High Visibility Waterproof Vest

Abstract

A waterproof, high visibility vest having vest body having a right front portion, a left front portion, and a back portion defining an exterior surface and an inner surface. The right front portion, the left front portion and the back portion are arranged to define a neck opening and a right arm hole and a left arm hole. Each of the right front portion and left front portion have a parallel vertical edge. A continuous fastener is positioned along the edges to allow the closure of the front portions. The vest body being constructed from waterproof material. At least one inner waterproof pocket, also constructed from waterproof material, is affixed to the inner surface of the vest body. A plurality of strips of reflective material are affixed to the exterior surface of the vest body in a manner to provide high visibility.

Description

REFERENCE TO PENDING APPLICATIONS

This application does not claim the benefit of any issued U.S. patent or pending application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is generally directed toward a high-resolution safety garment, more specifically to a high-resolution safety vest.

BACKGROUND

High-visibility clothing, sometimes known as “hi-viz”, is any clothing worn that has highly reflective properties or a colour that is easily discernible from any background. Occupational wearers of clothing with high-visibility features include railway and highway workers, airport workers, or other places where workers are near moving vehicles or in dark areas. Hi-viz garments commonly utilize highly reflective strips of material, fluorescent yellow or orange coloured material, and/or a combination thereof. An example of a hi-viz clothing would include florescent yellow coats are worn by emergency service workers. Most industrial employers require it as a type of personal protective equipment.

One type of hi-viz clothing is a hi-vis vest that can fit over a workers clothing. This garment allows the worker to comply with safety regulations while on the job site while allowing the hi-viz garment to be removed when not on the site.

The prior art vest is typically constructed from a thin material that provide little to no protection from the elements. Additionally, it is common for workers to carry items such as cell phones, workpapers, and the like with them while on the job site. However, the prior art hi-viz vests provide no ability to store these items. This requires the worker to either not carry such on the site, which is impracticable, or to remove the vest in order to obtain the access to pockets or other storage compartments contained in the other articles of clothing worn by the worker.

Therefore, there is a need to for a safety vest and satisfies the needs as set out above.

SUMMARY

In some aspects, a waterproof, high visibility vest is disclosed. The vest includes a vest body having a right front portion, a left front portion, and a back portion defining an exterior surface and an inner surface. The right front portion, the left front portion and the back portion are arranged to define a neck opening and a right arm hole and a left arm hole. The right front portion and left front portion each have a parallel vertical edge. A continuous fastener, such as a hook and mesh fastener or a zipper, is positioned along the edges to allow for the closure of the front portions. A plurality of strips of reflective material affixed to the exterior surface of the vest body in a manner to provide high visibility.

The vest body is constructed to be waterproof, in that is may be may be constructed from a natural or synthetic fabric that is coated with a waterproofing material, such as rubber, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU), silicone elastomer, fluoropolymers, and wax. Additionally, the vest body may be constructed from a waterproof material such as neoprene.

The vest body also includes at least one inner waterproof pocket affixed to the inner surface of the vest body. The at least one inner waterproof pocket is also constructed from the waterproof material. In those aspects with a plurality of waterproof interior pockets, each of said plurality of interior pockets may be of a different size.

Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view,

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front plan view of an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the interior surface.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the back an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of interior surface of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated by FIGS. 1-4, an embodiment of the inventive vest of the present invention is disclosed. Vest 10 has an exterior surface 17 and an inner surface 19 and includes right and left front portions 14 and 16 respectively and a back portion 15 arranged to define a neck opening 30 and arm holes 24 and 26 respectively. The right and left front portions 14 and 16 have parallel vertical edges 18 and 20. A continuous fastener 22 is positioned along the edges 18 and 20 as will be understood by those skilled in the art. The continuous fastener 22 may be a hook and mesh fastener, a plurality of buttons a zipper, a combination thereof or other suitable fastener that can secure right and left front portions 14 and 16 together. Attached to the exterior surface 17 of vest body 12 are a plurality of strips of reflective material 32 in a manner to provide high visibility.

Vest body 12 is constructed from a waterproof material in order to provide with user with protection from the environment when there is rain or when other water is present. Vest body 12 may be constructed from a natural or synthetic fabric that is coated with a waterproofing material, such as rubber, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU), silicone elastomer, fluoropolymers, and wax. Additionally, vest body 12 may be constructed from a waterproof material such as neoprene.

As best illustrated in FIG. 4, vest body 12 also has a plurality of waterproof pockets 40 affixed to the inner surface 19 of the vest body 12. Each of the pockets 40 are also constructed from waterproof material. In this embodiment, the waterproof material is the same material from which vest body 12 is constructed therefrom. This is illustrative and not meant to be limiting. Those skilled in the art will recognize that pockets 40 and vest body 12 may be made from different waterproof material. Further, in this embodiment, three pockets 40a, 40b and 40c are illustrated, with each pocket 40 being of a different size. In this embodiment, pocket 40a has a dimension that can accommodate workpapers, pocket 40b has a dimension that can accommodate a mobile phone and pocket 40c has a dimension that can accommodate general items. The inclusion of three pockets is also illustrative. Those skilled in the art will recognize that various configurations pockets 40, having various sizes, may be located on the inner surface 19 of vest body 12.

In some embodiments, pocket 40 may be configured to be a patch-style pocket 42 having a flap cover 44. Flap cover 44 may be secured with a continuous fastener, such as hook and mesh fastener such that the interior portion of pocket 40 is waterproof.

In some embodiments, vest body 12 also includes mini-sleeves 28 that extend away from arm holes 24 and 26 respectively. Mini-sleeves 28 are designed to provide additional protection to the user's arms and torso from a wet environment without being constrained by a full sleeve configuration.

In some embodiments, vest body 12 may also include reinforced shoulders to provide more durability. The reinforcement may be created by adding additional material along the shoulders section of vest body 12 and/or overlapping the right and left front portions 14 and 16 with a back portion 15.

While preferred embodiments of the present inventive concept have been shown and disclosed herein, it will be obvious to those persons skilled in the art that such embodiments are presented by way of example only, and not as a limitation to the scope of the inventive concept. Variations, changes, and substitutions may occur or be suggested to those skilled in the art without departing from the intent, scope, and totality of this inventive concept. Such variations, changes, and substitutions may involve other features which are already known per se and which may be used instead of, in combination with, or in addition to features already disclosed herein. Accordingly, it is intended that this inventive concept be inclusive of such variations, changes, and substitutions, and by no means limited by the scope of the claims presented herein.

Claims

1. A waterproof, high visibility vest comprising:

a vest body having a right front portion, a left front portion, and a back portion defining an exterior surface and an inner surface, the right front portion, the left front portion and the back portion arranged to define a neck opening and a right arm hole and a left arm hole, the right front portion and left front portion each having a parallel vertical edge and a continuous fastener positioned along the edges, the vest body being constructed from a waterproof material;

at least one inner waterproof pocket affixed to the inner surface of the vest body, the at least one inner waterproof pocket being constructed from the waterproof material; and

a plurality of strips of reflective material affixed to the exterior surface of the vest body in a manner to provide high visibility.

2. The vest of claim 1, wherein the at least one inner waterproof pocket is further defined as a plurality of waterproof interior pockets, each of said plurality of interior pockets being of a different size.

3. The vest of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of waterproof interior pockets are further defined as being patch pocket having a flap cover.

4. The vest of claim 1, wherein the vest body comprises a natural or synthetic fabric coated with a waterproofing material.

5. The vest of claim 4, wherein the waterproofing material is taken from the group consisting of:

rubber, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU), silicone elastomer, fluoropolymers, and wax.

6. The vest of claim 1, wherein the vest body further comprising a right mini-sleeve extending away from the right arm hole and a left mini-sleeve extending away from the left arm hole.