Protective glove having inspection port

Abstract

A protective glove for a firefighter or for an emergency worker has an outer shell, an intermediate liner providing a moisture barrier, and an inner liner providing a thermal barrier. The outer shall has an inspection port, which is openable and closeable and which when opened enables portions of at least one of the liners to be visually inspected through the inspection port. The inspection port may be located along a margin of an open end of the protective glove or along a seam of the protective glove. Alternatively, the outer shell may have a flap, which is positionable between a position wherein the inspection port is closed by the flap and positions wherein the inspection port is opened. The protective glove has releasable fasteners, such as hook-and-loop fasteners, for releasably fastening portions of the protective glove to one another so as to close the inspection port.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/348,680, which was filed on Feb. 2, 2006, and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to a protective glove for a firefighter or for an emergency worker. This invention contemplates that the protective glove has an inspection port, which when opened enables a liner of the protective glove to be visually inspected through the inspection port.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,222, it is known for a firefighter's garment to have an inspection port, which when opened enables a liner of the firefighter's garment to be visually inspected. This patent teaches in column 2, lines 28 through 30, that “[w]hile the invention is discussed with reference to the coat of FIG. 1, it must be noted that it can be practiced in other garments such as overpants.”

U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,210 discloses a protective coat of related interest. U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,058 discloses a jacket of related interest. U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,332 discloses a garment, either a jacket or trousers, of related interest.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides, for a firefighter or for an emergency worker, a protective glove having an outer shell and a liner, which is an intermediate liner if the protective glove also has an inner liner. The protective glove has an inspection port, which is openable and closeable. When opened, the inspection port enables portions of the liner or portions of at least one of the liners, if the protective glove has an intermediate liner and an inner liner, to be visually inspected through the inspection port.

The inspection port may be located along a margin of an open end of the protective glove or along a seam of the protective glove. Alternatively, the outer shell may have a flap, which is positionable between a position wherein the inspection port is closed by the flap and positions wherein the inspection port is opened.

The protective glove has means, such as hook-and-loop fasteners, for releasably fastening portions of the protective glove to one another so as to close the inspection port. Preferably, the fastening means comprise hook-and-loop fastening means, although other fastening means, such as a series of snap fasteners or a zipper, can be alternatively used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a protective glove, as seen from its back face, whereby to illustrate that an outer shell of the protective glove has a flap, which is illustrated an a position wherein an inspection port of the outer shell is opened so as to enable portions of an intermediate liner of the protective glove to be visually inspected.

FIG. 1A is a similar view, except that the flap is illustrated in a position wherein the flap closes the inspection port.

FIG. 1B is a sectional view, as taken along line 1B-1B in FIG. 1, in a direction indicated by arrows.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, as taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1, in a direction indicated by arrows.

FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of a protective glove, as seen from its back face, whereby to illustrate that, along a margin of its open end, the protective glove has an inspection port, which when opened enables portions of an intermediate liner and portions of an inner liner of the protective glove to be visually inspected.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, as taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3, in a direction indicated by arrows.

FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of a protective glove, as seen from its back face, whereby to illustrate that, along an edge seam, the protective glove has an inspection port, which when opened enables portions of an intermediate liner and portions of an inner liner of the protective glove to be visually inspected.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view, as taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5, in a direction indicated by arrows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

As illustrated in FIG. 1 and related views, a protective glove 10 for a firefighter or for an emergency worker is similar to protective gloves known heretofore in having an outer shell 20, an intermediate liner 30 providing a moisture barrier, and an inner liner 40 providing a thermal barrier. As illustrated, the outer shell 20 is made from leather, such as elkhide. Alternatively, the outer shell 20 is made from a suitable fabric, such as Kevlar™ fabric or Nomex™ fabric. As illustrated, the intermediate liner 30 is a separate liner made from a suitable material, such as neoprene. Alternatively, the intermediate liner 30 is bonded to the inner liner 40. As illustrated, the inner liner 40 comprises an outer, fabric layer 42, an inner, fabric later 44, and insulative material 46, such as felt, between the fabric layers 42, 44, which are quilted. The protective glove 10 has an open end, not illustrated, through which a wearer can insert one hand and can withdraw the hand.

As contemplated by this invention, the outer shell 20 has an inspection port 50, which is openable and closeable and which when opened enables the intermediate liner 30 to be visually inspected through the inspection port 50, and a flap 60, which is positionable between a position (see FIG. 1A) wherein the inspection port 50 is closed by the flap 60 and positions (see, e.g., FIG. 1) wherein the inspection port 50 is opened. Rather than a unitary flap, as illustrated, a sewn-on or glued-on flap can be alternatively provided.

Furthermore, the protective glove 10 has means for releasably fastening the flap 60 in the position wherein the inspection port 50 is closed by the flap 60. As illustrated, the fastening means comprise complementary hook-and-loop fasteners 70 comprising a hook-faced tape 72, which is sewn along and to the margin of the flap 60, and comprising a loop-faced tape 74, which is sewn along and to the margin of the inspection port 50. The respective tapes 72, 74, can be alternatively glued along and to the respective margins. Rather than complementary hook-and-loop fasteners, other releasable fastening means, such as a series of snap fasteners or a zipper, can be alternatively used.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, a protective glove 100 for a firefighter or for an emergency worker is similar to the protective glove 10 and to protective gloves known heretofore and to the protective glove 10 in having an outer shell 120, an intermediate liner 130 providing a moisture barrier, and an inner liner 140 providing a thermal barrier. Except as illustrated and described herein, the outer shell 120 is similar to the outer shell 20, the intermediate liner 130 is similar to the liner 30, and the inner liner 140 is similar to the inner liner 40. The protective glove 100 has an open end 110, through which a wearer can insert one hand and can withdraw one hand.

As contemplated by this invention, the protective glove 100 has, along the margins of its open end 110, an inspection port 150, which is openable and closeable and which when opened enables portions of the intermediate liner 130 and portions of the inner liner 140 to be visually inspected. The protective glove 100 has means for releasably fastening portions of the protective glove 100 to one another so as to close the inspection port 150.

As illustrated, the fastening means comprise complementary hook-and-loop fasteners 170 extending along the inspection port 150 and comprising a hook-faced tape 172, which is sewn to and along the outer shell 120, so as to face the intermediate liner 130 on a given side of the inspection port 150, a loop-faced tape 174, which is sewn to and along the margin of the intermediate liner 130 so as to face the intermediate liner 130 on the same side of the inspection port 150, a loop-faced tape 176, which is sewn to and along the margin of the intermediate liner 130 so as to face the inner liner 140 on the same side of the inspection port 150, and a hook-faced tape 178, which is sewn to and along the margin of the inner liner 140 so as to face the intermediate liner 130 on the same side of the inspection port 150.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, a protective glove 200 for a firefighter or for an emergency worker is similar to the protective gloves 10, 100, and to protective gloves known heretofore and to the protective glove 20 in having an outer shell 220, an intermediate liner 230 providing a moisture barrier, and an inner liner 240 providing a thermal barrier. Except as illustrated and described herein, the outer shell 220 is similar to the outer shell 20, the intermediate liner 230 is similar to the liner 30, and then inner liner 230 is similar to the inner liner 40. The protective glove 200 has an open end 210, through which a wearer can insert one hand and can withdraw one hand.

As contemplated by this invention, the protective glove 200 has, along the margins of s side seam 248, an inspection port 250, which is openable and closeable and which when opened enables portions of the intermediate liner 230 and portions of the inner liner 240 to be visually inspected. The protective glove 200 has means for releasably fastening portions of the protective glove 200 to one another so as to close the inspection port 250.

As illustrated, the fastening means comprise complementary hook-and-loop fasteners 270 extending along the inspection port 250 and comprising a hook-faced tape 272, which is sewn to and along the outer shell 220, so as to face the intermediate liner 230 on a given side of the inspection port 250, a loop-faced tape 274, which is sewn to and along the margin of the intermediate liner 230 so as to face the outer shall 220 on the same side of the inspection port 250, a loop-faced tape 276, which is sewn to and along the margin of the intermediate liner 230 so as to face the inner liner 240 on the same side of the inspection port 250, and a hook-faced tape 278, which is sewn to and along the margin of the inner liner 240 so as to face the intermediate liner 230 on the same side of the inspection port 250.

Moreover, the fastening means comprise complementary hook-and-loop fasteners 280 extending along the inspection port 250 and comprising a hook-faced tape 282, which is sewn along and to the margin of the outer shell 220, so as to face the intermediate liner 230 on the other side of the inspection port 250, a loop-faced tape 284, which is sewn to and along the margin of the intermediate liner 230 so as to face the outer shell 220 on the same side of the inspection port 250, a loop-faced tape 286, which is sewn to and along the margin of the intermediate liner 230 so as to face the inner liner 240 on the same side of the inspection port 250, and a hook-faced tape 288, which is sewn to and along the margin of the inner liner 240 so as to face the intermediate liner 230 on the same side of the inspection port 250.

Furthermore, the fastening means comprise hook-and-loop fasteners 290 extending along the inspection port 250 and comprising a hook-faced tape 292, which is sewn to and along the margin of the inner liner 240 on the side opposite to the side having the hook-faced tape 278, and a loop-faced tape 294, which is sewn to and along the margin of the inner liner 240 on the side opposite to the side having the hook-faced tape 288.

In each of the protective gloves, 10, 100, 200, the respective tapes of the hook-and-loop fasteners may be glued, rather than sewn. In each of the protective gloves 10, 100, 200, other fastening means, such as zippers or snap fasteners, may be used, rather than hook-and-loop fasteners.

Claims

1. For a firefighter or for an emergency worker, a protective glove having an outer shell and a liner, which is an intermediate liner if the protective glove also has an inner liner, the protective glove having an inspection port, which is openable and closeable and which when opened enables portions of the liner or portions of at least one of the liners, if the protective glove has an intermediate liner and an inner liner, to be visually inspected through the inspection port.

2. The protective glove of claim 2, wherein the inspection port is located along a seam of the protective glove and wherein the inspection port when opened enables portions of the liner or portions or both liners, if the protective glove has an intermediate liner and an inner liner, to be visually inspected through the inspection port.

3. The protective glove of claim 2, wherein the protective glove has an open end, through which a wearer can insert one hand and can withdraw the hand, wherein the inspection port is located along a margin of the open end, and wherein the inspection port when opened enables portions of the liner or portions of both of the liners, if the protective glove has an intermediate liner and an inner liner, to be visually inspected through the inspection port.

4. The protective glove of claim 2, wherein the outer shell has the inspection port and wherein the outer shell has a flap, which is positionable between a position wherein the inspection port is closed by the flap and positions wherein the inspection port is opened.

5. For a firefighter or for an emergency worker, a protective glove having an outer shell, an intermediate liner, and an inner liner, the protective glove having an inspection port, which is openable and closeable and which when opened enables portions of the intermediate liner and portions of the inner liner to be visually inspected through the inspection port.

6. The protective glove of claim 5, wherein the inspection port is located along a seam of the protective glove.

7. The protective glove of claim 5, wherein the protective glove has an open end, through which a wearer can insert one hand and can withdraw the hand, and wherein the inspection port is located along a margin of the open end.

8. The protective glove of any one of claims 2 through 7, wherein the protective glove has means for releasably fastening portions of the protective glove to one another so as to close the inspection port.

9. The protective glove of claim 8, wherein the fastening means comprise hook-and-loop fastening means.

10. The protective glove of claim 4, wherein the protective glove has means for releasably fastening the flap in the position wherein the inspection port is closed by the flap.

11. The protective glove of claim 10, wherein the fastening means comprise hook-and-loop fastening means.