U.S. patent number RE34,094 [Application Number 07/642,650] was granted by the patent office on 1992-10-13 for physiologically conformable suspenders for firefighters' bunker pants.
Invention is credited to Mary I. Grilliot, William Grilliot.
United States Patent |
RE34,094 |
Grilliot , et al. |
October 13, 1992 |
Physiologically conformable suspenders for firefighters' bunker
pants
Abstract
Adjustable fire fighters' suspenders that are physiologically
conformable when used with bunker pants. The suspenders are
designed for comfort, proper fit, and flexibility in movement that
corresponds with the movement of the wearer during normal fire
fighting activities. The suspenders include a back sliding loop and
elastic straps which have a predetermined limit of stretch at the
four ends of the shoulder straps which connect the suspenders to
the bunker pants. The suspenders provide an improved distribution
of weight and increased support of heavy bunker pants and reduce
the problem of "bunker bounce".
Inventors: |
Grilliot; Mary I. (West Milton,
OH), Grilliot; William (West Milton, OH) |
Family
ID: |
26970647 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/642,650 |
Filed: |
January 17, 1991 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
298414 |
Jan 18, 1989 |
04967421 |
Nov 6, 1990 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/327; 2/326;
2/329; 2/333; 2/334 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41F
3/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A41F
3/00 (20060101); A41F 015/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;2/311,312,313,314,315,316,317,320,321,322,323,325,326,327,328,329,330,331,332 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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660786 |
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Jul 1929 |
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FR |
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695663 |
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Dec 1930 |
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FR |
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Primary Examiner: Schroeder; Werner H.
Assistant Examiner: Chapman; Jeanette E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Porter, Wright, Morris &
Arthur
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Suspenders, comprising:
A. a first long strap of a non-elastic webbing material which is
threaded through an upper first loop of a first double loop
connector, then pulled back in the same direction and spread apart
to create two front strap segments of substantially equal length
forming a "V", said strap segments being fixedly attached to each
other at an intersection point of the "V" and including at end
sections of said strap segments means for adjusting the extending
length of each segment;
B. a second relatively shorter strap of non-elastic webbing
material which is threaded through a lower second loop of said
first double loop-connector and is freely movable and slidable
therethrough to form two short rear strap segments extending on
either side of the lower second loop in the shape of an inverted
"V", such that said inverted "V" strap is freely floating through
said first double loop connection, the end sections of said
inverted "V" respectively threaded through an upper first loop of a
second double loop connector and an upper first loop of a third
double loop connector;
C. four elastic straps formed from an elastic material that has a
predetermined limit of stretch, each one separately attached to the
end of the four non-elastic webbing strap segments forming the "V"
and the inverted "V" that are connected by said first double loop
connector, said elastic straps each being attached to the end of
one of said four non-elastic webbing strap segments through said
second double loop connector, said third double loop connector, a
fourth double loop connector, and a fifth double loop connector,
respectively, which divide the elastic straps into two segments
each end of which is connected to a button loop-fastener, whereby
strap segments extending through a second loop of said second and
third double loop connectors are freely movable and slidable
through the loop of said connector such that said straps are freely
floating therethrough; each of said elastic straps being threaded
through respective second loops of said second, third, fourth and
fifth double loop connectors; threaded through a button
loop-fastener and having end segments thereof folded upon
themselves to create a double thickness elastic strap portion at
the opposite ends of each elastic strap in which the button loop
fastener is fixedly maintained in the fold, whereby eight button
loop fasteners are attached at ends of said four elastic strap
segments and said button loop fasteners are in turn attachable to
button on pants.
2. The suspenders of claim 1 attached to firefighters bunker pants.
.Iadd.3. Suspenders, comprising:
A. a first long strap made of a non-elastic material which is
threaded through a first connector, to create two front strap
segments of substantially equal length forming a "V";
B. a second relatively shorter strap which is threaded through said
first connector and is freely moveable and slideable therethrough
to form two short rear strap segments extending on either side of
said first connector in the shape of an inverted "V", the end
sections of said inverted "V" respectively threaded through a
second connector and a third connector;
C. four elastic straps separately attached to the ends of the four
strap segments forming the "V" and the inverted "V", said four
elastic straps each being threaded through said second connector,
said third connector, a fourth connector and a fifth connector,
which divide the four elastic straps into two segments, forming
four more inverted "V" shapes, each end of said four elastic strap
segments equipped for connecting to pants..Iaddend.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to suspenders to be worn by firefighters
with bunker pants.
BACKGROUND OF THE ART
Firefighters' suspenders are a well known product. In the prior
art, suspenders traditionally have been made of a heavy duty
elastic material. Disadvantages of prior art firefighters'
suspenders include the following: the lack of the ability to be
adjustable to fit and to be comfortable for a variety of different
sized persons; the short life-expectancy of certain elastic
materials that are used; the lack of the ability to withstand the
rigorous activities encountered in fire fighting activities;
discomfort and lack of support to the wearer; the lack of the
ability to support heavily loaded or water-soaked pants without the
aid of a belt or waist adjustment strap; poor fit which causes the
suspenders to slide off of the wearer's shoulders; restricted
freedom of movement of the suspender-wearer; and "bunker bounce"
caused by the interaction of a weight load on the pants and the
elasticity of the suspenders.
Some suspenders of the prior art have been constructed of leather
but do not allow the flexibility provided by the movable back of
the suspenders of the invention. Also, upon repeated exposure to
water, leather may rot and deteriorate.
Suspenders, of course, are well known and various types of
suspenders systems are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. Re.
9,435; 339,968; 680,558; 726,045; 755,026; 782,119 and 1,926,751.
U.S. Pat. No. 339,968 shows strips of leather or rubber passing
over a hanger bar, but, inter alia. does not show an assembly of a
pivoting back mechanism in conjunction with suspenders used with
firefighters bunker pants. Nor does U.S. Pat. No. 339,968 otherwise
relate any purpose or mechanism in the suspender construction.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. Nos. 723,560 and 2,245,556 show straps passing
through hanger bars, but not in the context of a pants
suspender.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an adjustable and
better fitting, longer lasting, more durable pair of suspenders
which are designed for comfort, flexibility and freedom of movement
during normal fire fighting activities. It is also an object of
this invention to provide suspenders that securely support bunker
pants allowing the full natural range of body motion. Another
object of the invention is to allow the use of strong, wide,
materials to aid in the even distribution of the weight of the
pants to which the suspenders have been attached.
Thus, the suspender of the invention reacts interactively with
natural body motion to allow full maneuverability and a full range
of motion when used with bunker pants. A floating back allows the
use of strong, wide non-elastic webbing to distribute pants weight
and provide firm support. The suspenders of the invention will not
stretch out over time or dig into the shoulders.
In this regard, the response of an elastic suspender to weight or
body movement can be "fooled" by an increase in pants weight, i.e.
by saturation with water or extra pocket contents. Thus, elastic
suspenders will not accurately suspend or conform to physiological
movement of the wearer. In contrast, the suspenders of the
invention adapt to the body's natural extension during motion, and
allow complete motion. The suspenders are not "fooled" into
stretching at inappropriate times such as when pants saturate with
water or pocket contents are increased.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view of a firefighter torso wearing bunker pants
supported by the suspenders.
FIG. 2 is a rear view of the suspenders shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the suspenders.
FIG. 4 is a detail view of the back pivot of the suspenders.
FIG. 5 shows a cross section of the pants securing section of the
suspenders.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The suspenders of the invention are designed to be adjustable in
the front and rear to fit all body types. The shoulder straps of
the suspenders of the invention are constructed of a wide,
non-elastic, durable and preferably fire resistant, webbing with a
long life-expectancy. The webbing can be cotton, nylon or other
natural or synthetic fiber and will typically be 2.0 inch wide and
approximately 0.075 inch thick although dimensions are not
critical. The selection of a suitable web material should be
evident to those familiar with the design of heavy industrial
clothing and/or firefighter's equipment that may be the subject of
NFPA standards or other government regulation (NFPA, Publications
Office, Batterymarch Park, Quincy, Mass. 02269). The use of the
wide webbing material aids in the even distribution of weight of
the heavy firefighters' pants, which may become increasingly heavy
when water-soaked or when pant's pockets have been filled with
heavy contents. Forged button loop-fasteners affix the suspenders
to the bunker pants and double loop-connectors permit
adjustability.
The invention provides firefighters' suspenders for bunker pants
consisting of a first long strap of a non-elastic webbing material
which is threaded through the upper half of a first double loop
connector, then pulled back in the same direction and apart to
create two straps segments of equal length forming a "V". The strap
segments are fixedly attached to each other at the point of the "V"
and are adjustable in length at the end sections thereof by means
of the slipping and tightening of the webbing threaded through a
double loop adjustment means. The end sections of the "V" form the
front of the suspenders. A second relatively shorter strap of
non-elastic webbing material is threaded through the lower half of
the first double loop-connector and is freely movable and slidable
there through to form two short straps on either side of the loop
in the shape of an inverted "V" at the back of the suspenders.
Four elastic straps are each located at the four ends of the
non-elastic webbing straps forming the "V" and the inverted "V",
and are attached to the non-elastic webbing by double
loop-connectors. These strap sections are formed from an elastic
material that has a predetermined limit of stretch. Eight button
loop connectors are attached at ends of the four elastic straps and
are attachable to buttons on firefighters' bunker pants.
The shorter elastic straps are threaded through the double loop
connector at the ends of the "V"s, then threaded through the button
loop-fasteners. The strap may be pulled back to the double loop
connectors and sewn, to create a double thickness elastic strap
portion at the end of each of the front and back suspender straps,
whereby the button loop-fasteners attached to the ends of the four
elastic strap-ends are attachable to buttons on firefighters'
bunker pants.
The suspenders allow a full range of physiological body motion in
combination with firefighters' bunker pants. The back webbing is
slidable through the back loop and serves as a pivot, the limit of
stretch of the connecting elastic ends of the straps likewise
permits elastic movement, but is limited and suppresses
"bounce."
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, wide, heavy-duty elastic material
is used for the lower portion of the straps located at all four
ends of the suspenders 1, 2, 3 and 4 to allow for a limited degree
of flexibility and freedom of movement during all ranges of body
motion while providing continuous shape retention. The lower
elastic portions of the suspenders are wide straps of elastic
freely passing through one loop of double wire loop-connectors 5,
6, 7, and 8 to form attachment portions of strap for bunker pants.
The elastic loops are formed of a webbing 1.5 inch wide and
normally about 0.1 inch thick. Each side section is normally 5.5
inch long, relaxed, and 8.5 inch long fully extended. The length
limit is the limit of elasticity and the lower section will not
stretch beyond the 8.5 inch length. The strength characteristic of
the elastic portions should correspond to that of the shoulder
strap webbing as required in a particular application. Secured to
the second loop of the double loop connector is a shoulder strap 9
formed of a single length strap and having segments (for reference)
9A and 9B. The central portion of the strap is fixedly secured to
one loop of a double loop fastener 10 and a second strap segment 11
freely passes through the second loop of the fastener. The ends of
strap 11 are secured to loop fasteners 7 and 8 that are attached to
elastic bunker pants securing means 3 and 4.
At the end of each elastic portion of the strap 1, 2, 3 and 4 are
forged wire button loop-fasteners 1a, 1b, 2a, 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b
which are conventionally adjustable by carefully applying pressure
at the junction of the attachment nipple, with a pair of pliers.
The elastic portion of the straps is of double thickness, having
been looped through the button loop-fasteners, doubled and then
attached by means of sewing at the double loop-connectors.
Forged double-loop connectors, which are rust-resistant, are used
in the assembly of the suspenders of the invention on the front of
each should strap for durability and long life-expectancy. The
double loop-connectors 12 and 13 on sides 9A and 9B of the straps
allow the wearer to adjust the length of the suspenders by the
sliding up or down of the webbed material of the straps through the
loop-fastener to insure proper fit for the wearer. The sliding
adjustment mechanism is conventional to suspenders.
The two shoulder straps of the invention are constructed of one 2"
wide length of webbing which is looped through the upper half of a
forged double loop-connector which fits approximately in the center
of the suspender wearer's back. The one strap extends across one
shoulder, through the loop-connector, and up across the other
shoulder, and when pulled through the loop-connector forms a
V-shape. The strap is held securely in place by means of being sewn
with a durable, heavy-duty thread in a lock stitch.
Threaded through the lower half of the loop-connector is a shorter
piece of 2" wide webbing which is not secured by means of sewing,
but adjusts by means of a sliding action through the loop as shown
by the arrows in FIG. 4, which occurs during the body motion of the
suspender wearer. The sliding or pivoting action of the lower
portion of strap allows for full maneuverability of the wearer
during twisting, turning, bending and other body movements. The
straps of the suspenders move interactively with the body motion of
the wearer, because of the floating pivot point which is provided
by the unsecured, free-floating strap threaded through the double
loop-connector on the lower back of the suspenders forming an
inverted "V". A pivoting action of the "free-floating" strap
threaded through the loop-connector results.
FIG. 4 shows a detail of the back pivot of the suspender assembly.
Front strap 9 is secured by a lock stitch to first loop 10a of a
double loop fastener 10, fixing frame segments 9A and 9B of strap 9
in a securely attached manner to the loop fastener. Strap 11.Iadd.,
.Iaddend.however.Iadd., .Iaddend.is freely passable through the
second loop 10b of the fastener 10; and thus opposite side sections
of strap 11, 11A and 11B vary in respective length (or pivot)
according to body movement.
FIG. 5 shows a detail in cross section of the pants securing
section of the suspenders 1, 2, 3 and 4, each of which is
essentially identical. The bunker pants attachment loops 1a and
1.[.a.]..Iadd.b .Iaddend.are fully movable within loops of elastic
material 1c and 1d formed by strap 1. Thus, an elastic movement, as
well as pivot movement, is permitted.
Loops 12 and 13 are conventionally placed length adjustment loops
of the type commonly used in suspenders and permit the nominal
length of the suspenders to be adjusted in a conventional manner by
sliding one end of the strap upwards or downwards with respect to
the strap itself.
The invention provides firefighters or others engaged in rigorous
activities with durable, heavy duty suspenders which are comprised
of 2" wide webbing straps for even weight distribution, heavy-duty
elastic, double thickness lower straps for flexibility and freedom
of movement and a pivoting section where the shoulder straps are
connected with the lower back straps. The loop-connectors and
button loop-fasteners are made of a durable, forged rust-resistant
metal which provides a long life-expectancy for the suspenders. The
suspenders of the invention allow for the flexibility to perform
normal fire fighting or other rigorous movements comfortably and
more safely. The need for additional waist adjustment straps or
belts to aid in the support of heavy bunker pants is eliminated,
because of the durability of the suspenders and the flexibility of
movement allowed during a full range of body motions. The wearer is
more comfortable because of improved air circulation and
ventilation around the waist area during normal fire fighting or
other rigorous activities without the use of waist adjustment
straps or a belt. The user is able to wear looser fitting
protective trousers which increases the protective insulative dead
air space between the garment and the wearer's body. In addition,
the wearer's mobility is less restricted because of the flexibility
of movement which is created by the sliding action of the back
straps at the connecting point of the shoulder and bottom-back
straps of the suspenders. The durability of the wide webbing and
the use of limited segments of wide, double-thickness elastic
material at the ends of the suspenders eliminate discomfort and
inconvenience that may be encountered in traditional elastic
suspenders. By maintaining a proper fit, mobility in action and
comfort, is increased.
In its preferred embodiment, specifications for the suspenders
require that the suspenders should support heavily loaded or
water-soaked bunker pants without relying on adjustments or take-up
straps at the pant waist, while providing enough flexibility to
perform normal fire fighting movements comfortably. The specific
webbing and elastic materials should be evident to those familiar
with requirements for firefighting apparel that may be regulated by
various federal, state and local governments or agencies or
professional associations.
* * * * *