MULTILAYER CHILD'S JACKET CONFIGURED TO AVOID IMPEDING EFFECTIVENESS OF VEHICLE CHILD SAFETY SEAT

Abstract

In one aspect, a multilayer jacket wearable by a child comprises an outer jacket layer made from a first, compressible material and an inner jacket layer made from a second material that is either non-compressible or significantly less compressible than the first material. The jacket includes a pair of layer interconnection fasteners configured to fasten together anterior panels of the respective jacket layers. Each fastener is situated on a respective side of a vertical jacket midline along a line from a first respective point at or near a bottom edge of the jacket to a respective shoulder of the jacket. The fasteners are sufficiently spaced to accommodate between them a fastened child safety seat harness when the outer jacket layer is open and portions of the anterior panel of the outer jacket layer are folded open at the respective fasteners.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/154,235 filed on Feb. 26, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference hereinto.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to garments for children, and more particularly to a multilayer child's jacket configured to avoid impeding the effectiveness of a vehicle child safety seat.

BACKGROUND

Young children traveling by automobile are required to be secured in a vehicle child safety seat (also referred to as a “child vehicle safety seat,” “child safety seat,” “child restraint system,” or simply “car seat”). Car seats typically employ a harness system to keep the child securely in place within the seat even upon rapid vehicle deceleration.

It can be dangerous for children secured in car seats to wear thick, cold weather outerwear made from a compressible material, such as down or synthetic fiber-filled jackets. Although the thickness of the material may render it effective as a heat insulator, the compressibility of the thick material may impede the effectiveness of the car seat. More specifically, the harness may be rendered less effective for keeping a child in place within the seat during sudden deceleration. The reason is that, despite perhaps appearing to be snugly fitted around a jacketed child's torso, the harness of the car seat may actually only be snug against the outer surface of the jacket's compressible material. In reality, a gap may exist between the harness and the torso of the child, the gap being occupied by the thick compressible material.

In the event of sudden vehicle deceleration, the inertia of the child's body may carry the body of the child forward towards the harness of the car seat, quickly compressing the jacket's thick compressible material to its limit, in which state it may be quite thin. By the time the child's body has been truly caught by the harness, the compression of the material may have allowed the child's body to move forward, outside of the safe area of the car seat, increasing the risk of harm to the child. Such a scenario may impede safe use of the car seat, similarly to a hypothetical situation in which a child wearing no jacket were seated in a car seat with the harness improperly adjusted to have too much slack.

This poses a significant challenge in cold weather when children require outerwear garments in order to stay warm when traveling to, in, and from the automobile.

SUMMARY

In one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a multilayer jacket wearable by a child using a vehicle child safety seat having a harness, comprising: an outer jacket layer made from a first, compressible material, the outer jacket layer comprising two arm sleeves, a posterior panel configured to cover a posterior side of a child's torso, and an anterior panel configured to cover an anterior side of the child's torso, the anterior panel being openable along a vertical midline by way of an outer jacket layer fastener; an inner jacket layer made from a second material, the second material being thinner than the first material, the second material being either non-compressible or compressible to a significantly lesser extent than the first material, the inner jacket layer comprising two arm sleeves, a posterior panel configured to cover a posterior side of the child's torso, and an anterior panel configured to cover an anterior side of the child's torso, the anterior panel of the inner jacket layer being openable along a vertical midline by way of an inner jacket layer fastener; and a pair of layer interconnection fasteners configured to fasten the anterior panel of the inner jacket layer to the anterior panel of the outer jacket layer, each of the layer interconnection fasteners being situated on a respective side of the vertical midline of the inner jacket layer along a line from a respective point at or near a bottom edge of the multilayer jacket to a respective shoulder of the multilayer jacket, the pair of layer interconnection fasteners being sufficiently spaced apart to accommodate between them a vehicle child safety seat harness fastened against the anterior panel of the inner jacket layer when the multilayer jacket is worn by a child with the inner jacket layer being closed, the outer jacket layer being open, and portions of the anterior panel of the outer jacket layer being folded open.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a multilayer jacket wearable by a child using a vehicle child safety seat having a harness, comprising: an outer jacket layer made from a thick, compressible, heat insulating material, the outer jacket layer including an anterior panel configured to cover an anterior side of the child's torso, the anterior panel being openable along a vertical midline by way of an outer jacket layer fastener; an inner jacket layer made from a thin material, thinner and less compressible than the thick material, the inner jacket layer including an anterior panel configured to cover an anterior side of the child's torso, the anterior panel of the inner jacket layer being openable along a vertical midline by way of an inner jacket layer fastener; and a pair of layer interconnection fasteners configured to fasten the anterior panel of the inner jacket layer to the anterior panel of the outer jacket layer, each of the layer interconnection fasteners being situated on a respective side of the vertical midline of the inner jacket layer along a line from a point at or near a bottom edge of the multilayer jacket to a respective shoulder of the multilayer jacket, the pair of layer interconnection fasteners being sufficiently spaced apart to accommodate between them the vehicle child safety seat harness fastened against the anterior panel of the inner jacket layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the figures which illustrate example embodiments,

FIG. 1 is a front view of an example multilayer child's jacket in an assembled and fastened state;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the multilayer jacket of FIG. 1 in the assembled and fastened state;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the multilayer jacket of FIG. 1 with an outer jacket layer being unfastened and folded open to reveal a fastened anterior panel of an inner jacket layer;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the multilayer jacket as in FIG. 3 being held by a harness 330 of a car seat;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the inner jacket layer of the multilayer jacket of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the inner jacket layer of the multilayer jacket of FIG. 1,

FIG. 7 is a front view of an outer jacket layer of an alternative embodiment of multilayer jacket;

FIG. 8 is a front view of an inner jacket layer of the alternative embodiment of multilayer jacket;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are close-up views of two portions of the inner jacket layer of FIG. 8;

FIG. 9 is a rear view of the inner jacket layer of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a front view of the alternative embodiment of multilayer jacket of FIGS. 7 and 8 during its assembly;

FIG. 11 is a front view of part of a sled used to test the performance of a car seat restraining a child-sized crash test dummy wearing a multilayer jacket;

FIG. 12 is a graph showing G forces acting upon the head of a child-sized crash test dummy restrained in a car seat without a multilayer jacket during an impact;

FIG. 13 is a graph showing G forces acting upon the chest of a child-sized crash test dummy restrained in a car seat without a multilayer jacket during an impact;

FIG. 14 is a graph showing the G forces acting upon the head of a child-sized crash test dummy restrained in a car seat wearing a multilayer jacket during an impact; and

FIG. 15 is a graph showing the G forces acting upon the chest of a child-sized crash test dummy restrained in a car seat wearing a multilayer jacket during an impact.

DESCRIPTION

For clarity, in this document, the following terms are used interchangeably: “exterior layer” and “outer jacket layer”; “inner layer” and “inner jacket layer”; “anterior” and “front”; and “posterior” and “back”. The term “compressible material” may refer to a highly compressible material, i.e. a material that can be compressed to a small fraction of its resting thickness, such as a down or synthetic fiber-filled jacket. The term “non-compressible material” may be considered to include minimally compressible material, i.e. material that is slightly compressible (e.g. thin fleece material) or compressible to a significantly lesser extent than the “thicker compressible material”. The term “bottom” may be used to refer to an area at or near a waist or hem of a jacket. The term “top” may be used to refer to an area at or near a neck or shoulder region of a jacket.

FIGS. 1 and 2 depict an example multilayer child's jacket 100 (a form of garment), in front and rear view, respectively. The example jacket 100 has two layers: an outer jacket layer 200 and an inner jacket layer 300. Each jacket layer 200, 300 has a basic jacket shape, including panels for covering a child's torso and sleeves for the child's arms. When interconnected and used together as described herein, the two jacket layers 200 and 300 cooperate to allow a child to be safely harnessed into a vehicle child safety seat, without impeding the effectiveness of the child safety seat, while keeping the child warm even in cold temperatures.

The outer jacket layer 200 is made from a thick, compressible material, such as down, feather, or synthetic fiber filling within a fabric shell, to provide heat insulation. The outer jacket layer 200 includes two sleeves 202 and 204 and a panel 206 covering the entire posterior side of the child's torso (see FIG. 2). The outer jacket layer 200 further has a panel 208 covering the anterior side of the child's torso (see FIG. 1) that opens along a vertical midline on the anterior side of the torso by way of a fastener 210, such as a zipper. The fastener 210 may be referred to as an outer jacket layer fastener 210. When fastener 210 is fastened, the outer jacket layer 200 is said to be closed. Conversely, when fastener 210 is unfastened, the outer jacket layer 200 is said to be open.

The outer jacket layer 200 is open at the neck area, i.e. has a neck hole. The example outer jacket layer 200 of FIGS. 1 and 2 lacks a collar. As will be appreciated, the omission of a collar from the outer jacket layer 200 may help to reduce a risk of impeding proper operation of the car seat. In particular, the lack of collar on the outer jacket layer 200 may limit the risk of undesirable trapping of thick, compressible collar material between a car seat harness and a shoulder of the occupant, which could impede proper operation of the car seat for similar reasons as those referenced in the background section above.

The inner jacket layer 300 is perhaps best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, which depict the inner jacket layer 300, in front and rear view, respectively, in isolation from the outer jacket layer 200. The inner jacket layer 300 is made of thinner and/or non-compressible material. In this context, the term “thinner” is understood to be relative to a thickness of the material from which the outer jacket layer 200 is made. The compressible material from which the outer jacket layer 200 is made may accordingly be described as “thicker compressible material” because it is thicker than the material from which the inner jacket layer 300 is made.

The inner jacket layer 300 has two arm sleeves 302 and 304, a panel 306 covering the posterior side of the child's torso (see FIG. 6), and a panel 308 covering the anterior side of the child's torso that opens along a vertical midline on the anterior side of the torso by way of a fastener 310 such as a zipper (see FIG. 5). The fastener 310 may be referred to as an inner jacket layer fastener 310. When fastener 310 is fastened, the inner jacket layer 300 is said to be closed. Conversely, when fastener 310 is unfastened, the inner jacket layer 300 is said to be open.

The inner jacket layer 300 also has a collar 312. In this embodiment, the collar 312 is attached (e.g., fixedly coupled) to a hood 314.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the jacket 100 is shown in an assembled state, with the inner jacket layer 300 being nested within the outer jacket layer 200 and being fastened to the outer jacket layer 200 using a mechanism that is described below in connection with FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 3, a front view of the jacket 100 in an assembled state is depicted. In FIG. 3, the outer jacket layer 200 is open, i.e. the fastener 210 of outer jacket layer 200 has been unfastened. The example fastener 210 is accordingly separated into two constituent, complementary fastener halves 210A, 210B, which may be zipper halves.

On each side of the vertical torso midline, a portion 208A or 208B of the anterior panel 208 has been folded open laterally away from the vertical torso midline, forming an anterior opening 240 in the outer jacket layer 200 with a generally rectangular shape. The underlying inner jacket layer 300, which is closed (i.e. its fastener 310 is fastened), is exposed at anterior opening 240.

The inner jacket layer 300 is fastened to the outer jacket layer 200 by two layer interconnection fasteners 510 and 512, such as zippers, on the anterior side of the child's torso. The layer interconnection fasteners 510, 512 run substantially vertically from the bottom or waist of the jacket 100 to the shoulder and are situated on either side of the child's navel, i.e. on each side of the vertical torso midline. Put another way, each layer interconnection fastener 510, 512 extends along a line from a bottom edge of the multilayer jacket 100 to a respective shoulder of the multilayer jacket 100. The point need not be exactly at the bottom edge of the jacket but rather may be near the bottom edge of the jacket. The line may be a straight line but is not necessarily so. The lateral position of each layer interconnection fastener 510, 512 is between the vertical torso midline and the anterior superior iliac spine, which is the portion of the pelvis that visibly protrudes on the anterior surface of the body of some people. As used herein, the term “layer interconnection fastener” refers to a fastener used to interconnect different layers of a jacket.

The flaps 208A, 208B fold open about their respective layer interconnection fasteners 510, 512. The layer interconnection fasteners 510, 512 accordingly define the lateral edges of the anterior opening 240 of FIG. 3.

The layer interconnection fasteners 510, 512 are positioned with enough lateral separation distance between them to accommodate a fastened harness of a car seat. This is depicted in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 shows the jacket 100 as in FIG. 3 being held by the harness 330 of a car seat, as it would appear when a child wearing the jacket 100 is strapped into the car seat. The harness 330 has two straps 332, 334 and a buckle 336 for holding the straps 332, 334 together. Each strap 332, 334 passes over a respective shoulder area 320 of the child. Because the shoulder area 320 is not covered by the thick, compressible material of the outer jacket layer 200, the harness straps 332, 334 can be made to snugly contact the non-compressible material of the inner jacket layer 300. Moreover, because the outer jacket layer 200 lacks a collar, the risk of thick, compressible collar material becoming trapped under the straps 332, 334 at the shoulder area 320 is minimized or eliminated.

The anterior opening 240 in the outer jacket layer 200 is sufficiently wide to accommodate the fastened harness 330. Accordingly, the harness straps 332, 334 can be safely fastened against the non-compressible material of the closed inner jacket layer 300 and secured tightly against the child's torso, without any slack and without trapping thick, compressible outer layer material between themselves and the child. Moreover, the fastened layer interconnection fasteners 510, 512 prevent cold air from entering between the inner jacket layer 300 and outer jacket layer 200. This keeps the child warm despite the fact that the thick outer jacket layer 200 is open.

The inner jacket layer 300 can be separated from the outer jacket layer 200 by unfastening each of the layer interconnection fasteners 510, 512, e.g. into constituent halves in the case of a zipper. This permits the inner jacket layer 300 to be worn independently from the exterior layer, as a light jacket for example (see e.g. FIGS. 5 and 6). It will be appreciated that the inner jacket layer 300 may have fastener halves 510A, 512A attached to the outwardly facing surface of its anterior panel 308 on either side of the vertical torso midline. It will further be appreciated that each fastener half 510A, 512A may be positioned between the vertical torso midline and the anterior superior iliac spine, so as to align with a respective complementary fastener half (not expressly depicted) on an inner surface of outer jacket layer 200. The complementary fastener halves may be affixed to an inner surface of the anterior panel 208 of the outer jacket layer 200 in alignment with the fastener halves 510A, 512A.

In the present embodiment, inner jacket layer 300 has a collar 312 with a hood 314 attached (e.g., fixedly coupled) to the collar 312 (see e.g. FIG. 5). The hood 314 is wearable by a child regardless of whether the inner jacket layer 300 is being worn independently or whether the inner jacket layer 300 is being worn in combination with the outer jacket layer 200. When not being worn, the hood 314 may hang at the posterior of the child's torso.

Although the layer interconnection fasteners 510, 512 are described above as possibly being zippers, other forms of fasteners could be used as layer interconnection fasteners for any embodiment described in this document:

1. Hook & Loop/Velcro

PROS: Easy for children to use themselves/Efficient for parents

CONS: Loud/Possibly decreasing durability and effectiveness over time

2. Buttons

PROS: Aesthetically intriguing

CONS: Inefficient (time-consuming) for parents/Difficult for children to use themselves/Doesn't offer complete closure to external elements (e.g., wind)

3. Snaps

PROS: Somewhat efficient for parents/Somewhat easy for children to use themselves

CONS: Wear & tear over time/Not as easy or efficient as a zipper/Doesn't offer complete closure to external elements (e.g., wind)

4. Magnets

PROS: Easy for children to use themselves/Efficient for parents

CONS: Could stick to other metal objects in the car or car seat (e.g., the buckle on the harness)/Unknown health effects of wearing magnets on child's torso for extended periods

5. Bungee Loops

PROS: Aesthetically intriguing

CONS: Wear & tear over time/Inefficient (time-consuming) for parents/Difficult for children to use themselves/Doesn't offer complete closure to external elements (e.g. wind)

When the layer interconnection fasteners 510 or 512 are zippers, it is possible that the zippers may be designed to fasten (i.e. close) by pulling a zipper slider from top to bottom, i.e. shoulder to waist. This is so that the possibly bulky metallic zipper slider will be situated at the jacket waist when the layers 200, 300 are interconnected. If the zipper were to conversely zip from bottom to top, it is possible that the location of the slider when zipped, at the shoulder area 320, could create a risk of the slider becoming trapped under harness strap 332 or 334, which may be uncomfortable for a child. In some embodiments, however, a bottom-to-top zipper closing direction may be acceptable, e.g. when the zipper does not risk being trapped under a harness strap or when the zipper slider is not bulky.

While jackets with independently wearable removable liners do exist, the location where the described jacket 100 fastens the two layers is believed to be novel, both in its design and its application for safety when used with a harness system in a child vehicle safety seat. Additionally, the combination of the two layers with the exterior layer having no collar is believed to be novel and enhances the safety functionality for use with a harness system in a child vehicle safety seat.

In one aspect, there is provided a multilayer jacket wearable by a child using a vehicle child safety seat having a harness, comprising:

an outer jacket layer made from a thick, compressible material, the outer jacket layer comprising two arm sleeves, a posterior panel configured to cover a posterior side of a child's torso, and an anterior panel configured to cover an anterior side of the child's torso, the anterior panel being openable along a vertical midline by way of an outer jacket layer fastener;

an inner jacket layer made from a thin, non-compressible material, the inner jacket layer comprising two arm sleeves, a posterior panel configured to cover a posterior side of the child's torso, and an anterior panel configured to cover an anterior side of the child's torso, the anterior panel of the inner jacket layer being openable along a vertical midline by way of an inner jacket layer fastener; and

a pair of layer interconnection fasteners configured to fasten the anterior panel of the inner jacket layer to the anterior panel of the outer jacket layer, each of the layer interconnection fasteners being situated on a respective side of the vertical midline of the inner jacket layer along a line from a bottom edge of the multilayer jacket to a respective shoulder of the multilayer jacket, the pair of layer interconnection fasteners being sufficiently spaced apart to accommodate between them a vehicle child safety seat harness fastened against the anterior panel of the inner jacket layer when the multilayer jacket is worn by a child with the inner jacket layer being closed, the outer jacket layer being open, and portions of the anterior panel of the outer jacket layer being folded open.

In another aspect, there is provided a garment wearable by a child using a harness system for a child vehicle safety seat, comprising:

(1) a thicker exterior layer, made of compressible material, comprised of two arm sleeves, a panel covering the entire posterior side of the child's torso, a panel covering the anterior side of the child's torso that opens along a vertical midline on the anterior side of the torso by way of a fastener (such as a zipper), and is open at the neck area; and

(2) an inner layer, made of thinner and/or non-compressible material, comprised of two arm sleeves, a collar fixedly coupled to a hood, a panel covering the posterior side of the child's torso, and a panel covering the anterior side of the child's torso that opens along a vertical midline on the anterior side of the torso by way of a fastener such as a zipper;

wherein:

the inner layer is fastened to the exterior layer (for example, though not necessarily, by a zipper) on the anterior side of the child's torso, by fasteners positioned with enough distance between them to fit a harness, one on each side of the child's navel, between the child's navel and hip bone, running vertically from the bottom of garment to the shoulder, so that the inner layer can be entirely separated from the exterior layer and worn independently from the exterior layer; and

when both layers of the garment are being worn by a child using a harness system for a child vehicle safety seat, the anterior opening on the exterior layer can receive one or more harness straps which can safely be fastened against the closed inner layer of the garment, allowing the straps to be secured tightly against the child's torso, without any slack; and

the hood, fixedly coupled to a collar on the interior layer, is wearable by a child when either the interior layer is worn independently or when the interior layer is worn in combination with the exterior layer, and can otherwise hang in the posterior of the child's torso when not being worn.

Another embodiment of multilayer jacket 1100 for a child is shown, in a disassembled state, in FIGS. 7, 8, 8A, 8B, and 9. The jacket 1100 has an outer jacket layer 1200 (shown in FIG. 7) and an inner jacket layer 1300 (shown in FIGS. 8, 8A, 8B, and 9).

FIG. 7 is a front view of the outer jacket layer 1200 of multilayer jacket 1100 in an opened (unzipped) state. Like outer jacket layer 200 described above, the outer jacket layer 1200 of FIG. 7 has two sleeves 1202 and 1204, a panel 1206 for covering a posterior side of a child's torso, and a panel 1208 for covering an anterior side of the child's torso when the jacket is closed (zipped) by way of a zipper 1210 (a form of outer jacket layer fastener). Like outer jacket layer 200, the outer jacket layer 1200 is collarless and is made from a thick, compressible, heat-insulating material.

In FIG. 7, the zipper 1210 is unzipped, i.e., separated into two zipper halves 1210A and 1210B. The left side (from the wearer's perspective) of the outer jacket layer 1200 is folded open in FIG. 7 to reveal the inner surface of the anterior panel 1208.

A layer interconnection fastener half 1512B is affixed to the inner surface of the anterior panel 1208. In the present embodiment, the layer interconnection fastener half 1512B is one half of a separating zipper and thus may be referred to as a “zipper half.” The zipper half 1512B is situated for alignment with a complementary zipper half 1512A on an outer surface of the inner jacket layer 1300, described below.

The zipper half 1512B of FIG. 7 includes a tape portion 1520, a set of multiple zipper teeth 1522 disposed along the edge of tape 1520, a pin 1524, and a stop 1526. The tape portion 1520 is affixed (e.g., sewn) to the inner surface of panel 1208. In the present embodiment, the tape 1520 is affixed so that the zipper teeth 1522 of the layer interconnection zipper half 1512B point towards the vertical jacket midline when the outer jacket layer 1200 is zipped. This orientation may facilitate layer interconnection/separation, e.g., as a child wears the inner jacket layer 1300. As shown in FIG. 7, the layer interconnection zipper half 1512B and the outer jacket layer zipper half 1210B are parallel in the present embodiment, with the former being shorter than the latter. The interconnection zipper half 1512B and the outer jacket layer zipper half 1210B are not necessarily parallel in alternative embodiments.

A second layer interconnection fastener half 1510B (depicted in dashed lines in FIG. 7), similar to fastener 1512B, is affixed to the inner surface of the anterior panel 1208 in mirror image to fastener half 1512B. The spacing between the layer interconnection zipper half 1510B and the outer jacket layer zipper half 1210A is similar to that between the layer interconnection zipper half 1512B and outer jacket layer zipper half 1210B.

To promote robust inter-attachment of the outer jacket layer 1200 to the inner jacket layer 1300, the outer jacket layer 1200 further includes a set of additional fasteners 1230-1, 1230-2, 1230-3, and 1230-4 (generically or collectively fastener(s) 1230) disposed at the cuffs and neck of the garment. In the present embodiment, each of the fasteners 1230 is a snap loop fastener.

As shown in detail for fastener 1230-1 only, each snap loop fastener 1230 (FIG. 7) includes a strip 1232 of material with a male snap portion 1234 and a complementary female snap portion 1236, both disposed on the same face of the strip 1232. A proximal end of the strip 1232 is attached (e.g., sewn) to the inside of cuff 1203 so that, when the strip 1232 is bent back on itself and the snap portions 1234 and 1236 are mated, the snap loop fastener 1230 does not protrude beyond an edge of the cuff 1203. This design may keep the snap loop fastener 1230 safely stowed and out of sight when in that state. The other fasteners 1230-2, 1230-3, and 1230-4 are comparable to fastener 1230-1.

The placement of the two snap loops 1230-4 and 1230-5 at the back of the neck area at either side of the change midline may be designed to reduce or eliminate a gap between the two jacket layers 1200 and 1300. This may in turn limit heat loss at the neck area. Moreover, the reduced or eliminated neck area gap between layers may promote safety by limiting a risk that the neck area of the outer jacket layer 1200 will become snagged on an external object or grabbed by another child.

The inner jacket layer 1300 of multilayer jacket 1100 is depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9 in front and rear view, respectively, in a closed (zipped) state. In many respects, the inner jacket layer 1300 is similar to inner jacket layer 300 described above. For example, the inner jacket layer 1300 has two sleeves 1302 and 1304, a panel 1306 covering the posterior side of the child's torso (see FIG. 9), and a panel 1308 for covering an anterior side of the child's torso when the jacket is closed (zipped) by way of a zipper 1310 (a form of outer jacket layer fastener—see FIG. 8). The inner jacket layer 1300 also has a collar 1312 that is fixedly coupled to a hood 1314. Like inner jacket layer 300, the inner jacket layer 1300 is made from a material that is thinner and less compressible than the material from which the outer jacket layer 1200 is made.

A pair of layer interconnection fastener halves 1510A, 1512A is situated on the exterior face of the anterior panel 1308 of the inner jacket layer 1300 on either side of the vertical torso midline. Each layer interconnection fastener half 1510A, 1512A extends along a line from a point near the bottom edge of the inner jacket layer 1300 to a respective shoulder area of the inner jacket layer 1300. The point be could at the bottom edge of the jacket in alternative embodiments. The lateral separation distance between the layer interconnection fastener halves 1510A, 1512A, which may be approximately 8 to 8.5″ in some embodiments, should generally be sufficient to accommodate a fastened harness of a standard car seat. The size (e.g., length) and positioning of the fastener halves 1510A, 1512A results in their alignment with the complementary fastener halves 1510B, 1512B, respectively, of the outer jacket layer 1200 (described above in connection with FIG. 7) when the jacket layers are nested.

In the present embodiment, each layer interconnection zipper half 1510A, 1512A is lapped. As used herein, the term “lapped” means substantially covered or hidden by a lap (also referred to as a “flange”) of adjacent material, such as a seam allowance. Laps may be used for a variety of reasons. A first reason may be to protect the zipper halves 1510A, 1512A from being damaged or snagged on an external object should the inner jacket layer 1300 be worn without the outer jacket layer 1200 or during washing. A second reason may be aesthetics. A third reason may be to discourage a child from playing with and possibly damaging the zipper sliders (described below).

In FIG. 8, the right side (from the wearer's perspective) zipper half 1510A has a lap 1530, and the left side layer interconnection zipper half 1512A has a lap 1550. For clarity, the middle portion of lap 1550 has been lifted (i.e., bent towards the viewer) in FIG. 8 to reveal structures of underlying zipper half 1512A. It will be appreciated that the lap 1550 normally lays flat in a similar manner as lap 1530 is depicted in FIG. 8.

The upper and lower portions of zipper half 1510A are depicted in enlarged, close-up view in FIGS. 8A and 8B respectively. The structure of the other layer interconnection zipper half 1512A is similar.

As illustrated in FIG. 8A, the zipper half 1510A includes a tape portion 1532, a set of multiple zipper teeth 1534 disposed along the edge of tape 1532, and a stop 1536 at the top of the zipper half. In the present embodiment, the tape 1532 is affixed (e.g., sewn) to the exterior of the anterior panel 1308 of inner jacket layer 1300 so that the teeth 1534 of the layer interconnection zipper half 1510A point away from the vertical jacket midline. By virtue of this orientation, the set of zipper teeth 1534 will face the set of zipper teeth of the complementary layer interconnection zipper half 1510B of the outer jacket layer 1200, described above, when the jacket layers 1200 and 1300 are nested. This may facilitate zipping together of the layer interconnection fastener halves 1510A, 1510B to form fastened zipper 1510. In FIGS. 8A and 8B, the side of the lap 1530 towards which the teeth 1534 point is open.

Referring to FIG. 8B, a zipper slider 1538 having a pull 1540 is situated just above a retainer box 1542. It will be appreciated that the slider 1538, pull 1540, retainer box 1542, tape 530, and teeth 1534 are all covered by lap 1530 in this embodiment.

Referring again to FIG. 8, it will be appreciated that the other zipper half 1512A is a mirror image of zipper half 1510A relative to the vertical jacket midline. In the present embodiment, the layer interconnection zipper half 1512A and the zipper 1310 are parallel, but this is not strictly required. The spacing between zipper 1310 and the other layer interconnection zipper half 1510A is similar but in mirror image.

Referring to FIG. 9, to promote robust inter-attachment of the outer and inner jacket layers 1200 and 1300, the inner jacket layer 1300 incorporates a set of four fastener anchors 1250-1, 1250-2, 1250-3, and 1250-4 (generically or collectively fastener anchors(s) 1250). These fastener anchors 1250 are positioned so as to align with the four respective snap loop fasteners 1230 of the outer jacket layer 1200, described above. In the present embodiment, each of the fastener anchors 1250 is a loop of fabric sewn into a seam.

Assembly of the multilayer jacket 1100 from outer jacket layer 1200 and inner jacket layer 1300 is depicted in FIG. 10. The inner jacket layer 1300 may initially be nested within the outer jacket layer 1200. The layer interconnection zipper halves 1512A and 1520B may then be zipped together to form a closed zipper 1512. This may be done by inserting a pin of layer interconnection zipper half 1512B into a retaining box of zipper half 1512A and pulling the slider 1558 upwardly. In FIG. 10, the layer interconnection zipper halves 1510A and 1510B have already been similarly joined to form a closed layer interconnection zipper 1510.

To complete multilayer jacket 1100 assembly, a free end of each snap loop fastener 1230 may be passed through the corresponding, aligned fastener anchor fabric loop 1250. The male and female snap portions 1234 and 1236 of each snap loop 1230 may be mated to secure the fastener 1230 to the corresponding fastener anchor 1250.

On Dec. 9, 2021, a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 (FMVSS 213) regulation sled test was conducted. The test was arranged to demonstrate that an example embodiment of the multilayer jacket 1100 does not interfere with the safe operation of a child safety seat during a crash. In particular, the test was intended to demonstrate that a child safety seat holding a child wearing the jacket 1100 would comply with FMVSS 213. As is known in the industry, FMVSS 213 is a set of U.S. federal vehicle regulations specifying design, construction, performance, and durability requirements for child safety seat. Compliance with such regulations may also indicate compliance with similar federal regulations of other jurisdictions, such as the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) of Canada.

The test involved the use of a track-mounted sled 1595 having two bench seats, which is intended to simulate a vehicle with two passenger seats. Two child safety seat (car seats) were attached to the two bench seats respectively in a conventional manner. One of the child safety seats 1600, referred to as the “test seat,” was used to restrain a crash test dummy 1602 wearing multilayer jacket 1100. The other child restraint system, referred to as the “control seat” (not depicted), restrains a crash test dummy wearing a shirt without any jacket.

The test seat 1600 used for the test is shown in FIG. 11 in front view. As illustrated, the child safety seat 1600 is attached to one bench seat 1597 of the sled 1595 in a conventional manner. The child safety seat 1600 holds a child crash test dummy 1602 wearing example multilayer jacket 1100 in an assembled state with the inner jacket layer 1300 closed and the outer jacket layer 1200 open. The outer jacket layer fastener 1210 has been separated into two zipper halves 1210A and 1210B. Anterior panel portions 1208A and 1208B have been folded open to create an anterior opening exposing the underlying inner jacket layer 1300. The layer interconnection fasteners 1510 and 1512 of multilayer jacket 1100 are both fastened. For the test, a size 2 jacket was used.

In FIG. 11, the dummy wearing the multilayer jacket 1100 has been strapped into the child safety seat 1600 by way of a car seat harness 1330. The harness 1330 includes two straps 1332, 1334 and a buckle 1336 for holding the straps 1332, 1334 together. The straps are suitably adjusted so that the fastened harness 1330 is in snug contact with the minimally compressible or incompressible material of the inner jacket layer 1300 covering the front central torso area of the dummy between layer interconnection fasteners 1510 and 1512. In the control seat, the same type of crash test dummy as in FIG. 11 is similarly restrained, but the dummy is not wearing any jacket.

FIGS. 12 and 13 depict respective graphs 1700 and 1710 showing the G forces acting upon the head and chest, respectively, of the crash test dummy in the control seat of sled 1595 during an impact. In each of FIGS. 12 and 13, the vertical axis represents G force, and the horizontal axis represents time, which is measured in milliseconds in this example.

In FIG. 12, a computed head injury criterion (HIC) value is indicated in the graph with the preceding label “HIC 36:”. As is known in the industry, the HIC is a value representing a likelihood of head injury during an impact based on G forces measured during the impact. Lower HIC values generally corresponding to less risk of injury. When the impact test was conducted upon sled 1595, the computed HIC for the dummy in the control seat was 365, which is within acceptable limits specified by FMVSS 213.

In FIG. 13, a computed “Clip” value is indicated in the graph with the preceding label “Clip:”. As is known in the industry, “clip” is a value representing how well the buckle 1336 of the harness performs during an impact. Lower values for this parameter generally correspond to less risk of injury. When the impact test was conducted upon sled 1595, the computed clip value for the dummy in the control seat was 54, which is within acceptable limits specified by FMVSS 213.

FIGS. 14 and 15 depict respective graphs 1720 and 1730 showing the G forces acting upon the head and chest, respectively, of the crash test dummy 1602 in the test seat 1600 (see FIG. 11) of the same sled 1595 during the same impact that resulted in graphs 1700 and 1710. The conventions in FIGS. 14 and 15 are the same as in FIGS. 12 and 13 respectively.

Notably, the computed HIC value for the multilayer jacket-wearing crash test dummy 1602 of FIG. 14 was 321. Not only was this value within acceptable limits specified by FMVSS 213, but the value also represents an improvement in HIC compared with the non-jacket wearing dummy for the same impact (see FIG. 12). Referring to FIG. 15, the computed clip value for the multilayer jacket-wearing crash test dummy 1602 was 46, which is also within acceptable limits specified by FMVSS 213. Indeed, the latter clip value of 46 represents a notable improvement from the clip value of 54 experienced by the non-jacket wearing dummy for the same impact (see FIG. 13).

The foregoing test results are considered to demonstrate that the example multilayer jacket 1100 did not impede an effectiveness of the vehicle child safety seat 1600. The improvement in both HIC and clip values in comparison to an identical impact using the same type of child safety seat for a dummy not wearing any jacket was an unexpected favorable result. Advantageously, wearing of the multilayer jacket 1100 as described promotes safe use of the child safety seat 1600 while avoiding unnecessary exposure of the child to cold temperatures, as might occur if a child's jacket were fully removed before the child were restrained in the seat 1600 in cold ambient temperatures.

Various alternative embodiments are possible.

The fasteners 1230 and complementary fastener anchors 1250 depicted in FIGS. 7 and 9 respectively could be reversed, i.e., the fasteners 1230 could be attached to the inner jacket layer 1300 and the fastener anchors 1250 could be attached to the outer jacket layer 1200.

Although the fasteners 1230 and complementary fastener anchors 1250 depicted in FIGS. 7 and 9 respectively are snap loops and fabric loops respectively, alternative fasteners and complementary anchors could be used. These may include, e.g., hook-and-loop fasteners separated into their complementary halves; buttons and complementary buttonholes; snaps separated into their complementary halves; and complementary magnet pairs. The number and placement of these fasteners and fastener anchors may vary between embodiments.

The hood 314 or 1314 is shown as being permanently affixed to the respective inner jacket layer 300 or 1300 (e.g., by being sewn together). In some embodiments, the hood of the inner jacket layer 300 or 1300 may be removable at collar 312 or 1312, respectively. Fasteners used to facilitate this feature could include zippers, velcro, snap loops, buttons, snaps, magnets.

The sleeves 202, 204 and 1202, 1204 on the example outer jacket layers 200 and 1200 are permanently affixed to the body of the outer jacket layer (e.g., by being sewn together). In an alternative embodiment, the sleeves of the exterior jacket layer may be removable, allowing the outer jacket layer 200 or 1200 to be worn in the style of a vest. Fasteners used to facilitate this feature could include zippers, hook and loop fasteners (e.g. Velcro™), snap loops, buttons, snaps, or magnets.

The sleeves 302, 304 and 1302, 1304 on the example inner jacket layers 300 and 1300 are permanently affixed to the body of the inner jacket layer (e.g., sewn together). In an alternative embodiment, the sleeves of the interior jacket layer may be removable, allowing the interior jacket layer 300 or 1300 to be worn in the style of a vest. Fasteners used to facilitate this feature could include zippers, hook and loop fasteners (e.g. Velcro™), snap loops, buttons, snaps, magnets.

Claims

1. A multilayer jacket wearable by a child using a vehicle child safety seat having a harness, comprising:

an outer jacket layer made from a first, compressible material, the outer jacket layer comprising two arm sleeves, a posterior panel configured to cover a posterior side of a child's torso, and an anterior panel configured to cover an anterior side of the child's torso, the anterior panel being openable along a vertical midline by way of an outer jacket layer fastener;

an inner jacket layer made from a second material, the second material being thinner than the first material, the second material being either non-compressible or compressible to a significantly lesser extent than the first material, the inner jacket layer comprising two arm sleeves, a posterior panel configured to cover a posterior side of the child's torso, and an anterior panel configured to cover an anterior side of the child's torso, the anterior panel of the inner jacket layer being openable along a vertical midline by way of an inner jacket layer fastener; and

a pair of layer interconnection fasteners configured to fasten the anterior panel of the inner jacket layer to the anterior panel of the outer jacket layer, each of the layer interconnection fasteners being situated on a respective side of the vertical midline of the inner jacket layer along a line from a respective point at or near a bottom edge of the multilayer jacket to a respective shoulder of the multilayer jacket, the pair of layer interconnection fasteners being sufficiently spaced apart to accommodate between them a vehicle child safety seat harness fastened against the anterior panel of the inner jacket layer when the multilayer jacket is worn by a child with the inner jacket layer being closed, the outer jacket layer being open, and portions of the anterior panel of the outer jacket layer being folded open.

2. The multilayer jacket of claim 1 wherein each of the pair of layer interconnection fasteners is a layer interconnection zipper comprising two complementary zipper halves, one of the layer interconnection zipper halves being affixed to an outer surface of the inner jacket layer, the other of the layer interconnection zipper halves being affixed to an inner surface of the outer jacket layer.

3. The multilayer jacket of claim 2 wherein the layer interconnection zipper half affixed to the outer surface of the inner jacket layer is lapped.

4. The multilayer jacket of claim 2 wherein the layer interconnection zipper half affixed to the outer surface of the inner jacket layer and the layer interconnection zipper half affixed to the inner surface of the outer jacket layer have respective sets of zipper teeth that face one another when the outer jacket layer and the inner jacket layer are nested.

5. The multilayer jacket of claim 1 wherein the outer jacket layer is collarless.

6. The multilayer jacket of claim 5 wherein the inner jacket layer has a collar with an attached hood.

7. The multilayer jacket of claim 1 further comprising:

a set of additional layer interconnection fasteners disposed on one of the outer jacket layer and the inner jacket layer; and

a set of complementary layer interconnection fastener anchors disposed on the other of the outer jacket layer and the inner jacket layer for alignment with the respective layer interconnection fasteners upon nesting of the outer jacket layer and the inner jacket layer.

8. The multilayer jacket of claim 7 wherein each of the additional layer interconnection fasteners is a snap loop fastener and wherein each of the additional layer interconnection fastener anchors is a loop of fabric.

9. The multilayer jacket of claim 7 wherein at least two of the additional layer interconnection fasteners are disposed at a neck area of the multilayer jacket.

10. A multilayer jacket wearable by a child using a vehicle child safety seat having a harness, comprising:

an outer jacket layer made from a thick, compressible, heat insulating material, the outer jacket layer including an anterior panel configured to cover an anterior side of the child's torso, the anterior panel being openable along a vertical midline by way of an outer jacket layer fastener;

an inner jacket layer made from a thin material, thinner and less compressible than the thick material, the inner jacket layer including an anterior panel configured to cover an anterior side of the child's torso, the anterior panel of the inner jacket layer being openable along a vertical midline by way of an inner jacket layer fastener; and

a pair of layer interconnection fasteners configured to fasten the anterior panel of the inner jacket layer to the anterior panel of the outer jacket layer, each of the layer interconnection fasteners being situated on a respective side of the vertical midline of the inner jacket layer along a line from a point at or near a bottom edge of the multilayer jacket to a respective shoulder of the multilayer jacket, the pair of layer interconnection fasteners being sufficiently spaced apart to accommodate between them the vehicle child safety seat harness fastened against the anterior panel of the inner jacket layer.

11. The multilayer jacket of claim 10 wherein each of the pair of layer interconnection fasteners is a layer interconnection zipper comprising two complementary zipper halves, one of the layer interconnection zipper halves being affixed to an outer surface of the inner jacket layer, the other of the layer interconnection zipper halves being affixed to an inner surface of the outer jacket layer.

12. The multilayer jacket of claim 11 wherein the layer interconnection zipper half affixed to the outer surface of the inner jacket layer is lapped.

13. The multilayer jacket of claim 11 wherein the layer interconnection zipper half affixed to the outer surface of the inner jacket layer and the layer interconnection zipper half affixed to the inner surface of the outer jacket layer have respective sets of zipper teeth that face one another when the outer jacket layer and the inner jacket layer are nested.

14. The multilayer jacket of claim 10 wherein the outer jacket layer is collarless.

15. The multilayer jacket of claim 14 wherein the inner jacket layer has a collar with an attached hood.

16. The multilayer jacket of claim 10 further comprising:

a set of additional layer interconnection fasteners disposed on one of the outer jacket layer and the inner jacket layer; and

a set of complementary layer interconnection fastener anchors disposed on the other of the outer jacket layer and the inner jacket layer for alignment with the respective layer interconnection fasteners upon nesting of the outer jacket layer and the inner jacket layer.

17. The multilayer jacket of claim 16 wherein each of the additional layer interconnection fasteners is a snap loop fastener and wherein each of the additional layer interconnection fastener anchors is a loop of fabric.

18. The multilayer jacket of claim 16 wherein at least two of the additional layer interconnection fasteners are disposed at a neck area of the multilayer jacket.