Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to a garment made from a perforable material suitable for wearing, and in particular to a protective apron with an adaptable belt.

Background

Disposable garments, such as a protective apron for single use, are used in a wide variety of applications, such as in hospitals, at dentists, in slaughterhouses and other food processing, in laboratories, in industrial facilities, and general personal protection etc. When producing such disposable garments simple and fast production is important.

Summary

Issues with prior art is that garments include several parts making them more complex to produce and/or are inflexible such that they are not possible to adapt to fit different users.

An object of the present disclosure is to address the issues in the prior art and to overcome or at least alleviate them.

According to an aspect, there is provided a garment comprising a first side edge and a second side edge opposing the first side edge. The garment further comprises an upper edge and a lower edge opposing the upper edge. A first perforation is arranged in the garment starting from the upper edge and running at a distance from and along the first side edge. Furthermore, a second perforation is arranged in the garment starting from the upper edge and running at a distance from and along the second side edge. At least one of the first and second perforations may be configured to end at the lower edge. The garment is typically made of perforable material suitable for a wearing.

By providing the first perforation starting from the upper edge and running at a distance from and along the first side edge, a first portion between the first side edge and the first perforation can be divided out from a main portion of the garment by tearing along the first perforation. The first portion may be used as a first belt part. The length of the first belt part may be adapted by adapting the length of the tear along the first perforation.

Similarly, by providing the second perforation starting from the upper edge and running at a distance from and along the second side edge, a second portion between the second side edge and the second perforation can be divided out from a main portion of the garment by tearing along the second perforation. The second portion may be used as a second belt part. The length of the second belt part may be adapted by adapting the length of the tear along the first perforation.

Hence, by adapting the length of the tear along the first perforation and along the second perforation, respectively, the garment can be adapted to fit an intended user of the garment. At the same time, production of the garment is simplified since there needs only be one single sheet of material which is perforated along each of its sides at a suitable length.

In alternative examples, the first and/or second perforation may end at a distance from the lower edge.

Having at least one of the first perforation and the second perforation ending at the lower edge enables tearing along all of that perforation down to the lower edge thereby enabling easy removal of the garment after completed use of the same. This effectively separates at least one side of the belt from the rest of the garment without the need for untying the belt at the back. This is particularly advantageous in applications where the garment needs to be removed quickly, such as when used in emergency rooms. Further, enabling quick and easy removal may be advantageous in applications where there is a risk for exposure to biohazards. By quickly tearing off the garment the risk of exposure may be reduced.

In embodiments, the material and/or the perforation may be configured such that an intentional tear along the perforation is possible whilst, if such intentional tear is only a portion of the perforation, the garment will be held in place on the user without further unintentional tearing by normal use. The ease by which the belt can be detached may be determined by the perforation’s resistance to tear, or tear strength. The perforation’s resistance to tear may in turn be determined by the inherent tear strength of the material by which the garment is formed, and further by the configuration of the perforation pattern. Preferably, the material and the configuration of the perforation pattern are combined so as to allow the belt to remain attached to the garment during use, i.e. , as the garment is worn, and to be detached in a controlled manner along the perforation after use, i.e., when the garment is to be removed. The perforation may be formed of a series of holes through the material, extending along a line. The frequency of the holes, i.e., the number of holes per length unit, as well as the ratio between the open length and the total length of the perforation, may be varied so as to achieve a desired tear strength that allows the garment to be efficiently attached to the user during use, and easily removed after use. The perforation pattern may further be varied depending on the strength of the material in which the perforation is arranged. A tougher or stronger material may for example require a higher frequency of holes and/or increased open length per length unit, compared to a less tough or strong material.

In embodiments, the garment further comprises means arranged at the upper edge for holding the garment around a neck of a user. In embodiments, the means arranged at the upper end for holding the garment around a neck of a user is a hole at a distance from the upper edge. Further perforation or other guiding means for tearing may be provided such that the hole may be intentionally opened at the upper edge at removal of the garment after completed use of the same. The material and the further perforation or other guiding means are preferably such that an intentional tear along the further perforation or other guiding means for tearing is possible whilst the garment will be held in place on the user such that no unintentional tearing is caused by normal use.

In embodiments, the material is a flexible sheet material. Typically, the material should be light enough, flexible enough for the activity performed by the user when wearing the garment. The material should also withstand the fluids, solids and other particles etc. from which it is intended to protect the user.

In embodiments, the material is made from any type of plastic material such as for example any kind of polyethylene. Flowever, any perforate material suitable for a wearing and for the particular use may be used.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Exemplifying embodiments will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a garment according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

Figures 2a-d show schematic illustrations of application of a garment according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

Figures 3a-c show schematic illustrations of removal of a garment according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

Figures 4a-c show schematic illustrations of various examples of perforation patterns.

All the figures are schematic and generally only show parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the respective embodiments, whereas other parts may be omitted or merely suggested.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a garment 100 according to embodiments of the present disclosure in the form of a protective apron 100. The apron 100 is made from a perforable material suitable for wearing. Typically, the material should be light enough, flexible enough for the activity performed by the user when wearing the apron 100. The material should also withstand the fluids or other from which it is intended to protect the user. The material may for example made from any one of low density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, and linear low density polyethylene. Flowever, any material than can be perforated to provide a perforation having suitable tear strength may be used. A suitable tear strength may be understood as a tear resistance that allows for the apron to be securely attached to the user during use and easily separated and removed from the user after use.

The apron 100 comprises a first side edge 110 and a second side edge 120 opposing the first side edge 110. The apron 100 further comprises an upper edge 130 and a lower edge 140 opposing the upper edge. A first perforation 150 is arranged in the apron 100 starting from the upper edge 130 and running at a distance from and along the first side edge 110. A second perforation 160 starting from the upper edge 130 and running at a distance from and along the second side edge 120. By providing the first perforation 150 starting from the upper edge 130 and running at a distance from and along the first side edge 110, a first portion 170 between the first side edge 110 and the first perforation 150 can be divided out from a main portion of the apron 100 by tearing along the first perforation 150. The first portion 170 may be used as a first belt part. The length of the first belt part may be adapted by adapting the length of the tear along the first perforation 150.

Similarly, by providing the second perforation 160 starting from the upper edge 130 and running at a distance from and along the second side edge 120, a second portion 180 between the second side edge 120 and the second perforation 160 can be divided out from a main portion of the apron 100 by tearing along the second perforation 160. The second portion 180 may be used as a second belt part. The length of the second belt part may be adapted by adapting the length of the tear along the second perforation 160.

Hence, by adapting the length of the tear along the first perforation 150 and along the second perforation 160, respectively, the apron 100 can be adapted to fit an intended user of the apron 100. At the same time, production of the apron 100 is simplified since there needs only be one single sheet of material which is perforated along each of its sides at a suitable length.

In Figure 1 , the first perforation 150 and the second perforation 160 both run all the way from the upper edge 130 to the lower edge 140. In some embodiments one or both of the first perforation 150 and the second perforation 160 may extend from the upper edge 130 and end at a distance from the lower edge 140. Such an embodiment will still enable adaptation of length of the first belt part and the second belt part up to the length of the perforation.

The apron 100 comprises means 190 arranged at the upper edge for holding the apron 100 around a neck of a user. The means 190 arranged at the upper end for holding the apron 100 around a neck of a user is in the form of a hole 190 at a distance from the upper edge 130.

Further perforation or other guiding means for tearing (not shown) may be provided such that the hole 190 may be intentionally opened at the upper edge at removal of the apron 100 after completed use of the same. The material and the further perforation or other guiding means are preferably such that an intentional tear along the further perforation or other guiding means for tearing is possible whilst the apron 100 will be held in place on the user such that no unintentional tearing is caused by normal use.

Generally, the material and the perforation patterns may be selected to provide a tear strength along the perforation that allows for the apron to be efficiently secured to the body of the user during the intended use of the apron, while at the same time facilitating removal from the body of the user in a controlled manner, in which the material of the apron may be torn apart along the perforation as the user wishes to remove the apron.

It is to be noted that the shape of the apron 100 illustrated in thr drawings is merely exemplary. The apron 100 may for example have curved side edges. The rejections shown at the upper edge 130 in connection to the first portion 170 and the second portion 180 need not be provided, but the upper edge 130 may instead be straight. Hence, the apron 100 may for example be rectangular.

Figures 2a-d show schematic illustrations of application of an apron 100 according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments the apron 100 is manufactured folded such that the first side edge 110 and the second side edge 120 are arranged on top of each other. In such a case the first perforation 150 and the second perforation 160 may be produced at the same time. In such embodiments, the apron is first opened as illustrated in Figure 2a.

Then the hole or loop 190 is pulled over the users head as shown in Figure 2b.

By tearing along the first perforation 150 and along the second perforation 160, respectively, as shown in Figure 2c, a first portion 170 and a second portion 180 can be divided out from a main portion of the apron. By adapting the length of the tears, the apron can be adapted to fit an intended user of the apron 100.

Furthermore, the first portion 170 may be used as a first belt part and the second portion 180 may be used as a second belt part as shown in Figure 2d. Figures 3a-c show schematic illustrations of removal of an apron 100 according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

In Figure 3a, both perforations run all the way down to the lower edge of the apron. Flence, by continuing the tearing along the perforations, the main portion of the apron is divided from the first and second belt part. A detail of the tearing is shown in Figure 3b.

Furthermore, in order to remove the apron 100, a perforation or other guiding means for tearing (not shown) may be provided such that the hole (loop) of the apron 100 may be intentionally opened at the upper edge at removal of the apron 100 after completed use of the same. As an alternative to perforation, the material of the apron may be such that is allowed also without perforation or other guiding means for tearing. Figures 4a-c show various examples of perforation patterns 150, 160 as described above in connections with figures 1-3. The perforation pattern may be selected so as to provide a tear resistance that is sufficient to prevent the belt from being detached during normal use, i.e. , the intended use of the apron, and to allow the belt to be purposely detached in a controlled manner after use, i.e., when the apron is to be removed. The size, shape and pitch of the perforations may be selected so as to vary the resistance to tear and allow the apron to be removed from the body of the user with ease, and may further be varied depending on the inherent material strength. In figure 4a an exemplary pattern is disclosed, wherein the perforations 150, 160 are elongated to increase the open length or open area along the perforation. The perforations may further comprise tear indications 152 for facilitating tear, such as the pointed or tapered edges of the perforations shown in figure 4a. Further, the pitch or frequency of the perforations may be varied, as illustrated in figures 4b and c. In figure 4b the perforations are arranged relatively sparsely, resulting in a relatively small open length, whereas in figure 4c the perforations are arranged relatively close to each other so as to increase the open length and reduce the tear strength.

A person skilled in the art realizes that the present disclosure is by no means limited to the embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the person skilled in the art realizes that the garments (aprons) described herein may have additional portions such as portions for protecting the arms or other parts of the user or be used together with other garments including such portions.

Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain features are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these features cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.