Abstract:
Safety clothing comprising a turnout coat and pants with a built in harness is disclosed. The harness may be attached to the exterior or interior of the coat and pants. The harness is adjustable to snuggly fit the wearer. The harness further attaches the coat to the pant. A wearer of the coat and pants may connect the harness at various locations to a safety line.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to protective clothing. More particularly, this invention relates to a turnout coat and pants having a permanently attached and versatile safety harness.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Firefighters typically wear protective clothing comprising a turnout coat and pants. Such clothing is made of stiff fire retardant material. Firefighters also typically use equipment such as a safety harness, which is typically worn separate from the protective clothing. Safety harnesses are used, for example, to allow a firefighter to repel and to lift an injured firefighter from a lower floor.  
           [0003]    The prior art has attempted to integrate a harness with protective clothing, especially for use by firefighters. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,973,643 to Hutchinson is drawn to a detachable harness for a fireman&#39;s coat. The harness is adapted to fit about the torso of the wearer and is releasably attached to the inside of the knee-length turnout coat. Hutchinson fails to disclose a safety harness attached to both the turnout coat and turnout pants. Moreover, the detachability of the harness does not provide the durability and strength of a harness permanently attached to the protective clothing. Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,970,517, Jordan discloses a harness secured within a coat having a front opening through which the support line is passed.  
           [0004]    In U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,335 to Vinai, a safety harness is attached to single piece coverall covering the entire body. Such a single piece garment is not feasible for use by firemen, as it cannot be quickly put on.  
           [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,590 to Larson discloses combined trousers and safety harness wherein the harness is attached inside the trousers but must be maintained in its readiness position for dressing. The harness is merely attached to the pants and would be difficult to dress in if the interior portion of the harness is not in its readiness position. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,169 to Colorado shows a harness strap assembly incorporated into the inner liner of the pants.  
           [0006]    In U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,548 to Grilliot et al., firefighter&#39;s pants are equipped with connectors to which a safety harness may be connected.  
           [0007]    The prior art fails to show a combined turnout coat and turnout pants having a single safety harness securely fastened to both. Such a combination is desirable because it increases the durability and security of the harness since it is attached to the two separate articles of clothing, i.e., the coat and pants. Moreover, the separate pieces may be quickly and easily worn by a firefighter in the emergent situations typical in the firefighting field, and a firefighter can always be totally prepared with a safety harness on his or her everyday turnout gear.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The invention comprises a combination turnout coat and turnout pants having a safety harness attached thereto. The safety harness is permanently attached to the coat and pants. The harness comprises connectors that attach the coat and the pants, and thus the components of the harness, to each other. In addition, there are connectors on the harness to connect the harness to a safety line and attachments for carrying equipment. The invention provides a harness that is stronger and sturdier than the harness of the prior art, and fosters versatility without impinging on the comfort of everyday turnout gear. Moreover, the present invention may be quickly and easily put on and fastened by a firefighter. The invention provides a firefighter with preparedness just by wearing the turnout gear without the need for additional equipment. Additionally, an injured or unconscious firefighter wearing the turnout gear of the present invention may be readily attached to a safety line for rescue, saving time in a life-threatening situation.  
           [0009]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, protective clothing comprising a turnout coat, turnout pants, and a safety harness attached to the coat and pants is provided. The safety harness includes an upper portion attached to the coat, a lower portion attached to the pants, and a connector for connecting safety lines or other rescue and safety equipment thereto. In addition, another person wearing a harness may be attached to the connector. The upper and lower portions of the harness are connectable. The harness may further include an attachment for attaching devices, and safety equipment such as flashlights, or repelling.  
           [0010]    The size of the safety harness may be adjusted via adjustable straps so that the harness properly fits the wearer. The upper portion of the harness includes first and second upper straps attached to the coat from the front shoulder area to the front waist area and from an upper back area to a lower back area. The lower portion of the harness includes first and second leg straps attached to a leg of said pants at a front and back upper thigh area. The leg straps may me adjustable. Additionally, the upper portion includes an upper back strap and a lower back strap.  
           [0011]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the connector may be D rings attached at various locations to the harness. According to one embodiment, a D ring is attached to said upper back strap and another D ring is attached to one of the adjustable straps. Thus, a safety line may be attached to the D ring attached to the adjustable strap or the D ring attached to the back strap.  
           [0012]    According to another aspect of the invention, the attachment for safety equipment may be a D ring attached to the side of the coat.  
           [0013]    According to yet another aspect, the protective clothing further includes a pocket for storing the safety line. The pocket may be partially releasably attached to the coat. According to one embodiment, the pocket includes one edge permanently attached to the coat and two edges releasably attached to the coat. The fourth edge may be releasably attached to the coat, or may be completely unattached to the coat.  
           [0014]    Moreover, in accordance with another aspect of the invention, the safety harness is permanently attached to said coat and said pants. In addition, at least a portion of the harness may be attached to the interior of the coat. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a front view of a turnout coat and pants with a built-in harness according to the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a back view of a turnout coat and pants with a built-in harness according to the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a side view of a turnout coat and pants with a built-in harness according to the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a locking clip assembly according to the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a small D ring according to the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is a front view of a large D ring according to the present invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 is a front view of the interior of the pocket according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 3 , a turnout coat  10  and pants  12  with a built-in safety harness  14  is shown. In the preferred embodiment, the length of the turnout coat  10  is such that is goes to approximately the waistline of the wearer (not shown). Of course, the present invention also contemplates the use of a longer turnout jacket, such as a knee-length jacket. For such a jacket, some of the components may be attached on the inside of the jacket. The harness  14  may be permanently attached to the coat  10  and the pants  12  by stitching, glue, or some other appropriate permanent manner. Of course, the present invention contemplates the harness being attached to either the exterior or interior of the coat and pants. In addition, the present invention further contemplates the harness  14  being attached to other types of coats or shirts and pants, besides turnout gear. Thus, the present invention may include a work coat or work shirt and work pants that are not turnout gear and thus, not fire retardant. In such a case, the harness may be comprised of any type of webbing, including for example nylon webbing. In a preferred embodiment, the harness may be covered with a reflective material such as 3M SCOTCHLITE available from 3M.  
         [0023]    In the preferred embodiment, the harness  14  comprises a pair of upper straps  16  connected to the front of the coat  10  from the shoulder area  18  to the waist area  20 . The upper straps  16  continue around to the back of the coat and are attached from the upper back area  22  to the lower back area  24 . An upper back strap  26  connects the pair of upper straps to each other across the upper back area  22 . A lower back strap  28  connects the pair of straps to each other across the lower back area  24 .  
         [0024]    The harness  14  further comprises a pair of leg straps  30  attached around the front and back of a thigh area  32  of each leg. The leg straps  30  may be adjustable via adjustment slides  31 . Of course, the present invention contemplates any suitable arrangement of the harness straps on the coat and pants.  
         [0025]    FIGS.  4 - 6  show the preferable detail of the various clip and ring assemblies used in connection with the harness  14 . FIG. 4 shows a locking clip assembly  36 . The locking clip assembly  36  has a strap  38 , an adjustment slide  40  and a locking clip  42 . The locking clip  42  includes a hook member  41 , a locking member  43 , and a link  44  for attaching the locking clip  42  to the strap  38 . The locking member  43  is pivotally attached to the hook member  41 . Locking member  43  cannot pivot past the edge of the hook member  41 .  
         [0026]    A first end  46  of the strap  40  is attached a cross bar  48  of the adjustment slide  40 . The strap  38  is woven through the adjustment slide  40  such that length of the strap  38  may be changed by sliding the adjustment slide  40  along the strap  38 . A second end  50  of the strap is typically connected to some part of the coat or pants, as will be discussed below.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5 shows a small D ring  52 . The small D ring  52  also has a strap  54 , which is coupled to the small D ring  52  by looping the strap  54  through a cross bar  55 . The small D ring  52  may be used in combination with the locking assembly  36  to fasten parts of the coat and pants, as will be discussed below.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 shows a large D ring  56 . A strap  58  is looped through a cross bar  59 . The strap  58  has an attachment band  60  for attaching the large D ring to a part of the harness  14 . The large D ring  56  is used for connecting the harness  14  to a safety line or equipment (not shown), as will be discussed below. Of course, the present invention contemplates any suitable connectors in lieu of all or a portion of the clip and ring assemblies discussed above.  
         [0029]    Referring back to FIGS.  1 - 3 , a locking clip assembly  36   a  and small D ring  52   a  are preferably attached to either of the upper straps  16  at the shoulder area  18 . As shown in the Figures, the locking assembly  36   a  is connected to one of the upper straps via the second end  50   a  of the strap  38   a . The small D ring  52   a  is attached to the other upper strap via its strap  54   a . The locking clip  42   a  couples with the small D ring  52   a  in order to attach the upper straps together across the chest area. The adjustment slide  40   a  may be moved to adjust the length of the strap dependent upon the wearer of the coat. Also disposed on the strap  38   a  of the locking assembly  36   a  is a large D ring  56   a . The large D ring  56   a  is used for connecting the harness  14  to a safety line, as will be discussed below.  
         [0030]    Another locking assembly  36   b  and small D ring  52   b  are attached to the waist area  20  of the upper straps  16 . The locking clip  42   b  couples with the small D ring  52   b . The adjustment slide  40   b  may be moved to adjust the size of the strap dependent upon the wearer of the coat. There are a pair of large D rings  56   b  attached to a point  62  where the lower back strap  28 , upper strap  16  and the locking assembly  36   b  or the strap  54   b  of the small D ring  52   b . The large D rings  56   b  may be used for securing devices such as tools and rescue equipment (not shown) to the harness  14  to a safety line.  
         [0031]    Preferably, a pair of locking assemblies  36   c  are also attached to the harness  14  at the point  62  via straps  38   c . A pair of small D rings  52   c  are attached to the leg straps  30  of the harness via straps  54   c . The locking clips  42   c  and the small D rings  52   c  are positioned so that they may be connected to couple the harness of the coat  10  to the harness of the pants  12  and therefore act as connectors connecting the coat  10  to the pant  12 . Upon coupling, the adjustment slides  40   c  may be moved to adjust the lengths of the straps  38   c  so that the harness snuggly fits the wearer based upon his or her height.  
         [0032]    A large D ring  56   c  is attached to the upper back strap  26 . The large D ring  56  may be coupled to a safety line.  
         [0033]    Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 7, the coat  10  further includes a pocket  62 . The pocket is attached to the coat  10  around the area of strap  54   a  and is preferably made of the same material as the coat  10 . The pocket  62  comprises one permanently attached bottom edge  64  which is permanently secured to the coat  10 . Side edges  66  and  68  are releasably attached to the coat  10 , for example via Velcro or some other easily releasable method. Top edge  70  may be either releasably attached to the coat  20  similar to side edges  66  and  68  or top edge  70  may be free from attachment with the coat  10 . Thus, an interior  72  of the pocket  62  may be quickly accessed by detaching edges  66 ,  68  and  70  from the coat and allowing the exterior flap  74  to pivot about bottom edge  64 .  
         [0034]    Preferably, a safety line or tether line  76  is stored in the pocket  62 . The tether line includes locking clips  42   e  and  42   f  attached at either end of the line. Locking clip  42   e  includes hook member  41   e  and locking member  43   e  and locking clip  42   f  includes hook member  41   f  and locking member  43   f . Large D ring  56   a  is attached to the strap  54   a . Thus, the safety line  76  is securable to the harness  14  at large D ring  56   a  via locking clip  42   e . In order to secure the safety line to the large D ring  56   a , the locking clip is simply pressed against the D ring at the locking member  43   e . This causes the locking member to pivot inwardly so that the D ring gains access to the interior of the hook member  41   e . Once in this interior region of the hook member  41   e , the locking member pivots to its normally locked position against the interior of the hook member  41   e  as shown in FIG. 7. While being stored in the pocket  63 , it is preferable that safety line is always secured to large D ring  56   e . Free locking clip  42   f , thus, may be secured when necessary for repelling, or other rescue work. Safety line  76  further includes an adjustment slide  78  to adjust the length of the line.  
         [0035]    To utilize the turnout gear of the present invention, a wearer of the turnout coat and pants would couple each of the locking assemblies and small D rings  36   a  and  52   a ,  36   b  and  52   b , and  36   c  and  52   c . The coupling is accomplished with the locking clips  42   a ,  42   b , and  42   c . The small D rings  36  are pressed against the corresponding locking clips  42  at the locking members  43 . This causes the locking members  43  to pivot inwardly to provide the small D rings  52  access to the interior of the hook members  41  of the locking clips. Then, the locking members  43  pivot back to their normal locked position against the interior of the hook member. The wearer could then move each adjustment slide  42   a ,  42   b , and  42   c  for a snug fit of the harness, coat and pants. These steps to fit the harness are typically performed when the wearer initially dresses in the turnout coat and pants.  
         [0036]    Then, during the course of rescue work in the field, when necessary, the safety line  76  may be accessed by the wearer by detaching pocket  62 . Preferably the safety line  76  is already secured at one end to the harness at large D ring  56   a  via locking clip  42   e . If not, the safety line may be quickly secured to large D ring  56   a  via locking clip  42   e . The free end of the safety line may then be secured to an outside position for repelling or any other rescue or safety purpose. In addition, the safety line  76  of another person may be connected to the harness via each of the large D ring  56   b . The large D rings  56   a  and  56   b  may be utilized simultaneously for safety lines or one may be used for a safety line while the others may be used to secure another person to the harness. The availability of the large D rings  56   a  and  56   b  increases the versatility of the harness  14 . Moreover, devices such as tools and rescue equipment may be attached to any of the large D rings  56   a ,  56   b , and  56   c  so that they are easily accessible to the wearer. If the wearer of the invention is not conscious, they large D-ring  56   c  may be used to attach the wearer to a safety line since it is easily accessible, allowing the unconscious person to be easily lifted or lowered to safety.  
         [0037]    Of course the present invention contemplates that more or less large D rings may be connected to the harness for additional safety lines, attachment of equipment, or for other rescue purposes.  
         [0038]    Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.