WO2000078399A1

WO2000078399A1 - Reflective trim protection for a firefighting garment

Info

Publication number: WO2000078399A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/017413
Authority: WO
Inventors: Donald Aldridge; Patty Barker
Original assignee: Lion Apparel, Inc.
Priority date: 1999-06-23
Filing date: 2000-06-23
Publication date: 2000-12-28

Abstract

A method of attaching reflective trim material to hazardous duty garment includes the steps of: (a) providing a reflective trim material; (b) stitching the reflective material to an outer-most layer of the hazardous garment, where the stitching has exposed portions; and (c) applying a protective tape over the exposed portions of the stitching. Preferably the protective tape is substantially transparent; however, it is also within the scope of the invention that the protective tape may also include reflective, luminescent or fluorescent properties itself. A method for protecting exposed portions of stitching on an outer layer of a hazardous duty garment includes the step of applying at least one layer of protective tape over the exposed portions of the stitching.

Description

REFLECTIVE TRIM PROTECTION FOR A FIREFIGHTING GARMENT

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/140,641 filed June 23, 1999.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to firefighter garments and other hazardous duty garments, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for protecting the stitching used to attach reflective trim to such garments.

Reflective trim material is often used on the outer-most layers of hazardous duty garments, such as firefighter garments, as well as on other garments such as jogging suits and construction workers garments. The reflective trim is provided to enhance the visibility of such garments, and the wearers of the garments, in low-light or low- visibility areas and environments. Thus, reflective trim material provided on the outer-most layers of such garments provides an advantageous safety factor for the wearers of the garments.

Firefighter garments are uniquely adapted to be worn in extremely hazardous environments. For example, such garments must be designed to withstand temperatures in excess of 500° F without significant degradation. A conventional firefighter garment is typically comprised of an outer shell of a woven, aramid fiber material, such as NOMEX, KEVLAR or Z-200 (all of which are registered trademarks of El Dupont de Nemours and Co.), a woven polybenzamidazole material such as PBI (a trademark of Celanese Corp.), or a blend of aramid and PBI materials; a moisture barrier comprised of semipermeable membrane, bonded or otherwise attached to a substrate of an aramid fiber material, such as CROSSTECH (a registered trademark of W.L. Gore and Associates, Inc.); and a thermal liner, which typically consists of a batting or mesh of aramid fiber materials attached to a substrate of an aramid fiber material.

Conventional reflective trim material is commonly applied to the outer shell of a firefighter garment by stitching the reflective trim material to the outer shell of the garment with an aramid thread. Typically, two lines of such stitching are used, where each line of stitching extends adjacent to a respective longitudinal side of the reflective trim material. The threads used in such stitching are preferably aramid threads, commercially available as Tex 90, from American & Efird Inc. of Holly, N.C. A disadvantage with such an arrangement is that the exposed portions of the stitching are often abraded and/or cut during use, which may result in the reflective trim hanging loose or even falling from the garment. A fire fighter will often cut off the loose piece for safety reasons, thus reducing the overall visibility of his garment. For example, it typically takes only eight to ten cycles in the Taber abrasion testing apparatus for such exposed stitching on a firefighter garment to show significant abrasion or even failure.

Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus and method to improve the durability of the attachment system of the reflective system of the reflective trim without changing the reflective or fluorescence properties of the trim.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for protecting the stitching used to attach reflective trim material to an outer shell of a hazardous duty garment.

One aspect of the present invention provides a method of attaching reflective trim material to hazardous duty garment comprising the steps of: (a) providing a reflective trim material; (b) stitching the reflective material to an outer-most layer of the hazardous garment, where the stitching has exposed portions; and (c) applying a protective tape over the exposed portions of the stitching. Preferably the protective tape is substantially transparent; however, it is also within the scope of the invention that the protective tape may also include reflective, luminescent or fluorescent properties itself. Such protective tape maybe applied over the stitching using an adhesive or by mechanically attaching the protective tape with heat and pressure (such as ironing).

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a firefighting garment comprising: (a) an outer shell of abrasion, flame and heat resistant material; (b) a reflective trim attached to the outer shell by stitching, where the stitching has exposed portions; and (c) a layer of protective tape covering the exposed portion of the stitching. Preferably this protective tape is transparent and is attached over the exposed portion of the stitching by an adhesive. It is also preferred that the firefighting garment, including the protective tape, is able to withstand at least 100 cycles on the Taber abrasion testing apparatus when using an HI 8 wheel with 1,000 grams of weight..

Yet another aspect of the present invention provides a method of attaching reflective trim material to hazardous duty garment comprising the steps of: (a) providing a reflective trim material; (b) stitching the reflective material to an outer-most layer of the hazardous garment, where the stitching has exposed portions; and (c) applying a protective bead of solidifying (or curing) material over the exposed portions of the stitching. Preferably the solidifying material is a clear adhesive or compound, such as a PNC compound, silicone, Super Glue^® (a trademark of Super Glue corporation, Hollis Ν.Y.) or any similar material or compound. Such material or compound may also include reflective, luminescent or fluorescent properties itself.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for protecting exposed portions of stitching on an outer layer of a hazardous duty garment that includes the step of applying at least one layer of protective tape over the exposed portions of the stitching. Finally, it is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a method for protecting exposed portions of stitching on an outer layer of a hazardous duty garment that includes the step of applying a protective bead or coating of solidifying material over the exposed portions of the stitching.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide protection to the exposed portions of stitching on an outer layer of a hazardous duty garment. It is also an object of the present invention to provide protection to the exposed portions of stitching used to attach reflective trim to the outer layer of a hazardous duty garment, where such protection does not adversely affect the reflective properties of the trim. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, the attached drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 provides a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention applied to a strip of reflective material that is attached to an outer layer of a garment;

Fig. 2 provides a perspective view of a firefighter turnout garment incorporating an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 provides an exploded, perspective view of various layers that may be used in constructing the firefighter turnout garment of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 provides a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention applied to a strip of reflective material that is attached to an outer layer of a garment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in Fig. 1, a strip of reflective trim material 10 is attached to an outer most layer of a garment 12 by two longitudinal lines of stitching 14, positioned adjacent to opposing longitudinal edges of the strip of reflective trim 10. Typically, the reflective trim 10 includes a fabric substrate coated with a layer of fluorescent and/or reflective materials. Such reflective trims are commercially available from Minnesota Mining and Manuf. Co. as SCOTCHLITE or SCOTCHLITE II TRIPLE TRIM.

In accordance with the present invention, the exposed portions of the thread are covered with a clear protective tape 16. This tape may be applied to the reflective trim 10 by an adhesive or may be mechanically bonded thereto by the application of heat and pressure. An example of a protective tape for use with the present invention is a DuPont High Performance Film, a fluorocarbon film, commercially available (from El Dupont de Nemours and Co.) as "PFA" (copolymer of tetraflouroethylene) or "FEP" (coploymer of tetraflouroethylene and hexaflouropropylene) films. Preferably, the protective tape is approximately 1/4" to 3/4" wide; and at least one layer of the tape is provided for each longitudinal line of stitching.

It has been found that when the protective tape of the present invention is applied over the exposed portions of the stitching, the stitching will withstand at least 100 cycles on the Taber abrasion testing apparatus (which is known to those of ordinary skill in the art), and as many as 800 to 1,000 cycles when using an HI 8 wheel with 1,000 grams of weight.

As shown in Fig. 2, the reflective trim and associated protective tape of the present invention is preferably attached to a hazardous duty garment, such as a firefighting turnout coat, generally designated 26. The turnout coat 26 has a body portion 28, sleeves 30, 32 neck opening 34, collar 36 surrounding the neck opening, and a front closure, generally designated 38. Such a garment is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5, 539,928 to Aldridge.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the garment 26 includes an abrasion, heat and flame resistant outer shell 12', which covers substantially the entire outer surface of the garment. The outer shell is a compact weave of an aramid material, such as NOMEX or KEVLAR; a blend of such aramid materials; a polybenzamidazole material such as PBI (a trademark of Celanese Corp.); or a blend of aramid and PBI materials. A thermal liner, generally designated 42, extends substantially throughout the garment 26 and typically includes a layer 44 of insulative material quilted to a layer 46 of aramid fabric material. A discrete moisture barrier layer 48 is positioned between the thermal liner and the outer shell 12' and typically includes a semipermeable membrane layer 50, which is moisture vapor permeable but impermeable to liquid moisture, bonded to a substrate 52 of flame and heat resistant aramid fabric material. A second layer 54 of aramid face cloth material may be positioned adjacent to the thermal liner 42 so as to protect the thermal liner from abrasion caused by the clothing of the wearer.

The reflective trim 10 according to the present invention is preferably attached to the outer shell 12' and positioned in accordance with the NFPA 1971 standard. However, it is within scope of the invention to place the reflective trim at any location on the garment. In accordance with the invention discussed herein, the exposed portions of the stitching 14 used to attach the reflective trim to the outer shell is covered with a protective tape 16.

When constructed in such a manner, the protective tape substantially increases the durability of the stitching 14 used to attach the reflective trim 10 to the outer shell 12' of the firefighting garment.

While it is preferred that the protective tape 16 is substantially transparent, it is also within the scope of the invention that the protective tape may have reflective, fluorescent or luminescent properties, thereby adding to the visibility of the garment.

It is also within the scope of the invention that the protective tape 16 could be used to cover and protect exposed stitching used to attach other components, such as straps or patches, to the outer shell of the garment; or to protect exposed stitching used to attach various segments of the outer shell to each other.

In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Fig.4, the stitching 14 used to attach the reflective trim 10 to the outer shell 12 is covered or coated with a protective bead 56 or layer of a clear adhesive or compound, such as a PNC compound, silicone or a Super Glue (cyanoacrylate), which has sufficiently hardened or cured. Such material or compound forming the protective bead 56 may also include reflective, luminescent or fluorescent properties itself. It is also within the scope of the invention that the protective tape 16 or bead 56, discussed above, could be used to cover and protect exposed stitching used to attach other components, such as straps or patches, to the outer shell of the garment; or to protect exposed stitching used to attach various segments of the outer shell to each other.

Having described the invention in detail and by reference to the drawings, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims:

What is claimed is:

Claims

1. A method for attaching reflective trim to a hazardous duty garment, comprising the steps of: providing a reflective material; stitching the reflective material to an outer-most layer of the hazardous duty garment, the stitching having exposed portions; and applying at least one layer of protective tape over the exposed portions of the stitching.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the protective tape is substantially transparent.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the protective tape includes reflective, fluorescent or luminescent properties.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying step includes the step of applying the protective tape using an adhesive.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying step includes the step of applying heat and pressure to the protective tape so as to mechanically bond the material of the protective tape to the material of the outer-most layer of the hazardous duty garment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein: the reflective material has a pair of opposing longitudinal edges; the stitching step includes the step of stitching the reflective material along a pair of stitching lines, adjacent the opposing longitudinal edges of the reflective material, each of the stitching lines have exposed portions of stitching; and the applying step includes the step of longitudinally applying a pair of strips of protective tape, one over each of the stitching lines, to cover and protect the exposed portions of the stitching.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the protective tape is substantially transparent.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the protective tape is approximately 1/4 inches to 3/4 inches wide.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the applying step includes the step of applying the protective tape using an adhesive.

10. A firefighting garment comprising: an outer shell of abrasion, flame and heat resistant material; a reflective trim attached to the outer shell by stitching, the stitching having exposed portions; and a layer of protective tape covering the exposed portions of the stitching.

11. The firefighting garment of claim 10, wherein the protective tape is substantially transparent.

12. The firefighting garment of claim 11 , wherein the protective tape is attached over the exposed portions of the stitching by an adhesive.

13. The firefighting garment of claim 12, wherein: the reflective material has a pair of opposing longitudinal edges; the reflective material is stitched to the outer shell along a pair of stitching lines, adjacent the opposing longitudinal edges of the reflective material, each of the stitching lines have exposed portions of stitching; and the garment includes a pair of longitudinal strips of the reflective tape covering the exposed portions of the stitching.

14. The firefighting garment of claim 13, wherein the strips of reflective tape are approximately 1/4 inches to 3/4 inches wide.

15. The firefighting garment of claim 10, wherein the firefighting garment, including the protective tape, withstands at least 100 cycles on the Taber abrasion tester.

16. A method for attaching reflective trim to a hazardous duty garment, comprising the steps of: providing a reflective material; stitching the reflective material to an outer-most layer of the hazardous duty garment, the stitching having exposed portions; and applying a protective bead or coating of solidifying material over the exposed portions of the stitching.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the solidifying material is taken from a group consisting of a PNC compound, a silicone, a cyanoacrylate compound, and the like.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the solidifying material is substantially transparent.

19. A firefighting garment comprising: an outer shell of abrasion, flame and heat resistant material; a reflective trim attached to the outer shell by stitching, the stitching having exposed portions; and a means for protecting the exposed portions of the stitching.

20. A method for protecting exposed portions of stitching on an outer layer of a hazardous duty garment, comprising the step of applying at least one layer of protective tape over the exposed portions of the stitching.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the protective tape is substantially transparent.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the protective tape includes reflective, fluorescent or luminescent properties.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the applying step includes the step of applying the protective tape using an adhesive.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the applying step includes the step of applying heat and pressure to the protective tape so as to mechanically bond the material of the protective tape to the material of the outer-most layer of the hazardous duty garment.

25. A method for protecting exposed portions of stitching on an outer layer of a hazardous duty garment, comprising the step of applying a protective bead or coating of solidifying material over the exposed portions of the stitching.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the solidifying material is taken from a group consisting of a PVC compound, a silicone, a cyanoacrylate compound, and the like.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the solidifying material is substantially transparent.