Abstract:
Protective garments having a modular storage system that enables the wearer to move and customize the position of pockets and other storage features, and hence the location of tools and other apparatus or accessories. The protective garment, including the modular storage system, are fire resistant such that they are in compliance with National Fire Protection Association (“NFPA”) and European Norm standards for firefighting garments set by the European Committee for Standardization (also known as ComitéEuropéen de Normalisation) and may be integral with the protective garment.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/600,343, filed Feb. 17, 2012. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to protective garments, and more particularly, to protective garments that include modular storage systems such as firefighter garments. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Protective or hazardous duty garments are widely used in various industries to protect the wearer from various hazardous conditions such as heat, smoke, cold, sharp objects, chemicals, liquids, fumes and the like. Protective or hazardous duty garments primarily rely upon permanently attached pockets for storage capacity. The wearer of such garments, however, uses a wide variety of tools, communication devices, work gloves, goggles, ropes, and rescue lines, for example, that have very different shapes and sizes. Current designs are not equipped to provide the wearer with the ability to move and customize the pockets or other storage features. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In one aspect, protective garments are disclosed herein that have a modular storage system that enables the wearer to move and customize the position of pockets and other storage features, and hence the location of tools and other necessary apparatus for performing their duties. In one embodiment, the protective garments, including the modular storage system, are fire resistant and comply with National Fire Protection Association (“NFPA”) and European Norm standards for firefighting garments set by the European Committee for Standardization (also known as Comité Européen de Normalisation). In one embodiment, the modular storage system is integral with the protective garment (i.e., it is not a separable vest, belt, rucksack, etc.). In another embodiment, the fire resistant modular storage system is separate from the protective garment and is attachable to the wearer, for example, by a connection to a belt of the wearer. 
         [0005]    In another aspect, the modular storage system is a protective garment having a portion of material that includes a flame resistant or chembio resistant material and a field of slits therein or thereon. The field of slits contains a plurality of horizontally-oriented rows each having one or more slits that are aligned with adjacent slits in adjacent horizontally-oriented rows to create one or more columns each generally aligned with or centered on different parasagittal planes when worn by a wearer. The modular storage system also includes a removable accessory having an exterior back surface and at least one strap having a first end fixed to the accessory and a second end that is a free end. The exterior back surface includes a first portion of a releasably attachable fastening system and the strap includes a second portion of the releasably attachable fastening system on the side of the strap that faces the exterior back surface in an assembled state. When assembled, the free end of the strap has passed through at least two adjacent slits and the second portion of the releasably attachable fastening system is positioned on the strap such that it is on an exposed portion thereof protruding from the second of the two adjacent slits and the releasably attachable fastening system on the exterior back surface is mated to the exposed portion of the strap. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment, the slits are cut into a portion of material, which is coated on one or both major surfaces with a polymer that prevents fraying or unraveling of the material after formation of the slits therein. The portion of material may be integral with the outer surface of the garment or fixed thereto. The polymer includes natural or synthetic rubber such as a chlorosulfonated polyethylene synthetic rubber or a natural or synthetic butyl rubber. 
         [0007]    In another aspect, methods are disclosed for making the modular storage system. The methods include providing a portion of material comprising a fire resistant or chembio resistant material, coating the portion of material with a polymer that prevents fraying or unraveling of the material, and cutting a field of slits in the portion of material. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, the field of slits may include a plurality of spaced apart fire resistant strips that are each permanently fixed to a portion of an outer surface of the protective garment at spaced apart locations along each strip such that the spacing between locations is of sufficient distance to define openings capable of receiving straps therethrough. 
         [0009]    In another aspect, the modular storage system is releasably attachable to a protective garment and is fire resistant. The modular storage system has one of the constructions described above except that a panel is releasably attachable to the wearer, for instance, over the outer surface of a protective garment. The panel may include a first connector capable of attaching the panel to a belt of a wearer and a second connector capable of attaching the panel to the leg of the wearer. The first connector may include an adjuster to change the length of the first connector between the belt of the wearer and the top of the panel. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are front perspective views of firefighter coats having alternate embodiments of modular storage systems, with portions of various layers of the coats cut away for illustrative purposes. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged, perspective view of a partially assembled view of a garment having a modular storage system. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged, perspective view of a partially assembled view of a garment having another embodiment of the modular storage system. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a front view of firefighter trousers having both an integral modular storage system and a removable modular storage system. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of a releasably attachable pocket. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged, top plan view of a portion of a protective garment having another embodiment of a modular storage system. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged, top plan view of a portion of a protective garment having another embodiment of a modular storage system at a different orientation than illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    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. 
         [0018]    A protective or hazardous duty garment in the form of a firefighter&#39;s coat, generally designated  10 , and firefighter&#39;s trouser, generally designated  50 , are illustrated respectively in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . The illustrated embodiments are chosen merely as examples. The protective or hazardous duty garment may take other forms including, but not limited to, jackets, vests, and one-piece suits. The protective garments may also be CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear) protective ensembles, EMS (emergency medical services) garments, tactical rescue and/or urban search and rescue ensembles. The coat  10  and trousers  50  each include a modular storage system  100 . When the protective garments are firefighter garments, the modular storage system  100  as well as the garment itself should be made with fire resistant material such that the garment meets NFPA 1951, 1971, 1977, 1991, 1992, and/or 1993 standards for protective firefighting garments and/or the European Norm standards for firefighting garments. The modular storage system  100  will be described in detail below after the discussion of the general construction of the garments themselves. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the coat  10  may include a body portion  12  having a left front panel  14 , right front panel  16  and a back panel  18 . The left front panel  14  and right front panel  16  may be releasably attachable by a fastener  20 , such as a zipper, snaps, clasps, clips, hook-and-loop fastening material (i.e., VELCRO® fastening material), and combinations of these components or the like. The body portion  12  may define a torso cavity  22  that is shaped and configured to receive a wearer&#39;s torso therein. The garment  10  may include a pair of sleeves  24  coupled to and extending generally outwardly from the body portion  12  and shaped to receive a wearer&#39;s arms therein. The modular storage system  100  may be permanently fixed directly to the outer surface of the coat  10  as shown in  FIG. 1A  or permanently fixed to a panel of material  102  that is separately attached to the outer surface of the coat  10  as shown in  FIG. 1B . The modular storage system  100  is illustrated as positioned on the body portion  12  on the upper chest portion near the shoulders of the coat, but may be positioned in any desirable location. The upper chest area may be preferred because the straps of a SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) typically do not cover or block access to this area of the coat  10 . 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the trousers  50  include a body portion/upper leg portion  56  configured to receive the lower part of the torso and the upper part of the legs of a wearer and a pair of extremities or lower leg portions  58  configured to receive the lower part of the leg of a wearer. The modular storage system  100  may be permanently fixed directly to the outer surface of the trousers  50  as shown on the left leg in  FIG. 4  or permanently fixed to a panel of material  102  that is separately attached to the outer surface of the trouser  50  as shown on the right leg in  FIG. 4 . The modular storage system  100  is illustrated as positioned generally on the outer thigh of the trousers, but may be positioned in any desirable location that is accessible to the hands of the wearer. 
         [0021]    The coat  10  and trousers  50  may include various layers through their thicknesses to provide various heat, moisture and abrasion resistant qualities to the garments so that the garments can be used as a protective, hazardous duty, and/or firefighter garment. For example, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the garment may include an outer shell  26 , a moisture barrier  28  located inside of and adjacent to the outer shell  26 , a thermal liner or barrier  30  located inside of and adjacent to the moisture barrier  28 , and an inner liner or face cloth  32  located inside of and adjacent to the thermal barrier  30 . 
         [0022]    The outer shell  26  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® and KEVLAR® fibers (both trademarks of E.I. DuPont de Nemours &amp; Co., Inc. of Wilmington, Del.), and commercially available polybenzamidazole fibers include PBI fibers (a trademark of PBI Performance Fabrics of Charlotte, N.C.). Thus, the outer shell  26  may be an aramid material, a blend of aramid materials, a polybenzamidazole material, a blend of aramid and polybenzamidazole materials, or other appropriate materials. The outer shell  26  can also be made of a thermostable organic polymer material, such as KERMEL® material sold by Kermel SAS of Colmar, France. 
         [0023]    The outer shell  26  may also include other flame resistant material alone or in combination with those materials listed above or with those materials in the following list: flame resistant polynesic rayon, flame resistant cotton, flame resistant polyester, polyvinyl alcohol, polytetrafluoroethylene, flame resistant wool, polyvinyl chloride, polyether ether ketone, polyetherimide, polyethersulfone, polychal, polyimide, aliphatic polyamide, polyimide-amide, flame resistant polyolefin, polybenzoxazole, flame resistant acetone, carbon, modocrylic, melamine, and glass. 
         [0024]    If desired, the outer shell  26  may be coated with a polymer, such as a durable, water repellent finish (i.e. a perfluorohydrocarbon finish, such as TEFLON® finish sold by E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company of Wilmington, Del.). The materials of the outer shell  26  may have a weight of, for example, between about five and about ten oz/yd 2 . 
         [0025]    The moisture barrier  28  and thermal barrier  30  may be generally coextensive with the outer shell  26 , or spaced slightly inwardly from the outer edges of the outer shell  26  (i.e., spaced slightly inwardly from the outer ends of the sleeves  24 , the collar  34  and from the lower edge of the garment) to provide moisture and thermal protection throughout the garment. The moisture barrier  28  may include a semipermeable membrane layer  28   a  and a substrate  28   b.    
         [0026]    The membrane layer  28   a  may be generally water vapor permeable but generally impermeable to liquid moisture. The membrane layer  28   a  may be made of or include expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (“PTFE”) such as GORE-TEX® or CROSSTECH™ materials (both of which are trademarks of W.L. Gore &amp; Associates, Inc. of Newark, Del.), polyurethane-based materials, neoprenebased materials, cross-linked polymers, polyamide, or other materials. The membrane layer  28   a  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 membrane layer  28   a  may be made of a microporous material that is either hydrophilic, hydrophobic, or somewhere in between. The membrane layer  28   a  may also be monolithic and may allow moisture vapor transmission therethrough by molecular diffusion. The membrane layer  28   a  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. 
         [0027]    The membrane layer  28   a  may be bonded or adhered to a substrate  28   b  of a flame and heat resistant material to provide structure and protection to the membrane layer  28   a . The substrate  28   b  may be or include aramid fibers similar to the aramid fibers of the outer shell  26 , but may be thinner and lighter in weight. The substrate  28   b  may be woven, non-woven, spunlace or other materials. In the illustrated embodiment, the membrane layer  28   a  is located between the outer shell  26  and the substrate  28   b . However, the orientation of the moisture barrier  28  may be reversed such that the substrate  28   b  is located between the outer shell  26  and the membrane layer  28   a.    
         [0028]    The thermal barrier  30  may be made of nearly any suitable flame resistant material that provides sufficient thermal insulation. In one embodiment, the thermal barrier  30  may include a layer of bulk material  30   a  in the form of relatively thick (i.e. between about 1/16″- 3/16″) batting, felt or needled non-woven bulk or batting material. The bulk material  30   a  can include aramid fiber batting (such as NOMEX® 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  30   a  may trap air and possess sufficient loft to provide thermal resistance to the garment. 
         [0029]    The bulk material  30   a  may be quilted to a thermal barrier face cloth  30   b  which can be a weave of a lightweight aramid material. Thus, either the bulk material  30   a  alone, or the bulk material  30   a  in combination with the thermal barrier face cloth  30   b , may be considered to constitute the thermal barrier  30 . In the illustrated embodiment, the thermal barrier bulk material  30   a  is located between the outer shell  26  and the thermal barrier face cloth  30   b . However, the orientation of the thermal barrier  30  may be reversed such that the face cloth  30   b  is located between the outer shell  26  and the bulk layer  30   a . In one embodiment, the thermal barrier  30  (or the garment as a whole) may have a thermal protection performance (“TPP”) of at least about twenty, and the garment as a whole may have a TPP of at least about thirty-five. If desired, the thermal barrier  30  may be treated with a water-resistant or water-repellent finish. 
         [0030]    Although the moisture barrier  28  is shown as being located between the outer shell  26  and the thermal barrier  30 , the positions of the moisture barrier  28  and thermal barrier  30  may be reversed such that the thermal barrier  30  is located between the outer shell  26  and the moisture barrier  28 , or various other orientations or configurations may be used. 
         [0031]    The face cloth  32  may be the innermost layer of the garment, located inside the thermal barrier  30  and moisture barrier  28 . The face cloth  32  can provide a comfortable surface for the wearer and protect the thermal barrier  30  and/or moisture barrier  28  from abrasion and wear. The face cloth  32  may be quilted to the adjacent layer (i.e. the thermal barrier  30  in the illustrated embodiment). However, the face cloth  32  is optional and may be excluded if desired. In addition, the garment may not necessarily include the moisture barrier  28  and/or the thermal barrier  30  in certain cases. 
         [0032]    Each layer of the garment disclosed herein, including the layers and components described above, as well as those described below, and the garment as a whole, may meet the NFPA 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 and flame resistance and tear strength. For example, in order to meet the NFPA standards, the outer shell  26 , moisture barrier  28 , thermal barrier  30  and face cloth  32  must be able to resist igniting, burning, melting, dripping, separation, and/or shrinking more than 10% in any direction after being exposed to a temperature of 500° 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. 
         [0033]    Alternately or in addition to the NFPA Standard 1971, the garment disclosed herein may also meet European Norm (“EN”) standards for firefighting garments set by the European Committee for Standardization. These standards include EN 469:2005 Level 1 and Level 2 certification. The EN standards for firefighter and protective garments are entirely incorporated by reference herein. 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the garments, coat  10  or trousers  50 , may include a modular storage system  100  that includes one embodiment of a field of slits that may be formed by a plurality of spaced apart strips  104  that are each permanently fixed to a portion of an outer surface, such as outer shell  26 , of the protective garment ( FIGS. 1A ,  2 ,  3 , and left leg of  FIG. 4 ) or to a panel of material  102  ( FIG. 1B  and right leg of  FIG. 4 ) that is permanently or releasably coupled to the garment and includes a removable accessory  120  connectable to the spaced apart strips  104 . The spaced apart strips  104  are permanently fixed to the garment  10 ,  50  or a panel of material  102  at spaced apart locations  106  along each strip  104  such that the spacing between locations is of sufficient distance to define openings  108  capable of receiving straps  124  of the accessory  120  therethrough (best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). 
         [0035]    The strips  104  are preferably fire resistant. The fire resistance may be provided by including or forming the strips with outer shell material or fire resistance webbing. While the figures illustrate two, three, four, or five strips oriented parallel to one another in a horizontal configuration relative to the donned orientation of the garment, there is no limit to the number of strips or the orientation of the strips. In another embodiment, the strips may be oriented vertically (not shown) or at an angle less than 90° relative to the donned orientation of the garment. 
         [0036]    The accessory  120  has an exterior back surface  122  and at least one strap  124 . The strap  124  has a fixed end  126  fixed to the accessory  120  and a free end  128  available for passage through the openings  108  in the strips  104 . The exterior back surface  122  includes a first portion of a releasably attachable fastening system  130  and the strap  124  includes a second portion of the releasably attachable fastening system  132  on the side of the strap  124  that faces the exterior back surface  122  when the strap  124  is connected to the exterior back surface  122 . In an assembled state, as shown in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, and  4 , the free end  128  of the strap  124  has passed through one opening  108 , each, in at least two adjacent spaced apart strips  104 ,  104  and the second portion of the releasably attachable fastening system  132  is positioned on the strap  124  such that it is positioned on an exposed portion  134  between the two adjacent spaced apart strips  104 ,  104  and a second exposed portion  135  proximate the free end  128 . The first portion of the releasably attachable fastening system  130  is positioned on the exterior back surface  122  such that it is mateable with the second portion of the releasably attachable fastening system  132  on the exposed portion  134  and free end  128  of the strap  124 . 
         [0037]    In one embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the entire exterior back surface  122  of the accessory  120  may be formed of or covered with the first portion of the releasably attachable fastening system  130  and the entire side of the strap  124  that faces the exterior back surface  122  is similarly formed of or covered with the second portion of the releasably attachable fastening system  132 . In another embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the exterior back surface  122  of the accessory  120  may include a plurality of first portions  130  of the releasably attachable fastening system positioned for alignment with a plurality of second portions  132  on the straps  124 . The second portions of the releasably attachable fastening system  132  are positioned on the strap to be on the exposed area  134  between adjacent strips  104 ,  104  and on the second exposed portion  135  proximate the free end  128  of the strap  124 . While the portions of the releasably attached fastening system  130  and  132  are illustrated in  FIG. 3  as circular patches, the shape and/or size is not limited thereto. These patches may be any shape and/or size that provide an appropriate amount of connection such that the accessory  120  is not susceptible to accidental removal during use by the wearer. 
         [0038]    In one embodiment, the releasably attachable fastening system includes hook-and-loop material. The hook portion, the loop portion, or a combination thereof may be included on or may form the exterior back surface  122  of the accessory and the opposite configuration of hook portion, loop portion, or a combination thereof is included on or forms the strap  124  such that the exterior back surface  122  and the strap  124  are releasably attachable to one another. In another embodiment, the releasably attachable fastening system may be a plurality of snaps or other such fasteners. 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the exterior back surface  122  of the accessory  120  does not include strips, loops, or openings for interlocking, interleaving, or weaving the straps  124  of the accessory back through or onto itself. On the contrary, the present modular storage system  100  is designed to feed the straps  124  of the accessory  120  directly through the openings  108  on adjacent strips  104 . 
         [0040]    The free end  128  of the strap  124  may be tapered gradually inward to form a generally pointed end  137  as illustrated for one of the straps  124  in  FIG. 3 . This configuration is advantageous because it makes threading the strap  124  through the openings  108  in the strips  104  easier. The generally pointed end  137  may also include a material such as a thermoplastic coating, attachment, or over-molded member (not shown) that makes it easier to thread the strap through the openings. The material may also add stiffness and gripability to the free end  128 . 
         [0041]    As depicted in  FIGS. 1-4  the accessory  120  is a pocket. The pocket, generally designated  150  in  FIG. 5 , includes a front panel  151  opposite the back panel  122 , two side panels  152 , and a bottom panel  153  fixedly coupled together such that a pocket cavity  154  is formed therebetween. Both the front panel  151  and the back surface  122  may be generally flat, rectangular panels. The pocket  150  may be open or may include a closure flap  155  that can selectively cover the mouth  156  of the pocket cavity  154  when in its closed position. The closure flap  155  may be releasably attachable to the associated front panel  151 , such as by one or more patches  157  of hook-and-loop fastening material located on the underside of the closure flap  155 , and corresponding patch  158  of hook-and-loop fastening material located on the front surface of the front panel  151 . Of course, any of a wide variety of other mechanisms may be used to cover the mouth  156  and generally retain the closure flap  155  in its closed position, including but not limited to slide fastener components, snaps, zippers, buttons, straps, ties, and the like. The pocket  150  also includes at least one strap  124  fixedly attached thereto. One end of the strap  124  may be fixedly connected to the upper portion of the back panel  122  proximate the mouth  156  or the closure flap  155  while the other end of the strap is a free end  128 . 
         [0042]    Still referring to  FIG. 5 , the bottom panel  153  of the pocket  150  may include a drain hole  159  rimmed with a bracket  160  to allow water to flow out of and/or through the pocket. The pocket may include a gusset (not shown) in the side panels and/or the bottom panel to strengthen the pocket and/or allow for expansion of the pocket. The material of the pocket  150  (i.e. the front panel  151 , back panel  122 , side panels  152 , bottom panel  153 , and gussets (if present)) may be made of the same material, which may be the same as the outer shell  16 , and the various panels may be stitched together to form the pocket. In one embodiment some of the various panels are integrally a one-piece material. 
         [0043]    The accessory  120  is not limited to a pocket such as pocket  150 . In other embodiments, the accessory  120  may be a pouch, a holster for example for a tool or flashlight, an identification holder, a rope holder or rope clip, or other equipment support feature that has a similar exterior back panel and strap configuration as described above for connection to a plurality of strips. 
         [0044]    In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1A , the modular storage system also includes a fire resistant webbing  140  overlaying a portion of the spaced apart snips  104  and being oriented generally perpendicular to the strips  104 . The fire resistant webbing  140  forms at least one opening or loop for attachment of a tool or other equipment of the wearer, for example a communication device such as a radio or waikie-talkie. 
         [0045]    In another aspect, the modular storage system  100  includes a panel of fire resistant material  102  ( FIGS. 1B and 4 ) having the plurality of spaced apart strips  104  each permanently fixed thereto and a removable accessory such as pocket  150  described above. The panel  102  may be removeably attachable to the wearer (rather than being integral with garment). The panel  102  is constructed as described above, but as illustrated in  FIG. 4  also includes one or more first connectors  160  that attach the panel  102  to a belt  164  of a wearer and one or more second connectors  162  that attach the panel  102  to the leg of the wearer. The panel  102  may also include an adjuster  166  used to adjust the length of the connector  160  between the belt  164  and the top  103  of the panel  102 . 
         [0046]    The first connector  160  may be one or more straps that include a permanent loop or a loop formed by means of closing a releasably attachable member for receiving a belt, or an attachment member having a slot therein for receiving the belt. The releasably attachable member may be hook-and-loop material, snaps, hook and eye, magnets, or other similar members. The strap may include a buckle, clasp, snaps, generally D-shaped loops, magnetic clasps, or hook-and-loop releasably attachable members, but is not limited thereto, as or included in the adjuster  166 . 
         [0047]    The second connector  162  may include tie-able straps, a hook-and-loop releasably attachable strap, a belt having a buckle, clasp, snaps, generally D-shaped loops, or magnetic clasps, but is not limited thereto. The second connector  162  may include a plurality of straps that have stretch properties (are generally elastic or have elastic properties) while maintaining conformance to the performance and design requirements of NFPA 1971 or the other regulations disclosed herein. 
         [0048]    In another embodiment, referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the modular storage system  100  may comprise a field of slits  200  in the outermost layer or outer shell  26 ,  56  ( FIG. 1A ,  FIG. 4 ) of the garment oriented to receive at least one strap  124  of an accessory. The portion of the outermost layer  26 ,  56  having the field of slits  200 , whether formed directly in the outermost layer as shown in  FIG. 6  or formed in a panel of material  202  fixed to the outermost layer as shown in  FIG. 7 , includes one or more of aramid fibers, polybenzamidazole fibers, and thermostable organic polymer material, such as NOMEX® and KEVLAR® fibers or KERMEL® fibers or fabric. The field of slits  200  includes a plurality of horizontally-oriented rows  204  each having one or more slits  206 , wherein the one or more slits  206  among the horizontally-oriented rows are aligned to create one or more columns  208  each aligned with or centered on a different parasagittal plane P. In  FIG. 6 , the slits  206  within each column  208  are oriented with a longitudinal axis of each slit  206  generally transverse to the same parasagittal plane P. In  FIG. 7 , the slits  206  within each column  208  are oriented with a longitudinal axis of each slit  206  generally aligned with the same parasagittal plane P. 
         [0049]    Still referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , in order to form the slits  206  in the outermost layer  26 ,  56  without fraying or unraveling of the fabric, the portion of the outermost layer  26 ,  56  having the slits  206  should include a coating  212  on one or both major surfaces thereof that includes a polymer such as, but not limited to, natural or synthetic rubber. In one embodiment, the polymer is or includes natural butyl rubber or synthetic butyl rubber. In another embodiment, the polymer is or includes chlorosulfonated polyethylene synthetic rubber. With the coating  212  in place the slits  206  may be formed directly in the outermost layer  26 ,  56  or the panel  202 . In one embodiment, the slits  206  are die cut into the outermost layer  26 ,  56  or the panel  202 . In another embodiment, the slits  206  are laser cut into the outermost layer  26 ,  56  or the panel  202 . 
         [0050]    Accordingly, the field of slits  202  may be made by providing a portion of material that includes one or more of aramid fibers, polybenzamidazole fibers, and thermostable organic polymer material, coating the portion of material with a polymer that prevents fraying or unraveling of the material; and thereafter forming, such as by cutting, a field of slits in the portion of material. The field of slits  202  includes a plurality of horizontally-oriented rows  204  each having one or more slits  206 , which are further aligned with slits  206  in adjacent horizontally-oriented rows to create one or more columns  208  each aligned with or centered on a different parasagittal plane P. The coating cutting may be as described above. 
         [0051]    The field of slits  200  are shaped and configured to receive one or more straps  124  of an accessory to be releasably attached to the garment. In  FIG. 6 , the free end  128  of the strap  124  has passed through at least two adjacent slits  210  in one column  208  and a second portion of the releasably attachable fastening system  132  is positioned on the strap  124  such that it is positioned on an exposed portion  134  of the strap protruding from the second of the two slits. In  FIG. 7 , the free end  128  of the strap  124  has passed through at least two adjacent slits  210  as the strap is fed through the slits  206  in a direct traverse to the parasagittal plane of each column  208  of slits  206  and a second portion of the releasably attachable fastening system  132  is positioned on the strap  124  such that it is positioned on an exposed portion  134  of the strap protruding from the second of the two slits. 
         [0052]    Having described the invention in detail and by reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be apparent that modifications and variations thereof are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.