Protective clothing

Abstract

An article of protective clothing including a garment for covering at least an upper portion of the body of a wearer; the garment including: a mask element coupled to the garment wherein the mask element can adopt a stowed position and a deployed position in which the mask element extends forward to cover the nose and/or mouth of the wearer.

1 . An article of protective clothing including a garment for covering at least an upper portion of the body of a wearer; the garment including: a mask element coupled to the garment wherein the mask element can adopt a stowed position and a deployed position in which the mask element extends forward to cover the nose and/or mouth of the wearer. 
     
     
         2 . An article of protective clothing according to  claim 1  whereby when the mask element is in the stowed position at least a portion of the mask is disposed underneath a portion of the garment. 
     
     
         3 . An article of protective clothing according to  claim 1  or  claim 2  wherein the mask element is in the form of a bight, concave or closed loop. 
     
     
         4 . An article of protective clothing according to  claim 1  wherein the mask element is coupled to, and extends from at least one anchor region on the garment. 
     
     
         5 . An article of protective clothing according to  claim 1  wherein the garment includes a shirt type folded collar including an over fold wherein the mask in the stowed position is disposed underneath the over fold. 
     
     
         6 . An article of protective clothing according to  claim 5  wherein the at least one anchor region is/are located on the shirt type folded collar. 
     
     
         7 . An article of protective clothing according to  claim 6  wherein the mask element is coupled to, and extends from two anchor regions located on the shirt type folded collar. 
     
     
         8 . An article of protective clothing according to  claim 7  wherein the two anchor regions are located on opposite sides of the shirt type folded collar proximate to the middle of the respective sides of the neck of the wearer. 
     
     
         9 . An article of protective clothing according to  claim 8  wherein the two anchor regions are located on an under surface of the over fold of the shirt type folded collar. 
     
     
         10 . An article of protective clothing according to  claim 1  wherein the garment includes a pocket portion located proximate a neck region of the garment wherein the mask in the stowed position is disposed within the pocket portion 
     
     
         11 . An article of protective clothing according to  claim 10  wherein the pocket portion is located on a back side of the garment. 
     
     
         12 . An article of protective clothing according to  claim 10  wherein the at least one anchor region is/are located within the pocket portion 
     
     
         13 . An article of protective clothing according to  claim 1  wherein the mask element is detachably coupled to the garment. 
     
     
         14 . An article of protective clothing according to  claim 13  wherein the mask element is detachably coupled to the garment by hook and loop fasteners. 
     
     
         15 . An article of protective clothing according to  claim 1  wherein the mask element acts as a filter. 
     
     
         16 . An article of protective clothing according to  claim 1  wherein the mask element is substantially hidden from view in the stowed position. 
     
     
         17 . An article of protective clothing according to  claim 1  wherein the mask element includes a filter region which in use is capable of filtering air passing through the filter region into the nose and/or mouth of the user. 
     
     
         18 . An article of protective clothing according to  claim 17  wherein the filter region is capable of removing airborne particulate matter and/or airborne diseases from air passing into the nose and/or mouth of the user. 
     
     
         19 . A method of portably inhibiting ingestion of dust and/or airborne pollution, the method including the steps of: providing an article of protective clothing according to  claim 1  wherein the mask element is in a stowed position; and, deploying the mask element to cover the mouth and nose of the wearer. 
     
     
         20 . A mask element adapted to be attached either permanently or removably to a garment for covering at least an upper portion of the body of a wearer, the mask element being configured to adopt a stowed position and a deployed position in which the mask element extends forward to cover the nose and/or mouth of the wearer.