PROTECTIVE TROUSERS WITH CURVED EXTREMITY AND INSEAM
Disclosed is a protective garment that includes a lower portion having a pair of extremities each having a knee joint area connected to an upper leg portion by an upper radial seam and connected to a lower leg portion by a lower radial seam. The knee joint area of each extremity also has an inseam insert connected between the upper and lower radial seams.
1 . A protective garment comprising:
a lower portion having a pair of extremities each comprising a knee joint area connected to an upper leg portion by an upper radial seam and connected to a lower leg portion by a lower radial seam, the knee joint area comprising a feature to attribute a permanent bend to the extremity at the knee joint area and an insert of material forming at least a portion of an inseam extending from the upper radial seam toward the cuff of the extremity.
2 . The protective garment of claim 1 , wherein each knee joint area further comprises an outer knee joint section having the feature to attribute the permanent bend to the extremity and an inner knee joint section connected to opposing sides of the insert of material.
3 . The protective garment of claim 2 , further comprising a crotch strip connecting the pair of extremities to provide a seamless crotch therebetween.
4 . The protective garment of claim 3 , wherein the crotch strip is continuous from the upper radial seam of one extremity to the upper radial seam of the other extremity.
5 . The protective garment of claim 2 , wherein the feature in the outer knee joint section is a generally triangular-shaped fold permanently formed in portions of the material.
6 . The protective garment of claim 5 , wherein the generally triangular-shaped fold extends generally radially inward into a material defining the outer knee joint section from a periphery thereof, and the periphery is connected to the side of the inseam insert connected to the outer knee joint section.
7 . The protective garment of claim 2 , wherein the feature is a seam that joins together two fold lines within a material defining the outer knee joint section, thereby forming a remainder portion of the material extending away from the seam.
8 . The protective garment of claim 7 , wherein the seam extends generally radially inward into the material from a periphery thereof, and the periphery is coupled to a side of the inseam insert that extends between the upper and lower radial inseams.
9 . The protective garment of claim 2 , wherein the feature in the outer knee joint section defines a joint axis therein, and further comprises a protective pad located thereon to bend about the joint axis.
10 . The protective garment of claim 9 , wherein the protective pad includes an outer perimeter and a pair of generally aligned notches formed in opposing edges thereof, wherein the notches are positioned along the joint axis.
11 . The protective garment of claim 1 , wherein the lower portion meets National Fire Protection Association 1971 standards for protective firefighting garments.
12 . The protective garment of claim 1 , wherein the lower portion includes an outer shell that is abrasion, flame and heat resistant.
13 . The protective garment of claim 12 , wherein the outer shell resists igniting, burning, melting, dripping or separation when exposed to a temperature of 500° F. for five minutes.
14 . The protective garment of claim 13 , further comprising a moisture barrier located generally inside of the outer shell such that when the garment is worn the moisture barrier is located generally between the outer shell and a wearer of the garment, the moisture barrier being made of a material that is generally liquid impermeable and generally moisture vapor permeable.
15 . The protective garment of claim 13 , further comprising a thermal liner located generally inside the outer shell such that when the garment is worn the thermal liner is located generally between the outer shell and a wearer of the garment.
16 . A protective garment comprising:
a bottom part comprising:
a torso portion capable of receiving a lower portion of a wearer's torso;
leg-receiving extremity portions extending from the torso portion, the leg-receiving extremity portions each having a knee joint area comprising at least one seam that provides the leg-receiving extremity portion with a natural bend and an upper leg portion between the knee joint area and the torso portion;
a crotch strip connecting the upper leg portions of both leg-receiving extremity portions to provide a seamless crotch, the crotch strip having a first end and a second end; and
a first inseam insert permanently coupled to the first end of the crotch strip as a first junction and a second inseam insert permanently coupled to the second end of the crotch strip as a second junction,
wherein the first junction is part of a first radial inseam at the top of the knee joint area of one leg-receiving extremity and the second junction is part of a second radial inseam at the top of the knee joint area of the other leg receiving extremity.
17 . A method for assembling a protective garment having a generally tubular extremity comprising:
providing an upper leg portion and a lower leg portion;
providing a first piece of material;
forming a seam in the first piece of material such that the seam imparts a permanent curvature to the first piece of material;
providing an inseam insert;
coupling the inseam insert to the first piece of material to form a first knee joint assembly; and
coupling the first knee joint assembly between the upper leg portion and the lower leg portion.