PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, IN PARTICULAR FIREFIGHTER JACKET, PANTS, VEST OR OVERALL

Description

Introduction

[0001] The invention relates to a piece of protective clothing, in particular a firefighter's jacket, trousers, vest or overall, consisting essentially of a multi-layered textile material comprising the following layers: an outer layer facing the environment of the person wearing the protective clothing, consisting essentially of a fabric having hydrophobic properties made of at least one first type of heat-resistant, flame-retardant and tear-resistant threads; an inner layer facing the body of the person wearing the protective clothing, consisting of a textile fabric, preferably a woven fabric; a moisture barrier, in particular a membrane, permeable to water vapor and impermeable to liquid water, arranged between the inner and outer layers; and the textile fabric of the inner layer having hydrophilic properties, in particular being hydrophilically treated. State of the art

[0002] Firefighter protective clothing is defined as protective clothing for firefighting and is characterized by its properties and requirements in the standard EN 469 "Protective clothing for firefighters - Performance requirements for protective clothing for firefighting activities", German version EN 469:2020 (published December 2020), (hereinafter referred to as "EN 469" for simplicity in this document). According to this standard, protective clothing consists of various layers that are joined together during the manufacture of the respective garment and have different functions. A key distinguishing feature of such protective clothing is the insulation, which is intended to protect the wearer from external heat.Depending on their insulation properties, firefighter protective clothing is categorized into two groups according to the aforementioned standard: Performance Level 2 (also known as "Level 2" or "Class 2") for all applications, including interior firefighting, and Performance Level 1 (also known as "Level 1" or "Class 1") for all applications except interior firefighting. Performance Level 2 clothing offers a very high level of protection against external heat exposure, particularly for survival during a flashover, which only occurs during firefighting operations and generally only affects firefighters wearing self-contained breathing apparatus. Performance Level 1 clothing, on the other hand, typically has significantly less insulation and is therefore much lighter and more comfortable to wear.In the past, fire departments typically purchased only Level 2 protective clothing, as this was considered "universal clothing" despite its "heavy construction" and could be worn in all operational sets. More recently, however, there has been a trend to procure Level 1 clothing in addition to Level 2, since it is lighter in construction and therefore causes less heat stress for the wearer when operations have to be carried out in warm environments (e.g., summer temperatures) and under greater physical exertion. However, equipping fire departments solely with Level 1 clothing is not possible, as Level 2 clothing is mandatory for interior firefighting.

[0003] According to EN 469, firefighter protective clothing uses a material combination in which several individual layers are joined together during the garment's manufacture. The outer layer, also called the outer fabric or top layer, has the task of immediately repelling as many liquids as possible from the garment, thus preventing their penetration and saturation of the material combination. This is because, with increasing moisture absorption, the thermal resistance of the outer layer (and generally of the entire textile) increases significantly, partially compromising its protective function. Typically, the outer layer material is hydrophobic and oleophobic (lipophobic).

[0004] The material combination also features an inner layer facing the wearer's body, in the form of a textile fabric, typically referred to as lining or inner lining. The lining is usually made of a woven fabric to ensure a high level of comfort.

[0005] Furthermore, firefighter protective clothing features a moisture barrier positioned between the outer and inner layers, usually made of fabric, a membrane, or a combination of both. Typically, a membrane is used with a carrier in the form of a textile fabric (woven, knitted, or nonwoven). A coated textile carrier can also be used, offering a more economical alternative.

[0006] Moisture barriers are designed to prevent the passage of liquids, especially liquid water but also other substances, thus preventing, for example, water from the outer layer from penetrating the barrier and reaching the lining. At the same time, the barrier should allow water vapor to pass through, so that if the wearer perspires, the moisture can be carried away in gaseous form to the surrounding environment, preventing the lining from becoming damp. This also increases wearing comfort and prevents the wearer from overheating.

[0007] In certain garment constructions, an intermediate lining may be located between the outer layer and the inner lining. This can in turn be combined with a moisture barrier, e.g., in membrane form, or an insulating layer, possibly as a fully bonded material combination or laminate.

[0008] A common type of firefighter protective clothing consists of an outer layer made of a woven aromatic polyamide (meta-aramid) and an inner layer, also made of aromatic polyamide (meta-aramid), which forms the lining. This inner layer features a spacer grid on the side facing away from the wearer to create air pockets. Between the outer and inner layers is a moisture barrier in the form of a membrane, facing the lining. This membrane is fully bonded to a hydrophobic nonwoven fabric to provide the required insulation properties and to give the membrane the necessary stiffness and abrasion resistance. Such protective clothing is described, for example, at https: / / www.s-gard.de / produkte / einsatzkleidung / advance-progress / and meets the requirements of performance level 2.The lining of this garment is hydrophilic, which is acceptable due to the middle layer in the form of an "insulation laminate" made from a hydrophobic fleece and a membrane bonded to it over the entire surface.

[0009] The state of the art also includes a garment in which the outer layer is also made of an aromatic polyamide (meta-aramid) in the form of a woven fabric. The inner lining consists of a lining laminate made of a hydrophobic fabric composed of 50% meta-aramid and 50% viscose FR, bonded to it across its entire surface. This inner membrane is permeable to water vapor but impermeable to liquid water. Between the aforementioned lining laminate and the outer layer is an intermediate layer made of a bulky, hydrophobic nonwoven material, which is bonded across its entire surface to a second membrane that is impermeable to liquid water but permeable to water vapor. This intermediate layer provides the textile material with particularly good insulating properties, which is why protective garments made from it meet the requirements of performance level 2 of the aforementioned standard.The fabric of the lining laminate that faces the wearer's skin is hydrophilic. Such a garment can be found, for example, at https: / / s-gard.de / produkte / einsatzkleidung / ultimate-parallon-system / , but it lacks the desired "lightness," especially during operations involving physical exertion and at higher (summer) outdoor temperatures (not suitable for interior firefighting).

[0010] Furthermore, the general state of the art includes a protective garment that merely meets the requirements of performance level 1 of the aforementioned standard. In this case, the outer layer consists of a fabric made from yarns of an aromatic polyamide (meta-aramid). An inner layer (lining) is formed from a fabric of 50% meta-aramid and 50% viscose FR and exhibits hydrophobic properties. This lining is bonded across its entire surface to a membrane that acts as a moisture barrier, forming a lining laminate. A separate layer with special insulating properties is not present in the textile material used for this known garment. A garment of the aforementioned type can be found, for example, at https: / / s-gard.de / produkte / einsatzkleidung / responser-2-0 / .Although this garment is lightweight, it nevertheless does not offer satisfactory comfort during activities involving physical exertion and at higher (summer) outdoor temperatures.

[0011] Another protective garment is described in DE 20 2023 105 486, which features a multi-layered material structure. A first outer layer, facing away from the body, is formed by a textile outer fabric. This outer fabric is made of a woven aramid fiber fabric. A second layer consists of an inner membrane composite, acting as a moisture barrier. The outer fabric and the membrane composite are detachably bonded to each other. The membrane composite comprises two layers: a first layer is formed by a carrier material and an inner lining made of an aramid fabric or blended fabric. This first layer faces the body. The second layer, facing away from the upper body and thus towards the outer fabric, is formed by a waterproof and water vapor-permeable membrane. The membrane is preferably made of PTFE. The membrane and the carrier material are bonded together.

[0012] The protective garment described in DE 11 2018 004 406 T5 comprises four different layers: an outer fabric, a moisture barrier, a heat barrier, and / or an inner lining. The arrangement of the layers is described in various sequences. It is conceivable that the protective garment consists solely of the outer fabric and the moisture barrier. The outer fabric is, for example, made of aramid fibers. The moisture barrier consists of a semi-permeable membrane layer and a substrate made of aramid fibers. The membrane layer is permeable to water vapor but impermeable to water. The structural layer provides structure and protection to the membrane layer.

[0013] A breathable glove is also known from DE 103 54 902 A. The protective glove has a carrier layer and a barrier layer, the barrier layer comprising an adsorption layer facing the body and a membrane facing the carrier layer. The carrier layer is impermeable to water and air, but permeable to water vapor.

[0014] WO 2009 / 158479 A1 describes a multi-layered protective garment designed to prevent water from penetrating a thermally insulating layer while simultaneously ensuring the wearer's comfort. This is achieved through three layers. The first, outermost layer, facing away from the wearer, is hydrophobic. A second moisture barrier, positioned beneath the outermost layer, provides further protection against water penetration. This barrier prevents water from passing towards the wearer while allowing water vapor to escape from the wearer. The final layer is the thermal layer, which also consists of three layers. The first layer, facing away from the wearer, is hydrophobic. A second layer, positioned between the first and third layers, is hydrophilic and acts as a reservoir to absorb water. The third layer, facing the wearer, is also hydrophilic.Document WO 2009 / 158479 A1 discloses the preamble of claim 1.

[0015] Finally, garments made of moisture-resistant thermal insulation materials, particularly in the form of firefighter protective clothing, are known from WO 2014 / 152 495 A. The garments disclosed in this document comprise an outer layer in the form of a fabric made of a temperature-resistant material, a first air-permeable, liquid-water-repellent membrane, and subsequently, insulation. Further towards the wearer's body, a second air-impermeable, liquid-tight, but water-vapor-permeable membrane is present. The outer membrane may be bonded to the insulation, or a portion thereof, to form a laminate. Furthermore, the inner membrane may also be bonded to the insulation, or at least a portion thereof, to form a laminate.A characteristic feature of the layered construction of these known garments is the presence of two membranes: an outer and an inner one. The inner membrane is liquid-tight and airtight, but permeable to water vapor, while the outer membrane is airtight and repels liquid water. Insulation is mandatory between the membranes to meet the requirements of performance level 2 of the aforementioned standard. The lining material, which may be bonded to the outermost layer, should provide a comfortable feel and offer low friction against the wearer's body movements. Task

[0016] The invention is based on the objective of proposing a piece of protective clothing, in particular for firefighters, which (only) meets the requirements of EN 469 performance level 1 and is characterized by a high level of wearing comfort, i.e., on the one hand, offers little resistance to the wearer's movements and has a low basis weight, and on the other hand, prevents the accumulation of sweat on the wearer's body even at higher outside temperatures or during greater physical exertion. Solution

[0017] The invention is described in the attached set of claims. Starting from a protective garment of the type described above, the underlying problem is solved by providing exposure areas of the protective garment, which each adjoin an opening for the passage of a body part, in particular arm or sleeve openings and / or a neck opening and / or a hip opening and / or a leg opening and / or on opposite sides adjoin a front part of the protective garment dividing the zipper, with each of these areas comprising a further surface structure, preferably several surface structures each forming a layer, which on its side facing away from the external environment of the person wearing the protective garment has essentially hydrophobic properties or is waterproof.Furthermore, the exposure areas of the protective garment consist of another multi-layered textile material that has the same outer layer as the textile material of the other areas of the protective garment and whose textile surface structure of its inner layer has hydrophobic properties, in particular is hydrophobically treated.

[0018] The invention is based on the understanding that the fundamentally important protection of the textile material against penetrating moisture does not necessarily require the inner layer to also have hydrophobic properties. Rather, particularly in the case of garments that only need to meet the requirements of EN 469 Performance Level 1, it is often sufficient if the inner layer consists of a textile fabric, preferably a woven fabric, with hydrophilic properties. The invention demonstrates that hydrophilic properties of the inner layer are sufficient to guarantee the thermal insulation required by EN 469 Performance Level 1 – even without the existence of a further layer in the form of a special or explicit "insulating layer".This offers the great advantage that the wearing comfort of the protective clothing according to the invention is improved by the overall lower water vapor transmission resistance, which can be achieved with the hydrophilic inner layer in contrast to a hydrophobic inner layer according to the prior art.

[0019] The layered structure according to the invention is also advantageous because it makes it possible to significantly improve the hydrophobic properties of the outer layer compared to previous methods. This allows for a certain, possibly even greater, water absorption in the inner layer—in any case, a significantly increased absorption compared to an inner layer made of a hydrophobic material—without the insulating properties of the garment falling below the level required by EN 469 Performance Level 1. Therefore, the outer layer preferably possesses particularly good hydrophobic properties, which can preferably be quantified by testing the resistance to penetration by liquid chemicals according to EN ISO 6530:2005 (required / tested within the framework of EN 469) and which are retained even after many cleaning cycles.Preferably, the resistance value of the textile material used according to the invention is significantly above the required repellency level of 80% for the two liquids mentioned in EN 469.

[0020] This is particularly relevant given the steadily increasing number of deployments of firefighters in so-called "technical assistance" (TH) operations. Protective clothing conforming to EN 469 performance level 2 garments provides protection against risks during TH operations that do not actually exist in practice. This results, at best, in an unnecessarily large effort in setting up the protective clothing, and at worst, in additional hazards such as overheating of the wearer during physical exertion or reduced mobility due to excessive stiffness or a completely soaked lining.

[0021] According to the invention, water penetration from the outside into the textile material is reliably prevented, while water absorption through perspiration by the wearer in the area of ​​the inner layer (lining) is expressly permitted and even desired, as this significantly increases wearing comfort. This, in turn, is due to the significantly reduced water vapor transmission resistance compared to a hydrophobic inner layer. In the protective garment according to the invention, this resistance is preferably less than 25 m² < Pa / W, more preferably less than 20 m² < Pa / W, and even more preferably less than 15 m² < Pa / W.EN 469, in conjunction with testing according to EN ISO 11092:2014, requires only a water vapor resistance of less than 30 m² < Pa / W to achieve a classification in performance class Z2, whereas a classification in performance class Z1 is achieved if the resistance falls below 45 m² < Pa / W. The very low water vapor resistance according to the invention means that water generated by perspiration can be absorbed by the hydrophilic inner layer and temporarily stored like a buffer, in order to be gradually released again during periods of lower physical and / or thermal stress on the substrate. Since the outer layer remains essentially "dry" due to its hydrophobic properties, the heat-insulating properties are sufficiently maintained even if moisture is absorbed into the inner layer.This is ensured by the moisture barrier arranged between the inner and outer layers according to the invention, which reliably prevents moisture from penetrating the outer layer from the inside.

[0022] The present invention utilizes the understanding that, in applications with reduced heat protection requirements—essentially all applications except interior firefighting—water absorption into the inner layer (lining) is tolerable for the purpose of increasing wearer comfort without allowing excessive heat transfer through the garment. This applies at least to the majority (surface area) of the textile material used for the garment according to the invention. This is not contradicted by the fact that in specific areas where a particularly high rate of water penetration into the inner layer could occur, no special measures are taken to prevent such penetration.These are so-called "exposure zones" where there is a significantly increased probability that a considerable amount of water can penetrate the garment from the outside – not through the outer layer, but rather around it – and thus into its inner layer. The aforementioned exposure zones of the garment are those adjacent to openings for body parts, specifically areas adjacent to arm or sleeve openings, the neck opening, the hip opening (jacket / vest or trousers), and / or a leg opening.According to the present invention, the exposure areas each have a further surface structure, preferably several surface structures forming a single layer, which on its side facing away from the external environment of the person wearing the protective clothing has substantially hydrophobic properties or is waterproof. The surface structure located at the exposure areas can, for example, be formed of rubber, a film, or a textile fabric.

[0023] Furthermore, one embodiment of the invention provides that these exposure areas consist of a further textile material which has the same outer layer as the textile material of the other areas of the garment and whose textile surface structure of its inner layer has hydrophobic properties, in particular is hydrophobically equipped.

[0024] While the inner layer of the garment exhibits hydrophilic properties in the largest areas, thus offering excellent water vapor permeability and significantly improving comfort, hydrophobic properties are implemented in particularly "critical" areas (exposure zones). In other words, these are absorption barriers that prevent water entering through the garment's openings from being drawn into and distributed throughout the garment by the absorbent properties of the inner layer, in a direction parallel to the wearer's skin surface (i.e., within a plane of the textile material). Such a significant amount of water ingress, which is not the wearer's perspiration but, for example,Since extinguishing water is involved, the water absorption capacity of the inner layer could be exceeded, leading to an unacceptable complete soaking of the inner layer and thus also of the wearer's skin or of the clothing worn under the protective garment.

[0025] The multilayer textile material according to the invention, in a preferred embodiment, has a basis weight of less than 450 g / m², preferably less than 430 g / m² (all layers considered). This represents a significant difference from textile materials used in the prior art for performance level 2 clothing, where the basis weights are in the range between 500 g / m² and 600 g / m².

[0026] Preferably, the textile material according to the invention does not have an actual, and in particular not a separate, "insulating layer" or "insulating layer," but rather the insulating properties are assumed by the textile material as a whole or to a large extent by the outer layer, i.e., the outer fabric, and / or preferably by an air layer located between this outer layer and the moisture barrier and / or between the moisture barrier and the inner layer. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the textile material consists precisely of the three aforementioned layers, namely the inner layer as lining, the moisture barrier, and the outer layer as the outer fabric. Thus, no further layers exist, which makes garments made from such textile material feel particularly light, airy, flexible, and comfortable, and minimizes the risk of heat build-up within the garment as much as possible.

[0027] Furthermore, the inner layer, in particular a lining laminate formed from the inner layer and a moisture barrier, may be detachably connected to the outer layer. Such a connection can be made, for example, by means of buttons, especially snap fasteners, and / or hook-and-loop fasteners and / or zippers. The detachability and removableness of at least the inner layer offers the advantage that, after removal of the inner layer or the lining laminate, the garment, due to its particular lightness, keeps the wearer's thermal stress low, for example, during forest firefighting operations, despite the heat resistance of the outer layer.

[0028] A preferred embodiment consists in the textile fabric of the inner layer comprising threads, in particular yarns, made of an aromatic polyamide and / or a modacrylic, and / or threads, in particular yarns, made of an absorbent natural fiber, in particular viscose and / or wool and / or cotton and / or silk. Mixed yarns containing fibers of several of the aforementioned or other materials, which are combined during the spinning process, are also possible.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the invention, the inner layer and the moisture barrier, in particular the membrane, are connected to each other, in particular bonded together, especially bonded over the entire surface or at specific points, and form a lining laminate. On the one hand, this addresses the fact that a moisture barrier designed as a membrane is typically quite fragile, and the formation of a laminate with the inner layer provides it with the necessary strength and sufficient protection against abrasion. On the other hand, it simplifies the garment manufacturing process because two layers can be handled as one, and the lining laminate is available as a semi-finished product.

[0030] To achieve sufficient insulation while avoiding excessive stiffness in the textile material, it is proposed that an air gap be present between the outer layer and the membrane, particularly the lining laminate formed by the membrane and the inner layer. In this case, there is no laminate consisting of three layers (inner layer, moisture barrier, and outer layer); instead, at least one air gap exists between the outer layer and the moisture barrier or membrane.

[0031] Preferably, the textile material according to the invention does not have two membranes, in particular not two membranes with insulation in between.

[0032] To ensure the inner layer of the protective garment is as homogeneous as possible, the invention provides that the inner layer in the exposure areas and the inner layer in the remaining areas of the protective garment differ only with regard to their hydrophilic or hydrophobic properties. To nevertheless distinguish the hydrophilic or hydrophobic properties of the otherwise identical textile surface of the inner layer, it is preferably provided that the textile surface in the exposure areas is colored differently than in the remaining areas of the inner layer. For example, the hydrophilic surface can be provided with stripes, while the hydrophobic surface is not.

[0033] To ensure otherwise homogeneous properties across the entire garment (apart from the aforementioned exposure areas), it is further proposed that the textile material in the exposure areas and the textile material overall in the remaining areas of the garment differ only with regard to the hydrophilic or hydrophobic properties of the textile structures of the respective inner layers. Typically, this distinction can consist of a visually imperceptible difference in the finish (hydrophilic / hydrophobic) of otherwise identical textile structures, particularly woven fabrics.

[0034] Further developing the invention, it is provided that the exposure areas together comprise a proportion of between 15% and 25%, preferably between 18% and 22%, of the surface area of ​​the inner layer of the entire textile material present in the protective garment. It is desirable that the total surface area of ​​the exposure areas, and also the surface area of ​​each individual exposure area, be kept as small as possible without impairing the function of the respective exposure area to act as an absorbent barrier and prevent the penetration of water or other liquids from the outside into the garment.Minimizing the area of ​​the exposed regions (and thus the areas with hydrophobic properties of the inner layer) leads to the highest possible wearing comfort, since the rest of the garment has better properties with regard to wearing comfort, in particular a lower resistance to water vapor, resulting in a more pleasant "internal climate" in the garment.

[0035] A particularly good compromise between minimizing the area of ​​the exposure zones and still ensuring good effectiveness as a suction barrier is achieved when each boundary line of an exposure zone, which runs parallel to a boundary line of an associated opening for the passage of a body part, has a distance to the respective boundary line of between 8 cm and 15 cm, preferably between 10 cm and 15 cm.

[0036] Furthermore, an advantageous embodiment of the invention consists in the fact that the hydrophobic fabric of the outer layer also has oleophobic properties, in particular is equipped with an oleophobic finish. Example of implementation

[0037] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown in the figures.

[0038] It shows: Fig. 1: a rear view of a piece of protective clothing in the form of a firefighter's jacket shown spread out, and Fig. 2: a section through a multi-layered textile material from which the firefighter's jacket is made according to Figure 1 is manufactured.

[0039] A in Figure 1 The depicted protective clothing item 1 in the form of a firefighter's jacket consists essentially of a multi-layered textile material 2, which is in Figure 2 The protective clothing item 1 is shown schematically in a cross-section. Figure 1The areas shown without hatching are made of textile material 2, whereas the hatched areas, which are so-called exposure areas 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, and 3.4, are made of a similarly structured textile material, the structure of which will be explained later. Furthermore, the protective garment 1 has an elastic cuff 5 at the end of each sleeve 4, which is also not made of textile material 2, as is the case for the rest of the protective garment 1. Finally, the protective garment 1 has various retroreflective and / or fluorescent applications, mostly in the form of strips, which are shown in the diagram for clarity. Figure 1 not shown, but are common practice in the state of the art.

[0040] The protective clothing item 1 has on its in Figure 1The garment features a concealed front zipper for opening. This zipper can be covered by a concealed flap, which attaches to the opposite side of the front panel with Velcro, to prevent the ingress of liquids and wind / drafts. Two further zippers are located to the right and left of the main zipper. Figure 1 Invisible, strip-shaped exposure areas run parallel to the zipper and have the same structure as the other exposure areas. Furthermore, the flap itself forms another exposure area across its entire surface.

[0041] A first in Figure 1Visible exposure area 3.1 is located in the area of ​​a collar 6 (around a neck opening), a second and a third exposure area 3.2 and 3.3 are located at the ends of the sleeves 4, and a fourth exposure area 3.4 is located at the lower end of a back panel 7. Thus, exposure area 3.1 borders a boundary line 8.1 of a neck opening, exposure areas 3.2 and 3.3 border the boundary lines 8.2 and 8.3 of the associated sleeve openings, and a boundary line 8.4 borders a hip opening (at the lower end of the garment 1). All exposure areas 3.1 to 3.4 encircle the associated part of the garment 1, with exposure areas 3.1 and 3.4 being separable by the aforementioned zipper on the front of the garment 1. Towards an imaginary "center" of the garment 1, the exposure areas 3.1 to 3.4 are each defined by a boundary line 9.1 to 9.4 is separated from the remaining (unhatched) area of ​​the garment 1. It is important to note in this context that exposure areas 3.1 to 3.4 are located (at least) on a surface in . Figure 1 are located on the non-visible inside of the garment 1 and are characterized by a special property of an inner layer (lining) of the multi-layered structure of the textile material used in exposure areas 3.1 to 3.4.

[0042] In the following, we will first discuss the structure of the textile material 2, as it is used in the majority of the garment 1 (i.e., not in the exposure areas) and is therefore crucial for wearing comfort and breathability. As can be seen from Figure 2The textile material 2 has a three-layer structure. An outer layer 10 is formed from a woven fabric made of meta-aramid threads. This fabric is therefore particularly tear-resistant (minimum tensile strength / breaking force greater than 450 N), temperature-resistant (at least up to 180 °C), flame-retardant, and resistant to chemical attack. Furthermore, the fabric of the outer layer 10 has a hydrophobic and oleophobic finish that remains effective even after numerous washing cycles (more than 30, preferably more than 50).

[0043] The textile material 2 also has an inner layer 11, which is likewise made of meta-aramid threads. The basis weight of the fabric of the inner layer 11 is between 140 g / m² and 160 g / m². The fabric of the inner layer 11 has a hydrophilic finish, which is why the inner layer 11, acting as a lining, is particularly absorbent, especially for body perspiration.

[0044] Between the outer layer 10 and the inner layer 11 is a moisture barrier 12, formed by a membrane permeable to water vapor but impermeable to liquid water. In this way, evaporating perspiration can be wicked away to the outside of the textile material 2, while liquid water or other liquids cannot pass through the membrane towards the wearer's body.

[0045] In this case, the inner layer 11 and the moisture barrier 12 are fully bonded together to form a lining laminate 13. During handling, i.e., manufacturing the protective garment, the two layers, "inner layer 11" (lining) and "moisture barrier 12" (membrane), behave as a single layer. The lining laminate 13 and the outer layer 10 are joined together in the usual manner during assembly by sewing or other joining techniques to form the protective garment 1. Figure 2For clarity, the distance between the outer layer 10 and the lining laminate 13 is shown larger than it actually is. In general, the thickness ratios of the individual "layers" 10, 11, and 12 are not to scale. Since the fabric of the outer layer 10 has intersecting ribs 15 arranged at right angles to each other on its inner side 14 facing the lining laminate 13, a waffle-like structure forms on the inner side 14 of the outer layer. This structure improves the formation of an air gap 16 between the outer layer 10 and the lining laminate 13, and thus enhances the insulating effect of the textile material 2.

[0046] The textile material from which garment 1 is manufactured in the exposure areas is essentially the same as textile material 2, as described above and in Figure 2As illustrated, the only difference between the two textile materials lies in the finish of the fabric that forms the inner layer 11 and, in both cases, is bonded across its entire surface to a lining laminate 13 with the same moisture barrier 12. While the finish of the fabric of the inner layer 11 in the textile material gives hydrophobic properties to exposure areas 3.1 to 3.4, so that these areas act as absorbent barriers, the fabric of the inner layer 11 in the remaining areas of the protective garment 1 is hydrophilic to ensure excellent wearing comfort.

[0047] The textile material of the protective garment 1 does not have any additional moisture barrier or membrane (other than the moisture barrier 12, which is part of the lining laminate 13) in exposure zones 3.1 to 3.4 or in the remaining areas; nor does it have any special insulating material at any point in its layered structure. The basis weight of the entire textile material 2 (both in exposure zones 3.1 to 3.4 and in the remaining areas of the protective garment 1) is approximately 350 g / m² to 400 g / m². The water vapor resistance of the protective garment 1 is approximately 12 m² Pa / W. Reference symbol list

[0048] 1 Protective garment 2 Textile material 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4 Exposure area 4 Sleeve 5 Cuff 6 Collar 7 Back panel 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4 Boundary line 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4 Boundary line 10 Outer layer 11 Inner layer 12 Moisture barrier 13 Lining laminate 14 Inside 15 Rib 16 Air gap

Claims

1. Protective garment(1), in particular firefighter's jacket, trousers, vest or overall, consisting substantially of a multilayer textile material (2) having the following layers: - an outer layer (10) facing an environment around a person wearing the protective garment (1), consisting substantially of a fabric withhydrophobic properties and made from at least one first type of heat-resistant, flame retardant and tear-resistant threads, - an inner layer (11) facing a body of a person wearing the protective garment (1), consisting of a textile sheet material, preferably a fabric, - a moisture barrier (12), in particular a membrane, that is permeable to water vapour and impermeable to liquid water, which is arranged between the inner layer (11) and the outer layer (10), and - the textile sheet material of the inner layer (11) has hydrophilic properties, in particular has received hydrophilic treatment, wherein exposure areas of the protective garment that are each adjacent to an opening for allowing a body part to pass through, in particular to arm or sleeve openings and / or a neck opening and / or a waist opening and / or a leg opening and / or on each opposing side adjacent to a dividing zip fastener on a front part of the protective garment (1), each include a further sheet material, preferably several sheet materials, each forming a layer which has substantially hydrophobic properties or is impermeable to water on the side thereof facing away from the environment around a person wearing the protective garment, the exposure areas (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4) of the protective garment (1), consist of a further multilayer textile material, which has the same outer layer as the textile material (2) of the other areas of the protective garment (1), characterized in that the textile sheet material of the inner layer thereof has hydrophobic properties, in particular has received hydrophobic treatment.

2. Protective garment (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the textile sheet material of the inner layer (11) contains threads, in particular yarns, made from an aromatic polyamide, in particular a meta-aramid, and / or threads, in particular yarns, made from an absorbent natural fibre, in particular viscose and / or wool and / or cotton and / or silk and / or modacrylic fibre.

3. Protective garment (1) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the inner layer (11) and the moisture barrier (12), in particular the membrane, are joined, in particular bonded adhesively, to each other, in particular bonded to each other by full-surface or point adhesion and form a lining laminate (13).

4. Protective garment (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a layer of air (16) is located between the outer layer (10) and the moisture barrier (12), in particular the membrane.

5. Protective garment (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the inner layer in the exposure areas (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4) and the inner layer (11) in the other areas of the protective garment (1) differ only in respect of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties.

6. Protective garment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the total textile material in the exposure areas (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4) and the total textile material (2) in the other areas of the protective garment (1) differ only in respect of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties of the textile sheet materials of the inner layers (11) of each.

7. Protective garment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the exposure areas (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4) together make up a fraction between 15% and 25%, preferably between 18% and 22%, of the surface area of the inner layer (11) of the total textile material present in the protective garment (1).

8. Protective garment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a border line (9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4) of each exposure area (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4) that extends parallel to a boundary line (8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4) of an associated opening to allow a body part to pass through is at a distance from the respective boundary line between 8 cm and 15 cm, preferably between 10 cm and 15 cm.

9. Protective garment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hydrophobic fabric of the outer layer (10) also has oleophobic properties, in particular has received oleophobic treatment.

10. Protective garment (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, d characterized in that the multilayer textile material (2) has a grammage of less than 450 g / m2, preferably less than 430 g / m2.