Fire-retardant garment with improved fastening

Abstract

A fire-retardant garment that combines a new fastener with improved fastener placement to prevent exposure of a wearer's skin or clothes to the fastener itself without some of the disadvantages of the prior art is disclosed. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the fire-retardant garment has improved fasteners and improved placement of the fasteners. The fire-retardant garment comprises improved fasteners that combine both the fastener and the length adjuster in order to prevent the metal or other material from the length adjuster from coming into contact with a wearer's skin or clothes. Furthermore, the placement of the fastener and the fastening point lower on the garment has the benefit of keeping metal parts or other dangerous parts away from the wearer's skin or clothes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first fastening point; and   a first fastener, that attaches to the first point,   wherein the first fastening point and the first fastener are attached to a fire-retardant garment, and   wherein the first fastener and the first fastening point are placed on the fire-retardant garment such that when the first fastener is attached to the first fastening point no portion of the first fastening point or the first fastener is exposed to a wearer of the fire-retardant garment.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second fastening point; and 
 a second fastener, 
 wherein the second fastening point and the second fastener attach using hook-and-loop fastening. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first fastener further comprises a length adjustment device on the fastener itself. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising:
 a second fastening point; and 
 a second fastener, 
 wherein the second fastening point and the second fastener attach using hook-and-loop fastening, and 
 wherein the second fastening point and the second fastener keeps excess material attached to a strap of the fire-retardant garment. 
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising:
 a third fastening point; 
 a third fastener; 
 a fourth fastening point; and 
 a fourth fastener, 
 wherein the fourth fastening point and the fourth fastener are comprised of hook-and-loop fastening. 
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the third fasting point and the third fastener are placed on the fire-retardant garment such that when the first fastener is attached to the first fastening point no portion of the first fastening point or the first fastener is exposed to a wearer of the fire-retardant garment. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first fastening point and the first fastener are comprised of a fire-retardant substance. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first fastening point and the first fastener are comprised of a metallic substance. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a layer of fire-retardant textile such that the rear of the fastener does not come into contact with a wearer. 
     
     
         10 . A garment comprising:
 A fire-retardant textile;   a first fastening point; and   a first fastener, that attaches to the first point,   wherein the first fastening point is attached to the fire-retardant textile, and   wherein the first fastening point is placed on the fire-retardant textile such that when the first fastener is attached to the first fastening point no portion of the first fastening point or the first fastener is exposed to the skin of a wearer of the textile.   
     
     
         11 . A garment comprising:
 A fire-retardant textile;   a first fastening point;   a first fastener, that attaches to the first fastening point; and   a length adjuster, wherein:
 (i) all parts of the first fastening point and the first fastener touch the fire-retardant textile on a side facing a wearer, 
 (ii) the length adjuster is attached to the first fastener, and 
 (iii) the length adjuster also touches the fire-retardant textile on the side facing the wearer. 
   
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 11  further comprising a second fastener, wherein:
 (i) the second fastener is attached to a first length of fire-retardant fabric above the first fastener, and 
 (ii) the length of fire-retardant fabric is attached to a second length of fire-retardant fabric by means of the second fastener. 
 
     
     
         13 . The garment of  claim 12  wherein the second fastener is comprised of hook-and-loop material. 
     
     
         14 . The garment of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a length of hook-and-loop fastener, wherein all parts of the hook-and-loop fastener are attached to the fire-retardant textile. 
 
     
     
         15 . The garment of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a length of hook-and-loop fastener, wherein no part of the hook-and-loop fastener is exposed to the wearer. 
 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first length of material;   a second length of material,   a first fastener; and   a second fastener, wherein:
 (i) the second fastener is attached to a first length of fire-retardant fabric above the first fastener, and 
 (ii) the length of fire-retardant fabric is attached to a second length of fire-retardant fabric by means of the second fastener. 
   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein:
 (iii) the first fastener and the second fastener are hook-and-loop.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein:
 (iii) the first fastener and the second fastener are of the same type.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein:
 (iii) the first length of material is excess material.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein:
 (iii) the second length of material is a strap.