This disclosure relates to protective clothing, such as firefighter and first responder turnout gear and, in particular, to a zipper fastener for protective clothing.
Firefighters and other emergency responders can be exposed to a variety of hazardous conditions, such as flame, smoke, and high heat. These individuals rely on protective clothing, including turnout gear, to protect their bodies from hazardous conditions they may encounter. Protective clothing is often secured with fasteners, such as zippers, snaps, and/or hooks. At times firefighters and other emergency responders must hurriedly change into protective clothing to quickly respond to emergencies. Traditional protective clothing fasteners can be difficult and time-consuming to secure properly. Thus, responders may be left vulnerable to hazards if their gear is not properly fastened, or valuable time may be wasted while properly securing cumbersome fasteners on their turnout gear.
One example embodiment of the present disclosure includes kfastener for a protective garment. A first zipper element is connected to a first garment panel having a first closure edge. The first zipper element includes a first length of teeth and having a first open-ended engagement end that includes an insertion pin, the first length of teeth being separated from the first closure edge by a first separation distance. A second zipper element is connected to a second garment panel having a second closure edge. The second zipper includes a second length of teeth and having a second open-ended engagement end, the second length of teeth being separated from the second closure edge by a second separation distance. A slider is constructed and arranged to receive the insertion pin and to urge the first length of teeth and the second length of teeth into engagement with one another as the slider is moved along the second length of teeth away from the insertion pin. At least one of the first separation distance and the second separation distance is greater at the first open-ended engagement end and the second open-ended engagement end, respectively, than at points further away from the first open-ended engagement end and the second open-ended engagement end, respectively, to provide a grip area.
According to another example embodiment, a method of making a protective jacket is disclosed. The method includes constructing a jacket having a front portion including a first front panel and a second front panel. A first zipper element is connected to the first front panel and a grip area is created between a first open end of the first zipper element and the first front panel. A second zipper is element to the second front panel.
The present disclosure is not intended to be limited to a system or method that must satisfy one or more of any stated objects or features of the invention. It is also important to note that the present invention is not limited to the exemplary or primary embodiments described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.
In the drawings, different embodiments of the invention are illustrated in which:
Described herein is a zipper apparatus that, among other aspects, provides a grip area that enables easier and more time-efficient fastening of firefighter turnout gear and other types of protective clothing. The grip area may be formed by a zipper extender, which extends at least a portion of one zipper track away from a closure edge of the garment, thus creating an area that may be more readily gripped by a wearer of clothing. A zipper extender may typically be in the same plane as the zipper tape and as the front panels of the garment. Thus, the zipper extender may extend the end of a zipper track sideways, from left to right, or right to left. Incorporating a zipper extender into protective clothing may provide easier and faster access to the complementary zipper elements that are to be fastened together to secure the protective clothing. The zipper apparatus can be incorporated into a jacket, coat, vest, or other type of emergency response gear in which quick fastening or easier location of fastening components is desired.
Time is often of the essence when responding to a fire or other emergency. Firefighters and other emergency responders often change into emergency apparel very quickly when responding to an emergency. Typically, turnout gear and other protective clothing made for firefighters and other responders fastens in the front with a zipper. These zippers are usually open-ended, meaning that opposing sides of the zipper can both completely connect and completely detach. This configuration allows a user to easily put the jacket on by donning the jacket and fastening the zipper and to remove the jacket by unzipping the zipper. However, because both ends of the zipper completely detach, a user locates and aligns the slider of one zipper track and the insertion pin of the other zipper track each time the user wishes to fasten the jacket. While the disclosed zipper assembly is primarily described in this application as relating to turnout gear and other types of protective clothing, it should be understood that the subject matter of the present application is not so limited. For example, many of the embodiments described herein may be used in any garment employing a separating, or open-ended zipper. In some embodiments, a zipper assembly according to the present disclosure may be incorporated into outerwear that is not protective clothing. For example, a disclosed zipper assembly may be incorporated into exercise wear, wet suits, dry suits, winter jackets, overcoats, ski jackets, parkas, or ski pants.
Turnout gear often has multiple layers of fabric, such as liners, moisture and thermal barrier layers, and fire resistant layers. These protective layers can be heavy and bulky, making them cumbersome to manipulate. Furthermore, turnout gear usually incorporates flaps positioned along each side of the zipper fastener, to further insulate the closure region of the turnout gear. These flaps often are outfitted with components, such as reflective tape, hook and loop closures, and/or snaps, making the flaps rigid and difficult to maneuver. The flaps can also sometimes obscure the zipper components, making the zipper components difficult to locate. Thus, securing both ends of the zipper to one another during a fastening process may be challenging and time-consuming, especially when a responder is experiencing time pressure to respond to an emergency call and/or while donning bulky gloves. It is to be appreciated that exemplary embodiments of zipper extensions and grip areas are described herein with respect to turnout gear and turnout garments are described herein merely for the sake of convenience. The various embodiments described herein may also be incorporated into other types of protective clothing.
Protective clothing, as described herein, includes garments that provide protection to a wearer for hazards not normally associated with everyday garments. By way of example, protective clothing may be constructed to protect a wearer from flame, heat cold, wind, liquids, chemicals, particulates, pathogens, cuts, tears, abrasion, impact, puncture, compression, fire, ballistics, electrical arc, electrical conductivity, static electricity, radiation and the like. According to some embodiments, protective clothing is constructed in accordance with standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), such as NPFA 1951 (incorporated by reference herein in its entirety) which identifies criteria for clothing suitable for wear in rescue and recovery activities. Similarly, NFPA 1971, also incorporated herein in its entirety, identifies criteria for clothing suitable for wear in structural firefighting activities. “Turnout gear” or “turnout clothing”, as referenced herein, is understood to be suitable for wear in structural firefighting.
An open-ended zipper assembly is illustrated in
The zipper assembly may also contain a retainer box 110 and an insertion pin 112, as shown in
First zipper element 102 and/or second zipper element 104 may optionally be equipped with top stops 118 and 120. Top stops 118 and/or 120 may be useful to secure slider 114 onto teeth 108. However, top stops 118 and/or 120 need not be used if, for example, an upper portion of either zipper element is secured into a connecting piece of fabric, or slider 114 is otherwise retained on teeth 108. First zipper element 102 may also optionally have a bottom stop 122, to facilitate slider 114 movement on teeth 108, as shown in
In an embodiment as shown in
In some embodiments, the jacket 101 may be a turnout jacket. In other embodiments, jacket 101 may be a turnout coat or vest. In further embodiments, jacket 101 may be a parka, wet suit, coat, or winter sports coat. In other embodiments, jacket 101 may be a motorcycle jacket, bomber jacket, field jacket, or other type of coat or jacket.
In one set of embodiments, at least one zipper extender 124 may be used in types of garments not illustrated in
In further embodiments, zipper assemblies 100 as disclosed may be incorporated into turnout gear to fasten and remove components from the turnout garment. For example, in some embodiments, a zipper assembly 100 comprising a zipper extender 124 may be incorporated into a turnout coat or jacket and attach or detach a removable feature, such as a pocket, collar, or hood to the turnout coat. In other embodiments, a zipper assembly 100 comprising a zipper extender 124 may be incorporated into turnout pants and selectively attach or detach a removable feature to the turnout pants. Such removable features may include, for example, a pocket, a tool belt, or a patch.
The material used to form zipper extender 124 may be substantially flexible or substantially rigid. In one embodiment, zipper extender 124 is molded or extruded. In another embodiment, zipper extender 124 is formed from woven fabric. In a further embodiment, zipper extender 124 is formed from nonwoven fabric. Zipper extender 124 may also be formed to have enhanced resistance to hazardous conditions. For example, a zipper extender 124 for a firefighting turnout suit could be made from fire-resistant materials, water-resistant materials, and/or chemically-resistant materials. In one embodiment, zipper extender 124 may incorporate aramid fibers such as DuPont™ NOMEX® and/or KEVLAR® brand fibers. In another embodiment, cotton-nylon blend fibers may also be used, at least in part, to form zipper extender 124. In yet another embodiment, wool, cotton, and/or polyester fabrics may be used, at least in part, to construct zipper extender 124. Optionally, the material chosen to construct zipper extender 124 may be chemically treated to achieve flame-resistance, or flame-retardant characteristics, and may be hemmed to create a reinforced seam.
Zipper extender 124 may be formed in a variety of shapes.
Zipper extender 124 may be formed using a variety of methods. For example, zipper extender may be formed from a piece of the turnout gear front panel itself, from zipper tape 106, and/or may be formed from an independent piece of material. For instance, as illustrated in
In other embodiments, zipper extender 124 may be integral to the panel of a garment or to tape 106. “Integral” means that the zipper extender is formed from the same piece of material. In an embodiment shown in
In other embodiments, zipper extender 124 is integral to tape 106, as illustrated in
In some embodiments, the area surrounding the interlocked zipper tracks may contain additional insulation or protective layers. For example, flaps may be included on inside surface 142 and/or outside surface 144 to provide additional insulation, water resistance or protection to the zipper. In some embodiments, first zipper track 138 may be positioned inside first jacket panel closure edge 134, thus allowing the material located between first zipper track 138 and first jacket panel closure edge 134 to provide additional insulation to the zipper. Similarly, in some embodiments, second zipper track 140 may be attached inside second jacket panel closure edge 136, thus allowing the material located between second zipper track 140 and second jacket panel closure edge 136 to provide additional insulation to the zipper.
As shown in
In an embodiment such as that shown in
Relative distances for x, x′, x″ are calculated by using distance x as a baseline. Relative distances for y, y′, and y″ can be calculated by using distance y as a baseline. Distance x is the distance between teeth 108 and first closure edge 134. Distance y is the distance between teeth 108 and second closure edge 136. For purposes of calculating relative distances, x and y will always be normalized to zero. For example, if at the point where distance y is measured, zipper teeth are 1 inch inside the second jacket panel closure edge 136, at the point where y′ is measured, zipper teeth are 0.5 inches inside second jacket panel closure edge 136, and at the point where y″ is measured, zipper teeth are 1 inch beyond second jacket panel closure edge 136, the relative distances are as follows: 1 inch inside the second jacket panel closure edge 136 is the baseline for the measurements, so therefore, y is 0, y′ is 0.5 inches, and y″ is 2 inches.
In one embodiment, x, x′ and x″ are all equal. In another embodiment, x and x′ are equal, and x″ is greater than both of these distances. In yet another embodiment, the relative distances of x is less than x′, and the relative distance for x′ is less than x″. In an additional embodiment, the relative distance of x is less than x′, and x′ is equal to x″. In some cases, x″ may more than 2×, 3× or 4× x or x′. In other cases, x″ may be greater than or equal to x+0.5 inch, x+1.0 inch, x+2.0, x′+0.5 inch, x′+1.0 inch or x′+2.0 inch.
In another embodiment, y, y′, and y″ are all equal. In yet another embodiment, relative distances for y and y′ are equal, and y″ is greater than both of these distances. In still another embodiment, the relative distance of y is less than y′ and the relative distance for y′ is less than y″. In a further embodiment, the relative distance of y is less than y′, and y′ is equal to y″. In some cases, y″ may more than 2×, 3× or 4× y or y′. In other cases, y″ may be greater than or equal to y+0.5 inch, y+1.0 inch, y+2.0, y′+0.5 inch, y′+1.0 inch or y′+2.0 inch.
In one embodiment, the relative distance of x″ from x and/or y″ from y may be within the range of 0-5 inches. For example, a coat for a first responder may have a right front panel with a first zipper track attached near a first closure edge, with relative distances of x=0, x′=0, and x″=0. In this or another example, a coat for a first responder may have a left front panel with a second zipper track attached near a second closure edge, with relative distances of y=0, y′=0.2 inches, and y″=2 inches. In some embodiments, y′ is located ⅔ down the length of the second zipper track 140. In other embodiments, y′ is located ¾down the length of the second zipper track 140. In further embodiments, y′ is located ⅞ down the length of the second zipper track 140. In other embodiments, y′ is located within the range of 0.2-10 inches from the bottom of second zipper track 140.
In yet another embodiment, first zipper track 138 is attached to outside surface 144 at about 1 inch inside first jacket panel closure edge 134. The relative distances of x′ and x″ are each 0, meaning that zipper track 138 is consistently 1 inch inside first jacket panel closure edge 134, as measured from teeth 108 of first zipper track 138. An upper portion of second zipper track 140 may be attached to inside surface 142 at about 1 inch inside second jacket panel closure edge 136; y′ may be longitudinally located within the range of 1-6 inches from the bottom end of second zipper track 140, and the relative distance of y′ may be 0 inches. In this or another embodiment, y″ is within the range of 0.5-4 inches.
In one embodiment, first zipper track 138 may be attached to outside surface 144 such that first zipper track 138 does not extend outside first jacket panel closure edge 134. In another embodiment, first zipper track 138 may be attached to outside surface 144 such that the entirety of first zipper track 138 extends beyond first jacket panel closure edge 134. In yet another embodiment, first zipper track 138 may be attached to outside surface 144 such that only a portion of first zipper track 138 extends beyond first jacket panel closure edge 134. Similarly, second zipper track 140 may be attached to inside surface 142 such that second zipper track 140 does not extend above second jacket panel closure edge 136. In a different embodiment, second zipper track 140 may be attached to inside surface 142 such that the entirety of second zipper track extends beyond second jacket panel closure edge 136. In another embodiment, second zipper track 140 may be attached to inside surface 142 such that only a portion of second zipper track 140 extends beyond second jacket panel closure edge 136.
In one embodiment, first zipper track 138 may be attached to a right front panel of a firefighter's jacket and proceed along a first jacket panel closure edge 134 at a constant distance of about 1 inch inside the panel's edge. Second zipper track 140 may be attached to the left front panel of the firefighter's jacket and proceed linearly at a constant distance from the second jacket panel closure edge 136, until approximately 6 inches from the bottom end of second zipper track 140 where its angle changes with respect to the second jacket panel closure edge 136. In some embodiments, the bottom end of second zipper track 140 may extend about 1 inch beyond the second jacket panel closure edge 136. In some embodiments, the second zipper track 140 does not extend beyond second jacket panel closure edge 136, but the bottom portion of zipper track 140 is closer to second jacket panel closure edge 136 than a top portion of zipper track 140.
Zipper extender 124 may be attached to a garment in a variety of ways. For example, zipper extender 124 may first be attached to a zipper element and the zipper extender 124 may then be attached onto a front panel of a garment. Alternatively, zipper extender may first be attached to a front panel of a garment and the zipper element may then be attached to both the front panel of the garment and to the zipper extender. In one embodiment, the zipper element(s) may be sewn to the front panel and to the zipper extender. For example, the tape of the zipper element may be sewn onto a front panel of the garment using thread. Various stiches are suitable for fastening the zipper to the panel, including a running stitch, a top stich, or a zigzag stitch. Multiple rows of stiches may also be used to fasten the zipper. In another embodiment, zipper elements may be glued, taped, stapled, welded, or laminated into place.
Various protective layers may also be incorporated into the turnout gear. For example, protective flaps may extend on one or both sides of the zipper elements to afford extra protection to the zipper. These flaps may be secured with any fastening means, including snaps, hook and loop, or buttons. Similarly, a collar may be included on the turnout gear to further insulate the garment near a top region of the zipper.
In one embodiment, a firefighter receives an emergency call that requires him or her to don turnout gear. The firefighter dons turnout pants and boots. The firefighter dons a turnout coat that incorporates a zipper apparatus including a zipper extender. The firefighter reaches one hand toward the zipper component fastened to the left panel of the turnout gear and the other hand toward the zipper component fastened to the right panel of the turnout gear. The zipper component fastened to the left panel of the turnout gear may be an insertion pin, and the zipper component fastened to the right panel may be a slider. In another embodiment, the zipper component fastened to the left panel may be a slider. The firefighter is able to easily access the zipper components as the slider is relatively large and the zipper extender positions the insertion pin at an accessible distance, farther away from the front panel of the coat than an upper portion of the zipper track. Thus, the firefighter need not contend with various protective layers and/or flaps of the garment to locate the zipper components. The firefighter places one hand on the bottom of a zipper track that includes the slider and the other hand on the bottom of a zipper track that includes the zipper extender and the insertion pin. The firefighter inserts the insertion pin into the slider and zips the coat. In some embodiments, zipper extender and insertion pin are located on a firefighter's left side while donning the turnout coat. In other embodiments, the zipper extender and insertion pin are located on a firefighter's right side while donning the turnout coat.
All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.
The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.”
The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified, unless clearly indicated to the contrary.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61904197 | Nov 2013 | US |