Protective glove, as for firefighter, with wristlet having water-repellant finish

Abstract

In a protective glove, as for a firefighter, a wristlet knitted from an aramid, a polybenzamidazole, or an aramid-polybenzamidazole blend is attached to an outer shell made from a fabric woven therefrom or from a suitable leather and is treated with a water-repellant finish, such as a perfluorohydrocarbon finish.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention pertains to a protective glove, as for a firefighter. This invention contemplates that the protective glove has a wristlet having a water-repellant finish, such as a perfluorohydrocarbon finish.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Commonly, a protective glove for a firefighter has an outer shell, which is made from a suitable leather or from a fabric woven from an aramid, a polybenzarmidazole, or an aramid-polybenzamidazole blend, an inner liner or inner liners, which is or are fitted into and attached to the outer shell, and a wristlet, which is knitted from an aramid, a polybenzamidazole, or an aramid- polybenzamidazole blend and which is sewn directly to the outer shell, to the inner liner or inner liners, or to the outer shell and to the inner liner or inner liners. Commonly, the outer shell, an inner liner, or both are water-repellant.

[0003] Protective gloves for firefighters are exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 4,918,756, No. 5,125,114, No. 6,115,850, No. 6,415,443, and No. 6,427,250. Protective gloves of related interest are exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,248, No. 4,662,006, and No. 6,415,447.

[0004] As exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 6,038,700, it has been known to provide a protective garment for a firefighter, such as a protective coat for a firefighter, with a pair of knitted wristlets, each of which is treated with a water- repellant finish. As known heretofore, however, the wristlet of a protective glove for a firefighter is not water-repellant. Because the wristlet is not water-repellant, water can easily enter the protective glove, via the wristlet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] This invention provides, as for a firefighter, a protective glove having an outer shell and a wristlet, which is water-repellant. Because the wristlet is water- repellant, water cannot easily enter the protective glove, via the wristlet.

[0006] Preferably, the outer shell is made from a suitable leather or from a fabric, which is woven from an aramid, a polybenzamidazole, or an aramid- polybenzamidazole blend and which is repellant. Preferably, the wristlet is woven from an aramid, a polybenzamidazole, or an aramid-polybenzamidazole blend and is treated with water-repellant finish, such as a perfluorohydrocarbon finish.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0007] The sole FIGURE is a plan view of a protective glove, as for a firefighter, which embodies this invention. Broadly, the protective glove has an outer shell, an intermediate liner, an inner liner, and a wristlet, which is attached to the outer shell and which is water-repellant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

[0008] As illustrated in the drawing, a protective glove 10, as for a firefighter, has an outer shell 20, an intermediate liner 30, an inner liner 40, and a wristlet 50. In a known manner, the liners 30, 40, are fitted into and are sewn to the outer shell 20. In a known manner, the wristlet 50 is sewn directly to the outer shell 20 and directly or indirectly to the liners 30, 40.

[0009] The outer shell 20 is made from a suitable leather or from a fabric woven from a suitable material, such as an aramid, a polybenzamidazole, or an aramid- polybenzamidazole blend and may be treated so as to be water-repellant. The intermediate liner 40 is made from a known material providing thermal insulation. The inner liner 50 is made from a knitted cotton or cotton-polyester blend and is provided to enhance the wearer's comfort. Details of the outer shell 20, the intermediate liner 30, and the inner liner 40 may be readily supplied by persons having ordinary skill in the art and are outside the scope of this invention.

[0010] The wristlet 50 is knitted from a suitable material, such as an aramid, a polybenzamidazole, or an aramid-polybenzamidazole blend. Except as disclosed herein, details of the wristlet 50 may be readily supplied by persons having ordinary skill in the art and are outside the scope of this invention.

[0011] As contemplated by this invention, the wristlet 50 is treated with a water-repellant, such as a perfluorohydrocarbon finish, which is applied pursuant to its supplier's instructions. The perfluorohydrocarbon finish may be a TEFLON finish, which is available commercially from E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., Inc. of Wilmington, Del., or a SCOTCHGUARD finish, which is available commercially fro Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co. of St. Paul, Minn. Because the wristlet 50 is water-repellant, water cannot easily enter the protective glove 10, via the wristlet 50.

Claims

1. A protective glove, as for a firefighter, the protective glove having an outer shell and a knitted wristlet, which is treated with a water-repellant finish so as to be water-repellant, whereby, because the wristlet is water-repellant, water cannot easily enter the glove, via the wristlet:

2. The protective glove of claim 1 wherein the outer shell is made from a suitable leather.

3. The protective glove of claim 1 wherein the outer shell is made from a fabric, which is woven from an aramid, a polybenzamidazole, or an aramid-polybenzamidazole blend and which is water-repellant.

4. The protective glove of claim 2 wherein the wristlet is knitted from an aramid, a polybenzamidazole, or an aramid-polybenzamidazole blend.

5. The protective glove of claim 3 wherein the wristlet is knitted from an aramid, a polybenzamidazole, or an aramid-polybenzamidazole blend.

6-7. (cancelled)

8. The protective glove of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein the water-repellant finish is a perfluorohydrocarbon finish.