SAFETYVEST

Area of the Invention

This invention relates to apparel worn for safety reasons to enhance the visibility of a wearer when exposed to traffic or other hazards. In particular the invention relates to a vest or similar clothing which is worn by a person in order to increase awareness of the presence of that person.

Background to the Invention

While the invention can be used in relation to many applications where a person's safety is dependent on their degree of visibility, for simplicity here it will be discussed in terms of its application to bicycle riders, motorcycle riders and others who contend with vehicular traffic.

It is well known that bicycles can be difficult to see particularly in the dark or twilight. Most bicycles are equipped with a forward directed fight and usually a reflector on the rear mudguard while others have a tail light adjacent the rear of the seat.

A driver approaching from behind in poor light conditions is hard put to distinguish the bicycle rider as reflectors are generally poorly visible and do not have a positive light output.

One solution is to wear a safety vest or the like which is proqvided with reflective material which enhances the general overall reflectiveness and visibility of a rider. The effectiveness of such apparel however is dependent on the degree of illumination of the wearer and also the time available for a vehicle driver to become aware of the cyclist and to take appropriate avoiding action.

Some safety clothing has been designed to convey more information than is provided by relatively random reflective strips for example the strips may follow the lines of legs and arms to indicate the outline of a person. This however is not appropriate for a cyclist and does not provide the type of visibility provided by an active light source or signalling device.

Outline of the Invention

It is an object of the invention to provide safety clothing, and particularly vests, which have improved visibility characteristics over the prior art and which provide positive information to an oncoming vehicle or the like about the wearer of the safety clothing.

The invention is a safety device in the form of an article of apparel worn by a person, which safety device is provided with illumination means.

It is preferred that the illumination means on the safety device depict a warning sign.

ft is further preferred that the illumination means be adapted to form words which provide information to an onco.ming vehicle or the like.

Jt may be preferred that the illumination means include fluorescent material, battery or generator actuated incandescent and LED lighting, or solar actuated means.

Jt may also be preferred that the article of apparel be a vest.

Jt is further preferred that the signage on the vest carry the words "LOOK BIKE" or their equivalent in any desired language.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood we shall describe by way of non limiting example embodiments of the nozzle made in accordance with the invention as shown in the accompanying drawing figure.

Brief Description of the Drawing Figures

Fig. 1 Is a diagrammatic representation of the rear face of the vest of the invention showing a warning sign which is visible to oncoming traffic;

Fig.2 Is a diagrammatic representation of the front of the vest of the invention;

Description of an Embodiment of the Invention

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the safety device is a vest to be worn by cyclists of any variety.

While the wording on the vest may be located anywhere on the vest it is preferably situated at least on the back of the vest and while any preferred wording may be used , for the purpose of the following description, the invention will be discussed here in terms of the words "look bike" as this provides a distinct and clear warning to oncoming motorists.

As shown in Figure 1 a vest 10 is provided with the words "LOOK" 2 and "BIKE" 3 on a rearwards facing part of the vest. The vest can be of any chosen material and of any preferred design and it is to be understood that the invention includes all types of worn apparel which a cycle rider may choose to wear. Such apparel would of course include vests worn over other clothing as well as jackets and the like.

The words 2 and 3 of the device of the invention can be illuminated by any preferred means and in this embodiment of the invention it is envisaged that they be formed from a waterproof transparent flexible material such as a plastic strip which is provided with a fight source elements 5 inside that material such that, when it is attached to the vest the shape of the words depicted by that material is illuminated.

It may be preferred that different coloured plastics be used and different coloured light sources be provided.

The lettering may also be attached to the fabric of the vest by any desired means such as Velcro™, stitching or glueing. The precise means of attachment being unrestricted

in the invention.

Jn the embodiment of the invention described here the plastic material contains LED's which are preferably battery operated but can be dynamo or generator driven.

This means of illuminating the fetters is found to be best for night time conditions to warn oncoming motorists. Fiuorescent material can also be shaped into the letters required however this is only realty effective when a vehicle's headlights shine directly on the vest.

The front of the vest is shown in Figure 2 and shows words 1 and 2 depicted on either side of a front opening of the vest. This arrangement of the letters used has been found to be most effective however the invention is not restricted in relation to the orientation of any fetters depicted on the vest.

While the fetters constituting the words illuminating the vest are positively illuminated and powered by the means described the vest also incorporates fluorescent material 4 to provide greater visibility enhancement.

It is indeed envisaged that any combination of active and passive illuminating means may be used in the invention and on any kind of garment of which a vest is exemplary only.

As previously stated the invention is not restricted as to the types of material used in

its manufacture however it is preferred that the light sources used be covered by some transparent waterproof material. As a result letters could be either pre-formed and attached to the garment orthe lighting elements used could be attached to the garment in the shape of letters and have a transparent layer sealed over them.

By the means described above significant improvements are provided in relation to providing a safety vest or other garment with improved visibility and distinctiveness over the prior art and whilst we have described herein one specific embodiment of the invention it is envisaged that other embodiments of the invention will exhibit any number of and any combination of the features previously described and it is to be understood that variations and modifications in this can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.