Vented protective garment

Abstract

A protective garment comprising an outer shell, a moisture barrier, and a thermal liner. At least one of the outer shell, the moisture barrier, and the thermal liner includes one or more vents formed therein. In one embodiment, the vents may be an opening formed in at least one transferal portion of the moisture barrier and the thermal liner. A movable flap may be provided to extend over the opening to provide thermal protection to a wearer of the protective garment at a location of the vents. The protective garment may be employed as turnout gear compliant with NFPA 1971.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective garment, comprising:
 a plurality of components configured to provide thermal protection to a wearer of the protective garment, wherein the protective garment is vented.   
     
     
         2 . The protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein one of the components is a thermal liner. 
     
     
         3 . The protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein one of the components is a moisture barrier. 
     
     
         4 . The protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein one of the components is an outer shell. 
     
     
         5 . The protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the components includes at least one vent formed therein. 
     
     
         6 . The protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one vent is formed in at least one transferal portion of at least one of the components. 
     
     
         7 . The protective garment of  claim 2 , wherein at least one vent is formed in the thermal liner. 
     
     
         8 . The protective garment of  claim 7 , wherein the thermal liner comprises a facecloth layer and at least one insulation layer, and wherein the at least one vent is an opening formed in at least one of the layers of the thermal liner. 
     
     
         9 . The protective garment of  claim 8 , wherein an insert is provided in the opening formed in the at least one of the layers of the thermal liner. 
     
     
         10 . The protective garment of  claim 3 , wherein at least one vent is formed in the moisture barrier. 
     
     
         11 . The protective garment of  claim 10 , wherein the moisture barrier comprises a substrate layer and a membrane layer, and wherein the at least one vent is an opening formed in at least one of the substrate layer and the membrane layer. 
     
     
         12 . The protective garment of  claim 11 , wherein an insert is provided in the opening formed in at least one of the layers of the moisture barrier. 
     
     
         13 . The protective garment of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one vent is an opening formed in the at least one of the components, and wherein an insert is provided in the opening. 
     
     
         14 . The protective garment of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the insert is produced from at least one substantially water vapor permeable, heat transferable material. 
     
     
         15 . The protective garment of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the insert is produced from at least one of a flame-resistant woven material, a flame-resistant nonwoven material, a flame-resistant knit material, an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) material, and a urethane material. 
     
     
         16 . A protective garment, comprising:
 an outer shell;   a moisture barrier disposed adjacent the outer shell, wherein the moisture barrier comprises at least one of a substrate layer and a membrane layer;   a thermal liner disposed adjacent the moisture barrier, wherein the thermal liner comprises a facecloth layer and at least one insulation layer; and   at least one vent formed in at least one of the outer shell, the moisture barrier, and the thermal liner.   
     
     
         17 . The protective garment of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the outer shell, the moisture barrier, and the thermal liner includes at least one transferal portion configured to facilitate heat transfer therefrom. 
     
     
         18 . The protective garment of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one vent is formed in the at least one transferal portion. 
     
     
         19 . The protective garment of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one transferal portion has a Resistance to Evaporation of a Textile (Ret) of less than 20 m2 Pa/W. 
     
     
         20 . A method of producing a protective garment, comprising:
 providing at least one of an outer shell, a thermal liner, and a moisture barrier; and   forming at least one vent in at least one of the outer shell, the thermal liner, and the moisture barrier.