CA2486609A1 - Composite structure for protective garment - Google Patents
Composite structure for protective garment Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2486609A1 CA2486609A1 CA002486609A CA2486609A CA2486609A1 CA 2486609 A1 CA2486609 A1 CA 2486609A1 CA 002486609 A CA002486609 A CA 002486609A CA 2486609 A CA2486609 A CA 2486609A CA 2486609 A1 CA2486609 A1 CA 2486609A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- moisture
- fibers
- composite structure
- pervious
- innermost layer
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Abstract
For a protective garment, such as a protective coat for a firefighter, a composite structure comprises an outer shell, a moisture barrier within the outer shell, a moisture absorber, which absorber may incorporate a superabsorbent polymer, within the moisture barrier, and an innermost layer within the moisture barrier, wherein the innermost layer is hydrophobic but is moisture-pervious. In one contemplated embodiment, the innermost layer is made from synthetic, hydrophobic fibers, which fibers are woven so as to be moisture-pervious and which fibers are surfactant-treated so as to promote their being moisture-pervious. In another contemplated embodiment, the innermost layer is made from a sheet of a synthetic, hydrophobic material, which sheet is apertured so as to be moisture-pervious. In another contemplated embodiment, the innermost layer is made from natural fibers, which fibers have a hydrophobic finish and which fibers are woven so as to b e moisture-pervious.
Description
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
COMPOSITE STRUCTURE FOR PROTECTIVE GARMENT
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to a composite structure for a protective garment, such as a pair of bunker pants for a firefighter, a bunker coat for a firefighter, or a glove for a firefighter. This invention contemplates that the composite structure incorporates, along with an outer shell, a moisture barrier within the outer shell, and a moisture absorber within the moisture barrier, an innermost layer, which is hydrophobic but which is moisture-pervious.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Commonly, in a firefighting environment, a firefighter wearing protective garments, such as bunker pants, a bunker coat, and gloves, sweats copiously within such garments, whereby the firefighter is exposed to severe stresses due to sweating, as well as to severe stresses due to firefighting. Such stresses are known to contribute significantly to fatigue, injuries, and fatalities among firefighters.
This invention addresses an ascertained need for a composite structure, from which such garments could be made and which would employ a superabsorbent polymer to absorb copious amounts of human sweat, whereby to reduce such stresses due to sweating.
Usage of a superabsorbent polymer in a composite structure for a protective garment, such as a protective garment for a firefighter, is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,885,912 to Bumberger.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a composite structure for a protective garment, such as a pair of bunker pants for a firefighter, a bunker coat for a firefighter, or a glove for a firefighter. The composite structure comprises an outer shell, a moisture barrier within the outer shell, a moisture absorber, which absorber may incorporate a superabsorbent polymer, within the moisture barrier, and an i i ~. ~ w i i i ~ il ~i i... il...i "~ L. , innermost layer within the moisture barrier, wherein the innermost layer is hydrophobic but is moisture-pervious. This invention does not preclude there being a thermally insulative layer between the moisture barrier and the moisture absorber.
S In one contemplated embodiment, the innermost layer is made from synthetic, hydrophobic fibers, which fibers are woven so as to be moisture-pervious and which fibers are surfactant-treated so as to promote their being moisture-pervious. In another contemplated embodiment, the innermost layer is made from a sheet of a synthetic, hydrophobic material, which sheet is apertured so as to be moisture-pervious. In another contemplated embodiment, the innermost layer is made from natural fibers, which fibers have a hydrophobic finish and which fibers are woven so as to be moisture-pervious.
This invention also provides a protective garment, such as a pair of bunker pants for a firefighter, a bunker coat for a firefighter, or a glove for a firefighter, which garment comprises the composite structure described above.
Hereinbefore and hereinafter, moisture refers to any predominantly aqueous liquid, particularly but not exclusively water or human sweat.
Hereinbefore and hereinafter, terms such as inner, outer, inwardly, and outwardly are employed from a standpoint of a wearer of a protective garment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 and Figure 2, respectively, are fragmentary, cross-sectional views of composite structures, each constituting one contemplated embodiment of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in Figure 1, a composite structure 10 for a protective garment, such as a pair of bunker pants for a firefighter, a bunker coat for a firefighter, or a glove for a firefighter, is made from fire-resistant materials and has a moisture absorber 20, a moisture barrier 30 disposed outwardly in relation to the moisture absorber 20, and an outer shell 40 disposed outwardly in relation to the moisture barrier 30. As explained below, the moisture absorber 20
COMPOSITE STRUCTURE FOR PROTECTIVE GARMENT
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to a composite structure for a protective garment, such as a pair of bunker pants for a firefighter, a bunker coat for a firefighter, or a glove for a firefighter. This invention contemplates that the composite structure incorporates, along with an outer shell, a moisture barrier within the outer shell, and a moisture absorber within the moisture barrier, an innermost layer, which is hydrophobic but which is moisture-pervious.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Commonly, in a firefighting environment, a firefighter wearing protective garments, such as bunker pants, a bunker coat, and gloves, sweats copiously within such garments, whereby the firefighter is exposed to severe stresses due to sweating, as well as to severe stresses due to firefighting. Such stresses are known to contribute significantly to fatigue, injuries, and fatalities among firefighters.
This invention addresses an ascertained need for a composite structure, from which such garments could be made and which would employ a superabsorbent polymer to absorb copious amounts of human sweat, whereby to reduce such stresses due to sweating.
Usage of a superabsorbent polymer in a composite structure for a protective garment, such as a protective garment for a firefighter, is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,885,912 to Bumberger.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a composite structure for a protective garment, such as a pair of bunker pants for a firefighter, a bunker coat for a firefighter, or a glove for a firefighter. The composite structure comprises an outer shell, a moisture barrier within the outer shell, a moisture absorber, which absorber may incorporate a superabsorbent polymer, within the moisture barrier, and an i i ~. ~ w i i i ~ il ~i i... il...i "~ L. , innermost layer within the moisture barrier, wherein the innermost layer is hydrophobic but is moisture-pervious. This invention does not preclude there being a thermally insulative layer between the moisture barrier and the moisture absorber.
S In one contemplated embodiment, the innermost layer is made from synthetic, hydrophobic fibers, which fibers are woven so as to be moisture-pervious and which fibers are surfactant-treated so as to promote their being moisture-pervious. In another contemplated embodiment, the innermost layer is made from a sheet of a synthetic, hydrophobic material, which sheet is apertured so as to be moisture-pervious. In another contemplated embodiment, the innermost layer is made from natural fibers, which fibers have a hydrophobic finish and which fibers are woven so as to be moisture-pervious.
This invention also provides a protective garment, such as a pair of bunker pants for a firefighter, a bunker coat for a firefighter, or a glove for a firefighter, which garment comprises the composite structure described above.
Hereinbefore and hereinafter, moisture refers to any predominantly aqueous liquid, particularly but not exclusively water or human sweat.
Hereinbefore and hereinafter, terms such as inner, outer, inwardly, and outwardly are employed from a standpoint of a wearer of a protective garment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 and Figure 2, respectively, are fragmentary, cross-sectional views of composite structures, each constituting one contemplated embodiment of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in Figure 1, a composite structure 10 for a protective garment, such as a pair of bunker pants for a firefighter, a bunker coat for a firefighter, or a glove for a firefighter, is made from fire-resistant materials and has a moisture absorber 20, a moisture barrier 30 disposed outwardly in relation to the moisture absorber 20, and an outer shell 40 disposed outwardly in relation to the moisture barrier 30. As explained below, the moisture absorber 20
-2-incorporates a superabsorbent polymer, which may be a cross-linked polyacrylamide and which can absorb copious amounts of human sweat.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the moisture barrier 30 is affixed to the outer shell 40 so as to have surface-to-surface adhesion between an outer surface 32 of the moisture barrier 30 and an inner surface 42 of the outer shell 40. Thus, the moisture barrier 30 may be a moisture-impervious layer, e.g. a neoprene layer, which is laminated to the inner surface 42 of the outer shell 40, or a moisture-impervious layer, e.g, a Breathe TexT"' layer, which is coated on the inner surface 42 of the outer shell 40.
As shown in Figure 1, the moisture absorber 20 has a fibrous matrix 22 incorporating particles 24 of the superabsorbent polymer. Alternatively, the fibrous matrix 22 incorporates fibers of the superabsorbent polymer. The fibrous matrix 22 is disposed between an inner cover 50, which is moisture-pervious, and an outer cover 60, which is moisture-pervious. The covers 50, 60, between which the fibrous matrix 22 is disposed, are textile layers, which are quilted to segregate discrete regions of the fibrous matrix 22.
Examples of superabsorbent polymers and processes for their incorporation into fibrous matrices are disclosed in prior patents including U.S.
Patent No. 3,670,731 to Harmon, U.S. Patent No. 4,105,033 to Chaterjee et al, U.S. Patent No. 4,235,237 to Mesek et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,429,001 to Kolpin et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,985,298 to Buckley et al., U.S. Patent No.
5,087,513 to Kim, U.S. Patent No 5,328,759 to McCormack et al., and U.S.
Patent No. 5,419,955 to Ehrhardt et al.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the moisture barrier 30 is not affixed to the outer shell 40 so as to have surface-to-surface adhesion, as described above. Rather, the moisture barrier 20 is affixed to the outer cover 60 of the moisture absorber 20 so as to have surface-to-surface adhesion between an inner surface 34 of the moisture barrier 30 and an outer surface 62 of the outer cover 60 of the moisture absorber 20. Thus, the moisture barrier 30 may be a moisture-impervious layer, e.g. a neoprene layer, which is laminated to the outer surface 62 of the outer cover 60 of the moisture absorber 20, or a moisture-impervious layer, e.g. a Breathe TexT"' layer, which is coated on the outer cover 60 of the moisture absorber 20.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the moisture barrier 30 is affixed to the outer shell 40 so as to have surface-to-surface adhesion between an outer surface 32 of the moisture barrier 30 and an inner surface 42 of the outer shell 40. Thus, the moisture barrier 30 may be a moisture-impervious layer, e.g. a neoprene layer, which is laminated to the inner surface 42 of the outer shell 40, or a moisture-impervious layer, e.g, a Breathe TexT"' layer, which is coated on the inner surface 42 of the outer shell 40.
As shown in Figure 1, the moisture absorber 20 has a fibrous matrix 22 incorporating particles 24 of the superabsorbent polymer. Alternatively, the fibrous matrix 22 incorporates fibers of the superabsorbent polymer. The fibrous matrix 22 is disposed between an inner cover 50, which is moisture-pervious, and an outer cover 60, which is moisture-pervious. The covers 50, 60, between which the fibrous matrix 22 is disposed, are textile layers, which are quilted to segregate discrete regions of the fibrous matrix 22.
Examples of superabsorbent polymers and processes for their incorporation into fibrous matrices are disclosed in prior patents including U.S.
Patent No. 3,670,731 to Harmon, U.S. Patent No. 4,105,033 to Chaterjee et al, U.S. Patent No. 4,235,237 to Mesek et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,429,001 to Kolpin et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,985,298 to Buckley et al., U.S. Patent No.
5,087,513 to Kim, U.S. Patent No 5,328,759 to McCormack et al., and U.S.
Patent No. 5,419,955 to Ehrhardt et al.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the moisture barrier 30 is not affixed to the outer shell 40 so as to have surface-to-surface adhesion, as described above. Rather, the moisture barrier 20 is affixed to the outer cover 60 of the moisture absorber 20 so as to have surface-to-surface adhesion between an inner surface 34 of the moisture barrier 30 and an outer surface 62 of the outer cover 60 of the moisture absorber 20. Thus, the moisture barrier 30 may be a moisture-impervious layer, e.g. a neoprene layer, which is laminated to the outer surface 62 of the outer cover 60 of the moisture absorber 20, or a moisture-impervious layer, e.g. a Breathe TexT"' layer, which is coated on the outer cover 60 of the moisture absorber 20.
-3-In each of the embodiments shown and described, the composite structure 10 further comprises an innermost layer 70, as described below, which is hydrophobic but which is moisture-pervious.
In one contemplated embodiment, the innermost layer 70 is made from synthetic, hydrophobic fibers, such as polyamide fibers, which fibers are woven so as to be moisture-pervious and which fibers may be surfactant-treated so as to promote their being moisture-pervious. In another contemplated embodiment, the innermost layer 70 is made from a sheet of a synthetic, hydrophobic material, such as neoprene, which sheet is apertured so as to be moisture-pervious. In another contemplated embodiment, the innermost layer is made from natural fibers, such as wool fibers, which fibers have a hydrophobic finish and which fibers are woven so as to be moisture-pervious.
In each of the embodiments shown and described, because the innermost layer 70 is hydrophobic, the innermost layer 70 tends to be usually perceived as being dry by a wearer of the protective garment. Moreover, in each of the embodiments shown and described, the superabsorbent polymer can absorb copious amounts of human sweat, whereby to reduce sweat-caused stresses on a firefighter wearing a protective garment made from the composite material. Desirably, in each of the embodiments shown and described, a protective garment comprising the composite structure is made so that the composite structure can be easily removed for drying, or for laundering and drying, and so that the removed structure can be easily replaced.
In one contemplated embodiment, the innermost layer 70 is made from synthetic, hydrophobic fibers, such as polyamide fibers, which fibers are woven so as to be moisture-pervious and which fibers may be surfactant-treated so as to promote their being moisture-pervious. In another contemplated embodiment, the innermost layer 70 is made from a sheet of a synthetic, hydrophobic material, such as neoprene, which sheet is apertured so as to be moisture-pervious. In another contemplated embodiment, the innermost layer is made from natural fibers, such as wool fibers, which fibers have a hydrophobic finish and which fibers are woven so as to be moisture-pervious.
In each of the embodiments shown and described, because the innermost layer 70 is hydrophobic, the innermost layer 70 tends to be usually perceived as being dry by a wearer of the protective garment. Moreover, in each of the embodiments shown and described, the superabsorbent polymer can absorb copious amounts of human sweat, whereby to reduce sweat-caused stresses on a firefighter wearing a protective garment made from the composite material. Desirably, in each of the embodiments shown and described, a protective garment comprising the composite structure is made so that the composite structure can be easily removed for drying, or for laundering and drying, and so that the removed structure can be easily replaced.
-4-
Claims (12)
1. For a protective garment, a composite structure comprising an outer shell, a moisture barrier within the outer shell, a moisture absorber within the moisture barrier, and an innermost layer within the moisture barrier, wherein the innermost layer is hydrophobic but is moisture-pervious.
2. The composite structure of claim 1 wherein the innermost layer is made from synthetic, hydrophobic fibers.
3. The composite structure of claim 1 wherein the innermost layer is made from synthetic, hydrophobic fibers, which fibers are woven so as to be moisture-pervious.
4. The composite structure of claim 1 wherein the innermost layer is made from synthetic, hydrophobic fibers, which fibers are woven so as to be moisture-pervious and which fibers are surfactant-treated so as to promote their being moisture-pervious.
5. The composite structure of claim 1 wherein the innermost layer is made from a sheet of a synthetic, hydrophobic material, which sheet is apertured so as to be moisture-pervious.
6. The composite structure of claim 1 wherein the innermost layer is made from natural fibers, which have a hydrophobic finish.
7. The composite structure of claim 1 wherein the innermost layer is made from natural fibers, which fibers have a hydrophobic finish and which fibers are woven so as to be moisture-pervious.
8. The composite structure of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein the moisture absorber incorporates a superabsorbent polymer.
9. The composite structure of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 wherein the moisture absorber comprises a fibrous matrix incorporating a superabsorbent polymer.
10. A protective garment comprising the composite structure of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7.
11. A protective garment comprising the composite structure of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 wherein the moisture absorber incorporates a superabsorbent polymer.
12. A protective garment comprising the composite structure of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 wherein the moisture absorber comprises a fibrous matrix incorporating a superabsorbent polymer.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US10/894,187 | 2004-07-19 | ||
| US10/894,187 US20040253891A1 (en) | 2000-09-12 | 2004-07-19 | Composite structure for protective garment |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2486609A1 true CA2486609A1 (en) | 2006-01-19 |
Family
ID=35637025
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002486609A Abandoned CA2486609A1 (en) | 2004-07-19 | 2004-11-02 | Composite structure for protective garment |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2486609A1 (en) |
-
2004
- 2004-11-02 CA CA002486609A patent/CA2486609A1/en not_active Abandoned
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |
Effective date: 20131023 |