Apparel – Body garments – Coats
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-01
2002-11-19
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3765)
Apparel
Body garments
Coats
C002S081000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06481018
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a collar system incorporated into a firefighter's coat. Firefighters must wear protective clothing which must be adapted for use in extremely dangerous conditions. In fighting a fire, the flames and/or heat to which a firefighter is exposed may be of such an intensity that unless properly protected, serious injury or death of the firefighter may occur. To that end, various organizations and/or government bodies have set standards which must be adhered to with respect to the level of protection which a firefighter's clothing is to afford a firefighter.
One of the most important specifications which must be followed in the design and manufacture of firefighting garment is that the garment must provide at least one complete layer of flame-resistant material and must also comprise a complete layer of heat-resistant material and further comprise a layer of moisture barrier material. The flame-resistant material is in the form of a shell which is fitted over and above the heat-resistant layer, also known as a liner, which liner may also comprise the moisture barrier. It is critical that wherever there is a flame-resistant shell, there must be at least one heat-resistant layer intermediate the firefighter and said flame-resistant shell, in other words, no part of a firefighter body (except maybe for the head and face) may be without a layer of flame resistant material and a layer of heat resistant material. The presence of a gap, i.e. the absence of a thermal liner which does not protect a portion of the firefighter, could, in a blaze, i.e. a hot blaze, cause serious injury to that portion of the body of the firefighter not covered by the thermal liner.
This shortcoming may be particularly acute in the neck area of a firefighter's coat. The prior art discloses various different types of a firefighter's coat, incorporating various designs regarding the neck thereof. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,547 to Hewitt discloses a firefighter's coat wherein the collar part comprises an outer collar part and an inner collar part having a moisture barrier disposed therebetween. However, Hewitt does not disclose a firefighter coat having a collar area comprising an outer flame-resistant layer and an inner thermal protection layer. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,806 to Coombs discloses a firefighter's coat wherein the collar comprises an outer flame-resistant shell and an inner thermal liner, however, the outer flame-resistant shell does not completely enclose the neck area. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,604,759 to Bowman et.al. discloses a collar comprising an outer flame-resistant shell and an inner thermal liner which is permanently attached one to the other, i.e. through sewing, which comprises serious shortcomings regarding the cleaning, repair or replacement of the liner if necessary.
It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a firefighter's coat comprising a collar system wherein the whole height of the collar comprises an outer flame-resistant shell layer and an inner thermal protection liner.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide for a firefighter's coat wherein the thermal protection liner of the collar portion is detachable from the outer shell.
It is also an objective of the present invention to provide for a firefighter's coat wherein the thermal protection liner of the collar portion is detachable from the outer shell through the use of quick release attachment means.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide the attachment of the inner thermal liner portion of the neck to the flame-resistant shell at the neck area thereof adjacent the uppermost edge of the neck portion.
It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide for the shell collar portion and the liner collar portion to be releasably attached to each other through the use of a minimum quantity of fabric.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a firefighter's coat comprising a collar portion. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the firefighter's coat may comprise at least three separate and distinct layers, an exterior flame-resistant shell, an inner thermal protection liner and a moisture barrier layer. Throughout this description portion of this specification only, the moisture barrier may not be described, but it is understood to be included in the expression thermal protection liner. The shell may naturally cover most, if not all, of the firefighter's body, including the legs, abdomen, torso, back, arms and neck. The inner liner may also cover the same parts of the body as the outer shell, and in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, may cover exactly the same surface as the outer shell. It is understood that the inner liner may be disposed intermediate i.e. between the skin of the firefighter and the outer shell, and in accordance with further embodiments of the present invention, additional layers may be provided in addition to the inner liner, to provide for additional fire and heat protection, or in order to add further moisture barriers, or in order to provide layers which will make the wearing of the firefighting equipment more comfortable for the firefighter. In accordance with a further aspect, the firefighter's coat may comprise a one-suit, or a pant and jacket combination or any other combination thereof.
In accordance with the present invention, the firefighter's coat is provided with specific protection for the neck area of the firefighter. Thus, in order to provide as much protection as possible to the neck area of a firefighter, the neck portion of the firefighter's coat is provided with a collar extending circumferentially from the upper torso and shoulder portions of the jacket. In accordance with a particular embodiment, the collar may, for example, extend vertically, the whole height of a firefighter's neck, abutting the mandible of the firefighter, and extending immediately below the earlobe of the firefighter.
Therefore, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided for:
a garment suitable for use by a firefighter, said garment comprising an outer, flame-resistant shell having a shell body for covering the torso and arms and a shell neck portion, said shell neck portion having a top edge, and
an inner, heat-resistant liner having a liner body portion for covering the torso and arms and a liner neck portion, said liner neck portion having a top edge
wherein when said garment is worn by a firefighter, the top edge of said shell neck portion is disposed adjacent to the top edge of said liner neck portion.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided for a:
garment suitable for use by a firefighter, said garment comprising an outer, flame-resistant shell having a shell body for covering the torso and arms and a shell neck portion, and
an inner, heat-resistant liner having a liner body portion for covering the torso and arms and a liner neck portion,
said shell neck portion having a top edge and said liner neck portion having a top edge, wherein when said garment is worn by a firefighter, the top edge of said shell neck portion is disposed adjacent to the top edge of said liner neck portion, and
wherein the top edge of said liner neck portion comprises a protrusion projecting therefrom,
said protrusion being sized and configured to be folded down over the top edge of said shell neck portion such that the top edge of said shell neck portion abuts said protrusion,
said protrusion and said liner neck portion comprising cooperating fastener means for removably securing said protrusion to said shell neck portion adjacent the top edge of said shell neck portion.
Further, in accordance with an additional aspect of the present invention, there is provided for a:
multi-layer garment for use by firefighters comprising an outer flame-resistant shell having a body and a shel
Gagnon Marie
Stewart Jef
Calvert John J.
Innotex Inc.
Keefer Timothy J.
Patel Tejash
Wildman Harrold Allen & Dixon
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