Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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W098/51175 PCT/FR98/00957
SAFETY CLOTHING FOR PROTECTING THE HUMAN BODY
The invention relates to a safety garment intended for protecting
the human body, which can, in particular, be tailored for protecting the area
of
the head, of the neck, of the chest, of the back, of the spinal column and of
the
limbs, depending on the fields of application.
In order to protect the human body in the head area, very many
types of helmet are known which are tailored to each of their applications,
such as, for example, military helmets, helmets for the pursuit of a sport or
leisure activity, such as riding caps, helmets for skiing/snowboarding,
helmets
for parachuting, helmets for the riders of two-wheeled vehicles, helmets for
the
drivers of four-wheeled vehicles or of power boats, or helmets for preventing
accidents at work. Although these various types of helmet do protect the skull
from the impact of a projectile or from a shock, none of these provides
effective protection against the direct effect in the neck area caused by this
projectile impact or by this shock, which may be irreparable.
Thus, for example, military helmets made of composites are
known. These helmets fulfil their function, of stopping projectiles,
perfectly.
However, they do not have the ability of helmets made of metal sheet to
deform under the effect of the impact and thus to contain some of the energy.
Consequently, the shock on these military helmets made of composites results
in an abrupt movement of the head in the direction of motion of the
projectile,
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leading to traumatism or even to the neck breaking.
Moreover, in the riding field, it is known that, in order to meet
the new standards imposed, riding hats or jockey helmets are manufactured
from a thermoformed plastic outer shell having a thickness of 2 to 3 mm inside
which a polystyrene shell is incorporated. However, the thickness of the
polystyrene shell must be approximately 15 mm in order to meet the
requirements of these new standards, which has the direct consequence of
considerably increasing the external dimensions of the cap or helmet and thus
reducing its appeal to the rider.
Further, protection for vehicle users are known. Like this, for example,
FR 2 719 747 and DE 31 42 962 describe a helmet associated with inflatable
pad for protecting the neck. In FR 2 719 742, the helmet is also associated
with
a protection for the chest and presents a classical structure comprising a
rigid
outer shell made with plastic laden of fibreglass, carbon or equivalent, and a
lower layer.
DE 89 11 519.8 describes a helmet comprising a rigid outer shell, under which
is disposed an inflatable pad, the rigid shell being capable to revolve in
case of
shock, under effect of inflating of the pad.
US 5 535 445 reveals an inflatable protection for protecting exhibited parts
of
the body of a motorcyclist, associated with a conventional helmet.
However, a sufficient puncture and crushing resistance is not proposed by the
solutions of these documents.
In order to protect the human body in the chest and back area,
very many types of vest are known, such as bullet-proof vests, panel-
reinforced vests, padded jackets and lifejackets.
Although these various types of vest provide protection for the
chest from the impact of a projectile or from a shock, or provide buoyancy,
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none of them provides effective protection against the direct effect of the
impact of this projectile or of this shock in the area of the spinal column,
which may be irreparable, while at the same time providing buoyancy, when
required.
The object of the present invention is to provide a safety garment
intended for protecting the head, which has an improved puncture and
crushing resistance and an improved shock-absorbing capacity, which is
thinner than the helmets currently used and which also makes it possible to
limit the cases of paralysis resulting from a shock caused by a fall or an
accident or the impact of a bullet, by protecting the neck.
The object of the present invention is also to provide a safety
garment intended for protecting the chest, the collar bones, the back and the
spinal column, and possibly the limbs, having an improved puncture and
crushing resistance and an improved shock-absorbing capacity, this garment
also making it possible to limit the cases of paralysis resulting from a shock
caused by a fall or an accident or the impact of a bullet, while still being
able
to provide buoyancy, when required.
According to the present invention, these objects are achieved by
a safety garment intended for protecting the human body, which comprises at
least one protective element for protection against shocks, which comprises at
least one protective part comprising:
- a puncture-resistant rigid outer layer, which distributes the energy due to
a
shock, made of a composite consisting of a superposition of layers of
fabric made of highly shock-resistant fibres impregnated with a
thermoplastic resin,
- an energy-absorbing intermediate thickness, arranged at least partially
under
the rigid outer layer, which consists of at least one layer of a material
that absorbs energy with return to the initial position,
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- an lower layer at least arranged at least partially under the energy-
absorbing
intermediate thickness and comprising at least one comfort/hygiene
pad, which consists of a cellular material composed of foam-type
impermeable closed cells and which can follow the shape of the body;
and an inflatable bladder connected to at least one compressed-air
injection system .
The inflatable bladder preferably comprises several
interconnected compartments.
The compressed-air or gas injection system may comprise a
bladder-inflation triggering system which is either of the rip-cord type or of
the type including a pyrotechnic firing pin which reacts to a flyweight or
accelerometer.
The rigid outer layer may have an integrated surface coating.
The energy-absorbing intermediate thickness may consist of two
separate layers, each of these layers being made of a different material that
absorbs energy with return to the initial position.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
the safety garment is of the helmet type.
In this helmet-type embodiment, the safety garment preferably
comprises a protective element consisting of a protective part, having an
essentially hemispherical shape, which includes a rigid outer shell made of a
thermoplastic-matrix multilayer composite, an intermediate shell made of a
material that can absorb energy with return to the initial position, arranged
inside the outer shell and covering the inside of the outer shell apart from a
region lying over approximately three-quarters of the half perimeter in the
rear
lower part of the hemispherical protective part, comfort/hygiene foam pads
placed inside the intermediate shell, and an
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inflatable bladder arranged between the outer shell and the skull in the rear
lower
part of the helmet which does not have the intermediate shell and the
comfort/hygiene pads.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the safety garment is of the vest type.
In this vest-type embodiment, the bladder is preferably arranged
between two thicknesses of comfort/hygiene pads.
This vest-type safety garment will preferably include a front
protective element comprising at least one panel-shaped protective part and an
inflatable bladder, and a rear protective element comprising at least one
panel-
shaped protective part and an inflatable bladder.
By virtue of the present invention, the head and neck will be
protected by a helmet-type safety garment comprising a protective element in
the
form of a hemispherical cap consisting of an energy-distributing rigid outer
shell
which is puncture resistant and crushproof, of an intermediate shell
consisting of
at least one energy-absorbing material, and of an internal comfort fitting,
into
which an inflatable bladder has been incorporated, this inflatable bladder
bearing
on the shoulders after inflation.
It should be noted that in the present description the term "helmet"
signifies any safety garment intended for protecting the head, whatever its
application.
In addition, by virtue of the invention, the chest and spinal column
will be protected by a vest-type safety garment comprising a protective
element
on the front of the chest and a protective element on the back which have
improved puncture resistance and improved damping capacity, into which
protective elements an inflatable bladder has been incorporated, which bladder
will further improve the damping of a shock, this garment allowing complete
freedom of movement.
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The vest-type safety garment according to the present invention
may also be advantageous as a lifejacket in that it provides excellent
buoyancy.
Other embodiments of the safety garment of the present invention
may also be particularly advantageous for protecting other parts of the body,
such
as, for example, the shoulder blades, collar bones, elbows, knees and, in
general,
the limbs.
Other advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the
description.
The invention is described below with the aid of examples and of
references to the appended drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section of a helmet-type safety
garment according to the present invention, with the inflatable bladder folded
up;
- Figure 2 shows an exterior side view of the helmet-type safety
garment shown in Figure l, with the bladder inflated;
- Figure 3 shows a cross-section of another embodiment of a
helmet-type safety garment according to the present invention in which the
left
side is shown with the bladder folded up and the right side is shown with the
bladder inflated;
- Figure 4 shows a vest-type safety garment according to the present
invention, Figure 4a showing a front view of the front protective element
comprising a protective part and Figure 4b showing a front view of the rear
protective element comprising five protective parts;
- Figure Sa shows a front view, as if the front protective part were
transparent, of the front inflatable bladder, and Figure Sb shows a front
view, as if
the five rear protective parts were transparent, of the rear inflatable
bladder; and
- Figure 6 shows, in cross-section along the line A-A, the chest-
protecting element shown in Figures 4a and Sa.
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The helmet-type safety garment shown in Figure 1 comprises a
protective element consisting of a protective part 1 having an essentially
hemispherical shape which includes a rigid outer shell 2 made of a
thermoplastic-
matrix multilayer composite, an intermediate shell 3 made of a material that
can
absorb energy with return to the initial position, arranged inside the outer
shell 2
and covering the inside of the outer shell 2 apart ti-om a region lying over
approximately three-quarters of the half perimeter in the rear lower part of
the
helmet, comfort/hygiene foam pads 4 arranged inside the intermediate shell 3,
and
an inflatable bladder 5 in the folded-up position.
The inflatable bladder 5, folded up in a concertina fashion, consists
of an inflatable ring, comprising three interconnected compartments Sa, Sb and
Sc, which will go around approximately three-quarters of the half perimeter of
the
head, at the rear of the ears, and fits between the composite outer shell 2
and the
skull (not shown) in that rear lower part of the helmet which does not have
the
intermediate shell 3 and the comfort/hygiene pads 4, and which will bear on
the
shoulders and prevent the head from tilting, or at least limit the amount by
which
it tilts, after inflation, as shown in Figure 2.
The construction of the bladder 5 in the form of three
interconnected compartments Sa, Sb and Sc prevents significant extension of
the
bladder in the wrong direction, reduces the effective volume of gas and hence
causes more rapid inflation, and, in particular, increases the effectiveness
of the
bladder and enhances its damping performance.
The bladder 5 is fixed to the shell 2 by a very strong Velcro strip
(not shown) over the entire length of the bladder so as to prevent it from
being
torn off during pressurization.
The bladder 5 is held in the folded-up position by very narrow
Velcro strips 6 of low catching power (only one strip is shown).
The inside of each of the three compartments Sa, Sb and Sc of the
bladder 5 is respectively connected to a compressed-air injection system 7a,
7b
and 7c (not shown) via three ducts, comprising a rear duct 8b and two side
ducts
8a and 8c (not shown).
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These ducts 8a, 8b and 8c are fitted into grooves inside the
intermediate shell 3, one 8b being fitted into the upper part of the helmet
and the
other two, 8a and 8c, being fitted into the right and left lateral parts of
the helmet
on the side of the composite external shell 2, so as to prevent any accidental
deterioration.
The three compressed-air injection systems 7a, 7b and 7c (not
shown) are fitted partially into housings inside the intermediate shell 3 and
are
protected by comfort/hygiene pads 4 so as to avoid any accidental
deterioration,
one of them, 7b, being fitted into the upper part of the helmet and the other
two,
7a and 7c, being fitted into the right and left lateral parts of the helmet,
and they
include a compressed-air capsule and a bladder-inflation triggering system.
It should be noted that a single gas-injection system is sufficient to
inflate the bladder S since the compartments Sa, Sb and Sc (not shown) of the
bladder are interconnected. However, the presence of three injection systems
each
connected to one compartment of the bladder has the advantage of decreasing
the
time to inflate the bladder.
The inflation of the bladder may be triggered either by means of a
rip-cord or by means of a flyweight associated with a pyrotechnic firing pin.
The inflation-triggering system will depend on the field of use of
the helmet.
The system for triggering the inflation of the bladder by means of a
rip-cord comprises an unbreakable rip-cord, for example made of aramid,
connected at one of its ends to a system for opening the compressed-air
capsule
and is connected at the other of its ends to a fixed or reference point, which
will
depend on the field in which the helmet is used, by means of a cotter pin.
It should be understood here that the rip-cord may comprise, on one
side, three cord branches each connected to one of the three systems for
opening
the compressed-air capsule, these three branches coming together to form, on
the
other side, a single cord branch connected to a fixed or reference point as
described previously, so that pulling the cord triggers the simultaneous
opening of
the three compressed-air capsules.
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The cotter pin will have to have a tensile strength greater than the
bottle-opening force.
The length of the cord system will have to be designed so as to give
the wearer the freedom of movement necessary for his profession or his
sporting
activity.
In one type of helmet, especially one suitable for horse riders or
cyclists, the second end of the cord will be connected by means of a suitable
quick-fix device, such as a cotter pin, to a fixed point on the horse or the
cycle,
such as the saddle for example. Should the rider fall off the horse or cycle,
the
tension that will be produced in the cord will pull off the capsule-sealing
system,
and consequently the gas which will flow through the duct to the bladder will
be
released, causing the bladder to inflate before the rider hits the ground.
In another type of helmet, such as the helmet shown in Figure 3 for
example, which comprises a rigid outer shell 2, an intermediate shell 3,
comfort/hygiene pads 4 and three compressed-air injection systems 7a, 7b and
7c
connected to three compartments of the bladder, via three ducts 8a, 8b and 8c,
and
in which the left side is shown with the bladder 5 folded up and the right
side is
shown with the bladder 5 inflated, the bladder-inflation triggering system
comprises flyweights 9 or accelerometers associated with pyrotechnic firing
pins.
This bladder-inflation triggering system operates in the following
manner. Following the impact of a projectile or when subjected to a shock, the
flyweight 9 acts on the pyrotechnic firing pin, causing the gas capsule to
open and
the gas which will flow through the duct 8 to be released into the bladder 5,
thereby causing the bladder to inflate.
After inflation, the bladder 5 will bear on the shoulders, as shown in
the right-hand side of Figure 3, thereby protecting the cervical vertebrae.
As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the comfort layer of the helmets
consists of pad parts 4, of variable thickness, which are fixed to the
intermediate
shell 3 in a suitable arrangement depending on the type of helmet and its
application. This has the advantage of limiting the number of helmet sizes, in
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terms of external dimension, and of allowing good adaptability.
As shown in Figure 2, the helmet includes a visor 10. Lateral
openings 11 are also provided in the rigid outer shell 2 and in the
intermediate
shell 3 in order to make it easier for air to get in and out, and to allow
ventilation
of the scalp.
In addition, it includes a chin strap 12 with a chinpiece 13 so as to
prevent the helmet from being torn off during inflation of the bladder.
The rigid outer shell 2 may comprise a special integrated external
covering, as will be explained later.
A vest-type safety garment according to the present invention will
now be described. The vest shown in Figures 4 and 5 comprises a front
protective
element 14 in the area of the chest and a rear protective element 15 in the
area of
the back.
As shown in Figures 4a and Sa, the front protective element 14
comprises a protective part 16 having the shape of a panel which is slightly
curved towards the rear in order to match the shape of the ribcage and an
inflatable bladder 17 divided into 3 interconnected compartments which are
connected via two ducts 18a to two compressed-air injection systems 19a.
As shown in Figures 4b and Sb, the rear protective element 15
consists of five protective parts 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 in the area of the back,
so as to
allow complete freedom of movement, and of an inflatable bladder 25 divided
into five interconnected compartments which are connected via two ducts 18b to
two compressed-air injection systems 19b.
The five protective parts include an upper central part 20 covering
the dorsal vertebrae, a middle central part 23 covering the lumbar vertebrae
and a
lower central part 24 protecting the coccyx and the sacrum, as well as two
lateral
upper parts 21 and 22 protecting the collar bones, the shoulder blades and the
ribs
down to the floating ribs.
The left and right lateral protective parts 21 and 22 each start from
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the shoulder and go down as far as the last rib, being curved forwards in
order to
match the shape of the ribs.
A vest-type safety garment which includes a single front protective
element comprising a single protective part and a single rear protective
element
comprising five protective parts has been described here. However, it should
be
understood that the vest-type safety garment or other such garments according
to
the present invention may comprise any combination with regard to the number
of
protective elements and the number of protective parts making up this
protective
element.
Referring now to Figure 6, these protective parts comprise a rigid
outer first layer 26 made of a thermoplastic-matrix multilayer composite, an
intermediate thickness consisting of two superposed interlayers 27 and 28 each
consisting of a different material that can absorb energy, these lying beneath
the
rigid outer layer, and two foam comfort/hygiene padding layers or pads 29 and
30
which lie beneath the intermediate thickness and between which the bladder 25
is
arranged.
As may be seen in Figures 4b and Sb, the S protective parts 20, 21,
22, 23, 24 of the rear protective element correspond to the 5 compartments of
the
inflatable bladder 25 with the connecting parts between the compartments of
the
bladder corresponding to the areas lying between the protective parts.
The padding layer 30, lying closest to the body, may include an
internal covering, for example made of textile material.
The ducts 18 will also be placed between two foam layers so as to
avoid any accidental deterioration.
The vest also includes a belt 31 so as to ensure that it stays in place
when inflating the bladders 17 and 25.
The bladder 17 for the front protective element 14 and the bladder
25 for the rear protective element 1 S will be inflated either by a triggering
system
comprising a flyweight and a pyrotechnic firing pin or by a triggering system
comprising a rip-cord connected on one side to the system for opening the
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compressed-air capsule and on the other side either to a fixed or reference
point,
as described previously for the helmet, or to the belt 31 of the vest.
This vest may have applications in the military field, in particular as
a bulletproof or shockproof vest/lifejacket combination garment, the inflated
bladders providing the person wearing the vest with buoyancy. In this case,
the
vest will include a triggering system with a manually triggered rip-cord,
which
will be actuated directly and manually by the wearer should it be necessary,
in
which system one end of the cord is connected to the compressed-air or gas
bottle
and the other end is connected to the vest's belt, and a flyweight-type
triggering
system so as to ensure that the bladders inflate at the moment of impact of a
projectile.
The vest according to the present invention provides additional
safety in terms of its shockproof quality due to the damping provided by the
volume of compressed air or gas contained in the bladders. The garment will
thus
perfectly follow the shape of the body while at the same time acting as a
cushion
and ensuring that the body, in particular the spinal column, is perfectly
supported.
It should be noted that those parts of the protective garment other
than the protective elements may be made of foam, of various textile materials
or
of any material which can be used in making a garment.
The materials used for the various parts of the protective elements
will now be described.
The rigid outer layer 2 of the protective part 1 of the helmet and the
rigid outer layer 26 of the protective parts 16, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 of the
vest,
which are designed to allow masses or shocks to be distributed, are
manufactured
from a high-performance multilayer composite consisting of a superposition of
layers of fabrics made of fibres, with or without discrete reinforcements,
impregnated with a thermoplastic resin.
The fibre/resin ratio, the type of fibres and the type of resin, as well
as the method of weaving or the texture, will be chosen depending on the
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mechanical performance characteristics to be obtained for the product, which
depend on the applications.
Depending on the applications, a composite consisting of a
superposition of layers of fabrics made of glass fibres, carbon fibres or high-
strength fibres such as aramid fibres and polyethylene fibres, or other hybrid
compositions, these being impregnated with a polypropylene-type thermoplastic
resin, with a PEI (polyetherimide) or polyethylene resin, or other
thermoplastic
resins, may, for example, be used.
Composites currently well suited to the manufacture of these rigid
outer layers are TWINTEX (brand name) manufactured by the Vetrotex Group
and TEPEX manufactured by Dupont de Nemours.
However, any other composite having a high energy-distribution
capability and a high impact strength, puncture resistance and crushing
resistance
may be used for the manufacture of the rigid outer layer.
Depending on the materials used, this rigid outer layer will provide
the protective part 1 of the helmet or the protective panels 16, 20, 21, 22,
23 and
24 of the vest with a high tensile strength and a high compressive strength, a
high
impact strength and a high puncture resistance, a high ballistic resistance
and a
high heat resistance, depending on the resin used.
In particular in civil helmet applications, the composite will serve to
increase the puncture resistance and especially the crushing resistance in the
front,
neck, left-side and right-side regions, while at the same time decreasing the
thickness of the rigid outer layer.
The thickness of the rigid outer layer 2 or 26 will generally be
within a 1 to 2 mm range, depending on the degree of performance to be
obtained;
however, greater thicknesses may be used, depending on the resistances desired
and the choice of fibres and resin.
Using a composite for the rigid outer layer 2 or 26 also has the
advantage of making it possible to integrate an external covering into the
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composite.
For example, in the case of a riding cap, a black velvet covering can
be integrated directly into the composite during its manufacture, thereby
avoiding
finishing steps in the manufacture of the cap.
The possibility of integrating a surface covering into the composite
will be advantageous in the manufacture of any helmet which has to have a
covering of a particular type of fabric, a particular colour or a particular
pattern
with various colours.
The intermediate thickness 3 of the protective part of the helmet and
the intermediate thickness consisting of two interlayers 27 and 28 of the
protective parts 16, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 of the vest, which are intended to
allow
energy absorption, are manufactured from materials that absorb the energy with
return to the initial position.
As particularly suitable material, mention may be made of closed-
cell linear or resilient foam materials of the low-density phenolic foam type
of the
CRAY VALLEY brand or other such materials, or a copolymer of the AIREX
(C.50) brand, specially tailored for bonding to PP thermoplastic-matrix
fabrics, or
polypropylene (PP) of the EUROCORP (FAWOCEL) brand according to the
BAYER process, which are composed of impermeable closed cells, the density
and resistance moduli of which are tailored to each of the applications of the
invention, or polybutylene (PBT) thermoplastic elastomer materials sold under
the
name AEROLEN by the company TUBUS BAUER which make it possible to
obtain a very high compressibility and reversibility, produced in the form of
a
cellular sheet, whose thickness and density may be varied depending on the
applications, composed of 4 to 7 mm tubes.
Because of its very good damping properties, this polybutylene
elastomer is advantageously used as the intermediate thickness in certain
applications such as, for example, in riding caps in order to decrease the
thickness
of the intermediate shell.
However, any other material having good compressibility and
returning to its initial structure after a shock, and thus allowing energy to
be
CA 02289622 1999-11-15
absorbed, may be used for manufacturing the energy-absorbing intermediate
thickness which is provided for damping shocks.
As may be seen in Figure 6, in some applications the intermediate
thickness may advantageously consist of two layers 27, 28 of different soft
materials such as, for example, a layer of polypropylene foam and a layer of
polybutylene elastomer.
The comfort/hygiene fittings will consist of pads 4, 29 and 30 made
of a flexible cellular material of the type consisting of a polyethylene (PE)
foam
composed of impermeable closed cells, of low density, tailored to each
embodiment of the invention, these foams, because of their flexibility,
allowing
them to follow the shape of the body.
In the case in which the intermediate thickness 3 of the protective
part 1 of the helmet or the interlayer 29 of the intermediate thickness of the
protective parts of the vest, as shown in Figure 6, is made of a polypropylene
foam, the interlayer will be bonded to the polyethylene comfort foam by means
of
a heat-weldable film.
In the case of vest-type protection elements such as those shown in
Figures 4 and 5, each protective element will include two comfort foam layers
29
and 30 between which the inflatable bladder 25 will fit, as shown in Figure 6.
As suitable material for making the comfort fittings of the protective
garments of the present invention, mention may currently be made of a material
consisting of a flexible cellular foam, having a closed-cell structure and a
low
density, of the polyethylene type, this foam being chemically crosslinked
according to various processes - EUROCORP, ALVEO, etc.
These EUROCORP, ALVEO or other foams have the following
advantages: they allow thicknesses which can be varied from 1 to 15 mm; their
densities may vary from 25 to 200 kg/m3; they adapt to the shape of the human
body in a hygienic and comfortable manner; they are light; they have very good
buoyancy, which makes it possible to improve the buoyancy of a vest-type
garment designed to be used as a lifejacket; moreover, they are insensitive to
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water, moisture and condensation; they provide excellent thermal and acoustic
insulation, the thermal insulation preventing them, especially in military
applications, from being infrared detectable; and they can be combined with
other
chemicals or materials, such as EVA for example, in order to provide a shape
memory, allowing the comfort material to be preformed to the morphology of a
body.
Each bladder 5, 17 and 25 may be made of any suitable material
usable, in particular, for so-called airbag devices.
Presently, particularly suitable materials are, for example,
neoprene/polyamide mixed fabrics or, preferably, silicone/nylon-6,6 fabrics,
novel high-tenacity SERENA materials developed by RHONE-POLTLENC
FILTEC which make it possible to achieve a high air permeability, a high
tensile
strength, a high tear strength, a high degree of flexibility and a fabric
weight
saving.
The connecting ducts 8, 18a, 18b between the compressed-air
injection systems 7, 19a, 19b and the bladders 5, 17 and 25 will be made of a
suitable material such as, for example, Rilsan.
The compressed-air or gas capsules and the flyweights used in the
present invention are commercially available products widely used at the
present
time in airbag devices for transportation vehicles.
Although only a helmet-type garment and a vest-type garment have
been described, it should be understood that the present invention comprises
all
safety garments as defined by the claims, it being possible, by way of
example,
for these garments also to include shorts for hockey players, various types of
trousers, back-supporting vests, in particular those used for re-education
following an accident, leggings, protective garments for protecting infants,
protective garments for providing safety at work, protective garments for
protecting lunatics, and protective garments suitable for all sporting and
competitive disciplines.
