Abstract:
A novel jacket garment worn by the driver of a tandem vehicle, such as a motorcycle, intended for rear passenger safety is disclosed. The novel garment comprises an outer shell, an inner lining, and an internal frame structure. The internal frame structure comprises a ribbing nexus comprising horizontal and vertical members. Novel features include handgrips disposed inside front pockets and connected to the internal frame structure. In some embodiments, the internal frame structure comprises elastic members. Pocket-borne handgrips may be attached to elastic members so that when engaged by a rear tandem passenger, the internal frame structure is tightened against the tandem vehicle driver&#39;s body to provide stain relief and additional stabilization of the jacket as a passenger safety device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to tandem vehicle passenger safety garments, particularly jackets worn by the driver of the tandem vehicle. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Safety for rear passengers of motorcycles and other tandem-rider vehicles such as snowmobiles, is best served if the rear passenger can grasp handles or handgrips provided on a specially designed harnesses or a garments, such as motorcycle safety jackets, worn by the driver of the vehicle. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The invention is a jacket garment providing a plurality of exposed and covered handgrips for access by a rear passenger of a two-seat vehicle, such as a motorcycle or snowmobile. The inventive jacket garment comprises a lining, an outer shell and an internal frame comprising a network of stress-relieving structural members, henceforth referred to as ribbing. The internal frame generally disposed between the inner lining and outer shell of the inventive jacket garment, and comprises a plurality of flexible members. Some of said ribbing members may also be elastic. The inventive jacket garment further comprises a plurality of handgrips disposed on different panels of the jacket shell. The internal frame ribbing nexus is provided to distribute forces away from the points of greatest stresses on the jacket garment when a motorcycle passenger grasps and pulls on any of the plurality of handgrips in order to gain stability when the vehicle accelerates straight ahead or in turns or curves. 
         [0004]    In the preferred embodiment of the inventive jacket garment, at least two of the handgrips are contained within two handgrip pockets disposed on lower portions of each of the two front panels of the inventive jacket, whereby the pocket-borne handgrips provide for passenger comfort as well as safety, as they provide protection of the hands of the rear passenger against exposure to fast-moving air, cold and inclement weather conditions. The handgrip pockets comprise an interior cavity, and a handgrip disposed within the interior cavity of each handgrip pocket. A passenger riding behind the driver of the two-seat vehicle may grip the pocket-borne handgrips by wrapping arms around the driver, and placing hands in the interior cavity of the handgrip pockets to grasp the handgrips within. 
         [0005]    In one set of embodiments, the plurality of handgrips may be integrally affixed to structural members of the garment&#39;s internal frame. As an example, handgrips may comprise straps having two ends. Both exposed and pocket-borne handgrips may be affixed to ribbing members of the internal frame by attachment of the ends of the handgrips to the ribbing members. By way of example, handgrips may have ends inserted through holes or slits in the jacket shell to access the space between the shell and interior lining of the inventive jacket garment to be attached to the ribbing nexus at strategic points. Methods of attaching handgrips to the ribbing include, but are no means limited to, stitching, such as standard commercial stitching, ultrasonic welding, grommeting, riveting, and gluing by adhesives known in the art, such as fabric and plastic adhesives. Handgrip ends may also be sewn to the internal frame ribbing by stitching through the shell of the jacket so that the integrity of the jacket shell is not compromised. 
         [0006]    According to the invention, all embodiments of the internal frame comprise a non-elastic, but flexible, ribbing nexus, and a subset of these embodiments may comprise structural members that are elastic, and which may be tied to the non-elastic structural members ribbing nexus. In the latter set of embodiments, pocket-borne handgrips may be tied to the internal frame via an elastic tie or band, wherein the elastic tie or band is connected to the internal frame. 
         [0007]    In a particular embodiment, the internal frame comprises a single elastic waistband divided into two segments, as well as elastic shoulder straps attached to the elastic waistband at points in the front and rear panels of the inventive jacket garment. The internal frame may comprise a non-elastic rear vertical spine to which both segments of the waistband are attached, and from which tresses extend to attach to the shoulder straps. A non-elastic collar ribbing may also be provided for attachment points for the shoulder straps as well. Pocket-borne handgrips may be attached to the single waistband member only, or two both the waistband member and to the shoulder strap members, by an extension of the internal frame connecting the pocket-borne handgrips to the waistband member and shoulder strap members of the internal frame. 
         [0008]    In the exemplary embodiment, the vehicle passenger pulls on the pocket-borne handgrips, causing the waistband frame member to tighten about the waist of driver. This action simultaneously pulls on front portion of shoulder straps, the elastic material pulling downward, tightening front portion of jacket over front torso. The rear segments of shoulder straps being attached to the waistband, will draw tight as well. Shoulder straps may be anchored on the collar ribbing for additional support. This embodiment provides for increased support and distribution of forces imparted to the inventive jacket garment through the pocket-borne handgrips when the rear passenger 
         [0009]    In another embodiment example, the inventive jacket comprises a plurality of external handgrips and front pocket-borne handgrips. The pocket-borne handgrips may comprise two ends, each end attached to a structural member of the internal frame for support and distribution of force. By way of example, the internal frame comprises two elastic waistband members encircling the hem of the jacket, the first waistband being disposed vertically above the second waistband. As in the previous example, the elastic waistband members may comprise two segments, each segment having two ends. One end of each segment is affixed to a non-elastic spine member of the internal frame, and the opposing ends of each segment are affixed frame members disposed along the edges of the two front panels of the inventive jacket, for example, along the front zipper. Preferably, other elastic members of the harness nexus, each having a first end and a second end, may have a first end affixed to an anchor point on a non-elastic harness skeleton member, and a second end affixed to a second anchor point disposed along the elastic waistband member. In the instant example, the pocket-borne handgrips may comprise straps having two ends. In addition, each handgrip may be oriented substantially vertically so that the handgrips comprise an upper end and a lower end. Each handgrip may then be affixed to both of the elastic waistband members, wherein the upper end of each handgrip is affixed to the upper waistband and the lower end affixed to the lower waistband. 
         [0010]    In the instant example, the innovative internal frame provides for enhanced structural support and force dispersion when the rear passenger pulls on the pocket handgrips. Tensile forces are transmitted from the handgrips to the elastic waistband members, and the waist of the jacket may then be tightened around the lower torso of the driver. Simultaneously, tensile forces may be applied to the secondary elastic members that tend to distribute, or disperse tensile forces substantially equally at different anchor points on the non-elastic skeleton members around the structure of the internal frame. As tensile forces are transmitted to the non-elastic ribbing of the innovative jacket internal frame, the ribbing members may be tightened against the torso of the driver. The elastic members may distribute the tension on the ribbing members of the internal frame so that the tensile forces due to the passenger pulling on the pocket-borne handgrips are not focused in any particular location, a situation that may potentially result in failure of the harness structure, or tearing the stitching of the jacket shell or lining. Moreover, the tension on the harness ribbing stiffens the harness structure by pulling it against the driver&#39;s torso, providing additional structural support. 
         [0011]    The external (exposed) handgrips may also be attached to the internal frame in ways similar to the pocket-borne handgrips. For instance, external handgrips may comprise straps having first and second ends. The first and second ends of the handgrips may access the internal frame through slits or holes made in the innovative jacket shell and penetrate the space between the shell and lining. Alternatively, handgrip ends may be attached to the internal frame members without accessing the internal frame directly, by methods known in the art such as, but not limited to: stitching, grommeting, riveting, welding and gluing. 
         [0012]    The inventive safety jacket may closed when worn by the driver by zipping or buttoning the two front panels In the event the motorcycle driver does not close the front panels of the jacket using the front zipper, buttons, or other means of at least partially closing the two front panels, thereby holding the front panels of the inventive jacket relatively stationary while the rear passenger grasps and pulls on the external or pocket-borne handgrips. In the event the driver chooses not to close the jacket by use of the front zipper or buttons, the inventive safety jacket further comprises one or more clasps or buckled straps in the front portion of the jacket to at least partially hold the front jacket panels from opening when the rear passenger pulls on the pocket handgrips. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1 . Frontal view of the preferred embodiment of the inventive safety jacket. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2 . Rear view of the preferred embodiment of the inventive safety jacket, showing external handgrips in foreground and pocket-borne handgrips in background. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3 . Transparent view of the inventive safety jacket, showing an embodiment of the internal support frame structure from the side. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4 . Transparent view of the inventive safety jacket, showing an embodiment of the internal frame structure from rear. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5 . Transparent view of the inventive safety jacket, showing an a second embodiment of the internal frame structure from the front, showing elastic shoulder members and waistband members connected to pocket-borne handgrips. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6 . View of inventive jacket features of buckle straps and engagement of pocket-borne handgrips by a tandem passenger. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a partial frontal view of the preferred embodiment of the inventive safety jacket  100 , emphasizing the novel front passenger safety pockets  101  and  102 , and the pocket-borne handgrips  103  for tandem passenger safety contained within the cavity or front passenger safety pockets  101  and  102  shown in transparent view for pocket  102 . The inventive jacket comprises left front panel  104  and right front panel  105 . 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the rear of the preferred embodiment of the inventive safety jacket  200  is shown, wherein external passenger handgrips  201 - 203  disposed on the rear panel  204  of the inventive safety jacket. In this embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2 , the external passenger handgrips  201 - 203  are shown to each comprise two ends ( 205  and  206 , respectively) that may be integral with structural members (described below) of the internal ribbing of the inventive jacket. Preferably, the handgrip ends may be stitched to the harness structural members through the shell of the jacket. Alternatively, the handgrips may be made integral to the inner support by welding or stitching the handgrip ends to the jacket shell or to the harness structural members directly. Handgrip ends may be inserted through slits in the jacket shell to contact the harness members and made integral thereto. 
         [0021]    The innovative safety jacket comprises a skeleton, or an internal frame structure, disposed between the external jacket shell and an internal lining to provide reinforcement to the jacket outer shell and inner lining for carrying and distributing stresses imposed by both the external and pocket-borne handgrips, when the handgrips are engaged by a tandem passenger riding in the rear of the tandem vehicle. An example of such an internal frame is shown in  FIG. 3 . In the embodiment depicted, internal frame  300  comprises vertical shoulder members  301  and  302  extending from front to back, and secured to upper horizontal circumferential support member  303 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3 , rear handgrips  304  and  305  are affixed at their ends to upper and lower horizontal circumferential support members  306  and  307 , respectively. Also shown are front pocket handgrips  308  and  309  having two ends affixed to horizontal support members  306  and  307 . 
         [0022]    In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3 , the horizontal support members  306  and  307  may be fabricated from a non-elastic material or an elastic material. In the latter case of an elastic material, a rear passenger pulling on pocket handgrips  308  and  309  in the front of the jacket, or pulling on rear external handgrips  304  and  305 , may apply tension on horizontal members  303  and  304  to cause these members to stretch, and in doing so, tighten against the torso of the driver. Additionally, vertical members  301  and  302  may be pulled in a downward direction against the shoulders of the driver when horizontal; members  306  and  307  are being pulled upon and stretched, providing further structural support and diffusion of tension forces away from the handgrips to the harness/torso support structure. In other embodiments, vertical members  301  and  302  may be elastic. 
         [0023]    Safety handgrips  304 ,  305 ,  308  and  309  may be affixed to harness structural members by extending ends through the jacket shell, and may be stitched to support members  304  - 307 . Alternatively, handgrips  304 ,  305 ,  308  and  309  may be welded to structural members  304 - 307  by ultrasonic welding, for example, and may also be riveted, grommeted or glued. 
         [0024]    Moreover, the internal frame embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  includes front strap pairs  310  and  311 , having buckles and  312  affixed to the ends of straps  310  and  311 . Strap pairs  310  and  311  serve to provide a means for the driver to prevent the front panels of the jacket from opening when the rear passenger chooses to grasp the front pocket handgrips, if the driver chooses not to close the jacket front panels by use of the front zipper or buttons. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  shows a rear view of an embodiment of the internal frame structure  400  depicted in  FIG. 3  inside the safety jacket shell, shown in transparency. Front pocket-borne handgrips  401  and  402 , and rear handgrips  403 - 405 , are shown having ends affixed to horizontal and vertical structural members  406 - 409  as in  FIG. 3 . As internal frame structure  400  is disposed between the shell and the internal lining of the inventive safety jacket, handgrips  401 - 405  may extend through holes or slits made in the jacket shell to access the internal frame structure  400 . Alternatively, handgrips  401 - 405  may be stitched, riveted or grommeted through the jacket shell to jacket skeleton structure  400 , not requiring holes or slits made through the jacket shell. 
         [0026]    An alternative embodiment of the internal frame structure of the innovative safety jacket is shown in  FIG. 5 , wherein the front pocket handgrips are emphasized. In this alternative embodiment, the internal frame structure  500  comprises a plurality of both elastic and non-elastic but flexible horizontal ribbing and vertical bands, henceforth referred to as shoulder members. Horizontal members may comprise one or more flexible circumferential support members extending substantially from the right zipper to the left zipper, encircling the hem or waist of the jacket. For example, a single circumferential support member  501  encircles the waist of the driver, and may be referred to as waistband member  501 . An additional circumferential support member is also depicted surrounding the upper torso or chest of the tandem vehicle driver. Waistband member  501  may comprise an elastic material enabling it to stretch when tensile forces are applied. In this embodiment, waistband member  501  may terminate at both ends with front pocket handgrips  502  and  503  being affixed thereto, whereby ends of waistband member  501  may extend into the interior cavity of the front passenger safety pockets (shown in transparency) to access handgrips  502  and  503 . It is also pointed out that ends of waistband member  501  may extend through rings  505 . Rings  505  may be immovably affixed to the jacket internal frame structure  500 , or to the jacket shell and/or lining. Further, vertical shoulder members  506  and  507  may be affixed at one end to waistband member  501 . Moreover, vertical shoulder members may be elastic. The arrows indicate the stretch direction of the elastic members when handgrips  502  and  503  are pulled. 
         [0027]    The other ends, as shown in  FIG. 5 , may extend through stationary rings  505  and terminate at handgrips  502  and  503 . The portion of the elastic members  506  and  507  that extend through rings  505  may act as tethers, linking pocket-borne handgrips  502  and  503  to internal frame structure  500 . Stationary rings  505  may be anchored to the outer shell or inner lining of the inventive jacket, and may also be anchored to non-elastic ribbing members of the internal frame structure. Extension of elastic support members through stationary rings  505  allows the elastic horizontal and vertical members to tighten around the torso of the driver of the tandem vehicle when the pocket-borne handgrips are pulled by the tandem vehicle passenger. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that other configurations using pocket-borne handgrips and one or more circumferential support members are possible to accomplish the same goal without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed herein. 
         [0028]    In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 5 , vertical shoulder members  506  and  507  may comprise an elastic material allowing these members to stretch when tensile forces are applied, such as when the tandem passenger engages the external or pocket-borne handgrips. When pulled by a rear passenger, pocket-borne handgrips  502  and  503  transmit tensile forces to both elastic waistband member  501  and vertical shoulder members  506  and  507 . Tensile forces on these members may cause them to stretch, and in doing so, tighten the flexible internal frame structure against the torso of the driver. The arrows show the direction of stretch of the elastic members when tension is applied by pulling on handgrips  502  and  503 . Also shown in  FIG. 5  are non-elastic but flexible rib members  508  and  509  affixed to elastic vertical members  506  and  507 . In concert with the elastic members of the internal frame structure, non-elastic but flexible rib members  508  and  509  may also be tightened against the driver&#39;s torso when elastic vertical shoulder members  506  and  507  are stretched by the tandem passenger pulling the pocket-borne handgrips  502  and  503 . According to the invention, the act of tightening the internal frame structure against the tandem vehicle driver&#39;s torso provides reinforcement of the jacket as a tandem passenger safety device, as well as stress relief for the outer shell and the inner lining of the inventive jacket when the tandem passenger engages both the external and pocket-borne handgrips, and a means for distributing the forces applied to the jacket thereby. Again, will be understood by those skilled in the art that other configurations 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  shows an example of use of the inventive safety jacket. Rear passenger grasps pocket-borne handgrips  601  and  602  by insertion of hands in safety pockets  603  and  604 . To aid in bracing the jacket for use as a tandem passenger safety device, buckle straps  605  and  606  are deployed by closing buckle  607 . Buckle  607  may be used to lock the front jacket front panels together when it is desired not to close the jacket by traditional means such as the front zipper or by buttons, so that the innovative safety features of the inventive jacket may be advantageously available for use by the rear passenger. Buckle straps  605  and  606  also may provide strain relief for the front zipper when the pocket-borne handgrips are engaged. 
         [0030]    The embodiments of the inventive tandem vehicle passenger safety jacket described herein serve as examples for the purposes of this disclosure, and are by no means meant to be construed as limiting the invention to those specified. It is to be understood by persons having skill in the art that many equivalent permutations of the described embodiments may be conceived without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.