GB2467977A

GB2467977A - Aerodynamic apparel

Info

Publication number: GB2467977A
Application number: GB0903113A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jessica Rose Shah
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-02-24
Filing date: 2009-02-24
Publication date: 2010-08-25
Also published as: GB0903113D0

Abstract

Aerodynamic apparel including a hump, shaped for enhanced aerodynamic form, wherein the hump is defined by an inflatable air or non-flammable gas chamber or balloon that is readily deflatable in an emergency using valves 3. In particular the apparel is a motorcycle jacket and the hump is hemi-conical and provided on the upper back to improve streamline flow. The hump can be readily deflated using the valves so that an injured rider can be can be laid flat and the neck stabilized quickly. The hump may be stitched or glued to the apparel or may be removably placed in a pocket to enable easy repair.

Description

Aerodynamic Apparel

Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns improvements in and relating to aerodynamic apparel and, most notably, upper body apparel, such as jackets of professional or amateur motorbike racers.

Background to the Invention

Many people that engage in high speed travel and are exposed to the elements, such as on motorcycles, are concerned about the flow of air past their head. This is true, for example, for people that race motorcycles and for road users that are concerned about aerodynamics Therefore, manufacturers of motorcycle apparel, for example, have introduced jackets with a foam hump' woven into the collar. This hump is in the shape of a longitudinally-sectioned cone (hemi-cone). The base of the hem i-cone is shaped so as to fit with the back of the helmeted head of the rider as they crouch into a racing position. Air therefore flows smoothly over the head of the rider, over the hemi-conical hump and down the rider's back. Without the hump, turbulence is created at the junction between the helmet and the neck impairing performance.

During a crash in which the rider is subject to trauma, a severe and frequent outcome is neck injury. Therefore, healthcare staff attending such an incident will attempt to lay the injured rider flat and stabilise their neck as such injuries cannot be excluded until the rider has been fully assessed in a hospital setting.

In people wearing the aerodynamic humped apparel currently available, it is impossible to lay the rider flat and immobilise the neck after an accident.

Attempting to do so results in a pivot at the rider's neck resting on the edge of the hump and potentially leads to new or further damage to the neck and spinal cord. Equally, it is not possible to remove the apparel at the scene as this causes unacceptable delays to treatment and also has the potential for inflicting further injuries to the rider.

The number of motorcycle and other riders using aerodynamic humped apparel increases every year and these individuals have a higher than average probability of sustaining neck injuries. This group are now at risk of receiving inadequate treatment in the result of an accident due to the foam hump in their clothing.

Statement of Invention

To mitigate or overcome this problem, the present invention provides a unique solution. Instead of the bikers jacket having a solid pad as the aerodynamic hemi-conical hump, a substantially hemi-conical air chamber or balloon is provided which can be inflated and easily deflated suitably via an air-tight valve. This air chamber or balloon may be woven into apparel on the back aspect to create the hump shape or used as a detachable device to insert into a pocket within the apparel. The present invention thus provides in one aspect an inflatable aerodynamic air-filled hump that may be built into or is adapted to be attached, preferably demountably, to the back aspect of apparel for the upper body.

The use of an inflatable and deflatable air-filled hump allows riders to adjust the amount of air in the hump to provide the required aerodynamic profile. It also allows medical staff to quickly, controllably and safely deflate the hump in the event of an accident. This will allow medical staff to follow treatment that preserves the stability of the neck and is an important safety feature to ensure that the injured rider does not incur or exacerbate a neck injury.

Preferably, the means to inflate or deflate comprises one or more Presta or Schraeder valves at easily accessible locations on the outside of the hump.

Preferably, the air-filled chamber or balloon is made of a durable air-tight material such as rubber or an airtight polyester.

Preferably, the air-filled chamber or balloon is a detachable device that can be inserted into an appropriately shaped pocket in the apparel as this would allow the device to be replaced in the event of puncture.

Preferably, the valves leading to the hump are fed through the apparel itself so as to be accessible from the exterior of the apparel.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 shows the construction of a hemi-conical air filled hump for attachment to, insertion in or inclusion in upper body human apparel; Figure 2 shows how the hump illustrated in Figure 1 may be permanently attached to upper body apparel by means of an adhesive or stitching; Figure 3 shows the side aspect of the hump illustrated in Figure 1 attached to apparel to illustrate the concept further; Figure 4 shows how the hump illustrated in Figure 1 may be inserted temporarily into upper body apparel; and Figure 5 shows how the hump illustrated in Figure 1 may be included in the main structure of upper body apparel.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

In Figure 1, a hemi-conical hump made of any airtight material, for example rubber or airtight polyester. This includes an isosceles triangular, flat base (I). This base should be reinforced so that it remains flat after the hump is inflated. Attached to this base at both equal length sides is another isosceles triangular patch of material (2) with a wider base (3).

This base (3) is attached to a semi-circular patch of material (4) which is in turn attached to the base of triangle 1. A valve, or pair of valves (5), suitably Presta or Schraeder valves are placed on the sides of the hump to allow easy access in the event that the hump needs to be deflated in an emergency i.e. by medical staff after an accident.

The hump illustrated in Figure 1 can be incorporated into upper body apparel in three ways and these are shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5.

In Figure 2, the hump (1) is permanently attached within the back aspect of the apparel (2). The valves (3) connect the hump with the exterior through holes (4) in the back aspect of the apparel. Figure 3 shows the side view of the placement of the hump in apparel and illustrates how adhesive or stitching could connect the hump to the apparel by filling the spaces shown (5).

In Figure 4, the hump is positioned within apparel as in Figures 2 and 3.

However, the hump can now be detached from the apparel and replaced in the event of, for example, a puncture. The inside of the back of the apparel (1) would have a patch (2) that could be opened along line (3) via a zip or Velcro for example allowing the hump to be placed into the apparel and sealed within it. The valves on the hump would then have to be passed through holes in the apparel (4) so as to be accessible from the outside. The benefit of this construction would be that the wearer could replace the hump if it became defective at any point without having to purchase new apparel.

In Figure 5, the same concept of an inflatable hump is incorporated into the structure of the apparel itself. In this description, a pocket within the apparel itself (1) with an airtight lining including a flat triangular base (2), a triangular roof (3) and a semicircular wall (4) would be inflated and deflated to create the aerodynamic hump via valves (5) as shown.

Claims

Claims 1. An item of aerodynamic apparel that in use incorporates a hump shaped for enhanced aerodynamic form wherein the hump is defined by an inflated air/ non-flammable gas chamber or balloon that is readily deflatable in a medical emergency.
2. An item of aerodynamic apparel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the item comprises upper body apparel, such as a motor cycle rider's jacket.
3. An item of aerodynamic apparel as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the hump is substantially hemi-conical.
4. An item of aerodynamic apparel as claimed in claim 3, wherein the inflated air chamber or balloon is correspondingly substantially hemi-con ical.
5. An aerodynamic hump for upper body human apparel comprising a hump that is filled with air or other non-flammable gas and which can be easily deflated.
6. An aerodynamic hump as claimed in claim 5, wherein the hump is substantially hemi-conical.
7. An aerodynamic hump as claimed in claim 5 or 6, in which the hump is inflated via an airtight valve and deflated using the same.
8. An aerodynamic hump as claimed in any of claims 5, 6 or 7, attached to an item of apparel by permanent adhesion of the hump to the apparel, weaving of the hump into the lining of the apparel, or temporary placement of the hump into a pocket of the apparel.
9. An aerodynamic hump for upper body human apparel wherein the hump is formed by lining of a hemi-conical pocket within the back aspect of the apparel with an airtight material and the placement of an airtight valve connecting the pocket to the outside of the apparel facilitating inflation and deflation.