The present invention relates to a protective garment for motorcyclists and to a method of closing a front opening of such a protective garment.

Usually, the protective garments for motorcyclists are provided with a front opening which allows the easy wearing of the garments by the users.

Such an opening generally is closed by a zip closure/fastener having the function to fasten opposite right and left front portions of the front area of the garment.

As it is known, zip closures consist in two rows of metal or plastic teeth, provided on the edges of the front portions on either side of the opening to be closed.

The teeth are designed to be removably interlocked to each other by means of a cursor having two channels in it.

As the cursor is pulled up or down, by means of a puller with a handling tab, the teeth slide along the channels and are pushed into each other so as to firmly connect the front portions to which they are applied.

In particular, the cursor is moved upwards along the rows of teeth until it reaches an upper stop, namely a block which has the function to prevent the cursor from moving past an upmost position on the zip closure.

Once the cursor has reached the upper stop in the operative configuration, the opposite portions of the front opening of the garment are firmly connected.

Such a kind of closure means are particularly convenient since they are easy to operate. However, a first drawback of the above technical solutions is that, if the zip closure has not been properly closed by the user, for example in case the cursor has not reached the upper stop, the front opening is not fully closed and the high speed of the motorcycle can cause air to get inside the garment through the neck portion thereof, thereby ballooning the protective garment.

In this regard, the zip closures may be provided with locking mechanisms designed to prevent the cursor from sliding down.

However, the high force generated by the air entering into the garment and acting on the zip closure can overcome the resistance offered by the locking mechanism of the zip closure.

Similar notes are valid for a protective flap which is usually arranged at the neck area of the garment. The protective flap is fastened at a first upper portion of the front opening and it is designed to be removably fastened to a base layer provided on the opposite front portion of the front opening, so as to extend over the zip closure. Both the protective flap and the base layer are provided on one surface thereof with coupling means, usually of the hook-and-loop type, designed to be coupled there between in a closure position.

In such a closure position the flap covers the cursor and the puller of the zip closure, thereby avoiding the cursor to be accidentally moved downwards.

However, the protective flap alone is not completely effective in preventing air from passing under the neck of the user and from entering and inflating the protective garment from inside.

Consequently, the risk that the zip closures become loose during the use of the protective garment exists.

In such a case, the user needs necessarily to stop and to close his garment again; as a matter of fact, in case of an accident, if the front opening is not fully closed the user would unavoidably be exposed to dangers.

A similar danger situation can happen even in case of a failure of the zip closure, regardless whether it has been properly closed or not.

Also in this case, if the teeth of the zip closure are not firmly closed, air can enter inside the garment so as to cause a loosening of the zip closure with the same above mentioned drawbacks.

The object of the present invention is to provide a protective garment for motorcyclists and a method of closing a front opening of such a protective garment, which solve at least partly the above mentioned drawbacks.

In particular, an aim of the present invention is to provide a protective garment for motorcyclists suitable for assuring that the zip closure does not become accidentally loose during the use of the protective garment.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide a protective garment for motorcyclists wherein the closure of the front opening is particularly simple and quick. A further aim of the present invention is to provide a protective garment for motorcyclists suitable for avoiding an accidental moving of the cursor and of the puller with the handling tab of the zip closure.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide a simple and safe method of closing a front opening of a protective garment for motorcyclists.

These and other objects and aims are achieved by a protective garment for motorcyclists according to claim 1 and by a method of closing a front opening of such a protective garment according to claim 16 and claim 17.

The advantages and the characteristic features of the invention will appear more clearly from the following description of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the protective garment with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

- figures la-4a show respective front views of a first embodiment of the protective garment for motorcyclists of the present invention in different operative positions which correspond to different steps of the method of closing the front opening;

- figures lb-4b show respective transversely cross-sectioned views of a portion of the protective garment of figures la-4a and taken along respective lines I-I, II-II, III-III and IV-IV of figures la-4a;

- figures 5a and 5b show respective front views of a second embodiment of the protective garment of the present invention in two different operative positions.

With reference to the enclosed figures, an example of a protective garment for motorcyclists according to the invention is indicated as a whole by the reference 1. The protective garment 1 can also be used in activities similar to motorcycling.

The protective garment 1 can be manufactured as a one-piece motorcycle suit or as a motorcycle jacket. Alternatively, the protective garment 1 can be manufactured as a vest.

Preferably, the protective garment 1 is made at least partially of a layer of a material resistant to abrasion, for example leather or leather-like material, and/ or comprises at least one portion 2 made of the material resistant to abrasion.

The protective garment 1 can also comprise stretch inserts, preferably in the form of accordion leather stretch inserts, having the function to improve the comfort of the garment 1.

Moreover, the protective garment 1 may comprise rigid and/or semi-rigid impact protections. The stretch inserts and the impact protections are not shown in the attached figures.

The rigid and/or semi-rigid impact protections may be positioned at portions of the protective garment 1 designed to be superimposed in use over the shoulders and elbows of the user or positioned in portions of the protective garment 1 designed to be superimposed to knees and front lower limbs of the user.

The protective garment 1 can also be provided with an inflatable protection device designed to offer an additional protection to specific body areas of the user. The inflatable device is not shown as well in the attached figures.

With reference to both the embodiments shown in the enclosed figures, the protective garment 1 comprises a front area 4 designed to be positioned over the chest of the user when the protective garment 1 is worn by the user.

In particular, the front area 4 includes a right front portion 4A and a left front portion 4B which are separated from each other to define a front opening. Such a front opening has the function to allow the wearing of the protective garment 1.

As better shown in the attached figures, the protective garment 1 further comprises a zip closure 6 with a cursor 7, a puller 8 and two rows of teeth 9 arranged respectively on the edges of the front portions 4A, 4B facing the front opening.

The right front portion 4A and the left front portion 4B are designed to be removably fastened together by means of the zip closure 6.

In particular, the user may fasten together the front portions 4A, 4B and close the front opening moving upwards the cursor 7 by means of the puller 8 until the cursor 7 reaches an operative configuration wherein it abuts against an upper stop.

The protective garment 1 comprises also a base layer 10 arranged on one of the front portions 4B, 4A and at least one first flap 12 arranged on the other of the front portions 4A, 4B.

Opportunely, the at least one first flap 12 and the base layer 10 are positioned on the front portions 4A, 4B at the neck portion of the protective garment 1.

In particular, the at least one first flap 12 is arranged on a front portion 4A of the protective garment 1, the right one or the left one, next to the teeth 9 of the zip closure 6 and is preferably stitched on the layer of material resistant to abrasion or on the portion 2 of leather of the garment 1 so as to form a folding line (see figures lb-4b and 5a-5b); the base layer 10 may be preferably stitched to the portion 2 of the garment 1 as well.

Operatively, the base layer 10 and the at least one first flap 12 are removably fastened there between in a closure position, as shown in figures 4a and 4b with reference to the first embodiment of the protective garment 1.

In this regard, the at least one first flap 12 is designed to be moved, by the user grasping it, between an inoperative folded position (see figures la-3a and lb-3b) and the closure position (see figure 4a and 4b), wherein it is fully extended.

The first flap 12 of the second embodiment is designed as well to be moved between the inoperative folded position and the closure position in order to be removably fastened to the base layer 10; however, the first flap 12 and the base layer 10 in the closure position are not shown with respect to the second embodiment of figures 5a and 5b.

In the closure position, the at least one first flap 12 contributes, together with the zip closure 6, to fasten the right front portion 4A and the left front portion 4B of the protective garment 1.

According to the present invention, the base layer 10 and the at least one first flap 12 are indirectly fastened there between in the closure position and comprise respectively, on one surface thereof, first coupling means 14 and second coupling means 16.

In the present specification, the term “indirectly” means that the base layer 10 and the first flap 12 are removably fastened with the interposition of at least one further member, as better explained below.

Advantageously, the first coupling means 14 and the second coupling means 16 are designed to be removably and indirectly fastened there between in the closure position.

In detail, in the closure position the surfaces of the base layer 10 and of the at least one first flap 12 comprising the first coupling means 14 and the second coupling means 16 face there between, with the interposition of the least one further member. Opportunely, the surface of the at least one first flap 12 opposite to the surface with the second coupling means 16 is made, preferably but not exclusively, of leather as the portion 2 or the layer of the protective garment 1.

With particular reference to the first embodiment of the protective garment 1, the first coupling means 14 and the second coupling 16 means may be preferably of the hook- and-loop type.

Further, the protective garment 1 comprises an intermediate member 20 having the function of further securing the front portions 4A, 4B there between and/or to maintain the cursor 7 and the puller 8 of the zip closure 6 in position once being moved in the operative configuration.

In particular, the intermediate member 20 comprises third coupling means 22 and fourth coupling means 24 designed to be removably and directly fastened respectively to the first coupling means 14 and to the second coupling means 16 in the closure position.

Therefore, the first coupling means 14 of the base layer 10 and the second coupling means 16 of the at least one first flap 12 are indirectly coupled there between by means of the intermediate member 20.

According to the first embodiment, the puller 8 of the zip closure 6, when in the closure position, is positioned between the first flap 12 and the intermediate member 20 and it is stably maintained in position (see figure 4b).

Preferably, and as better shown in the figures la-4b, the intermediate member 20 of the first embodiment is an intermediate flap with two surfaces facing respectively the base layer 10 and the first flap 12 in the closure position, the third coupling means 22 being arranged on one surface of the intermediate flap 20 and the fourth coupling means 24 being arranged on the other surface of the intermediate flap 20.

Opportunely, the intermediate member 20, namely the intermediate flap, and the first flap 12 are both positioned on the right front portion 4A or on the left front portion 4B of the front area 4.

As shown in the figures la-4a and lb-4b, the intermediate flap 20 of the first embodiment comprises a main body 20A wherein the third coupling means 22 and the fourth coupling means 24 are arranged and a connection portion 20B whose function will be better explained in the following.

Preferably, the connection portion 20B has a smaller extension than the extension of the main body 20A and may be made of the same material of the main body 20A or made of elastic material.

Advantageously, the intermediate flap 20, in particular the main body 20A thereof, may have substantially the same size and shape of the base layer 10.

The intermediate flap 20 may be secured at an edge of the corresponding front portion 4A, 4B in an innermost position with respect to the at least one first flap 12 and close to the respective row of teeth 9 or may be secured to the at least one first flap 12.

In particular, the intermediate flap 20 may be stitched to the edge of the corresponding front portion 4A, 4B or may be stitched to the first flap 12 at the folding line thereof (see figures lb-4b).

Preferably, the intermediate flap 20 is secured or stitched to the edge of the corresponding front portion 4A, 4B or to the at least one first flap 12 at the connection portion 20B thereof.

In any case, the intermediate flap 20 may be moved with respect to the at least one first flap 12 between an inoperative position (see figure la-lb) and an operative position (see figures 2a-2b, 3a-3b and 4a-4b) wherein the third coupling means 22 are removably fastened to the first coupling means 14 of the base layer 10.

The movement between the inoperative position and the operative position takes place about an end of the connection portion 20B which thus defines a folding line.

Advantageously, in the operative position, the intermediate flap 20 at least partially overlaps the zip closure 6. Preferably, in the operative position the intermediate flap 20 is also designed to overlap the cursor 7 (see figure 2b).

Advantageously, in the operative position the connection portion 20B of the intermediate flap 20 at least partially overlap the zip closure 6 and the cursor 7, a better shown in figures 2a-2b and 3a-3b.

Further, in the operative position of the intermediate flap 20, the fourth coupling means 24 are exposed for the following fastening thereto of the second coupling means 16 of the first flap 12, as shown in figures 2a-2b and 3a-3b. Advantageously and according to the figures la-4a and lb-4b, also the third coupling means 22 and the fourth coupling means 24 of the first embodiment are of the hook- and-loop type.

For example, the first coupling means 14 and the second coupling means 16 may be hooks while the third coupling means 22 and fourth coupling means 24 may be loops; in alternative, the third coupling means 22 may be hooks and the fourth coupling means 24 may be loops, the first coupling means 14 being loops and the second coupling means 16 being hooks.

With reference to such latter embodiments, the puller 8 of the zip closure 6 may comprise a handling tab 26 with a pair of faces; the handling tab 26 may comprise respective coupling means 28, preferably of the hook-and-loop type, arranged on both the faces thereof.

Such coupling means 28 are designed to be removably fastened to the fourth coupling means 24 of the intermediate member 20 and to the second coupling means 16 of the at least one first flap 12.

In other words, the handling tab 26 can be firmly locked between the intermediate member 20 and the first flap 12. Such a sandwich configuration assures that the handling tab 26 and thus the cursor 7 cannot accidentally slide along the teeth 9 of the zip closure 6, thereby leading to the opening of the front opening.

The handling tab 26 and the cursor 7 may only be released intentionally by the user after having detached the first flap 12 from the intermediate member 20 and the handling tab 26 from the intermediate member 20.

In an alternative embodiment not shown in the figures, the first coupling means and the third coupling means comprise, respectively, a female portion and a male portion of an automatic button, the second coupling means and the fourth coupling means being of the hook-and-loop type, or vice versa.

In a further alternative embodiment not shown in the figures, the first coupling means and the third coupling means comprise, respectively, a female portion and a male portion of an automatic button, the second coupling means and the fourth coupling means comprising, respectively, a female portion and a male portion of a further automatic button.

Alternatively, the first coupling means, the second coupling means, the third coupling means and the fourth coupling means may comprise a combination of automatic buttons and hook-and-loop fastening means.

With reference to the second embodiment shown in figures 5a and 5b, the intermediate member 20 is formed by the handling tab 26 of the puller 8 of the zip closure 6. The handling tab 26 has a smaller extension than the base layer 10 and the first flap 12.

In such a second embodiment, the first coupling means 14 and the third coupling means 22 (formed on the face of the handling tab 26 facing the base layer 10 in the closure position) are preferably of the hook-and-loop type.

Further, the second coupling means 16 and the fourth coupling means 24 (formed on the opposite face of the handling tab 26 facing the first flap 12 in the closure position) comprise, respectively, a female portion 30A and a male portion 30B of a snap button, as better shown in figure 5a.

Such a further configuration assures as well that the handling tab 26 and thus the cursor 7 of the zip closure 6 cannot accidentally slide along the teeth 9, thereby leading to the opening of the front opening.

As better shown in figure 5a, the first flap 12 comprises, on the face with the female portion 30A of the snap button, further coupling means 32 of the hook-and-loop type designed to be removably fastened to the first coupling means 14 of the base layer 10 with the interposition of the handling tab 26 in the closure position.

As anticipated, the present invention also relates to a method of closing the front opening of the protective garment 1 for motorcyclists, the method comprising the following steps:

- moving upwards the cursor 7 of the zip closure 6 along the rows of teeth 9 by means of the puller 8 in an operative configuration for closing the front opening (see figures la and lb);

- removably fastening the third coupling means 22 of the intermediate member 20, namely the intermediate flap, to the first coupling means 14 of the base layer 10 (see figures 2a-2b);

- fastening the fourth coupling means 24 of the intermediate member 20 to the second coupling means 16 of said at least one first flap 12, the puller 8 of the zip closure 6, eventually with the handling tab 26, being positioned between the intermediate member 20 and the first flap 12 in such operative position (see figures 4a and 4b).

Figures 3a and 3b show the step of the method wherein the intermediate member 20 has been fastened to the base layer 10 and the puller 8 of the zip closure 6 has been positioned above the intermediate member 20 in order to be interposed between the first flap 12 and the intermediate member 20 once the second coupling means 16 and the fourth coupling means 24 have been removably fastened.

According to an alternative embodiment, the method comprises the following step:

- moving upwards the cursor 7 of the zip closure 6 along the rows of teeth 9 by means of the puller 8 in an operative configuration for closing the front opening (see figure 5a);

- removably fastening the fourth coupling means 24 of the intermediate member 20 to the second coupling means 16 of said at least one first flap 12 (see figure 5b);

- removably fastening the third coupling means 22 on the intermediate member 20 to the first coupling means 14 of the base layer 10.

In such an alternative embodiment of the method, the puller 8 of the zip closure 6 comprises a handling tab 26 forming the intermediate member 20 and removably coupled to the base layer 10 and to the first flap 12 by means of the third coupling means 22 and of the fourth coupling means 24.

In particular, in such an alternative embodiment of the method, the moving of the first flap 12 into the closure position allows to move the third coupling means 22 on the handling tab 26 in contact with the first coupling means 14 on the base layer 10 for removable fastening thereof.

With regard to the embodiments of the protective garment 1 described above, the person skilled in the art may, in order to satisfy specific requirements, make modifications to and/ or replace elements described with equivalent elements, without thereby departing from the scope of the accompanying claims.