Water resistant protective garment for fire fighters

A protective garment suitable for use by fire fighters, said protective garment comprising:

• an inner lining configured to cover a predetermined portion of a wearer's body, the inner lining being positioned so as to be adjacent said wearer's body during use;
• an outer shell covering said inner lining, the outer shell comprising a woven fabric made from a fire resistant material, the woven fabric having a basis weight of at least about 5.5 ounces per square yard;
• and
• a durable water resistant composition incorporated into the woven fabric, the durable water resistant composition being incorporated into the woven fabric such that the outer shell has a water absorption rating of less than about 8% after being laundered five laundry cycles.

A protective garment suitable for use by fire fighters, said protective garment comprising:

• an inner lining configured to cover a predetermined portion of a wearer's body, the inner lining being positioned so as to be adjacent said wearer's body during use;
• an outer shell covering said inner lining, the outer shell comprising a woven fabric made from a fire resistant material, the woven fabric having a basis weight of at least about 5.5 ounces per square yard;
• and
• a durable water resistant composition incorporated into the woven fabric, the durable water resistant composition being incorporated into the woven fabric such that the outer shell has a dynamic water absorption rating of less than about 15% after being laundered ten laundry cycles.

A method of forming a protective garment suitable for use by a fire fighter, said method comprising:

• providing an inner lining configured to cover a predetermined portion of a wearer's body, said inner lining being configured to be adjacent said wearers body during use;
• positioning an outer shell adjacent to said inner lining, said outer shell being formed by a method that comprises:
• i) providing yarns comprising fire-resistant fibers:
• ii) weaving said yarns into a fabric having a twill weave, a rip stop weave, or a plain weave, said fabric having a weight of at least about 5.5 ounces per square yard;
• iii) scouring said fabric;
• iv) drying said scoured fabric so that the moisture level of said fibers is less than about 10%;
• v) applying a durable water resistant composition to said substantially dried fabric, said composition containing a fluorocarbon polymer;
• and
• vi) heating said treated fabric so as to affix said durable water resistant composition thereto, said durable water resistant composition being affixed to said fabric such that said outer shell maintains a water absorption rating of less than about 8% after five laundry cycles.

A protective garment suitable for use by fire fighters, said protective garment comprising:

• an inner lining configured to cover a predetermined portion of a wearer's body, the inner lining being positioned so as to be adjacent said wearer's body during use;
• an outer shell covering said inner lining, the outer shell comprising a woven fabric made from a fire resistant material, the fire resistant material comprising a melamine polymer, a polybenzimidazole polymer, or an aramid polymer;
• and
• a durable water resistant composition incorporated into the woven fabric, the durable water resistant composition being incorporated into the woven fabric, such that the outer shell has a water absorption rating of less than about 8% after being laundered five laundry cycles.

A protective garment suitable for use by firefighters, said protective garment comprising:

• an inner lining configured to cover a predetermined portion of a wearer's body, the inner lining being positioned so as to be adjacent said wearers body during use;
• an outer shell covering said inner lining, the outer shell comprising a woven fabric made from a fire resistant material, the fire resistant material comprising a melamine polymer, a polybenzimidazole polymer, or an aramid polymer;
• and
• a durable water resistant composition incorporated into the woven fabric, the durable water resistant composition being incorporated into the woven fabric such that the outer shell has a dynamic water absorption rating of less than about 15% after being laundered ten laundry cycles.