Method and apparatus for preventing belt abrasion

Abstract

A protective device and associated method for protecting a wearer of a work belt from abrasion and irritation in the region of the wearer's hip bone. One or more padded loop(s) of material is/are secured around the trouser belt and/or the work belt of a wearer, and are positioned on either or both side(s) of the crest of the ilium to create a recess between the belt and the wearer and thereby reduce or prevent abrasion and irritation.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for protecting a wearer, comprising: 
 a garment to be worn adjacent a body portion of the wearer; and    at least one protective device attached to said garment and having at least a portion thereof interposed between the garment and the wearer.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the garment is a belt to be worn around the waist of a wearer, and wherein the protective device is a loop of material attached around the belt.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the loop of material is padded.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the loop of material comprises a polyester fabric.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the loop of material comprises a multi-layer construction.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein first and second protective devices are attached to the belt, the first protective device positioned adjacent a first side of an iliac crest of the wearer, and the second protective device positioned adjacent a second side of the iliac crest of the wearer.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the protective device comprises a three-dimensional knit spacer fabric.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the protective device comprises a strip of material having a hook portion of a hook-and-loop fastener system at a first end thereof, and a loop portion of the hook-and-loop fastener system at a second end thereof.  
     
     
         9 . A protective device for mounting to a belt, said protective device comprising a loop defining an opening therethrough for receiving the belt.  
     
     
         10 . The protective device of  claim 9 , wherein the loop is formed from a strip of material having first and second ends thereof releasably fastened to one another.  
     
     
         11 . The protective device of  claim 10 , wherein the strip of material has a hook portion of a hook-and-loop fastener system at a first end thereof and a loop portion of the hook-and-loop fastener system at a second end thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The protective device of  claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the protective device is padded.  
     
     
         13 . The protective device of  claim 12 , at least partially comprising a polyester fabric.  
     
     
         14 . The protective device of  claim 13 , comprising a multi-layer construction.  
     
     
         15 . The protective device of  claim 9 , at least partially comprising a three-dimensional knit spacer fabric.  
     
     
         16 . A work belt comprising: 
 a belt to be worn around the waist of a wearer, the belt having a buckle end, a free end and a length;    a first protective device mounted to the belt on a first side of a first positional point located about 20-25% of the belt's length from one end of the belt; and    a second protective device mounted to the belt on a second side of said first positional point, opposite from the first protective device.    
     
     
         17 . The work belt of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second protective devices are each spaced a distance of about 1″-4″ from said first positional point on the belt.  
     
     
         18 . The work belt of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a third protective device mounted to the belt on a first side of a second positional point located about 75-80% of the belt's length from said one end of the belt; and    a fourth protective device mounted to the belt on a second side of said second positional point, opposite from the third protective device.    
     
     
         19 . A method of protecting a wearer from irritation by a work belt, comprising: 
 installing a first padded loop of material on the work belt;    securing the work belt about the wearer's waist; and    positioning the first padded loop at a first position on the work belt adjacent the wearer's iliac crest.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising installing a second padded loop of material on the work belt, and positioning the second padded loop at a second position on the work belt adjacent the wearer's iliac crest and separated a distance from the first padded loop.