Patent Publication Number: US-6665875-B1

Title: Protective garment

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to a protective garment for partially covering the clothing of an individual. The garment is useful, for example, for protecting and shielding the wearer&#39;s clothes from paint spatters and drips; however, it has application in any environment wherein clothing can be dirtied or stained. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is well known to provide protective or outer garments of various kinds to protect or shield the wearer&#39;s clothing. Some of these garments, for example, can be in the form of aprons, chaps and the like which serve to protect the front of the individual. Chaps are typically releasably secured to the legs of the individual by straps and other types of connectors which must be manually manipulated to apply or remove the garment. This can be a tiresome and relatively time consuming procedure in some cases. 
     The following patents disclose protective outerwear or garments which are believed to be representative of the current state of the prior art: U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,215, issued Mar. 20, 2001, U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,262, issued Dec. 27, 1994, U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,303, issued Jan. 15, 1991, U.S. Pat. No. 3,517,394, issued Jun. 30, 1970, U.S. Pat. No. 2,555,786, issued Jun. 5, 1951, U.S. Pat. No. 1,478,349, issued Dec. 18, 1923, U.S. Pat. No. 1,411,562, issued Apr. 4, 1922, U.S. Pat. No. 1,404,987, issued Jan. 31,1922, U.S. Pat. No. DES.399,336, issued Oct. 13, 1998, and U.S. Pat. No. DES.321,969, issued Dec. 3, 1991. 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     The protective garment of the present invention is easy to put on and to remove. The garment is characterized by its relative simplicity and effectiveness as well as by its ease of use. 
     The protective garment of this invention is for partially covering the clothing of an individual. 
     The protective garment includes an apron portion and apron portion securement means for releasably securing the apron portion to the waist of an individual. 
     A pair of flexible leg protector members depends from and extends downwardly from the apron portion for positioning over the front of the legs of the individual when the apron portion is releasably secured to the individual&#39;s waist by the apron portion securement means. 
     The leg protector members include upper leg protector member portions which do not extend completely about the individual&#39;s legs and lower leg protector member portions connected to said upper leg protector member portions which extend substantially completely about the individual&#39;s legs. Each of the lower leg protector member portions has distal ends positionable in back of the individual&#39;s legs. 
     Resilient securement means is connected to the lower leg protector member portions to releasably maintain the distal ends thereof in position in back of the individual&#39;s legs to releasably secure the lower leg protector member portions to the individual&#39;s legs. 
    
    
     Other features, advantages and objects of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective view of a protective garment constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention worn by an individual, the latter indicated by dash lines; 
     FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the protective garment worn by the individual; 
     FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view illustrating one of the leg protector members of the protective garment in place on an individual&#39;s leg and the other leg protector member thereof illustrated being manipulated prior to placement on the individual&#39;s leg; 
     FIG. 4A is a plan view of a curved strip having elastic memory employed in the protective garment, the strip being shown in undeformed condition; 
     FIG. 4B is a view similar to FIG. 4A, but illustrating the strip in a deformed condition, such as that which occurs when opposed manual forces are applied to pull the free ends thereof away from one another; and 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the strip in a garment receptacle. 
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, a protective garment constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is designated generally by reference numeral  10 . In FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 , the garment  10  is being worn by an individual  12 , indicated by dash lines. 
     The garment  10  is constructed of flexible material, preferably cloth such as heavy bull denim. The garment  10 , in the form illustrated, includes pockets  14  and  16  used to hold tools and the like. The garment includes an apron portion  18  and a pair of flexible leg protector members  20  depending from and extending downwardly from the apron portion for positioning over the front of the individuals legs when the apron portion is releasably secured to the individual&#39;s waist by securement strap  22 , as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     The leg protector members  20  include upper leg protector member portions  24  which do not extend completely about the individual&#39;s legs. The leg protector members also include lower leg protector member portions  26  integrally connected to the upper leg protector member portions which extend substantially completely about the individual&#39;s legs. Each of the lower leg protector member portions has distal ends  28  positionable behind or in back of the individual&#39;s legs, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, for example. In FIG. 3, one of the lower leg protector member portions  26  is in place on a leg while the other lower leg protector portion  26  is being manually manipulated prior to placement thereof about a leg. 
     Resilient securement means are connected to the lower leg protector member portions to releasably maintain the distal ends  28  thereof in position in back of the individual&#39;s leg to releasably secure the lower leg protector member portions to the individual&#39;s legs. 
     More particularly, the resilient securement means comprises a deformable, curved strip of material having an elastic memory connected to each of the lower leg protector member portions  26 . The strips are of identical construction and are illustrated in FIGS. 4A,  4 B and  5 , identified by reference numeral  30 . Each of the lower leg protector member portions  26  defines a channel or receptacle  32  extending between the distal ends  28  thereof. One strip  30  is positioned in the receptacle of each of the lower leg protector member portions. 
     The strips  30  may suitably be constructed of plastic. The strips are deformable and the plastic or other material of which they were made has an elastic memory. FIG. 4A shows the normal position assumed by a strip  30 . The strip  30  includes straight end segments  34  and a curved intermediate segment  36  between the straight end segments. The strips are of integral construction. 
     When the protective garment  10  is fully in place on the individual as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the straight end segments are positioned in back of the knees of the wearer. This placement adds to the comfort of the wearer since the strips  30  are not in a position to interfere with bending of the knees. That is, since the straight end segments are closer to the back of the knee than would be the case if the strips were perfectly round, the strips will not be in a position where they are likely to be pinched between the upper leg and the lower leg when bending occurs. 
     This strip configuration also performs the important task of positively holding the leg protector members in place and keeping them from shifting. 
     Placement of the leg protector members on the leg is simplicity itself, the individual merely pulling the free ends of lower leg protector member portions and the strips associated therewith away from one another, as shown with respect to one of the lower protector member portions in FIG. 3, and allowing the strips to return to their normal configuration after such placement has occurred. Removal of the leg protective members is also very simple, the wearer merely having to grasp the fronts of the leg protector members and pull them forwardly. The flexible strips  30  will readily be pulled open due to engagement with the wearer&#39;s legs to allow removal of the lower leg protector member portions from the legs.