Protective Garment Usable with Gas Tank Releasibly Carried by Shoulder Straps and Waist Belt

• US 20090229603A1
• Filed: 04/22/2009
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Stachler, Thomas, Grilliot, Mary, Grilliot, William
• Granted Patent: US 9,776,022 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/202.190
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0007 Garments with built-in harnesses safety harnesses A62B35/00
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 17/00 Protective clothing affording protection against heat or harmful chemical agents or for use at high altitudes protective clothing or garments for work or sport A41D13/00; e.g. overalls A41D13/02, surgical gowns A41D13/12; materials for protecting clothing A41D31/04; protecting eyes or ears A61F9/00; composition of materials for protective clothing A62D5/00; life-saving garments for use at sea B63C; diving suits B63C11/02; flight suits B64D10/00; space suits B64G6/00; bullet-proof clothing F41H1/02
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 17/003 Fire-resistant or fire-fighters' clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 7/00 Respiratory apparatus for medical purposes A61M16/00
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 7/02 with compressed oxygen or air
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/04 Couplings; Supporting frames

Abstract

A system is provided for a firefighter or other emergency worker and includes a protective coat and a self-contained breathing apparatus. The self-contained breathing apparatus includes a regulator connected by a high-pressure hose to a gas tank that is releasibly carried on the coat by shoulder straps and waist straps.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an oxygen/air tank system;

a regulator;

a high pressure hose connected to the tank system and the regulator to provide a flow of oxygen/air from the tank system to the regulator;

an outer shell having a torso covering portion with a back and a front, a pair of sleeves extending from the torso covering portion; and

first and second connector elements, carried spaced apart on the outer shell, releasibly couplable to the tank system.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the high pressure hose extends through an opening in a selected surface of the outer shell.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the high pressure hose extends through a port in the front of the torso covering portion from the interior side of the outer shell to the selected surface of the outer shell.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a low pressure line extending from the regulator to inside of the outer shell to direct expelled air from the regulator to inside of the outer shell.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the low pressure line extends through the port.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the high pressure line extends inside of the low pressure line from inside of the outer shell to the regulator.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the tank system has a flattened cross-section.

8. The system of claim 1 where the tank system carries first and second spaced apart shoulder straps.

9. The system of claim 8 where the tank system carries at least one waist strap.

10. The system of claim 9 where the shoulder straps and waist strap each have a free end with the ends each carrying a releasible connector element.

11. The system of claim 10 where the connector elements are selected from a class which includes linearly engagable connector elements, rotatably engagable connector elements, or overlappingly engagable connector elements.

12. The system of claim 10 where the linearly engagable elements comprise snap-lock type connectors.

13. The system of claim 9 where the tank system carries first and second releasibly engagable waist straps.

14. The system of claim 13 where the waist straps each have a free end which carries a waist connector element when the waist connector elements releasibly engage one another.

15. A protective coat for use with a self-contained breathing apparatus system for a firefighter or other emergency worker, the coat comprising:

an outer shell having a torso covering portion with a back and a front;

a pair of sleeves extending from the torso covering portion; and

first and second releasible connector elements fixed to the outer shell and adapted to releasibly carry an oxygen/air tank system of the self-contained breathing apparatus, an opening extending between a first side of the outer shell to allow passage of a high pressure hose of the self-contained breathing apparatus, and a port in a second surface of the outer shell to allow the high pressure hose to pass from the inside of the outer shell to an exterior of the outer shell for connection with a regulator of the self-containing breathing apparatus.

16. The coat of claim 15 which includes a port for a low-pressure hose connection to the regulator.

17. The coat of claim 16 where the low-pressure hose port surrounds the high-pressure hose port.

18. The coat of claim 16 where the connector elements are selected from a class which includes linearly engagable connector elements, rotatably engagable connector elements, or overlappingly engagable connector elements.

19. A coat as in claim 16 which supports the tank on first and second upper shoulder surfaces and where the tank system carries first and second shoulder straps which overlay respective shoulder surfaces and which releasibly engage the connector elements.

20. A coat as in claim 19 where the connector elements are selected from a class which includes linearly engagable connector elements, rotatably engagable connector elements, or overlappingly engagable connector elements.