Abstract:
An upper body garment suitable for wearing by a person made of a base fabric and having openings for the person&#39;s arms and head, and a breast portion. The garment includes a protective panel attached to the breast portion for protecting the upper body of the person during descent from a vertical surface. A garment suitable for wearing on a lower arm of a person made of a base fabric and having an elongated arm portion, and a hand portion attached to the elongated portion. The garment includes a first protective panel for protecting the upper body portion of the person during descent from a vertical surface.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   The present invention relates generally and in various embodiments to garments. More specifically, the present invention relates generally and in various embodiments to garments worn to protect the wearer from splinters and abrasions resulting from sliding down, for example, a wooden utility pole. 
   Although various implementations of the present invention, among many, may be described herein with reference to the specific illustrative embodiments related to particular applications, those skilled in the art will understand that the invention is not in any way intended to be, nor should be, limited to such embodiments and/or applications. Those having ordinary skill in the art and reference to the description of the embodiments disclosed and described herein will recognize that additional modifications, applications, and other embodiments may fall within the scope of the claimed invention, and that there may be additional fields in which the present invention may be practiced. 
   It can be appreciated that commercial entities and other organizations that employ workers in elevated environments are aware of the potential risks attendant upon work performed in such environments. In view of this awareness, commercial entities and other organizations devote time and resources to promoting the safety of workers performing work in elevated environments to make the performance of work as safe as possible. Promoting safety of workers in elevated environments may involve instituting training programs and/or providing workers with a variety of support devices, support systems, backup devices and systems, and/or other means that promote the stability and safety of workers in elevated environments. Despite the best efforts of an organization to enhance the safety of its workers and reduce the risk of falling from elevated structures, for example, it is nonetheless difficult to eliminate all risks to workers performing work on such elevated structures. 
   Redundant systems for promoting safety of workers on elevated utility structures may thus sometimes be used. Such redundant systems can sometimes be beneficial in addition to the myriad of existing support systems, methods, devices and/or other apparatus employed by workers on elevated structures to reduce or mitigate risks associated with falling from utility structures, for example. 
   Climbing utility structures such as wooden utility poles to a certain height is an essential function of some workers employed by, for example, a telecommunications company. These workers regularly climb wooden utility poles as part of their normal work duty in order to install and repair telephone service, for example. The workers use specialized climbing gear such as gaff hooks attached to their climbing boots to assist them in climbing the wooden utility poles. The gaff hooks are designed to dig into the wood and allow the worker to propel their body straight up in a vertical direction. The gaffs must remain dug into the wood to prevent the worker from falling off the pole. To assist the worker in ascending or descending a pole and to provide a measure of safety, often times they wears a safety belt around their waist attached to their hips and strapped around the pole to assist them in climbing the pole. While ascending a wooden utility pole and working at an elevated environment the worker should generally maintain physical contact with the pole with at least three out of the four limbs (right arm, left arm, right leg and left leg). 
   Despite the use of specialized climbing equipment such as gaffs, safety belts, and other safety devices, from time-to-time workers lose control of the pole while gaff climbing and begin to descend from the pole. While descending, workers tend to grasp or hug the wooden utility pole. 
   SUMMARY 
   In one general respect, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a garment suitable to be worn on an upper body portion of a person. The garment includes a base fabric having a front portion and a rear portion formed with openings for the person&#39;s arms and head and having a breast portion on the front portion; and a first protective panel attached to the breast portion of the base fabric; wherein the first protective panel is adapted to protect the upper body portion of the person during descent from a vertical surface. 
   In one general respect, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a garment suitable to be worn on an upper body portion of a person. The garment includes a base fabric having a front portion and a rear portion formed with openings for the person&#39;s arms and head and having a breast portion on the front portion; and a first protective panel attached to the breast portion of the base fabric; wherein the first protective panel is adapted to protect the upper body portion of the person during descent from a vertical surface. 
   Other apparatuses, systems, and/or methods according to embodiments of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional apparatuses, systems, and/or methods be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Embodiments of the present invention are described herein in conjunction with the following figures, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a protective garment according to various embodiments of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates another protective garment according to various embodiments of the present invention 
       FIGS. 3A , B illustrate another protective garment according to various embodiments of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a protective panel according to various embodiments of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates another protective garment according to various embodiments of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 6  illustrates another protective garment according to various embodiments of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION 
   It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the various embodiments of present invention described herein, among others, have been simplified to illustrate representative elements of protective garments that may be used when a person descends, for example, a wooden utility pole. The representative elements are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while, for purposes of clarity, other specific elements of the protective garments are not described herein as that would not facilitate a better or clearer understanding of the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, however, that these and other elements may be found in conventional garments and may be readily understood. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 1 , various embodiments of the present invention described herein, among others, are generally directed to a protective garment  10  suitable to be worn on the upper part of a human body. The garment  10  has a collar  11 , sleeves  16 , and front opening  13 . The protective garment  10  may be worn by a person while working in an elevated environment on, for example, a wooden or steel utility pole or other surface or while ascending or descending the surface. The protective garment  10  according to various embodiments of the present invention may comprise lightweight penetration resistant protective panels  12  stitched, sewn, laminated, or otherwise attached to breast portions  14  of the protective garment  10 . The protective garment  10  also may comprise forearm portions or sleeves  16  that may include additional similar but separate and distinct lightweight penetration resistant protective panels  15  stitched, sewn, laminated, or otherwise attached to an inner surface of the forearm portion of each sleeve  16 . (This is also shown in  FIG. 5 .) The sleeved protective garment  10  may comprise coats, jackets, shirts, and the like. Each of the protective panels attached to the garment are separate and distinct to provide protection to particular body areas, while allowing for greater mobility of the worker in climbing, descending, and performing detailed maintenance work; as well as greater comfort in various work environments. For example a lightweight base fabric may be used for a garment intended to be worn in warmer weather, where the worker may be working for a prolonged duration out of doors. It will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art that the protective panels  12  and the separate protective panels  15  may be constructed of the same or similar materials, having the same or similar protective properties. References to the materials construction, and protective properties of the protective panels  12  may be equally applied to the protective panels  15  for the purposes of this disclosure. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates various embodiments of a sleeveless protective garment  20 . The protective garment  20  is suitable to be worn on the upper part of a human body and includes a collar  21  and a front opening  23 . The sleeveless protective garment  20  also comprises the protective panels  12  in a breast portion  22 . The sleeveless protective garment  20  includes vests that may be worn in various types of temperature environments. 
   In various embodiments of the present invention, the protective garment  10 ,  20  may be constructed of a flexible base garment comprising the penetration resistant protective panels  12 . The protective garment  10 ,  20  may be constructed of a lightweight, stretchable, breathable, and comfortable fabric to accommodate the environmental conditions encountered by the workers. For example, to accommodate colder working environments the base garment may be constructed of heavier materials such as cotton, wool, polyester/wool blend, polyester/cotton blend and other similar heavier materials. The heavier material also may include some form of heat insulating material. In warmer working environments the protective garment  10 ,  20  may be constructed of lightweight porous materials. Suitable materials for the base garment may give or stretch to a certain degree to aid in the wearer&#39;s comfort. 
   In various embodiments of the present invention, the protective garments  10 ,  20  may be formed of a plurality of conventional fibers such as cotton, polyester, nylon, and any blends thereof. The protective garments  10 ,  20  also may be formed of a lightweight fabric, coated fabric, and/or fabric/laminate that is lightweight, waterproof, windproof, and breathable such as GORE-TEX™ fabric, for example. The protective garments  10 ,  20  also may comprise a nylon outer shell fabric that is laminated to a waterproof, windproof, breathable membrane such as a GORE-TEX® membrane, for example. The protective garments  10 ,  20  also may comprise a two-ply nylon shell GORE-TEX® fabric. The protective garments  10 ,  20  also may comprise lightweight breathable features for higher temperature climates as well as insulated features for colder temperature climates such as a quilted lining with fiberfill insulation, for example. GORE-TEX® is manufactured by W. L. Gore &amp; Associates of Newark, Del. 
     FIG. 3A  illustrates various embodiments of a protective garment in the form of a glove  30 . The glove  30  includes, for example, a first hand portion  32  comprised of the same protective material that the protective panels  12  are constructed from. The glove  30  also includes a second forearm portion  34  attached to the hand portion  32 . The forearm portion  34  also includes a protective panel  12  to protect the wearer from injuries due to splinters and abrasion. The hand portion  32  of the glove  32  may be constructed of a stretchable flexible material while the forearm portion  34  may be constructed of a more durable material. 
     FIG. 3B  illustrates another embodiment of a protective garment in the form of a glove  36  with open fingertips for added flexibility, dexterity and to minimize weight and energy retention. The glove  36  also includes, for example, a first hand portion  38  comprised of the same protective material that the protective panels  12  are constructed out of. The glove  36  also includes the forearm portion  34  attached to the hand portion  38 . The forearm portion  34  also includes a protective panel  12  to protect the wearer from injuries due to splinters and abrasion. The hand portion  38  of the glove  36  may be constructed of a stretchable flexible material while the forearm portion  34  may be constructed of a more durable material. 
   In various embodiments of the present invention, the protective panels  12  may be formed of a flexible lightweight heavy-duty penetration resistant material suitable for protecting the wearer against abrasion and splinters while falling from a utility pole with arms around the pole. In various embodiments of the present invention the protective panels  12  may be constructed of a thin, lightweight, low friction, flexible, and smooth material so that they are comfortable to the wearer of the protective garments  10 ,  20  and do not hinder the wearer&#39;s freedom of movement. The protective panels  10 ,  20  material also may be thin and porous to accommodate workers in higher temperature environments. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 4 , in various embodiments of the present invention the protective panels  10 ,  20  may be formed of single (mono-layer) or multi-layer high performance natural or synthetic materials that are lightweight, strong, and heat-resistant. For example, the protective panels  12  may be formed using a single ply  40  or multiple plies  42  of fabric woven from any of the aramid high performance fibers listed above. The protective panels  12  may be formed of one to thirty-two plies, for example. In various embodiments of the present invention, the protective panels  12  also may be formed of 3 or 4 plies, for example. Some synthetic aromatic polyamide materials that may be fashioned into high tenacity fibers, filaments, or sheets and used in textiles also may be used to form the protective panels  12 . One such class of synthetic fibers that may be suitable for making the protective panels  12  is commonly referred to as aramid fiber. Fabrics made from high performance aramid fibers may be suitable for fashioning the protective panels  12  that are splinter and abrasion resistant. There are many commercially available high performance aramid fibers that may be used to weave fabrics suitable for making splinter and abrasion resistant protective panels  12 . Any type of fiber, including those not mentioned herein, may be used to make the protective panels  12  according to various embodiments of the present invention. As discussed previously, the protective panels  12 , whether formed of the single ply layer  40  or the multiple plies  42 , may be attached to a base fabric  44  of which the protective garments  10 ,  20  are constructed. The individual single ply layers  40  or the multiple plies  42  fabric may be attached to each other by, for example, laminating, stitching, sewing, and other suitable means of attachment. The protective panels  12  also may be stitched, sewn, laminated, or attached to the base fabric  44  using any suitable means. 
   As discussed previously, the base fabric  44  may be formed of a plurality of conventional fibers such as cotton, polyester, nylon, and any blends thereof. The base fabric  44  also may be formed of a lightweight fabric, coated fabric, and/or fabric/laminate that is lightweight, waterproof, windproof, and breathable such as GORE-TEX® fabric, for example. Base fabric  44  also may comprise a nylon outer shell fabric that is laminated to a waterproof, windproof, breathable membrane such as a GORE-TEX® membrane, for example. The base fabric  44  also may comprise a two-ply nylon shell GORE-TEX® fabric. 
   Examples of high performance aramid fibers that may be suitable for weaving fabrics for making the protective panels  12  include, but are not limited to Kevlar®, an organic fiber produced by the DuPont Corporation of Wilmington, Del., which is a light structural fiber that provides impact resistance. One type of Kevlar® fabric that may be suitable for constructing the protective panels  12  according to one of many embodiments of the present invention includes a style 779 aramid high performance fabric available from Hexcel Schwebel of Stamford, Conn. The 779 aramid fabric comprises a Kevlar® 159 yarn that is 200 denier mesh. The fabric weighs 3.9 oz/yd 2  and is of plain weave style. The nominal construction of the style 779 fabric comprises a warp count and fill count of 70 yarns/inch. The fabric may have a thickness of 6.0 to 8.0 mils, a breaking strength of 385 lbf/in and is suitable for safety and personal protection applications. The Kevlar® protective panels  12  will not burn although they may melt at 900° F. Also, the Kevlar® protective panels  12  may be treated to make them water repellant. 
   The protective panels  12  also may be made from fabrics woven from other fibers such as, for example, Twaron®, a high strength fiber made from aramid polymer supplied by Accordis of Arnhem, The Netherlands. This fiber is similar to Kevlar® and is a useful material for reinforcement and splinter and abrasion resistance applications. Yet another fiber that may be used to weave fabrics for making the protective panels  12  includes Spectra®, which is an ultra lightweight, high strength polyethylene fiber developed by Honeywell International Corporation of Morristown, N.J. Spectra® fibers provide high damage tolerance and flexibility. Another fiber that may be used to weave the fabric to make the panels is Zylon®, which consists of a rigid chain of molecules of ploy (p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) (PBO). This fiber is available from Toyobo of Osaka, Japan. 
     FIG. 5  illustrates various embodiments of a protective garment  50  suitable to be worn on the upper part of a human body having a collar  51 , sleeves  54 , and front opening  53 . The protective garment  50  includes the protective panels  12  in a breast portion  52  as well as the sleeves  54 . The protective garment  50  also includes a variety of pockets  56 ,  58  designed to hold items that may be useful to a worker while working in elevated environments such as up on a utility pole. The protective garment  50  also includes carry loops  60  that may be useful for carrying additional tools up on the utility pole. The variety of useful items may include, for example, wire connectors, wire, tone probe, pullers, and safety related items and equipment. The pockets  56 ,  58  and loops  60  also may be useful for carrying hardware such as “J” and “P” hooks, hammers, powder drivers, meters, small blocks, cable clamps, drop wire clamps, strand connectors, dead end wire, earmuffs, flashlights, safety and sunglasses, gloves, hat liners, nut drivers, bridle rings, tags, and screws. The protective garment  50  also includes attachable and detachable structural members  62  that are designed to secure the bottom of the protective garment  50  to the worker&#39;s climbing safety belt to minimize the likelihood of the protective panels  12  rising up the worker&#39;s body while descending and hugging a pole. The attachable and detachable structural members  62  may include for example loops, buttons, snaps hooks, and hook and loop fasteners such as Velcro®, for example, and other suitable means for attaching and detaching the protective garment  50  to the safety belt. 
     FIG. 6  illustrates various embodiments of a sleeveless protective garment  64  that is similar to the protective garment  50  shown in  FIG. 5  except for the sleeves. The protective garment  64  may be suitable to be worn on the upper part of a human body and may include a collar  61  and a front opening  63 . The sleeveless protective garment  64  also comprises the protective panels  12  in a breast portion  66 . The sleeveless protective garment  64  may include vests that may be worn in various types of temperature environments. The sleeveless protective garment  64  also may include a variety of pockets  56 ,  58  and loops  60  for carrying useful items and also includes the attachable and detachable structural members  62  to secure the bottom of the protective garment  60  to the worker&#39;s climbing safety belt. 
   Although the present invention has been described with regard to certain embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many modifications and variations of the present invention may be implemented. The foregoing description and the following claims are intended to cover all such modifications and variations. Furthermore, the components and processes disclosed are illustrative, but are not exhaustive. Other components and processes also may be used to make systems and methods embodying the present invention.