U.S. patent application number 13/639916 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-30 for vapor resistant closure.
The applicant listed for this patent is Thomas S. Martin. Invention is credited to Thomas S. Martin.
Application Number | 20130133129 13/639916 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44763296 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130133129 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Martin; Thomas S. |
May 30, 2013 |
VAPOR RESISTANT CLOSURE
Abstract
A vapor resistant closure including a closure mechanism, for
example, a zipper having a start end in an inner portion of
material and a stop end in an outer portion of material with the
outer portion containing the stop end overlapping the inner portion
containing the start end. The closure mechanism forming a seal
between the outer portion containing the stop end and the inner
portion containing the start end when the closure mechanism is
closed at the stop end. The seal that is formed is generally
impermeable to fluids, gases, vapors, aerosols and particulates.
The vapor resistant closure may also include a compressible body
between the outer portion of material containing the stop end and
the inner portion of material containing the start end. The
compressible body is compressed therebetween when the closure
mechanism is closed at the stop end.
Inventors: |
Martin; Thomas S.;
(Englewood, OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Martin; Thomas S. |
Englewood |
OH |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
44763296 |
Appl. No.: |
13/639916 |
Filed: |
April 8, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
April 8, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US11/31695 |
371 Date: |
January 7, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61322365 |
Apr 9, 2010 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/455 ;
24/389 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44B 19/32 20130101;
A41D 13/0002 20130101; A41D 2200/20 20130101; Y10T 24/2514
20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/455 ;
24/389 |
International
Class: |
A44B 19/32 20060101
A44B019/32; A41D 13/00 20060101 A41D013/00 |
Claims
1. A vapor resistant closure comprising: a closure mechanism having
a start end in an inner portion of material and a stop end in an
outer portion of material, wherein the stop end overlaps the inner
portion of material containing the start end; wherein a closed stop
end of the closure mechanism forms a seal between the outer portion
of material containing the stop end and the inner portion of
material containing the start end, the seal being generally
impermeable to gases; and a compressible body between the outer
portion of material containing the stop end and the inner portion
of material containing the start end, wherein the zipped stop end
compresses the compressible body to form the seal; wherein the
closure mechanism and the seal pass the National Fire Protection
Association Chem/Bio Option specifications.
2. (canceled)
3. The vapor resistant closure of claim 1 wherein the closure
mechanism is a zipper.
4. The vapor resistant closure of claim 3 wherein the zipper is a
watertight zipper that is generally impermeable to gases.
5. The vapor resistant closure of claim 1 wherein the closure
mechanism extends more than 360.degree. around the material.
6. The vapor resistant closure of claim 5 wherein the stop end
overlaps the inner portion of material containing the start end by
about 5.degree. to about 40.degree..
7. A vapor resistant closure comprising: a zipper having a start
end and a stop end, wherein the stop end is in an overlying portion
of material that overlaps an inner portion of material; and a
compressible body positioned between the stop end and the inner
portion of material to provide a seal that is generally impermeable
to gases when the zipper is zipped; wherein the closure mechanism
and the seal pass the National Fire Protection Association Chem/Bio
Option specifications.
8. The vapor resistant closure of claim 7 wherein the zipper is a
watertight zipper that is generally impermeable to gases.
9. A vapor resistant closure comprising: a zipper having a start
end and a stop end, wherein the stop end is in an overlying portion
of material that overlaps an inner portion of material; and a
compressible body positioned between the stop end and the inner
portion of material to provide a seal that is generally impermeable
to gases when the zipper is zipped; wherein the closure mechanism
and the seal pass the National Fire Protection Association Chem/Bio
Option specifications.
10. (canceled)
11. The vapor resistant closure of claim 10 wherein the
compressible body includes rubber, plastic, or foam.
12. The vapor resistant closure of claim 11 wherein the
compressible body is compressed by the zipped stopped end by at
least 10% by volume.
13. The vapor resistant closure of claim 10 wherein the zipper
connects two portions of the garment together.
14. The vapor resistant closure of claim 13 the two portions
include a sleeve and glove, a pant-leg and foot covering, or a hood
and body portion.
15. The vapor resistant closure of claim 14 wherein one side of the
zipper is attached to a hood and its opposing side is attached to a
body portion.
16. The vapor resistant closure of claim 15 wherein the body
portion is a coat or a one-piece suit.
17. The vapor resistant closure of claim 15 further comprising a
flap fixedly attached to one of the hood or body portion and
releasably coupled to the other one of said hood or body portion,
wherein said flap is positionable over the zipper.
18. A garment including the vapor resistant closure of claim 8.
19. The garment of claim 18 wherein the garment conforms with the
NFPA 1994 Class 2 and NFPA 1992 Standards.
20. The garment of claim 18 wherein the garment and the vapor
resistant closure are each generally impermeable to fluids, gases,
vapors, aerosols and particulates.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/322,365, filed Apr. 9, 2010.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Protective or hazardous duty garments are used in a variety
of industries and settings to protect the wearer from adverse
conditions such as heat, flames, smoke, cold, sharp objects,
chemicals, liquids, vapors, fumes and the like. Zippers are a
useful attachment mechanism for such garments, but when a zipper is
used to connect portions of a garment such as a sleeve portion to
the body or upper arm portion, a pant leg portion to the body or
upper leg portion, a glove to a sleeve, or a hood to the collar of
a garment about the diameter thereof a gap is left between the
beginning and the end of the zipper. This gap can allow vapors to
enter the suit, which can be undesirable, especially if the garment
is a chemical protective suit.
[0003] Various devices have been used to seal this gap. One example
is a "clamshell" seal that has an attachable disc-shaped cover that
clamps onto the outside of the garment over the gap created by the
zipper by clamping to another disc placed on the inside of the
garment. The "clamshell" seal can be uncomfortable for the wearer,
since one disc is inside the garment next to the wearer's neck. The
"clamshell" seal also sticks out on the outside of the garment and
may injure the wearer of the garment if bumped, or may even break
the seal.
SUMMARY
[0004] In one aspect, disclosed herein is a vapor resistant closure
that includes a closure mechanism, for example, a zipper having a
start end in an inner portion of material and a stop end in an
outer portion of material with the outer portion containing the
stop end overlapping the inner portion containing the start end.
The closure mechanism forming a seal between the outer portion
containing the stop end and the inner portion containing the start
end when the closure mechanism is closed at the stop end. The seal
that is formed is generally impermeable to fluids, gases, vapors,
aerosols and particulates. The vapor resistant closure may also
include a compressible body between the outer portion of material
containing the stop end and the inner portion of material
containing the start end. The compressible body is compressed
therebetween when the closure mechanism is closed at the stop
end.
[0005] The closure mechanism may extend more than 360.degree.
around the material with the stop end overlapping the inner portion
of material containing the start end by about 5.degree. to about
40.degree..
[0006] In one embodiment, the zipper is a watertight zipper and the
compressible body is rubber, plastic, or foam. In one embodiment
the material is included in a garment. The garment may conform with
the NFPA 1994 Class 2 and NFPA 1992 Standards, in particular, for
resistant to chemical and/or biological hazards.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a front view of a vapor resistant closure
connecting a hood to a collar of a garment with a flap for covering
the vapor resistant closure folded up.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a one-piece suit with
a hood connected thereto by the vapor resistant closure of FIG. 1,
but with the flap folded down to cover the vapor resistant
closure.
[0009] FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the vapor resistant
closure from section A of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view of the vapor resistant
closure from section A of FIG. 1 in a partially unconnected
state.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a top perspective view looking into the closed
vapor resistant closure from section A of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIGS. 6A and 6B are cross-sectional views of the vapor
resistant closure of FIG. 5 taken along line 6-6 showing different
embodiments of the compressible body.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a front view of the vapor resistant closure
connecting gloves to the sleeves of a garment.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a front view of the vapor resistant closure
connecting booties to the legs of a garment.
[0015] FIG. 9 is a rear view of a jacket having a vapor resistant
closure running across the shoulder blades.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The following detailed description will illustrate the
general principles of the invention, examples of which are
additionally illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the
drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally
similar elements.
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3-6B, a vapor resistant closure,
generally designated 40, is shown connecting a hood 11 to a neck 15
of a garment 14. The vapor resistant closure 40 allows the hood 11
and the neck 15 to be detachably sealingly connectable together.
The vapor resistant closure 40, in this embodiment, extends more
than 360.degree. around the neck 15 and hood 11 and terminates with
overlapping portions 49, 49' (each a part of the neck 15 and hood
11, respectively as best seen in FIG. 4) containing a stop end 46
of the vapor resistant closure 40 overlapping an underlying portion
59 (shown in FIGS. 6A-6B) containing a start end 44 of the vapor
resistant closure 40. The degree of overlap may be about 5.degree.
to about 40.degree. for a vapor closure that wraps about
365.degree. to about 405.degree. around the two portions of the
garment that the closure is connecting together. In another
embodiment, the degree of overlap is at least about 3% of the
length of the closure mechanism 42, described below. In yet another
embodiment, the degree of overlap may be about 3% to about 15% of
the length of the closure mechanism 42.
[0018] In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the vapor
resistant closure 40 includes a closure mechanism 42 and a
compressible body 52 positioned between the overlying portions 49,
49' containing the stop end 46 and the underlying portion 59
containing the start end 44 of the closure mechanism 42. The
closure mechanism 42 may include a first side 53 fixedly coupled to
the neck 15 that is mateable with a second side 54 fixedly coupled
to the hood 11. The first and second sides 53, 54 can be attached
to the hood 11 and neck 15, respectively, by gluing, welding,
sewing or heat sealing.
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 4-6B, in order for the overlying portions
49, 49' to overlap the underlying portion 59, the stop end 46 is
part of layer 48 of the garment 14 and hood 11 and the start end 44
(and an adjacent portion 45 of the closure mechanism 42) are
coupled to layer 48 by extension piece 50 of garment 14 and
extension piece 50' of hood 11, which are positioned inward from
layer 48 at a position that places the start end 44 (and the
adjacent portion 45 of the closure mechanism 42) under the
overlying portions 49 and 49' containing the stop end 46 of the
closure mechanism 42. Herein the term "inward" means any layer,
extension piece, or other component that would be positioned
between layer 48 and a wearer when the garment is worn by the
wearer. The start end 44 may be fixedly connected to layer 48 by
the extension pieces 50, 50'. Accordingly, the start end 44 is
carried on the extension pieces 50, 50', which together form the
underlying portion 59. The underlying portion 59 also includes a
portion of the closure mechanism 42 that is adjacent to the start
end 44 (adjacent portions 45, 45') that begin as part of the
underlying portion 59, but transitions to the layer 48 at emergent
points 47, 47', (seen in FIGS. 3-5) which are preferably aligned
across from one another on opposite sides of the closure mechanism
42.
[0020] Referring again to FIGS. 6A and 6B. the extension pieces 50,
50' provide a gap 62 between the overlying portions 49, 49' and the
underlying portion 59 for receiving the compressible body 52. More
particularly, the inward extending first half 51 of the start end
44 is connected to layer 48 of the neck 15 by an extension piece 50
of material. The extension piece 50 is fixedly attached along its
first side 56 to layer 48 and is fixedly attached along its second
side 58 to the first half 51 of the start end 44 and the adjacent
portion 45 of the connecting mechanism 42, where the first and
second sides 56 and 58 are the hypotenuse and an adjacent side
thereof, at least once sewn or fixedly attached as described.
Similarly, the second half 51' of the start end 44 and the adjacent
portion 45' is connected to the layer 48' of the hood 11 by an
extension piece 50' of material fixedly attached along its first
side 56' to layer 48' and is fixedly attached along its second side
58' to the second half 51' of the start end 44 and the adjacent
portion 45' of the closure mechanism 42.
[0021] The closure mechanism 42 is preferably an air-tight,
vapor-tight, and/or moisture tight closure when closed, i.e., the
connecting mechanism itself as its two sides 53, 54 are mated
together form a vapor-tight and/or moisture tight connection with
one another. In one embodiment, the closure mechanism 42 is a
zipper that includes interlocking teeth, "press-to-close" strips
(i.e., a seal analogous to those on ZIPLOC.RTM. plastic bags), or
slide-to-close strips (similar to those in U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,795,
which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). The
zipper 42 may be a watertight zipper, such as those commercially
available from YKK Corporation under the trademarks Aquaseal.RTM.
and Aquaguard.RTM. and/or described in YKK Corporation's U.S. Pat.
Nos. 7,591,051, 7,500,291, and 7,337,506, which are incorporated
herein by reference in their entirety. Aquaseal.RTM. zippers are
smooth and flexible and offer protection from water as a result of
a film-coated tape and a zip element mechanism that seals the
zipper completely. The zippers are available in various sizes and
formats (such as rubber or polyurethane tape, opened-end or
closed-end).
[0022] As discussed above, a compressible body 52, as shown in
FIGS. 6A and 6B is positioned between the overlapping stop end 46
and the start end 44 of the vapor resistant closure 40, in the gap
62 defined therebetween. The compressible body 52 that becomes
compressed therebetween when the vapor resistant closure 40 is
closed. In the closed position, the compressible body 52 is
compressed tightly against the underlying portion 59 of the vapor
resistant closure 40, more particularly, against the portion of the
closure mechanism 42 therein. As such, the compressible body 52
provides a secure air-tight, vapor-tight, and/or moisture tight
seal at the connection point of the hood 11 and neck 15. In one
embodiment, the compressible body 52 is compressed at least 10% by
volume or at least 5% by volume.
[0023] The compressible body 52 may be inserted into gap 62 after
the closure mechanism 42 is partially closed, preferably, when the
closing actuator 60 first begins closing the closure mechanism 42
over the start end 44 so that the amount of overlap formed will
hold the compressible body 52 in place for compression as the
closure mechanism 42 is further closed by the closing actuator 60.
In another embodiment, the compressible body 52 is connected to at
least one of the extension pieces 50, 50' and acts like a flap that
is foldable over the closure mechanism 42. The compressible body 52
may be sewn or adhered to at least one of the extension pieces 50,
50', or the single extension piece 116 shown in FIG. 9.
[0024] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6B, the compressible
body 52 may include two pieces 64, 66 that mate together when the
start end 46 of the closure mechanism 42 is closed, zipped, or
mated together. The first piece 64 of the compressible body 52 is
connected to the extension piece 50 and the second piece 66 is
connected to the extension piece 50'. The first and second pieces
64, 66 may be sewn or adhered to the extension pieces 50, 50' and
may include oppositely contoured, toothed, zig-zagged, or notched
mating configurations on surfaces thereof that become juxtaposed
when the start end 46 of the closure mechanism 42 is closed,
zipped, or mated together.
[0025] The compressible body 52 may be any suitable compressible
material that can be compressed tightly between the start end 44
and stop end 46 of the vapor resistant closure 40 and is generally
impermeable to gases, at least when compressed. A material that is
itself generally impermeable to gases is preferred. The
compressible body 52 may be rubber such as solid natural rubber,
synthetic rubber, open or closed cell sponge or foam rubber,
composite rubber, or plastic. The compressible body may be or
include neoprene, natural rubber, SBR, butyl rubber, butadiene,
nitrile, EPDM, ECH, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, EVA,
EMA, Metallocene Resin, Polyurethane, PVC, and blends thereof.
[0026] In FIGS. 1 and 2, the vapor resistant closure 40 is in a
neck portion of a garment to connect a hood 11 to the neck 15. The
vapor resistant closure 40 includes, as described above, a
watertight zipper 42 and a compressible body 52 between the start
end 44 and stop end 46 of the zipper to provide a seal that is
generally impermeable to fluids, vapors, aerosols, and
particulates. The watertight zipper 42 extends at least 360.degree.
about the connection of the hood 11 and the neck 15. The
structures/methods disclosed above allow the hood 11 to be
removed/replaced as desired, for example, for ease of cleaning,
repair, etc., but with a sealing connection, and allows for quick
removal/replacement in the field or elsewhere. The seal between the
hood 11 and the neck 15 may be sufficiently air tight/vapor tight
to meet and pass the NFPA Chem/Bio Option specifications described
below. The vapor resistant closure 40 disclosed herein is cheaper,
more lightweight, and/or more comfortable for the wearer of the
garment 14 than zippers that require a secondary device, like a
"clamshell" seal, to seal a gap created by the zipper.
[0027] The hood 11 shown in FIG. 1 includes a head covering portion
32 containing a face mask 30 and a base 34 extending 360.degree.
about the hood as a sleeve configured to receive at least part of
the neck of the wearer. The base 34 of the hood 11 includes the
second side 54 of the closure mechanism 42, discussed above, which
makes the hood 11 detachably, sealingly connectable to the neck 15
of garment 14 and the first side 53 of the closure mechanism 42. In
another embodiment, the hood 11, rather than containing a face
mask, may include a helmet or the like which sealingly engages with
the hood 11 to help isolate the wearer from any hazardous
environments.
[0028] The hood 11 may include a flap 36 fixedly attached to the
hood 11 about the base 34 and is positionable over the vapor
resistant closure 40. The flap 36 may include a releasable
attachment member 38, for example, hook-and-loop fastening material
(such as VELCRO.RTM. fastening material), snaps, one or more
zippers, and/or hooks to releasably couple the flap 36 to the neck
15 of the garment 14. The neck 15 includes a mating releasable
attachment member 39 appropriately positioned to mate with the
releasable attachment member 38 on the flap 36. While flap 36 is
illustrated in FIGS. 1-2 as being fixedly attached to the hood 11
and releasably attachable to the neck 15 of the garment 14, one of
skill will appreciate that in another embodiment a flap may be
fixedly added to the garment 14 and releasably attachable to the
hood 11.
[0029] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the garment 14 is a one-piece
suit 20 that is detachably, sealingly connected to the hood 11. As
illustrated, the vapor resistant closure 40 is covered by flap 36.
The suit 20 may includes an upper leg portion 16 configured to
receive the lower part of the torso and the upper part of the legs
of a wearer, leg portions 17 configured to receive the lower part
of the leg of a wearer, torso portion 18 configured to receive the
chest and abdomen of a wearer, arm portions 19 configured to
receive the arms of a wearer, and booties 21 configured to receive
the feet of a wearer. The torso portion 18, preferably, includes
neck 15 having the first side 53 of the closure mechanism 42 of the
vapor resistant closure 40 fixedly attached thereto for detachably,
sealingly connecting to the hood 11. In one embodiment, the neck 15
may be part of the inner shell 72 and, accordingly, has the first
side 53 of the closure mechanism 42 fixedly attached thereto. In
another embodiment, the closure mechanism 42 may be fixedly
attached to more than one layer of the garment, which may or may
not include the inner shell 72.
[0030] In one embodiment, the one-piece suit 20 may be a top-entry
suit and/or an improved chemical garment ("ICG") that provides
protection against some of the most dangerous chemical and
biological hazards in the world. The ICG may include inner shell 72
and an outer shell 74. In one embodiment, the inner shell 72 is
laminated to the outer shell 74. The inner shell 72 may be a
GORE.TM., Chempak.RTM. Ultra Barrier Material laminated to an outer
shell 74 of NOMEX.RTM. textile.
[0031] So far the vapor resistant closure 40 has been illustrated
and described as connecting a hood 11 to the neck 15 of a garment
14, but the invention is not limited thereto. The vapor resistant
closure 40 is applicable to forming a detachable, sealed connection
between any two generally circular or oval openings on separate
portions of a garment or even as a straight-line joint as shown in
FIG. 9. It should be understood that the vapor resistant closure 40
can attach, for example, a sleeve or sleeve portion to a garment, a
glove to a sleeve, a pant leg or pant leg portion to a garment, or
boots or "booties" to the leg of a garment.
[0032] Now referring to FIG. 7, garment 80, such as the following
non-limiting examples, may be a jacket, coat, shirt, or pull-over
undergarment that include a torso portion 82 and arm portions 84.
The arm portions 84 are detachably, sealingly connectable to gloves
86. The arm portions 84 and each respective glove 86 are
connectable by vapor resistant closures. The vapor resistant
closures are similar to those described above in FIGS. 1 and 3-6B
and include like features such as the first and second sides 53, 54
of a closure mechanism 42 that includes a compressible body 52, as
shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, positionable between the overlying
portions 49, 49' and the underlying portion 59 of the vapor
resistant closures.
[0033] Now referring to FIG. 8, garment 90 includes an upper leg
portion 92 configured to receive the lower part of the torso and
the upper part of the legs of a wearer and leg portions 94 that are
detachably, sealingly connectable to boots or booties 96. The leg
portions 94 and each respective bootie 96 are connectable by vapor
resistant closures. The vapor resistant closures are similar to
those described above in FIGS. 1 and 3-6B and include like features
such as the first and second sides 53, 54 of a closure mechanism 42
that includes, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, a compressible body 52
positionable between the overlying portions 49, 49' and the
underlying portion 59 of the vapor resistant closures.
[0034] Depending on the application of the garments 20, 80, 90 and
108, the garments may include various layers through their
thicknesses to provide various heat, moisture, chemical, and
abrasion resistant qualities so that the garments can be used as a
protective, hazardous duty, and/or firefighter garment. The various
layers may include an outer shell 74, shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, an
optional thermal liner or barrier (not shown) adjacent to the outer
shell 74, and an inner shell 72 of a gas barrier/vapor
barrier/moisture barrier adjacent to the thermal barrier if
present, or adjacent to the outer shell 74 if the thermal barrier
is not present. The inner shell 72 is closer to the wearer of a
garment than the outer shell 74 when the garment is worn.
[0035] The garment may also include an optional inner liner or
inner face cloth (not shown) located inside of (closer to the
wearer when worn) and adjacent to the inner shell 72. The inner
face cloth, which may be the innermost layer, can provide a
comfortable surface for the wearer and protect the inner shell 72
and/or thermal liner from abrasion and wear. It should be
understood that any number of layers, liners, and the like may be
included and may be layered in various arrangements as desired, in
which the various layers described herein are included, omitted,
and/or rearranged.
[0036] The outer shell 74 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.RTM.
and KEVLAR.RTM. 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 Materials of Charlotte, N.C.). Thus, the outer shell 74
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 74 may be coated 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 74 may have a
weight of, for example, between about five and about ten
oz/yd.sup.2.
[0037] The thermal liner and/or inner shell 72 may be generally
coextensive with the outer shell 74, or spaced slightly inwardly
from the outer edges of the outer shell 74 (i.e., spaced slightly
inwardly from the upper ends of the waist and from the lower edge
of the garment) to provide moisture and thermal protection
throughout the garment. The optional thermal liner may be made of
nearly any suitable material that provides sufficient thermal
insulation. In one embodiment, the thermal liner may constitute or
include a relatively thick (i.e. between about 1/16''- 3/16'')
batting, felt or needled non-woven bulk or batting material. The
bulk material can also take the form of one or two (or more) layers
of E-89.RTM. spunlace material made of a combination of NOMEX.RTM.
and KEVLAR.RTM. material. 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 bulk material
may trap air and possess sufficient loft to provide thermal
resistance to the garment. In one embodiment, the thermal liner may
have a thermal protection performance ("TPP") of at least about
twenty, and in another embodiment, at least about thirty-five.
Moreover, in one embodiment, the garment as a whole has a TPP of at
least about twenty, and in another embodiment has a TPP of at least
about thirty-five.
[0038] The inner shell 72 may include a semi-permeable (selectively
permeable) or impermeable membrane material. The selectively
permeable membrane material may be generally water vapor permeable
but generally impermeable to liquid moisture. The membrane material
may be made of or include expanded polytetrafluoroethylene ("PTFE")
such as GORE-TEX.RTM. or CROSSTECH.RTM. 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 Material, GORE.RTM. CHEMPAK.RTM.
Selectively Permeable Material, or GORE.RTM. CHEMPAK.RTM. Sorptive
Material, or other materials.
[0039] The semi-permeable membrane material 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 semi-permeable membrane material may be made of a
microporous material that is either hydrophilic, hydrophobic, or
somewhere in between. The semi-permeable membrane material may also
be monolithic and may allow moisture vapor transmission
therethrough by molecular diffusion. The semi-permeable membrane
material 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.
[0040] The semi-permeable membrane material, optionally, may be
bonded, adhered or otherwise attached to a substrate 76 (FIG. 8).
The substrate 76 may be a flame and heat resistant material that
provides structure and protection to the semi-permeable membrane
material. The substrate 76 may be or include aramid fibers similar
to the aramid fibers of the outer shell 74, but may be thinner and
lighter in weight. The substrate 76 may be woven, non-woven,
spunlace or other materials. If desired, and in certain
embodiments, the inner shell 72 may lack a substrate 76, or may
include a substrate 76 on both sides of the semi-permeable membrane
material.
[0041] The garment as a whole may meet the National Fire Protection
Association ("N.F.P.A.") 1971 standards for protective firefighting
garments ("Protective Clothing for Structural Firefighting"), which
are entirely incorporated by reference herein. The NFPA standards
specify various minimum requirements for heat/flame resistance and
tear strength. For example, in order to meet the NFPA standards,
the garment 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 garment must provide a thermal protective
performance rating of at least thirty-five.
[0042] The inner shell 72 can also help to prevent or reduce the
introduction of harmful materials into the garment. Such harmful
materials may include liquids (including chemical warfare agents,
biological warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals), vapors
and aerosols (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), choline (gas), and
dimethyl sulfate (liquid).
[0043] Thus, in addition to the materials listed above, the inner
shell 72 may include various other materials which block harmful
materials, gases and/or vapors. For example, the inner shell 72 may
be made of or include PTFE (such as GORE-TEX.RTM. or CROSSTECH.RTM.
materials), polyurethane or polyurethane-based materials, neoprene
or neoprene-based materials, cross-linked polymers, polyamid, or
GORE.RTM. CHEMPAK.RTM. materials, sold by W.L. Gore &
Associates, Inc. including GORE.RTM. CHEMPAK.RTM. Ultra Barrier
Material, GORE.RTM. CHEMPAK.RTM. Selectively Permeable Material, or
GORE.RTM. CHEMPAK.RTM. Sorptive Material. Besides the materials
outlined above, the inner shell 72 can be made of nearly any
material that is generally impermeable to a particular harmful
material. In general, since gases typically are able to permeate
many materials, if the inner shell 72 is able to block gases, the
inner shell 72 may thus be able to block the other undesirable
materials, such as vapors or aerosols. The various other layers of
the garment, such as the outer shell 74, an optional thermal liner
or barrier, an optional inner liner or inner face cloth, or other
layers thereof, may be generally gas permeable, liquid permeable,
or able to be permeated by aerosols or other harmful materials,
such that the inner shell 72 is relied upon to provide protection
against such materials.
[0044] NFPA 1971 standards include a Chem/Bio 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 Man In Simulant Test
("MIST"). In one case, the MIST essentially consists of introducing
the garment into a chamber filled with a vaporized test material
(such as oil of wintergreen). Absorbent padding is 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. The inner shell 72, in combination
with various other protective features, may provide a
garment/ensemble which passes the MIST. The inner shell 72, even
more broadly, may meet the Chem/Bio Option of NFPA 1971 standards,
the NFPA 1994, Class 2 standards, the NFPA 1992 certification, and
combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the garment meets the NFPA
1994 Class 2 standards and the NFPA 1992 certification.
[0045] In one embodiment, the garment may lack a separable inner
shell 72 and may be only a single or multi-ply garment without
removable or separable layers. Moreover, the outer shell 74 and
inner shell 72 may include various layers thereof or may be made of
only a single layer (including, for example, the inner shell 72
comprising solely the semi-permeable membrane material). FIG. 2
illustrates the outer shell 74 and inner shell 72 as including
various layers or sub-layers as described above. However, it should
be understood that those layers may be a single layer or ply.
[0046] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2, the inner shell 72
is generally continuous in its entirety, and the outer liner 74 is
also generally continuous in its entirety (i.e., lacks any
releasable joints or the like) or is at least generally continuous
in the area or proximity of the joint where the closure mechanism
42 can couple portions of the garment together. In addition, the
outer liner 74, or various portions thereof, may lack any portions
that are releasably coupled together or releasably coupled together
in the manner described herein, for example, a flap that folds to
cover the closure mechanism. In this case, a generally continuous
outer shell 74 is provided which continuously extends over the
areas covering the wearer and helps to protect the wearer from
abrasions and reduce heat, moisture, and harmful material
infiltration.
[0047] Referring now to FIG. 9, a garment, generally designated
100, has a vapor resistant closure 102 extending along a portion
thereof. As illustrated, the vapor resistant closure 102 extends
across the shoulder blades or the chest of a jacket 104. The vapor
resistant closure 102 includes a closure mechanism 106 and a
compressible body 108.
[0048] The closure mechanism 106 includes a start end 110 fixedly
attached in at least one layer 114 of the garment 104 without a gap
that could allow gases or vapors into the garment 104. The closure
mechanism 106 also includes a stop end 112 fixedly attached in the
at least one layer 114 of the garment 104. The garment 104 includes
an extension piece 116 extending inward from the layer 114
containing the stop end 112 of the closure mechanism 106 with the
extension piece 116 positioned under the stop end 112. Accordingly,
the stop end 112 and adjacent portions 118 of the closure mechanism
overlap the extension piece 116. The extension piece 116 includes
the compressible body 108 with the compressible body 108 positioned
between the extension piece 116 and the adjacent portions 118 of
the closure mechanism 106. The compressible body 108 is positioned
such that, when the closure mechanism 106 is being closed, the
closing action compresses the compressible body 108 to form a seal
between the stop end 112 of the closure mechanism 106. The seal is
generally impermeable to fluids, gases, vapors, aerosols and
particulates.
[0049] In one embodiment, the closure mechanism 106 is a zipper as
described above, preferably, a watertight zipper. The compressible
body 108 may be any suitable compressible material that can be
compressed tightly between the adjacent portions 118 of the closure
mechanism 106 and is generally impermeable to gases, at least when
compressed. The compressible body 108 may include any of the
materials described above.
[0050] While FIG. 9 illustrates the vapor resistant closure 102 in
a jacket 104, it should be understood that the vapor resistant
closure 102 may be used in any garment and, in fact, in any
non-garment application where a vapor resistant closure is
desired.
[0051] 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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