Garment for storing and/or carrying items

Abstract

A garment for storing and/or carrying one or more items, including a torso receiving portion for wearing on at least part of a wearer's torso; and one or more receptacles for receiving said item/s, the or each receptacle being at least partially comprised of a semi-rigid polymeric material, the or each receptacle being integrated with said torso receiving portion.

1 . A garment for storing and/or carrying one or more items, including
 a torso receiving portion for wearing on at least part of a wearer's torso; and
 one or more receptacles for receiving said item/s, the or each receptacle being at least partially comprised of a semi-rigid polymeric material, the or each receptacle being integrated with said torso receiving portion; 
   wherein the integration of the or each receptacle with the torso receiving portion is by way of integral forming or moulding in which at least part of the receptacles are formed or moulded together with at least part of the torso receiving portion into one or more integral pieces.   
   
   
       2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the or each receptacle is constructed at least partially from a laminate comprising at least said semi-rigid polymeric material and a flexible material. 
   
   
       3 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the torso receiving portion also includes a laminate of at least said semi-rigid material and a flexible material. 
   
   
       4 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein said garment is shaped to substantially conform to at least part of the wearer's torso. 
   
   
       5 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible material is nylon or polyester, preferably woven or knitted nylon or polyester, more preferably a knitted nylon, such as that sold by DuPont under the trademark CORDURAÒ. 
   
   
       6 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the torso receiving portion of the garment includes a front region, for at least partially covering the front of the wearer's torso, a back region, for at least partially covering the back of the wearer's torso, two lateral regions, and at least one shoulder region for extending over and being supported by the wearer's shoulders. 
   
   
       7 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the torso receiving portion includes two lateral holes through which the wearer's arms may pass and are shaped and sized to allow substantially unobstructed movement of the wearer's arms during walking and running. 
   
   
       8 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the garment is such that when worn, the lower edge of the garment is no lower than the wearer's waist to thereby facilitate unobstructed movement of the wearer's torso during use. 
   
   
       9 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the or each receptacle typically takes the form of a pocket or holder and extends from the outer surface of the torso receiving portion. 
   
   
       10 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein each receptacle includes at least one outer wall and has an opening for receiving the item. 
   
   
       11 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the outer wall of each receptacle comprises the semi-rigid polymeric material which is moulded or formed into a three dimensional shape. 
   
   
       12 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle also includes a closure for the opening which includes a formed semi-rigid material. 
   
   
       13 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle includes an inner wall. 
   
   
       14 . The garment of  claim 13 , wherein the inner wall includes a vented material. 
   
   
       15 . The garment of  claim 13 , wherein the inner wall is in a contrasting colour such that it is evident to the wearer when the receptacle is open. 
   
   
       16 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the shape of each receptacle complements the shape of the item which it is intended to hold. 
   
   
       17 . The garment of  claim 1 , further including anchoring means for securing the garment to a wearer's belt or similar article of clothing, said anchoring means comprising one or more adjustable straps extending from the lower end of the garment and connectable to the wearer's belt, wherein said adjustable straps are extendible and retractable, such that when not in use they are retracted above the lower end of the garment. 
   
   
       18 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the semi-rigid material is based on a foamed (expanded) plastic material. 
   
   
       19 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the semi-rigid material is based on a polyolefin foam, such as a polyethylene foam, or an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, and is preferably a layer of compressed EVA foam. 
   
   
       20 . The garment of  claim 19 , wherein the semi-rigid material comprises a semi-rigid laminate of at least a first layer of fabric bonded to a first side of the EVA layer. 
   
   
       21 . The garment of  claim 20 , wherein said first layer of fabric is the same as said flexible material. 
   
   
       22 . The garment of  claim 20 , wherein said semi-rigid laminate includes a second layer of fabric bonded to a second side of the EVA layer, to thereby form a liner of said receptacle. 
   
   
       23 . The garment of  claim 22 , wherein said second fabric layer comprises a mesh to assist in strengthening the semi-rigid laminate. 
   
   
       24 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the semi-rigid material of the receptacle has sufficient flexibility to allow the receptacle to deform sufficiently to enable the wearer's hand to be inserted into the receptacle to retrieve the item. 
   
   
       25 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the openings of the receptacles are arranged so as to be readily accessed by the wearer's hands. 
   
   
       26 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein one of said receptacles is a handcuff receptacle having a shape and size conforming closely to a folded pair of handcuffs, and including inner and outer walls and a generally central hub sized and shaped to be received in the central opening of said folded pair of handcuffs. 
   
   
       27 . The garment of  claim 26 , wherein said hub comprises a hub element extending from said inner wall of the handcuff receptacle, wherein the interior of the hub element is filled with a silicone gel. 
   
   
       28 . The garment of  claim 26 , wherein the outer wall of the handcuff receptacle is comprised of EVA foam and an elastomeric material and the receptacle opening is located in said elastomeric material. 
   
   
       29 . The garment of  claim 28 , wherein said receptacle opening is slightly smaller than the largest dimension of the folded handcuff said opening being able to elastically stretch sufficiently to allow the handcuffs to pass therethrough. 
   
   
       30 . The garment of  claim 1 , including one or more elongate receptacles for storing an expandable baton and/or chemical spray and/or a first aid kit, said one or more receptacles being located on the upper front section of the garment with the longitudinal axis of each receptacle being orientated at an oblique angle to the median line of the torso when worn and the opening of each receptacle being located at or towards the lower end thereof. 
   
   
       31 . The garment of  claim 30 , wherein the or each elongate receptacle comprises an outer wall, including formed EVA foam, with an integral closure located at or towards its lower end and hinged for outward rotational movement from a closed to an open position. 
   
   
       32 . The garment of  claim 30 , wherein the or each closure includes a release flap or tab which can be gripped by the wearer when opening the closure, said release tabs including symbols in relief which indicate the contents of the respective receptacle. 
   
   
       33 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the inner surfaces of the receptacles include gripping means to assist in retaining the item therein. 
   
   
       34 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein one of said receptacles, for receiving a radio handset, includes a guide constructed from said semi-rigid material and a flexible pocket depending therefrom. 
   
   
       35 . The garment of  claim 34 , wherein said flexible pocket is constructed from a three dimensional mesh. 
   
   
       36 . The garment of  claim 1 , further including a flexible light mounted thereto, wherein said flexible light includes a flexible arm having a light source provided at one end thereof and the other end of the flexible arm is mounted to the garment on a shoulder region and extends down towards the upper front region of the garment. 
   
   
       37 . The garment of  claim 36 , wherein the power source for the light is rechargeable and integral with the garment. 
   
   
       38 . The garment of  claim 1  including garment illumination means to improve the visibility of the wearer at night time or during periods of poor visibility wherein the garment illumination means comprises one or more light emitting members integrally formed with the garment. 
   
   
       39 . The garment of  claim 38 , wherein the light emitting member comprises a window containing a number of light emitting diodes. 
   
   
       40 . The garment of  claim 38 , wherein the garment illuminates means is powered by a rechargeable power source. 
   
   
       41 . The garment of  claim 1 , further including lateral size adjustment means for adjusting the size of the garment to fit the size of the particular wearer's torso, wherein each adjustment means comprises first and second adjustment members, with the first adjustment member provided on the front region and the second adjustment member provided on the back region of the garment. 
   
   
       42 . The garment of  claim 41 , wherein the first and second adjustment members of each adjustment means comprise mutually attachable flaps, with a first flap provided on the lower lateral front region and a second flap provided on a corresponding lower lateral back region. 
   
   
       43 . The garment of  claim 42 , wherein at least one of the first and second flaps includes size indicators which indicate the appropriate relative position of the first and second flaps when attached in order to achieve a particular garment size. 
   
   
       44 . The garment of  claim 43 , wherein the first and second flaps are mutually attachable by hook and loop fasteners and the size indicators are welded or hot stamped into the hook or loop fastener region of each second flap. 
   
   
       45 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the garment may be provided with raised areas which distance the inner surface of the garment from the wearer's body, thereby facilitating and enhancing air circulation therebetween. 
   
   
       46 . The garment of  claim 45 , wherein said raised areas are padded and/or include impact resistant material. 
   
   
       47 . (canceled)