Thermal insulation padding for protective garment
A protective garment comprises layers of material forming an outer shell so as to protect a wearer of the garment from heat exposure. A thermal insulation padding is attached to the layers so as to be concealed from direct exposure to the environment by the outer shell. The thermal insulation padding has a panel with a longitudinal dimension and bumps of material along the longitudinal dimension formed by pleats in the panel, whereby the thermal insulation padding provides additional insulation to the wearer below the outer shell. A method for securing a thermal insulation padding on a liner of a protective garment is also provided.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to protective garments such as firefighter garments and, more particularly, to the various layers of material used in the constitution of the protective garments.
2. Background Art
Few working environments are as hostile as that of firefighters. In addition to the extreme heat from combustion/smoldering, a firefighter may be subjected to a variety of hazards: steam, pressurized water jet, falling debris—often burning, etc.
Therefore, protective garments used in firefighting must protect the firefighter from such extreme conditions. On the other hand, due to the nature of their job, firefighters must be capable of moving relatively freely to perform physically intensive actions. A firefighter may be required to break through some doors or walls, lift or displace objects, carry people in rescue situations, as well as maneuver a high-pressure water hose.
Accordingly, protective garments have taken various configurations, and one such configuration is the use of different functional layers to form the coat and the trousers. An outer shell is made of heavy-duty material that is flame-/heat-resistant and tear-/abrasion-resistant. A moisture barrier liner is found below the outer shell. The moisture barrier serves to protect the firefighter from high-temperature liquids, such as steam and water, as well as chemical and/or viral products. A thermal barrier liner is used in conjunction with the moisture barrier liner to protect the firefighter. The thermal barrier liner is an insulating layer that protects the firefighter from the excessive heat, so as to reduce the risks of skin burns.
In addition to the various layers, some padding is typically provided at specific locations in the garment. More specifically, the contact of body parts with the garment may result in skin burns because of conduction, in extremely severe conditions, due to the compression of the materials of the liner (for instance by the effect of the equipments being carried). For instance, the garment tends to be compressed, stretched about or pressed to the knees, the elbows, and the shoulders and upper back. Therefore, padding has been localized in these areas of the garment.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONIt is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide protective garment padding that addresses issues associated with the prior art.
Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a protective garment, comprising: at least one layer of material forming an outer shell of the protective garment so as to protect a wearer of the garment from heat exposure; a thermal insulation padding attached to the at least one layer so as to be concealed from direct exposure to the environment by the outer shell, the thermal insulation padding having a panel with a longitudinal dimension and bumps of material along the longitudinal dimension formed by pleats in the panel; whereby the thermal insulation padding provides additional insulation to the wearer below the outer shell.
Further in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for securing a thermal insulation padding on a liner of a protective garment, comprising the steps of: positioning the thermal insulation padding against the liner such that the thermal insulation padding is superposed with a seam of the liner; performing at least a first stitch line between the thermal insulation padding and the liner such that the stitch line is on the seam; whereby the thermal insulation padding is secured to the liner.
Still further in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a protective garment, comprising: at least one layer of material forming an outer shell of the protective garment so as to protect a wearer of the garment from heat exposure; a thermal insulation padding attached to the at least one layer so as to be concealed from direct exposure to the environment by the outer shell, the thermal insulation padding having a pair of superposed panels with spaced apart longitudinal seam lines interconnecting the panels so as to form air channels between the superposed panels; whereby the thermal insulation padding provides additional insulation to the wearer below the outer shell.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSHaving thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration a preferred embodiment thereof and in which:
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly, to
Referring to
The outer shell 16 is made of heavy duty material that is flame-/heat-resistant and tear-/abrasion-resistant. For instance, the outer shell 16 is typically made of mixtures of Kevlar™ and Nomex™, or any other suitable material.
The moisture barrier liner 17 is often found below the outer shell 16. The moisture barrier liner 17 protects the wearer from high-temperature liquids, such as steam. As an example, the moisture barrier liner 17 is typically made of materials such as Goretex™ or any other similar materials in accordance with industry standards.
The thermal barrier liner 18 is within the moisture barrier liner 17. The thermal barrier liner 18 is an insulating layer that protects the wearer from the excessive heat, thereby reducing the risks of skin burns. For instance, the thermal barrier liner 18 is for instance made of different weights of Nomex™ or any other similar materials in accordance with industry standards.
It is pointed out that, although three different layers have been described in a specific configuration, other layers (such as strips of reflective material 19) or other configurations could be used with the protective garment 10. As an example, the outer shell and the moisture barrier liner 17 may be integrally made of a single layer. Similarly, the moisture barrier liner 17 and the thermal barrier liner 18 are typically peripherally sewn to one another.
Referring concurrently to
For instance, when the jacket 12 is worn by a firefighter, the shoulder surface of the torso portion 20 benefits from the additional thermal insulation, as the shoulders often bear weights (e.g., oxygen tank with strapping, ax or similar tool also with strapping). Accordingly, as shown concurrently in
Also, when the arms are bent, the elbows of the wearer are pressed against the elbow areas of the arm portions 21 of the jacket 12. Accordingly, thermal insulation padding is provided at location 24 in both the arm portions 21. Although no other padding is illustrated for the jacket 12, it is considered to position other padding as a function of the contemplated use of the protective garment 10.
Referring to
Referring to
The thermal insulation padding 40A illustrated in
The thermal insulation padding 40B illustrated in
The thermal insulation padding 40C illustrated in
The thermal insulation padding 40D illustrated in
The thermal insulation padding 40E illustrated in
The thermal insulation padding 40F illustrated in
Although the thermal insulating padding 40A to 40F is respectively illustrated in
Referring to
For illustrative purposes, the thermal insulation padding is shown as the thermal insulation padding 40A of
As seen in
Claims
1. A protective garment, comprising:
- at least one layer of material forming an outer shell of the protective garment so as to protect a wearer of the garment from heat exposure;
- a thermal insulation padding attached to the at least one layer so as to be concealed from direct exposure to the environment by the outer shell, the thermal insulation padding having a panel with a longitudinal dimension and bumps of material along the longitudinal dimension formed by pleats in the panel;
- whereby the thermal insulation padding provides additional insulation to the wearer below the outer shell.
2. The protective garment according to claim 1, wherein the panel generally forms a plane, with the pleats being positioned such that the bumps protrude from the plane, stitches being provided at an intersection between the plane and the bumps.
3. The protective garment according to claim 1, wherein the thermal insulation padding is solely secured to the at least one layer by stitches superposed on seams in the at least one layer.
4. The protective garment according to claim 1, wherein the protective garment has three of the at least one layer, with a first one of the layers being an outer shell, a second one of the layers being a moisture barrier liner, and a third one of the layers being a thermal barrier liner.
5. The protective garment according to claim 4, wherein the thermal insulation padding is positioned between the wearer and the thermal barrier liner.
6. The protective garment according to claim 4, wherein the thermal insulation padding is positioned between moisture barrier liner and the thermal barrier liner.
7. The protective garment according to claim 4, wherein the thermal insulation padding is positioned between outer shell and the moisture barrier liner.
8. The protective garment according to claim 1, wherein the protective garment has a jacket and trousers, with the thermal insulation padding being positioned in at least one of a shoulder area, a forearm area and an elbow area in the jacket, and a knee area in the trousers.
9. The protective garment according to claim 1, wherein the bumps are spaced apart in the padding so as to form channels therebetween.
10. A method for securing a thermal insulation padding on a liner of a protective garment, comprising the steps of:
- positioning the thermal insulation padding against the liner such that the thermal insulation padding is superposed with a seam of the liner;
- performing at least a first stitch line between the thermal insulation padding and the liner such that the stitch line is on the seam;
- whereby the thermal insulation padding is secured to the liner.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first stitch line is performed along a first edge of the thermal insulation padding.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein a second one of the stitch line is performed along a second edge of the thermal insulation padding along a seam of the liner, with the first edge and the second edge being on opposed sides of the thermal insulation padding.
13. A protective garment, comprising:
- at least one layer of material forming an outer shell of the protective garment so as to protect a wearer of the garment from heat exposure;
- a thermal insulation padding attached to the at least one layer so as to be concealed from direct exposure to the environment by the outer shell, the thermal insulation padding having a pair of superposed panels with spaced apart longitudinal seam lines interconnecting the panels so as to form air channels between the superposed panels;
- whereby the thermal insulation padding provides additional insulation to the wearer below the outer shell.
14. The protective garment according to claim 13, wherein inserts are provided in the air channels.
15. The protective garment according to claim 13, wherein the thermal insulation padding is solely secured to the at least one layer by stitches superposed on seams in the at least one layer.
16. The protective garment according to claim 13, wherein the protective garment has three of the at least one layer, with a first one of the layers being an outer shell, a second one of the layers being a moisture barrier liner, and a third one of the layers being a thermal barrier liner.
17. The protective garment according to claim 16, wherein the thermal insulation padding is positioned between the wearer and the thermal barrier liner.
18. The protective garment according to claim 16, wherein the thermal insulation padding is positioned between moisture barrier liner and the thermal barrier liner.
19. The protective garment according to claim 16, wherein the thermal insulation padding is positioned between outer shell and the moisture barrier liner.
20. The protective garment according to claim 13, wherein the protective garment has a jacket and trousers, with the thermal insulation padding being positioned in at least one of a shoulder area, a forearm area and an elbow area in the jacket, and a knee area in the trousers.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 14, 2005
Publication Date: Jun 14, 2007
Inventors: Marie Gagnon (Richmond), Josee Frechette (Sherbrooke), Bruno Yergeau (Magog)
Application Number: 11/302,135
International Classification: A41D 3/02 (20060101);