IMPROVED GARMENT OF CLOTHING TO PROTECT AGAINST DROWNING

Description

technical field

[0001] This disclosure falls within the field of protective clothing against drowning. It has a particularly advantageous application in the protection of young children. Previous technique

[0002] In the field of drowning prevention, the most widespread solution is the life jacket. These life jackets are worn during boating or water sports. There are two types of life jackets: those with inherent buoyancy, shaped like a vest, and inflatable life jackets, which include an inflatable chamber with two abdominal panels connected by a neck section. For the latter, inflation can be automatic or activated manually by the user when they realize they are in danger.

[0003] There are also garments that incorporate a life jacket. For example, there are technical garments for specific applications (oil platforms, marine environments) designed both to ensure the wearer's buoyancy and to keep them alive as long as possible in the event of a fall into the water, while also providing thermal protection. These garments are very heavy and are considered safety equipment in professional settings.

[0004] In the recreational sector, it is essential to provide drowning prevention solutions for children and teenagers that are well-tolerated throughout their time in the water. In this regard, armbands or lifebuoys are unsatisfactory because they are generally removed as soon as they get out of the water.

[0005] Document EP 2 888 161 also proposed a protective garment against drowning in the form of a swimsuit incorporating an inflatable lung and an automatic inflation device for the lung. The lung inside the garment inflates when the child or adolescent falls into the water.

[0006] However, the garment described in this document does not appear suitable for protecting young children from drowning (weighing less than 30 kg, and more specifically, children weighing less than 15 kg, which roughly corresponds to an age under 3 years old). Indeed, for a child lacking swimming reflexes, drowning protection equipment must, on the one hand, provide significant buoyancy, and on the other hand, turn the wearer's body and support the head to keep the airways above water (requirements imposed, for example, by standard ISO 12402-4). However, the design of the inflatable lung and its limited volume do not appear to allow for the turning of the wearer, buoyancy, or keeping the airways above water, which is necessary for a young child. Document US 7150668B2 describes a drowning protection garment according to the preamble of claim 1. Summary

[0007] The present disclosure addresses the shortcomings of the prior art by proposing a protective garment against drowning that is suitable for the protection of young children.

[0008] In particular, one aim of the invention is to provide a protective garment against drowning that is well tolerated by young children, but which ensures the wearer is turned over and, once inflated, provides sufficient buoyancy and keeps the wearer's airways out of the water.

[0009] One aim of the invention is to provide a protective garment that reduces the resources needed to renew the garment as the child grows, by making the inflatable lung of the garment removable and therefore reusable.

[0010] Another aim of the invention is to maintain a high level of safety by eliminating the risks of the inflatable lung unintentionally detaching from the garment or being removed by a child.

[0011] In this regard, a protective garment against drowning is proposed, according to the characteristics of claim 1.

[0012] In embodiments, each abdominal float of the inflatable lung is connected to the cervical portion by a constricted portion, of reduced width compared to the width of the abdominal float, and the width of each opening of the housing is between the width of the constricted portion and the width of an abdominal float.

[0013] In some embodiments, the front face of the garment comprises at least two superimposed layers of textile, and the housing is defined between the two layers.

[0014] In some embodiments, the housing comprises two compartments, each compartment being shaped to receive an inflatable lung abdominal float, each compartment being further delimited by a seam between the two layers of the front face of the garment.

[0015] In some embodiments, the housing is defined between a so-called upper layer and a so-called lower layer of the front of the garment, the garment further comprises two sleeves, each sleeve being sewn on one side to the back and on the other side to the lower layer of the front of the garment, so that the two openings are located at the level of each armhole of the front by being formed between an edge of the upper layer and the lower layer sewn to the sleeve.

[0016] In some embodiments, the garment is shaped so that the cervical portion of the inflatable lung is external to the rear face of the garment in the inflated state.

[0017] In some embodiments, the housing includes a removable closure device. This removable closure device can, for example, be selected from: one or more velvet-hook strips, one or more snap fasteners, a burst-open zipper, or one or more magnetic buttons.

[0018] In some embodiments, the back of the garment comprises two superimposed layers of textile between which the housing is defined. In this case, the two superimposed layers of textile may comprise a lower textile layer and an upper textile layer, and the upper textile layer may have a cutout defining two panels, each carrying a portion of the removable fastening device, so that the panels can be removably joined by said device.

[0019] In other embodiments, the garment further includes a shaped collar to contain the cervical portion of the inflatable lung when it is deflated. The collar can then be sewn at each armhole to the upper layer of the front of the garment.

[0020] In some embodiments, the inflation device includes a compressed gas cartridge and a trigger adapted to release the gas contained in the cartridge in case of contact with water.

[0021] In some embodiments, the trigger is of the hydrostatic type.

[0022] In some embodiments, the inflation device is located on the front face of the garment, the compressed gas cartridge being in fluid communication with an abdominal float of the inflatable lung at the time of triggering.

[0023] The drowning protection garment described herein is particularly suitable for protecting young children. It comprises a garment that can be worn normally, this garment also incorporating an inflatable lung that inflates automatically upon contact with water. The inflatable lung is removably attached to the garment by inserting abdominal floats into a designated compartment. This design allows the cervical portion to remain external to the garment, especially when inflated, thus reducing stress on its volume and ensuring sufficient buoyancy to keep the wearer's airways above water.

[0024] Despite the removable nature of the lung, the protective garment offers a high level of safety because the garment can be closed to prevent accidental detachment. Furthermore, by incorporating a compartment that holds the cervical portion of the lung when deflated, while releasing it during inflation, this portion is concealed and out of the reach of young children.

[0025] Finally, the removable nature of the lung also allows for the retention of an inflatable lung but only the clothing item needs to be replaced, for example in case of wear and tear or during the child's growth. Brief description of the drawings

[0026] Other features, details, and advantages will become apparent upon reading the detailed description below and analyzing the attached drawings, on which: Fig. 1 [ Fig. 1] represents an example of protective clothing according to a first embodiment seen from the front, when the inflatable lung is deflated. Fig. 2 [ Fig. 2 ] represents an example of protective clothing for the figure 1 Viewed from behind, when the inflatable lung is deflated. Fig. 3 [ Fig. 3 ] represents an example of protective clothing for the figure 1 Viewed from a three-quarter angle when the inflatable lung is inflated. Fig. 4 [ Fig. 4 ] represents an example of protective clothing for the figure 1 View from behind when the inflatable lung is inflated. Fig. 5 [ Fig. 5 ] represents an inflatable lung that can be used in protective clothing. Fig. 6a [ Fig. 6a [ ] schematically represents an example of a pattern for making a protective garment jersey according to the method of making the figure 1 . Fig. 6b [ Fig. 6b] schematically represents an example of a pattern for making a protective garment jersey according to a second method of construction. Fig. 7 [ Fig. 7 ] schematically represents an example of a hydrostatic trigger. Fig. 8 [ Fig. 8 ] schematically represents an example of housing in the front of a protective garment. Fig. 9 [ Fig. 9 ] represents an example of protective clothing according to a second embodiment corresponding to that of the figure 6b Viewed from the front, when the lung is deflated. Fig. 10 [ Fig. 10 ] represents an example of protective clothing for the figure 9 seen from behind, when the lung is deflated. Fig. 11 [ Fig. 11 ] represents an example of protective clothing for the figure 9 Viewed from the front, when the lung is inflated. Fig. 12 [ Fig. 12 ] represents an example of protective clothing for the figure 9 seen from behind, when the lung is inflated. Description of the implementation methods

[0027] With reference to Figures 1 and following, we will now describe a garment 1 for protection against drowning. This garment can in particular but not exclusively be used for the protection against drowning of young children, that is to say of a weight of less than 30kg (children under 6 years), including very young children weighing less than 15kg (children under 3 years).

[0028] The drowning protection garment 1 comprises a garment 10, intended to be worn on the user's torso. This garment may be, for example, a short- or long-sleeved T-shirt or have another cut, such as a polo shirt. The garment 10 is made of a stretchable knit textile material, such as polyester, polyamide (also known by the trade name nylon), elastane, etc. The material chosen for the garment may provide UV protection.

[0029] The garment 10 comprises a front panel 11 intended to cover the user's abdomen and a back panel 12 intended to cover the user's back. It may also include sleeves 13 and / or a collar 14, attached to the front and back panels, the shape of which may vary depending on the desired style.

[0030] The protective garment also includes an inflatable lung 20, shown schematically on the figure 5 The inflatable lung comprises two main abdominal floats 21, designed to be worn on the user's abdomen. These floats 21 are airtight, inflatable cavities. The abdominal floats 21 are connected by a cervical portion 22 designed to be worn around the user's neck. The cervical portion 22 is also an airtight, inflatable cavity. The abdominal floats 21 and the cervical portion 22 are connected by fluid to each other, effectively forming a single airtight cavity. In this respect, the inflatable lung includes two connecting sections 23, each connecting an abdominal float to the cervical portion, the connecting sections being designed to rest on the user's shoulders.

[0031] In some embodiments, each connecting section is a so-called narrowed section 23, having a reduced width compared to the width of each abdominal float.

[0032] Protective clothing 1 also includes a lung inflation device 30 for lung 20, this device 30 being adapted to automatically inflate the lung when the inflation device comes into contact with water. In this regard, with reference to the figure 7 The inflation device may include a compressed gas cartridge 31 and a trigger 32, the trigger being adapted to automatically bring the compressed gas cartridge 31 into fluid communication with the internal cavity of the inflatable lung in the event of contact with water (dashed arrow on the figure 7 ).

[0033] The trigger 32 is preferably a hydrostatic type, such as those marketed under the Hammar brand, for example, the Hammar MA1 model. Such a trigger 32 includes a hydrostatic valve 320 which opens when subjected to a hydrostatic pressure exceeding a threshold, allowing water to enter and come into contact with a water-sensitive element 321, for example, a soluble element. This releases a spring (not shown) which punctures the compressed gas cartridge, thus establishing fluid communication between the cartridge and the abdominal bladder of the inflatable lung. The pressure threshold may correspond to an immersion depth greater than 10 cm. The use of a hydrostatic trigger makes it possible to condition the triggering action to a minimum water pressure and therefore prevents accidental activation caused solely by splashing.

[0034] Alternatively, trigger 32 can also be of the water-soluble type.

[0035] The inflation device 30 can be positioned on the front face 11 of the garment 10, at the level of an abdominal float 21 of the inflatable lung, so that the compressed gas cartridge 31 is in fluid communication with this float.

[0036] Optionally, and particularly in cases where the garment is intended for use by an adult or adolescent, it may also include an additional manual trigger.

[0037] The inflatable lung 20 is removably attached to the garment 10. In this regard, and as schematically represented on the figure 8 , the front face 11 of the garment includes a housing 110 shaped to receive the abdominal floats 21 of the inflatable lung, the housing 110 opening through two openings 111 through which each abdominal float can be inserted into the housing 110 in a removable manner.

[0038] To make the housing, the front face 11 of the garment is advantageously made from a yoke comprising several superimposed layers of fabric F1, F2, including a so-called upper layer F2 which is the outermost layer of the yoke, and at least one so-called lower layer F1, and the housing is defined between two consecutive layers, typically between the upper layer and the adjacent lower layer.

[0039] In advantageous examples, and as illustrated on the figure 9The inflation device 30 is positioned between the lower fabric layer F1 and the upper fabric layer F2. Therefore, the inflation device 30, particularly when it includes a gas cartridge 31 and a trigger 32, is concealed beneath the upper fabric layer F2, and the protective garment cannot be distinguished from ordinary clothing by an outside observer. This also prevents a child from manipulating the gas cartridge 31 and / or the trigger 32, thus avoiding any accidental activation.

[0040] Optionally, the housing 110 may include two compartments 112, each compartment 112 being shaped to receive a respective abdominal float of the inflatable lung. The two compartments 112 may be delimited by a seam 113 between the two superimposed layers of fabric between which the housing is defined, this seam being able, for example, to extend vertically from the neckline of the yoke to its base, equidistant from the two lateral edges of the front face.

[0041] The housing is preferably shaped to fully accommodate each abdominal float, and so that the portion of the inflatable lung protruding from the housing at the two openings 111 corresponds to each constricted section 23. To achieve this, the housing 110 is dimensioned so that the openings 111 through which the housing emerges are located near the upper edge of the front face 11 and, in use, near the user's shoulders. Furthermore, the width of each opening 111 is preferably greater than or equal to the width of a constricted section 23, but strictly less than the width of an abdominal float. This prevents the inflatable lung 20 from easily slipping out of the housing once it is inserted, even during inflation.

[0042] Optionally the inflatable lung may also include a removable means of assembly with the garment, for example snap or magnetic buttons, one part of which is assembled to the inflatable lung, and the other part is assembled to the garment.

[0043] In one embodiment, each opening 111 of the housing is formed between the upper edges of the upper layer of fabric and the lower layer of the front of the garment, only the lower layer of the front of the jersey being sewn to the sleeve or the back of the jersey.

[0044] With reference to the figure 6a An example of a pattern for making a garment with this type of opening has been shown, which corresponds to the method of construction shown in the figures 1 to 4In this example, the yokes include the front face 11, comprising an upper layer F2 and a lower layer F1, the back face 12, two sleeves 13, and a collar 14. Identical symbols are shown on the edges of the yokes sewn together. Each sleeve is attached on one side to the back face 12 and to the lower layer of the front face 11 (symbol x). The long edges of each sleeve are sewn together (symbol ~ vertical) to close each sleeve. The side edges of the front and back faces are sewn together (symbols ~ horizontal and =). The collar is then sewn, in this example, to the sleeves and to the front and back faces (symbol triangle). The upper face is sewn to the lower face with two lines of side seams, and optionally a third line of center seams (symbol diamond).This step can be done first, i.e. before sewing the sleeves to the lower layer of the front and back pieces.

[0045] In the example of the figure 6a A garment 10 with a raglan sleeve is shown, in which the front 11 and back 12 are not directly sewn together but are sewn to each sleeve 13, with a seam connecting a sleeve and each garment extending from the armhole to the neckline. This embodiment is not, however, exhaustive, and the design of the openings delimited by the upper edges of the two layers of the front also applies to a classic armhole, in which the upper edge of the front is sewn to the upper edge of the back. This is notably the case for another embodiment shown in the figures 6b And 9 à 12The lower layer of the front of the jersey is then sewn to the back, and the openings remain formed between the upper edges of the top and bottom layers of fabric, at the seam with the back. The collar is then sewn only to the front and back of the jersey.

[0046] The inflatable lung 20 can therefore be removably attached to the garment 10 by inserting each abdominal float 21 into the slot 110 on the front of the garment. The cervical portion 22, however, is outside this slot.

[0047] The garment is further shaped so that the cervical portion 22 lies outside the garment when inflated. With reference to the figure 5 as well as to figures 3, 4 , 11 and 12These figures represent a protective garment 1 in which the lung is inflated. The cervical portion includes a free end 220 forming the opposite end of the inflatable lung to the ends 221 of the abdominal floats. As can be seen in these figures, the fact that the cervical portion is outside the garment when inflated allows the inflation of the cervical portion to put the lung under tension and raise this free end relative to the rear face of the garment. This then allows the cervical portion to support the head and keep the airways above water.

[0048] In one embodiment, the cervical portion 22 is external to the garment in both the inflated and deflated states. However, in an embodiment for the protection of young children, the garment includes a suitable housing 15 to accommodate the cervical portion in the deflated state, and to open to release the cervical portion during inflation. The housing 15 may be located, for example, in the rear face of the garment, as in the embodiment described with reference to figures 9 to 12 or, as in the example of implementation described with reference to figures 1 to 4 It can be formed by the back face of the garment and an additional panel provided for this purpose.

[0049] The housing 15 may also include a removable locking device 16 (not shown in the figures 1 to 4) which is designed to give way under the pressure exerted on the closure device by the cervical portion during its inflation. This closure device can, for example, be chosen from: one or more velvet-hook bands, one or more snap fasteners, one or more magnetic buttons, or even a burst-open zipper.

[0050] In one embodiment, an example of which is shown in the figures 9 to 12 , and a pattern is illustrated in figure 6bThe housing 15, formed in the rear face 12 of the garment, is located between two superimposed layers of fabric, comprising a lower layer D1 and an upper layer D2 with a cutout 17 defining two fabric panels 151 removably connected by a removable closure device 16. These panels can be separated to release the cervical portion of the removable lung during inflation. The cutout may be substantially vertical and located in the middle of the rear face 12 of the garment, i.e., along the wearer's spine. The removable closure device 16 may consist of additional components attached to the two fabric panels 151, each of which may, for example, carry part of one or more snap or magnetic fasteners, one a velvet strip and the other a hook strip, or each half of a pop-out zipper.

[0051] With reference to the figure 6b In this embodiment, the armhole of the garment is advantageously a classic armhole in which the front piece 11 is sewn to the back piece 12. The lower layer D1 of the back piece can be sewn at the shoulders to the lower piece F1 of the front piece (shown in a cross shape on the diagram). figure 6b ), and the upper layer D2 of the back face, in which the textile panels 151 defining the housing are formed, can be sewn at the shoulders to the upper face F2 of the front face (figure \ of the figure 6bIt is thus possible to insert the abdominal floats of the inflatable lung through the openings formed between the lower layer F1 and the upper layer F2 of the front face 11, these openings being accessible when the compartment is open and the panels 151 of the upper layer of the rear face are separated. Advantageously, but not exclusively, the upper layer D2 of the rear face of the garment may cover only a portion of the lower layer, this portion being sized so that the compartment defined between the lower and upper layers allows for the storage, in its deflated state, of the cervical portion of the inflatable lung. Alternatively, the upper layer D2 may cover the entire lower layer D1, and the compartment for the cervical portion of the inflatable lung may be defined by a seam provided for this purpose.

[0052] In another embodiment, of which the figures 1 to 4As an illustration, garment 10 advantageously includes a collar 150 shaped to contain the cervical portion 22, preferably folded, of the inflatable lung when deflated. The collar 150 may thus comprise a strip of fabric sewn to the neck or back of garment 10, having a transverse dimension, measured in the direction extending from the neck to the lower back, sufficiently wide to accommodate the cervical portion of the inflatable lung. The collar 150 is advantageously held attached to the back of the garment by a removable fastening device chosen from the examples mentioned above. For example, this removable fastening device may comprise a portion attached to the free edge of the collar, opposite the sewn edge, and an opposite portion attached to the back of the garment.In this embodiment, the housing 15 for the cervical portion of the lung is thus jointly formed by the collar 150 and the rear face of the garment. The removable fastening device allows the collar to be closed over the cervical portion of the lung. During inflation of the lung, the increase in volume caused by inflation exerts sufficient force on the removable fastening device to separate the two parts of the closure device, as shown in Figure 1. figure 4 to allow the complete deployment of the cervical portion.

[0053] The collar 150 can advantageously be sewn to the upper edges of the top layer of the front of the garment, so as to also cover the narrowed sections 23 of the lung and thus completely conceal the part of the inflatable lung that is not included in the housing of the front. In this respect, the collar 150 can have a width at its ends that corresponds to: to the width of the seam between the front of the jersey and the knit in the case of a raglan armhole - on the figure 6 We have thus represented by dashes the figures representing the seam between the collar yokes and the upper face F2 of the front of the jersey, or the width of the seam between the front and back of the jersey in the case of a classic armhole.

[0054] In all cases, the housing 15 which accommodates the cervical portion of the inflatable lung allows it to be completely concealed when deflated, thus preventing children from manipulating it out of curiosity.

[0055] The protective garment described above incorporates an inflatable bladder designed to ensure the wearer's buoyancy. This bladder is also removable while remaining attached to the garment. If the protective garment is designed for young children, the inflatable bladder should ideally have an inflated volume of at least 3 liters for use up to a child's weight of 15 kg, or 4 liters up to 30 kg. However, the bladder's size before inflation is small enough to allow it to be inserted into a size 2-year-old swimsuit. This means the inflatable bladder can be reused as the child grows, between the ages of 2 and approximately 6, replacing only the swimsuit. List of digital references:

[0056] 1: Protective garment 10: Clothing piece 11: Front face 110: Housing 111: Housing opening 112: Housing compartment 113: Seam 12: Back face 13: Sleeve 14: Collar 15: Housing 150: Collar 151: Housing fabric panels 16: Removable housing closure device 17: Cutout 20: Inflatable lung 21: Abdominal float 22: Cervical portion 220: Lung end on the cervical portion side 221: Lung end on the abdominal float side 23: Connecting portion 30: Inflation device 31: Cartridge 32: Trigger 320: Hydrostatic valve 321: Water-sensitive element F1: Lower layer of the front face panel F2: Upper layer of the front face panel D1: Lower layer of the front face panel rear D2: top layer of the rear panel

Claims

1. Protective garment (1) against drowning, comprising: - an item of clothing (10) comprising a front face (11) intended to cover the abdomen of a user, and a rear face (12) intended to cover the back of the user, - an inflatable bladder (20) comprising two abdominal floats (21) connected to each other by a cervical portion (22), and - an inflation device (30) of the inflatable bladder, adapted to inflate the bladder automatically when the inflation device is in contact with water, wherein the front face of the item of clothing (10) comprises a housing (110) shaped to receive the abdominal floats (21) of the inflatable bladder, the housing (110) opening out via two openings (111) arranged to allow the assembly of the inflatable bladder to the item of clothing (10) in a removable manner by inserting each abdominal float (21) into the housing (110) through a respective opening (111), and wherein the rear face (12) of the item of clothing (10) comprises a housing (15) adapted to house the cervical portion (22) of the inflatable bladder in the deflated state, characterized in that the housing (15) at the rear face is adapted to open to release the cervical portion (22) when the latter inflates.

2. Protective garment (1) according to claim 1, wherein each abdominal float (21) of the inflatable bladder (20) is connected to the cervical portion (22) by a narrowed portion (23), with a reduced width compared with the width of the abdominal float (21), and the width of each opening (111) of the housing lies between the width of the narrowed portion (23) and the width of one abdominal float (21).

3. Protective garment (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the front face (11) of the item of clothing (10) comprises at least two superimposed textile layers (F1, F2), and the housing is defined between the two layers.

4. Protective garment (1) according to claim 3, wherein the housing (110) comprises two compartments (112), each compartment being shaped to receive an abdominal float (21) of the inflatable bladder, each compartment furthermore being delimited by a seam (113) between the two layers of the front face of the item of clothing.

5. Protective garment (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the item of clothing (10) is shaped so that the cervical portion (21) of the inflatable bladder is external to the rear face (12) of the item of clothing (10) in the inflated state.

6. Protective garment (1) according to claim 1, wherein the housing (15) comprises a removable fastening device (16).

7. Protective garment according to one of claims 1 or 6, wherein the rear face (12) of the item of clothing (10) comprises two superimposed textile layers (D1, D2) between which the housing (15) is defined.

8. Protective garment according to the preceding claim, wherein the two superimposed textile layers comprise a bottom textile layer (D1) and a top textile layer (D2), and the top textile layer (D2) includes a cutout (17) defining two panels (151) each carrying a part of the removable fastening device (16) so that the panels (151) can be removably joined by said device.

9. Protective garment according to one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the housing (15) comprises a flange (150) shaped to contain the cervical portion of the inflatable bladder when it is deflated.