Protective garments incorporating bands of elastomeric material

Abstract: A disposable protective garment (1) has bands (8) of elastomeric material at the wrists and/or ankles and/or around the hood (5). Each band is joined to the garment by a welded or adhesively-bonded seam and extends from the garment to encircle closely the adjacent part of the body of the wearer. Each band is joined in a stretched condition to the garment and is then allowed to relax, thereby forming gathers (9) in the garment.

Description: The present invention relates to protective garments and, more especially (but not exclusively), to protective garments which are intended to be discarded when they become contaminated. The use of protective garments in particular working environments is well established. The garments are intended to protect the wearer from various hazards (for example fine particles, solvents, aggressive liquids) and/or to protect the workplace from contamination by the people working in it. Disposable protective garments generally have a short life time, depending on the environment in which they are used, following which they are discarded. They offer the advantage of enabling the expensive laundering of contaminated garments to be eliminated, and of facilitating the careful handling of contaminated garments when that is necessary. Disposable protective garments are described, for example, in US-A-4 272 851; 4 683 593; and 5 509 142. The degree of protection that is offered by a disposable protective garment is determined, to a large extent, by the barrier material(s) from which the garment is formed. However, even when appropriate barrier materials are used, it is possible for hazardous dusts and vapours to leak into a garment at locations such as seams; wrist and ankle openings; and zip closures. For that reason, it is important to keep the number of potential leakage points to a minimum and to then reduce, as much as possible, any leakage that can occur at those points. It is also important that the cost of a disposable protective garment be kept as low as possible, consistent with the degree of protection required, to encourage the wearer not to continue using the garment after it has become contaminated. Methods of constructing the seams of protective garments to reduces leakages are described, for example, in US-A-4 190 010; 4 593 418; and 4 683 593. In the case of openings such as those at the wrists and ankles, it is known to gather the garment using a sewn-in elastomeric material so that the garment fits more closely to the wearer's limbs at those locations: nevertheless, leakage remains a problem and it is not uncommon for a wearer to resort to applying tape at these points to seal the garment to gloves or boots. In the case of a zip closure, it is known to provide a cover flap which is second to the garment on one side of the closure and, when the garment is in use, is located over the zip and secured along the other side by an adhesive tape. FR-A-2 532 337 describes a protective garment, for example a diaper, having a band of an elastic material joined to the garment at an opening to encircle closely an extremity of the wearer when the garment is being worn. The elastic material is joined to the garment by heat-welded zones that are spaced apart along the length of the elastic material and extend transversely across it. The elastic material is applied to the garment in a stretched condition and then allowed to relax, thereby forming gathers in the garment around the opening. US-A-4 114 200 describes a liquid impervious cuff assembly for the sleeve of a protective garment such as a surgical gown. The cuff assembly comprises an envelope (formed from a material such as knit stockinette) that contains a layer of liquid impervious material. The various layers of the cuff assembly are attached to the sleeve by an adhesive. The present invention is concerned with enabling leakage of dust and vapours into a protective garment to be further reduced, thereby increasing the level of protection offered to the wearer, while having regard to the comfort of the wearer and avoiding any substantial increase in the cost of the garment. The present invention provides a protective garment as claimed in the accompanying claim 1. The band of elastomeric material may be located at the end of a sleeve, or at the end of a trouser leg, or around a hood. By way of example only, a protective garment in accordance with the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic front view of a protective suit in accordance with the invention; Figs. 2 illustrates the method of forming a part of the suit shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating one possible construction of that part of the suit; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of that part of the suit prior to completion; Figs. 5 and 6 are similar to Fig.3 but illustrate alternative constructions for that part of the suit; and Figs. 7 and 8 are similar, respectively to Figs. 5 and 4 but illustrate yet another alternative construction for that part of the suit. Fig. 1 illustrates, diagrammatically, a one-piece protective suit 1 having an upper body portion 2 with sleeves 3, a trouser portion 4, and a hood 5. The suit has a front access opening, indicated diagrammatically by the central line 6. The suit may be formed from any suitable barrier material(s), selected having regard to the substances from which protection is required. The suit may, for example, be formed from one of the closed plastic films (generally polyolefin films) conventionally employed for protective disposable clothing, and laminates thereof. Examples of such materials are those available, under the trade designations "Tyvek C" and "Tyvek F", from E. I. DuPont de Nemours and Co. of Wilmington, DE, USA. Alternatively, the suit may be formed from one of the microporous plastic films and non-woven laminates conventionally employed for protective disposable clothing. Examples of suitable microporous plastic films are those available, under the trade designation "Tyvek Protech", from E. I. DuPont de Nemours and, under the trade designation; "Micropore" from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company of St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. Suitable non-woven laminates are typically tri-laminates comprising two outer layers of spunbond material and an inner layer of melt blown material (so-called SMS materials). Examples of suitable non-woven laminates are those available, under the trade designation "Securon", from BBA Fiberweb of Simpsonville, SC, USA and, under the trade designation "MD3005", from BBA Corovin of Peine, Germany. As a further alternative, the suit may be formed from a combination of two or more of any of those materials as described in our co-pending European patent 0890319. At the wrist, ankle and face openings in the suit 1 (i.e. the openings at the ends of the sleeves 3 and the trouser legs 7 and in the hood 5), the suit material is gathered into bands 8 of an elastomeric material. Each of the bands 8 extends from the suit as described in greater detail below and, when the suit is being worn, will closely encircle the adjacent part of the body of the wearer (i e. the wrist, ankle or face, as the case may be) and form a seal either against the skin of the wearer or against some intervening item of clothing, for example a boot or a glove. The gathers in the suit material are indicated by the reference numerals 9. Each of the bands 8 is formed from a length of elastomeric meterial attached to the suit 1 by a welded or adhesively-bonded seam (not visible in Fig. 1) in a manner described in greater detail below. The bands must, therefore, be formed from an elastomeric material which is capable of being welded or adhesively-bonded (as the case may be) to the suit material. To allow for the formation of a band 8 which will fit closely to the wearer's body but permit the easy passage of, say, a gloved hand or a boot, the elastomeric material should be capable of being stretched elastically by at least 150%. It is also highly desirable that the bands should feel comfortable to the wearer, so they should be formed from a material which has a soft feel and does not exert too much pressure on the wearer's skin. Preferred materials for the bands 8 are film-like elastomeric materials (typically having a thickness in the range of from 0.1 to 1 mm, more typically 0.2 to 0.4 mm) having a micro-structured surface at least on that side that faces the body of the wearer. For an explanation of the term "micro-structured" reference may be made to WO-A-91/07277 according to which "microstructure" means that the surface contains peak and valley irregularities or folds which are large enough to be perceived by the unaided human eye as causing increased opacity over the opacity of the laminate before microstructuring, and which irregularities are small enough to be perceived as smooth or soft to human skin. It is further noted in WO-A-91/07277 that magnification of the irregularities is required to see the details of the microstructured texture. Some suitable elastomeric materials for the bands 8 are laminate materials as described in WO-A-91/07277, comprising at least one elastomeric layer and at least one micro-structured layer. Elastomeric materials of that type offer the advantageous possibility of being formed into bands which exhibit a substantially flat stress/strain curve over the extension range encountered during normal use of the suit 1, so that the bands will offer the same degree of comfort for most wearers, regardless of size. Preferably, the elastomeric material used for the bands 8 is a three-layer laminate comprising two outer micro-structured layers sandwiching a core elastomeric layer. When the suit 1 material comprises a polyolefin material, the micro-structured layers are preferably also formed from a similar polyolefin material (typically polypropylene). Some other suitable elastomeric materials for the bands 8 are available under the trade designation "Kraton" from Shell Chemical Company of Beaupre, OH, USA. The bands 8 are formed by attaching the elastomeric material in a stretched condition to the suit material and then allowing it to relax, thereby forming gathers in the suit material. Fig. 2 shows a length of the stretched elastomeric material 10 being attached to a patch of the suit material 11 which is unstretched and, at this stage, flat and ungathered. In the case in which the elastomeric material is to be welded to the suit material 11, the suit material 11 and the stretched elastomeric material 10 are fed, either by hand or mechanically, to the nip (not shown) of an ultrasonic rotary welder or, alternatively, are located under a static plunge welder (both forms of welder being well known). The welder forms a continuous seam 12 between the two materials, following which the elastomeric material 10 is allowed to relax and form gathers in the suit material 11 adjacent the seam. Because of the presence of the seam 12, the degree of relaxation in the elastomeric material is not uniform across the width of the material 10 but increases in the direction away from the seam 12 and, as a result, the material 10 is pulled into a circle. The ends of the length of material 10 are then joined to form a band 8. In the alternative case in which the elastomeric material 10 is to be adhesively-bonded to the suit material 11, a line of adhesive is applied to the suit material at the desired seam line, and the stretched elastomeric material is fed onto that either by hand or mechanically. The adhesive also forms a continuous seam 12 between the two materials, following which the elastomeric material 10 is allowed to relax and form gathers in the suit material 11. The adhesive selected to join the materials 10, 11 will depend on the nature of those materials and may, for example, be a hot melt adhesive applied at an appropriate temperature either by hand or from a coating head. In the case in which the adjacent surfaces of the materials comprise a similar polyolefin material, typically polypropylene, the adhesive employed may be an amorphous polyolefin-based hot melt adhesive or an EVA-based hot-melt adhesive. Suitable adhesives are available under the trade designations "Jet Melt 3762 LM", "Jet Melt 3792LM", "Jet Melt 3748" and "Spray Bond 6111", from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company of St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.A. The final form of the band 8 can be varied by changing the location of the seam 12 across the width of the length of material 10. Fig. 2, for example, shows the seam 12 being formed along the longitudinal centre line of the length of material 10, as illustrated more clearly in Fig. 3. In that case, the length of elastomeric material 10 will tend to fold up about the seam 12 and, when it is allowed to relax after welding, the two longitudinal edges 13 of the material will come together so that the resulting band 8 will comprise two thicknesses of the elastomeric material. Fig. 4 shows such a band 8 extending from the suit material 11, but before the ends 14 of the band have been joined together. When the garment is in use, the outer edge portion (at least) of the double thickness band 8 will fit closely around, and seal against, the adjacent part of the body of the wearer. Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 3 but shows the seam 12 being formed close to one ofthe longitudinal edges 13 of the length of material 10. In that case, the material 10 will again tend to fold up about the seam 12 and form into a circle when it is allowed to relax but the resulting band will comprise only one thickness of material and, for a given width of material 10, will be wider than the band 8 of Fig. 4. When the garment is in use the outer edge portion (at least) of the single thickness band will fit closely around, and seal against, the adjacent part of the body of the wearer. Fig. 6 is also similar to Fig. 3 but shows two seams 12, each located along a respective one of the longitudinal edges of the material 10. In that case, the material 10, when allowed to relax, will tend to pull up between the seams 12 to form a curve 15 across the width of the material as well as forming into a circle along its length. When the garment is in use, the band of material 10 is located on the inside of the garment and, because of the curved shape between the seams 12, stands up from the garment to fit closely around, and seal against, the adjacent part of the body of the wearer. Fig. 7 is similar to Fig. 5 but shows the seam 12 being formed closer to the other longitudinal edge 13 of the length of material 10. In this case, when the material 10 is allowed to relax, the gathered free end 16 of the suit material 11 remains visible on the outside of the suit as shown in Fig. 8. The width of the material 10 is preferably such that the resulting band 8 has a width of at least 8 mm. It will be understood that, although Fig. 1 shows a protective suit having bands 8 of the type described above at the wrists, ankles and also around the hood, it is possible for the bands to be provided in just one or two of those locations. Bands of that same type could also be used on a protective jacket (with or without a hood) and on protective trousers. It will be appreciated the bands are not restricted to use on disposable garments. The bands 8 formed as described above will seal against the skin of the wearer, or against an intervening item of clothing and inhibit the leakage of dust and vapours into the protective garment at those locations. The absence of any stitch holes in the seam between the bands and the garment is also of assistance in reducing leakages of dust and vapours into the garment. The bands are comparatively simple to attach and do not increase the complexity and manufacturing costs of the garment but nevertheless offer increased comfort over conventional elasticated cuffs.

Claims: A protective garment (1) having around at least one opening therein, a band (8) of an elastomeric material(10) that extends from the garment to encircle closely the adjacent part of the body of the wearer; the band (8) being joined in a stretched condition to the protective garment (1) at the opening by at least one welded or adhesively bonded continuous seam (12) and then allowed to relax thereby forming gathers (9) in the protective garment (1) around the opening; characterized in that said band (8) is capable of forming a seal against the body of the wearer when the protective garment (1) is being worn and in that the elastomeric material (10) has a micro-structured surface at least in that part of the band (8) that faces the body of the wearer. A protective garment (1) as claimed in claim 1, in which the band (8) is a least 8 mm wide. A protective garment (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the elastomeric material (10) can be stretched elastically by at least 150%. A protective garment (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the elastomeric material (10) has a flat stress/strain curve over the extension range encountered by the band (8) during normal use of the protective garment (1). A protective garment (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the elastomeric material (10) is a film material having a thickness in the range of from 0.1 to 1 mm. A protective garment (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the elastomeric material (10) is a laminate comprising at least one elastomeric layer and at least one micro-structured skin layer. A protective garment (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the band (8) comprises a length of elastomeric material (10) joined to the protective garment (1) by: a continuous seam (12) extending along the longitudinal centre line of the material (10); or a continuous seam (12) located towards one side thereof; or two continuous seams (12) each located towards a respective side thereof such that the material (10,15) between the seams (12) curves upwardly away from the protective garment (1). A protective garment (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the part of the protective garment (1) to which the band (8) is joined is formed from a fluid-impermeable barrier material or a breathable barrier material. A protective garment (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the band (8) and the part of the protective garment (1) to which it is joined both comprise a polyolefin material. A protective garment (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the continuous seam (12) is an adhesively-bonded seam, formed using a hot melt adhesive. A protective garment (1) as claimed in claim 10, in which the adhesive is an amorphous polyolefin-based adhesive or an EVA-based adhesive. A protective garment (1) as claimed in claim 1, in which the band comprises a length of elastomeric material (10) having two ends (14); the length of elastomeric material (10) being lengthwise joined to the protective garment, and being joined at its ends (14).

Inventors: GLOAG NICHOLAS J, HENDERSON CHRISTOPHER P, WILLIAMS ELFED I, GLOAG, NICHOLAS J., HENDERSON, CHRISTOPHER P., WILLIAMS, ELFED I.
Applicants: MINNESOTA MINING & MFG, MINNESOTA MINING AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A41D13
IPC codes: A62B17