# US 5,701,606 A · Firefighter garment with closed-cell foam liner > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,701,606 A - Document ID: US5701606A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/119,473 - Filed: 1993-09-10 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1993-09-10 - Assignees: Lion Apparel, Inc. - Inventors: Donald Aldridge - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5701606A ## CPC - A62B 17/003: {Fire-resistant or fire-fighters' clothes} - A41D 31/085: {using layered materials} - 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) - A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES ## Abstract A firefighter garment having an outer shell and an inner liner functioning as a combined thermal barrier and moisture barrier made of a fire-retardant, closed-cell foam material. The closed-cell foam liner is moisture resistant and at the same time provides adequate thermal insulation. The moisture resistance of the foam liner eliminates the need for a separate moisture barrier, and, in one embodiment, allows the liner to be bonded directly to the outer shell. However, in a preferred embodiment, the inner liner is separate from the shell and includes a fabric substrate of an aramid fiber to which it is bonded. The fabric substrate faces the wearer and prevents abrasion of the foam by the wearer and enhances the tear strength of the foam. Such closed-cell foam material may be used either as a continuous thermal barrier extending throughout the garment and/or in selected areas which require additional padding or thermal resistance. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of manufacturing a firefighter garment comprising the steps of: providing an outer shell of flame retardant and abrasion resistant material; providing an inner liner of a closed-cell foam material attached to a substrate, a combination of said substrate and said foam material being sufficiently fire retardant such that said combination resists melting, dripping, separating and igniting when exposed to temperatures of 500.degree. F. for at least 5 minutes for use in a firefighter garment; and inserting said inner liner within said outer shell. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of bonding said fire retardant, closed-cell foam material to a fire retardant, abrasion resistant substrate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein said bonding step includes the step of bonding a layer of face cloth material to said foam material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of bonding said layer of foam material to said outer shell. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of bonding a layer of fabric material to an inner surface of said foam material, whereby said foam material is protected from abrasion from clothing of a wearer of said garment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein said fabric material comprises face cloth material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said foam material is between about 1/16 inches (1.59 mm) and 3/32 inches (2.38 mm) thick. ### Claim 8 A firefighter garment comprising: an outer shell; a liner made of a continuous, closed-cell foam material sufficiently fire retardant for use in a firefighter garment and a substrate, said foam material being bonded to said substrate such that said substrate provides resistance to tearing and abrasion of said foam material, whereby said liner provides a moisture-resistant thermal protection layer and resists melting, dripping, separating and igniting when exposed to temperatures of 500.degree. F. for at least 5 minutes; and said liner being detached and removable from said outer shell. ### Claim 9 A firefighter garment comprising: an outer shell; a liner made of a closed-cell foam material sufficiently fire retardant for use in a firefighter garment and a substrate, said foam material being bonded to said substrate such that said substrate provides resistance to tearing and abrasion of said foam material, whereby said liner provides a moisture-resistant thermal protection layer and resists melting, dripping, separating and igniting when exposed to temperatures of 500.degree. F. for at least 5 minutes; and wherein said liner extends only in selected portions of less than said entire garment, said liner providing increased resistance to wear and compression. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The garment of claim 9 wherein said liner consists of a plurality of pads of closed-cell foam liner. ### Claim 11 For use with a firefighter garment having an outer shell made of an abrasion-resistant, fire-retardant material suitable for use in a firefighter garment, a combination moisture barrier and thermal liner comprising: a liner shaped to fit within said outer shell and made of a continuous, fire-retardant, closed-cell foam material sufficiently fire retardant for use in a firefighter garment and a substrate, whereby said liner provides a moisture-resistant thermal protection layer and resists melting, dripping, separating and igniting when exposed to temperatures of 500.degree. F. for at least 5 minutes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The liner of claim 11 further comprising a substrate bonded to said closed-cell foam material, said substrate providing resistance to tearing and abrasion of said foam material. ### Claim 13 A firefighter garment comprising: an outer shell made of an abrasion-resistant, flame and heat resistant material suitable for use in a firefighter garment; and a liner made of a continuous, closed-cell foam material sufficiently fire retardant for use in a firefighter garment and a substrate, said foam material being bonded to said substrate such that said substrate provides resistance to tearing and abrasion of said foam material; whereby said liner provides a combined moisture-resistant and thermal protection layer for said wearer and resists melting, dripping, separating and igniting when exposed to temperatures of 500.degree. F. for at least 5 minutes. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The garment of claim 2 wherein said substrate includes a layer of face cloth material positioned between said liner and a wearer of said garment, whereby said face cloth prevents abrasion of an inner surface of said garment by clothing of a wearer of said garment. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The garment of claim 14 wherein said layer of face cloth material is bonded to said liner. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The garment of claim 13 wherein said layer of closed-cell foam is between about 1/16 inches (1.59 mm) and 3/32 inches (2.38 mm) thick. ### Claim 17 A firefighter garment comprising: an outer shell made of an abrasion-resistant, flame and heat resistant material selected from the group consisting of aramid fibers and polybenzimidazole fibers suitable for use in a firefighter garment; and a liner made of a continuous, fire retardant, closed-cell foam material sufficiently fire retardant for use in a firefighter garment and a substrate, said foam material being bonded to said substrate such that said substrate provides resistance to tearing and abrasion of said foam material; whereby said liner provides a combined moisture-resistant and thermal protection layer for said wearer and resists melting, dripping, separating and igniting when exposed to temperatures of 500.degree. F. for at least 5 minutes.