Lion Apparel, Inc.

Ronald L Fields

A firefighter's turnout apparel comprises a pair of pants wherein knee joint areas of lower leg sections are formed to include bellows at the bend of the knee joints for increased protection, flexion range, and comfort. The bellows interconnect material above and below the joint sections to reduce tightness at the outside of the joint areas and material bunching at the inside of the joint areas, permitting freer flexibility and reduced compression of thermal material. Added material in the bellows which extends around the outer joint area, produces a slight bend in the material at these points results in the turnout apparel having a more natural and comfortable shape through the knee joint region, improving the thermal protection due to the reduced compression. Additional thermal protection is provided by inclusion of an additional thermal layer in the bellows. In addition to improved thermal protection, the bellows reduce cuff travel of the pants to provide better protection of the ankle areas.

Firefighter's turnout pants

A firefighter coat of the type having an outer shell, a moisture barrier and a thermal barrier includes a reservoir cuff which prevents liquid moisture from entering the open sleeve end of the coat and flowing between the moisture barrier and outer shell, and between the moisture barrier and thermal barrier. The reservoir cuff includes a reservoir member which is attached by a waterproof seal to the moisture barrier sleeve and extends to the end of the thermal barrier; the connections between the reservoir member, thermal barrier and moisture barrier being permanent and waterproof. The moisture barrier sleeve extends beyond the reservoir member and is attached to the outer shell at a hem which extends about the outer end of the shell. In the preferred embodiment, the moisture barrier sleeve connection with the outer shell is removable and is effected by hook and loop fasteners, one component of which extends about the inner periphery of the moisture barrier sleeve and the complementary component of which extends about the outer periphery of a hem attached to the outer shell. The thermal barrier sleeve preferably includes a ribbed cuff which extends outwardly passed the connection with the reservoir member so that the entire length of the wearer's arm is protected by the requisite layers of material.

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Winchester, KY, United States of America

Ronald L Fields