PROTECTIVE COAT FOR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS

Information

  • Patent Application
  • 20070169247
  • Publication Number
    20070169247
  • Date Filed
    January 25, 2007
    17 years ago
  • Date Published
    July 26, 2007
    17 years ago
Abstract
A coat for use by emergency responders, such as firefighters, is described. Certain aspects of the coat include a barrier resistant liner for protection against chemical and biological agents, a compression zone that can improve safety when working in hazardous areas, and a flame resistant shell including zippered sleeves that can facilitate the donning of protective gloves.
Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the drawings, different embodiments of the invention are illustrated in which:



FIG. 1 provides a frontal view of a responder's coat;



FIG. 2 provides a frontal view of a responder's coat including a liner and a deployed hood;



FIG. 3 provides a view of the coat of FIG. 2 fitted around a responder's gear,



FIG. 4A provides a cross-sectional view of a collar portion of a responder's coat with a liner hood deployed;



FIG. 4B provides a cross-section view along line 4B of FIG. 4A;



FIG. 5 provides a cross-sectional view of a collar portion of a responder's coat, with a liner hood undeployed;



FIG. 6 provides an exploded view illustrating how a liner may fit into an outer shell to form a responder's coat;



FIG. 7A provides a perspective view of a compression zone of a coat liner;



FIG. 7B provides a perspective view of a compression zone of a coat liner,



FIG. 7C provides a cross-sectional view along line 7C of FIG. 7A;



FIG. 7D provides a cross-sectional view along line 7D of FIG. 7B;



FIG. 8 provides a cut-away view of one embodiment of a sleeve of a responder's coat;



FIG. 9 provides a view of the sleeve of FIG. 8 showing the positioning of a glove;



FIG. 10 provides a frontal view of one embodiment of a responder's coat of the invention;



FIG. 11 provides a frontal view of one embodiment of a responder's coat of the invention;



FIG. 12 provides a cut-away view of another embodiment of a sleeve of a responder's coat;



FIG. 13 provides a cut-away view illustrating the positioning of a glove in the embodiment shown in FIG. 12; and



FIG. 14 provides a perspective view illustrating a sleeve and cuff of another embodiment of the invention.


Claims
  • 1. A resistant barrier coat for protecting against chemical and/or biological hazards, the coat comprising: a flame and abrasion resistant outer shell, the outer shell including a torso portion, two sleeve portions and a collar portion;a resistant barrier liner including a torso portion, two sleeve portions, a collar portion and an integral hood; anda fastener constructed and arranged to connect the collar portion of the resistant barrier liner to the collar portion of the outer shell.
  • 2. The resistant barrier coat of claim 1 wherein the resistant barrier liner is connected to the outer shell only at the collar portion of each.
  • 3. The resistant barrier coat of claim 1 wherein the fastener is unattached when the hood is in a deployed position and wherein the fastener is attached when the hood is undeployed.
  • 4. The resistant barrier coat of claim 1 constructed and arranged to place the hood, alternately, in at least a deployed position and an undeployed position, wherein when the hood is in the deployed position the liner is not attached to the outer shell at the collar portions.
  • 5. The resistant barrier coat of claim 4 wherein the liner is attached to the outer shell at the collar portions when the hood is in an undeployed position.
  • 6. The resistant barrier coat of claim 1 wherein the barrier comprises a material selected from the group consisting of urethanes, PTFE, neoprene, natural and synthetic rubber, para-aramids, and polyamides.
  • 7. A firefighter's ensemble that complies with at least one of NFPA Standards 1951, 1971, 1992, 1999, and 1994, the ensemble comprising the resistant barrier coat of claim 1.
  • 8. A resistant barrier liner for use as part of an emergency responder's coat, the liner comprising: a breathable resistant barrier layer including a collar portion;an integrated hood formed from the resistant barrier layer; anda fastener for attaching the collar portion of the resistant barrier to a collar portion of an outer shell of the coat.
  • 9. The resistant barrier liner of claim 8 wherein the barrier layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of urethanes, PTFE, neoprene, natural and synthetic rubber, para-aramids, and polyamides.
  • 10. The resistant barrier liner of claim 8 wherein the liner comprises a front left panel, a front right panel, and a vapor resistant fastener for joining the left panel to the right panel.
  • 11. The resistant barrier liner of claim 10 wherein the fastener is constructed and arranged to extend from below the responder's waist to beyond the responder's chin.
  • 12. The resistant barrier liner of claim 8 further comprising a thermal layer.
  • 13. The resistant barrier liner of claim 12 wherein the thermal layer is permanently attached to the breathable resistant barrier layer.
  • 14. A firefighter's ensemble that complies with at least one of NFPA Standards 1951, 1971, 1992, 1999, and 1994, the ensemble comprising the resistant barrier liner of claim 8.
  • 15. A method of donning an emergency responder's coat for protection against chemical and/or biological contact, the coat including an outer shell and an inner resistant barrier liner including a concealed hood, the method comprising: disconnecting a portion of the inner barrier resistant liner from the outer shell;exposing the concealed hood;covering a portion of the responder's head with the hood; andforming a liquid/vapor resistant seal between the hood portion and a SCBA facemask.
  • 16. The method of claim 15 further comprising fastening two front panels of the liner together to form a vapor resistant seal from waist level to the SCBA facemask.
  • 17. The method of claim 16 wherein fastening comprises joining two zipper halves together.
  • 18. The method of claim 15 wherein the two panels are fastened from below the responder's waist to above the responder's chin.
  • 19. A resistant barrier liner for use with an emergency responder's coat, the liner comprising: a torso portion joined to two arm sleeves wherein the torso portion includes a compression zone whereby volume inside the torso portion can be reduced by tightening the compression zone.
  • 20. The resistant barrier liner of claim 19 comprising a liquid/vapor resistant layer that is permeable to water vapor.
  • 21. The resistant barrier liner of claim 19 wherein the barrier liner is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of urethanes, PTFE, neoprene, natural and synthetic rubber, para-aramid, and polyamides.
  • 22. The resistant barrier liner of claim 19 wherein the compression zone comprises a lace and eyelet mechanism.
  • 23. The resistant barrier liner of claim 19 further comprising a thermal layer.
  • 24. The resistant barrier liner of claim 19 further comprising a tightening mechanism around the circumference of a lower edge of the lower torso portion whereby the tightening mechanism forms a liquid/vapor resistant seal at the interface of the coat and a protective trouser with which the coat may be used.
  • 25. An emergency responder's coat for protecting the wearer from hazardous environmental materials, the coat comprising: a resistant barrier liner as in claim 19; andan outer shell comprising a material that is abrasion and flame resistant.
  • 26. A coat for an emergency responder, the coat comprising: a water resistant layer; anda flame resistant outer shell including two sleeves, each sleeve including a slit running from a wrist opening to a point at least half way to the elbow, wherein the slit is closable via a fastener.
  • 27. The coat of claim 26 wherein the fastener is selected from the group consisting of hook and loop, zipper and snaps.
  • 28. The coat of claim 26 wherein each sleeve comprises an outer portion facing away from the midline of the wearer and an inner portion facing toward the midline of the user, the slit located on the inner portion and thereby providing the responder access to the fastener with the opposite hand.
  • 29. The coat of claim 26 further comprising a resistant barrier liner for protecting the wearer against the intrusion of hazardous chemicals and biological pathogens.
  • 30. The coat of claim 29 wherein the resistant barrier liner is breathable.
  • 31. The coat of claim 26 comprising a thermal layer.
  • 32. The coat of claim 26 wherein each sleeve includes a water well.
  • 33. A firefighter's ensemble that complies with at least one of NFPA Standards 1951, 1971, 1992, 1999, and 1994, the ensemble comprising the emergency responder's coat of claim 25.
  • 34. A firefighter's ensemble that complies with at least one of NFPA Standards 1951, 1971, 1992, 1999, and 1994, the ensemble comprising the emergency responder's coat of claim 26.
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60762149 Jan 2006 US