Impact absorbent outerwear

Abstract

The disclosure is the only product of its kind presenting a body garment with air bladders that can be inflated individually or all at once to provide a customizable level of protection, making it ideal for different users and activities. Furthermore, this unprecedented product is uniquely designed with high-quality materials such as nitrile, polyurethane, polyester, Polyvinyl chloride, latex, or rubber allowing for a range of options in terms of durability and flexibility as well as ensuring safety and reliability when using it out in the cold weather conditions associated with winter sports activities, such as: snowboarding, snow skiing and snow tubing.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] For those who enjoy engaging in extreme sports and rigorous types of physical activity, injuries and falls are more prevalent by nature of participation. In the current market, there are some protective items that cater to minimize harm; yet they tend to lack the means to adapt to specific preferences. There have been no products available as original equipment or as an aftermarket to address this problem.

[0002] An apparatus that provides protection to minimize harm that adapts to specific preferences is not being met by any known device or system at present. There have been no products available as original equipment or as an aftermarket to address this problem either.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The main purpose of the impact absorbent outerwear is to provide users with a sporting apparel accessory possessing inflatable air chambers or air bladders to offer extra protection in the event of bodily impact.

[0004] The impact suit comprises an air bladder disposed on a portion of a jacket and an air bladder array disposed on a chest of the jacket having a serial trunk adjoining parallel branches of air bladders. The impact suit also includes an air bladder disposed on a portion of a pair of pants. Furthermore, an air pump and an air tube distribution between the pump and the air bladders and the air bladder array are included. The air bladders are disposed over the chest, abdomen, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, back, and buttocks.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the impact absorbent outerwear in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0006] FIG. 2 is a back elevational view of the impact absorbent outerwear in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0007] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the impact absorbent outerwear in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0008] Throughout the description, similar reference numbers may be used to identify similar elements depicted in multiple embodiments.

[0009] Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts so described and illustrated.

[0010] The scope of the invention is to be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] Reference will now be made to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein and additional applications of the principles of the inventions as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the impact absorbent outerwear showing: jacket referenced as A, air tube referenced as B, Neoprene material referenced as C, pump referenced as D, inflate / deflate button referenced as E and F, pants referenced as G, and air bladders or air chambers and an air bladder array or air chamber array in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a back elevational view of the impact absorbent outerwear showing: jacket referenced as A, air tube referenced as B, Neoprene material referenced as C, pants referenced as G, and air chambers referenced as H, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the impact absorbent outerwear showing: jacket referenced as A, Neoprene material referenced as C, inflate / deflate button referenced as E, pants referenced as G, air bladder or air chamber referenced as H.

[0015] The cutaway view of two air bladders inflated and deflated includes the inflated air bladder I, and the deflated air bladder J and the inflate / deflate button E on the adjacent pump (not shown).

[0016] In an embodiment, an air bladder and an air tube and a valve there between are included. The valve a one way valve which closes in response to a negative air pressure from the air bladder H into the air tube B and opens in response to a positive air pressure into the air bladder from the air tube B. This enables inflating / deflating all air bladders at the same time or separately depending on the valve being open or closed.

[0017] The present disclosed impact absorbent outerwear, also known as “Puft”, offers a wearable shield item that provides extra cushioning and protection when participating in high-impact sports, to not only reduce the risk of injury but also to help make these activities safer and give athletes at every level an opportunity to excel without active concern regarding compromising their safety. Puft introduces novel protective apparel with inflatable air bladders, incorporated into various areas of the clothing, that expand to create distance from impact. Some of the air bladders sectioned within the piece can be inflated individually and all at once, depending both on specific user preference and the level of protection anticipated before activity. Controlled via a hand pump, conveniently located on the top-quality product revolutionizes the way people protect themselves while engaging in extreme sports activities as its unique design featuring inflatable air chambers or air bladders provides extra padding without being too burdensome on the body. From beginner athletes looking for an edge when learning new techniques, to experienced professionals seeking more protection during competitions.

[0018] Although the operations of the method(s) herein are shown and described in a particular order, the order of the operations of each method may be altered so that certain operations may be performed in an inverse order or so that certain operations may be performed, at least in part, concurrently with other operations. In another embodiment, instructions or sub-operations of distinct operations may be implemented in an intermittent and / or alternating manner.

Claims

1. An impact suit comprising:an air bladder disposed on a portion of a jacket;an air bladder array disposed on a chest of the jacket and comprising a serial trunk adjoining parallel branches of air bladders;an air bladder disposed on a portion of a pair of pants; andan air pump and an air tube distribution between the pump and the air bladders and the air bladder array.

2. The impact suit of claim 1, further comprising an inflate / deflate switch disposed on the pump.

3. The impact suit of claim 1, further comprising a detachable alternating current power source configured to power the pump.

4. The impact suit of claim 1, further comprising a one way valve disposed at each air bladder connection to the air tube distribution and configured to close in response to a negative air pressure from the air bladders.

5. The impact suit of claim 1, further comprising a one way valve disposed at each air bladder connection to the air tube distribution and configured to stay open in response to a positive air pressure into the air bladders.

6. The impact suit of claim 1, wherein the jacket and the pair of pants comprise neoprene.

7. The impact suit of claim 1, wherein the portion of the jacket with the air bladder comprises the shoulders, the elbows and the abdomen.

8. The impact suit of claim 1, wherein the portion of the pair of pants with the air bladder comprises the hips, the knees and the buttocks.

9. The impact suit of claim 1, wherein the jacket comprises a dedicated air pump and a dedicated air tube distribution.

10. The impact suit of claim 1, wherein the pair of pants comprises a dedicated air pump and a dedicated air tube distribution.

11. The impact suit of claim 1, wherein the jacket and the pair of pants comprise a shared air pump and a shared air tube distribution.

12. The impact suit of claim 1, wherein the jacket further comprises a side zipper.

13. The impact suit of claim 1, wherein the jacket is zipperless.

14. The impact suit of claim 1, wherein the pair of pants ends proximally below the knees.

15. The impact suit of claim 1, wherein the jacket comprises sleeves which end proximal to the elbows.

16. The impact suit of claim 1, wherein each of the air bladders has an input and an output and is therefore an enlarged air tube of the air tube distribution in series.

17. The impact suit of claim 1, wherein each of the air bladders has a single connection to the air tube distribution and are parallel thereto.

18. The impact suit of claim 1, wherein the air bladder array further comprises multiple inputs from the air tube distribution and comprises multiple outputs to the air tube distribution.

19. The impact suit of claim 1, wherein the air bladder array further comprises a one way valve between the serial trunk and each of the adjoining parallel branches.

20. The impact suit of claim 1, further comprising a deflate button and an inflate button configured respectively to deflate and to inflate the suit.

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