EP1882419A1

EP1882419A1 - Garment with glove

Info

Publication number: EP1882419A1
Application number: EP06425519A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giada c/o Grado Zero Espace S.r.l. Dammacco
Original assignee: Grado Zero Espace Srl
Current assignee: Grado Zero Espace Srl
Priority date: 2006-07-24
Filing date: 2006-07-24
Publication date: 2008-01-30

Abstract

This invention relates to a garment provided with a sleeve having a terminal portion integrally attached to a glove capable of covering the hand of said wearer. The garment offers the possibility of taking off the glove without having to take off the sleeve, of wrapping the glove in such a way that it is not an encumbrance when climbing and also of protecting the glove against rain when so folded back.

Description

This invention relates to a garment for the torso of a wearer, such as for example a windstopper jacket or alpine jacket, provided with at least one sleeve (normally two) having a glove made of one piece with the sleeve itself.
This invention is particularly advantageous in the field of climbing. In fact the environmental conditions to which climbers are exposed when climbing require specific solutions to overcome the difficulties facing them.
During a climb, in particular above six thousand metres, rough ground, extremely low temperatures (down to -50°C), particularly high winds (up to 150 km/h) and a virtual absence of atmospheric moisture are encountered, which makes the conditions even more arduous.
Climbers therefore need to be protected from the ground, the wind and low temperatures at the same time.
As part of climbers' clothing, gloves have the task of protecting hands from the wind and cold; they must be capable of being easily put on, so that they can also allow those activities which can only be performed by bare hands.
The known art has hitherto only provided separate gloves and jackets without gloves. In this way the glove most appropriate to the conditions faced can be chosen without the need to change jacket. In this way however there is a risk that the glove might be lost when not being worn.
For example, as a result of an unforeseen gust of wind it is possible that the glove could fall to a place which cannot be reached by the wearer.
This problem is particularly felt by climbers at altitudes above six thousand metres, specifically because of the strength of the wind and the nature of the ground itself, which makes it virtually impossible to recover a glove once it has become detached from its owner.
The loss of a glove when at that altitude (that is above six thousand metres) gives rise to a particular risk in that the extremely low temperatures together with the strength of the wind create a very high risk that the exposed limb will freeze. Any freezing of a limb at altitude also almost certainly results in gangrene and consequent amputation of the limb.
In view of the state of the art described, the object of this invention is to provide clothing which ensures reliable protection for the hands which is superior to that which can be obtained with what is known in the art, reducing the risk of loss of the glove and the consequent risk of gangrene, while at the same time ensuring that it can be held and put on safely and effectively.
According to this invention, this object is achieved through a garment according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments are claimed in the dependent claims.
The features and advantages of this invention will be obvious from the following detailed description of an embodiment provided by way of a non-restrictive example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows in partial perspective view a garment according to this invention with the right glove worn and closed,
Figure 2 shows the garment in Figure 1 in perspective view, in which the user is opening the right hand glove with the left hand, which is inserted into the glove,
Figure 3A shows in perspective view a garment similar to that in Figure 1 in which the right hand glove has been taken off and secured around the sleeve of the garment itself,
Figure 3B shows the garment in Figure 1 in a perspective view, in which the right hand glove is completely turned back on itself,
Figure 4A shows the garment in Figure 3B in perspective view, with the left hand glove partly protected;
Figure 4B shows the garment in Figure 3B in perspective view, with the left hand glove completely protected.

Garment 1 is suitable for clothing the torso (or chest) of an individual (or wearer). It comprises at least one sleeve 2 and generally comprises two.
Sleeve 2 is of essentially tubular shape, extending along a longitudinal line.
Sleeve 2 of a normal garment 1 ends in an opening 4, the plane of which is substantially perpendicular to that longitudinal line, located at the terminal portion of sleeve 2.
When garment 1 is worn, the terminal portion lies against the wearer's wrist.
As can be seen in Figures 1-5, sleeve 2 of garment 1 according to this invention comprises a glove 3, incorporated and secured to the terminal portion of sleeve 2 itself.
Glove 3 nevertheless has an opening 4, through which hand 5 may be withdrawn from glove 3 to expose it to the external environment, while at the same time the arm remains within sleeve 2.
In this way there is provided a garment 1 which can adopt a "glove worn" configuration, seen in Figures 1 and 2, in which glove 3 surrounds wearer's hand 5 and garment 1 ensures maximum protection for hand 5, and a "glove folded back" configuration, seen mainly in Figures 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B, in which the wearer's hand 5 is free of glove 3 and the latter is folded back onto garment 1 in such a way that it will not be lost and will not encumber or hinder the wearer's movements.
With reference to Figures 1 and 2, opening 4 corresponds to the back 6 of glove 3, preferably closer to the line of the knuckles than that of the wrist, and advantageously occupies the full width thereof.
Garment 1 may advantageously comprise means to allow closure of opening 4, in such a way as to provide a high level of protection of hand 5 against atmospheric agents.
These means advantageously comprise a closure flap 7 and attachment means to ensure that closure flap 7 is secured in position with respect to glove 3.
Closure flap 7 is advantageously secured on one of its two sides, preferably the larger side, parallel to opening 4, in such a way as to extend thereover.
The securing means may advantageously comprise a material 8, 9 equipped with hooks and loops, such as that known commercially by the name of VELCRO^™.
It is therefore possible to fix one or more strips 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b of this material 8, 9 on the two surfaces of glove 3 and closure flap 7 which in the configuration when the glove is worn lie opposite each other.
Closure flap 7 may advantageously have a shape such as to create resistance to opening which is small to begin with, so as to allow it to be gripped, and high subsequently, to prevent accidental opening.
This shape may for example be triangular, or a rounded "V" shape or trapezoidal.
As the wearer will often have to open glove 3 using the other hand 5, which, as shown in Figure 2, may be inserted into the other glove 3, it is advantageous to be able to have a good grip even when wearer's hand 5 is inserted in glove 3.
In order to provide this secure grip material 8 located on the lower surface of closure flap 7 is provided as two strips 8a, 8b, which are separate from each other and which have their main axis substantially parallel to opening 4.
The parts of flap 7 to which strips 8a, 8b are attached will thus have greater rigidity than that of line 10 which corresponds to the gap between the two strips 8a, 8b.
After the wearer has opened the first part of closure flap 7, this line of greater flexibility enables flap 7 to remain folded, preventing it from closing onto glove 3 and enabling the wearer to change grip and exert a greater force and also open the remaining part of closure flap 7.
Advantageously the "hook" part of the fabric of the VELCRO™ type lies on the surface of closure flap 7 facing glove 3.
Optionally it is possible to position two strips of fabric 9a, 9b also on back 6 of glove 3, corresponding to the two strips 8a, 8b located on closure flap 7. This arrangement is illustrated in Figure 3A.
With reference to Figures 1, 3A and 3B, garment 1 may also comprise retaining means capable of holding glove 3 on sleeve 2 when the latter is in the folded back configuration, in such a way as to prevent glove 3 from impeding the wearer's movements by moving around sleeve 2.
These retention means may also be provided through a ribbon element 11, advantageously located close to the terminal portion of sleeve 2.
This ribbon element 11 is attached to the terminal portion of sleeve 2, preferably corresponding to the lower inner part of the wrist, by means of one of its short sides so that it can surround the terminal portion, preferably through at least one complete turn.
Ribbon element 11 comprises two main surfaces 12, 13 opposite to each other. A strip of material which is capable of reversibly adhering to a similar material, for example a strip of VELCRO™, is located on both the surfaces 12, 13.
A first strip 14 of material of the VELCRO™ type is positioned on the first 12 of the two main surfaces 12, 13 in such a way as to leave the terminal length 15 of ribbon element 11 opposite that attached to the terminal portions of sleeve 2 substantially free over a length equal to approximately 1/3 of the length of the ribbon element itself. Advantageously the VELCRO™ fabric located on ribbon element 11 is the one comprising the loops, so as to prevent it from becoming involuntarily hooked on other surfaces.
On the second one 13 of the two main surfaces 12, 13 there is attached a second strip (not visible in the figures) of material of the VELCRO™ type located in such a way that it can engage material 14 of the first main surface 12 of ribbon element 11.
Advantageously the fabric of the VELCRO™ type located on ribbon element 11 is the one comprising the hooks and may be positioned with a length of approximately 1/3 of ribbon element 11 close to the free edge, that is corresponding to the free part of the first surface.
In this way the wearer can first withdraw his hand 5 from glove 3, then fold back the fabric forming the lower part of glove 3, that is against sleeve 2, and then secure it to sleeve 2 by winding ribbon element 11 over it, as shown diagrammatically in Figure 3A.
Figures 4A and 4B show waterproofing means, which may advantageously be provided on garment 1 to prevent the ingress of snow or water within glove 3 when this is folded back onto sleeve 2.
This protection is provided through a suitable tubular appendage 16 secured within sleeve 2, close to the terminal portion which may be folded back onto the outer part of sleeve 2, forming a pocket within which glove 3 is contained when this is folded back onto sleeve 2.
The free edge of appendage 16 comprises securing means 17 through which it can be secured to sleeve 2.
In this way, after hand 5 has been removed from glove 3 the latter can be folded back onto sleeve 2 and appendage 16 can be used to cover glove 3, securing the free end around sleeve 2 in such a way that appendage 16 can effectively prevent snow or rain from penetrating glove 3.
The palm of glove 3 may advantageously be reinforced with fabric 18 capable of better resisting abrasion and wear, and which can assist with grip on ropes.
This invention has been described with reference to opening 4 located close to the upper part of the wearer's wrist. In this way, glove 3 can be folded back onto the inside of the forearm.
It is also possible to implement this invention by positioning opening 4 longitudinally which allows hand 5 to disengage from glove 3 along the palm of glove 3.
In this way glove 3 can be folded back against the top side of the forearm.
Closure flap 7 can similarly be located with the longer side located on the side of opening 4 opposite the thumb.
The glove may be of any type, but preferably it would be of the mitt type, as shown in the drawings, and will have substantially larger dimensions than those of a normal glove. The seat of the thumb will in particular be overdimensioned with respect to the wearer's size, to allow easy putting on even when the user wears two pairs of gloves under the glove to which the invention relates.
Obviously in order to satisfy contingent specific requirements a person skilled in the art could apply many modifications and variants to the configurations described above, all of which however lie within the scope of protection of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

Garment (1) comprising a sleeve (2) capable of covering a wearer's arm, said sleeve (2) having a terminal portion which during normal use of said garment (1) lies close to the wrist of said wearer,
characterised in that
said terminal portion of said sleeve (2) is integrally connected to a glove (3) which can cover said wearer's hand (5).
Garment (1) according to the preceding claim, comprising an opening (4), located in such a way as to permit the glove (3) to be removed from the wearer's hand (5), while at the same time keeping said sleeve (2) over the user's arm.
Garment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said opening (4) is provided on the top of the glove (3), against the back (6) of the hand (5).
Garment (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the length of said opening (4) is substantially equal to the width of said glove (3).
Garment (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which said opening (4) is close to the palm of the glove (3) and extends in a direction substantially parallel to the direction defined by the fingers of the wearer's hand (5) when the hand (5) is inserted in the glove (3).
Garment (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, comprising a closure flap (7) attached on one of the two sides of said opening (4) and capable of closing up said opening (4) by overlapping it.
Garment (1) according to the preceding claim, in which when said closure flap (7) is placed over the opening (4), material suitable for providing adhesion between said closure flap (7) and said glove (3), for example material having hooks and loops of the VELCRO™ type, fixed to both said closure flap (7) and said glove (3) is located between said glove (3) and said closure flap (7).
Garment (1) according to the preceding claim, in which said closure flap (7) comprises two strips (8a, 8b) of said material, one alongside the other in a direction substantially parallel to the direction defined by the main dimension of said opening (4).
Garment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said terminal portion comprises a ribbon element (11) located in such a way that it can be wound around said terminal portion and provided on its main surfaces (12, 13) with strips of VELCRO™ type material in such a way that it can be secured around said terminal portion.
Garment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a tubular appendage (16) which can be closed around the outer surface of said sleeve (2) so as to form a pocket suitable for containing said glove (3) and said ribbon element (11), protecting them against the ingress of foreign bodies, said appendage being secured to the inner surface of said terminal portion by one of its extremities.
Garment (1) according to the preceding claim, in which said appendage (16) is provided with securing means (17) along the free edge capable of securing said appendage around said sleeve (2).