Patent landscapes › Clothing & accessories

Is a reflective vest patented?

Short answer: specific designs of a reflective vest have been patented many times, but "a reflective vest" as a general idea is not what is protected. What matters is the exact combination of features in your version.

What our index shows
  • 74 US and WO patent publications since 2000 have a title matching “reflective vestgarmentclothing” or a close variant (our index of 9.7 million patent families; one publication per family).
  • Among the 66 best keyword matches we examined, 21 were published in 2020 or later, and the earliest was published in 2001.
  • Most frequent assignees in those matches: WRIGHT RAYMA CHARLENE (2), JOHNSON CLAUDE A (2), COAST CUTLERY CO (2), HANSEN KYLE (2).
  • Most common patent classes (CPC subclasses): A41D (46), G08B (12), F21V (10), B63C (8).

Counts come from keyword matching on titles and abstracts, so they are indicative, not a legal count. Some matches are different products that share a word.

14 real patent publications related to a reflective vest

  1. High-visibility ballistic safety vest US-12510332-B2 2025 · AMULET CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE INC
    The system comprises a vest. The vest comprises one or more exterior pockets and multiple interior pockets configured to house a ballistic panel and at least one sensor. The front and back of the vest contain at least one interior…
    View on Google Patents
  2. Illuminated high-visibility safety vest US-11259576-B1 2022 · CAMPBELL DONALD NICHOLAS
    A high visibility safety vest assembly includes first and second elongated illumination assemblies positioned on a front portion of a vest, and third and fourth elongated illumination assemblies positioned on a rear portion of the…
    View on Google Patents
  3. Reflective vest assembly US-10786019-B1 2020 · MENDOZA MABEL
    A reflective vest assembly includes a front disk that is wearable on a user's chest. The front disk is comprised of a fluorescent material to enhance visibility of the user for drivers in traffic. A back disk is wearable on th…
    View on Google Patents
  4. Safety vest with modular lighting system US-10660384-B2 2020 · LAUF PHILIP F
    A personal lighting system includes: a wearable safety garment having a front surface and a rear surface, including reflective and high-visibility materials; a battery pack contained in a weather resistant pocket formed on the rea…
    View on Google Patents
  5. Illuminated Safety Vest Assembly US-2020315269-A1 2020 · ROBERTS SCOTT
    An illuminated safety vest assembly includes a vest that is worn on a user. A plurality of reflecting strips is each coupled to the vest. Each of the reflecting strips is comprised of a light reflecting material to reflect light t…
    View on Google Patents
  6. Safety vest US-2019037934-A1 2019 · SWANK ALLISON S
    A safety vest assembly with enhanced visibility in a range of limited visibility conditions, integrated hydration pockets, and optional integrated technology is provided. The vest generally includes front and back panels with at l…
    View on Google Patents
  7. Safety vest with retractable tool tethers and integrated helmet US-2016374407-A1 2016 · YAGERMAN DAVID S
    A safety vest includes a base vest; retractable tethers, each including a cord retractor and a cord; tools attached to the retractable tethers; a hard hat; and reflective strips. Tethers can be configured in weight ranges, and be …
    View on Google Patents
  8. Electro Illuminating Wire Lighted Safety Vests US-2014022766-A1 2014 · WRIGHT RAYMA CHARLENE
    Safety vests and garments are for enhancing the visibility of a wearer in low-light, poor vision conditions. The safety garment has a first reflective layer, a second layer of reflective tape, physically attaching Electro Illumina…
    View on Google Patents
  9. Reflective vest WO-2014111086-A1 2014 · TEAMANDPRODUCTS GMBH
    Known reflective vests have a textile part (2) and at least one reflective part (9) arranged thereon, in particular in order to meet the requirements included in the German or European DIN EN 471 standard or the US ANSI/ISEA 107 s…
    View on Google Patents
  10. Climate control protective safety vest and associated method US-2012036623-A1 2012 · MINOGUE VERN
    A climate control safety vest preferably includes a vest, impact shields, safety panel and a solar heating and cooling system. The impact shield may preferably be constructed using a lightweight, highly durable material such as My…
    View on Google Patents
  11. Tear away light emulating light reflecting safety vest/poncho US-2012260397-A1 2012 · REDA RONALD
    A tear away light emulating—light reflective safety vest/poncho with self contained battery pack. Vest/Poncho utilizes electrical carrying magnets/snaps/catches or any separatable device that has the ability to transfer and conduc…
    View on Google Patents
  12. High Visibility Safety Vest With Integrated Hydration Bladder System US-2008067202-A1 2008 · IGLOO PRODUCTS CORP
    A combination high visibility safety vest and hydration bladder system includes a vest having a pouch along its back side capable or receiving and holding a bladder portion of the hydration bladder system. The pouch includes raise…
    View on Google Patents
  13. High visibility fabric and safety vest US-2006026731-A1 2006 · REEMAY INC
    The invention is a high visibility safety garment comprising a spunbonded nonwoven fabric colored with a fluorescent dye or pigment. The spunbonded nonwoven fabric in some embodiments may comprise continuous filaments of polyester…
    View on Google Patents
  14. Case for reflective vest WO-2006030049-A1 2006 · GOLOBARDES ALSINA JORDI
    The invention relates to a case for a reflective vest, of the type that comprises a container for a folded and/or rolled up object. The invention is characterised in that the case (10) comprises a cylindrical body (11) with a cov…
    View on Google Patents

What this means for your idea

Because patents cover specific combinations of features, the useful question is not “has a reflective vest been patented?” but “has my combination of features been described before?” Accessories and apparel are often protected by design patents as much as utility patents; how something fastens, adjusts or is shaped is usually the difference.

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Guides that help with this

First-look landscape. Not exhaustive. Not legal advice. This page lists keyword-matched publications from a limited database; it does not say whether any product is or isn't covered by a patent, whether a patent is still in force, or whether your idea is patentable. Consult a registered patent attorney or agent.