Clothing and protective system for one person

Abstract

A clothing and protective system for a person is described. This clothing and protective system comprises at least one main clothing element (10) with an inner surface suitable for facing the human body and an outer surface suitable for facing away from the human body when worn. Furthermore, at least one design and protective element (30) is provided, which can be detachably attached to the main clothing element (10).This design and protective element (30) has an outer skin that encloses a protective element, wherein this outer skin has a first surface part that faces the outer surface of the main cladding element (10) when the design and protective element (30) is attached to the main cladding element (10), and a second surface part that faces away from the outer surface of the main cladding element (10) when the design and protective element (30) is attached to the main cladding element (10), so that it forms a visible surface part. A fastening arrangement is provided that allows a detachable connection of the at least one design and protective element (30) to the main cladding element (10) at a predefined location thereon.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a clothing and protective system for a person according to claim 1 and parts thereof according to claims 14 and 15.

[0002] While significant improvements have been made in the area of ​​car occupant safety in recent decades, the level of protection for cyclists remains unsatisfactory. The only real protective device commonly used by cyclists is a helmet, leaving the body, and especially the upper body, more or less unprotected. Although inflatable vests or jackets exist for motorcyclists, cyclists generally do not use them because they are bulky, heavy, and, above all, uncomfortable, especially in warm weather. There is therefore a clear need for protective gear specifically designed for cyclists that would be widely adopted by them.

[0003] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a clothing and protection system for a person that offers a high level of protection and can be expected to be highly accepted by users, especially younger people who often do not pay enough attention to their safety, e.g. when cycling.

[0004] This problem is solved by a clothing and protective system for a person having the features of claim 1. Parts of such a system are defined in claims 14 and 15.

[0005] According to the invention, the clothing and protective system comprises at least one main garment element, for example in the form of a shirt, a T-shirt, a long-sleeved shirt, or trousers, which, when worn, has an inner surface facing the human body and an outer surface facing away from the human body. Furthermore, the clothing and protective system comprises at least one design and protective element configured to be detachably attached to the main garment element.This design and protective element has an outer skin that encloses a protective device. This outer skin has a first surface portion that faces the outer surface of the main cladding element when the design and protective element is attached to the main cladding element, and a second surface portion that faces away from the outer surface of the main cladding element when the design and protective element is attached to the main cladding element, thus forming a visible surface portion. Furthermore, a fastening arrangement is provided that allows a detachable connection of the at least one design and protective element to the main cladding element at a predefined location. Parts of this fastening arrangement can be attached to the main cladding element to form a central element.

[0006] In other words, a main garment element is provided, defining a "normal" garment, and the garment and protection system further includes at least one design and protection element that can be attached to this main garment element so that, when needed (for example, at the start of a bicycle tour), it can be attached to the main garment element in such a way as to protect defined parts of the user's body. Since this design and protection element has a visible surface part (second surface part) and thus defines a visible surface part, this at least one design and protection element can not only provide protection but also define a fashionable accessory that can be attached to the main garment element even when not in use, creating an unusual visual appearance and thus increasing the likelihood of its use.

[0007] To provide a simple fastening arrangement, in a preferred embodiment, this fastening may comprise, for each design and protective element, at least one protective-element-side fastener and at least one main-element-side fastener configured to form a pair of fasteners with the protective-element-side fastener. As mentioned previously, the main-element-side fasteners may be permanently attached to the garment element, so that these two parts form a single central element. A pair of fasteners may, for example, comprise a pair of magnetic elements, a pair of hook-and-loop fasteners, a button and buttonhole, a zipper, or a pair of snap fasteners.

[0008] To provide the desired protection, the protective device usually needs to have a certain thickness, and it is often preferred that it also has a certain degree of "softness".

[0009] In a first preferred embodiment, the protective device therefore consists of a foam cushion, preferably made of a soft foam. Such a protective device has the advantage, for example, of being very robust and always in a ready-to-use state.

[0010] In an alternative embodiment, the protective device comprises an inflatable element. Such a protective device has the advantage that it can be stored in a deflated and therefore space-saving state, provided that inflation and deflation devices are provided for the controlled inflation and deflation of the inflatable chamber. Such inflation and deflation devices can, for example, be in the form of a simple valve, as used, for instance, in swim wings or similar devices.

[0011] To provide a certain degree of softness and the ability to dissipate energy, a pressure release device (for example, a pressure relief valve) can be provided for the inflatable element.

[0012] Since the human body has more than one vulnerable spot, it may be preferable to have more than one design and protective element for each main garment element.

[0013] In a particularly relevant embodiment, the main garment element is a vest, shirt, T-shirt, sweater, or the like, and thus has a thorax section adapted to cover a person's thorax. In this case, the at least one design and protective element can be or include an elongated spinal protector, and the fastening arrangement is configured to detachably attach the spinal protector to a spine-covering area of ​​the thorax section. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one design and protective element can be or include a chest protector, and the fastening arrangement is configured to detachably attach the chest protector to a chest-covering area of ​​the thorax section.

[0014] In the event that the main garment element further comprises two sleeves, the at least one design and protective element is or may include an elbow protector, and the fastening arrangement is designed for the detachable fastening of the elbow protector to an elbow covering area of ​​a sleeve.

[0015] As already mentioned, the at least one design and protective element not only serves as protection but can also be a fashionable accessory, which is why it is preferred that the visible surface part forms a design area with at least one design element, for example an ornamental print.

[0016] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to a single preferred embodiment; however, it will be readily apparent what similar embodiments might look like. The figures show: Fig. 1 a central element in a schematic front view, Fig. 2 the central element of the Fig. 2 in a schematic view from the rear, Fig. 3 a design and protective element in the form of a front protector, Fig. 4 a sectional view along the plane AA in Fig. 3, Fig. 5. Remove the front protector Fig. 3 in a view of its reverse side (first surface part), Fig. 6. Another design and protective element in the form of a spinal protector, shown in a view similar to the view of Fig. 3, Fig. 7a a cross-sectional view along the plane BB in Fig. 6, Fig. 7b the in Fig. 7a Shown when an inflatable element (the protective element) of this spinal protector is in its inflated state, Fig. 8 the spine protector Fig. 6 in a view of its reverse side (first surface part), Fig. 9 Two elbow protectors in a view of their front, similar to the illustrations of the Fig. 3 and Fig. 6, Fig. 10 the elbow protectors of the Fig. 9 in a view of its back (first surface part), Fig. 11 the central element from Fig. 1 and the attached front protector made of Fig. 3 and Fig. 12 the central element as it is in Fig. Figure 2 shows the spinal protector of the Fig. 6 and the elbow protectors of the Fig. 9 are attached.

[0017] The Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows a central element 5, consisting of a main garment element 10 and a plurality of main element-side connecting elements (e.g., in the form of loop pads) 60a-c', 62a-f, 65, 65' attached to it. The main garment element 10 here has the form of a long-sleeved shirt or the like and comprises a thorax section 14 and two sleeves 16, 16'. Naturally, the main garment element 10 has a front layer 14a and a back layer 14b, an inner surface 11 facing the wearer, and an outer surface 12 facing away from the wearer. The main element-side connecting elements on the front layer 14a (namely its outer surface 12) define a first group of main element-side connecting elements 62a-62f.In this embodiment, four of these main element-side fasteners 62a-62b of the first group are arranged substantially in the chest area, and two of them are located below the chest area on the sides (62e, 62f). On the rear layer 14b (and here also on the outer surface), three main element-side fasteners 60a-60c are arranged along the back area, forming a second group of main element-side fasteners, and two main element-side fasteners 65, 65' are located at the elbow areas. As already mentioned, these main element-side fasteners can be parts of hook-and-loop fasteners (e.g., loop pads), but they could also be other types of fasteners such as magnetic pads, buttons, buttonholes, snap fasteners, or parts of zippers.

[0018] The Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. Figure 5 shows a front protector 30 that can be attached to the first group of connecting elements on the front 14a of the main element. This front protector 30 consists of two layers forming an outer skin 34 and a foamed element 36 located between these two layers. This foamed element 36 forms a protective device. On a first surface part 34a of the outer skin 34, protective element-side connecting elements 52a-f – here in the form of hook pads – are arranged in a geometry that corresponds to the main element-side connecting elements 62a-f arranged on the front layer 14a of the thorax section of the garment's main element 10 (first group of main element-side connecting elements). As shown schematically, the surface part facing away from the first surface part 34a – the second surface part 34b – can have design elements, for example in the form of an ornamental print, to form a design area.In this embodiment, the front protector, whose design area shows a “vampire mouth”, comprises a chest protector 31 and two side protectors 32, 32'.

[0019] The Fig. 6, Fig. 7 to Fig. Figure 8 shows a back protector 20 in a representation that corresponds to the one in the Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. The front protector 30 is similar to the representation shown in Figure 5, so reference can largely be made to the representation described above. The spinal protector 20, whose design area 24b represents a snake, is evidently designed to be attached to the second group of the main element-side connecting means 60a to 60c. An inflatable element 26 is used as the protective element. This inflatable element naturally includes a wall structure enclosing a chamber and may also include a combined inlet and outlet device, such as those known from common inflatable items like armbands, and additionally a pressure relief valve. The inlet and outlet device and the pressure relief valve are not shown.

[0020] It's worth mentioning that it would also be possible to use an inflatable element as a protective element in the front protector and a foam element as a protective element in the back protector. Both types of protective elements have advantages.

[0021] Finally, two elbow protectors 40, 40' are provided, which can be attached via protective element-side connecting means 55, 55' to the main element-side connecting means 65, 65' arranged on the sleeves 16, 16'. The elbow protectors 40, 40' are constructed like the front protector or the back protector.

[0022] The Fig. 11 and Fig. Figure 12 shows the main clothing element 10, to which all protectors 20, 30, 40, 40' are attached. It can be seen that not only is the level of protection increased, but a unique appearance is also created. Reference symbol list 5 central element 10 Main clothing item 11 Interior surface 12 outdoor area 14 Thoracic section 14a front position 14b rear position 16, 16' sleeve 20 Spine protector (design and protective element) 24 Outer skin 24a first surface part 24b second surface part (design area) 26 inflatable element (protective device) 30 Front protector 31 Chest protector 32 side panels 34 Outer skin 34a first surface part 34b second surface part (design area) 36 foamed element (protective device) 40, 40' elbow pads 50a-c;52a-f, 55, 55' protective element-side connecting element (hook pad) 60a-c;62a-f, 65, 65' main element-side connecting element (loop pad)

Claims

[1] Clothing and protective system for a person, wherein the clothing and protective system comprises: - at least one main garment element (10) with an inner surface (11) adapted to face the human body and an outer surface (12) adapted to face away from the human body when the main garment element is in a worn state, - at least one design and protective element (20, 30, 40, 40') configured to be detachably attached to the main clothing element (10), wherein the design and protective element (20, 30, 40, 40') has an outer skin (24, 34) enclosing a protective device (26, 36), the outer skin (24, 34) having a first surface part (24a, 34a) facing the outer surface (12) of the main clothing element (10) when the design and protective element (20, 30, 40, 40') is attached to the main clothing element (10), and a second surface part (24b, 34b) facing away from the outer surface (12) of the main clothing element (10) when the design and protective element (20, 30, 40, 40') is attached to the main clothing element (10). The main cladding element (10) is attached so that it forms a visible surface part, wherein a fastening arrangement is provided which provides a detachable connection of the at least one design and protective element (20, 30, 40,40') on the main garment element (10) at a predefined location thereof. [2] Clothing and protection system according to claim 1, wherein the fastening arrangement for each design and protection element (20, 30, 40, 40') comprises at least one protection-element-side connecting means (50a-c; 52a-f, 55, 55') and at least one main-element-side connecting means (60a-c; 62a-f, 65, 65') configured to interact with the protection-element-side connecting means (50a-c; 52a-f, 55, 55') to form a pair of connecting means, wherein it is preferred that the at least one protection-element-side connecting means is permanently connected to the outer skin (24, 34) of the protection element (20, 30, 40, 40') and the main-element-side connecting means is permanently connected to the main element (10) to form a central element (5). [3] Clothing and protective system according to claim 2, wherein a pair of connecting means comprises at least one of the following: a pair of magnetic elements, a pair of hook and loop fasteners, a button and buttonhole, a zipper or a pair of snap fasteners. [4] Clothing and protective system according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the protective device comprises a foamed padding (36). [5] Clothing and protective system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the protective device comprises an inflatable element (26). [6] Clothing and protective system according to claim 5, wherein inflation and deflation devices are provided for controlled inflation and deflation of the inflatable element (26). [7] The clothing and protective system according to claim 5 or claim 6, which further comprises an overpressure release means for the inflatable element (26). [8] Clothing and protection system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein more than one design and protection element is provided per clothing main element. [9] Clothing and protective system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the main clothing element (10) has a thorax section (14) suitable to cover at least the thorax of a human being. [10] Clothing and protective system according to claim 9, wherein the at least one design and protective element is or comprises an elongated spinal protector (20) and the fastening arrangement is designed to detachably fasten the spinal protector (20) to a spinal covering area of ​​the thoracic section (14). [11] Clothing and protective system according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the at least one design and protective element is a chest protector (31) or has one such protector and the fastening arrangement is designed to detachably fasten the chest protector to a chest covering area of ​​the thorax section (14). [12] Clothing and protective system according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the main clothing element further comprises two sleeves (16, 16') and the at least one design and protective element is or comprises an elbow guard (40, 40') and the fastening arrangement is provided for detachably fastening the elbow guard to an elbow covering area of ​​a sleeve (16, 16'). [13] Clothing and protective system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the visible surface area forms a design area. [14] Main clothing element designed for use as part of the clothing and protection system according to any one of claims 1 to 13. [15] Design and protective element designed for use as part of the clothing and protective system according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

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