Abstract:
This invention is an article of protective apparel having pliable, insulative panels integral to a sleeve or sleeves, with the protective panels so positioned to cover the postern of the forearm, elbow and segment of the upper arm vulnerable to conductive heat during welding operations or the like. As such the apparel provides protection from being in close proximity to heated surfaces, while providing improved movement and maintaining an appearance of a typical work shirt.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not applicable 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates generally to personal heat protection devices, and more specifically to apparel article to protect a person&#39;s forearms, wrists, and elbows from work-surface heat transfer from welding. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Hazards due to burns from heat absorbed by and radiated from work materials during the welding process are well known in the welding trade. When performing welding, a standard practice is for the welder to rest one or both arms on the work material for stability. As a result of such contacts welders are likely to receive burns from heat radiated from the work-surface and through the welder&#39;s clothing adjacent to, or in contact with the work-surface. While various protective articles have been developed to protect the welder&#39;s arms, such as gloves and pads, very few are known which serve to protect the forearm, wrist and the elbow of a welder from heat and burns. 
   The need arises for a protective article providing protection for the forearm, wrist, and elbow of a welder, in combination with standard clothing. The article should provide for insulation for the protection of the forearm, wrist, and elbow, which may be near or in contact with a relatively hot metal structure, without substantially detracting from the comfort, mobility and typical appearance provided by more conventional articles of clothing. 
   Numerous methods to prevent heat transfer into the arms of welders. U.S. Pat. No. 2,388,234, issued to Abel on Nov. 6, 1945, discloses a welder&#39;s protective cape having an adjustable collar, which may be turned up for protection and straps for tightening the sleeves at the wrist for additional protection. U.S. Pat. No. 2,394,136, issued to Bakke on Feb. 5, 1946, discloses a welder&#39;s glove having a shield above the fingers. U.S. Pat. No. 3,374,487, issued to Slimovitz on Mar. 26, 1968, discloses a welder&#39;s glove with a relatively large protective cuff retained in snug engagement with the sleeve of the welder by a loop and hook fastener. U.S. Pat. No. 3,889,297, issued to Jarboe and Groseclose on Jun. 17, 1975, discloses a firefighter&#39;s glove with a relatively large protective cuff retained in snug engagement with the sleeve of the welder by a loop and hook fastener. U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,232, issued to Nelson on May 1, 1984, discloses a welder&#39;s glove having an elongated deerskin cuff. U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,297, issued to Triche on Dec. 5, 1989, discloses an arm protection, separate from any sleeve, which completely surrounds the arm and is retained in a closed position by ties. U.S. Pat. No. 5,210,878, also issued to Triche on Mar. 13, 1992, discloses a shirt having a collar, a cape, means for attaching a welding apron, removable resilient and insulating pads constructed of closed cell foam plastic inserted into pockets in the lower side of the sleeves at the forearm, and elastic bands at the forearm for retaining in position. None of the above noted patents, either singly or in combination, are seen to disclose the specific arrangement of concepts disclosed by the present invention. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, the objectives of this invention are to provide, inter alia, a new and improved welding shirt that:
         provides improved heat protection of the forearm, wrist and elbow of a welder when in contact with a heat-radiating surface;   provides relative comfort to the wearer; and   remains oriented to provide protection to vulnerable areas of the body while the wearer moves to perform work.       

   With the view of these and other objects, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed with reference being made to the attached drawings. 
   These objectives are accomplished by a long-sleeve shirt apparel item, featuring additional permanent insulation at the points most likely to be in contact with heated materials—the ulnar side of the forearm, and the postern of the upper arm and elbow. 
   An exemplary embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The drawings are illustrative only, and changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims. Other objects of the invention will become apparent from time to time throughout the specification hereinafter disclosed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a welder&#39;s shirt. 
       FIG. 2  is a rear view of a welder&#39;s shirt. 
       FIG. 3  is perspective view of the sleeve of a welder&#39;s shirt in an articulated position illustrating the area of additional insulation. 
   

   Components of the device depicted in the drawings and their corresponding reference numbers are as follows:
       10  Welder&#39;s shirt     11  Front panel     12  Front panel left portion     13  Front panel right portion     14  Rear panel     15  Right principal sleeve     16  Right cuff     17  Right sleeve midpoint     18  Right sleeve interior     19  Right sleeve upper edge     20  Right sleeve lower edge     21  Right sleeve front     22  Right sleeve back     23  Right partial secondary sleeve     24  Point well above right sleeve midpoint     25  Wearer&#39;s elbow     26  Wearer     27  Right partial secondary sleeve first edge     28  Right partial secondary sleeve second edge     29  Right partial secondary sleeve top edge     30  Right partial secondary sleeve bottom edge     31  Left principal sleeve     32  Left partial secondary sleeve     33  Left sleeve interior     34  Left cuff     35  Point well above left sleeve midpoint     36  Left sleeve midpoint     37  Wearer&#39;s forearm     38  Work-surface     39  Wearer&#39;s wrist   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a welder&#39;s shirt  10 , generally depicted in  FIGS. 1-3 . The exemplary embodiment of the welder&#39;s shirt has a rear panel  14 , a front panel  11 , a right principal sleeve  15 , a left principal sleeve  31 , a right interior partial secondary sleeve  23 , and a left partial secondary sleeve  32 . While welder&#39;s shirt  10  is described as being constructed with two insulated sleeves and used in a welding situation,  FIG. 3 , it is understood that welding shirt  10  may be of different configurations and used in any location where a heat-radiating surface is encountered. 
   The present invention will be seen to relate to a welder&#39;s shirt  10  having a partial secondary sleeve  23  and  32 , right and left respectively, permanently attached to the interior section of each sleeve,  18  and  33 , right and left respectively, for use by a welder, or the like, for the protection of the forearm  37 , wrist  39 , and elbow  25 , from radiated or conducted heat while engaged in such activities, while maintaining the mobility and appearance of a typical work shirt. 
   Partial secondary sleeves  23  and  32 , right and left respectively, of the present invention respond to this need by providing additional thickness permanently attached from cuffs  16  and  34 , right and left respectively, of each sleeve  15  and  31 , right and left respectively, to a point,  24  and  35 , right and left respectively, well above the midpoint  17  and  36 , right and left respectively, of each sleeve  15  and  31 , right and left respectively, so as to terminate above the elbow  25  of wearer  26 . Partial secondary sleeves  23  and  32 , right and left respectively, may comprise sheets of insulating material, which may be of the same material as the shirt or other insulating material. 
   Partial secondary sleeves  23  and  32 , right and left respectively, are preferably formed of a resilient and flexible material of sufficient thickness to provide sufficient insulating properties, to provide comfort for the wearer of sleeve when resting his forearm upon a relatively hard surface and to permit ease of movement without restriction. 
   Welder&#39;s shirt  10  is constructed from front panel  11 , which has a left portion  12  and right portion  13 . Front panel  11  may be a two-piece front, typical of a button or snapped shirt or a one-piece front, typical of a pullover shirt. A back panel  14  is permanently attached to front panel  11  to form a typical shirt-like structure. A right principal sleeve  15  is permanently attached to the right portion  13  of front panel  11  and extends to right cuff  16 . Right principal sleeve  15  has a lateral midpoint  17 , which while worn is positioned generally at the wearer&#39;s elbow  25 . Right principal sleeve  15  has suitable length so that right cuff  16  is generally proximate wearer&#39;s wrist  39  while wearer&#39;s elbow  25  is straight, bent or moving there between. Right principal sleeve  15  has interior  18 , upper edge  19 , lower edge  20 , front  21 , and back  22 . Right partial secondary sleeve  23  is permanently attached within right principal sleeve  15  so as to provide additional thickness permanently attached from right cuff  16  of right principal sleeve  15  to a point  24  well above the midpoint  17  of right principal sleeve  15 , so as to terminate above the elbow  25  of wearer  26 . Right partial secondary sleeve  23 , when worn, extends over a sufficient portion of the distance from upper edge  19  of right principal sleeve  15  to lower edge  20  of right principal sleeve  15  to ensure that as wearer  26  moves the additional thickness of right partial secondary sleeve  23  remains oriented over the areas that require protection. 
   Right partial secondary sleeve  23  has first edge  27 , second edge  28 , top edge  29 , and bottom edge  30 . Bottom edge  30  of right partial secondary sleeve  23  is attached to interior  18  of right principal sleeve  15  at right cuff  16 . Top edge  29  of right partial secondary sleeve  23  is attached to interior  18  of right principal sleeve  15  at a point between midpoint  17  and front panel  11 . This permanently affixes the insulating material at a point above elbow  25  when in use. First edge  27  of right partial secondary sleeve  23  is attached to interior  18  of right principal sleeve  15  between upper edge  19  of right principal sleeve  15  and lower edge  20  of right principal sleeve  15  on front  21  of right principal sleeve  15 . Second edge  28  of right partial secondary sleeve  23  is attached to interior  18  of right principal sleeve  15  between upper edge  19  of right principal sleeve  15  and lower edge  20  of right principal sleeve  15  on back  22  of right principal sleeve  15 . This construction creates the insulating pad extending from the wearer&#39;s wrist  39  to a point above wearer&#39;s elbow  25 , and upwards on sleeve  15  to a point where sleeve  15  would not contact the work-surface in standard use. Other anticipated embodiments include a welder&#39;s shirt possessing a second sleeve, or a left sleeve only-shirt, constructed in a similar manner. 
   The use of a supple insulating material for partial secondary sleeves  23  and  32 , right and left respectively, creates a constant thickness in the sleeve, which avoid the resulting destabilizing “ridge” between the welder&#39;s forearm  37  and the work-surface  38 , as the closed cell foam plastic insulating insert disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,210,878 issued to Triche. A further improvement of the instant invention over the welder&#39;s cape disclosed in &#39;878 patent, is the wearer&#39;s elbow  25  in the instant invention is insulated from heat radiated from work-surface  38 . A further improvement of the instant invention over the welder&#39;s cape disclosed in the &#39;878 patent is the more equal distribution of the weight of partial secondary sleeves  23  and  32 , right and left respectively, in  18  and  33 , right and left respectively, as opposed to the unequal distribution of weight as a result of the pad disclosed in the &#39;878 patent. A further improvement of the prior art is the permanence of secondary sleeves  23  and  32 , right and left respectively, which removes the need to remove and separately store the insulating pad as disclosed in the &#39;878 during washing. A further improvement over the &#39;878 patent is the ability to construct shirt  10  and partial secondary sleeves  23  and  32 , right and left respectively, from the same material, thus eliminating additional materials and costs, and maintaining a more cohesive appearance and performance throughout the material of shirt  10 . 
   It is understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.