BUOYANT GARMENT

Abstract: A garment which is rendered buoyant following immersion in water is formed with pockets (1) containing strips (6) impregnated with a composition which generates gas upon being wetted.

Description: BOUYANT GARMENT It is desirable for children i d non-swimmers playing near water to wear buoyant garments or other lifesaving aids. A problem is that the known garments and aids are bulky and restrict movement. To overcome this problem it is proposed to provide a garment with at least one pocket containing a substance which generates a gas upon contact with water so as to inflate the pocket. In the drawing:- Figure 1 is a section through an exemplary garment, and Figure 2 shows the inner surface of the front of the garment, viewed on line 2-2 in Figure 1. Referring to the drawing, a garment which may take the form of a tee-shirt has a pocket 1 in each of its front and back sides formed by stitching a pair of flaps 2, 3 to the inner side of each of the front and back panels of the garment along lines *■*.. The flaps overlap and are fastened to each other by two rows of press-stud fasteners 5, each of which is arranged adjacent the free horizontal edge of a respective flap. The flaps may be separated to permit the insertion in the pocket of a strip 6 of paper or cloth impregnated with a composition which generates a gas upon being wetted. The composition may be a water soluble acidic substance and a carbonate or a bicarbonate so as to generate carbon dioxide. The material of the garment, at least in the vicinity of the pockets, and that of the flaps is a relatively fine weave sufficient to delay the escape of gas through the material. The flaps do not render the garment bulky so as to hinder bodily movements or cause it to feel uncomfor¬ table when worn. Nevertheless, following immersion of the wearer, the pockets inflate to an extent sufficient to keep the wearer afloat for, say ten to fifteen minutes. This is long enough for assistance to be forthcoming following a fall by the wearer into a river or other body of water. After use, the im¬ pregnated strip may be replaced. Modifications may be made to the garment described. For example, a single pocket may extend throughout the circumference of the garment. Pockets may be provided in alternative or further locations, for example in the regions of the shoulders or armpits. The pockets may be incorporated into the lining of a garment of a heavier nature. The garment described above provides a degree of tem- porary buoyancy, the duration of which is determined by the rate at which the gas escapes through the material. The gas may be prevented from escaping by enclosing the impregnated strip in an envelope of impervious foil formed with openings closable by internal non¬ return flap valves which permit the entry of water but close as the pressure of gas increases.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A garment provided with at least one pocket c ' -_fined at least in part by water permeable material, 5 t:.e pocket containing a composition which generates gas upon contact with water. 2. A garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the composition is carried by a replaceable strip of 10 material. 3. A garment as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the pocket is defined by overlapped flaps secured adjacent their free edges by releasable 15 fastenings.

Inventors: GRAHAM FINLAY MACKENZIE, GRAHAM, FINLAY, MACKENZIE
Applicants: GRAHAM FINLAY MACKENZIE, GRAHAM, FINLAY, MACKENZIE
Application year: 1983
Main classification: B63C9
IPC codes: B63C7