Abstract:
The invention features apparel having a safety assembly featuring adjustable handles. The handles move along tracks and can be positioned to be grasped by a passenger on a vehicle. A latch mechanism unlocks the handles and allows them to move along the tracks. Handles feature a catch mechanism that locks into an opening along the track helping to secure the handles in position. When a vehicle operator wears the apparel, the passenger can grasp the handles to position himself accordingly and safely on a vehicle, such as a motorcycle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates, in general, to apparel having safety handles, and more specifically, adjustable handles which can be grasped by a passenger on a motorcycle. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Apparel is used to protect motorcyclist from the elements. During rides, apparel, such as jackets or vests, are often worn by motorcyclist to preserve the motorcyclist&#39;s core&#39;s body heat. In extreme weather conditions, apparel protects the cyclist&#39;s body. Apparel also allows the cyclist to stay at a safe body temperature and be protected from bugs and debris during a ride. In the event of an accident, abrasion resistant apparel helps prevent injuries with its padding and lining such as armor mounted in the jacket. 
         [0003]    Often individuals ride motorcycles as passengers. Passengers can make a long ride more enjoyable for the motorcyclist. The passenger can wear a helmet and a jacket as a safety precaution. It is necessary for the passenger to keep his body aligned with the motorcyclist&#39;s body to prevent an accident. Typically, the passenger places his hands around the motorcyclist&#39;s hips. In the event of a sharp turn or sudden stop, passengers tend to panic and add pressure by squeezing the cyclist&#39;s hips. This pressure can distract the motorcyclist. Unnecessary movement of the passenger affects movement and balance of the motorcycle and can put both the motorcyclist and passenger in danger. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention provides apparel with a safety assembly having adjustable handles that allow a passenger to grasp while on a motorcycle or other vehicle needing increased stability of the passenger. 
         [0005]    An aspect of an embodiment of the invention provides handles on apparel that allow the passenger to be in touch with the operator&#39;s movements without directly touching the operator&#39;s body. 
         [0006]    A limber aspect of an embodiment of the invention features tracks which the handles slide along to the passenger&#39;s desired location for gripping. 
         [0007]    A further aspect of an embodiment of the invention features openings along the safety assembly that help to lock the handle in position. 
         [0008]    A further aspect of the invention features a latch system which releases the handle from its opening to allow movement of the handles. 
         [0009]    Additional aspects, objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of apparel with the safety assembly. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a back perspective view of the apparel with the safety assembly. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the safety assembly. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of the latch mechanism of the safety assembly. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of the pins which move along the track of the safety assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of apparel  100  with the safety assembly  200 . The apparel  100  is preferably a motorcycle jacket. The sleeves  101 ,  102  of the jacket  100  may be removed to convert the jacket  100  into a vest. Preferably, the apparel is clothing adapted to be worn by a driver of a motorcycle. The jacket  100  features a front left side panel  103  and a front right side panel  104  together forming a front panel  105 . For illustration and discussion purposes, the jacket is divided into right and left panels; however, the panels may be formed of one sheet of material. The front left side panel  103  is the material on the front left side of the jacket and the front right side panel  104  is the material on the front right side of the jacket. Sleeves  101 ,  102  extend from an upper area of the front left panel  103  and the front right panel  104 , respectively. The sleeves are positioned such that the wearer&#39;s arms can extend through the sleeves when the jacket is worn. If the sleeves are removed, or the apparel is in the form of a vest, the user&#39;s arms would extend through openings at the upper area of the panels. 
         [0016]    The front left side panel  103  and front right side panel  104  feature left side panel edges  106  and right side panel edges  107 . The edges  106 ,  107  contact and connect to each other to close the jacket using known connection mechanisms such as snaps, buttons, zippers and the like. When the edges  106 ,  107  are not in a connected position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , there is an opening between the front left side panel and front right side panel such that the jacket will be in an open position.  FIG. 2  is a back perspective view of the apparel  100  with the safety assembly  200 . A back panel  108  forms the back side of the jacket. As discussed above, the back panel  108  and left front panel  103  and right front panel  104  may be one continuous sheet of material or multiple sheets of material stitched together to form the apparel. 
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the safety assembly  200 . The safety assembly  200  features a band  201  which extends from the left side panel  103  around the back panel  108  and to the right side panel  104 . The band  201  is affixed permanently to the apparel in the middle area of the jacket, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . With the band in the middle area of the jacket, the passenger can grip the safety assembly and not throw off the balance of the driver. However, the band may be affixed to the lower waist area of the jacket to allow passengers to grip the safety assembly with their arms and hands in a downward position. The jacket supports the band and aids in minimizing the risk of the band being inadvertently removed from the apparel when used by a passenger. 
         [0018]    The left end  301  of the band  201  can be connected to the right end  302  of the band  201  to engage and close the band with a securing mechanism. A securing mechanism, such as a buckle  303 , may be connected to the right end  302  and  30  secured to the left end  301 . The band features a left band side  225  and a right band side  230 , which coincide with the left front panel  103  and right front panel  104 , respectively. Preferably, in a fully closed position, the left and right edges  106 ,  107  are engaged and the left and right ends  301 ,  302  of the band are engaged. 
         [0019]    The band features a left plate  355  and a right plate  356 . The plates  355  and  356  are secured to the left and right band sides  225 ,  230  respectively, on the top surface of the band. A first pair of tracks  310 ,  320  on the left band side  225  and a second pair of tracks  330 ,  340  on the right band side  230 . The left side  225  of the band and the right side  230  of the band are flipped variations of each other and they are symmetrical along the x-axis. Tracks  310  and  320  are parallel to each other. Tracks  330  and  340  are parallel to each other. Track  310  is disposed along a top edge  350  on the left plate  355  on the band. Track  330 , on the right side  230 , is aligned with track  310 . Track  330  is disposed along a top edge  360  on the right plate  356  on the band. Similarly, tracks  320  and  340  are aligned. Track  340  is disposed along a bottom edge  370  on the right plate  356  on the band. Track  320  is disposed along a bottom edge  380  on the left plate  355  on the band. The tracks are aligned to keep the first and second handles  400 ,  401  in their proper position. The first and second handles  400 ,  401  move in a left and right direction shown by arrows  700  along the tracks. 
         [0020]    The first and second handles feature a cover  405 ,  406  which allows the passenger to easily grip the handles and the cover helps to prevent their hands from slipping. 
         [0021]    The handles are a square shape but may be an alternate shape so long as the user can position their fingers through the handle openings  407 ,  408 . The inside of the square shaped handle is cut-out or open to receive the hands and fingers of the passenger. The handles are parallel to the top surface of the band along the z-axis and the handles lay somewhat flat. The handles are about a quarter of an inch above the band, which allows the passengers hands to fit through the openings and grasp the handle where their fingers are in a curled position around the handle. 
         [0022]    The first and second handles  400 ,  401  move along the tracks for proper positioning of the handles on the band  201 . The handles  400 ,  401  features slide members  600 ,  601 ,  602 , and  603 , shown in  FIG. 5 , which are received by the tracks and move along the tracks in the direction shown by  407 . The tracks feature grooves  310   a,    320   a,    330   a,    340   a.  The slide members  600 ,  601 ,  602  and  603  are pins with ends that move along the grooves in the direction shown by  700 . Alternatively, the slide members may be increased or decreased so long as the members move the handles along the tracks. 
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of the pins  600 ,  601 ,  602  and  603  which move along the track of the safety assembly. For discussion purposes, handle  401  is shown and discussed; however, handle  400  features identical elements of handle  401 . 
         [0024]    The handle  401  and connected pins  600 ,  601 ,  602  and  603  lay above and on the top surface of plate  356 . The handles  400 ,  401  are designed to lay flat against the plate so they are not hanging or moving unnecessarily. They are positioned so that the passenger&#39;s fingers can grasp the handle with little distraction to the driver. The handles are parallel to the top surface of the band. 
         [0025]    The front side  500  of the first handle  400  features a latch mechanism  800 . The front side  502  of the second handle  401  features an identical latch mechanism  801 . For discussion purposes, the latch mechanism is discussed in relation to handle  400 .  FIG. 4  is an illustration of the latch mechanism  800 ,  801  of the safety assembly. The latch mechanism  800  is a bracket  805  or plate connected to the front side  500  of handle  400 . The pins  600 ,  601 ,  602  and  603  are secured to the underside of the bracket and extend outward towards the tracks on the plate member. Roller members on the ends of each pin allow the pins to move along the track&#39;s grooves, as discussed above. The plates  355 ,  356  feature openings  900  incrementally spaced along the top surface of the plates  355 ,  356 . The band features band openings  901  aligned underneath the plate openings  900 . The plate openings  900  help to prevent the band openings  901  from unnecessarily stretching or tearing during use. The openings  900 ,  901  are sized to receive a catch mechanism  700  on the handles&#39; latch mechanism which locks the handles in position. The latch mechanisms  800 ,  801  feature a button  810  which release and lock the catch mechanism  700  in its desired position, the openings  900 ,  901 . As the handle assembly moves along the plate, when the button  810  is pushed in a downward direction, the catch mechanism is moved downward and the hook on the catch mechanism locks the handle in the user&#39;s desired position. The hook is underneath the handles and catches such that it prevents the handle from moving out of position. The button is a push button and the hook is spring loaded to allow upwards and downwards movement. The slide and hook movement allows the hook to fit and hook inside of the openings. The handle assembly of the present invention allows for adjustment of the handles along the front of the apparel. However, the invention may be modified to extend the tracks around the back of the apparel, if desired. Furthermore, the tracks may be shortened or elongated, so long as the passenger can grasp the handles and have a sense of stability on the motorcycle. 
         [0026]    The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.