Abstract:
A hazard protection suit has a pants section which extends to waist level. A torso section extends upwardly to an upper margin below the wearer&#39;s arm pits, and a stowage flap extends outwardly therefrom, to hang down over the torso section and to enclose, by a resilient cord, the upper section of the suit including the sleeves, a hood, and a face mask. The upper body section is retained in a folded compact condition against the wearer&#39;s torso in ordinary wear. When needed, the retention member is released and the wearer&#39;s hands are extended through looped sleeve cuffs, and zippers are operated to secure the upper body section around the wearer, making a sealed interior space. The wearer&#39;s utility belt and gear pouches may remain in place as they are undisturbed by the donning of the upper body section. The face mask is secured along a face encircling zipper.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/324,889, filed Sep. 26, 2001, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     
       STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not applicable.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The present invention relates to protective clothing in general, and more particularly to a full body suit for protection against chemical and biological warfare agents.  
           [0004]    Although the use of chemical and biological agents in the conduct of warfare is prohibited under many international treaties, the striking effectiveness of poison gases and viral or bacteriological infectious agents such as anthrax can make the use of such materials appealing to military forces or to nongovernmental terrorist organizations. These agents work against individual soldiers by inhalation and skin contact. Protection against chemical and biological agents therefore requires the complete shielding of the soldier&#39;s body as well as filtering of the air which the soldier breathes.  
           [0005]    This complete shielding is achieved by a full body protective garment which extends over the soldier&#39;s legs, torso, chest and arms. Together with a hood, gloves, and boots, with airtight seals therebetween, an isolated enclosed environment is created for the soldier. Although the full body suit prevents the entry of pathogens, it does this at the cost of reduced air circulation, the attendant heat retention, and some reduction in mobility. Although advances in textiles and engineered materials have improved the comfort levels of this type of suit, the very nature of the total enclosure makes it cumbersome and limiting on optimal performance.  
           [0006]    With current technology soldiers deployed in regions where chemical or biological warfare is a possibility have two options: carry out all activities outfitted in the full body suit or carry out activities without chemical biological protection while maintaining the protective garment in the vicinity for rapid donning. The first option comes at a price of significantly reduced performance, while the second option runs the risk that the chemical or biological attack will strike too suddenly for the soldier to reach the safety of the full body suit.  
           [0007]    What is needed is a chemical or biological hazard protection suit which can be worn in a fashion which only marginally impacts performance and which can rapidly be converted to full chemical/biological protection.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The chemical or biological hazard protection suit of this invention strikes a balance between soldier performance and readiness by being capable of being worn in a partially stowed condition which leaves the soldier&#39;s upper body uncovered. The hazard protection suit has a pants section with two pants legs which extend to waist level and a torso section which extends from waist level to a position below the wearer&#39;s arm pits. A stowage flap extends outwardly from the upper margin on the torso section. The stowage flap has a lower outer margin, and hangs down on the outside of the torso section. The stowage flap outer margin has a retention member which encircles the wearer at a position above the waist and which holds the stowage flap engaged with the torso section. An upper body section of the suit is stowed within the stowage flap, retained in a folded compact condition against the wearer&#39;s torso above the waist and below the arm pits. The upper body section is comprised of sleeves joined by front and rear sections, a hood, and a face mask. When stowed behind the stowage flap the upper body section provides minimal interference with the activities of the wearer. At the onset of hostilities or on notice of a chemical/biological threat, the retention member, which may be an elastic cord or a draw cord, is released and the upper body section is deployed from behind the stowage flap. The wearer places his hands through cuffs at the ends of sleeves and then operates zippers running the lengths of the sleeves to the hood and face mask to a rapidly achieve full enclosure. The cuffs may have connected gloves associated therewith, or gloves may be attached later. The wearer&#39;s utility belt and gear pouches may remain in place as they are undisturbed by the donning of the upper body section.  
           [0009]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a hazard protection suit which may be worn in a partially deployed condition.  
           [0010]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a hazard protection suit which may be rapidly donned from a partially deployed condition.  
           [0011]    It is also an object of the present invention to provide a hazard protection suit having an integral respirator mask.  
           [0012]    Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a front view of the chemical/biological hazard protection suit of this invention worn by a soldier in its partially stowed condition.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a front view of the hazard protection suit of FIG. 1 with the upper body section of the suit deployed from its stowed position prior to being donned by the soldier.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a front view of the hazard protection suit of FIG. 1 with the upper body section partially donned, showing the operation of a zipper by the soldier.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a front view of the hazard protection suit of FIG. 1 showing both sleeves of the upper body section donned by the soldier.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a front view of the hazard protection suit of FIG. 1 with the hood and respirator mask being sealed about the soldier&#39;s head.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a side view of the hazard protection suit of FIG. 1 with the respirator mask prior to being sealed to the hood, with the visor deployed.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a side view of the hazard protection suit of FIG. 1, with the respirator mask and sealed to the hood and the visor folded out of use.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view of an alternative embodiment hazard protection suit of this invention having multiple zippers which meet at a releasable seal.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 9 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the suit of FIG. 8.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 10 is a fragmentary front elevational view of an alternative embodiment hazard protection suit of this invention having an alternative zipper arrangement.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 11 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the hazard protection suit of FIG. 10.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 12 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a multiple zipper seal for a chemical biological hazard protection suit.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the multiple zipper seal of FIG. 12, taken along section line  13 - 13 .  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 14 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the multiple zipper seal of FIG. 12 with the sealed and an open configuration. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]    Referring more particularly to FIGS.  1 - 14 , wherein like numbers refer to similar parts, a chemical/biological hazard protection suit  20  is shown in FIG. 1. The suit  20  may be fabricated of conventional chemical/biological hazard suit material such as selectively permeable membrane material, and may incorporate conventional features of such suits which promote exchange of water vapor, and cooling air circulation. The suit  20  is configured to permit it to be worn in a partially stowed condition as shown in FIG. 1 and rapidly fully donned as shown in FIGS.  2 - 5  when the need arises.  
         [0028]    As shown in FIG. 1, the suit  20  has a lower body section  22  comprised of two pants legs  24  forming part of the pants section  26  which extends to waist level  28 . The suit  20  will be worn in conjunction with boots  30  which are sealed to the pants legs  24  in a conventional fashion. The suit  20  has an exterior belt  32  which supports it in the partially deployed condition. Various gear pouches  34 , sidearms or other waist mounted accessories may be mounted to the belt  32 , or to another utility belt as needed by a particular soldier. The suit  20  will be worn with an undergarment  36  such as a T-shirt or tank top.  
         [0029]    A tubular torso section  40  extends upwardly from the lower body section  22  and terminates in an upper margin  48  which encircles the torso  42  of the wearer  44 . A flexible stowage flap  46  extends from the torso section upper margin  48  and encircles the wearer  44 . The stowage flap  46  hangs downwardly from the upper margin  48  a distance of approximately 6 to 9 inches. The stowage flap  46  terminates in an outer margin  50  which is provided with at least one retention member  52  which serves to retain the outer margin of the stowage flap engaged against the torso section around the wearer&#39;s torso  42  above the waist  28 . The stowage flap  46  is of flexible material and bulges outwardly from the torso section  40 . The stowage flap  46  may be fabricated of the same material as the suit itself, or, because the stowage flap is not required to form a barrier against biological or chemical hazards, may be formed of a more stretchy, resilient material such as duPont Lycra® stretch fiber fabrics such as spandex. When the suit  20  is fully deployed, the stowage flap will be worn against the wearer&#39;s chest.  
         [0030]    An upper body section  54  of the suit  20  is retained between the stowage flap  46  and the torso section  40  when the suit is worn in its partially stowed condition as shown in FIG. 1. As best shown in FIG. 2, the upper body section  54  has a left sleeve  56  and a right sleeve  58  which are connected by a rear section  60  and a front section  62 . The upper body section  54  extends from the torso section upper margin  48 , and, being fabricated of the thin sheet material, is readily folded and compressed into the narrow storage compartment  64  defined between the stowage flap  46  and the torso section  40  of the suit  20 .  
         [0031]    Each sleeve  56 ,  58 , has a tubular cuff  66  which is a closed loop of material from which the sleeve extends as an expanded flap of material which joins the rear section  60  and front section  62 . A sleeve zipper  68  extends from the cuff  66 , preferably at the front or top of each sleeve and runs along the length of the sleeve towards the center of the suit. The front section  62  is preferably provided with a respirator mask  70  as shown in FIGS.  5 - 7 . The rear section  60  is provided with a hood  72 . The zippers are conventional sealing zippers which form an air-tight seal, for example by having a rearward gasket strip.  
         [0032]    The entire upper body section  54  is retained in the storage compartment  64 , and the retention member  52  serves to hold the stowage flap  46  over the folded upper body section  54 . The retention member  52  may be a single elastic cord which encircles the torso  42  of the wearer within a hem  74 . To further secure the stowage flap  46 , as well as to relieve tension under the arms of the wearer, two front fasteners  76  extend between the stowage flap  46  and the front of the torso section  40 . The front fasteners  76  may be strips of hook and loop fastener, and are positioned spaced from one another immediately forward of the arms.  
         [0033]    As shown in make FIG. 1, when a soldier is deployed in circumstances presenting the possibility of encountering chemical or biological warfare agents, the suit  20  may be donned in a safe location prior to the detection of an actual hazard. The soldier can then go about his ordinary activities. Although the soldier must contend with the additional weight of the suit  20 , because his arms, head, and upper body are not enclosed within the suit, normal respiration and cooling can take place. Once an imminent hazard has been detected, the wearer  44  must immediately seek protection. The suit  20  allows the wearer  44  to fully isolate himself from airborne hazards in an extremely short period of time. The donning of the suit  20  is illustrated in FIGS.  2 - 5 .  
         [0034]    First the wearer grips the stowage flap  46  at the outer margin  50  thereof and pulls upwardly to separate the fasteners  76  and bring the outer margin of the stowage flap upwardly above the folded upper body section  54 . Once released from the restraint of the stowage flap  46 , the upper body section  54  deploys downwardly as shown in FIG. 2. The wearer  44  then inserts his hands through the cuffs  66 , as shown in FIG. 3. Using the opposite hand, the zipper  68  is pulled from the cuff to the center of the suit as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The hood  72  is then brought over the back of the head as shown in FIG. 5, and the respirator mask  70  is secured to the hood  72  as shown in FIG. 7. It will be noted, that, when fully donned, the stowage flap  46  will be on the interior of the suit  20 , with the outer margin  50  extending upwardly from the upper margin  48  of the torso section. The elastic retention member then helps to keep the stowage flap  46  adjacent the wearer, and thereby avoids uncomfortable contact with a free flap inside the garment.  
         [0035]    The operation of the hood  72  and the respirator mask  70  is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The hood has an upper head strap  78  which is fixed to one side of the hood adjacent a hood opening  80  along which a sealing zipper extends. The zipper  82  may be an extension of the sleeve zippers  68  or may be an independent zipper. The upper head strap  78  is preferably formed of elastic material and extends around the hood to the opposite side of the hood opening  80  where it is secured adjacent the hood opening along the periphery  84  of the hood. One of the ends of the upper head strap  78  may extend through a buckle, not shown, to allow size adjustment of the hood, with or without the attached respirator mask  70 . A lower head strap  86 , similar to the upper head strap  78 , is positioned lower down on the hood  72 . When the zipper  82  is sealed, the mask  70  is firmly pulled against the face, sealing the nose and mouth into a respirator  88  which is formed as part of the respirator mask  70 . At the same time, the wearer&#39;s eyes are brought into engagement with close fitting goggles  90 .  
         [0036]    A flexible visor  92 , such as those commonly available on consumer technical jackets and shells, is secured along an upper seam to the top of the hood  72 . As shown in FIG. 6, the visor  92  may be deployed to shield the eyes of the wearer, or, alternatively, it may be folded back over the hood when not needed or to allow a helmet or other accessory to be worn over the hood. The hood  72  is provided with a large amount of baffling  94  around the neck of the wearer to allow the wearer&#39;s head to freely turn without restriction. The baffling  94  is simply loose material which forms flaps or folds which allow the turning of the head without restriction.  
         [0037]    The suit  20  thus forms a protective enclosed environment which prohibits the intrusion of pathogens such as anthrax and hazardous chemicals such as mustard gas or nerve gas.  
         [0038]    It should be noted that, although two zippers  68  extending along the sleeves have been discussed and illustrated above, other sealing arrangements may be employed. For example, a single zipper may extend along the front of each sleeve to meet a central vertically extending zipper on the front section of the upper body section. The three zippers may then come together at a common point.  
         [0039]    Alternative zipper placement arrangements are illustrated in FIGS.  8 - 11 . The hazard protection suit  100 , as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, has a first zipper  102  which seals the front of the pants  104 ; a second zipper  106  which connects the pants  104  to the torso section  108  of the suit; a fourth zipper  110  which extends upwardly along the front of the suit; a fifth zipper  112  which extends along the right sleeve  114  to the fourth zipper; and a sixth zipper  116  which extends from the fourth zipper along the left sleeve  118 . Where multiple zippers come together there will be a gap or opening between the zippers where they meet. To prevent air infiltration through these openings, they may be covered with a zipper seal  120 .  
         [0040]    An exemplary zipper seal  122  is shown in FIGS.  12 - 14 . Zipper seals of this type may be configured to seal the locations where two, three, or more zippers come together. The zipper seal  122  is illustrative of the meeting of four zippers  124 . The zipper seal  122  has a stiff cover  126 , formed of metal or plastic which is generally convex and in the shape of an inverted bowl. The cover  126  is retained in connection with the suit at all times by a flexible outer tether  128  which is fastened to the suit fabric  130  at a position spaced from the zippers. The cover  126  has a central stalk  132  which protrudes inwardly, as shown in FIG. 13, to penetrate the opening  134  between the zippers  124 . The cover stalk  132  has an protruding nubbin  133  at its furthest end which engages with a resilient pocket  136  formed in a mating plastic base  138  secured on the interior of the suit by a flexible inner tether  140 . The inner tether  140  may be a loose tether, or the tether can be a plastic strip which serves to keep the base  138  in the general vicinity of the zipper opening  134  for convenient attachment to the cover  126 . The base  138  is a shallow concave dish with a circular perimeter which matches the perimeter of the cover  126 .  
         [0041]    Rubber gaskets  142 , having generally a ring shape, are fixed to the perimeters of the base  138  and the cover  126 . Once all the zipper pulls  144  are in their sealed positions, the wearer brings the base  138  into position behind the opening  134  by manipulating the base through the fabric of the suit, and the cover  126  is made to overlap the base  138  and the cover stalk  132  nubbin  133  is snapped into engagement with the base pocket  136 . The rubber gaskets  142  thus press against each other through the suit fabric to form an airtight seal.  
         [0042]    Another alternative embodiment chemical/biological hazard protection suit  146  is shown in FIGS.  10 - 11 . The suit  146  employs a single zipper seal  148 , similar to the one shown in FIGS.  12 - 14 . The suit  146  has a first zipper  150  sealing the front of the pants  152 ; a second zipper  154  at waist level which seals the pants to the torso section  156 ; and a third zipper  158  which extends upwardly along the front center of the suit, turns to extend along the front of the left sleeve  160 , crosses to the rear of the sleeve adjacent the cuff  162 , then travels behind the hood  164  to extend along the right sleeve  166  and terminate near to the right sleeve cuff  168 . The three zippers  150 ,  154 ,  158  meet at the zipper seal  148 .  
         [0043]    Both the suits  100 ,  146  have the storage compartment of the suit  20 , and in the partially stowed condition can be stored within a stowage flap.  
         [0044]    It should be noted that, although a resilient cord is discussed above as the retention member for the stowage flap, other structures may be employed, for example: a zipper which encircles a portion of the outer margin of the stowage flap; strips of hook and loop fastener, snaps, a rip cord, a belt with buckle, a laced cord, etc. However, the alternative retention members should be placed on the stowage flap to avoid discomforting contact with the wearer when the stowage flap is in the fully deployed condition. It may be possible to allow the stowage flap to hang down within the fully deployed suit, rather than being elasticly retained in an elevated position.  
         [0045]    It is understood that the invention is not limited to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein illustrated and described, but embraces all such modified forms thereof as come within the scope of the following claims.