Patent Publication Number: US-2019168031-A1

Title: Protective interfaces for firefighter garments

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority of provisional patent application U.S. 62/453,771 filed on Feb. 2, 2017, the specification of which is hereby incorporated by reference. This application is a continuation of patent application U.S. Ser. No. 15/886,453, the specification of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The technical field generally relates to protective garments for firefighters and more particularly concerns protective interfaces for such garments. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Firefighter garments, such as coats and pants, have designs which are required to be compliant with the National Fire Protection Association Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting. 
     A typical firefighter coat usually includes an outer protective shell made of a fire-resistant material such as a fabric of aramid fibers (sold under the trademark NOMEX), and a liner including a moisture barrier and a thermal barrier. 
     In firefighter coats, to protect the firefighter from the ingress of fire-ground liquids and particulate matter between the liner and outer shell or between the liner and the body of the firefighter, it is known to incorporate sleeve wells on the lower sleeve ends of the coat. The sleeve wells, also referred to in the art as water wells, are folds of waterproof fabric extending within the lower end of the sleeves and connected to both the outer shell and to wristlets designed to fit around the wrists of the firefighter. The sleeve wells therefore typically ensure that liquids and particulate matter cannot penetrate the coat. 
     These sleeve wells may be constructed of totally impermeable barrier materials such a neoprene-coated fabric in which case no particulate matter, liquids, vapors or gases can penetrate the lower sleeve ends. Similarly, the sleeve wells may also be constructed of fabrics laminated to a semi-permeable membrane such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). Conversely, the wristlets of the sleeve ends, which are usually constructed of extensible, knit fabric, are very permeable to particulates, air and to liquids. 
     Firefighter pants also include an outer protective shell and an inner liner of similar construction than the corresponding layers of firefighter coats. At the bottom of each pants leg, it is known to incorporate a gaiter bridging the gap between the bottom of the pant leg and the firefighter boot, again preventing liquid and particulate matter to penetrate inside the garment. 
     There remains a need in the art for interfaces of firefighter garments that improve on the security and/or comfort of the wearer. 
     SUMMARY 
     Protective interfaces for firefighter garments are described herein. 
     In accordance with an aspect, there is provided a firefighter protective garment including:
         an inner liner;   an outer shell made of a flame-retardant material, the outer shell extending over at least a portion of the inner liner; and   a protective interface joining the inner liner and outer shell along at least one extremity of the garment, the protective interface being made of an interface material having particulate-impermeable and air-permeable properties.       

     In some embodiments, the protective interface is permanently attached to at least one of the inner liner and the outer shell. 
     In some embodiments, the firefighter garment includes a fastener arrangement attaching the protective interface to at least one of the inner liner and the outer shell. 
     In some embodiments, the particulate-impermeable properties of the interface material include blocking particulates having a size between about 0.1 μm to 1 μm. 
     In some embodiments, the air permeable properties of the interface material include an air permeability of at least about 4.5 cm 3 /sec/cm 2 . 
     In some embodiment, the interface material is a trilaminate including:
         a membrane made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE);   a first aramid knit provided on a first side of the membrane; and   a second aramid knit provided on a second side of the membrane.       

     In some embodiments, the interface material is a trilaminate includes:
         a membrane made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE);   an aramid knit provided on a first side of the membrane; and   a reprocessed cellulose multifilament knit provided on a second side of the membrane.       

     In some embodiments, the interface material includes a meta-aramid material quilted between two aramid knits. 
     In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a firefighter protective coat including:
         an inner liner;   an outer shell made of a flame-retardant material, the outer shell extending over at least a portion of the inner liner; and   a sleeve well joining the inner liner and outer shell along at least one extremity of the firefighter protective coat, the sleeve well being made of an interface material having particulate-impermeable and air-permeable properties.       

     In some embodiments, the sleeve well is permanently attached to at least one of the inner liner and the outer shell. 
     In some embodiments, the firefighter protective coat includes a fastener arrangement attaching the sleeve well to at least one of the inner liner and the outer shell. 
     In some embodiments, the particulate-impermeable properties of the interface material include blocking particulates having a size between about 0.1 μm to 1 μm. 
     In some embodiments, the air permeable properties of the interface material include an air permeability of at least about 4.5 cm 3 /sec/cm 2 . 
     In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a firefighter protective coat including:
         an inner liner;   an outer shell made of a flame-retardant material, the outer shell extending over at least a portion of the inner liner; and   a wristlet joining the inner liner and outer shell along at least one extremity of the firefighter protective coat, the wristlet being made of an interface material having particulate-impermeable and air-permeable properties.       

     In some embodiments, the wristlet is permanently attached to at least one of the inner liner and the outer shell. 
     In some embodiments, the firefighter protective coat includes a fastener arrangement attaching the wristlet to at least one of the inner liner and the outer shell. 
     In some embodiments, the particulate-impermeable properties of the interface material include blocking particulates having a size between about 0.1 μm to 1 μm. 
     In some embodiments, the air permeable properties of the interface material include an air permeability of at least about 4.5 cm 3 /sec/cm 2 . 
     In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a firefighter protective coat including:
         an inner liner;   an outer shell made of a flame-retardant material, the outer shell extending over at least a portion of the inner liner; and   a stormband joining the inner liner and outer shell along at least one extremity of the firefighter protective coat, the stormband being made of an interface material having particulate-impermeable and air-permeable properties.       

     In some embodiments, the stormband is permanently attached to at least one of the inner liner and the outer shell. 
     In some embodiments, the firefighter protective coat includes a fastener arrangement attaching the stormband to at least one of the inner liner and the outer shell. 
     In some embodiments, the particulate-impermeable properties of the interface material include blocking particulates having a size between about 0.1 μm to 1 μm. 
     In some embodiments, the air permeable properties of the interface material include an air permeability of at least about 4.5 cm 3 /sec/cm 2 . 
     In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a firefighter protective coat including:
         an inner liner;   an outer shell made of a flame-retardant material, the outer shell extending over at least a portion of the inner liner; and   a protective interface joining the inner liner and outer shell along at least one extremity of the firefighter protective coat, the protective interface being made of an interface material having particulate-impermeable and air-permeable properties.       

     In some embodiments, the protective interface is permanently attached to at least one of the inner liner and the outer shell. 
     In some embodiments, the firefighter protective coat includes a fastener arrangement attaching the protective interface to at least one of the inner liner and the outer shell. 
     In some embodiments, the particulate-impermeable properties of the interface material include blocking particulates having a size between about 0.1 μm to 1 μm. 
     In some embodiments, the air permeable properties of the interface material include an air permeability of at least about 4.5 cm 3 /sec/cm 2 . 
     In some embodiments, the protective interface is a sleeve well. 
     In some embodiments, the protective interface is a wristlet. 
     In some embodiments, the protective interface is a stormband. 
     In accordance with another aspect, there are provided firefighter protective pants including:
         an inner liner;   an outer shell made of a flame-retardant material, the outer shell extending over at least a portion of the inner liner; and   a gaiter joining the inner liner and outer shell along at least one extremity of the firefighter protective pants, the gaiter being made of an interface material having particulate-impermeable and air-permeable properties.       

     In some embodiments, the gaiter is permanently attached to at least one of the inner liner and the outer shell. 
     In some embodiments, the firefighter protective pants include a fastener arrangement attaching the gaiter to at least one of the inner liner and the outer shell. 
     In some embodiments, the particulate-impermeable properties of the interface material include blocking particulates having a size between about 0.1 μm to 1 μm. 
     In some embodiments, the air permeable properties of the interface material include an air permeability of at least about 4.5 cm 3 /sec/cm 2 . 
     In one embodiment, such a protective interface may include sleeve wells provided at the extremities of the sleeves of a firefighter coat. The sleeve wells are preferably made of a material which is particulate-impermeable, while being air-permeable. 
     In another embodiment, the protective interfaces may include wristlets provided at the extremities of the sleeves of the firefighter. The wristlets preferably include a wristlet barrier made of a material which is particulate-impermeable, while being air-permeable. Optionally, the wristlet barrier may be an extension of the corresponding sleeve well. 
     The protective interfaces may also include a stormband provided inside the coat of a firefighter and encircling the wearer&#39;s waist. The stormband is preferably made of a material which is particulate-impermeable, while being air-permeable. 
     In yet another embodiment, the protective interfaces may include gaiters provided at the lower extremities of the legs of firefighter pants. The gaiters are preferably made of a material which is particulate-impermeable, while being air-permeable. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood upon a reading of embodiments thereof with reference to the appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of a firefighter coat including a protective interface, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2A  is a side elevation view of an extremity of a sleeve of the coat of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view of a wristlet provided near the extremity of the sleeve, taken along the line  2 B- 2 B, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of a firefighter coat in an open configuration, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of firefighter pants, in accordance with another embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of an extremity of the pants of  FIG. 4 , in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present description refers to protective interfaces for firefighter garments, such as coats and pants. 
     Firefighter Coat 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a representation of a firefighter garment, embodied by firefighter protective coat  20 . 
     The firefighter protective coat  20  includes an outer shell  22 . The outer shell  22  is typically made of a flame-retardant material. The flame-retardant material can be made, for example and without being limitative, a fabric of aramid fibers (sold under the trademark NOMEX). 
     The firefighter protective coat  20  also includes an inner liner  24 . The inner liner  24  typically includes a moisture barrier, for example made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) and/or polyurethane (PU) laminated to a woven or non-woven aramid substrate, and a thermal barrier consisting of a face cloth quilted to an aramid substrate. 
     The inner liner  24  generally extends over at least a portion of the internal portion of the outer shell  22 , and may, in some implementations, extend over the entirety of the internal portion of the outer shell  22 . 
     The inner liner  24  is typically separable from the outer shell  22  to facilitate washing and care of both layers (i.e., the outer shell  22  and the inner liner  24 ). Various mechanisms to join the outer shell  22  and inner liner  24  together at the extremity of the sleeves are known in the art, such as snap fastener arrangements or hook and loop fasteners such as the ones known under the tradename VELCRO (trademark). 
     The firefighter protective coat  20  includes a protective interface, which may be, for example, be embodied by sleeve well(s), wristlet(s) and/or stormband(s), as it will be described in greater detail below. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the protective interface notably includes two sleeve wells  30  and two wristlets  32 . 
     Broadly described, the protective interface joins the inner liner  24  and outer shell  22  along at least one extremity of the garment (i.e., the coat  20  of  FIG. 1 ). In some embodiments, the protective interface is permanently attached to at least one of the inner liner  24  and the outer shell  22 . The firefighter protective coat  20  can include a fastener arrangement (not illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) attaching the protective interface to at least one of the inner liner  24  and the outer shell  22 . Such fastener arrangement may include, for example and without being limitative, snap fastener and/or hook and loop fasteners. 
     The protective interface is made of an interface material having particulate-impermeable and air-permeable properties. For example, the particulate-impermeable properties of the interface material may include blocking particulates having a size between about 0.1 μm to 1 μm. The air permeable properties of the interface material may include an air permeability of at least about 4.5 cm 3 /sec/cm 2 . It will be readily understood that the interface material may have other particulate-impermeable and air-permeable properties, depending on the targeted application and/or the requirement(s) to be met. 
     In some embodiments, the interface material is a trilaminate including, for example and without being limitative:
         a membrane made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE);   an aramid knit provided on a first side of the membrane; and   a reprocessed cellulose multifilament knit provided on a second side of the membrane.       

     Sleeve Wells 
     As it has been previously mentioned, the protective interface may be embodied by a sleeve well. As better illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2A -B, the coat  20  includes sleeves  26  (e.g., two sleeves) which incorporate sleeve wells  30  on their respective lower extremities  28 . 
     As their name entails, the sleeve wells  30  can be understood as a length of fabric folding inwardly of the extremity  28  of the sleeve  26  and forming a “well”. The sleeve wells  30  are typically physically attached to the outer shell  22  or optionally attached to the inner liner  24  of the coat  20 . In other variants, the sleeve wells  30  may be either permanently attached or removably affixed to the remainder of the coat sleeves  26 . 
     A human being involved in the activities of firefighting generates metabolic heat that must be dissipated if he/she is to maintain healthy bodily function. The principal means by which the clothed firefighter dissipates metabolic heat is by perspiring. The greatest rate of metabolic heat transfer through perspiration occurs via the mechanism of evaporative cooling wherein liquid sweat evaporates and the resulting vapor either permeates whatever layers of clothing the firefighter may be wearing or is carried away by air circulating within the garment. 
     Furthermore, recent literature in work-place pathology has revealed the hazards that fire-ground particulate matter poses to the health and well-being of firefighters. For example, the National Fire Protection Association, in its proposed NFPA 1971-2018, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting envisions firefighter hoods that protect the neck and head of the firefighter not only from heat and flame but also from carcinogenic particulate matter. 
     In one aspect, the sleeve wells  30  should therefore prevent the ingress of particulate matter between the inner liner  24  and outer shell  22  of the coat  20 , or between the inner liner  24  and the body of the firefighter. The sleeve wells  30  are also preferably made of a material optimising both the comfort and the protection of the wearer. 
     In some implementations, as mentioned above the sleeve wells  30  are made of a material which is particulate-impermeable, while being air-permeable. On the one hand, air-permeability may enhance evaporative cooling and thereby, firefighter comfort. On the other hand, particulate-impermeability may block carcinogenic particulate matter and other particulates potentially hazardous to the health of the firefighter. 
     In some embodiments, the material of the sleeve wells  30  may meet specific requirements with respect to air permeability. Preferably, the material of the sleeve wells  30  has an air permeability which is high enough so that sufficient air can circulate through the sleeve well to provide a degree of cooling to the wearer, while being low enough to block most particulates which may constitute a hazard to the firefighter&#39;s health. 
     In some implementations, the material of the sleeve wells  30  blocks particulates having a size between about 0.1 μm to 1 μm. In one example, and without being limitative, the above conditions may be met by a material having an air permeability of about 4.5 cm 3 /sec/cm 2  or more, when tested according to ASTM D 737. 
     By way of example, the material of the sleeve wells  30  may be a trilaminate including an ePTFE membrane laminated with an aramid knit on both sides. 
     More particularly, the material of the sleeve wells  30  may be a trilaminate consisting of an ePTFE membrane laminated with a first aramid knit on a first side of the membrane, and a second aramid knit provided on a second side of the membrane. 
     In another example, the material of the sleeve wells  30  may be a trilaminate consisting of an ePTFE membrane laminated with aramid knits on one side, and a reprocessed cellulose multifilament knit on the other side. 
     In another example, the interface material includes a meta-aramid material quilted between two aramid knits. In some embodiments, the meta-aramid material is made of material including nanofibers (e.g., Nomex® or Nano/Nomex®) 
     In the examples described above, the weight of the knits may be selected in view of providing a resulting permeability within the desired range which has been previously discussed. Of course, it will be readily understood that these examples are provided for illustrative purpose only, and that other material may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     In some embodiments, the extremity  28  of the sleeve  26  is made of a two-ply material, and the sleeve well  30  is provided near the extremity of the two-ply material. In this context, a portion of the sleeve well  30  may be embedded between the two plies of the material included in the extremity  28  of the sleeve  26 . 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2A -B, the firefighter coat  20  further includes wristlets  32 , also known as “wristers”, projecting from the lower extremities  28  of the sleeves  26  and designed to fit closely over and/or around at least a portion of the wrists and base of the hands of the wearer. The wristlets  32  are usually made of extensible, knit fabric. The wristlets  32  may be shaped, for example and without being limitative, as a cylindrical band only or may include an eyelet to allow the thumb of the wearer through, or a material loop designed to be interlaced between the thumb and the index finger of the wearer to keep the wristlet  32  from sliding out of place. 
     The type of knit fabric typically used in the fabrication of the wristlets  32  of the firefighter coat  20  could potentially allow hazardous fire-ground particulates to come into contact with the skin of the firefighter. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2B , in accordance with some implementations, each wristlet  32  may therefore include a wristlet barrier  34  made of a material which is particulate-impermeable. Preferably, the material of the wristlet barrier  34  is also air-permeable. In some variants, the wristlet barrier  34  may be made of the same material as the sleeve wells  30 , and, in some implementations, may be integral to the sleeve wells, that is, the wristlet barrier  34  is an extension of the same piece of fabric making up the sleeve well  30 . Preferably, the wristlet barrier  34  extends along the entire length of the wristlet or a substantial length forward of the sleeve well. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2B , the wristlet barrier  34  is sandwiched between an inner and an outer knit layer  36  and  38 . Suitable stitching, sewing or other known attachment means may be used to assemble together the wristlet barrier  34 , the inner knit  36  and the outer knit  38  of the wristlet  32  and the connection of the wristlet  32  to the sleeve well  30 . 
     Stormband 
     Now referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a firefighter coat  20  in an open configuration. 
     The firefighter coat  20  includes a stormband  42 , which can be provided inside the coat  20 , preferably at waist height (i.e., the stormband  42  is preferably positioned near the user&#39;s waist when the firefighter coat  20  is worn by the user). The stormband  42  provides a barrier between the inner liner  24  of the coat  20  and the midriff of the wearer. Preferably, the stormband  42  is positioned such that it encircles the body of the wearer along the upper portion of his protective pants when the firefighter is in full gear, leaving no unprotected passage for potentially dangerous particulate matter to penetrate under the firefighter garments from the bottom end  40  of the firefighter coat  20 . 
     The stormband  42  may be affixed to the inner liner  24  of the coat  20  through different mechanisms, such as seams, snap fastener arrangements or hook and loop fasteners. In the illustrated configuration of  FIG. 3 , the stormband  42  is affixed through a seam or seams  44  extending along the upper edge  45  of the stormband. An elastic strip  46  is provided along the lower edge  47  of the stormband  42 . Preferably, an attachment mechanism  48  is provided at the opposite sides  49   a ,  49   b  of the stormband  42 , such as a snap fastener arrangement, hook and loop fasteners, a drawstring arrangement, or other attachment mechanisms. Preferably, the stormband  42  is configured such that its sides  49   a ,  49   b  overlap when the coat is properly fastened on the firefighter, so that it completely encircles the firefighter and block any potential particulate ingress path near his/her waist. 
     The stormband  42  is made of a material which is particulate-impermeable, while being air-permeable, optimising both the comfort and the security of the wearer. Preferably, the material of the stormband  42  has an air permeability which is high enough so that sufficient air can circulate through the stormband  42  to provide a degree of cooling to the wearer, while being low enough to block most particulates which may constitute a hazard to the firefighter&#39;s health. In some variations, the material of the stormband  42  blocks particulates having a size between about 0.1 μm to 1 μm. In one example, the above conditions may be met by a material having an air permeability of about 4.5 cm 3 /sec/cm 2  or more, when tested according to ASTM D 737. By way of example, the material of the stormband  42  may be a trilaminate made of an ePTFE membrane laminated with an aramid knit on both sides. 
     In another example, the material of the stormband  42  may be a trilaminate including an ePTFE membrane laminated with aramid knits on one side, and a reprocessed cellulose multifilament knit on the other side. 
     In the two examples presented above, the weight of the knits may be selected in view of providing a resulting permeability within the desired range discussed above. Of course, it will be readily understood that these examples are provided for illustrative purpose only and that other material may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     In some embodiments, the firefighter protective coat  20  includes more than one protective interfaces. For example, in some embodiments, the firefighter coat  20  includes two sleeve wells  30 , two wristlets  32  and one stormband  42 , which may all be similar to the ones which have been described above. 
     The different embodiments of the firefighter coat  20  described in the current description can be compliant with the National Fire Protection Association Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting. 
     Firefighter Pants 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a representation of firefighter pants  50 . As for the firefighter coat  20  described above, the firefighter pants  50  typically include a pant outer protective shell  52  made of a fire-resistant material such as a fabric of aramid fibers (sold under the trademark NOMEX), and a pant inner liner  54 . The inner liner  54  typically includes a moisture barrier, for example made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) and/or polyurethane (PU) laminated to a woven or non-woven aramid substrate, and a thermal barrier consisting a face cloth quilted to an aramid substrate. The inner liner  54  is typically separable from the outer shell  52  to facilitate washing and care of both layers, in a similar fashion to the inner liner and outer shell of the firefighter protective coat which has been previously described. 
     Gaiters 
     Referring to both  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the firefighter pants  50  include gaiters  56  on the lower extremities  58  of the pant legs  60 . Preferably, the gaiters  56  firmly and snuggly encircle the boot of the firefighter with the objective of preventing the ingress of fire-ground particulate matter between the firefighter&#39;s boot and the pant liner  54 , and consequently between the pant liner  54  and the body of the firefighter. Such gaiters  56  may incorporate an annular elastic  62  in their distal end that circumferentially grips the shaft of the boot (or a portion thereof). 
     In some embodiments, the gaiter  56  is attached permanently to the outer shell  52  of the pant leg  60 , whereas in other variants the gaiter  56  is attached permanently to the pant inner liner  54 . In other embodiments, the gaiters  56  may be removably affixed to either de outer shell  52  or the inner liner  54  of the pants  50 . 
     Similarly to the sleeve wells described above, the pant gaiters  56  are made of a material which particulate-impermeable, while being air-permeable, to optimise both the comfort and the security of the wearer. Preferably, the material of the pant gaiters  56  has an air permeability which is high enough so that sufficient air can circulate through the pant gaiters  56  to provide a degree of cooling to the wearer, while being low enough to block most particulates which may constitute a hazard to the firefighter&#39;s health. In some variations, the material of the pant gaiters  56  blocks particulates having a size between about 0.1 μm to 1 μm. In one example, the above conditions may be met by a material having an air permeability of about 4.5 cm 3 /sec/cm 2  or more, when tested according to ASTM D 737. By way of example, the material of the pant gaiters  56  may be a trilaminate consisting of an ePTFE membrane laminated with an aramid knit on both sides. 
     In another example, the material of the pant gaiters may be a trilaminate consisting of an ePTFE membrane laminated with aramid knits on one side, and a reprocessed cellulose multifilament knit on the other side. 
     In the two examples described above, the weight of the knits may be selected in view of providing a resulting permeability within the desired range discussed above. Of course, it will be readily understood that these examples are provided for illustrative purpose only and that other material may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     The different embodiments of the firefighter pants  50  described in the current description can be compliant with the National Fire Protection Association Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting. 
     Of course, numerous modification could be made to the embodiments above without departing from the scope of the present invention.