Fencing jackets made from electrically conductive threads

• US 5,802,607 A
• Filed: 10/20/1995
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Walter W. Triplette
• Original Assignee: Walter W. Triplette
• Inventors: Triplette, Walter W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crowder, C. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JENKINS, SHIRRA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US08/546,474
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 139/426 R, 139/420 A, 139/425 R, 428/256, 428/259, 428/381, 455/100, 273/57.3, 174/5.5 B, 174/5 R, 174/5 SG, 2/2, 2/69
• US Class Current: 2/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/02 for fencing , e.g. means for indicating hits
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/00 Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/258 Noble metal
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/283 synthetic polymer-based, e.g. polyamide or polyester fibres cellulose-based artificial fibres D03D15/225
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2101/20 Metallic fibres
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2331/02 polyamides D10B2331/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/16 antistatic; conductive
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/04 Outerwear; Protective garments
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2507/00 Sport; Military
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2944 Free metal in coating

Abstract

A garment for use in electronically-scored, contact-sports competitions is described. The garment is in the form of a fencing jacket or vest, is substantially wireless, and is woven from electrically conductive threads which cooperate with an electric sports implement to register a score when the implement contacts the electrically conductive garment. The fabric can be woven with the electrically-conductive threads extending in only one of the warp and weft directions, and preferably only in the weft direction.

Claims

1. A wireless electrically conductive garment for use in electrically-scored contact sports competitions, the garment comprising a body portion for covering at least a portion of an upper torso of a wearer, at least a portion of said garment being made from a woven fabric having conductive threads woven in a first direction and non-conductive threads woven in a second direction, said conductive threads enabling said woven fabric to transport an electrical current provided by a contacting electric fencing implement to thereby enable registration of contact between the garment and an electric implement by a scoring apparatus.

2. A wireless electrically conductive garment according to claim 1, wherein said woven fabric is formed with substantially all conductive threads in a first direction and substantially all non-conductive threads woven in a second direction.

3. A wireless electrically conductive garment according to claim 1, wherein said first direction is the weft direction and said second direction is the warp direction of said woven fabric.

4. A wireless electrically conductive garment according to claim 1, wherein said conductive threads are silver-plated nylon.

5. A wireless electrically conductive garment according to claim 1, wherein said non-conductive threads include nylon.

6. A wireless electrically conductive garment according to claim 1, wherein said conductive and non-conductive threads are about 150-250 denier in size.

7. A wireless electrically conductive garment according to claim 1, wherein the garment is a fencing garment shaped to cover substantially only the upper torso and crotch regions of a wearer.

8. A wireless garment comprising:

a front panel for covering the front torso of a wearer,

a rear panel for covering the rear torso of a wearer,

first and second side panels connecting first and second sides of said front panel to first and second sides of said rear panel, to thereby form a torso encircling garment, and

a crotch panel secured to a lower portion of said front panel for covering a lower abdominal and crotch region of a wearer, and

a strap for releasably securing said crotch panel between a wearer'"'"'s legs, wherein at least said front and crotch panels are made from a wireless fabric comprising conductive threads, said fabric being adapted to transport an electrical current provided by a contacting electric fencing implement to enable registration of a contact between the garment and the fencing implement by a scoring apparatus.

9. A wireless garment according to claim 8, wherein said fabric is a woven fabric having conductive threads woven in a first direction and non-conductive threads woven in a second direction.

10. A wireless garment according to claim 9, wherein said fabric is woven with conductive threads in the weft direction and non-conductive threads in the warp direction.

11. A wireless garment according to claim 9, wherein said conductive threads are silver-plated nylon.

12. A wireless garment according to claim 9, wherein said conductive threads and said non-conductive threads are approximately 150-250 denier in size.

13. A wireless garment according to claim 8, further comprising releasable fastening means secured to said rear panel for mating engagement with said strap, to thereby secure the crotch panel between a wearer'"'"'s legs.

14. A wireless conductive garment for use in electronically-scored contact sports comprising:

an upper torso encircling garment having front and rear panels connected along first and second side panels for covering the upper torso of a wearer,

a crotch panel secured to a lower portion of said front panel for covering a lower abdominal and crotch region of a wearer, and

strap means for releasably securing said crotch panel between a wearer'"'"'s legs, and wherein at least said front and crotch panels are woven from a fabric comprising conductive threads such that said fabric can transport an electrical current provided by a contacting electric fencing implement to thereby cause a registration of the contact between the garment and the fencing implement by a scoring apparatus.

15. A wireless conductive garment according to claim 14, wherein said conductive threads are silver-plated nylon.

16. A wireless conductive garment according to claim 14, wherein said fabric comprises substantially all non-conductive threads woven in a warp direction of the fabric.

17. A wireless conductive garment according to claim 16, wherein said fabric comprises about 150-250 denier conductive threads woven in a weft direction of the fabric and said non-conductive threads are about 150-250 denier in size.

18. A wireless conductive garment according to claim 17, wherein the warp direction of the fabric extends vertically along said front and rear panels.

19. A wireless electrically conductive garment comprising a body portion for covering at last a portion of an upper torso of a wearer, said garment being made from a woven fabric having a warp formed substantially entirely of nylon threads about 150-250 denier in size, and a weft formed substantially entirely of electrically conductive silver-plated nylon threads about 150-250 denier in size, said conductive threads enabling said woven fabric to transport an electrical current provided by a contacting electric fencing implement to thereby cause registration of a contact between said garment and the electric implement by a scoring apparatus.