AU2017203002A1

AU2017203002A1 - Customizable Ventilated Workwear

Info

Publication number: AU2017203002A1
Application number: AU2017203002A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Clinton Josef Barna
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-05-05
Filing date: 2017-05-05
Publication date: 2017-11-23
Also published as: AU2017101901A4

Abstract

Protective workwear comprising at least one ventilated portion for allowing greater ventilation of air therethrough relative to another portion of the workwear. 120 152 140 -14 150+ 172 (162 164 Figure 1

Description

CUSTOMIZABLE VENTILATED WORKWEAR TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to customizable ventilated workwear.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Garments designed specifically to be used as tradesman's workwear need to comply with safety standards and requirements whilst also provide adequate protections for tradesmen and workers. Workwear designs and functionality have largely remained unchanged in the last few years.

[0003] Personal protective equipment (PPE) including hi-visibility worlkwear, high-visibility vests, hard hats, goggles, ear muffs, gloves, boots and other forms of protective equipment are no longer optional for workers and are considered mandatory for complying with strict safety standards all over the world. However, conventional workwear, although generally robust, does not offer much versatility in so far as its ability to adapt to new and changing workplace conditions particularly changing environmental conditions. As a result, tradesmen and workers working in particularly hot and tropical climates often have no options for customising the workwear for customised comfort.

[0004] The applicant has recognised there has been a long felt need for providing workwear that can be configured to allow a worker or tradesman to customise the workwear as the worker desires in order to match the working conditions and environmental conditions.

[0005] It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0006] In an aspect, the invention provides protective workwear comprising at least one ventilated portion for allowing greater ventilation of air therethrough relative to another portion of the workwear.

[0007] Preferably, the at least one ventilated portion and the other portion are affixed to each other.

[0008] In one embodiment, the at least one ventilated portion is removably attached to another portion of the workwear. Furthermore, the at least one ventilated portion may be removably attached by way of fasteners such as buttons and/or Velcro and/or any other fastening means.

[0009] In an alternative embodiment, the at least one ventilated portion and another portion of the workwear may be stitched to each other.

[0010] In a further preferred embodiment, the at least one ventilated portion may further comprise visual indication means. For example, visual indication means such as designated colours or marks may be provided on the ventilated portion for identification of wearers wearing the workwear. In some embodiments, the at least one ventilated portion may also comprise a high visibility material.

[0011] In an embodiment, the at least one ventilated portion comprises a breathable composite fabric. In another embodiment, the at least one ventilated portion may comprise a lightweight material. For example, the ventilated portion may comprise a blend of materials such as cotton/nylon/polyester.

[0012] In an embodiment, the at least one ventilated portion comprises a ventilated weave pattern for allowing greater ventilation of air therethrough relative to another portion of the workwear.

[0013] In another embodiment, the at least one ventilated portion comprises a plurality of openings for allowing greater ventilation of air therethrough relative to another portion of the workwear.

[0014] In some embodiments, the workwear may be provided with one or more pockets for storage of the ventilated portions. For example, in some embodiments, one or more of the removable ventilated portions may be optionally removed, folded and stored in the one or more storage pockets.

[0015] In further embodiments, the workwear may comprise a plurality of the ventilated portions located at a plurality of locations in the workwear.

[0016] In a first preferred embodiment, the workwear may comprise a shirt. The shirt may be provided with two ventilated portions. Preferably, the shirt may comprise ventilated sleeve portions.

[0017] In one exemplary embodiment, each of the ventilated sleeve portions may also be adapted for being attached to an upper sleeve portion of the shirt. Preferably, the ventilated sleeve portion may be adapted for being removably attached to the upper sleeve portion of the shirt.

[0018] In an alternate exemplary embodiment, the ventilated sleeve portion may be adapted for being attached to a torso portion of the shirt. Preferably, the ventilated sleeve portion may be adapted for being removably attached to the torso portion of the shirt.

[0019] In an embodiment, each of the ventilated sleeve portions may further comprise a cuff portion.

[0020] In further embodiments, the shirt may comprise a plurality of additional ventilated portions such that at least one additional ventilated portion is located at or along a torso portion of the shirt. The one or more additional ventilated portions may extend in between a front and back torso panel of the shirt.

[0021] The additional ventilated portions may comprise a first ventilated side portion extending along a first lateral side of the front and/or back torso panel; and a second ventilated side portion extending along a second lateral side of the front and/or back torso panel.

[0022] The shirt may also comprise ventilated underarm portions, said underarm portions being located at or adjacent an under arm of a wearer during use.

[0023] In a second preferred embodiment, the workwear may comprise pants. Preferably at least one of the ventilated portions may form a ventilated leg portion of the pants. More preferably, the ventilated leg portion may depend downwardly relative to an upper leg portion of the pant.

[0024] The downwardly dependent leg portion may be removably attached to the upper leg portion of the pants.

[0025] Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention.

[0026] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0027] Various embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which: [0028] Figure 1 is a frontal view of a workwear shirt in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 2 is a rear view of a workwear shirt in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 3 is a frontal view of workwear pants in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 4 is a rear view of workwear pants in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0032] Referring to Figures 1 and 2 workwear in the form of a shirt 100 is illustrated. The shirt 100 comprises sleeves 120 and 140 with ventilated sleeve portions 122 and 142 respectively. The ventilated sleeve portions 122 and 142 depend downwardly from upper sleeve portions 124 and 144 respectively. Each of the ventilated sleeve portions 122 and 142 is provided with a respective cuff portion 125 and 145 respectively for allowing a lower end of the ventilated sleeve portions 122 and 142 to fit snugly around a wearer’s arms during use. The ventilated sleeve portions 122 and 142 comprise a mesh-like lightweight material with a ventilated weave pattern that allows greater ventilation of air through the ventilated sleeve portions 122 and 142 relative to the upper sleeve portions 124 and 144. The provision of the ventilated sleeve portions 122 and 142 increases airflow around a wearer’s forearms during use particularly in hot and humid working conditions. As a result, the wearer’s forearm is substantially cooled due to the increased or greater airflow. The ventilated sleeve portions 122 and 142 also provide an additional advantage of protecting the forearm of a wearer from being exposed to ultra violet radiation from the sun particularly during use under hot weather conditions.

[0033] The ventilated sleeve portions 122 and 142 may be stitched to the upper sleeve portions 124 and 144 respectively. Alternatively, the ventilated sleeve portions 122 and 142 may be removably attached to the upper sleeve portions 124 and 144 respectively by way of fastening means such as Velcro or buttons or zippers. Alternatively or additionally, a hook and loop attachment may also be provided for removably attaching the ventilated sleeve portions 122 and 142. The removable ventilated sleeve portions 122 and 142 also provide an additional safety feature whereby the ventilated sleeve portions 122 and 142 can become unattached from the upper sleeve portions 124 and 144 respectively particularly if the ventilated sleeve portions 122 and 142 become caught in moving vehicles, moving tools or machinery. As a result, the provision of the removable ventilated sleeve portions 122 and 142 also provides an added safety feature for wearers of the shirt 100.

[0034] The removable ventilated sleeve portions 122 and 142 may be provided in the form of removable high visibility sleeve portions 122 and 142 and may therefore be used as a visual indicating means for identifying key personnel in some specific events or scenarios. Alternatively, signs or other visual indicating means may also be provided on or in conjunctions with the removable ventilated sleeve portions 122 and 142 for identifying designating personnel at worksite. By way of example, a worksite supervisor may be provided with removable sleeve portions 122 and 142 of a designated colour (as a visual indicator) for distinctive identification of the supervisor on the worksite.

[0035] In some further modifications, the removable ventilated sleeve portions 122 and 142 may be replaced with alternative sleeve portions (not shown) that provide relatively lesser ventilation compared with the ventilated sleeve portions 122 and 142. The alternative sleeve portions (not shown) may be suitable for colder climates or where additional insulation or protection is required for workers.

[0036] The shirt 150 may also be provided with storage pockets 162 and 164 for allowing the removable ventilated sleeves 122 and 142 to be detached from the upper sleeve portions 124 and 144, folded and stored in the storage pockets 162 and 164 during periods of non-use. The provision of the storage pockets 162 and 164 allows a worker to store the removable ventilated sleeve portions 122 and 142 in a secure and accessible location during periods of non-use. Additional utility pockets 166 and 168 are also be provided on the front panel 152 of the shirt 150 for additional storage.

[0037] The shirt 100 further comprises additional ventilated torso portions 172 and 174 located along a torso portion 150 of the shirt 100. Each of the ventilated torso portions 172 and 174 extends in between the front torso panel 152 and a back torso panel 154. The front panel 152, the back panel 154 along with the ventilated torso portions 172 and 174 form the body of the shirt 100. Each of the ventilated torso portions 172 and 174 are located on a respective lateral side of the shirt 100. The ventilated torso portions 172 and 174 also comprise a mesh-like lightweight material with a ventilated weave pattern that allows greater ventilation of air through the ventilated torso portions 172 and 174 relative to the front panel 152 and the back panel 154. The provision of the ventilated torso portions 172 and 174 increases airflow around a wearer’s torso region during use and therefore aids in providing additional comfort particularly during hot and humid environmental conditions. As a result, the wearer’s torso region is substantially cooled due to the increased or greater airflow through the ventilated torso portions 172 and 174.

[0038] Advantageously, the shirt 100 is also provided with ventilated underarm portions 182 and 184 located at or adjacent an under arm of a wearer during use. The ventilated underarm portions 182 also comprise a mesh-like lightweight material with a ventilated weave pattern that allows greater ventilation of air through the ventilated underarm portions 182 and 184 relative to the front panel 152 and the back panel 154. The provision of the ventilated underarm portions 182 and 184 also increases airflow around a wearer’s torso region during use.

[0039] Referring to Figures 3 and 4 workwear in the form of pants 200 is illustrated in a second exemplary embodiment. The pants 200 comprise leg portions 220 and 240. Each of the leg portions 220 and 240 comprises ventilated leg portions 222 and 242 which depend downwardly relative to upper leg portions 224 and 244 respectively. The ventilated leg portions 222 and 242 also comprise a mesh-like lightweight material with a ventilated weave pattern that allows greater ventilation of air through the ventilated leg portions 222 and 242 relative to the upper leg portions 224 and 244. The provision of the ventilated leg portions 222 and 242 increases airflow around a wearer’s legs during use. As a result, the wearer’s legs are substantially cooled due to the increased or greater airflow in the leg region of the wearer. The ventilated leg portions 222 and 242 also provide an additional advantage of protecting the legs of a wearer from being exposed to ultra violet radiation from the sun particularly during use under hot weather conditions.

[0040] The ventilated leg portions 222 and 242 may be stitched to the upper leg portions 224 and 244 respectively. Alternatively, the ventilated leg portions 222 and 242 may be removably attached to the upper leg portions 224 and 244 respectively by way of fastening means such as Velcro or buttons or zippers. A hook and loop attachment may also be provided for removably attaching the ventilated leg portions 222 and 242 to the upper leg portions 224 and 244. The removable ventilated leg portions 222 and 242 also provide an additional safety feature whereby the ventilated leg portions 222 and 242 can become unattached from the upper leg portions 224 and 244 respectively particularly if the ventilated leg portions 222 and 242 become caught in moving vehicles, moving tools or machinery. As a result, the provision of the removable ventilated leg portions 222 and 242 provides an added safety feature for wearers of the pants 200.

[0041] In some further modifications, the removable ventilated leg portions 222 and 242 may be replaced with alternative leg portions (not shown) that provide relatively lesser ventilation compared with the ventilated leg portions 222 and 242. The alternative leg portions (not shown) may be suitable for colder climates or where additional insulation or protection is required for workers.

[0042] The pants 200 are also provided with storage pockets 262 and 264 for allowing the removable ventilated leg portions 222 and 242 to be folded and stored in the storage pockets 262 and 264 during periods of non-use. The provision of the storage pockets 262 and 264 allows a worker to store the removable ventilated leg portions 222 and 242 securely during periods of non-use. Additional utility pockets 266 and 268 are also provided for additional storage.

[0043] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word ‘comprising’ and its derivatives including ‘comprises’ and ‘comprise’ include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

[0044] Reference throughout this specification to ‘one embodiment’ or ‘an embodiment’ means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases ‘in one embodiment’ or ‘in an embodiment’ in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

[0045] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. Protective workwear comprising at least one ventilated portion for allowing greater ventilation of air therethrough relative to another portion of the workwear.