Flame Resistant Utility Suit

Abstract

The Cool Suit is the only product of its kind that has the capability of blowing cool air into a flame retardant coverall specifically to prevent worker dehydration. This unprecedented suit is uniquely designed with high-quality, durable materials to ensure complete functionality and the protective gear can conveniently be operated through a power button and charged via a charging port, to ensure long-term utilization.

Description

BACKGROUND

Working with or near power lines can expose professionals to various health hazards, including extreme dehydration and overheating as they wear protective gear like insulated rubber gloves and sleeves. In the current market, there lacks a go-to apparel option that caters to the needs and safety concerns of such workers. There have been no products available as original equipment or as an aftermarket to address this problem.

An apparatus to protect power line workers from the hazards and dehydration issues line workers encounter is not being met by any known device or system at present. There have been no products available as original equipment or as an aftermarket to address this problem either.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main purpose of the Flame Resistant Utility Suit is to provide users with a flame retardant full body garment that provides a cooling sensation to help keep lineman cool and safe from dehydration while working on energized power lines.

A disclosed utility suit includes an upper trunk comprising a chest and arms and a lower trunk comprising hips and legs and a belted main about a waist there between, wherein the belted main comprises an external air detachable port.

A corrugated fabric includes an inner fabric and an outer fabric and a corrugation there between running from the belted main to the chest and arms and to the hips and legs. Air egress vents are disposed adjacent a respective end of the corrugated fabric proximal an ankle cuff, a wrist cuff, a collar cuff and a belted main cuff. A pressurized air flows through the corrugation from the belted main through the upper trunk and through the lower trunk and out the respective plurality of air egress vents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of the Flame Resistant Utility Suit in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the blower unit for the Flame Resistant Utility Suit in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the suit showing corrugation airflow in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Throughout the description, similar reference numbers may be used to identify similar elements depicted in multiple embodiments. Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts so described and illustrated. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein and additional applications of the principles of the inventions as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the Flame Resistant Utility Suit showing: flame retardant suit/coveralls referenced as A, flexible hose hook up from the back of the suit referenced as B, portable rechargeable cool air fan/blower referenced as U, corrugated material C described herein running from the belted main M to a wrist vent VW, to a collar vent VC, to an ankle vent VA in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The belted main also defines vent holes VM for additional pressurized air flow control. Pockets P on the upper trunk and on the lower trunk can be filled with extra insulation against heat and fire. The corrugation is depicted in broken lines since it is disposed between the outer fabric and the inner fabric as explained further below. The blower unit U includes an air speed control sliding adjuster E. The charging port CP grants access to the blower unit battery (not depicted). The quick connect external detachable air input QC hooks the hose B to the suit A.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the blower unit for the Flame Resistant Utility Suit showing: flexible hose hook up from the back of the suit referenced as B, portable rechargeable cool air fan/blower referenced as C, power button referenced as D, air speed and air pressure control button referenced as E, charging port referenced as CP, fan F and humidifier H in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. A rechargeable battery BB sits in the blower/pressure unit U proximal the charging port CP. The blower/pressure unit U is also an air conditioning unit and a heat pump in embodiments of the disclosure with a condensor, evaporator, expansion valve and coils and thermostats as appreciated by persons of ordinary skill in the art.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the suit showing corrugation airflow in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The depiction includes the inner fabric IF worn against a persons skin or underwear and the outer fabric OF comprising flame and heat resistant materials, the corrugation C, and the air flow cavities AF defined by the corrugation. Points of contact between the corrugation C and the inner fabric IF and the outer fabric OF are bonded to give structure to the air flow AF in the voids thus created in the suit A.

The present disclosed Flame Resistant Utility Suit, also known as “Cool Suit”, offers a modern suit that maintains body temperatures to prevent dehydration and overheating, as it specifically caters to those working on power lines and therefore serves to adequately regulate the temperature of the person wearing the item, at all times. Expanding on the initial design of traditional coveralls, the Cool Suit introduces a novel flexible hose hook-up feature that is strategically located on the back of the suit, supporting the portable and rechargeable fan which blows cool air into the flame retardant suit to keep a worker's body temperature at a safe level. In addition, users will be able to modify and adjust the speed of the fan through the speed control button to accommodate their specific preferences. This innovative, top-quality product enhances the functionality of traditional flame retardant coveralls by ensuring workers are not under the threat of overheating while still having full body protection when performing on-site tasks. As a result, the Cool Suit will benefit all individuals who work on high voltage power lines.

Although the operations of the method(s) herein are shown and described in a particular order, the order of the operations of each method may be altered so that certain operations may be performed in an inverse order or so that certain operations may be performed, at least in part, concurrently with other operations. In another embodiment, instructions or sub-operations of distinct operations may be implemented in an intermittent and/or alternating manner.

Claims

1. A utility suit comprising:

an upper trunk comprising a chest and arms and a lower trunk comprising hips and legs and a belted main about a waist there between, wherein the belted main comprises an external air detachable port;

a corrugated fabric comprising an inner fabric and an outer fabric and a corrugation there between running from the belted main to the chest and arms and to the hips and legs;

a plurality of air egress vents disposed adjacent a respective end of the corrugated fabric proximal an ankle cuff, a wrist cuff, a collar cuff and a belted main cuff;

a pressurized air flow through the corrugation from the belted main through the upper trunk and through the lower trunk and out the respective plurality of air egress vents.

2. The utility suit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of air egress vents each further comprise a filter configured to keep out dirt, sand, and rock particles.

3. The utility suit of claim 1, wherein the outer fabric comprises a flame retardant material.

4. The utility suit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of air egress vent holes are defined in a respective ankle cuff, wrist cuff, collar cuff and a belted main cuff.

5. The utility sit of claim 1, wherein each cuff comprises an elasticized closure against a wearer's skin.

6. The utility suit of claim 1, wherein the upper trunk is detachable from the lower trunk at the belted main.

7. The utility suit of claim 1, wherein the upper trunk and the lower trunk are a continuous one piece suit.

8. The utility suit of claim 1, further comprising a flexible hose air inlet tub configured to connect to the external air detachable port.

9. The utility suit of claim 1, further comprising an air blower having a rechargeable battery power.

10. The utility suit of claim 1, further comprising a pressurized air speed control.

11. The utility suit of claim 1, further comprising a humidifier configured to release a humidified air into the pressurized air flow.

12. The utility suit of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pockets on the upper trunk and on the lower trunk.

13. The utility suit of claim 1, further comprising a portable air compressor attached to the external air detachable port via a flexible air hose.

14. The utility suit of claim 1, wherein portions of the corrugation which touch the inner fabric and the outer fabric are bonded thereto at respective points.

15. The utility suit of claim 1, wherein the corrugation comprises a heat resistant flexible material.

16. The utility suit of claim 1, further comprising an air conditioning unit attached to the external air detachable port and configured to temperature control the pressurized air.