Protective garment

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to protective garments and more particularly to a protective vest and head gear for use in hazardous activities, as for example, riding a motorcycle.

[0004] 2. Prior Art and Objects

[0005] For sometime, it has become commonplace for persons engaged in a hazardous activity to wear protective head gear. Motorcycle operators in many jurisdictions are required to wear a helmet and construction and factory workers are required to wear protective head gear frequently referred to as “hard hats.”

[0006] Absolute total protection for the entire body from all hazardous activities is not possible, at least in a manner that permits the wearer to perform the desired activity. However, what further protection can be achieved is highly desirable.

[0007] Motorcycle operation is particularly hazardous as the operator is totally exposed except possible for a helmet and possible a leather jacket and leather pants. However, motorcycles are increasing popular, frequently being operated by professionals and business executives. Unfortunately, with motorcycle operation, there is ultimately a near certainty that an accident will occur. Some of those accidents will result in limited injury but serious injury is a realty of motorcycle operation.

[0008] The body torso contains vital organs most vulnerable to injury. The head is protected by a helmet but the torso of the body including the body, chest and abdomen can receive a hard impact resulting in serious injury and even death. Even with a helmet in place, the neck also can be seriously injured unless excessive movement of the head is prevented.

[0009] Therefore, it is an object of this investigation to provide a protective garment to shield the torso from injury.

[0010] It is another object of the invention to provide a protective garment that protects the neck.

[0011] It is still another object of the invention to provide a protective garment including both a vest and helmet that can be easily worn.

[0012] It is still another object of the invention to provide a protective garment that is comparatively inexpensive to produce and of pleasant appearance.

[0013] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art as the description thereof proceeds.

[0014] A protective garment for the head neck and torso of the body of a person wearing the protective garment which includes a helmet and a vest which vest has a back section, a left front section and a right section. The left front section and the right front section are mounted to rotate on the back section to bring the left front section and the right front section together. A fastening means secures the left front section and the right front section together. The helmet has a lower edge and the vest has an upper edge. A means is provided at the lower edge of the helmet and at the upper edge of the vest to secure the helmet to the vest and to permit the helmet to rotate on the vest.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the protective garment in a closed position as worn.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of a portion of the vest showing only the back section and the right front section with the right front section rotated back from the closed position.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of the protective garment with the helmet in place with the left front section closed and the right front section removed.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a detail of the flange at the lower edge of the helmet located in the indentation of the collar on the vest.

[0019] As best seen in FIG. 1, the protective garment includes a helmet 11 and a vest 13. The helmet 11 is similar to known helmets now worn by motorcycles operators and has a head section 15 and neck section 17 which fits about the neck. The neck section 17 has a lower edge 19 which is also the lower edge 19 of the helmet 11. The lower edge 19 of the helmet 11 is essentially circular. A visor 21 is located in the front of the helmet 11 in the head section 15 to permit the obviously essential visibility.

[0020] A feature of the helmet 11 which is distinctive from helmets currently known, is a flange 23 at the lower edge 19 of the helmet 11. This flange 23, best seen in FIG. 4, is a protrusion extending outwardly from the helmet 11 generally at right angles to the vertical axis 25 of the helmet 11 as worn. The flange 23 also extends continuously about the entire lower edge 19 of the helmet 11 and thus is essentially circular as is the lower edge 19.

[0021] The vest 13 has three major sections, as seen in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2, namely a back section 27 and a left front section 29 and a right front section 31. The terms “left” and “right” are consistent with the left and right sides and arms of one wearing the protective garment. The right front section 31 and the left front section 29 are generally each a quarter of the vest 13 and are both located on the front of the wearer to cover the chest and abdomen of the wearer. The back section 27 covers the back and represents approximately one-half of the vest 11. The vest 11 has an upper edge 33 which is connected to the helmet 11 about the neck of the wearer and a lower edge 35 which fits about the waist of the wearer.

[0022] At the upper edge 33 of the vest 11, a collar 37 is formed as part of the vest 13 and is part of the back section 27 and the left front section 29 and the right front section 31. The collar 37 is circular when the left front section 29 and the right front section 31 are secured to one another and the collar 37 extends about all the way around the vest 13. The collar 37 protrudes outside the upper edge 33 of the vest 13 and has an internal surface 39 with an indentation 41 on the internal surface 39. The indentation 41 is horizontal and is adapted to receive the flange 23. The flange 23, when in the indentation 41, is permitted to slide. In this way, with the vest 13 closed and with the collar 37 completely encasing the flange 23, the helmet 13 rotates with the turning of the head of the wearer.

[0023] The right front section 31 and the left front section 29, when folded together, come in very close proximity to one another and are joined in the center of the front of the protective garment by a fastener 43, preferably a slide fastener having two sets of interlocking teeth 45. The left front section 29 has a left center edge 47 and the right front section 31 has right center edge 49. When the vest 13 is closed, the left center edge 47 and the right center edge 49 are in close proximity to one another and face one another. The fastener 43 is mounted on both the left center edge 47 and the right center edge 49 and has an upper end 51 and a lower end 53. In order to engage the fastener 43, the left front section 29 and the right front section 31 must be folded together with the left center edge 47 and the right center edge 49 facing one another as just explained. The fastener 43 permits complete release between the left front section 29 and the right front section 31 when opened.

[0024] In both the left front section 29 and the right front section 31, toward the upper edge 33 of the vest 13, a semicircular opening 55 is formed. In the back section 29, two semicircular openings 57 are formed, one of which matches the semicircular opening 55 in the left front section 29 to form a left opening 59 and the other semicircular opening 57 in the back section 29 mates with the semicircular opening 55 in the right front to section 31 to form a right opening 61. The left opening 59 and the right opening 61 are generally aligned with one another and are generally equally spaced from the upper edge 33 of the vest 13.

[0025] A left hinge 63 extends from the right opening 61 to the lower edge 35 of the vest 13 and a right hinge 64 extends from the left opening 59 to the lower edge 35 of the vest 13. Both the left front section 29 and the right front section 31 form a slight overlap 65 over the back section 27 above the left opening 59 and the right opening 61 to the upper edge 33 of the vest 13. Directly above the left hinge 63 and the right hinge 64 a pin 67 joins the left front section 29 and the back section 27 and joins the right front section 31 and the back section 27. Each pin 67 is aligned with its respective hinge 63,64. The left front section 29 rotates on the pin 67 and the left hinge 63. The right front section 31 rotates on its respective pin 67 and the right hinge 64.

[0026] A lock 73 of any suitable design is mounted on the collar 37 across the left center edge 47 and the right center edge 49. The lock 73 serves to assure that the vest 13 will not open on impact thus also assuring that the helmet 11 will remain secured to the vest 13.

[0027] To wear the protective garment, the wearer places the vest 13 with the left front section 29 and the right front section 31 open and with the part of the left opening 59 and right opening 61 held on the arms, the helmet 11 is placed on the head and the flange 23 is fitted into the indentation 41 on the back section 27. The right front section 31 and left front section 29 are then folded together with the flange 23 sliding into the indentation 41 in the collar 37 of the left front section 29 and the right front section 31. The fastener 43 and the lock 73 are then both secured.

[0028] Thus, while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.