Apparel – Guard or protector – Leg
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-21
2001-11-20
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3765)
Apparel
Guard or protector
Leg
C002S062000, C002S081000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06317889
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to a protective pad, such as a knee pad, an elbow pad, or a shoulder pad, which is affixable to a protective garment, such as a pair of bunker pants for a firefighter or a bunker coat for a firefighter. This invention contemplates that the protective pad incorporates a superabsorbent polymer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Commonly, a protective garment, such as a pair of bunker pants for a firefighter or a bunker coat for a firefighter, has a composite structure, which is made from fire-resistant materials and which has a thermal barrier, a moisture barrier covering the thermal barrier and being impervious to moisture, and an outer shell covering the moisture barrier, providing puncture resistance, abrasion resistance, or both, and being pervious to moisture.
Commonly, a protective pad, such as a knee pad, an elbow pad, or a shoulder pad, is affixed to such a garment. Commonly, as known heretofore, such a protective pad is made from fire-resistant materials and has a thermal barrier and an outer cover covering the thermal barrier and providing puncture resistance, abrasion resistance, or both.
Usage of particles of a superabsorbent polymer in a composite structure for a protective garment, such as a protective garment for a firefighter, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,912 to Bumberger, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Hereinbefore and hereinafter, moisture refers to any predominantly aqueous liquid, particularly but not exclusively water. Hereinbefore and hereinafter, terms such as inner and outer are employed from a standpoint of a wearer of a protective garment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention further contemplates that, when the protective pad is affixed to the protective garment, the moisture absorber covers a region of the outer shell of the protective garment, the outer cover of the protective pad covers the moisture absorber, the outer cover of the protective pad is affixed to the outer cover of the protective garment, at least partly around the moisture absorber, and the outer cover of the protective pad and the outer shell of the protective garment, in the covered region, are adapted to conduct moisture into the moisture absorber, in which the superabsorbent polymer is adapted to absorb much if not all moisture conducted into the moisture absorber.
This invention contemplates that the protective pad has a moisture absorber, which is pervious to moisture and which incorporates a superabsorbent polymer, and that the protective pad has an outer cover, which is pervious to moisture. The superabsorbent polymer may be a cross-linked polyacrylamide.
This invention further contemplates that, when the protective pad is affixed to the protective garment, the moisture absorber covers a region of the outer shell of the protective garment, the outer cover of the protective pad covers the moisture barrier, the outer cover of the protective pad is affixed to the outer cover of the protective garment, at least partly around the moisture absorber, and the outer cover of the protective pad and the outer shell of the protective garment, in the covered region, are adapted to conduct moisture into the moisture absorber, in which the superabsorbent polymer is adapted to absorb much if not all moisture conducted into the moisture absorber.
In a firefighting environment, the protective garment and the protective pad are deluged frequently by water from fire hoses. Moisture, such as water from fire hoses, is absorbed by the moisture absorber, particularly but not exclusively by the superabsorbent polymer, so as to provide a heat-absorbing mass, which enhances thermal protection at the covered region. By judicious placements of protective knee, elbow, and shoulder pads embodying this invention, thermal protection can be enhanced greatly at knees, elbows, and shoulders, which tend to be particularly susceptible to thermal challanges.
Preferably, the moisture absorber has a fibrous matrix incorporating the superabsorbent polymer, as particles in a preferred embodiment. In the preferred embodiment, the fibrous matrix is disposed between an inner cover pervious to moisture and an outer cover pervious to moisture and the inner and outer covers, between which the fibrous matrix is disposed, are quilted so as to segregate discrete regions of the fibrous matrix. Alternatively, the fibrous matrix incorporates fibers of the superabsorbent polymer, rather than particles of the superabsorbent polymer.
Preferably, the outer cover of the protective pad is affixed to the outer shell of is the protective garment, at least partly around the moisture absorber, as by stitching or adhesively. Alternatively, non-metallic fasteners, such as zippers, snap fasteners, or hook-and-loop fasteners, can be used to affix the outer cover of the protective pad to the outer shell of the protective garment. Metallic fasteners, which tend to be heat-conductive, are not favored to affix the outer cover of the protective pad to the outer shell of the protective garment.
Preferably, the outer cover of the protective pad is affixed to the outer shell of the protective garment, at least partly around the moisture absorber, except for a gap enabling the moisture absorber to be withdrawn from a space between the outer cover of the protective pad and the outer cover of the protective garment, to be reinserted into the space therebetween, or to be replaced by a similar absorber to be inserted into the space therebetween. If the superabsorbent polymer is not susceptible to drying for reuse, it is preferable to provide such a gap so as to enable the moisture absorber to be withdrawn, after the moisture absorber has been saturated, and to be replaced.
If such a gap is provided, a non-metallic fastener, such as a hook-and-loop fastener, may be used to fasten the outer cover of the protective pad releasably to the outer shell of the protective garment, across the gap. A metallic fastener, which tends to be heat-conductive is not favored to fasten the outer cover of the protective pad releasably to the outer shell of the protective garment, across the gap.
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Grilliot Mary I.
Grilliot William L.
Reilly John
Calvert John J.
Morning Pride Manufacturing, L.L.C.
Patel Tejash D
Rockey Milnamow & Katz Ltd.
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