Abrasion resistant conformal beaded-matrix for use in safety garments

Abstract

An abrasion resistant garment and method of producing same. A garment that is highly ventilated while providing abrasion protection for a wearer during a slide, as for instance that may occur during a fall from a motorcycle. A material is produced wherein abrasion-resistant, low sliding friction, beads are held within a matrix of high-tensile strength, abrasion-resistant, cords. The beaded matrix within the garment can be augmented with layers to form a lining and exterior layers to enhance visibility. The force of a sliding rider is retained over the beaded matrix, away from the road surface. Under abrasive sliding friction, the beads additionally rotate to an extent which tightens the cord matrix and thereby helps constrain the skin surface of the wearer from making contact with the roadway surface.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An abrasion resistant material for use in protective clothing, comprising: 
 (a) a plurality of beads having round exteriors; and    (b) a matrix of cords interconnecting said plurality of beads in a two dimensional pattern toward providing high abrasion resistance.    
     
     
         2 . An abrasion resistant material as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said attachment occurs substantially through the center of each of said beads.  
     
     
         3 . An abrasion resistant material as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the exterior of the bead comprises UHMW polyethylene.  
     
     
         4 . A garment material for use within abrasion resistant clothing, comprising: 
 a plurality of beads of an abrasion resistant material having rounded exteriors; and    a matrix of cords interconnecting said beads and configured for retaining said beads in a fixed two-dimensional pattern as a material from which abrasion resistant clothing may be fabricated.    
     
     
         5 . A garment material as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said matrix of cords comprise material of sufficiently high tensile strength to prevent said beads from disconnecting from said matrix of cords in response to sliding contact with a roadway surface.  
     
     
         6 . A garment material as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said matrix of cords are attached to said plurality of beads through a material portion of each of said beads.  
     
     
         7 . A garment material as recited in  claim 4 , wherein at least the exterior portions of said beads comprise an abrasion resistant material having a coefficient of friction sufficiently low as to reduce inducing rotational torque forces on a wearer of said garment in response to sliding contact with a roadway surface that can lead to additional tumbling injuries.  
     
     
         8 . A garment material as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising compliant material inserts retained where said cord enters the material of said bead.