Patent Publication Number: US-11375760-B2

Title: Safety garment system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Nonprovisional application Ser. No. 15/983,084 filed on May 17, 2018, now abandoned. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of safety garments and more specifically relates to coveralls. 
     Oil and gas well drilling and oil and gas well servicing involve many different types of equipment and materials. Workers in the oil and gas industries face the risk of fire and explosion due to ignition of flammable vapors or gases, along with other risks. Flammable gases, such as well gases, vapors, and hydrogen sulfide, can be released from wells, trucks, production equipment or surface equipment. When an injured person is down, another person willing to save his life will be putting substantially more risk on their own life. Current methods are unsafe for both parties involved. For example, in an emergency situation a rescuer may have to pull on any loose article of clothing of victim in an effort to move from an unsafe situation However, the article of clothing may tear slowing evacuation from the dangerous situation. For a victim it is imperative to get to a fresh air environment as quickly as possible. A suitable and more efficient means for rescuing is desired. 
     The present invention is adapted to provide a wearable safety garment system that appears as a typical work uniform, while having an integrated harness system. The harness system is positioned on an interior side of the garment and operably connected to a first handle and a second handle each disposed on a respective shoulder portions of the garment. The harness system includes a shoulder harness, a front torso harness, and a groin harness. These harnesses cooperatively allow a rescuer to pull the wearer at the handles without risk of the garment tearing or otherwise being ineffective in dragging the wearer from a dangerous situation. 
     In light of the devices disclosed in the known art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements and methods from the known art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement for safety garment systems. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of safety garment systems now present in the known art, the present invention provides a wearable safety garment system that appears as a typical work uniform, while having an integrated harness system. 
     The safety garment system includes a garment having an interior side, an exterior side, a harness, a first handle, and a second handle. The garment is defined by a body having the interior side and the exterior side. The harness system is positioned on an interior side of the garment and operably connected to a first handle and a second handle each disposed on a respective shoulder portion of the garment. The harness system allows a rescuer to pull the wearer at the handles without risk of the garment tearing or otherwise being ineffective in dragging the wearer from a dangerous situation. A pair of patches are removably secured to the first handle and the second handle such that each patch conceals the first handle and the second handle, respectively. Moreover, the shoulder harness is distinct and independent from the front torso harness, such that a size adjustment of either the shoulder harness or the front torso harness does not affect a size adjustment of the other. In this way, pulling of the handle does not cause movement of the harness that is affixed to the garment. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a garment safety system having a harness system integrated with the garment, wherein the harness system is operably connected to a first handle and a second handle each disposed on a respective shoulder portion of the garment. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a garment safety system with a harness system having a shoulder harness, a front torso harness, and a groin harness. The harness system provides secure attachment to the garment, such that pulling of the handles by a rescuer applies a distributed force to the harness system. Thereby, effectively pulling the wearer from a dangerous situation and not causing injury to the wearer during the rescuing act. 
     It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a garment safety system having a pair of patches removably secured to the first handle and the second handle, each patch configured to conceal the first handle and the second handle, respectively. The pair of patches comprise a patch fastener configured to mate with a garment fastener located on the garment and the pair of patches are completely removeable from the garment for use of the first handle and the second handle. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a garment safety system wherein the shoulder harness is distinct and independent from the front torso harness, such that a size adjustment of either the shoulder harness or the front torso harness does not affect a size adjustment of the other. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a front side of an embodiment of the safety garment system. 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a rear side of an embodiment of the safety garment system. 
         FIG. 3  shows a close-up view of the handle of an embodiment of the safety garment system. 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the shoulder portion of an embodiment of the safety garment system with patch attached. 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the shoulder portion of an embodiment of the safety garment system with patch removed. 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of an interior side of the shoulder portion of an embodiment of thee safety garments system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. 
     For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for providing a wearable safety garment system that appears as a typical work uniform, while having an integrated harness system. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiment (s) of the invention. References to “one embodiment,” “at least one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “one example,” “an example,” “for example,” and so on indicate that the embodiment(s) or example(s) may include a feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation but that not every embodiment or example necessarily includes that feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in an embodiment”, “first embodiment”, “second embodiment”, or “third embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a perspective view of a front and rear side of an embodiment of the safety garment system, respectively. The safety garment system  100  comprises a garment  110  having an interior side  112 , an exterior side  116 , a harness or harness system  120 , a first handle  124 , and a second handle  130 . In the illustrated embodiment, the garment  110  is defined by a body having the interior side  112  and the exterior side  116 . In the shown embodiment, the harness system  120  is disposed on an interior side  112  thereof and operably connected to a first handle  124  and a second handle  130  each disposed on a respective shoulder portion  117  of the garment  110 . The first handle  124  and the second handle  130  are configured on the exterior side  116  and are positioned on opposing sides (left and right) at a shoulder portion  117  of the garment  110 . The garment  110  is configured to be used to drag a victim to safety using the harness  120 , the first handle  124 , and the second handle  130 . More handles may be used in alternate embodiments. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the safety garment system  100  includes the garment  110  which may be used for effectively dragging a victim in a life-threatening environment. In one embodiment, the garment  110  is a pair coveralls. The garment  110  may be provided in a summer or winter design for around the year use. The garment  110  further includes a pair of patches  140  configured to be secured on top of both the first handle  124  and the second handle  130  and conceal the first handle  124  and the second handle  130 . In the shown embodiment, the pair of patches  140  are each substantially rectangular. The pair of patches  140  comprise a patch fastener  142  (see  FIG. 3 ) which is configured to mate with a garment fastener  144  located on the garment  110 . The patch fastener  142  and the garment fastener  144  include hook-and-loop fasteners, snap fasteners, or other suitable fastening means. In the shown embodiments of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the garment fastener  144  is positioned around a perimeter of the first handle  124  and the second handle  130  and is configured to receive the patch fastener  142 . In alternative embodiments, the patch and garment fasteners  142 ,  144  may have any shape and configuration for semi-permanently securing the patch  140  to the garment  110 . The patches maintain the handles in a stored configuration and prevent the handles from being accessed, thereby preventing the handle from becoming caught or ensnared on an object when not in use. 
     In the shown embodiment, the harness system  120  comprises a shoulder harness  121  encircling an arm portion  118  of the garment  110 , wherein the shoulder harness  121  is coupled to a lateral end  132  of each the first handle and the second handle  124 ,  130 , respectively. In this way, the shoulder harness  121  is adapted to receive the arm of the wearer therethrough. A front torso harness  122  extends between a groin harness  126  and a medial end  134  of each of the first handle and the second handle  124 ,  130 , respectively. As shown, the groin harness  126  extends between the front torso harness  122  and a groin portion  115  of the garment, wherein the groin harness  126  encircles a leg portion  119  of the garment to provide strength to the garment  110  allowing a rescuer to drag the wearer. 
     In the shown embodiment, the first handle and the second handle  124 ,  130  are each permanently configured on an exterior side  116  of the garment  110 , such that each handle  124 ,  130  are adapted to provide a gripping portion in operation. 
     In one embodiment, the shoulder harness  121  is distinct and independent from the front torso harness  122 , such that a size adjustment of either the shoulder harness  121  or the front torso harness  122  does not affect a size adjustment of the other. In this way, as the rescuer pulls the handles  124 ,  130  so as to drag the wearer of the garment safety system  100 , the shoulder harness  121  and/or the front torso harness  122  remains affixed to the garment  110 . In this way, the pulling force of the rescuer occurs at the shoulder portions  117  and is evenly distributed throughout the garment  110 . In one embodiment, the front torso harness  122 , the rear torso harness  123 , the shoulder harness  121 , and the groin harness  126  are permanently affixed to the garment. In one embodiment, the harness  110  is stitched to the interior side  112  of the garment. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a close-up view of the handle of an embodiment of the safety garment system. In one embodiment, the first handle  124  and the second handle  130  are configured to fold under the patch  140 . The first handle  124  and the second handle  130  are substantially flat on top of a shoulder during non-use. In the shown embodiment, the handles  124 ,  130  comprise a strap having an arc length extending between a lateral end  132  and a medial end  134  of each handle  124 ,  130 . The lateral end  132  of the handles  124 ,  130  is the outer side or distal side thereof. The medial ends  134  of the handles  124 ,  130  are towards the middle of the garment. The arc length of the handles  124 ,  130  is greater than a linear length between the lateral end  132  and medial ends  134  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ). In this way, for the handle  124 ,  130  to lay flat on the shoulder portion  117 , the handles  124 ,  130  are folded onto itself. Therefore, when the patch  140  is secured to the garment  110 , the handles  124 ,  130  lay substantially flat thereunder. 
     In one embodiment, the pair of patches  140  comprise a material which is the same or similar to that of the garment  110 . The pair of patches  140  are removeable from the garment  110  for use of the first handle  124  and the second handle  130 . The patches  140  protect the first handle  124  and the second handle  130  from flash fires and potential snags. 
     In the shown embodiment, the harness system  120  further comprises a rear torso harness  123  comprising a first strap  125  and a second strap  125 B. The first strap  125  extends from a waist portion  127  between a first side  128  of a waist portion of the garment  110  and the first handle  124  disposed on a second side  112  of the garment. The second strap  125 B extends between a second side  129  of the waist portion of the garment and the second handle  130  disposed on a first side  111  of the garment. The first side  111  of the garment and the second side  112  of the garment are disposed on left and right sides of the garment, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, the groin harness terminates at a waist portion of the rear side. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , there is shown a perspective view of the shoulder portion of an embodiment of the safety garment system with patch attached and removed, respectively. In the shown embodiment, a pair of patches  140  are each configured to be removably secured to the first handle  124  and the second handle  130 , such that each patch  140  is configured to conceal the first handle and the second handle, respectively. The pair of patches  140  comprise a patch fastener  142  configured to mate with a garment fastener  144  located on the garment  110 . The pair of patches  140  are completely removeable from the garment  110  for use of the first handle and the second handle  124 ,  130 . 
     In the shown embodiment, the harness  120  is connected to the first handle  124  and the second handle  130 . The first handle  124  and the second handle  130  each comprise the shoulder strap  150  and handle strap  151  include an opening suitable for receiving a hand for dragging the victim to safety using the first handle  124  and the second handle  130 . The first handle  124  and the second handle  130  each comprise a length of flexible material. 
     In one embodiment, the harness  120  is lightweight and is configured to support a weight of the victim. The safety garment system  100  allows a rescuer to drag another person (wearer) to a fresh air environment in a safe and timely manner. The rescuer is able to drag the wearer while walking forward in an upright position, unlike other current methods. The person will have total control of the victim and be able to easily get the person out of a ditch or up/down a set of stairs, when gripping and using the first handle  124  and the second handle  130 . The coveralls will naturally cradle the victim&#39;s neck and head. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a perspective view of an interior side of the shoulder portion of an embodiment of thee safety garments system. In the shown embodiment, the shoulder harness  121  and the front and rear torso harnesses  122 ,  123  are fixed to a shoulder strap  150 . The shoulder strap  150  is sewn directly to the harness  121 ,  122 ,  123 , such that the shoulder strap  150  remains fixed in position relative to the garment and the harnesses  121 ,  122 ,  123 . 
     In the shown embodiment, the first and second handle  124 ,  130  each comprise the shoulder strap  150  and handle strap  151 , wherein the shoulder strap  150  is directly affixed to the shoulder harness  121  and the front torso harness  122 , wherein the handle strap  151  is directly affixed to the shoulder strap  150 . The shoulder strap and handle strap  150 ,  151  form an opening suitable for receiving a hand for dragging a victim to safety, wherein the handle strap  151  a fixed length. The harness  120  is approximately 1-inch wide. 
     Since the handles  124 ,  130  are directly secured to the harness and the harness is affixed entirely to the interior side of the garment, the harness system is adapted to not tension when the pair of patches fastened to the first handle and the second handle, respectively, is uncoupled therefrom. Moreover, when the handles  124 ,  130  are pulled by a rescuer the harness system is adapted to remain affixed to the garment throughout the entire interior side of the garment. In this way, the handle  124 ,  130  position is independent of the position of the harness system  120 . 
     It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.