PROTECTIVE GARMENT WITH SUPERABSORBENT POLYMER LAYER

VETEMENT PROTECTEUR AVEC COUCHE POLYMERE SUPERABSORBANTE

English Abstract

A composite structure for a protective garment, such as a pair of bunker
pants for a firefighter, a bunker coat for a firefighter, or a glove for a
firefighter,
has a moisture absorber, a moisture barrier disposed outwardly in relation to
the
moisture absorber, and an outer shell disposed outwardly in relation to the
moisture barrier. The moisture absorber has a fibrous matrix incorporating a
superabsorbent polymer, as particles or as fibers, and is disposed between an
inner
cover pervious to moisture and an outer cover. The inner and outer covers may
be
quilted so as to segregate discrete regions of the fibrous matrix. In one
contemplated embodiment, the moisture barrier is affixed to the outer. In
another
contemplated embodiment, the the moisture barrier is affixed to the outer
cover of
the moisture absorber. In other contemplated embodiments, a thermally
insulative
layer comprising an inner cover, an outer cover, and a filler disposed between
the
inner and outer covers, which may be quilted, is interposed between the
moisture
absorber and the moisture barrier.

French Abstract

Une structure composite destinée à la fabrication de vêtements protecteurs, par exemple des pantalons de feu pour les pompiers, des imperméables de feu pour les pompiers, ou des gants pour les pompiers, possède un absorbeur d'humidité, une barrière contre l'humidité par-dessus l'absorbeur, et une coquille externe par-dessus la barrière contre l'humidité. L'absorbeur d'humidité possède une matrice fibreuse renfermant un polymère superabsorbant, sous forme de particules ou de fibres, et il est placé entre une couche interne perméable à l'humidité et une couche externe. Les couches interne et externe peuvent être piquées de manière à ce que certaines zones de la matrice fibreuse soient isolées. Dans l'une des applications envisagées, la barrière contre l'humidité est fixée sur la couche externe. Dans une autre application envisagée, la barrière contre l'humidité est fixée sur la face externe de l'absorbeur d'humidité. Dans d'autres applications envisagées, une couche thermo-isolante comportant un revêtement interne, un revêtement externe, et une garniture entre les deux, laquelle peut être piquée, s'interpose entre l'absorbeur d'humidité et la barrière contre l'humidité.

Claims

Claims



1. For a protective garment, a composite structure having a moisture

absorber, a moisture barrier disposed outwardly in relation to the moisture
absorber, and an outer shell disposed outwardly in relation to the moisture
barrier,
wherein the moisture absorber incorporates a superabsorbent polymer.


2. The composite structure of claim I wherein the moisture absorber has a
fibrous matrix incorporating the superabsorbent polymer.


3. The composite structure of claim 1 wherein the moisture absorber has a
fibrous matrix incorporating particles of the superabsorbent polymer.

4. The composite structure of claim 1 wherein the moisture absorber has a
fibrous matrix incorporating fibers of the superabsorbent polymer.


5. The composite structure of claim 2 wherein the fibrous matrix is
disposed between an inner cover pervious to moisture and an outer cover.

6. The composite structure of claim 5 wherein the inner and outer covers,
between which the fibrous matrix is disposed, is quilted so as to segregate
discrete
regions of the fibrous matrix.

7. The composite structure of claim 3 wherein the fibrous matrix is
disposed between an inner cover pervious to moisture and an outer cover.

8. The composite structure of claim 7 wherein the inner and outer covers,
between which the fibrous matrix is disposed, is quilted so as to segregate
discrete
regions of the fibrous matrix.

9. The composite structure of claim 4 wherein the fibrous matrix is
disposed between an inner cover pervious to moisture and an outer cover.


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10. The composite structure of claim 9 wherein the inner and outer covers,
between which the fibrous matrix is disposed, is quilted so as to segregate
discrete
regions of the fibrous matrix.

11. The composite structure of any one of claims 1 through 10 wherein the
moisture barrier is affixed to the outer shell so as to have surface-to-
surface
adhesion between an outer surface of the moisture barrier and an inner surface
of
the outer shell.

12. The composite structure of any one of claims 1 through 10 wherein the
moisture barrier is affixed to the outer cover of the moisture absorber so as
to have
surface-to-surface adhesion between an inner surface of the moisture barrier
and
an outer surface of the outer cover of the moisture absorber.

13. The composite structure of any one of claims 1 through 10 wherein a
thermally insulative layer is interposed between the moisture absorber and the

moisture barrier.

14. The composite structure of claim 13 wherein the moisture barrier is
affixed to the outer shell so as to have surface-to-surface adhesion between
an
outer surface of the moisture barrier and an inner surface of the outer shell.

15. The composite structure of claim 13 wherein the moisture barrier is
affixed to the thermally insulative layer so as to have surface-to-surface
adhesion
between an outer surface of the thermally insulative layer and an inner
surface of
the moisture barrier.


16. The composite structure of any one of claims 1 through 10 wherein a
thermally insulative layer comprising an inner cover, an outer cover, and a
filler
disposed between the inner and outer covers of the thermally insulative layers
is
interposed between the moisture absorber and the moisture barrier.



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17. The composite structure of claim 16 wherein the moisture barrier is
affixed to the outer cover of the thermally -insulative layer so as to have
surface-to-
surface adhesion between an outer surface of the outer cover of the thermally
insulative layer and an inner surface of the moisture barrier.



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Description

CA 02394087 2009-08-17
23158-1807

Title of the Invention

PROTECTIVE GARMENT WITH SUPERABSORBENT POLYMER LAYER
Technical Field of the Invention

This invention pertains to a composite structure for a protective garment,

such as a pair of bunker pants for a firefighter, a bunker coat for a
firefighter, or a
glove for a firefighter. This invention contemplates that the composite
structure
incorporates a superabsorbent polymer.

Background of the Invention

Commonly, in a firefighting environment, a firefighter wearing protective
garments, such as bunker pants, a bunker coat, and gloves, sweats copiously
within such garments, whereby the firefighter is exposed to severe stresses
due to
sweating, as well as to severe stresses due to firefighting. Such stresses are
known
to contribute significantly to fatigue, injuries, and fatalities among
firefighters.

This invention addresses an ascertained need for a composite structure, from
which such garments could be made and which would employ a superabsorbent
polymer to absorb copious amounts of human sweat, whereby to reduce such
stresses due to sweating.

Usage 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.
Patent
No. 5,885,912 to Bumberger.

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CA 02394087 2002-07-18
Summary of the Invention

This invention provides a composite structure for a protective garment, such
as a pair of bunker pants for a firefighter, a bunker coat for a firefighter,
or a glove
for a firefighter. The composite structure has a moisture absorber, a moisture

barrier disposed outwardly in relation to the moisture absorber, and an outer
shell
disposed outwardly in relation to the moisture barrier. The moisture absorber
incorporates a superabsorbent polymer.
Preferably, the moisture absorber has a fibrous matrix incorporating the
superabsorbent polymer, as particles or as fibers. Preferably, the fibrous
matrix is
disposed between an inner cover, which is moisture-pervious, and an outer
cover,
which is moisture-pervious or moisture-impervious. Preferably, the inner and
outer covers, between which the fibrous matrix is disposed, is quilted so as
to
segregate discrete regions of the fibrous matrix.
In one contemplated embodiment, the moisture barrier is affixed to the outer
shell so as to have surface-to-surface adhesion between an outer surface of
the
moisture barrier and an inner surface of the outer shell. Thus, the moisture
barrier
may be a moisture-impervious layer, e.g. a neoprene layer, which is laminated
to
the inner surface of the outer shell, or a moisture-impervious layer, e.g. a
Breathe
TexT"' layer, which is coated on the inner surface of the outer shell. In an
alternative embodiment, the moisture barrier is affixed to the outer cover of
the
moisture.absorber so as to have surface-to-surface adhesion between an inner
surface of the moisture barrier and an outer surface of the outer cover of the
moisture absorber.
In alternative embodiments, a thermally insulative layer is interposeu

between the moisture absorber and the moisture barrier. The thermally
insulative
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CA 02394087 2002-07-18

layer may have a conventional construction so as to comprise an inner cover,
an
outer cover, and a filler, which is interposed between the inner and outer
covers.
The inner and outer covers may be quilted so as to segregate discrete portions
of
the filler.

In one contemplated embodiment employing the thermally insulative layer,
the moisture barrier is affixed to the outer shell so as to have surface-to-
surface
adhesion between an outer surface of the moisture barrier and an inner surface
of
the outer shell. In an alternative embodiment employing the thermally
insulative
layer, the moisture barrier is affixed to the thermally insulative layer so as
to have

surface-to-surface adhesion between an outer surface of the thermally
insulative
layer and an inner surface of the moisture barrier. In the latter embodiment
employing the thermally insulative layer, if the thermally insulative layer
has the
conventional construction noted above, the moisture barrier may be so affixed
to
the outer cover of the thermally insulative layer.
Hereinbefore and hereinafter, moisture refers to any predominantly aqueous
liquid, particularly but not exclusively water or human sweat. Hereinbefore
and
hereinafter, terms such as inner, outer, inwardly, and outwardly are employed
from
a standpoint of a wearer of a protective garment.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively, are fragmentary, cross-sectional views
of composite structures, each constituting one contemplated embodiment of this
invention. In the respective embodiments shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4,
similar
elements are designated by similar numbers.

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CA 02394087 2002-07-18

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiments

As shown in Figure 1, a composite structure 10 for a'protective garment,
such as a pair of bunker pants for a firefighter, a bunker coat for a
firefighter, or a
glove for a firefighter, is made from fire-resistant materials and has a
moisture
absorber 20, a moisture barrier 30 disposed outwardly in relation to the
moisture
absorber 20, and an outer shell 40 disposed outwardly in relation to the
moisture
barrier 30. As explained below, the moisture absorber 20 incorporates a
superabsorbent polymer, which may be a cross-linked polyacrylamide and which
can absorb copious amounts of human sweat.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the moisture barrier 30 is affixed to
the outer shell 40 so as to have surface-to-surface adhesion between an outer
surface 32 of the moisture barrier 30 and an inner surface 42 of the outer
shell 40.
Thus, the moisture barrier 30 may be a moisture-impervious layer, e.g. a
neoprene
layer, which is laminated to the inner surface 42 of the outer shell 40, or a

moisture-impervious layer, e.g. a Breathe Tex' layer, which is coated on the
inner
surface 42 of the outer shell 40.

As shown in Figure 1, the moisture absorber 20 has a fibrous matrix 22
incorporating particles 24 of the superabsorbent polymer. Alternatively, the
fibrous matrix 22 incorporates fibers of the superabsorbent polymer. The
fibrous

matrix 22 is disposed between an inner cover 50, which is moisture-pervious,
and
an outer cover 60, which is moisture-pervious. The covers 50, 60, between
which
the fibrous matrix 22 is disposed, are textile layers, which are quilted to
segregate
discrete regions of the fibrous matrix 22.

Examples of superabsorbent polymers and processes for their incorporation
into fibrous matrices are disclosed in prior patents including U.S. Patent No.

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CA 02394087 2009-08-17
23158-1807

3,670,731 to Harmon, U.S. Patent No. 4,105,033 to Chaterjee et al, U.S. Patent
No. 4,235,237 to Mesek et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,429,001 'to Kolpin et al.,
U.S.
Patent No. 4,985,298 to Buckley et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,087,513 to Kim, U.S.
Patent No 5,328,759 to McCormack et al., and U.S. Patent No. 5,419,955 to

Ehrhardt et al.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the moisture barrier 30 is not affixed
to the outer shell 40 so as to have surface-to-surface adhesion, as described
above.
Rather, the moisture barrier 20 is affixed to the outer cover 60 of the
moisture
absorber 20 so as to have surface-to-surface adhesion between an inner surface
34

of the moisture barrier 30 and an outer surface 62 of the outer cover 60 of
the
moisture absorber 20. Thus, the moisture barrier 30 may be a moisture-
impervious
layer, e.g. a neoprene layer, which is laminated to the outer surface 62 of
the outer
cover 60 of the moisture absorber 20, or a moisture-impervious, layer, e.g. a

Breathe TexT' layer, which is coated on the outer cover 60 of the moisture
absorber 20.
In each of the embodiments shown in Figures 3 and 4, a thermally insulative
layer 70 is interposed between the moisture absorber 20 and the moisture
barrier
30. The thermally insulative layer 70 has a conventional construction so as to
comprise an inner cover 80, an outer cover 90, and a filler 100, which is
thermally

insulative and which is disposed between the covers 80, 90. The covers 80, 90,
are quilted so as to segregate discrete regions of the filler 100.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the moisture barrier 30 is affixed to
the outer shell 40, as in the embodiment shown in Figure 1 and described
above.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the moisture barrier 40 is affixed to the

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CA 02394087 2002-07-18

outer cover 90 so as to have surface-to-surface adhesion between an outer
surface
92 of the outer cover 90 and the inner surface 34 of the moisture barrier '30.

In each of the embodiments shown and described, the superabsorbent
polymer can absorb copious amounts of human sweat, whereby to reduce sweat-
caused stresses on a firefighter wearing a protective garment made from the

composite material. .-Desirably, in each of the embodiments shown and
described,
a protective garment comprising the composite structure is made so that the
composite structure can be easily removed for drying, or for laundering and
drying, and so- that the removed structure can be easily replaced.

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Representative Drawing