High Visibility Safety Apparel

Abstract

A high visibility garment is provided for use by fire fighters and other emergency workers, and allows for large adjustment in size to accommodate both small and large body sizes, as well as worker apparel that can vary from a t-shirt to bunker gear or other heavy duty protective outerwear.

1 . A high visibility safety vest for use comprising:
 an adjustable torso covering portion of high visibility material, the torso covering portion having a first state wherein the high visibility material is fitted to completely encircle a torso of a first circumferential dimension, and a second state wherein the high visibility material is fitted to completely encircle a torso of a second circumferential dimension, the second circumferential dimension being at least 40% larger than the first circumferential dimension.   
   
   
       2 . The vest of  claim 1  wherein the second circumferential dimension is at least 50% larger than the first circumferential dimension. 
   
   
       3 . The vest of  claim 1  wherein the torso covering portion comprises a back panel of high visibility material and at least one adjustable side portion of high visibility material that is adjustable relative to the back panel to provide the first and second states. 
   
   
       4 . The vest of  claim 3  further comprising an adjustable connection between the back panel and the at least one adjustable side portion. 
   
   
       5 . The vest of  claim 4  wherein the adjustable connection comprises hook and loop connectors on the back panel and the at least one adjustable side portion. 
   
   
       6 . The vest of  claim 5  wherein the hook and loop connectors comprise an array of hook and loop patches. 
   
   
       7 . The vest of  claim 3  wherein the torso covering portion comprises at least one front/side panel and the at least one front/side panel comprises the at least one adjustable side portion. 
   
   
       8 . The vest of  claim 3  wherein the at least one adjustable side portion comprises two adjustable side portions spaced on opposite sides of the back panel. 
   
   
       9 . The vest of  claim 8  wherein the back panel has a transverse width and each of the side panels have a transverse width that is sized to extend over half or more of the transverse width of the back panel. 
   
   
       10 . The vest of  claim 9  wherein each of the side portions is overlaid by half or more of the transverse width of the back panel in the first state, and wherein each of the side portions is overlaid by less than half of the transverse width of the back panel in the second state. 
   
   
       11 . The vest of  claim 8  wherein the torso covering portion comprises a pair of front/side panels and each of the front/side panels comprises one of the adjustable side portions. 
   
   
       12 . A high visibility safety vest comprising:
 a back panel of high visibility material having a transverse width sized to extend over the back of a wearer;   a pair of front/side panels of high visibility material, each including an adjustable side portion having a transverse width sized to extend over about half or more of the transverse width of the back panel; and   an adjustable connection between each of the adjustable side portions and the back panel; the adjustable connection having a first connected state wherein the transverse width of the adjustable side portion is overlaid by about half or more of the transverse width of the back panel; and a second connected state wherein the transverse width of adjustable side portion is overlaid by less than 25% of the transverse width of the back panel.   
   
   
       13 . The vest of  claim 12  wherein the adjustable connection comprises hook and loop connectors on the back panel and the side portions. 
   
   
       14 . The vest of  claim 13  wherein the hook and loop connectors comprise an array of hook and loop patches. 
   
   
       15 . The vest of  claim 14  wherein the hook and loop connectors further comprise circumferentially extending hook and loop strips arranged for engagement with the hook and loop patches. 
   
   
       16 . A high visibility safety vest comprising:
 a back panel of high visibility material having a transverse width sized to extend over the back of a wearer;   a pair of front/side panels of high visibility material, each including an adjustable side portion having a transverse width sized to extend over about half or more of the transverse width of the back panel; and   an adjustable connection between each of the adjustable side portions and the back panel; the adjustable connection having a first connected state wherein the transverse width of the adjustable side portion is overlaid by about half or more of the transverse width of the back panel; and a second connected state wherein less than 75% of the transverse width of the adjustable side portion is overlaid by the transverse width of the back panel.   
   
   
       17 . The vest of  claim 16  wherein the adjustable connection comprises hook and loop connectors on the back panel and the side portions. 
   
   
       18 . The vest of  claim 17  wherein the hook and loop connectors comprise an array of hook and loop patches. 
   
   
       19 . The vest of  claim 18  wherein the hook and loop connectors further comprise circumferentially extending hook and loop strips arranged for engagement with the hook and loop patches.