Firefighter garment utilizing improved high-lubricity lining material

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present invention, which broader aspects are embodied in the exemplary constructions.
FIG.
1 illustrates an improved protective garment 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention.
Garment 10 includes a relatively tough outer shell 12 having a liner assembly 14 located therein.
Outer shell 12 and liner assembly 14 together function to protect a wearer from heat and flame such as may be encountered during firefighting activities.
In the illustrated embodiment, liner assembly 14 is constructed as a separate unit that may be removed from outer shell 12.
A zipper 16 is provided in this case to maintain liner assembly 14 in position within outer shell 12 as shown.
It should be appreciated, however, that other suitable means of attachment, such as various hook and pile arrangements, may also be utilized for this purpose.
The construction of liner assembly 14 may be most easily explained with reference to FIGS.
2 and 3.
As can be seen, liner assembly 14 includes a plurality of material layers quilted together by crisscrossing stitch lines 18.
The outermost layers, i.
e.
, lining layers 20 and 22, are connected together about their respective peripheries to form an inner cavity.
A thermal barrier layer 24 and a moisture barrier layer 26 are located within the inner cavity, as shown.
The half of zipper 16 that remains connected to liner assembly 14 when removed is indicated at 28.
Typically, lining layer 20 will be adjacent the wearer's body during use, whereas lining layer 22 will be immediately inside of outer shell 12.
As will be described more fully below, lining layers 20 and 22 are made from a textile material having a first side of higher lubricity and a second side of lesser lubricity.
The higher lubricity sides are directed outwardly such that the outer surface of liner assembly 14 will be relatively "slick