Saw protection

Abstract

A protective clothing (100) comprising saw protective layering regions (110) comprising saw protection filler material, wherein said saw protective layering regions (110) has at least one reinforced section (120). A reinforced section (120) is also disclosed comprising saw protection filler material, said reinforced section (120) arranged to be removably arranged to protective clothing (100).

Claims

1. A protective clothing comprising: a saw protective layering region comprising a plurality of saw protection filler material layers, the saw protection filler material layer comprising loosely arranged fibers that are permitted to be drawn out when coming in contact with a moving chain blade of a chainsaw; and a reinforced section disposed on an external side of the saw protective layering region relative to a body of a user when wearing the protective clothing, the reinforced section being positioned to be aligned with a joint of the user when wearing the protective clothing, the reinforced section having an internal side adjacent to the saw protective layering region; wherein the reinforced section comprises: a lining layer disposed on the internal side of the reinforced section, a plurality of additional saw protection filler material layers disposed external to lining layer, the additional saw protection filler material layers also comprising loosely arranged fibers that are permitted to be drawn out when coming in contact with a moving chain blade of a chainsaw, the additional saw protection filler material layers adding to a rigidity of the reinforced section relative to the saw protective layering region, and a water repellant shell material layer disposed external to the plurality of additional saw protection filler material layers to protect the plurality of additional saw protection filler material layers of the reinforced section from wetness and humidity; wherein the lining layer, the plurality of additional saw protection filler material layers, and the water repellant layer are sewn together to form at least a portion of the reinforced section.

2. The protective clothing to claim 1, wherein said saw protective layering region has a substantially uniform thickness and wherein the plurality of additional saw protection filler material layers of the reinforced section are thicker than the saw protection filler material layer of the saw protective layering region.

3. The protective clothing according to claim 1, wherein said reinforced section is removably arranged on the saw protective layering region.

4. The protective clothing according to claim 3, wherein said reinforced section is arranged to be insertable into a pocket on the saw protective layering region.

5. The protective clothing according to claim 1, wherein said reinforced section is removably fastened to the saw protective layering region through the use of buttons or a hook-and-loop fastening means.

6. The protective clothing according to claim 1, wherein the protective clothing is saw protection trousers and the reinforced section is arranged over a knee area of said saw protection trousers.

7. The protective clothing according to claim 1, wherein the protective clothing is saw protection chaps and the reinforced section is arranged over a knee area of said saw protection chaps.

8. The protective clothing according to claim 1, wherein the protective clothing is a protective jacket or arm chaps.

9. A protective clothing comprising: a saw protective layering region comprising a saw protection filler material layer, the saw protection filler material layer comprising loosely arranged fibers that are permitted to be drawn out when coming in contact with a moving chain blade of a chainsaw; and a reinforced section affixable to an external side of the saw protective layering region relative to a body of a user when wearing the protective clothing, the reinforced section being positioned to be aligned with a joint of the user when wearing the protective clothing, the reinforced section having an internal side adjacent to the saw protective layering region; wherein the reinforced section comprises: a lining layer disposed on the internal side of the reinforced section; a plurality of additional saw protection filler material layers disposed external to the lining layer, the additional saw protection filler material layers also comprising loosely arranged fibers that are permitted to be drawn out when coming in contact with a moving chain blade of a chainsaw, the additional saw protection filler material layers adding to a rigidity of the reinforced section relative to the saw protective layering region; and a water repellent shell material layer disposed external to the plurality of saw protection filler material layers to protect the plurality of additional saw protection filler material layers of the reinforced section from wetness and humidity; wherein the lining layer, the plurality of additional saw protection filler material layers, and the water repellant layer are sewn together to form at least a portion of the reinforced section; and wherein said reinforced section is removable from the saw protective layering region.

10. The protective clothing according to claim 9 further comprising a spacer layer; and wherein the water repellent shell material layer is disposed external to a spacer layer.

11. The reinforced section according to claim 9 comprising a spacer layer, the spacer layer having a rigid structure.

12. A protective clothing comprising: a saw protective layering region comprising a first layer of saw protection filler material, the first layer of saw protection filler material comprising a layer of loose fibres that are permitted to be drawn out when coming in contact with a moving chain blade of a chainsaw; and a reinforced section disposed an external side of the saw protective layering region relative to a body of a user when wearing the protective clothing, the reinforced section being positioned to be aligned with a joint of the user when wearing the protective clothing, the reinforced section comprising: one or more additional layers of saw protection filler material, the one or more additional saw protection filler material layers also comprising loosely arranged fibers that are permitted to be drawn out when coming in contact with a moving chain blade of a chainsaw, the one or more additional saw protection filler material layers adding to a rigidity of the reinforced section relative to the saw protective layering region; and a water repellant shell material layer disposed external to the plurality of additional saw protection filler material layers relative to a body of a user when wearing the protective clothing, the water repellant shell material being configured to protect the one or more additional saw protection filler material layers of the reinforced section from wetness and humidity; wherein the one or more additional saw protection filler material layers and the water repellant layer are sewn together to form at least a portion of the reinforced section; and wherein the saw protection filler material of the first layer of the saw protective layering region is formed of a same material as the saw protection filler material of the one or more additional layers of saw protection filler material.

13. The protective clothing of claim 12, wherein the loose fibres are para-aramid fibres.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

(1) The invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying figures wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of prior art protective clothing;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of protective clothing according to one embodiment of the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic exploded view of a reinforced section according to one embodiment of the invention; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a front view of a protective clothing according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of prior art protective clothing, in this example protective trousers 10. The trousers are shown both in a front view (FV) and a rear view (RV) and they are of a design type A as can be seen as the fronts of the legs are reinforced by a protective layering regions 11 extending over the front of the legs of the trousers 10. The extent of the protective layering is only an example and as would be apparent to a skilled person the protective layering could have other shapes, forms and extents, possibly extending all round the legs and also the buttocks of the trousers as per higher design types. For other types of protective clothing, such as jackets, chaps, vests, arm protectors, show protectors etc other forms, shapes and extents of the protective layering is possible. A “chaps” or “pair of chaps” is construed as a garment comprising portions that separately cover at least a substantial part of the legs of the wearer. The chaps may have an open crotch area thus comprising two separate leg covers, or comprising leg covers that are attached to one another at the crotch are thereby providing protection also in the crotch area.

(7) The protective layering regions 11 comprises sections of filler material that may be attached to a shell as has been disclosed in the above for enclosing the filler material and protecting it from wetness and humidity. The prior art protective layering regions 11 is of a substantially uniform thickness.

(8) As has been discussed in the above, the inventors have realized that when the user bends a joint for example a knee, such as when operating in awkward positions or climbing, areas of the protective layering regions 11 may become taut in areas protecting and the protective capability may then be reduced. In FIG. 1 such areas are indicated by dashed circles. These circles only indicate example areas and actual areas may differ in size and position. For example, for tight trousers, the areas may extend higher up on the thighs, and/or lower down over the chins—at least partially. Various shapes and placements of such areas are therefore possible especially for different types of clothing.

(9) FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of protective clothing according to an embodiment, in this example protective trousers 100. The trousers are shown both in a front view (FV) and a rear view (RV) and they are of a design type A and the fronts of the legs are reinforced by a protective layering regions 110 extending over the front of the legs of the trousers 100.

(10) The inventors have realized that the protective capability of the filler material in the protective layering regions 110 may be maintained (or even increased) even when a protected joint, such as a knee, is bent by simply and elegantly adding to the filler material layering of in such areas.

(11) To maintain the flexibility and weight of the protective clothing at substantially the same level, the inventors have realised that the saw protective layering only needs to be improved in the areas that become taut when bent.

(12) In FIG. 2 two reinforced sections 120 are shown, one covering each respective knee area of the trousers 100.

(13) The reinforced sections 120 may be reinforced for added protective capabilities by adding more saw protection layers to the protective layering, for example by adding 2 more layers. In one embodiment 1 to 5 more layers are added. one embodiment 2 to 4 more layers are added. one embodiment 2 or 3 more layers are added.

(14) The added layers may have a same thickness as per the non-reinforced sections, which provides for simpler material handling and acquisition during production.

(15) The added layers may alternatively or additionally have a different thickness as per the non-reinforced sections, which provides for fewer layers needed to be added during production. The reinforced sections 120 may thus also or alternatively be reinforced for added protective capabilities by adding to the thickness of the protective layering in such areas.

(16) The added layers may alternatively or additionally have a longer length of the fibres in the filler material as per in the non-reinforced sections.

(17) The added layers may alternatively or additionally have a different orientation of the fibres in the filler material as per in the non-reinforced sections.

(18) The reinforced sections thus comprise more filler material than other areas of the saw protective layering regions, whether by a higher thickness, by additional layers or by longer fibres (or other manner of increasing the amount of filler material that may be used). The reinforced sections are thus mainly reinforced by having more filler material than other areas of the protective layering regions.

(19) FIG. 3 shows a schematic exploded view of a reinforced section 120. In this example embodiment the reinforced section 120 has an additional two protective layers 122, 123.

(20) The inventors further realized that adding more (and/or thicker) layers will also serve to provide added protection to the joint such as when standing on a knee, the added layering serving as a cushioning knee (or other joint) pad. To improve the cushioning effect, a spacer layer 124 may also be added to the reinforced section 120. The spacer layer 124 may be made of polyester or other suitable materials. As the spacer is relatively rigid in its structure, at least compared to the filler material, it carries an additional benefit in that as it is prone to keep its form even when it is bent, it will help to preserve the form of the reinforced section 120 thereby possibly preventing the saw protection or filler material from becoming as taut.

(21) In one embodiment, at least one of the reinforced sections are provided in the form of a joint pad to be added to the protective clothing.

(22) The joint pad may be added to the protective clothing by being removably inserted into a pocket of the protective clothing.

(23) The joint pad may be alternatively be added to the protective clothing by being sown onto or into (for example under the shell layer) of the protective clothing.

(24) FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a front view of a protective clothing 100, in this example trousers, where a pocket 140 is arranged to cover the areas that become taut when bent, in this example the knee areas. A joint pad 130 is also shown in FIG. 4 and the joint or, in this example, knee pad 130 is to be inserted into the one of the pockets 140 as is illustrated by the dashed arrow.

(25) By arranging the reinforced sections 120 as a joint pad that can be inserted and/or removed, the reinforcement becomes both optional and replaceable. The joint pad can thus be replaced if it is damaged without having to replace the whole trousers.

(26) In one embodiment the joint pad 130 is arranged in a pocket by itself and simply attached to the reinforced area for example using fastening means like buttons, hook-and-loop-fastening means (such as Velcro™), zippers or other manners of removably fastening a pad to clothing.

(27) Arranging the reinforced sections 120 as a replacable pad thus has many benefits.

(28) As has been mentioned above, the joint pad may also be sown to the protective clothing, possibly under an outer shell, becoming part of the protective clothing. This ensures that the joint pad stays in its intended position during use and also ensures that the pads are kept in place if contact should be made with a chainsaw chain.

(29) Alternatively, both a removably joint pad and an attached joint pad may be arranged on the protective clothing.

(30) Furthermore, the inventors have also realized that by selecting the shell layer 125 of the reinforced section as being a water repellent (or water proof) material, and preferably a stretch material, such as NAME OF MATERIAL, the joint may also be protected against wetness or humidity.

(31) The reinforced section 120 may thus be arranged in one embodiment as one or more saw protective layers 122, 123, a spacer layer 124 and a water repellent shell material 125 that are sown (or otherwise attached) to a lining layer 121.

(32) The reinforced section 120 may also be arranged in one embodiment as one or more saw protective layers 122, 123 and a water repellent shell material 125 that are sown (or otherwise attached) to a lining layer 121.

(33) The reinforced section 120 may thus be arranged in one embodiment as one or more saw protective layers 122, 123, and a spacer layer 124 that are sown (or otherwise attached) to a lining layer 121.

(34) As has been noted above, the protective clothing 100 is merely exemplified as being saw protective trousers, but may also be protective vests, chaps, jackets, arm chaps, shoe covers or other protective clothing.

(35) The invention has mainly been described above with reference to a few embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended patent claims.