Outer shell with spacer pads for firefighter protective garments and firefighter protective garments including the same

Abstract

There is provided a garment including: a first liner defining an innermost layer; a second liner extending over the first liner; an outer shell defining an outermost layer and extending over the second liner, the outer shell having an inner surface; and an array of spacer pads distributed across the inner surface of the outer shell, the array of spacer pads being positioned to maintain a gap between the second liner and the outer shell, each spacer pad of the array of spacer pads being separated one from another by at least one air circulation channel. The garment may include a mesh fabric extending over the array of spacer pads and extending over at least one portion of the inner surface of the outer shell, the mesh fabric decreasing the THL value of the firefighter protective garment and increasing the TPP value of the firefighter protective coat.

1 . A firefighter protective garment, comprising:
 a first liner defining an innermost layer of the firefighter protective garment;   a second liner extending over the first liner;   an outer shell defining an outermost layer of the firefighter protective garment and extending over the second liner, the outer shell having an inner surface and an outer surface; and   an array of spacer pads distributed across the inner surface of the outer shell, the array of spacer pads being positioned to maintain a gap between the second liner and the outer shell, each spacer pad of the array of spacer pads being separated one from another by at least one air circulation channel.   
     
     
         2 . The firefighter protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first liner is a thermal barrier. 
     
     
         3 . The firefighter protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein the second liner is a moisture barrier. 
     
     
         4 . The firefighter protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein the array of spacer pads is distributed into first and second neighboring columns in a back region of the firefighter's body. 
     
     
         5 . The firefighter protective garment of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second neighboring columns each comprises 6 spacer pads. 
     
     
         6 . The firefighter protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein the array of spacer pads is distributed into first, second and third neighboring groups in a waist region of the firefighter's body. 
     
     
         7 . The firefighter protective garment of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first neighboring group comprises 2 spacer pads positioned in a right section of the waist region;   the second neighboring group comprises 2 spacer pads positioned in a central section of the waist region; and   the third neighboring group comprises 2 spacer pads positioned in a left section of the waist region.   
     
     
         8 . The firefighter protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein the array of spacer pads is permeable to air, water vapor and liquid water. 
     
     
         9 . The firefighter protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein each spacer pad is made of closed cell foam. 
     
     
         10 . The firefighter protective garment of  claim 9 , wherein the closed cell foam of said spacer pads comprises at least one perforation therein. 
     
     
         11 . The firefighter protective garment of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one perforation has a diameter of about 0.5 inch. 
     
     
         12 . The firefighter protective garment of  claim 1 , further comprising a mesh fabric at least partially covering each spacer pad, the mesh fabric decreasing the THL value of the firefighter protective garment and increasing the TPP value of the firefighter protective coat. 
     
     
         13 . The firefighter protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein the gap is aligned with areas of high rates of perspiration and metabolic heat transfer of a firefighter's body. 
     
     
         14 . The firefighter protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein the firefighter protective garment comprises a firefighter protective coat. 
     
     
         15 . The firefighter protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein the firefighter protective garment comprises firefighter protective pants. 
     
     
         16 . A firefighter protective garment, comprising:
 a first liner defining an innermost layer of the firefighter protective garment;   a second liner extending over the first liner;   an outer shell defining an outermost layer of the firefighter protective garment and extending over the second liner, the outer shell having an inner surface and an outer surface;   an array of spacer pads distributed across the inner surface of the outer shell, the array of spacer pads being positioned to maintain a gap between the second liner and the outer shell, each spacer pad of the array of spacer pads being separated one from another by at least one air circulation channel; and   a mesh fabric at least partially extending over the array of spacer pads and extending over at least one portion of the inner surface of the outer shell, said at least one portion being aligned with areas of high rates of perspiration and metabolic heat transfer of a firefighter's body when the firefighter protective garment is worn by the firefighter, wherein the areas of high rates of perspiration and metabolic heat transfer comprise at least one of: the front torso of the firefighter, the back of the firefighter, a side torso of the firefighter, arms of the firefighter, or upper legs of the firefighter, the mesh fabric decreasing the THL value of the firefighter protective garment and increasing the TPP value of the firefighter protective coat.   
     
     
         17 . The firefighter protective garment of  claim 16 , wherein the first liner is a thermal barrier and the second liner is a moisture barrier. 
     
     
         18 . The firefighter protective garment of  claim 16 , wherein the array of spacer pads is distributed into:
 first and second neighboring columns in a back region of the firefighter's body; and   first, second and third neighboring groups in a waist region of the firefighter's body.   
     
     
         19 . The firefighter protective garment of  claim 16 , wherein the gap is aligned with areas of high rates of perspiration and metabolic heat transfer of a firefighter's body. 
     
     
         20 . An outer shell for a firefighter protective garment, the firefighter protective garment comprising at least one liner, the outer shell comprising:
 an inner surface contacting said at least one liner when the outer shell is attached to said at least one liner;   an outer surface defining an outermost surface of the firefighter protective garment; and   an array of spacer pads distributed across the inner surface of the outer shell, the array of spacer pads being positioned to maintain a gap between said at least one liner and the outer shell, each spacer pad of the array of spacer pads being separated one from another by at least one air circulation channel.