lap of the apron to be split into thigh covers and held in place using straps and connectors. There is a plurality of pockets and is designed to be work over work clothing. The invention does not have pockets for knee pads to be enclosed in the garment.
While the inventions described above provides the same manner of being put on and removed on the wearer as the present invention, they lack the ability to adjust the positional placement of the leg covers so as to adjust the position of the knee pads when attached to the apron in relation to the wearer or to completely remove the leg covers & enclosed knee pads at the wearer's discretion so the garment can be used in the manner of an apron.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of prior art, the present invention provides a new and improved multi-purpose garment that provides the user a garment that can be utilised as a work apron or as a pair of work chaps with enclosed height adjustable knee pads when the removable leg covers are attached to the apron. The present invention, in both embodiments, offers protection to parts of the user's body and clothing.
The general purposes of the present invention, which are described subsequently in greater detail, are to provide a new protective garment apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the garments mentioned heretofore and other novel features that result in a new protective garment which is not anticipated, suggested, described, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof.
The present invention generally comprises an apron portion, and a having first and second leg cover portions which are adapted to fit over the clothing of the user. The apron portion covering from the waist to the thighs and the leg cover portions covering from the thighs to below the knees of the user. Each of the leg cover portions having means to be attached to or removed from the bottom of the apron by a multitude of methods and to be attached to be removed from the apron depending on the user's preference of use. All portions of garment having a plurality of pockets. When the portions are combined the garment resembles a pair of chaps.
The apron portion of the garment comprises a strap which removably secures the garment to the waist of a user. Part of the strap is securely attached to and extends along a top edge of the apron. The apron portion also comprises a plurality of pockets for the user to store items and implements. The method in which said pockets are secured to the apron are dependent on the design of the pocket, but generally will be securely attached to the apron on at least one side of the pocket.
The bottom of the apron comprises attachment fixtures so as to enable the first and second leg covers portions to be removably attached to the apron. The attachment fixtures are securely coupled to the bottom of the apron. A plurality of attachment fixtures may be used to attach the leg cover portions of the present invention to the apron portion. Said attachment fixtures may also have upper and lower protective covers to the front and back of the attachment fixtures so as to prevent injury to the user and offer protection to the fixtures. Said protective covers also being securely coupled to the apron portion.
In another embodiment of the invention, hook and loop tape is secured directly to the upper and lower protective covers so as to provide a means of attaching the leg covers to the apron.
In a further embodiment the invention the lower protection cover can be an integral part of the apron, necessitating only the upper protective cover to be secured to the apron. In another embodiment the upper and lower protective covers may not be a component of the present invention.
The first and second leg cover portions comprise at least one pocket so that a protective knee pad may be enclosed within said pockets. The pockets being securely attached to the leg covers such that at least one side of each pockets remains open to enable a knee pad to be inserted or removed. In one embodiment a fold of material of the pocket is used to hold the knee pad in place.
In another embodiment there can be applied a method such as hook and loop tape to securely close the open side of the pockets which enclose the knee pads. The leg covers portions also comprise attachment fixtures such that the leg covers may be removably attached to the apron portion of the present invention.
Furthermore, the attachment fixtures also provide a method in which the leg cover portions may be positionally adjusted so to provide a method such that the enclosed knee pads position change relative to the user's preference to improve the user's comfort and utility. Said leg cover portions also having at least one secondary strap members which is securely coupled to the first and second leg cover portions, which removably secures the first and second leg portions individually around the legs of a user.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited in its application or usage to the details of manufacture and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following descriptions or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of different embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways, therefore, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The terms ‘wearer’ and ‘user’ are to be considered as interchangeable for the purposes of this application.
It is important, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The abstract and summary are neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting, as to the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention is to provide a new multi-purpose work and gardening garment and method which has many of the advantages of previously mentioned prior art and several novel features that result in a new garment which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art inventions.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a new multi-purpose work and gardening garment which comprises a plurality of pockets to enable the user to store tools and implements.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new multi-purpose work and gardening garment which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new multi-purpose work and gardening garment which is of a durable and reliable construction.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new multi-purpose work and gardening garment wherein the garment may be readily fabricated from materials that permit relative economy and durability.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new multi-purpose work and gardening garment for protecting the stomach, upper thighs, legs, shins, knees and clothing of the user.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a multi-purpose work and gardening garment which includes the leg covers being able to be removed at the user's discretion, and when attached, will enable to garment to be used by a wearer in the manner of what is commonly known in the art as Chaps.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-purpose work and gardening garment which includes leg covers with pockets that may contain enclosed knee pads, so as to offer protection to the user's knees, shins and legs.
Still, yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a multi-purpose work and gardening garment which includes the leg covers being positionally adjusted relative to the apron so as to make the garment more comfortable for the user to use.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description and drawings thereof.
The solid lines of the drawings represent the outline of the invention, the dashed line represent the hidden lines of the invention and the dotted lines represent stitches. With all consideration, not all stitches of the invention and not hidden components of the invention are represented in the drawings
The drawings and numeral annotations are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As illustrated in
The apron body 50, having an apron cover 12, comprises a plurality of pockets, in the embodiment shown in
Along the bottom edge of the apron cover 12, are securely attached a plurality of methods and devices to enable the first leg cover 24 and second leg cover 24 to be attached to the apron cover 12 as to the user's preference. In the embodiment as shown in illustrations
In the embodiment as shown in illustration
Referencing now illustration
The purpose of the first and second upper protective covers 20 being to protect the leg cover attachment devices from damage or from hurting the user.
Another embodiment as shown in illustration
In another embodiment of the invention as illustrated by
As illustrated in
Referencing,
Further to
Regarding further
Further to
Additionally, the first and second leg covers 24 each comprise a leg cover pocket 28 to enable a knee pad 38 to be removably inserted into the leg cover pocket 28 so as to make the multi-purpose work and gardening garment 10 more comfortable for the wearer to use.
The cross-sectional view of
In other embodiments of this invention the leg cover pocket 28 can be securely attached to the leg cover 24 in other manners so as to enable the knee pad to be removably inserted in to the leg cover pocket 28 by different means, such as from the top of the leg cover pocket 28.
The preceding description contains significant detail regarding the novel aspects of the present invention. It should not be construed, however, as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiments of the invention. For example, other types of buckles 32, 36 may be used for the invention, and alternatively there are other embodiments where the pockets can be secured to the apron body 50 and the leg covers 24. Such variations would not alter the function of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be fixed by the following claims, rather than by the examples given.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2021/0121 | Jun 2021 | IE | national |
