GB1603268A

GB1603268A - Protective garments

Info

Publication number: GB1603268A
Application number: GB2479078A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: BABCO WELDED PLASTICS Ltd
Current assignee: BABCO WELDED PLASTICS Ltd
Priority date: 1978-05-31
Filing date: 1978-05-31
Publication date: 1981-11-25

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO PROTECTIVE GARMENTS (71) We. BASSO WELDED PLASTICS LIMITED, a British Company of 201 Sculcoates Lane. Hull. Humberside, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us. and the method by which it is to be performed. to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to protective clothing and more particularly to a protective garment including hoods for protecting the head of the wearer.

It is well known in the art to provide protective clothing including a hood for protecting the head of the wearer but a difficulty exists with such prior art garments when the wearer is in an environment in which a safety helmet is necessary or desirable. Thus. when the hood is of the close fitting "balaclava" type, the helmet cannot fit within the hood and. if the hood is made large enough to cover the helmet, substantial voids and air spaces exist between the wearer and the hood.

This problem is particularly acute when the hood forms part of a gas suit where a snugly fitting hood is required and a helmet worn outside the hood can be contaminated.

According to the present invention there is provided a protective garment including an inner hood. with a face opening, and an outer hood with a face opening. the inner hood being arranged to be fitted over the head of the wearer from the front of the head and the outer hood being arranged to be fitted over the head of the wearer from the rear of the head.

Thus. and with such an arrangement. the protective helmet can be worn over the inner hood and within the outer hood.

Preferably the front neck edge regions of the inner hood are secured in gas tight relationship to the front of the neck edge of the garment.

Preferably the inner hood has a slit extending from the rear of the neck edge towards the crown.

In a preferred embodiment the outer hood has at least its rear neck edge regions secured, in gas tight relationship. to the rear neck regions of the garment and conveniently the face opening of the outer hood is larger than that of the inner hood and includes a draw string by which said face opening can be reduced.

In a preferred embodiment in accordance with the invention a protective garment includes a trunk fitting part, an inner hood, and an outer hood, the inner hood being arranged to be fitted to the wearer from the front of the head and the outer hood being arranged to be fitted to the wearer from the rear of the head, said trunk fitting garment, said inner hood and said outer hood being made from a thermoplastics material, said inner and outer hoods being heat sealed to said trunk fitting garment.

The invention will now be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows, in perspective exploded view, the upper regions of a garment with an inner hood and an outer hood, Figure 2 shows, a rear perspective view of the inner hood of Figure 1, and Figure 3 shows. in perspective view, the outer hood of Figure 1 with a safety helmet therein shown in phantom.

In the illustrated example a trunk fitting garment 11 of a thermoplastics material has a neck opening 12. and inner hood 13 of a thermoplastics material intended to be close fitting on the wearer, and an outer hood 14 of thermoplastics material intended to cover a helmet 15 worn by the wearer over the inner hood 13.

The inner hood 13 is a "balaclava" type hood with a face opening 16 therein. the rear of the hood includes a slit 17 extending from the neck edge 18 towards the crown and the front and side regions of the hood 13 adjacent the neck edge 18 are located within the neck opening 12 and are heat sealed to the regions of the garment 11 adjacent the front and side edges of the neck opening 12. Thus, the rear of the neck edge of the hood 13 is unattached to the neck opening 12.

The outer hood 14 is also of the "balaclava" type but is split at 19 from the face aperture to the neck edge 20 and the regions of hood 14 adjacent the rear and sides of the neck edge 20 overlay the neck opening 12 and are heat sealed to the regions of garment 11 adjacent the rear and sides of neck opening 12.

Thus. the edges of the outer hood 14 defining slit 19 and the front of the neck edge 20 of the outer hood are not secured to the garment. A draw string 21 passes around the face aperture of hood 14 and connects the edges defining slit 19.

To fit the garment the wearer first fits the garment 11 with the draw string 21 of outer hood 14 fully released. the outer hood thrown back, and the inner hood 13 forward and through the loose face aperture of the outer hood 14. With garment 11 fitted the wearer opens slit 17 in hood 13 and draws the inner hood 13 over the head until hood 13 fits snugly over the head with the wearer's face at the face opening 16. A helmet 15 can then be fitted over the hood 13.

With helmet 15 fitted the outer hood 14 is drawn forwardly over the helmet 15 until the upper regions of the face aperture lie below the rim of the helmet 15, and the draw string 21 can then be tightened to close the slit 19 and bring the lower region of the hood 14 snugly against the inner hood 13.

It will be seen that with this construction the wearer's head. except for the face exposed through face opening 16 and which is normally covered by a breathing mask or visor. is completely isolated from the surrounding atmosphere by the inner hood 13 and. when the loose neck edge at the rear of hood 13 is tucked down and slit opening is closed. by for example a zip fastener. the wearer's head is substantially isolated from the atmosphere within the outer hood 14. Further. with a helmet 15 fitted and draw string 21 pulled tight. the atmosphere within the outer helmet 14 is substantially isolated from the surrounding atmosphere.

The hood arrangement proposed by the present invention is ideally suited to a trunk fitting garment of a so-called chemical splash suit intended to protect plant operators. firemen. and the like personnel from dangerous. if accidental chemical splashes. In such a case, of course. the garment 11. hood 13. and hood 14 will be made from a material resistant to chemical attack and.

for other purposes. the suit material will be selected to afford the desired protection of the wearer.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A protective garment including an inner hood with a face opening and an outer hood with a face opening, the inner hood being arranged to be fitted over the head of the wearer from the front of the head and the outer hood being arranged to be fitted over the head of the wearer from the rear of the head.

2. A protective garment as claimed in claim 1 in which the front neck edge regions of the inner hood are secured in gas tight relationship to the front neck edge of the garment.

3. A protective garment as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the inner hood has a slit extending from the rear of the neck edge towards the crown.

4. A protective garment as claimed in any preceding claim in which the outer hood has at least its rear neck edge regions secured in gas tight relationship to the rear neck regions of the garment.

5. A protective garment as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 in which the face opening of the outer hood is larger than that of the inner hood and includes a draw string by which said face opening can be reduced.

6. A protective garment as claimed in any preceding claim including a trunk fitting part. an inner hood, and an outer hood, the inner hood being arranged to be fitted to the wearer from the front of the head and the outer hood being arranged to be fitted to the wearer from the rear of the head, said trunk fitting garment. said inner hood and said outer hood being made from a thermoplastics material and said hoods being heat sealed to said trunk fitting garment.

7. A protective garment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. hood 14 and connects the edges defining slit 19. To fit the garment the wearer first fits the garment 11 with the draw string 21 of outer hood 14 fully released. the outer hood thrown back, and the inner hood 13 forward and through the loose face aperture of the outer hood 14. With garment 11 fitted the wearer opens slit 17 in hood 13 and draws the inner hood 13 over the head until hood 13 fits snugly over the head with the wearer's face at the face opening 16. A helmet 15 can then be fitted over the hood 13. With helmet 15 fitted the outer hood 14 is drawn forwardly over the helmet 15 until the upper regions of the face aperture lie below the rim of the helmet 15, and the draw string 21 can then be tightened to close the slit 19 and bring the lower region of the hood 14 snugly against the inner hood 13. It will be seen that with this construction the wearer's head. except for the face exposed through face opening 16 and which is normally covered by a breathing mask or visor. is completely isolated from the surrounding atmosphere by the inner hood 13 and. when the loose neck edge at the rear of hood 13 is tucked down and slit opening is closed. by for example a zip fastener. the wearer's head is substantially isolated from the atmosphere within the outer hood 14. Further. with a helmet 15 fitted and draw string 21 pulled tight. the atmosphere within the outer helmet 14 is substantially isolated from the surrounding atmosphere. The hood arrangement proposed by the present invention is ideally suited to a trunk fitting garment of a so-called chemical splash suit intended to protect plant operators. firemen. and the like personnel from dangerous. if accidental chemical splashes. In such a case, of course. the garment 11. hood 13. and hood 14 will be made from a material resistant to chemical attack and. for other purposes. the suit material will be selected to afford the desired protection of the wearer. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A protective garment including an inner hood with a face opening and an outer hood with a face opening, the inner hood being arranged to be fitted over the head of the wearer from the front of the head and the outer hood being arranged to be fitted over the head of the wearer from the rear of the head.