Patent Application
20250143388
The technical field generally relates to an outer shell for protective garments and more particularly concerns firefighter protective garments including such an outer shell.
Firefighter protective garments, such as coats and pants, are required to be compliant with the National Fire Protection Association Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting.
There is still a need in the art for firefighter garments that are compliant with the standards while being safe and comfortable to the firefighters.
In accordance with one aspect, there is provided a firefighter protective garment, including: a first liner defining an innermost layer of the firefighter protective garment; a second liner extending over the first liner; an outer shell defining an outermost layer of the firefighter protective garment and extending over the second liner, the outer shell having an inner surface and an outer surface; and an array of spacer pads distributed across the inner surface of the outer shell, the array of spacer pads being positioned to maintain a gap between the second liner and the outer shell, each spacer pad of the array of spacer pads being separated one from another by at least one air circulation channel.
In some embodiments, the first liner is a thermal barrier.
In some embodiments, the second liner is a moisture barrier.
In some embodiments, the array of spacer pads is distributed into first and second neighboring columns in a back region of the firefighter's body.
In some embodiments, the first and second neighboring columns each includes between 1 and 7 spacer pads.
In some embodiments, the array of spacer pads is distributed into first, second and third neighboring groups in a waist region of the firefighter's body.
In some embodiments, the first neighboring group includes between 1 and 4 spacer pads positioned in a right section of the waist region; the second neighboring group includes between 1 and 4 spacer pads positioned in a central section of the waist region; and the third neighboring group includes between 1 and 4 spacer pads positioned in a left section of the waist region.
In some embodiments, the array of spacer pads is distributed in a left shoulder region and in a right shoulder region of the firefighter's body, each of the left shoulder region and the right shoulder region including between 1 and 4 spacer pads.
In some embodiments, the array of spacer pads is permeable to air, water vapor and liquid water.
In some embodiments, each spacer pad is made of closed cell foam.
In some embodiments, the closed cell foam of said spacer pads includes at least one perforation therein.
In some embodiments, said at least one perforation has a diameter of about 0.5 inch.
In some embodiments, the firefighter protective garment includes a mesh fabric at least partially covering each spacer pad, the mesh fabric decreasing the THL value of the firefighter protective garment and increasing the TPP value of the firefighter protective coat. In some embodiments, the mesh fabric is made or include of at least one aramid fiber. In some embodiments, said at least one aramid fiber is Kevlar.
In some embodiments, the array of spacer pads partially covers the inner surface of the outer shell.
In some embodiments, the gap is aligned with areas of high rates of perspiration and metabolic heat transfer of a firefighter's body.
In some embodiments, the firefighter protective garment includes a firefighter protective coat.
In some embodiments, the firefighter protective garment includes firefighter protective pants.
In accordance with one aspect, there is provided a firefighter protective garment, including: a first liner defining an innermost layer of the firefighter protective garment; a second liner extending over the first liner; an outer shell defining an outermost layer of the firefighter protective garment and extending over the second liner, the outer shell having an inner surface and an outer surface; an array of spacer pads distributed across the inner surface of the outer shell, the array of spacer pads being positioned to maintain a gap between the second liner and the outer shell, each spacer pad of the array of spacer pads being separated one from another by at least one air circulation channel; and a mesh fabric at least partially extending over the array of spacer pads and extending over at least one portion of the inner surface of the outer shell, said at least one portion being aligned with areas of high rates of perspiration and metabolic heat transfer of a firefighter's body when the firefighter protective garment is worn by the firefighter, wherein the areas of high rates of perspiration and metabolic heat transfer include at least one of: the front torso of the firefighter, the back of the firefighter, a side torso of the firefighter, arms of the firefighter, or upper legs of the firefighter, the mesh fabric decreasing the THL value of the firefighter protective garment and increasing the TPP value of the firefighter protective coat. In some embodiments, the mesh fabric is made or include of at least one aramid fiber. In some embodiments, said at least one aramid fiber is Kevlar.
In some embodiments, the first liner is a thermal barrier.
In some embodiments, the second liner is a moisture barrier.
In some embodiments, the array of spacer pads is distributed into first and second neighboring columns in a back region of the firefighter's body.
In some embodiments, the first and second neighboring columns each includes between 1 and 7 spacer pads.
In some embodiments, the array of spacer pads is distributed into first, second and third neighboring groups in a waist region of the firefighter's body.
In some embodiments, the first neighboring group includes between 1 and 4 spacer pads positioned in a right section of the waist region; the second neighboring group includes between 1 and 4 spacer pads positioned in a central section of the waist region; and the third neighboring group includes between 1 and 4 spacer pads positioned in a left section of the waist region.
In some embodiments, the array of spacer pads is distributed in a left shoulder region and in a right shoulder region of the firefighter's body, each of the left shoulder region and the right shoulder region including between 1 and 4 spacer pads.
In some embodiments, the array of spacer pads is permeable to air, water vapor and liquid water.
In some embodiments, each spacer pad is made of closed cell foam.
In some embodiments, the closed cell foam of said spacer pads includes at least one perforation therein.
In some embodiments, said at least one perforation has a diameter of about 0.5 inch.
In some embodiments, the array of spacer pads partially covers the inner surface of the outer shell.
In some embodiments, the gap is aligned with areas of high rates of perspiration and metabolic heat transfer of a firefighter's body.
In some embodiments, the firefighter protective garment includes a firefighter protective coat.
In some embodiments, the firefighter protective garment includes firefighter protective pants.
In accordance with one aspect, there is provided an outer shell for a firefighter protective garment defining an outermost layer of the firefighter protective garment and extending over the second liner, the outer shell having an inner surface and an outer surface; and an array of spacer pads distributed across the inner surface of the outer shell, the array of spacer pads being positioned to maintain a gap between the second liner and the outer shell, each spacer pad of the array of spacer pads being separated one from another by at least one air circulation channel.
In accordance with one aspect, there is provided an outer shell for a firefighter protective garment. The firefighter protective garment includes at least one liner. The outer shell includes an inner surface contacting the liner when the outer shell is attached to the liner. The outer shell includes an outer surface defining an outermost surface of the firefighter protective garment. The outer shell includes an array of spacer pads distributed across the inner surface of the outer shell. The array of spacer pads is positioned to maintain a gap between the liner and the outer shell. Each spacer pad of the array of spacer pads is separated one from another by at least one air circulation channel.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood upon a reading of embodiments thereof with reference to the appended drawings.
In the present description, similar features in the drawings have been given similar reference numerals. To avoid cluttering certain figures, some elements may not have been indicated if they were already identified in a preceding figure. It should also be understood that the elements of the drawings are not necessarily depicted to scale, since emphasis is placed on clearly illustrating the elements and structures of the present embodiments. Furthermore, positional descriptors indicating the location and/or orientation of one element with respect to another element are used herein for ease and clarity of description. Unless otherwise indicated, these positional descriptors should be taken in the context of the figures and should not be considered limiting. More particularly, it will be understood that such spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations in the use or operation of the present embodiments, in addition to the orientations exemplified in the figures.
The terms “a”, “an” and “one” are defined herein to mean “at least one”, that is, these terms do not exclude a plural number of items, unless stated otherwise.
Terms such as “substantially”, “generally” and “about”, that modify a value, condition or characteristic of a feature of an exemplary embodiment, should be understood to mean that the value, condition or characteristic is defined within tolerances that are acceptable for the proper operation of this exemplary embodiment for its intended application.
Unless stated otherwise, the terms “attached”, “connected”, “assembled” and “coupled”, and derivatives and variants thereof, refer herein to any structural or functional connection or coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or more elements. For example, the connection or coupling between the elements may be acoustical, mechanical, optical, electrical, thermal, logical, or any combinations thereof.
The present description refers to protective garments, such as firefighter protective coats and pants.
The firefighter protective garment 10 includes a first liner 12. The first liner 12 defines an innermost layer of the firefighter protective garment 10, i.e., the first liner 12 is the layer of the firefighter protective garment 10 that is the closest to the body of the firefighter, when the firefighter protective garment 10 is worn by the firefighter. The firefighter protective garment 10 includes a second liner 14 extending over the first liner 12. The firefighter protective garment 10 includes an outer shell 16 defining an outermost layer of the firefighter protective garment 10. The outer shell 16 extends over at least a portion of the second liner 14. The outer shell 16 has an inner surface 18 and an outer surface 20. The firefighter protective garment includes an array of spacer pads 22. The array of spacer pads 22 are distributed across the inner surface 18 of the outer shell 16 and positioned to maintain a gap between the second liner 14 and the outer shell 16. Each spacer pad of the array of spacer pads 22 are separated one from another by at least one air circulation channel 24.
In some embodiments, the first liner 12 is a thermal barrier.
In some embodiments, the second liner 14 is a moisture barrier.
In some embodiments, the array of spacer pads 22 is distributed into first and second neighboring columns 26,28 in a back region of the firefighter's body. Each one of the first and second neighboring columns 26,28 may include between 1 and 7 pads. The orientation of each spacer pad may also vary depending on their position with respect to the back of the firefighter. For example, a longitudinal axis of one pad may form an angle with the vertebral column of the firefighter when the firefighter protective garment 10 is worn by the firefighter, and the angle may be the same or different from one pad to the other.
In some embodiments, the array of spacer pads 22 is distributed into first, second and third neighboring groups 30,32,34 in a waist region of the firefighter's body.
In some embodiments, the first neighboring group 30 may include between 1 and 4 spacer pads positioned in a right section of the waist region. In some embodiments, the second neighboring group 34 may include between 1 and 4 spacer pads positioned in a central section of the waist region. In some embodiments, the third neighboring group 32 may include between 1 and 4 spacer pads positioned in a left section of the waist region.
In some embodiments, the array of spacer pads 22 is distributed in a left shoulder region and in a right shoulder region of the firefighter's body. In some embodiments, each of the left shoulder region and the right shoulder region may include between 1 and 4 spacer pads.
In some embodiments, the array of spacer pads 22 is permeable to air, water vapor and liquid water.
In some embodiments, each spacer pad is made of closed cell foam. In some embodiments, the closed cell foam of the spacer pads includes at least one perforation. In some embodiments, the perforation is circular and may have a diameter of about 0.5 inch.
In some embodiments, the array of spacer pads 22 includes a fire-resistant mesh fabric covering each spacer pad. In some embodiments, the mesh fabric is made or include of at least one aramid fiber. In some embodiments, the aramid fiber may be Kevlar. In some embodiments, the mesh fabric covers at least a portion of the inner surface 18 of the outer shell 16 that is located in the air circulation channel 24 defined between two adjacent spacer pads.
In some embodiments, the array of spacer pads 22 partially covers the inner surface 18 of the outer shell 16.
In some embodiments, the gap formed by the array of spacer pads 22 between the second liner 14 and the outer shell 16 is aligned with areas of high rates of perspiration and metabolic heat transfer of a firefighter's body.
In some embodiments, the firefighter protective garment 10 includes a firefighter protective coat.
In some embodiments, the firefighter protective garment 10 includes firefighter protective pants.
In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a firefighter protective garment, including: a first liner defining an innermost layer of the firefighter protective garment; a second liner extending over the first liner; an outer shell defining an outermost layer of the firefighter protective garment and extending over the second liner, the outer shell having an inner surface and an outer surface; an array of spacer pads distributed across the inner surface of the outer shell, the array of spacer pads being positioned to maintain a gap between the second liner and the outer shell, each spacer pad of the array of spacer pads being separated one from another by at least one air circulation channel; and a mesh fabric at least partially extending over the array of spacer pads and extending over at least one portion of the inner surface of the outer shell, said at least one portion being aligned with areas of high rates of perspiration and metabolic heat transfer of a firefighter's body when the firefighter protective garment is worn by the firefighter, wherein the areas of high rates of perspiration and metabolic heat transfer include at least one of: the front torso of the firefighter, the back of the firefighter, a side torso of the firefighter, arms of the firefighter, or upper legs of the firefighter, the mesh fabric decreasing the THL value of the firefighter protective garment and increasing the TPP value of the firefighter protective coat. In some embodiments, the mesh fabric is made or include of at least one aramid fiber. In some embodiments, said at least one aramid fiber is Kevlar.
In some embodiments, the first liner is a thermal barrier.
In some embodiments, the second liner is a moisture barrier.
In some embodiments, the array of spacer pads is distributed into first and second neighboring columns in a back region of the firefighter's body.
In some embodiments, the first and second neighboring columns each includes 3 spacer pads.
In some embodiments, the array of spacer pads is distributed into first, second and third neighboring groups in a waist region of the firefighter's body.
In some embodiments, the first neighboring group includes 2 spacer pads positioned in a right section of the waist region; the second neighboring group includes 2 spacer pads positioned in a central section of the waist region; and the third neighboring group includes 2 spacer pads positioned in a left section of the waist region.
In some embodiments, the array of spacer pads is distributed in a left shoulder region and in a right shoulder region of the firefighter's body, each of the left shoulder region and the right shoulder region including 3 spacer pads.
In some embodiments, the array of spacer pads is permeable to air, water vapor and liquid water.
In some embodiments, each spacer pad is made of closed cell foam.
In some embodiments, the closed cell foam of said spacer pads includes at least one perforation therein.
In some embodiments, said at least one perforation has a diameter of about 0.5 inch.
In some embodiments, the array of spacer pads partially covers the inner surface of the outer shell.
In some embodiments, the gap is aligned with areas of high rates of perspiration and metabolic heat transfer of a firefighter's body.
In some embodiments, the firefighter protective garment includes a firefighter protective coat.
In some embodiments, the firefighter protective garment includes firefighter protective pants.
In accordance with one aspect, there is provided an outer shell for a firefighter protective garment defining an outermost layer of the firefighter protective and extending over the second liner, the outer shell having an inner surface and an outer surface; and an array of spacer pads distributed across the inner surface of the outer shell, the array of spacer pads being positioned to maintain a gap between the second liner and the outer shell, each spacer pad of the array of spacer pads being separated one from another by at least one air circulation channel.
The outer shell is typically made of a flame-retardant material. The flame-retardant material can be made, for example and without being limitative, a fabric of aramid fibers (sold under the trademark NOMEX).
In some embodiments, the first liner may be a thermal barrier including a face cloth quilted to an aramid substrate. In some embodiments, the second liner may be a moisture barrier, for example made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) and/or polyurethane (PU) laminated to a woven or non-woven aramid substrate. The first liner and the second liner extend over at least a portion of the inner surface of the outer shell, and may, in some embodiments, extend over the entirety of the internal portion of the outer shell. The first liner and the second liner are typically separable from the outer shell to facilitate washing and care of all of the layers of the firefighter protective garment. Various mechanisms to join the outer shell with the first liner and/or second liner together are known in the art, such as snap fastener arrangements or hook and loop fasteners such as the ones known under the tradename VELCRO (trademark).
Of note, the firefighter protective garment may be embodied by firefighter pants. As for the firefighter coat described above, the firefighter pants typically include a pant outer protective shell made of a fire-resistant material such as a fabric of aramid fibers (sold under the trademark NOMEX), and a pant inner liner. The inner liner typically includes a moisture barrier, for example made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) and/or polyurethane (PU) laminated to a woven or non-woven aramid substrate, and a thermal barrier including a face cloth quilted to an aramid substrate. The inner liner is typically separable from the outer shell to facilitate washing and care of both layers, in a similar fashion to the inner liner and outer shell of the firefighter protective coat which has been previously described.
The array of spacer pads, distributed across the inner surface of the outer shell, helps improving and, in some instances, maximizing the efficiency of at least one of the first liner and the second liner. In the embodiments wherein the second liner is a moisture barrier, the array of spacer pads facilitates the evacuation of water vapours, away from the firefighter's body and the moisture barrier. Once the water vapours are out of the moisture barrier, they can circulate within the array of spacers through the circulation channel(s) and then evacuate outside of the firefighter protective garment, while reducing the effect of sweat on the back with the SCBA.
The following table illustrates the effect of the mesh fabric (referred to as “yellow mesh”) on some of the properties of the firefighter protective garment:
As can be seen, the THL value of the firefighter protective garment decreases in presence of the mesh fabric having been described above, and the TPP value of the firefighter protective garment increases in presence of the mesh fabric having been described above.
Several alternative embodiments and examples have been described and illustrated herein. The embodiments described above are intended to be exemplary only. A person skilled in the art would appreciate the features of the individual embodiments, and the possible combinations and variations of the components. A person skilled in the art would further appreciate that any of the embodiments could be provided in any combination with the other embodiments disclosed herein. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, while specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the present disclosure and the appended claims.
This nonprovisional patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/597,167, filed on Nov. 8, 2023, wherein said provisional patent application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63597167 | Nov 2023 | US |
