U.S. patent application number 12/874449 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-03 for garment connection system.
This patent application is currently assigned to LION APPAREL, INC.. Invention is credited to Donald Aldridge.
Application Number | 20110047675 12/874449 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43622637 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110047675 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Aldridge; Donald |
March 3, 2011 |
GARMENT CONNECTION SYSTEM
Abstract
A boot and trousers system including a pair of trousers, the
trousers including a barrier material which is generally
impermeable to undesired fluids. The system further includes a boot
having a body and an upper portion, wherein the upper portion is
folded about the body of the boot to define a flap portion. The
barrier material is releasably coupled to the flap portion and to
the body.
Inventors: |
Aldridge; Donald; (New
Carlisle, OH) |
Assignee: |
LION APPAREL, INC.
Dayton
OH
|
Family ID: |
43622637 |
Appl. No.: |
12/874449 |
Filed: |
September 2, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61239232 |
Sep 2, 2009 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/227 ; 2/243.1;
36/136 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 1/06 20130101; A41F
17/00 20130101; A43B 3/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/227 ; 2/243.1;
36/136 |
International
Class: |
A41D 1/06 20060101
A41D001/06; A41D 27/00 20060101 A41D027/00; A43B 23/00 20060101
A43B023/00 |
Claims
1. A boot and trousers system comprising: a pair of trousers, the
trousers including a barrier material which is generally
impermeable to undesired fluids; and a boot having a body and an
upper portion, wherein said upper portion is folded about said body
of said boot to define a flap portion, wherein said barrier
material is releasably coupled to said flap portion and to said
body.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said barrier material is generally
impermeable to water vapor.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein at least part of the barrier
material is positioned between said flap portion and said body.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the trousers includes an outer
shell, and wherein part of the barrier material is positioned
adjacent to said outer shell, and wherein the barrier material
includes an extension portion extending beyond a lower edge of said
outer shell, and wherein at least part of said extension portion of
said barrier material is positioned between said flap portion and
said body and wherein said extension portion is releasably coupled
to said flap portion and to said body.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein a distal end of said barrier
material is positioned between said flap portion and said body
portion and folded about itself to form a two-ply portion of
barrier material.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein said barrier material includes a
first attachment portion positioned on a first side thereof and
configured to be releasably coupled to a corresponding attachment
portion of said flap portion, and wherein said barrier material
includes a second attachment portion positioned on a second side
thereof and configured to be releasably coupled to a corresponding
attachment portion of said body.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein said first attachment portion and
said corresponding attachment portion of said flap portion are
configured to be releasably attached in a fluid-tight manner, and
wherein said second attachment portion and said corresponding
attachment portion of said body are configured to be releasably
attached in a fluid-tight manner.
8. The system of claim 6 wherein said attachment portion of said
flap portion and said attachment portion of said body are
configured to be releasably attachable to each other.
9. The system of claim 6 wherein each second attachment portion
extends around substantially the entire perimeter of the associated
boot or trousers leg.
10. The system of claim 6 wherein said second attachment portion is
positioned between said flap portion and said body.
11. The system of claim 1 wherein said boot has a barrier material
extending throughout the body thereof which is generally
impermeable to undesired fluids.
12. The system of claim 11 wherein the barrier material of the
trousers is directly releasably coupled to the barrier material of
the boot to provide generally continuous barrier material
protection.
13. The system of claim 1 wherein said flap portion lacks a barrier
material which is generally impermeable to undesired fluids.
14. The system of claim 1 wherein said barrier material is
generally liquid impermeable but generally moisture vapor
permeable.
15. A boot and trousers system comprising: a pair of trousers, the
trousers including a barrier material which is generally
impermeable to undesired fluids; and a boot having a body and an
upper portion, wherein said upper portion is folded about said body
of said boot to define a flap portion, wherein at least part of the
barrier material is positioned between said flap portion and said
body.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein said barrier material is
releasably coupled to said flap portion and to said body.
17. A boot and trousers system comprising: a pair of trousers, the
trousers including an outer shell and a barrier material which is
generally impermeable to undesired fluids and positioned adjacent
to said outer shell, wherein said barrier material includes an
extension portion extending beyond a lower edge of said outer
shell; and a boot including a barrier material which is generally
impermeable to undesired fluids, wherein the extension portion of
said barrier material is directly releasably coupled to the barrier
material of the boot to provide generally continuous fluid
protection.
18. The system of claim 17 wherein said boot has a body and an
upper portion, wherein said upper portion is folded about said body
of said boot to define a flap portion, and wherein at least part of
the barrier material of said trousers is positioned between said
flap portion and said body.
19. The system of claim 18 wherein said barrier material is
releasably coupled to said flap portion and to said body.
20. A system comprising: a first item configured to be worn by a
wearer, the first item including a barrier material which is
generally impermeable to undesired fluids; and a second item
configured to be worn by a wearer and including a barrier material
which is generally impermeable to undesired fluids, wherein said
second item includes a body and a flap portion folded about said
body, wherein the barrier material of the first item is releasably
coupled to the flap portion and the body of the second item to
provide generally continuous barrier protection.
21. The system of claim 20 wherein one of the items is a pair
trousers and the other item is a boot; or one of the items is a
coat and the other item is a glove; or one of the items is a coat
and the other item is a hood; or one of the items is a coat and
said the other item is a pair of trousers.
22. A boot system comprising: a boot shaped and configured to
receive a wearer's foot therein, said boot including first and a
second attachment portions at or adjacent to an upper end thereof,
wherein the boot is movable between a first configuration in which
the first and second attachment portions are releasably attached
together, and a second configuration in which the first attachment
portion is attached to a first side of a barrier material of a pair
of trousers which is generally impermeable to undesired fluids, the
second attachment portion is attached to a second side of the
barrier material of said trousers.
23. The system of claim 22 wherein the first and second attachment
portions are positioned on an outer surface of the boot and extend
entirely around the perimeter thereof
24. The system of claim 22 wherein said boot has a barrier material
extending throughout a body thereof which is generally impermeable
to undesired fluids.
25. The system of claim 22 wherein said boot is in said second
configuration in which the first attachment portion is attached to
said first side of said barrier material of the trousers, and
wherein the second attachment portion is attached to said second
side of the barrier material of said trousers.
26. The system of claim 25 wherein said boot an upper portion
folded about said body thereof to define a flap portion, and
wherein at least part of the barrier material of said trousers is
positioned between said flap portion and said body.
27. The system of claim 22 wherein the trousers includes an outer
shell, and wherein part of the barrier material of said trousers is
positioned adjacent to said outer shell, and wherein the barrier
material of said trousers includes an extension portion extending
beyond a lower edge of said outer shell, and wherein said extension
portion of said barrier material is directly releasably coupled to
the barrier material of the boot.
Description
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application
Ser. No. 61/239,232, filed on Sep. 2, 2009, the entire contents of
which are hereby incorporated by reference.
[0001] The present invention is directed to a garment connection
system, and more particularly, to a fluid-resistant garment
connection system.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Protective or hazardous duty garments are used in a variety
of industries and settings to protect the wearer from hazardous
conditions such as heat, fire, smoke, cold, sharp objects,
chemicals, liquids, fumes and the like. Such protective or
hazardous duty garments are often used in adverse conditions, such
as in the presence of high temperatures, smoke, chemicals, vapors
and the like. However, existing garments may not provide sufficient
protection from harmful vapors or fluids, particularly at garment
junctions.
SUMMARY
[0003] In one embodiment, the invention is a boot and trousers
system including a pair of trousers, the trousers including a
barrier material which is generally impermeable to undesired
fluids. The system further includes a boot having a body and an
upper portion, wherein the upper portion is folded about the body
of the boot to define a flap portion. The barrier material is
releasably coupled to the flap portion and to the body.
[0004] In another embodiment, the invention is a boot and trousers
system including a pair of trousers, the trousers including a
barrier material which is generally impermeable to undesired
fluids. The system further includes a boot having a body and an
upper portion, wherein the upper portion is folded about the body
of the boot to define a flap portion. At least part of the barrier
material is positioned between the flap portion and the body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a user wearing a coat,
trousers and boots;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a side perspective cutaway view of a boot and a
lower part of the trousers of FIG. 1;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a side cross section of the pant leg and boot of
FIG. 3;
[0008] FIG. 3A is a side cross section of the pant leg and boot of
FIG. 3, illustrating an alternate construction;
[0009] FIGS. 4-8 are a series of side cross section views
illustrating how the boot can be detached from the trousers;
and
[0010] FIG. 9 is a side cross section of the boot configured for
stand-alone use.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention may
take the form of a system 10 for connecting a pair of trousers 12
to a pair of boots 14. The trousers 12 may include various layers
through its thickness to provide various heat, moisture and
abrasion resistant qualities so that the trousers 12 can be used as
a protective, hazardous duty, and/or firefighter garment. For
example, the trousers 12 may include an outer shell 16, a
moisture-resistant/vapor-resistant/fluid-resistant barrier 18
located inside of and adjacent to the outer shell 16, and a thermal
liner/barrier 20 located inside of and adjacent to the
moisture/vapor barrier 18. In the illustrated embodiment the layers
16, 18, 20 are generally annular at the lower end of each trousers
leg and arranged such that the moisture barrier 18 is positioned
between the thermal barrier 20 and outer shell 16. However, if
desired, this configuration can be reversed such that the thermal
barrier 20 is positioned between the outer shell 16 and the
moisture barrier 18. If desired, an inner liner or inner face cloth
(not shown) may be positioned inside the thermal barrier 20 to form
the inner-most layer of the trousers 12. Moreover, if desired, the
trousers 10 may not necessarily include the thermal barrier 20.
[0012] The outer shell 16 may be made of or include a variety of
materials, including a flame, heat and abrasion resistant material
such as a compact weave of aramid fibers and/or polybenzamidazole
fibers. Commercially available aramid materials include NOMEX and
KEVLAR fibers (both trademarks of E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co.,
Inc. of Wilmington, Del.), and commercially available
polybenzamidazole fibers include PBI fibers (a trademark of PBI
Performance Fabrics of Charlotte, North Carolina). Thus, the outer
shell 16 may be an aramid material, a blend of aramid materials, a
polybenzamidazole material, a blend of aramid and polybenzamidazole
materials, or other appropriate materials. If desired, the outer
shell 16 may be covered with a polymer, such as a durable, water
repellent finish (i.e. a perfluorohydrocarbon finish, such as
TEFLON.RTM. finish sold by E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company of
Wilmington, Del.). The materials of the outer shell 16 may have a
weight of, for example, between about five and about ten
oz/yd.sup.2.
[0013] The moisture barrier 18 and thermal barrier 20 (if utilized)
may be generally coextensive with the outer shell 16, or spaced
slightly inwardly from the outer edges of the outer shell 16 (i.e.,
spaced slightly inwardly from the lower end of the legs or the
waist) to provide moisture and thermal protection throughout the
trousers 12.
[0014] The thermal barrier 20, if utilized, may be made of nearly
any suitable material that provides sufficient thermal insulation.
In one embodiment, the thermal barrier 20 may include a relatively
thick (i.e. between about 1/16''- 3/16'') batting, felt or needled
non-woven bulk or batting material, which can be coupled to a face
cloth. The bulk material can also take the form of one or two (or
more) layers of E-89.RTM. spunlace fabric made of a combination of
NOMEX.RTM. and KEVLAR.RTM. fabric. The bulk material can also, or
instead, include aramid fiber batting (such as NOMEX.RTM. batting),
aramid needlepunch material, an aramid non-woven material, an
aramid blend needlepunch material, an aramid blend batting
material, an aramid blend non-woven material, foam (either open
cell or closed cell), or other suitably thermally insulating
materials. The thermal barrier 20 may trap air and possess
sufficient loft to provide thermal resistance to the trousers 12.
If desired, the thermal barrier 20, or parts thereof, may be
treated with a water-resistant or water-repellent finish.
[0015] In one embodiment, the thermal barrier 20 has a thermal
protection performance ("TPP") of at least about twenty, and in
another embodiment, at least about thirty five. Moreover, in one
embodiment the trousers 12 as a whole will have a TPP of at least
about twenty, and in another embodiment have a TPP of at least
about thirty five, although the trousers 12 may have a relatively
low TPP is some cases and may not be particularly thermally
insulating.
[0016] The moisture barrier 18 may be generally water vapor
permeable but generally impermeable to liquid moisture, as well as
generally impermeable to the vapor form of harmful/undesirable
materials (i.e. non-aqueous materials in one embodiment). The
moisture barrier 18 may have microscopic openings that permit
moisture vapor (such as water vapor) to pass therethrough, but
block liquids (such as liquid water) from passing therethrough. The
microscopic openings may be small enough to allow water vapor to
pass therethrough, but block vapors/airborne particulates, etc. of
harmful materials, which can be larger than water vapor molecules.
Thus the moisture barrier 18 can be considered a selective vapor
barrier and/or can have selective vapor barrier (or near-complete
vapor barrier) qualities, but is generally termed moisture barrier
herein in compliance with common industry usage.
[0017] The moisture barrier 18 may be made of a microporous
material that is either hydrophilic, hydrophobic, or somewhere in
between. The moisture barrier 18 may also be monolithic and may
allow water moisture vapor transmission therethrough by molecular
diffusion. The moisture barrier 18 may also be a combination of
microporous and monolithic materials (known as a bicomponent
moisture barrier), in which the microporous or monolithic materials
are layered or intertwined. The moisture barrier 18 may include a
membrane layer bonded to a substrate of flame and heat resistant
material on one or both sides thereof to provide structure and
protection to the membrane layer.
[0018] The moisture barrier 18 can instead, if desired, be
generally impervious to all fluids, vapors, aerosols, liquids and
gases, including water and water vapor. The moisture barrier 18 can
be configured to block harmful materials from passing therethrough.
Such harmful materials may include liquids (including chemical
warfare agents, biological warfare agents and toxic industrial
chemicals), vapors and aerosols of an aqueous or non-aqueous nature
(including chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals),
and contaminated particulates (such as biological warfare agents).
Examples of chemical warfare agents include soman (GD) nerve agent
and distilled mustard (HD) blister agent. Examples of toxic
industrial chemicals include acrolein (liquid), acrylonitrile
(liquid), ammonia (gas), chlorine (gas), and dimethyl sulfate
(liquid).
[0019] The moisture barrier 18 may be made of or include expanded
polytetrafluoroethylene ("PTFE") such as GORE-TEX or CROSSTECH
materials (both of which are trademarks of W. L. Gore &
Associates, Inc. of Newark, Del.), polyurethane-based materials,
neoprene-based materials, cross-linked polymers, polyamid,
GORE.RTM. CHEMPAK.RTM. materials, sold by W. L. Gore &
Associates, Inc. including GORE.RTM. CHEMPAK.RTM. Ultra Barrier
Fabric, GORE.RTM. CHEMPAK.RTM. Selectively Permeable Fabric, or
GORE.RTM. CHEMPAK.RTM. Sorptive Fabric, neoprene, rubber, synthetic
rubber or other materials. Besides the materials outlined above,
the moisture barrier 18 can be made of nearly any material that is
generally impermeable to the materials which are desired to be
prevented from contact with the wearer, or from contact with inner
layers of the garment 12.
[0020] In one embodiment, each layer of the trousers 12, and the
trousers 12 as a whole, may meet the National Fire Protection
Association ("NFPA") 1971 standards for protective firefighting
garments ("Protective Clothing for Structural Firefighting"), which
are entirely incorporated by reference herein. The NFPA Structural
Firefighting standards specify various minimum requirements for
heat and flame resistance and for tear strength. For example, in
order to meet the NFPA standards, each of the outer shell 16,
moisture barrier 18, and thermal barrier 20 individually, and the
trousers 12 as a whole, must be able to resist igniting, burning,
melting, dripping, separation and/or shrinking by more than 10% in
any direction at a temperature of 500.degree. F. for at least five
minutes. Furthermore, in order to meet the NFPA standards, the
combined layers of the trousers 12 must provide a thermal
protective performance rating of at least thirty five.
[0021] NFPA 1971 standards include a Chem/Bio Option, also known as
the CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) Option
(the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference)
which provides specifications that protective ensembles must meet
in order to be certified under that Option. For example, the
Chem/Bio Option specifies that the garment must pass a MIST test
(Man In Simulant Test). In one case the MIST test essentially
consists of introducing the garment into a chamber filled with a
vaporized test material (such as oil of wintergreen). Absorbent
pads are placed on the wearer and/or inside the garment. After the
garment has been exposed to the vaporized material for a sufficient
period of time, the garment is removed from the chamber. The
absorbent pads are removed and analyzed to determine how much of
the vaporized test material they have absorbed. Thus, the garment
disclosed herein may instead, or also, be arranged to meet the
Chem/Bion Option standards.
[0022] However, the trousers 12 may include various arrangements of
liners/materials, as desired, in which the various layers described
herein are included, omitted, and/or rearranged. For example, the
trousers 12 may lack any thermal barrier 20, or lack any moisture
barrier 16, or include only an outer shell 12 and lack other
layers, etc., or may take on various other configurations as
desired to meet various other NFPA requirements, and need not even
necessarily be NFPA compliant.
[0023] The boots 14 may also, in one embodiment, be compliant with
NFPA regulations. Each boot 14 may include an outer layer 22 made
of a relatively strong, durable and abrasion-resistant material,
such as leather, synthetic leather, rubber, synthetic rubber,
fibrous materials such as NOMEX.RTM. or KEVLAR.RTM. fibers, or
various other materials as desired. Each boot 14 can include
various inner layers as shown, for example, in FIGS. 3-9. In one
embodiment, each boot 14 includes a fluid barrier/moisture barrier
24 and a thermal barrier 26 positioned inside the outer layer 22.
Each of these layers 22, 24, 26 may be generally annular about
upper portions of the boot 14. The moisture barrier 24 and thermal
barrier 26 may be made of the same or similar materials and/or have
the same qualities as those outlined above for the moisture barrier
18 and thermal barrier 20 of the trousers 12. However, the thermal
liner 26 for the boots 14, if utilized, may not necessarily be fire
resistant, and can be made of a nonwoven synthetic fabric such as
CAMBRELLE.RTM. material sold by Camtex Fabrics Limited of Cumbria,
United Kingdom, with a moisture barrier attached thereto. FIGS. 3-9
illustrate the moisture barrier 24 positioned between the outer
layer 22 and the thermal barrier 26; however, if desired, the
position of these layers may be reversed such that the thermal
barrier 26 is positioned between the outer layer 22 and the
moisture barrier 24.
[0024] In one embodiment, the moisture barrier/fluid barrier 24 is
generally continuous and extends throughout the boot 14 to provide
continuous moisture/vapor/fluid protection thereto. Similarly, the
moisture barrier 18 of the trousers 12 may be generally continuous
and extend throughout the trousers 12 to provide continuous
moisture/vapor/fluid protection thereto. By "continuous" it is
meant that continuous moisture/vapor/fluid protection is provided;
not necessarily that only a single seamless moisture/vapor/fluid
barrier layer is provided. In other words, multiple pieces of a
moisture barrier 18/24 can be coupled together in a moisture
tight/vapor tight/selectively vapor tight manner and still be
continuous as intended herein (although a one-piece moisture could
also of course be utilized and considered continuous). If desired,
the moisture barrier 22 and thermal barrier 26 of the boots 14 can
be made of a differing material than the particular moisture
barrier 18 and thermal barrier 20 of the associated trousers
12.
[0025] Each boot 14 may include a pair of pulls 28 (FIG. 2) on
opposite sides thereof to aid the wearer in pulling the boot 14
over his or her feet. Each boot 14 may include a durable,
puncture-resistant tread or sole 30 on its bottom surface thereof
and made of a differing material than the outer layer 22, or
moisture barrier 24 or thermal barrier 26. Each boot 14, and the
tread 30, is thus designed to provide the outer-most surface
protecting a wearer's foot to protect from abrasion, wear, and
rough or sharp materials (such as broken glass, metal shards, etc.)
on ground surfaces.
[0026] Each boot 14 includes a body portion 32 and an upper
portion, flap or flap portion 34 forming, and/or extending away
from, an upper edge 36 of the body portion 32. When folded as shown
in FIG. 3, the flap portion 34 defines a space 38 between the flap
portion 34 and the body portion 32. In the illustrated embodiment,
the flap portion 34 includes an outer protective portion 22a that
can be of the same (or differing) material as the outer layer 22 of
the boot 14. If desired, the flap portion 34 may include one or
more of the inner layers 24, 26 of the boot 14 (or other inner
layers, if included). For example, in the embodiment of FIGS. 3-9,
the flap portion 34 includes a portion 26a of the thermal barrier
material 26. In the illustrated embodiment, the thermal barrier 26a
of the flap 34 is continuous with the thermal barrier 26 of the
body portion 32. However, if desired, the thermal barrier 26a in
the flap 34 can be separate and discrete from the thermal barrier
26 in the body portion 32 of the boot 14. Alternately, if desired,
the thermal barrier 26a can be omitted from the flap 34.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 3A, in one embodiment the flap 34 includes
a moisture barrier portion 24a. In the embodiment of FIG. 3A, the
flap moisture barrier 24a is continuous with the body moisture
barrier 24, but the moisture barriers 24, 24a can be made of
separate pieces of material if desired.
[0028] As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the moisture barrier 18 of
the trousers 12 includes a generally annular extension portion 40
which extends away (generally upwardly in the configuration of
FIGS. 2 and 3) from the lower edge of the trousers 12. A distal end
of the extension portion 40 is received in the space 38 between the
flap portion 34 and the body 32 of the boot 14. In the illustrated
embodiment, the end of the extension 40 is folded about itself
under the flap portion 34, as shown in FIGS. 2-4, to form a two-ply
folded section of the barrier material 42. The folded section 42
can be omitted but may aid in sealing the boot 14/trousers 12
connection, as will be described in greater detail below.
[0029] The moisture barrier extension 40 includes a pair of
fastening components 44a, 46a on opposite sides thereof. As can be
seen in FIG. 3, fastening component 44a on the radially outer
surface of the extension portion 40 releasably engages a
corresponding fastening component 44b at or adjacent to the end of
the flap portion 34. Fastening component 46a on the radially inner
surface of the extension portion 40 releasably engages a
corresponding fastening component 46b at or near the upper edge 36
of the body 32 of the boot 14.
[0030] In the illustrated embodiment, each fastening component 44a,
44b, 46a, 46b takes the form of a zipper/zipper track such that a
zipper pull (i.e., see zipper pull 50 of FIG. 2 which is associated
with fastening components 44a, 44b) can be extended about the
periphery of the fastening components 44a, 44b, 46a, 46b to couple
or decouple the associated fastening components. The fastening
components 44a, 44b, 46a, 46b can be configured to form a fluid
and/or vapor tight seal when closed (i.e., in the case of a zipper
the zipper is fluid/vapor tight), or if desired the components 44a,
44b, 46a, 46b may not form a seal when closed. Moreover, the
fastening components 44a, 44b, 46a, 46b can take any of a wide
variety of other forms besides zippers such as hook-and-loop
fastening material (i.e., VELCRO.RTM.), a plastic zipper seal
utilizing linear beads such as that analogous to a seal found on
ZIPLOC.RTM. plastic bags (also known as "press-to-close" zippers,
or reclosable or releasable closures), snaps, hooks, clasps,
magnets, frictional engagement, interlocking shapes or the
like.
[0031] The arrangement shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 provides a relatively
vapor tight/fluid tight/selectively vapor tight arrangement to the
wearer. In particular, instead of having trousers which are open at
the bottom in which an annular gap is formed about each boot 14,
the moisture barrier extension 40 extends from the radially inner
surface/lower edge of the trousers 12 to the boot 14, and is
coupled thereto. Moreover, each boot 14 includes its own moisture
barrier 24 that is coupled to the moisture barrier extension 40 in
a fluid tight/vapor tight manner via the fastening components 46a,
46b. In this manner, when harmful vapors are introduced into the
surrounding environment, such vapors are prevented from entering
the boot 14 and/or inner cavity of the legs of the trousers 12. The
wearer can thus remain relatively protected from harmful vapors and
the trousers 12/boot 14 form a sealed connection/cavity
therebetween. Moreover, should any vapor or moisture penetrate
through the outer layer 22 of the boots 14, the moisture barrier 24
within the boots 14 helps to protect the wearer from
contamination.
[0032] Because the moisture barrier extension 40 is trapped or
sandwiched between the flap 34 and the body 32 of the boot 14, a
relatively vapor tight connection is formed therebetween, and in
particular the folded portion 42 can be compressed by the folded
portion 34, and held in place by the fastening components 44a, 44b
to improve the seal provided by the folded portion 42. In the
embodiment of FIG. 3A, the folded portion 42 is pressed into
contact with, and directly engages, the moisture barrier 24 of the
boot 14 to aid in sealing of the boot 14.
[0033] Moreover, the fastening components 44a, 44b, 46a, 46b also
help to mechanically and/or fluid-tightly securely couple the
moisture barrier extension 40 to the boot 14, thereby further
protecting against vapor penetration. If desired, more complete
vapor protection can be provided by using vapor-tight fasteners (at
least for fastening components 46a, 46b), and ensuring the
fastening components 46a, 46b (i.e., their fastener flaps) are
attached in a fluid-tight manner (i.e., any stitching is secured by
vapor-tight sealing tape or the like, or adhesives or other
non-penetrating methods are used to attach the fastening components
46a, 46b). The coupling arrangement 10 shown herein, in combination
with various other protective features, may provide a
garment/ensemble which passes the MIST test, and more broadly,
meets the Chem/Bio Option of NFPA 1971 standards.
[0034] In order to detach the boot 14 and trousers 12, the
fastening components 44a, 44b are first separated, as shown in FIG.
4. Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the flap portion 34 is unfolded until
the flap portion 34 extends vertically upwardly from the upper edge
36 of the body 32 of the boot 14. Next, the extension portion 40 is
inverted (i.e. turned inside-out), such as by partially extracting
the boot 14 out from the trousers 12, as shown in FIG. 6. Inverting
the extension portion in this manner may help to provide
easier/direct access to the fastening components 46a, 46b. Next, as
shown in FIG. 7, the fastening components 46a, 46b are decoupled
and, as shown in FIG. 8, the boot 14 is completely separated from
the trousers 12.
[0035] Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the boot 14 can be configured for
use as a stand alone boot; i.e., for use in a manner in which the
boot 14 is not sealingly coupled to the trousers 12. In particular,
the fastening component 44b of flap portion 34 can be releasably
coupled to the fastening component 46b of the body 32 of the boot
14 to provide a finished appearance and generally sealed
functionality to the boot 14. For example, in the illustrated
embodiment the outer portions 22, 22a (which can be made of the
same material and have the same appearance) form the entire outer
surface of the boot 14 (except of the fastening components 44b,
46b) providing a continuous and finished appearance. In this
manner, the boot 14 can be used with various other trousers,
including trousers which do not include the moisture barrier
extension 40 or otherwise contribute to form a generally
vapor-tight or vapor-resistant connection with the boot 14.
[0036] The boot 14 shown herein thus has dual use capability as it
can be used in standard firefighter trousers or other protective
garments when a moisture or fluid tight, vapor-tight or
vapor-resistant connection is desired. In order to couple the boot
14 to the trousers 12/moisture barrier extension 40, the steps
shown in FIGS. 3-9 are carried out in reverse. It should be noted
that the pulls 28 (FIG. 2) are located on, or protrude outwardly
from, a radially inner surface of the boot 14. In this manner, the
pulls 28 are spaced away from the flap 34 and fastening components
44b, 46b, and do not interfere with the coupling of the moisture
barrier extension 40 to the boot 14.
[0037] Thus, the system 10 may utilize boots 14 that are detachable
from the trousers 12 so that the trousers 12 and boots 14 can each
be separately cleaned, maintained, and replaced as desired.
Moreover, the boots 14 can be used as a stand-alone components with
other trousers which do not require a vapor-tight or
vapor-resistant connection therewith (i.e., for non-CBRN
suits).
[0038] The system and method shown herein can also be used to form
vapor/fluid-tight or vapor/fluid-resistant connections at other
portions of garments. For example, the system can be utilized to
attach gloves to the sleeve of a coat; a hood to the body of the
coat; a coat to a pair of trousers (i.e. about the waist of the
coat and trousers, etc.), and make other connections in the same
manner as described above and shown herein. The method and
structure disclosed herein can be used to detachably, yet
sealingly, attach various other garments and parts thereof together
to provide the advantages specified herein.
[0039] Although the invention is shown and described with respect
to certain embodiments, it should be clear that modifications will
occur to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding
the specification, and the present invention includes all such
modifications.
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