Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ARTICLE OF PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an article of clothing that protects the
neck of a wearer from slashing and/or blunt force trauma injuries.
BACKGROUND
Ice hockey players are routinely involved in violent collisions, whether
deliberately applied to one another as body checks or as unintended collisions
with
other players, the boards, or the net. Players often purposely block shots or
are
inadvertently hit with the puck flying at high speeds. It is during these
collisions with
players and other objects that hockey players are most vulnerable to injury,
especially given that every player skates around the ice on skate blades that
can be
razor sharp. Getting slashed by another player's skate blade or stick, or hit
by a
flying puck, especially around the neck area, has proven to be serious and can
potentially be deadly. In the past, there have been attempts to provide
articles of
protective clothing to protect hockey players from the danger of being slashed
or hit
by a puck around the neck area.
For example, there is a neck protector that is generally formed like a
"dickey" and has a tubular section for surrounding the player's neck and a
shoulder
portion depending from a lower end of the tubular section. The neck protector
is
formed of a multi-layer stretchable and flexible fabric, wherein one or more
inner cut
and slash resistant fabric layers are sandwiched between two outer layers made
of a
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wicking fabric. The slash and cut-resistant layers are knitted with a
combination of
both slash-resistant fibers - such as Kevlar brand aramid fibers, high
density
polyethylene fibers, and PBO fibers - and stretchable fibers - such as Lycra
brand
spandex fibers. The blend of stretchable and non-stretchable fibers allows the
neck
protector to fit many different sized wearers. In addition, the neck protector
may
optionally have an adjustment mechanism, such as a Velcro brand closure, in
order to permit rapid dressing and undressing and adjustment by the wearer.
Unfortunately, the neck protector provides little protection against the sort
of blunt
trauma to a player's neck caused, for example, by a hockey stick, a flying
puck, or
another player's knee.
Another neck protector has a collar and a bib that depends from a
lower portion of the collar. The collar is formed of a sleeve of fabric
encasing a
removable armored insert that has an armor member coextensive with and
attached
to a fabric backing. The armor member is formed from a seamless knitted fabric
material sold under the trademark WHIZARD . The fabric backing is formed from
a
foam padding laminated on either side of a layer of textile material. The
sleeve is
wrapped around a wearer's neck and held in place by a Velcro brand hook and
loop fastener. The bib is formed of a 2-ply textile material having a quilted
liner
therebetween. The seamless knitted fabric material that makes up the armor
member can soak up moisture from perspiration and feel heavy around a player's
neck. In addition, the moisture can cause the armor member to degrade over
time
and may be difficult to clean.
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A further neck protector includes a neck band assembly that is held
within a cover that has a bib downwardly extending therefrom. The cover and
the
bib are formed from 1000 denier KEVLAR-29 fabric. The cover surrounds the
neck
band assembly that is formed from shock absorbing unicellular foam material
that
slowly compresses to absorb applied forces and subsequently recovers to an
uncompressed state. A protective outer cover formed alternatively from a
jersey
type material or KEVLAR-294 fabric encompasses the cover and the bib. The
cover
includes a Velcro brand hook and loop fastener that extends from the cover
via a
tape to hold the cover in place around a wearer's neck. However, when fastened
the hook and loop fastener can leave the back of a wearer's neck partially
exposed,
thereby exposing the wearer's spine to slashing damage and blunt force trauma.
SUMMARY
The inventors have invented a throat protector that in one prefered
embodiment may have the attributes of being flexible, comfortable, and
attractive to
wear, and that also protects a wearer's neck against both slashing injury all
the way
around a wearer's neck and blunt trauma injury at least at the wearer's
trachea. The
throat protector may include extension flaps to provide protection to the
wearer's
upper body and is preferably constructed for easy maintenance and cleaning.
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In one aspect of the present invention, an article of protective clothing
includes a strip of multilayered flexible material adapted to be wrapped
around a
wearer's neck to form a collar therearound, and a layer of protective padding
attached to the strip and spaced between the short edges so as to be disposed
diametrically opposite the adjustable fastener when fastened. The multilayered
flexible material includes an interior layer of a flexible cut-resistant
fabric disposed
within a cover of a wicking fabric, and the strip includes an adjustable
fastener at
opposite short edges of the strip to adjust a diametric size of the collar;
In another aspect of the present invention, an article of protective
clothing includes an elongate strip of multilayered flexible material adapted
to be
wrapped around a wearer's neck to form a collar therearound. The elongate
strip
includes a long lower edge extending between opposite ends and comprises a
first
interior layer of a flexible cut-resistant fabric disposed within a first
cover of a wicking
fabric. A skirt of multilayered flexible material extends downwardly from the
long
lower edge of the elongate strip and includes a layer of cut-resistant
material. An
adjustable fastener is disposed at the short ends for fastening the elongate
strip
around the wearer's neck.
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In a further aspect of the present invention, an article of protective
clothing includes a strip of multilayered flexible material having a lower
long edge
extending between opposite ends and adapted to be wrapped around a wearer's
neck to form a collar therearound. The multilayered flexible material includes
a layer
5 of a flexible cut-resistant fabric and at least one layer of a wicking
fabric. Adjustable
cooperating fasteners are disposed at opposite short edges of the strip to
adjust a
diametric size of the collar, and a layer of padding is coextensively attached
to at
least one of the adjustable fasteners.
Other aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become
apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, wherein
similar
structures have similar reference numbers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figurel is a front elevational view of an article of clothing according to
the present invention and in an unfastened state.
Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the article of clothing of Figure 1,
taken generally along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1 with portions behind the plane
of the
cross-section omitted for clarity.
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the article of clothing of Figure 1 in a
fastened state as adapted to be worn about the neck and shoulders of a user.
Figure 4 is a top isometric view of another article of clothing according
to the present invention and in an unfastened state.
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Figure 5 is front elevational view of an article of clothing of Figure 4 in
an unfastened state.
Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the article of clothing of Figure 4
in a fastened state and shown in a preferred use placement on a wearer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Turning now to the drawings, Figures 1-3 illustrate a neck protector 50
including a strip 52 that may include an optional downwardly extending bib-
like
structure, such as a skirt 54, attached to a long edge 56 of the strip 52. The
strip 52
and the skirt 54 are made from multilayered flexible material including one or
more
interior layers 58 of a cut-resistant fabric within a cover 60 of a wicking
fabric. An
adjustable fastener 62, illustrated as components 62a and 62b in Figures 1 and
2,
allows the strip 52 to be formed into a collar 64 of adjustable size. Each of
the
components 62a and 62b is attached to the strip 52 proximate opposite short
edges
66 of the strip 52. A layer 68a of visco-elastic polyurethane foam, commonly
called
memory foam, is attached to the strip 52, for example, within a medial portion
of the
strip 52, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The layer 68a of memory foam held
within
the strip 52 may extend into the skirt 54, as indicated by the layer 68b of
memory
foam in Figure 1. In a preferred embodiment, the strip is fastened around and
completely surrounds a user's neck with the components 62a, 62b of the
fastener 62
located at the back of the user's neck covering the user's spine, the layer
68a of
memory foam covering the user's trachea, and the skirt 54, if used, depending
downwardly from the long edge 56 of the strip 52 over the user's upper chest
and
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shoulders when the neck protector 50 worn in its preferred position. The strip
52, as
shown in Figures 1-3, is a generally elongate rectangular shape, having an
upper
long edge and the lower long edge 56 extending between opposite ends defined
by
short edges 66, but other shapes of the strip sufficient to cover the wearer's
neck as
described herein may be used. In the preferred wearing position, the long edge
56
defines a lower edge of the strip 54 and the short edges 66 define opposite
longitudinal ends of the strip 52.
In one embodiment, the strip 52 and the skirt 54 may include a single
continuous interior layer 58 of a cut-resistant fabric. Alternatively, the
skirt 54 and
the strip 52 may each include an independent layer or layers 58 of a cut
resistant
fabric. In one aspect, as illustrated in Figure 2, the cover 60 may include an
inner
piece 60a attached to an outer piece 60b by, for example, stitching around a
periphery of the strip 52. Alternatively, the cover 60 including inner and
outer pieces
60a, 60b, may encompass both the strip 52 and the skirt 54 and/or may comprise
a
unitary piece of material.
The width of the skirt 54 as measured perpendicular from the long
edge 56 of the strip 52 varies along the longitudinal length of the strip 52.
The skirt
54 includes a medial region 70 disposed longitudinally medially thereon that
extends
away from the long edge 56 of the strip 52, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3,
and is
adapted to be disposed below a front of a wearer's neck, for example, covering
the
wearer's suprasternal notch when the adjustable collar 64 is formed around the
wearer's neck. The skirt 54 includes distal regions 72 that extend away from
the
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long edge 56 of the strip 52 and are disposed between the medial region 70 and
the
short edges 66 of the strip 52. The distal regions 72 are adapted to be
disposed
over upper portions of the shoulders of the wearer when the adjustable collar
64 is
formed around the wearer's neck.
As best seen in Figure 2, the components 62a and 62b of the
adjustable fastener 62 are each attached coextensively over the opposite short
edges 66 of the strip 52, whereby the interior layer of cut-resistant fabric
is
coextensive with or behind the components 62a, 62b of the fastener 62. Such
coextensive configuration facilitates the attachment of the collar 64 to
itself over a
wearer's spine without a gap in protection between the opposite short edges 66
of
the strip 52, as best seen in Figure 3. Elimination of such a gap, which could
allow
impact of a stick, skate blade, or flying puck to lacerate and/or cause blunt
trauma to
the wearer's spine, provides both complete circumferential protection around
the
wearer's neck and complete diametric size adjustability of the strip 52. One
or both
of the components 62a, 62b may also include a layer 74 of padding covering
and/or
within the fastener 62. The adjustable fastener 62 preferably includes a hook-
and-
loop type fastener, wherein for example, the component 62a may include a hook-
type fastener portion attached over a layer of memory foam or foam rubber and
the
component 62b may include a loop-type fastener portion.
In one embodiment, the strip 52 and the skirt 54 may be formed of two
separate pieces and secured together. In such an embodiment, an access port
76,
such as a gap, slit-like opening, or notch, may be disposed between the strip
52 and
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the skirt 54 intermediate the layer 68a of memory foam and the medial portion
70 of
the skirt. The access port 76 is located intermediate the opposite short edges
66 of
the strip 52, and the skirt 54 is connected to the long edge 56 of the strip
52 on
opposite ends of the access port near or proximate to the short edges 66. The
access port 76 in some embodiments may allow easier flexion and/or turning of
the
wearer's head and neck. The access port also may provide the benefit of
allowing
emergency access to areas of a wearer's throat, such as the trachea, by
medical
personnel, such as may be necessary during an emergency tracheotomy when a
player is still in uniform. In one foreseeable circumstance, the foam in layer
68a is
immediately above and adjacent the access port 76 such that the foam
highlights,
points to, or otherwise visually accentuates the notch so that the medical
personnel
can see where the access port 76 is located. In one embodiment, the access
port
76 is in the form of a gap between spaced apart edges of the strip 52 and the
skirt
54, and in another embodiment, the edges of the strip 52 and the skirt 54 may
overlap to provide complete cut-resistant coverage of the underlying body area
but
not be sewn or connected together at the access port 76 so as to allow
emergency
access through the neck protector 50.
In another embodiment, shown in Figures 4-6, a neck protector 50' is
generally similar to the neck protector 50 and further includes an outer
shroud 80 of
flexible material shaped to surround the wearer's lower neck and upper
shoulders
and drape down over the wearer's upper chest and upper back as shown in
phantom in Figure 6. The neck protector includes a strip 52 for extending at
least
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partly around the wearer's neck to form a collar-type structure there around,
a skirt
54 extending downwardly from a bottom edge of the strip 52, and a fastener 62
with
fastener components 62a and 62b that extend from opposite longitudinal ends of
the
strip 52 for fastening the strip 52 around the wearer's neck in a similar
manner as
5 described above. In some forms, each of the strip 52, the skirt 54, and the
fastener
components 62a, 62b comprises at least a layer of flexible cut-resistant
material
sandwiched between at least two outer layers of flexible fabric as described
previously. The cut-resistant layer preferably is coextensive with the entire
area of
the each of the strip 52, skirt 54, and fastener components 62a, 62b in order
to
10 provide maximum cut protection. The strip 52 is preferably of a length and
width to
at least cover the wearer's trachea and major veins and arteries in the neck,
as
shown in FIG. 5, and may optionally extend all the way around the neck to also
cover the wearer's spine. Further, the skirt 54 may have a constant width
extending
perpendicularly downwardly from the lower edge 56 of the strip 52, as shown in
Figures 4-6, or the skirt may have a varying width along the length of the
strip 52 as
shown in Figure 1.
In this embodiment, each of the fastener components 62a, 62b is
thinner than the strip 54 and includes a cut-resistant layer sandwiched
between two
outer layers of fabric and a fastener for fastening the fastener components
62a and
62b together at the back of the wearer's neck. Preferably, the fastener 62
comprises
adjustable fasteners, such as complementary hook and loop fastener portions
disposed on opposing faces of the fastener components 62a, 62b. Other
fasteners,
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such as hooks, buttons, laces, snaps, and the like may also or alternatively
be used.
If the strip 52 extends fully or almost fully around the wearer's neck, the
fastener
components 62a, 62b may be very short and/or simply integrated into the ends
of
the strip 52. One of the fastener components 62a or 62b designed to fasten on
the
exterior side when the fastener components 62a, 62b overlap, also preferably
includes a layer of foamy material disposed between the outer layers of fabric
to
provide additional protection against blunt trauma.
The strip 52 also includes a protective pad 68, preferably of memory
foam or of other stiffer flexible material, disposed at a longitudinal mid-
point of the
strip 52 for protecting the wearer's trachea as previously described. In this
embodiment, the protective pad 68 is permanently embedded between the outer
layers of fabric, such as with stitching, and there is no access port between
the strip
52 and the skirt 54. As best seen in Figure 6, the protective pad 68 may have
a
triangular shape to minimize annoyance to the wearer. Other shapes of the
protective pad may also be used, such as rectangular, circular, or an extended
longitudinal strip if desired to provide additional protection against blunt
trauma to
other areas of the wearer's neck. The protective pad 68 need not be secured
between the outer layers of fabric, but may be, for example, secured on either
exterior side of the strip 52 if desired. Other materials for the protective
pad 68 may
be used that are stiff or resilient, such as polyvinyl chloride, metal,
rubber, and the
like, although it is preferred that the material be at least somewhat flexible
to
minimize annoyance to the wearer.
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The shroud 80 has a top edge 82 that is attached to the lower edge 56
of the strip 52 and drapes downwardly therefrom. The shroud 80 includes a
front
panel 84 and a rear panel 86 that are connected on opposite sides 88 as a
unitary
piece, and the top edge 82 of the shroud 80 forms a complete circle that can
fit
around the head and neck of the wearer. The strip 52 is preferably attached
only to
the top edge 82 of the front panel 84 of the shroud 80, but may also be
attached to
some or all of the top edge 82 of the rear panel 86 of the shroud 80 if
desired. The
front panel 84 of the shroud 80 preferably attaches to the lower edge 56 of
the strip
52 exteriorly to or a top of the skirt 54 such that the skirt 54 is disposed
behind the
shroud 80 when the wearer wears the neck protector 50', which conceals the
skirt 54
beneath the shroud 80, as best illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The shroud 80 is
preferably composed of a wicking fabric similar to that of the cover 60. The
shroud
80 may be made of a unitary piece of material or may be made of two or more
pieces of material secured to each other by, for example, stitching, Velcro,
adhesive,
or other attachment mechanism, such as at seams along the sides 88. The width
of
the shroud 80 (or length as measured perpendicular to the lower edge 56)
varies
along the length of the strip 52 from in order to be shaped so as to drape
lower down
over the wearer's upper chest and back and leave open areas at the sides 88.
For
example, the front and rear portions of the shroud 80 may have a longest width
of
about ten to fourteen inches, the sides 88 may have a shortest width of about
three
to five inches, and the width of the shroud 80 may vary smoothly or abruptly
between the shortest and longest widths. Of course, other dimensions may be
used
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as necessary for different needs or applications. The top long edge 82 along
the
rear panel 86 preferably curves downwardly so as to provide additional
clearance for
the wearer's neck, as best seen in Figure 5. Preferably, the front panel 84
extends
downwardly more than the rear panel 86, and both the front and rear panels 84,
86
extend down far enough to engage underneath other clothing on the wearer's
torso,
such as a uniform, protective pads, protective vest, shirt, or similar items,
which can
help maintain the neck guard 50' in a preferred orientation around the
wearer's neck.
The shroud 80 and other cloth portions of the neck protector 50' is preferably
made
of a stretchable fabric material, such as elastane, Spandex , and/or Lycra ,
and
fabrics blended with such stretchable fabrics or similar materials.
In both neck protectors 50 and 50', any or all of the strip 52, skirt 54
and/or fastener components 62a, 62b may alternatively include only a single
layer of
cloth secured to a single layer of cut-resistant fabric, such as by stitching,
lamination,
adhesive, or other suitable methods. Alternatively, additional layers of cloth
and/or
cut-resistant fabric and different types of each may be used.
Examples of cut-resistant fabrics include aramid and para-aramid
materials that may comprise the layer or layers 58 and include but are not
limited to
products sold by DuPont under the trademark Kevlar such as Kevlar XPTM,
Kevlar 129, Kevlar Comfort XLTT"', Kevlar CorrectionalT"' 779, and Kevlar
KM2 . Additional examples of cut-resistant fabrics may include fabrics having
ultra-
high molecular weight polyethylene fibers, nylon fibers, and other flexible
fibers
suitable for forming into a flexible fabric or layer. Examples of wicking
fabrics that
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form the cover 60 include but are not limited to Lycra Spandex sold by
DuPont,
nylon, fleece, cotton, and combinations thereof. Examples of a hook-and-loop-
type
fastener attached to a layer of foam rubber include, but are not limited to,
Velfoam
loop-type fastener pads sold by Velcro Industries.
Preferably although not necessarily, a team logo or other visual
information (not shown) may be located, such as by a sewn or ironed on patch,
iron
on decal, silk screened ink or paint, embroidery, or other similar known
methods, on
the outer diameter side of the strip 52 so as to be visible to others when the
neck
protector is worn by a person in the preferred wearing position around the
neck. In
some cases, and only by way of non-limiting example, such placement of a team
logo may help team members unfamiliar with each other to identify a person as
either an opponent or a team member, or placement of a visual cue to the
medical
personnel pointing out the access port 76. Other varied and beneficial uses of
placing such visual information on the outer diameter side of the strip 52 are
anticipated and within the scope of this disclosure.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
Items of protective clothing are presented that may be used for
protection from slashing and/or blunt trauma injury around a wearer's neck as
a neck
protector. The neck protector in some instances includes a cover of wicking
fabric
for comfort surrounding internal layers of flexible cut-resistant material,
and
preferably also includes a protective pad for protection against blunt trauma.
The
neck protectors may be particularly useful in professions and activities that
have an
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elevated risk of injury to a neck by cutting, slashing, poking, punching,
hitting, and
other similar methods, such as by hockey players, correctional and police
professionals, military personnel, agricultural and construction workers, and
any
other activity that presents a risk of such neck injuries. Various
advantageous
5 features of the items of protective clothing disclosed herein, either
individually or in
various combinations, may include that the neck protectors may be flexible and
light
weight, may be easily adjusted to different sizes to provide greater sizing
use, can
provide protection against both sharp objects and blunt objects, may be easily
designed to be attractive to wear, do not impinge on movement of the head and
10 shoulders of the wearer, can integrate with other clothing of the wearer to
ensure
proper positioning on the wearer's neck and shoulders, and/or provide
protection
completely around the wearer's neck. Of course, the invention is not limited
to any
single one or particular combination of such possible advantages and
additional
advantages may be present also.
15 Numerous modifications to the present invention will be apparent to
those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly,
this
description is to be construed as illustrative only and is presented for the
purpose of
enabling those skilled in the art to make and use the invention and to teach
the best
mode of carrying out same. The exclusive right to all modifications within the
scope
of the impending claims is expressly reserved.
