Apparel – Body garments – Union type
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-24
2001-06-19
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3741)
Apparel
Body garments
Union type
C002S069000, C002S093000, C002S097000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247179
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to protective garments such as the type which may be used by firefighters. More particularly, the invention relates to a protective garment having an improved high-lubricity inner lining.
Firefighter garments are generally constructed having a number of discrete layers. Typically, these layers include an outer shell, a moisture barrier layer, a thermal barrier layer and an inner lining (or face cloth). The layers are generally made from appropriate thermally-resistant materials to provide protection against heat and flame.
Various fabrics have been utilized in the past to produce the inner lining. One such fabric, which has enjoyed widespread use for this purpose, is often referred to as “pajama check.” This fabric is made from warp and fill yarns of spun aramid fibers woven together into a ripstop weave.
In part due to the spun yarn, “pajama check” fabric generally exhibits a relatively low lubricity characteristic. In other words, a lining made from pajama check fabric will not be very “slick.” As such, the lining may cause friction as it rubs against adjacent surfaces, such as the clothing worn by the firefighter under the protective garment. Because firefighting activities can be extremely strenuous, this friction may tend to fatigue the wearer.
Another fabric which has been utilized as an inner lining for protective garments is referred to as “Caldura.” This fabric is made from warp yarns of spun aramid fibers and fill yarns of multifilament aramid fibers. The yarns are woven together into a twill weave that produces the characteristic “twill lines” exhibited in such a construction.
In order to reduce the rubbing friction described above, attempts have recently been made to produce inner linings having high-lubricity characteristics. One such fabric is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,815 to Barbeau, et al. This patent shows an inner lining fabric constructed of multifilament aramid yarns in both the warp and fill directions. Because multifilament yarns tend to be “slicker” than spun yarns, a fabric made entirely from multifilament yarn will typically have greater lubricity than the other fabrics discussed above.
While this construction does provide an inner lining having the desired high-lubricity qualities, the use of multifilament yarns in both directions leads to a number of drawbacks. For example, multifilament yarns tend to be more expensive than spun yarns. In addition, the industry's capacity to produce multifilament aramid yarns has often been limited.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention recognizes and addresses the foregoing disadvantages, and others of prior art constructions and methods. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved protective garment suitable for use by a firefighter.
It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a protective garment utilizing an improved high-lubricity inner lining material.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved liner assembly for use in a protective garment.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved lining fabric for a protective garment.
Some of these objects are achieved by a protective garment suitable for use by a firefighter. The protective garment includes an outer shell configured to cover and protect a predetermined portion of a wearer's body. An inner lining is located inside of the outer shell and has a first side of greater lubricity and a second side of lesser lubricity. The inner lining is adapted such that the first side thereof will be adjacent to the wearer's body during use.
The inner lining comprises a predetermined textile material constructed from warp yarns and fill yarns having thermally-resistant characteristics, such as yarns made from aramid fibers. The warp yarns and fill yarns are woven together in a suitable satin weave or suitable twill weave. Preferably, the warp yarns are multifilament yarns and the fill yarns are spun yarns, the first side of the textile material thus being a warp side thereof.
The garment may further include a moisture barrier layer located adjacent to the second side of the inner lining. A thermally-resistant felt layer may also be located between the outer shell and the inner lining to inhibit transmission of heat from an ambient environment to the wearer's body.
Other objects of the invention are achieved by a removable liner assembly for use in a protective garment. The liner assembly comprises first and second lining layers connected together about their respective peripheries to form an inner cavity. A thermal barrier layer is positioned between the lining layers inside of the inner cavity. A moisture barrier layer is also provided, located adjacent one of the lining layers.
Each of the lining layers comprises a predetermined textile material constructed from warp yarns and fill yarns having thermally-resistant characteristics. The warp yarns and fill yarns are woven together in a manner to produce a first side of greater lubricity and a second side of lesser lubricity. For example, the warp yarns and fill yarns may be woven together in a suitable satin weave or a suitable twill weave. Respective second sides of the lining layers are opposed to one another on an inside of the inner cavity such that the first sides thereof will form an outer surface of the liner assembly.
In presently preferred embodiments, the thermal barrier layer comprises a felt constructed of thermally resistant fibers. The felt may be quilted to at least one of the lining layers by a plurality of crisscrossing stitch lines. Additionally, the moisture barrier layer may comprise a membrane adhered to a second side of one of the lining layers. The membrane may be of a type substantially impermeable to liquid water but permeable to water vapor.
Additional objects of the invention are achieved by a lining fabric for use in a protective garment. The fabric comprises a plurality of multifilament warp yarns and spun fill yarns having thermally-resistant characteristics. The warp and fill yarns are woven together in either a satin weave or a twill weave such that a warp side of the fabric has a greater lubricity and a fill side of the fabric has a lesser lubricity.
In exemplary embodiments, the lining fabric has a weight of no greater than approximately 4.0 ounces per square yard. Preferably, the warp yarns will contribute at least approximately 55 percent of the weight of lining fabric. In such cases, the warp yarns may be approximately 200 denier yarns and the fill yarns may be approximately 37 singles yarns. Often, a warp thread count of the lining fabric will exceed a fill thread count thereof.
Other objects, features and aspects of the present invention are discussed in greater detail below.
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Hayes J. Russell
Kelley T. Doyle
Underwood Joey K.
Calvert John J.
Dority & Manning P.A.
Muromoto Jr. Robert H.
Safety Components Fabric Technologies, Inc.
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