GB2164541A - Garment - Google Patents

Abstract

Flaps or pockets 41, 42, 43, 48, 53 having linings 45, 52, 55 of contrasting colour to the remainder of the outer surface of a garment are provided, for example on the chest, back, hood, sleeves and/or shoulders of the garment. These flaps or pockets can be drawn back or opened when required so that the linings, which preferably include reflective or fluorescent material, are displayed and the wearer of the garment if readily visible to other people, such as road users. As an alternative a fixed insert 57 of bright colour may be unfurled from a pocket or pocket-like opening in the sleeve of the garment and wrapped therearound. Fastening means 44, 50, 51, 54, 56 are preferably provided to hold the flaps, pockets or pocket-like openings in open and/or closed condition. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Garment This invention relates to a garment, particularly but not exclusively a garment of outerclothing such as an anorak, duffle coat or jacket.

There have in the past been many safety campaigns to encourage cyclists, motor cyclists and pedestrians, particularly children,to wear brightcoloured, usually orange, armbands or sashes when out on the streets in the early morning, at dusk and at night so that they are easily visible to motorists. It is believed that the wearing of such armbands or sashes etc. significantly reduces the incidence of road accidents involving cyclists, motor cyclists and pedestrians and thus the number of injuries and deaths resulting therefrom.

Such campaigns have had limited success because once the publicity wanes the motivation of cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians, such as schoolchildren, to don the special bright-coloured armbands and sashes decreases. They are additional items to be stored safely and put on at appropriate times and the plain fact is that many people often do not bother two put them on, or mislay them very easily.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a garment which incorporates bright-coloured easily visible safety bands or regions which are not normally on display but which can quite easily be displayed when required, e.g. when the garment is to be worn by a pedestrian or cyclist at times of low visibility. It is felt that such a 'dual-purpose' garment so to speak will be extremely popular-- more so than a garment which has bands or sashes sewn in and permanently on display.

With the aforesaid object in view, the present invention provides a garment including a flap, pocket or pocket-like opening having a lining orfixed insert of material of contrasting colour to the remainder of the outer surface of the garment, which lining or insert only becomes visible when the flap, pocket or pocket-like opening is positively turned back or opened.

A garment having a flap of pocket in accordance with the invention preferably includes fastening means, such as press fasterners, a sliding clasp fastener or a strip of Velcro (regd. trademark) material, to secure same in its turned back or open position with the contrasting coloured lining on display. Similar fastening means may alternatively or additionally be provided to hold the flap or pocket in its normal or closed position when the lining is not on display.

In the case where a fixed insert has to be withdrawn from a pocket or pocket opening for display, the insert itself preferably has fastening means to secure same in its display position.

The flap, pocket of pocket-like opening may of course vary in its shape and form and may be located on a hood and/or on each sleeve and/or on the chest and back of an anorak, duffle coat, jacket or similar article of clothing, or even on any appropriate part of a pair of trousers.

The lining or insert may consist of reflective or fluorescent material or at least include a strip of same to enhance the likelihood of it being noticed by vehicle drivers when lightconditions are poor.

The invention will be described further, byway of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it being ehphasised that the following is illustrative and not limitative of the scope of the invention. In the drawings: Fig. is a front perspective view of a first embodi mentofthe garment ofthe invention in the form of an anorak; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of a second embodiment of the garment of the invention, also in the form of an anorak; Fig. 3 is a slightly enlarged view of the hood of the garment shown in Fig. 2 showing the flap partially turned back; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of a hood of a third embodiment ofthe garment of the invention;; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view of a fourth embodiment of the garment of the invention, also in the form of an anorak; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front view of a fifth embodiment ofthe garment of the invention, in the form of a duffle coat; Fig .7 is a front view of a motorcyclistwearing a cycle suit which conforms to the present invention; and Fig. 8 is a rearviewofthe same motorcyclist.

The first embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1 consists of an anorak having first flaps 10 horizontally across the chest, second flaps 11 in alignmentwith the firstflaps 10 and just above the elbow on each sleeve 16 and furtherflaps (not shown) on the back, also in alignment with thefirstflaps 10.

Theflaps 10,11 are stitched to the garment along their respective base lines 12,13 and are normally held in position with the material of the flaps 11 extending upwards from these base lines 12,13 by respective rows of press studs 14. One half of each press stud 14 is attached adjacent the free upper edge of the respective flap 10, 11 and the other half is attached to the chestorseeve ofthe garment beneath a narrow, downwardly hanging strip of material 17. The latter arrangement is simply for aesthetic appeal.

The lining 18,19 of each flap 10,11,that isto saythe innerface of each flap 10, 11 in the above described normal orclosed position as well asthefacing, normally covered, area on the chest, sleeves and back ofthe garment, is of a contrasting colour to the remainderofthegarment. Forexample, in the embodiment of Fig.1 itis intended to be red and white horizontal stripes. The remainder of the outside ofthe garment may be of any other contrasting colour or colours e.g. yellow, blue, black, brown. Of course it need not be a single colour and may have ordinary pockets 29 and trimmings around the cuffs and the edge ofthe hood in a different colour.Indeed, the outer surface oftheflaps 10,11 and areas 27,28 of equal width therebeneath may be of the same colour as the aforesaid trimmings. Adjacent the lower edges of these areas 27,28 there are further rows of press studs 25,26.

It will be readily appreciated that whenever the wearer of the garment so desires, the press studs 14 can be undone so thattheflaps 10,11 are opened or drawn back as indicated atthe right hand side of Fig 1, to display the respective linings 18 and 19. The flaps 10, 11, may of course be secured in the open position bythe lower rows of press studs 25,26. The white stripes in the linings 18,19 should ensurethatthe wearer is visible to motorists and othervehicle drivers when visibility is poor. These stripes may in fact be replaced by strips of reflective orfluorescent material.

In the second embodimentofthe invention, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, flaps are again provided on the chest, back and sleeves ofthe garmentand in addition a flap 20 is provided on the hood 21. The horizontally arranged flaps 22 across the back and chest (only that at the back is shown) normally extend upwardly and are secured by press studs 23 along the top. When the press studs 23 are unfastened, the flaps 22 open orfall back to reveal a lining 15 of a contrasting colour. The flaps 22 may be secured in the open position by strips of Velcro (registered trademark) (not shown) on the outerface of the flaps 22 and ata corresponding position on the garment.

The flaps 24 on the sleeves differ more significantly from those in Fig. 1. On each sleeve 16 there is a laterally extending flap 24 attached along a line 34.

Each flap 24 is normally held closed by press studs or Velcro strips (not shown), but these can easily be released so that the flaps 24 may be drawn back sideways and secured in similarmannerso asto display the flap lining 33 of contrasting colour. Each flap 24 extends about halfway around one sleeve 16 so that wh en drawn back the bright coloured lining 33 appears like an armband.

This garment also has the flap 20 on the hood 21.

The flap 20 is attached along the line 31 and normally extends towards the front edge ofthe hood 21 being secured there by two press studs 32 at the front The flap 20 can be drawn back, when the press studs 32 are unfastened, by means of a loop 35, as indicated in Fig.

3. In the open condition with the entire lining 36 of contrasting bright colour displayed, the flap 20 can be secured around the bottom ofthe hood 21 by strips of Velcro 37. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the lining 36 may have central longitudinal stripes 38 of reflective or fluorescent material oriust of other bright colours, such as bright green or brightorange and white.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the flap 30 on the hood 21 does not take up the entire area ofthe hood and simply comprises a central longitudinal strip which is usually secured down the back ofthe hood 21 by press studs 39, but can be undone and pulled back across the top of the hood 21 to reveal a coloured lining 40. When this strip 30 is secured atthe front of the hood 21,the lining 40 provides a longitudinal stripe from the neck to the front edge of the hood 21.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the horizontal flaps 41,42, provided across the chest and back of the garment are identical to those in Fig. 1. The flap 43 on the hood 21 is similarto that in Figs. 2and3, but is secured in its closed position by means of a sliding clasp fastener44 adjacentthe front edge of the hood 21.

When this sliding claspfastener44 is opened, the flap 43 can be pulled back by means of a loop 47 and simply remains open, as shown, to display a brightly coloured lining 45withoutfurtherfastening means being required. A reflective of fluorescent strip 46 which lies acrossthe back ofthe hood when the flap 43 is open, is also illustrated.

In place ofthe armband-styleflaps shown in Figs. 1 and 2, shoulderflaps 48 are provided, one on each sleeve 16. Normally each flap 48 hangs downwardly from an attachment line 49 around the shoulder/arm seam ofthe garment and is neatly held in position around its otherthree sides by a sliding clasp fastener 50. When this fastener 50 is undone, the flap 48 can be pulled back overthe shoulder and secured there by press studs 51 to display a brightly coloured lining 52.

The fifth illustrated embodiment, namely the duffle coat shown in Fig. 6, includes a different style of shoulderflaps 53. These normally extend forwardly onto the upper chest from an attachment line along the shoulderseam ofthe garment and are secured thus by a strip of Velcro 54 around the remaining three edges ofthe flaps 53 and the corresponding places on the front of the garment. The flaps 53 can easily be pulled up to release the attachment of the corresponding Velcro Strips 54, flapped backwards and secured on the back ofthe garment, e.g. byfurtherVelcro strips (not shown). A bright coloured lining 55 which is of contrasting colourtothe remainderofthe outside of the garment is thus displayed.

The garment shown in Fig. 6 also has a pocket or pocket-like opening (i.e. an opening without a pocket lining) just above the elbow on each sleeve 16. These pockets or openings are closed by sliding clasp fasteners 56 extending along the line of the sleeves 16.

When a fastener 56 is undone, an insert 57 of bright coloured material, one end ofwhich is attached inside thepocketoropening,can be pulled out, unfurled and wrapped around the sleeve in the manner of an armband.The insert57 may be secured thus by a corresponding strip of Velcro arranged at each end of the insert 57.

Finally, Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate a motor-cyclist's outfit or suit having flaps 60, 61 with brightly-coloured linings onthe sleeves and backwhich are very similar totheflaps 10,11 in Fig. 1.

Theseflaps60,61 are usuallyheld upwards by means of press studs 64, but on release of the press studs 64they can be turned backto reveal eyecatching linings. If necessary, the flaps 60,61 can be secured in the open position by any of the previously mentioned fastener means. This will probably only be necessaryfortheflap 61 on the back of the suit It will be noticed that this has the words THINK BIKE prominently picked out in a further contrasting colour orin reflective orfluorescent material.

It will be understood that the foregoing illustrated embodiments are merely examples and numerous other arrangements offlaps, pockets and pocket-like openings with brightly coloured linings or inserts are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, flaps arranged obliquely across the chest and/or back of a garment are possible and the invention is not confined to anoraks and duffle coats and jackets and can be applied to other garments such as trousers, shirts etc. It is, however, important to note that in each case the lining or insert of brightly coloured, fluorescent or reflective is designed so as to be completely concealed or eise fully on display so that the garment can be either an everyday garment of fashionable colour and having fashionable trimmings, or it can be converted to a 'safety' garment which will be readilyvisiblein poor light conditions.

Claims (7)

1. A garment including a flap, pocket or pocket-like opening having a lining orfixed insert of material of contrasting colourto the remainder of the outer surface of the garment, which lining or insert only becomes visible when the flap, pocket or pocket-like opening is positively turned back or opened.

2. A garmentas claimed in claim 1 which has a flap or pocket and includes fastening means to secure same in its turned back or open condition.

3. Agarmentasclaimed in claim 1 or2 which includes fastening means to hold the flap, pocket or pocket-like opening in its normal or closed condition.

4. A garment as claimed in claim 2 or3wherein the fastening means comprise press fasteners, or a sliding clasp fastener, or Velcro (regd. trademark).

5. A garment as claimed in any preceding claim which has a flap, pocket or pocket-like opening located on a hood and/or on each sleeve and/or on the chest and/or back ofthe garment.

6. A garment as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the lining or insert consists of or includes reflective orfluorescent material.

7. A garment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 1, or in Figs. 2 and 3, or in Fig. 4, or in Fig. 5, or in Fig. 6, or in Figs. 7 and 8 ofthe accompanying drawings.