US 12,178,266 B2Granted

Impact resistant garment

AssigneeDesign Blue Limited

InventorsAdam Turvey, Richard Holman, Thomas Pearson

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Abstract

An impact resistant textile-supported garment, or component thereof, comprises a fabric layer, and (i) at least five non-interconnected impact resistant polyurethane segments upon an outer surface of the fabric layer, wherein at least two of the non-interconnected impact resistant polyurethane segments has a depth of at least 3 mm, preferably at least 4 mm, and wherein at least five of the plurality of non-interconnected segments have dimensions smaller than 1.75 cm×1 cm×1 cm; or (ii) at least one non-interconnected impact resistant polyurethane segment, wherein the at least one segment has a depth of at least 3 mm at its deepest part, and wherein the at least one segment is a hollow segment comprising one or more regions defined by an outer polyurethane perimeter, surrounding a region of fabric that is not covered by polyurethane.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A process of manufacturing an impact resistant textile-supported garment, or a component thereof, wherein the process comprises the following steps:

(i) providing a heat-curable composition configured to form a polyurethane upon heat curing;
(ii) providing a mold comprising two opposing surfaces, wherein the mold comprises at least one mold cavity with a depth of at least 3 mm in at least one of the two opposing surfaces;
(iii) introducing the heat-curable composition into the at least one mold cavity;
(iv) applying a vacuum to an interior of the mold such that the interior of the mold is substantially free of air;
(v) heating the heat-curable composition within the mold such that the composition cures to an extent of from 60% to 95%, in relation to the fully cured composition, so as to form a partially cured composition;
(vi) applying a fabric to the partially cured composition;
(vii) pressing the fabric and partially cured composition together such that the partially cured composition joins to the fabric;
and
(viii) allowing the partially cured composition to fully cure and form a fully cured polyurethane composition with the fabric joined thereto, thereby forming the impact resistant textile-supported garment, or component thereof, wherein the impact resistant textile-supported garment, or component thereof, comprises at least one impact resistant segment with a depth of at least 3 mm upon a surface of the fabric.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/787,408Filed 21 Dec 2020
Priority: GB 191909420 Dec 2019
Published: US 2023/0145775 A111 May 2023
Granted: 31 Dec 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification37 codes

A41D 19/01523
Protective gloves: absorbing shocks or vibrations
A41D 13/015
Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches: with…
B29C 43/003
Compression moulding, i.e. applying external pressure to flow the moulding material; Apparatus therefor: characterised by the choice of material
B29C 43/021
Of articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles: characterised by the shape of the surface