U.S. patent application number 10/910476 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-09 for forearm guard.
Invention is credited to Niklas Merritt Terczak.
Application Number | 20060026730 10/910476 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35755905 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060026730 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Terczak; Niklas Merritt |
February 9, 2006 |
Forearm guard
Abstract
An apparatus for protecting a body part of a user having an
inner layer and an outer layer secured thereto. The inner layer is
positionable adjacent to the body part of the user, is air
permeable, and has moisture wicking capability. The air
permeability and moisture wicking capability of the inner layer
allows air to circulate and pulls perspiration away from the body
part to help keep the body part cool. The outer layer is
positionable adjacent to the inner layer and is thermal insulating,
fire resistant, and melt resistant. The thermal insulation, fire
resistance, and melt resistance of the outer layer protect the body
part from extreme temperatures and fire.
Inventors: |
Terczak; Niklas Merritt;
(San Francisco, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WILDMAN HARROLD ALLEN & DIXON
225 WEST WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 2800
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
35755905 |
Appl. No.: |
10/910476 |
Filed: |
August 3, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/59 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 13/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/059 |
International
Class: |
A41D 27/12 20060101
A41D027/12 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for protecting a body part of a user, comprising:
an inner layer positionable adjacent to the body part of the user
and having an inside surface and an outside surface opposite the
inside surface, the inner layer being constructed of a material
capable of transferring moisture from the inside surface to the
outside surface; and an outer layer positionable adjacent to the
outside surface of the inner layer, the outer layer being
constructed of a material that is thermal insulating.
2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the material of the
outer layer has a specific heat of approximately 0.26 to 0.30
cal/gm.degree. C.
3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the material of the
outer layer is fire resistant.
4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the material of the
outer layer has a limiting oxygen index of approximately 28.
5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the material of the
outer layer is melt resistant.
6. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer layer
generally conforms to the outside surface of the inner layer.
7. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the material of the
inner layer is air permeable.
8. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the inner layer
generally conforms to the body part of the user.
9. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the material of the
inner layer is elastomeric.
10. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the inside surface
of the inner layer contacts the body part of the user.
11. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the body part is a
forearm.
12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the apparatus
covers the entire the forearm.
13. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer layer is
secured to the inner layer.
14. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the outer layer is
secured to the inner layer by stitching the outer layer to the
inner layer.
15. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the outer layer is
stitched to the inner layer with a thread that is thermal
insulating, is fire resistant, and is melt resistant.
16. A method of protecting a body part of a user, comprising the
steps of: providing an apparatus having an inner layer, the inner
layer having an inside surface and an outside surface opposite the
inside surface and being constructed of a material capable of
transferring moisture from the inside surface to the outside
surface, and an outer layer, the outer layer being constructed of a
material that is thermal insulating; positioning the inner layer
adjacent to the body part of the user; and positioning the outer
layer adjacent to the outside surface of the inner layer.
17. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising the step of
securing the outer layer to the inner layer.
18. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the outer layer is
secured to the inner layer by stitching the outer layer to the
inner layer.
19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the outer layer is
stitched to the inner layer with a thread that is thermal
insulating, is fire resistant, and is melt resistant.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to an apparatus for protecting body
parts of a user from extreme temperature conditions. In particular,
this invention relates to an apparatus for protecting the forearm
of a user from heat and fire.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In one embodiment, the present invention relates to an
apparatus for protecting a body part of a user. The apparatus has
an inner layer and an outer layer. The inner layer is positionable
adjacent to the body part of the user, has an inside surface and an
outside surface, and is constructed of a material that is capable
of transferring moisture from the inside surface to the outside
surface. The outer layer is positionable adjacent to the outside
surface of the inner layer and is constructed of a material that is
thermal insulating.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] FIG. 1 is an exemplary illustration of the apparatus of the
current invention as worn on a users forearm.
[0004] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the current
invention.
[0005] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus of the
current invention taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0006] Referring to FIG. 1, an apparatus, indicated generally at
10, according to the current invention is shown as it is worn on a
user's forearm to protect the forearm from heat and fire while
keeping the forearm cool. This apparatus 10 is useful to chefs and
other users whose arms may be exposed to heat sources or hot
objects, such as ovens, and/or open flames, such as stoves or
grills. However, it will be understood from the description below
that the apparatus 10 could be adapted to cover the entire arm of a
user or to be worn on other parts of a user's body to protect the
particular body part from heat and fire while keeping the body part
cool. In addition, the apparatus 10 could also be adapted to
protect against extreme cold temperatures instead of or in addition
to providing protection against heat and fire.
[0007] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus 10 is generally
cylindrical and generally conforms to the forearm of the user. The
generally cylindrical shape allows the apparatus to be easily put
on and removed from the forearm and the conformity keeps the
apparatus 10 in place on the forearm and prevents the apparatus 10
from interfering with the movement of the user. The apparatus 10
covers the entire forearm of the user and has a length L (FIG. 2)
that is approximately the distance from the user's wrist to
elbow.
[0008] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the apparatus 10 includes an
outer layer 20 and an inner layer 30, which is secured to the outer
layer 20. As is described in more detail below, the inner layer 30
is positioned adjacent to and contacts the forearm and helps keep
the forearm cool. The outer layer 20 is positioned outside the
inner layer 30, does not generally contact the forearm, and
provides heat and fire protection while the inner layer 30 helps
keep the user's forearm cool.
[0009] The outer layer 20 is made of a thermal insulating material
that preferably is also fire resistant. The material of the outer
layer 20 should also have good textile properties such that it can
easily be manufactured into various wearing apparel. In the
preferred embodiment of the invention, the material of the outer
layer 20 is a material called Nomex.RTM., specifically Type 450
Nomex.RTM. or Type 455 Nomex.RTM. (also known as Nomex.RTM. III),
which is manufactured by DuPont. The Nomex.RTM. material is
inherently thermal and flame resistant, does not melt, carbonizes
and forms a tough char at temperatures above approximately
800.degree. F. (427.degree. C.), does not ignite or burn in air,
and has low stiffness and high elongation, which gives it good
textile properties. Type 450 Nomex.RTM. and Type 455 Nomex.RTM.
have a specific heat of approximately 0.26 to 0.30 cal/gm.degree.
C. and are therefore excellent thermal insulators. In addition,
Type 450 Nomex.RTM. and Type 455 Nomex.RTM. are fire resistant in
that they have a limiting oxygen index of 28, which means that when
Type 450 Nomex.RTM. or Type 455 Nomex.RTM. are exposed to flame at
room temperature in a normal air environment, they will not
continue to burn when the flame is removed.
[0010] Alternatively, the material of the outer layer 20 could also
be made of other materials that are not inherently thermal and
flame resistant, but that could be made thermal and/or flame
resistant by treatment with a flame-retardant chemical.
[0011] The inner layer 30 is made of a material that is has
moisture wicking capability and that preferably is also air
permeable. As used herein, moisture wicking capability means having
the ability to transfer fluid, such as perspiration, away from one
surface of the material towards the other surface of the material.
The air permeability and moisture wicking capability of the inner
layer 30 reduce the skin temperature of the forearm and help to
keep the forearm cool. In the preferred embodiment of the
invention, the material of the inner layer 30 is a material called
CoolMax.RTM., which is manufactured by Invista. The CoolMax.RTM.
material is made of Dacron.RTM. fibers, which are polyester fibers
with unique engineered microchannel cross sections. It is air
permeable, moves sweat away from the user to the outer layer of the
material where it can dry faster and keep the user cool, and is
also soft and lightweight which makes it a good textile
material.
[0012] The inner layer 30 preferably conforms to the forearm and
extends the entire length of the forearm. It is elastomeric and has
an inside surface 32 that is in contact with the forearm of the
user and an outside surface 34 opposite the inside surface 32. This
allows the inner layer 30 to absorb perspiration from the forearm
at the inside surface 32 and transfer the perspiration to the
outside surface 34, where it can be more easily evaporated. The
outer layer 20 also extends the entire length of the forearm, is
adjacent to and preferably in contact with the outside surface 34
of the inner layer 30 such that it conforms to the outside surface
34 of the inner layer 30.
[0013] The apparatus 10 is formed by securing the inner layer 30 to
the outer layer 20 by aligning the inner and outer layers 30, 20
and stitching them together using a thread made of a temperature
and flame resistant material such as the Nomex.RTM. material
described above. Alternatively, the inner and outer layers 30, 20
can be secured by laminating the layers together, gluing the layers
together, rivets, hook and loop fasters such as Velcro.RTM., or in
any other well known manner. Preferably, when the inner and outer
layers 30, 20 are aligned, the ends of the outer layer 20 will
overhang the ends of the inner layer 30 such that the ends of the
outer layer 20 can be folded over such that they contact the inside
surface 32 of the inner layer 30. The layers are then stitched
together such that no portion of the inner layer is exposed at the
ends of the apparatus 10. This ensures that the inner layer is not
exposed to the extreme temperature or flame and that there is
temperature and fire resistance along the entire length of the
device
[0014] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of
the invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and
description, and are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise forms disclosed. The descriptions were
selected to best explain the principles of the invention and their
practical application to enable other skills in the art to best
utilize the invention in various embodiments and various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It
is intended that the scope of the invention not be limited by the
specification, but be defined by the claims set forth below.
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