PROTECTIVE PADDED GARMENTS

Abstract

A protective garment system is disclosed. The protective garment system may include a plurality of chest padding, a plurality of abdominal padding, a plurality of lateral padding, a plurality of back padding, a plurality of hip padding, a plurality of upper leg padding, a plurality of knee padding, a plurality of lower leg padding, an exemplary upper garment, an exemplary lower garment, a plurality of padding filler, an exemplary headwear and a plurality of head padding. The plurality of padding may be disposed on the plurality of exemplary articles of clothing so as to provide a comfortable wearing experience and to protect the most vulnerable portions of the human body. A user may wear at least one of exemplary articles of clothing on their body for everyday use. Then if the user experienced a fall, the plurality of padding would reduce the risk of serious injury by absorbing the shock and or impact of the fall.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to protective padded garments and, more particularly, to everyday wear that can reduce the risk of injury for individuals, especially those with a much higher risk of being seriously injured from a fall.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year approximately one-third of people 65 and older suffer a fall each year; one out of five such falls causes a serious injury such as a head trauma or fracture; over 2 million older adults are treated in emergency departments for nonfatal fall injuries each year; and direct medical costs for fall injuries total over $28 billion annually.

Falls are the bane of older adults for many reasons. Besides degenerative physical deterioration, many elderly suffer from osteoporosis, which is a condition that is characterized by a decrease in bone mass and density which can lead to an increased risk of fracture.

There are a variety of non-elderly adults, too, for whom commonplace falls pose dangerous consequences as well as hamper the ability to lead active, independent lives. Such as individuals on anticoagulants, people with diabetes, individuals with varicose veins or any other ailments that prevent normal wound healing. What these individuals have in common is that if they fell or bumped into an object it can develop into a hematoma or wound that will need long term medical intervention.

Currently shock absorbable technology in garments is geared to the vagaries of sports activity or is for cosmetic enhancement and not geared for everyday use, which in turn requires such garments to be washable, comfortable and appropriate for meeting dress codes or otherwise socially acceptable.

As can be seen, there is a need for garments that reduces the risk of serious injury when the user experiences a fall or other collision.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a protective garment system comprises: an upper garment of material configured for wear by a human on the torso thereof, wherein the upper garment forms a plurality of upper padding regions shaped to compliment portions of the torso and back region of a wearer; a plurality of pocket sheets of material anchored to the upper garment forming a plurality of padding cavities between the plurality of upper padding regions and the plurality of pocket sheets; and a plurality of padding received in the plurality of padding cavities between the upper garment and the plurality of pocket sheets, whereby the human wearer would be socially appropriate for all types of indoor and outdoor activity.

In another aspect of the present invention, a protective garment system comprising, a lower garment of material configured for wear by a human on the lower portion thereof, wherein the lower garment forms plurality of lower padding regions shaped to compliment portions of the lower half of a wearer; a plurality of pocket sheets of material anchored to the lower garment forming a plurality of padding cavities between the plurality of lower padding regions and the plurality of pocket sheets; and a plurality of padding received in the plurality of padding cavities between the lower garment and the plurality of pocket sheets.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a section detail view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention along line 4-4 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5: shows a front and back view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a protective garment system. The protective garment system may include a plurality of chest padding, a plurality of abdominal padding, a plurality of lateral padding, a plurality of back padding, a plurality of hip padding, a plurality of upper leg padding, a plurality of knee padding, a plurality of lower leg padding, an exemplary upper garment, an exemplary lower garment, a plurality of padding filler, an exemplary headwear and a plurality of head padding. The plurality of padding may be disposed on the plurality of exemplary articles of clothing so as to provide a comfortable wearing experience and to protect the most vulnerable portions of the human body. A user may wear at least one of exemplary articles of clothing on their body for everyday use. Then if the user experienced a fall, the plurality of padding would reduce the risk of serious injury by absorbing the shock and or impact of the fall.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, the present invention may include a protective garment system 100. The protective garment system 100 may include a plurality of chest padding 10, a plurality of abdominal padding 12, a plurality of lateral padding 14, a plurality of back padding 16, a plurality of hip padding 18, a plurality of upper leg padding 20, a plurality of knee padding 22, a plurality of lower leg padding 24, an exemplary upper garment 26, an exemplary lower garment 28, a plurality of padding filler 30, an exemplary headwear 32 and a plurality of head padding 34.

The exemplary upper garment 26 may include a shirt, top, sweater, and the like. The exemplary lower garment 28 may include pants, trousers, shorts and the like. The exemplary headwear 32 may include hats, caps, and the like.

The plurality of padding filler 30 may be made of material that is machine-washable, holds a formed shape and absorbs impact forces such as foam, gel, polymers, combinations thereof, and the like.

The plurality of exemplary articles of clothing 26, 28, 32 may be waterproof making them wearable in wet conditions, such as the shower, which poses a high risk for slips and falls, especially for the elderly who tend to suffer from declining balance and vision. The plurality of exemplary articles of clothing 26, 28, 32 may be made of material that is aesthetically pleasing, such as cotton, polyester, silk, nylon, spandex, denim, wool, khaki, and the like, so that the resulting protective garment system 100 would be socially appropriate for all types of indoor and outdoor activity.

The plurality of padding 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 34 may include the plurality of padding filler 30 housed in a plurality of padding cavities 40 disposed along portions of each the plurality of exemplary articles of clothing 26, 28, 32. The plurality of padding cavities 40 may be disposed along the inner or outer lining of the plurality of exemplary articles of clothing 26, 28, 32 so as to maintain the overall aesthetic appealing look and feel thereof. The plurality of padding cavities 40 may be formed by a plurality of padding sheets 42 affixed to portions the plurality of exemplary articles of clothing 26, 28, 32 coinciding with the plurality of padding 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 34. The plurality of padding sheets 42 may be anchored to portions of the plurality of exemplary articles of clothing 26, 28, 32 by sewing and or using adhesives. In certain embodiments, the plurality of padding 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 34 may be heat-transferred onto the exemplary articles of clothing 26, 28, 32.

The plurality of padding 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 34 may be disposed on the plurality of exemplary articles of clothing 26, 28, 32 so as to provide a comfortable wearing experience and to protect the most vulnerable portions of the human body, such as but not limited to the ribs, hip, thighs, knees, and anterior portions of the shins.

The plurality of head padding 34 may extend along a portion of the exemplary headwear 32. The plurality of head padding 34 may be dimensioned and adapted to protect the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital of the human head.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. The protective garment system 100 disclosed above may be provided. A user may wear at least one of the exemplary articles of clothing 26, 28, 32 on their body for everyday use. Then if the user experienced a fall, the plurality of padding 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 34 may reduce the risk of serious injury by absorbing the shock and or impact of the fall. In certain embodiments, the user may wear at least one of the plurality of exemplary articles of clothing 26, 28, 32 on their body for showering so that if they were able to slip.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A protective garment system comprising:

an upper garment of material configured for wear by a human on the torso thereof, wherein the upper garment forms a plurality of upper padding regions shaped to compliment portions of the torso and back region of a wearer;

a plurality of pocket sheets of material anchored to the upper garment forming a plurality of padding cavities between the plurality of upper padding regions and the plurality of pocket sheets; and

a plurality of padding received in the plurality of padding cavities between the upper garment and the plurality of pocket sheets,

whereby the human wearer would be socially appropriate for all types of indoor and outdoor activity.

2. The protective garment system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of upper padding regions are disposed on the chest, abdominal and latissimus dorsi region.

3. The protective garment system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of padding is heat-transferred onto the plurality of upper padding regions.

4. The protective garment system of claim 1, further including a lower garment of material configured for wear by the human on the lower portion thereof, comprising:

a plurality of lower padding regions shaped to compliment portions of the lower half of the wearer;

a plurality of pocket sheets of material anchored to the lower garment forming a plurality of padding cavities between the plurality of lower padding regions and the plurality of pocket sheets; and

a plurality of padding received in the plurality of padding cavities between the lower garment and the plurality of pocket sheets.

5. The protective garment system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of lower padding regions are disposed on the hip, upper leg, knee and lower leg region.

6. The protective garment system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of padding is heat-transferred onto the plurality lower padding regions.

7. The protective garment system of claim 4, further including a garment headwear of material configured for wear by the human on the head thereof, comprising:

a plurality of headwear padding regions shaped to compliment the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital region of the wearer;

a plurality of pocket sheets of material anchored to the garment headwear forming a plurality of padding cavities between the plurality of headwear padding regions and the plurality of pocket sheets; and

a plurality of padding received in the plurality of padding cavities between the garment headwear and the plurality of pocket sheets.

8. A protective garment system comprising,

a lower garment of material configured for wear by a human on the lower portion thereof, wherein the lower garment forms plurality of lower padding regions shaped to compliment portions of the lower half of a wearer;

a plurality of pocket sheets of material anchored to the lower garment forming a plurality of padding cavities between the plurality of lower padding regions and the plurality of pocket sheets; and

a plurality of padding received in the plurality of padding cavities between the lower garment and the plurality of pocket sheets.

9. The protective garment system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of lower padding regions are disposed on the hip, upper leg, knee and lower leg region.

10. The protective garment system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of padding is heat-transferred onto the plurality lower padding regions.

11. The protective garment system of claim 8, further including a garment headwear of material configured for wear by the human on the head thereof, comprising:

a plurality of headwear padding regions shaped to compliment the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital region of the wearer;

a plurality of pocket sheets of material anchored to the garment headwear forming a plurality of padding cavities between the plurality of headwear padding regions and the plurality of pocket sheets; and

a plurality of padding received in the plurality of padding cavities between the garment headwear and the plurality of pocket sheets.

12. A protective headwear, comprising,

a garment headwear of material configured for wear by a human on the head thereof, comprising:

a plurality of headwear padding regions shaped to compliment the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital region of the wearer;

a plurality of pocket sheets of material anchored to the garment headwear forming a plurality of padding cavities between the plurality of headwear padding regions and the plurality of pocket sheets; and

a plurality of padding received in the plurality of padding cavities between the garment headwear and the plurality of pocket sheets.

13. The protective headwear of claim 12, wherein the material is waterproof.

14. The protective headwear of claim 12, wherein the plurality of headwear padding is heat-transferred onto the plurality of headwear padding regions.