# US 10,245,454 B2 · Firefighter protective garment having a thermal barrier with spacers to increase dissipation of metabolic heat > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,454 B2 - Document ID: US10245454B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/343,418 - Filed: 2016-11-04 - Published: 2017-05-04 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-04 - Assignees: Innotex Inc. - Applicants: Innotex Inc. - Inventors: Claude Barbeau; Eric St-Arneault; Maxime Bigonnesse - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245454B2 ## CPC - A41D 31/145: {using layered materials} - A41D 13/0056: {using evaporative effect} - A41D 27/04: Removable linings - A41D 31/08: Heat resistant; Fire retardant - A41D 31/085: {using layered materials} - A41D 31/12: Hygroscopic; Water retaining - A41F 19/00: Garment suspenders not otherwise provided for - A62B 17/003: {Fire-resistant or fire-fighters' clothes} - A62B 17/005: {Active or passive body temperature control} - A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES - A41F: GARMENT FASTENINGS; SUSPENDERS - A62B: DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING (valves specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; life-saving devices, apparatus or methods specially adapted for use in water B63C9/00; divers' equipment B63C11/00; specially adopted for use with aircraft, e.g. parachutes, ejector seats, {B64D17/00, B64D25/10}; rescue devices peculiar to mining E21F11/00) ## Abstract A firefighter's protective garment including an outer shell, moisture barrier and thermal barrier in which the thermal barrier is constructed with spacers on its inner surface such that air can circulate between the garment and the firefighter wearing it. The garment redistributes metabolic heat over a larger surface area, and increases metabolic cooling and firefighter comfort. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the spacers are strategically attached to those areas of the thermal barrier which find themselves opposite those parts of the human body having the highest rates of perspiration and metabolic heat transfer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A firefighter protective coat comprising: a plurality of superimposed layers, the plurality of superimposed layers comprising: an outer shell defining an outermost layer of the firefighter protective coat; a moisture barrier inwardly affixed to the outer shell; and a thermal barrier inwardly affixed to the moisture barrier, the thermal barrier defining an innermost layer of the plurality of superimposed layers; and an array of spacer pads inwardly affixed to the thermal barrier, the array of spacer pads being configured to maintain a gap between the thermal barrier and a firefighter's body when the firefighter protective coat is worn by the firefighter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The firefighter protective coat 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. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The firefighter protective coat of claim 2, wherein the first and second neighboring columns each comprises five spacer pads. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The firefighter protective coat 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. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The firefighter protective coat of claim 4, wherein: the first neighboring group comprises three spacer pads positioned in a right section of the waist region; the second neighboring group comprises one spacer pad positioned in a central section of the waist region; and the third neighboring group comprises three spacer pads positioned in a left section of the waist region. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The firefighter protective coat of claim 1, wherein the array of spacer pads is permeable to air, water vapor and liquid water. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The firefighter protective coat of claim 1, wherein each spacer pad is made of closed cell foam. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The firefighter protective coat of claim 7, wherein the closed cell foam of said spacer pads comprises perforations therein. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The firefighter protective coat of claim 8, wherein said perforations have a diameter of about 0.5 inch. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The firefighter protective coat of claim 1, wherein the array of spacer pads comprises a fire-resistant mesh fabric covering said spacer pads. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The firefighter protective coat of claim 1, wherein the array of spacer pads partially covers an inner surface of the thermal barrier. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The firefighter protective coat of claim 1, wherein the gap is aligned with areas of high rates of perspiration and metabolic heat transfer of a firefighter's body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The firefighter coat of claim 1, wherein each spacer pad meets performance requirements of a NFPA 1971 standard. ### Claim 14 A firefighter protective coat comprising: a plurality of superimposed layers, the plurality of superimposed layers comprising: an outer shell defining an outermost layer of the firefighter protective coat; a moisture barrier inwardly affixed to the outer shell; a thermal barrier inwardly affixed to the moisture barrier, the thermal barrier defining an innermost layer of the plurality of superimposed layers; and an array of spacer pads inwardly affixed to the thermal barrier; and a network of air circulation channels separating neighboring spacer pads from one another. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The firefighter protective coat of claim 14, wherein the network of air circulation channels comprises: a main central channel extending along a spine of the firefighter's body; and a plurality of auxiliary channels, each one of the plurality of auxiliary channels being in fluid communication with the main central channel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The firefighter protective coat of claim 14, wherein the array of spacer pads is configured to maintain a gap between the thermal barrier and a firefighter's body when the firefighter protective coat is worn by the firefighter. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The firefighter protective coat of claim 14, wherein the array of spacer pads is distributed into first and second neighboring columns in a back region of the firefighter's body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The firefighter protective coat of claim 17, wherein the first and second neighboring columns each comprises five spacer pads. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The firefighter protective coat of claim 14, wherein the array of spacer pads is distributed into first, second and third neighboring groups in a waist region of the firefighter's body. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The firefighter protective coat of claim 19, wherein: the first neighboring group comprises three spacer pads positioned in a right section of the waist region; the second neighboring group comprises one spacer pad positioned in a central section of the waist region; and the third neighboring group comprises three spacer pads positioned in a left section of the waist region. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The firefighter protective coat of claim 14, wherein the array of spacer pads is permeable to air, water vapor and liquid water. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The firefighter protective coat of claim 14, wherein each spacer pad is made of closed cell foam. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The firefighter protective coat of claim 22, wherein the closed cell foam of said spacer pads comprises perforations therein. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The firefighter protective coat of claim 23, wherein said perforations have a diameter of about 0.5 inch. ### Claim 25 (depends on 14) The firefighter protective coat of claim 14, wherein the array of spacer pads comprises a fire-resistant mesh fabric covering said spacer pads. ### Claim 26 (depends on 14) The firefighter protective coat of claim 14, wherein the array of spacer pads partially covers an inner surface of the thermal barrier. ### Claim 27 (depends on 14) The firefighter protective coat of claim 14, wherein the gap is aligned with areas of high rates of perspiration and metabolic heat transfer of a firefighter's body. ### Claim 28 (depends on 14) The firefighter coat of claim 14, wherein each spacer pad meets performance requirements of a NFPA 1971 standard. ### Claim 29 A firefighter protective coat comprising: a plurality of superimposed layers, the plurality of superimposed layers comprising: an outer shell defining an outermost layer of the firefighter protective coat; a moisture barrier inwardly affixed to the outer shell; and a thermal barrier inwardly affixed to the moisture barrier, the thermal barrier defining an innermost layer of the plurality of superimposed layers; and an array of spacer pads inwardly affixed to the thermal barrier, each spacer pad of said array being made of closed cell foam, the spacer pads being covered by a fire-resistant mesh fabric. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The firefighter protective coat of claim 29, wherein the closed cell foam of said spacer pads comprises perforations therein. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The firefighter protective coat of claim 30, wherein said perforations have a diameter of about 0.5 inch. ### Claim 32 (depends on 29) The firefighter protective coat of claim 29, wherein the array of spacer pads is distributed into first and second neighboring columns in a back region of the firefighter's body. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The firefighter protective coat of claim 32, wherein the first and second neighboring columns each comprises five spacer pads. ### Claim 34 (depends on 29) The firefighter protective coat of claim 29, wherein the array of spacer pads is distributed into first, second and third neighboring groups in a waist region of the firefighter's body. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The firefighter protective coat of claim 34, wherein: the first neighboring group comprises three spacer pads positioned in a right section of the waist region; the second neighboring group comprises one spacer pad positioned in a central section of the waist region; and the third neighboring group comprises three spacer pads positioned in a left section of the waist region. ### Claim 36 A firefighter apparel comprising: a firefighter protective coat comprising: a plurality of superimposed layers, the plurality of superimposed layers comprising: an outer shell defining an outermost layer of the firefighter protective coat; a moisture barrier inwardly affixed to the outer shell; and a thermal barrier inwardly affixed to the moisture barrier, the thermal barrier defining an innermost layer of the plurality of superimposed layers, suspenders having a back portion; a support frame affixed to the suspenders, the support frame extending in the back portion of the suspenders; and an array of spacer pads inwardly affixed to the support frame, the array of spacer pads being configured to maintain a gap between the support frame and a firefighter's body when the firefighter garment is worn by the firefighter. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The firefighter apparel of claim 36, further comprising a network of air circulation channels separating neighboring spacer pads from one another and being configured to allow air circulation therein. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The firefighter apparel of claim 37, wherein the network of air circulation channels comprises: a main central channel extending along a spine of the firefighter's body; and a plurality of auxiliary channels, each one of the plurality of auxiliary channels being in fluid communication with the main central channel. ### Claim 39 (depends on 36) The firefighter apparel of claim 36, wherein the array of spacer pads is distributed into first and second neighboring columns in a back region of the firefighter's body. ### Claim 40 (depends on 37) The firefighter apparel of claim 37, wherein the first and second neighboring columns each comprises five spacer pads. ### Claim 41 (depends on 36) The firefighter apparel of claim 36, wherein the array of spacer pads is distributed into first, second and third neighboring groups in a waist region of the firefighter's body. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The firefighter apparel of claim 41, wherein: the first neighboring group comprises three spacer pads positioned in a right section of the waist region; the second neighboring group comprises one spacer pad positioned in a central section of the waist region; and the third neighboring group comprises three spacer pads positioned in a left section of the waist region. ### Claim 43 (depends on 36) The firefighter apparel of claim 36, wherein the array of spacer pads is permeable to air, water vapor and liquid water. ### Claim 44 (depends on 36) The firefighter apparel of claim 36, wherein each spacer pad is made of closed cell foam. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The firefighter apparel of claim 44, wherein the closed cell foam of said spacer pads comprises perforations therein. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The firefighter apparel of claim 45, wherein said perforations have a diameter of about 0.5 inch. ### Claim 47 (depends on 36) The firefighter apparel of claim 36, wherein the array of spacer pads comprises a fire-resistant mesh fabric covering said spacer pads. ### Claim 48 (depends on 36) The firefighter apparel of claim 36, wherein the array of spacer pads partially covers an inner surface of the thermal barrier. ### Claim 49 (depends on 36) The firefighter apparel of claim 36, wherein the gap is aligned with areas of high rates of perspiration and metabolic heat transfer of a firefighter's body. ### Claim 50 (depends on 36) The firefighter apparel of claim 36, wherein each spacer pad meets performance requirements of a NFPA 1971 standard. ### Claim 51 A firefighter apparel comprising a firefighter protective coat, the firefighter protective coat comprising a plurality of superimposed layers, the plurality of superimposed layers comprising an outer shell defining an outermost layer of the firefighter protective coat, a moisture barrier inwardly affixed to the outer shell, and a thermal barrier inwardly affixed to the moisture barrier, the thermal barrier defining an innermost layer of the plurality of superimposed layers, the firefighter apparel comprising: suspenders having a back portion; a support frame affixed to the suspenders, the support frame extending in the back portion of the suspenders; and an array of spacer pads inwardly affixed to the support frame, the array of spacer pads being configured maintain a gap between the support frame and a firefighter's body when the firefighter garment is worn by the firefighter. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) The firefighter apparel of claim 51, further comprising a network of air circulation channels separating neighboring spacer pads from one another and being configured to allow air circulation therein. ### Claim 53 (depends on 52) The firefighter apparel of claim 52, wherein the network of air circulation channels comprises: a main central channel extending along a spine of the firefighter's body; and a plurality of auxiliary channels, each one of the plurality of auxiliary channels being in fluid communication with the main central channel. ### Claim 54 (depends on 51) The firefighter apparel of claim 51, wherein the array of spacer pads is distributed into first and second neighboring columns in a back region of the firefighter's body. ### Claim 55 (depends on 54) The firefighter apparel of claim 54, wherein the first and second neighboring columns each comprises five spacer pads. ### Claim 56 (depends on 51) The firefighter apparel of claim 51, wherein the array of spacer pads is distributed into first, second and third neighboring groups in a waist region of the firefighter's body. ### Claim 57 (depends on 56) The firefighter apparel of claim 56, wherein: the first neighboring group comprises three spacer pads positioned in a right section of the waist region; the second neighboring group comprises one spacer pad positioned in a central section of the waist region; and the third neighboring group comprises three spacer pads positioned in a left section of the waist region. ### Claim 58 (depends on 51) The firefighter apparel of claim 51, wherein the array of spacer pads is permeable to air, water vapor and liquid water. ### Claim 59 (depends on 51) The firefighter apparel of claim 51, wherein each spacer pad is made of closed cell foam. ### Claim 60 (depends on 59) The firefighter apparel of claim 59, wherein the closed cell foam of said spacer pads comprises perforations therein. ### Claim 61 (depends on 60) The firefighter apparel of claim 60, wherein said perforations have a diameter of about 0.5 inch. ### Claim 62 (depends on 51) The firefighter apparel of claim 51, wherein the array of spacer pads comprises a fire-resistant mesh fabric covering said spacer pads. ### Claim 63 (depends on 53) The firefighter apparel of claim 53, wherein the array of spacer pads partially covers an inner surface of the thermal barrier. ### Claim 64 (depends on 53) The firefighter apparel of claim 53, wherein the gap is aligned with areas of high rates of perspiration and metabolic heat transfer of a firefighter's body. ### Claim 65 The firefighter apparel 53, wherein each spacer pad meets performance requirements of a NFPA 1971 standard.