Protective garment having outer shell and detachable trim of high visibility, to distinguish rank, function, or responsibility

Abstract

In a protective garment, such as a coat, trousers, overalls, or coveralls, for a military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker, several strips of reflective trim of high visibility are attached detachably to an outer shell of low visibility, as by hook-and-loop fasteners or snap fasteners, so that the trim can be readily detached from the outer shell without causing damage to the outer shell or to the trim. At least some of the trim is distinctive of a given rank, function, or responsibility of an intended wearer of the protective garment. Preferably, the distinctive trim is coded, e.g., color-coded, to distinguish the given rank, function, or responsibility.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention pertains to a protective garment, such as a coat, trousers, overalls, or coveralls, for a firefighter or an emergency worker. This invention contemplates that the protective garment has an outer shell, that the protective garment has detachable trim of high visibility, and that at least some of the trim is distinctive of a rank, function, or responsibility of an intended wearer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Protective garments for firefighters and emergency workers include coats, trousers, overalls, and coveralls. Currently, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards require a protective garment for a firefighter to have reflective trim which enhances the visibility of the protective garment and, therefore, the visibility of its wearer under smoke-laden and other adverse conditions. Generally, reflective trim is affixed by sewing, adhesively, or otherwise, and cannot be readily detached.

[0003] Commonly, in a given incident, certain firefighters or emergency workers have or are assigned to have certain ranks, functions, or responsibilities, e.g., to serve as incident commanders or as safety officers. Moreover, in a given incident, it may be very important for other firefighters or emergency workers to be quickly able to ascertain by passing glances, even in smoke-laden or other conditions of impaired visibility, which firefighters or emergency workers have or are assigned to have those ranks, functions, or responsibilities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] This invention provides a protective garment, such as a coat, trousers, overalls, or coveralls, for a firefighter or an emergency worker. The protective garment has an outer shell and has detachable trim of high visibility. At least some of the trim is distinctive of a given rank, function, or responsibility of an intended wearer of the protective garment. Preferably, the distinctive trim is coded, e.g., color-coded, to distinguish the given rank, function, or responsibility.

[0005] Preferably, the protective garment has means for attaching the trim detachably to the outer shell so that the trim can be readily removed from the outer shell without causing damage to the outer shell or to the trim. In a preferred embodiment, the attaching means comprises a hook-and-loop fastener. In an alternative embodiment, the attaching means comprises a snap fastener.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a protective coat embodying this invention, having an outer shell and having several strips of reflective trim of high visibility, which are attached detachably to the outer shell and which are distinctive of a rank, function, or responsibility of an intended wearer.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a similar view of the protective coat, in which those strips of reflective trim were attached detachably to the outer shell by hook-and-loop fasteners, in which all but one of those strips of reflective trim have been detached from the outer shell, and in which one of those strips of reflective trim is being detached from the outer shell.

[0008] FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail taken from FIG. 2, as and where outlined and indicated in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a similar detail illustrating snap fasteners, as alternative means for attaching a strip of reflective trim detachably to the outer shell.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] As illustrated in FIG. 1, protective coat 10 for a firefighter or an emergency worker has an outer shell 20 and has multiple strips 30 of reflective trim of high visibility, which are attached detachably to the outer shell 20. The protective coat may have an inner liner or inner liners, not illustrated, which provide a moisture barrier, thermal protection, or both.

[0010] Except as illustrated and described herein, the protective coat 10 is similar to protective coats available commercially from Morning Pride Manufacturing, L.L.C. of Dayton, Ohio, and form other sources. Such strips of reflective trim of high visibility are available commercially from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company of St. Paul, Minn., and from other sources.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, each strip 30 of reflective trim is attached detachably to the outer shell 20 by a hook-and-loop fastener 40, in which a hook-faced strip 42 is sewn or affixed otherwise to the outer shell 20 and a loop-faced strip 44 is sewn or affixed otherwise to said strip 30 of reflective trim. Alternatively, which the loop-faced strip 44 is sewn or affixed otherwise to the outer shell 20 and the hook-faced strip 42 is sewn or affixed otherwise to said strip 30 of reflective trim.

[0012] In an alternative embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4, each strip 30 of reflective trim is attached detachably to the outer shell 20 by snap fastener 50, in each of which a male element 52 is sewn or affixed otherwise to the outer shell 20 and a female element 54 is sewn or affixed otherwise to said strip 30 of reflective trim. Alternatively, the female element 54 is sewn or affixed otherwise to the outer shell 20 and the male element 52 is sewn or affixed otherwise to said strip 30 of reflective trim.

[0013] As contemplated by this invention, the strips 30 of reflective trim are color-coded to distinguish a rank, function, or responsibility of an intended wear of the protective garment 10, in a given incident. As an example, if the outer shell 20 is tan, the strips 30 of reflective trim may be red if the intended wearer has been assigned to serve as the incident commander, green if the intended wearer has been assigned to serve as a safety officer, and yellow otherwise. The strips 30 of reflective trim can be readily detached, as for laundering of the outer shell 20, such strips 30, or both, for repair of the outer shell 20, such strips 30, or both, or for substitution of similar strips of a different color to distinguish another rank, function, or responsibility.

Claims

1. A protective garment for a military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker, the protective garment having an outer shell of low visibility without trim of high visibility, the protective garment having detachable trim of high visibility.

2. A protective garment for a military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker, the protective garment having an outer shell of low visibility without trim of high visibility, the protective garment having trim of high visibility, the trim being attached detachably to the outer shell so as to be readily detachable from the outer shell without causing damage to the outer shell or to the trim.

3. A protective garment for a military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker, the protective garment having an outer shell of low visibility without trim of high visibility, trim of high visibility, and means for attaching the trim detachably to the outer shell so that the trim can be readily detached from the outer shell without causing damage to the outer shell or to the trim.

4. The protective garment of claim 3 wherein the attaching means comprises a hook-and-loop fastener.

5. The protective garment of claim 3 wherein the attaching means comprises a snap fastener.