Abstract: A system for continuously humidifying a textile electrode during its use by a human is disclosed. The electrode can be part of a garment or textile where the textile electrode is positioned against the skin. A reservoir positioned against the electrode and opposite the user's skin can be made from a material with hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties, such as natural wool or a skincore material. The reservoir receives and retains moisture from the user's skin through the electrode, as well as from a pre-wetting of the exposed user-facing side of the electrode. A seal can surround the reservoir and the electrode, with the seal extending beyond electrode. The seal can be a patch with heat activated adhesive at the edge to flow the textile to form a moisture barrier around the electrode. An electrical contact on the electrode can connect conductive wires from outside the seal to the electrode.

Abstract: A machine knittable hybrid yarn for providing conductive traces through a textile is disclosed. The hybrid yarn includes conductive wires coated with an insulating material and twisted together with a nonconductive yarn. The nonconductive yarn is from a strong, inelastic, and nonconductive fiber, such as a meta-aramid or para-aramid that protects the integrity of the conductive wire during knitting. The conductive wire can be copper-clad stainless steel or copper wire is coated with polyurethane, and the nonconductive yarn can have no-drip and no-drip properties to allow ablation of the hybrid yarn to remove the conductive yarn and insulating coating on the wire such that the ablated region becomes externally conductive and suitable for making an electrical contact. The hybrid yarn can be bonded with nylon or similar polymer after twisting.

Abstract: A machine knittable hybrid yarn for providing conductive traces through a textile is disclosed. The hybrid yarn includes conductive wires coated with an insulating material and twisted together with a nonconductive yarn. The nonconductive yarn is from a strong, inelastic, and nonconductive fiber, such as a meta-aramid or para-aramid that protects the integrity of the conductive wire during knitting. The conductive wire can be copper-clad stainless steel or copper wire is coated with polyurethane, and the nonconductive yarn can have no-drip and no-drip properties to allow ablation of the hybrid yarn to remove the conductive yarn and insulating coating on the wire such that the ablated region becomes externally conductive and suitable for making an electrical contact. The hybrid yarn can be bonded with nylon or similar polymer after twisting.

Abstract: A system for continuously humidifying a textile electrode during its use by a human is disclosed. The electrode can be part of a garment or textile where the textile electrode is positioned against the skin. A reservoir positioned against the electrode and opposite the user's skin can be made from a material with hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties, such as natural wool or a skincore material. The reservoir receives and retains moisture from the user's skin through the electrode, as well as from a pre-wetting of the exposed user-facing side of the electrode. A seal can surround the reservoir and the electrode, with the seal extending beyond electrode. The seal can be a patch with heat activated adhesive at the edge to flow the textile to form a moisture barrier around the electrode. An electrical contact on the electrode can connect conductive wires from outside the seal to the electrode.

Abstract: A textile made from a single knitted layer having an inert region and a conductive trace region is disclosed. The inert region is knitted using an electrically inert or non-externally conductive yarn and the conductive trace region is knitted from a hybrid yarn containing a non-conductive yarn twisted with a conductive wire, with the conductive wire having an exterior insulating layer. The conductive trace can transmit an electrical data or power signal along the textile via the conductive wire. The insulating layer of the wire can be removed in the conductive trace region to expose the conductive exterior of the wire to enable electrical connections to the conductive trace region. The textile can include a textile electrode knitted from an externally conductive yarn and the conductive trace region can be electrically connected to the electrode to transmit an electrical signal to or from the textile electrode.

Abstract: A wearable sensor retaining device and techniques for integrating a wearable sensor retaining device into a first responder's garment, such as a firefighter's shirt. The wearable sensor retaining device may include a strap having a rigid connector having a male portion and a female portion (e.g. a side-release buckle) for adjustably securing the strap around a wearer's torso to ensure proper location of the wearable sensor and proper fit for the wearer. The strap has a portion for coupling to a wearable sensor and having sufficient tension to retain the wearable monitor in the proper location, while maintaining wearer comfort so as not to impede the range of motion of the wearer. The strap may include a length adjustment loop that provides the wearer a customized fit and quick, consistent application.

Abstract: A wearable sensor retaining device and techniques for integrating a wearable sensor retaining device into a first responder's garment, such as a firefighter's shirt. The wearable sensor retaining device may include a strap having a rigid connector having a male portion and a female portion (e.g. a side-release buckle) for adjustably securing the strap around a wearer's torso to ensure proper location of the wearable sensor and proper fit for the wearer. The strap has a portion for coupling to a wearable sensor and having sufficient tension to retain the wearable monitor in the proper location, while maintaining wearer comfort so as not to impede the range of motion of the wearer. The strap may include a length adjustment loop that provides the wearer a customized fit and quick, consistent application.

Abstract: A glove having chemical barrier properties includes, in an exemplary embodiment, an outer shell and an insert. The insert includes a first layer formed from a gas permeable liquid impermeable microporous membrane and a second layer including activated carbon. Optionally the insert includes a third layer formed from a textile.

Abstract: A protective cover material includes at least two layers including a textile layer with an air permeable, moisture-vapor-transmissive, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane attached to the textile layer, the membrane treated to render it oleophobic.

Abstract: A footwear construction that includes an improved footwear upper liner is provided. The liquid impermeable footwear upper liner is constructed of air permeable, waterproof and moisture vapor transmissive materials as well as air impermeable, waterproof and moisture vapor impermeable materials. A process for constructing a footwear component utilizing the improved footwear upper liner is also provided. The process comprises providing a sole; providing an upper that together with the sole define a volume for receiving and protecting a wearer's foot against external elements and securing the improved liquid impermeable footwear upper liner within the footwear so that the footwear upper liner is located underneath the upper. In an alternative embodiment, the improved footwear upper liner is attached to a sole to form a bootie for use in footwear construction.

Abstract: A shoe construction that includes a sole and an upper, wherein the sole and the upper together define a volume for receiving and protecting a wearer's foot against external elements. There is a liquid impermeable bootie that includes an inner, upper liner that is attached to a sole liner. The inner, upper liner is preferably air permeable, moisture vapor transmissive, oleophobic and liquid impermeable and is located inside the upper. The sole liner is air impermeable, moisture vapor impermeable and liquid impermeable and is located above the sole. The sole liner is preferably, but not necessarily, inelastic. Materials that may be utilized for the inner, upper liner can include treated membranes. Some of the types of materials that may be used for the sole liner can include inelastic, thermoplastic materials, fiber reinforced polymeric materials and nonthermoplastic materials.

Abstract: A footwear construction that includes an improved footwear upper liner is provided. The liquid impermeable footwear upper liner is constructed of air permeable, waterproof and moisture vapor transmissive materials as well as air impermeable, waterproof and moisture vapor impermeable materials. A process for constructing a footwear component utilizing the improved footwear upper liner is also provided. The process comprises providing a sole; providing an upper that together with the sole define a volume for receiving and protecting a wearer's foot against external elements and securing the improved liquid impermeable footwear upper liner within the footwear so that the footwear upper liner is located underneath the upper. In an alternative embodiment, the improved footwear upper liner is attached to a sole to form a bootie for use in footwear construction.

Abstract: A shoe construction that includes a sole and an upper, wherein the sole and the upper together define a volume for receiving and protecting a wearer”s foot against external elements. There is a liquid impermeable bootie that includes an inner, upper liner that is attached to a sole liner. The inner, upper liner is preferably air permeable, moisture vapor transmissive and liquid impermeable and is located inside the upper. The sole liner is air impermeable, moisture vapor impermeable and liquid impermeable and is located above the sole. The sole liner is preferably, but not necessarily, inelastic. Materials that may be utilized for the inner, upper liner can include microporous membranes. Some of the types of materials that may be used for the sole liner can include inelastic, thermoplastic materials, fiber reinforced polymeric materials and nonthermoplastic materials. An alternative embodiment of the inner, upper liner is air impermeable, moisture vapor transmissive and liquid impermeable.