Protection against chemical and biological exposure will always be a topic of great interest to military personnel, but also to an ever-increasing extent to those in civilian life.

A number of solutions exist for protection against chemical and biological exposure, usually based on the use of either a membrane or an absorbent protective layer.

In order to achieve adequate protection, a protective system based on membrane must be completely impermeable for the particular substance, with amongst other things welded seams and seals in connection with the openings required in order to put on the suit. A completely impermeable suit offers maximum protection against chemical and biological exposure, but in practice this is very difficult to achieve as some leakages can easily occur. A membrane suit of this kind also has limited breathing ability and is therefore not particularly comfortable to use for lengthy periods. It is more or less out of the question to wear this kind of membrane suit protection whilst undertaking physical activity. A membrane suit will therefore be something to have as extra equipment, adding extra weight to a pack, and some time will also be required to put on such a membrane suit.

The second system is to employ an absorbent ply in the garment, where the function of the absorbent ply is to absorb most of the quantity of biological and chemical contaminants to which the person is exposed. An absorbent ply of this kind is relatively effective, but does not provide adequate protection as some of the contaminants will penetrate the ply. A material of this type is also relatively heavy.

Solutions employing an absorbent system are described, for example, in DE 3924034 where the use is described of an absorbent material as underwear under the uniform. In DE 3924033 the use is also described of an extra ply under the uniform such as, for example, a shirt in the form of an absorbent material.

Present day Norwegian protective equipment comprises an outer oil/water-repellent textile ply with relatively high through-flow of air and an inner absorbent ply secured to this ply.

These known solutions provide a relatively low level of protection by means of either a barrier of absorbent material or a barrier of membrane material. A hole in the membrane material will be more harmful than a hole in the absorbent material, but both are inopportune. An adequate protection with only an absorbent material also results in a relatively heavy outer garment, while a membrane suit can be

lighter but it in turn has limited breathing capacity, thus being uncomfortable for the wearer.

The object of the present invention is to provide a garment which represents an improvement in relation to the disadvantages of the prior art mentioned above.

The object of the present invention is to provide an outer garment which gives adequate protection against chemical and biological exposure with a two-ply barrier system, while simultaneously providing a high degree of comfort for the user of the garment, thus permitting the garment to be employed as standard clothing for the user.

An object of the invention is to provide a garment which enables the user very rapidly to achieve good protection from external chemical and biological exposure, while at the same time the garment is multifunctional.

An object is also to achieve a lighter garment which offers just as good protection as previous systems.

It is also an object to provide a garment which is perceived as a unit, where the desired protection is achieved without extra equipment. It is a further object to achieve a high degree of flexibility with the garment regarding the degree of protection and ventilation capability, thus enabling the garment to be easily adapted to the risk concerned, the level of activity and other external factors.

Another object is to provide the flexibility to adapt the garment to offer protection for different types of uses and hazards.

It is also an object to provide a simple garment for protection against chemical and biological exposure, which is capable of providing good ventilation for the user.

The above-mentioned objects are achieved with an outer garment as indicated in the following claims.

The present invention comprises an outer garment for protection against chemical and/or biological exposure. In particular, the present invention provides good protection against gas exposure. The invention also comprises a garment for protection against chemical and/or biological exposure which offers the user good ventilation capability.

The garment consists of at least one outer and one inner separate ply where the plies consist of one or more layers, which layer or ply may have different characteristics.

The plies are releasably secured to each other by fastening devices so that they are perceived to be a uniform outer garment. At least one of the outermost plies is in the form of a membrane material and at least one inner ply is in the form of an

absorbent material. Vents may be provided at a plurality of points passing through all the plies, where the vents are provided with closing devices.

Due to the fact that the garment is produced in a two-ply barrier system, most of the chemical and/or biological contaminants will be repelled by the membrane ply.

Since there is an absorbent ply under the membrane ply, there will not be such a great need for impermeability in and round the membrane ply as is the case when only membrane is employed. Any leaks in the membrane ply will be absorbed by the absorbent ply. This gives the opportunity of adapting the garment to provide a much greater degree of comfort, by, for example, inserting vents at desired points.

The ability to have vents at desired points also makes the garment much more flexible with regard to areas of application.

The plies in the garment may consist of one or more layers, which may have one uniform or different types of characteristics. The plies may have outer covering layers and one or more intermediate active layers, where the active element may be absorbent or repellent in the form of a membrane. An outer active layer may also be envisaged with a rear support layer holding the active material together. The layers may be joined together to form a unit of a laminate type or more loosely interconnected, but forming a uniform ply.

The fact that the outer garment is produced in a two-ply barrier system with ventilation capability permits the garment to be manufactured more easily than a garment according to the prior art which provides the same degree of protection.

The membrane material in the garment is preferably of a liquid-repellent, breathing material which repels chemical and biological exposure to a desired degree.

Depending on the risk, the membrane material may be a permeable membrane material where only liquids are repelled, a semi-permeable membrane material where liquids and aerosols are repelled, a selective permeable membrane material where special elements in addition to liquids and aerosols do not penetrate or a completely impermeable membrane material. The membrane may also be provided as passive and/or active membrane, for example by means of an active membrane material which can be supplied with energy or have an inbuilt energy potential.

Such a membrane can act to a greater extent as an efficient selective membrane, i. e. unwanted particles are repelled or absorbed. Only wanted particles such as air or water vapour pass through the membrane one way or the other, or both ways. Parts of the outer ply may also be envisaged made of an impermeable or selective membrane material while other parts consist of a material which is more permeable.

The object of the membrane is to reduce the air velocity and to repel or prevent to the desired extent penetration of the chemical and/or biological contaminants.

At least one of the plies contains an absorbent element and/or consists of an absorbent material, which soaks up the chemical and/or biological contaminants. By

absorbent we mean from weak chemical to strong chemical compounds. The material contains an active substance which absorbs and binds to itself the chemical and/or biological contaminants. The object of such a material is to absorb the quantity of contaminants that slip through the outer membrane ply. Such materials are known to absorb a number of different types of contaminants.

In a preferred embodiment the garment has two separate plies-an outer membrane ply and an inner absorbent ply. The two plies are releasably secured to each other, thus forming a uniform unit. The plies are secured to each other, for example, by zip fasteners beside a front opening on the body and stud devices round the waist.

Velcro or stud devices or other fastening means may also be envisaged at several points, such as for example near the outer edge of sleeves and legs or along a collar portion.

The inner ply of the outer garment is replaceable. This may, for example, enable the garment to be adapted to suit the threat concerned or replace the absorbent material when it has reached saturation limit or is otherwise so worn that the degree of absorption is below a specified acceptable value. The situation may also be envisaged where the outer ply has sustained wear and tear, thus making it advantageous to replace it.

According to the invention the garment may also be equipped with vents advantageously located and in numbers that allow the wearer of the garment to experience as much comfort as possible. The vents pass through all the plies and are equipped with closing devices. The closing devices are arranged so that they can be closed separately, or several, or all can be interconnected.

In a preferred embodiment separate closing devices are provided for each ply in the garment. At a minimum there should be separate closing devices for the ply with membrane function and the ply containing the absorbent function. An embodiment may be envisaged where the garment consists of more than two plies and where a common closing device is provided for two or more plies.

The fact that the garment has a plurality of closing devices permits good ventilation in those situations where the risk is minimal, while the vents can be closed very easily in order to achieve very good protection against chemical and biological exposure. The situation may also be envisaged where the closing devices for the outer ply are closed, while an opening is kept for the inner ply, or alternatively that the inner ply is closed while the outer one is open. The first alternative provides good protection in cases where exposure exists in a liquid phase, while the second offers protection while providing relatively good ventilation of the garment.

Opening and closing the vents in this way provides the garment with a high degree of flexibility which is not found in other solutions for protection against chemical and biological exposure. This flexibility offers the possibility of adapting the

garment in a simple manner with regard to both risk and the activity level of the user. This makes the garment suitable for use under all conditions, thus enabling it to be employed as normal clothing and not as extra equipment.

In a preferred embodiment the vents for the garment are arranged along the front, under the arms, from the outer edge of legs and sleeves and some distance inwards along sleeves and legs, and at the sides of the hips. Vents may also be envisaged in other places, such as on the outside of the upper arm or beside the front opening.

The latter may be suitable in cases where the front opening substantially has to be closed, while at the same time the capability of ventilation is required.

Each vent for the garment is equipped with at least two closing devices. One closing device comprises a zip fastener and a flap which sealingly covers the zip. The length of the flap corresponds at least to the length of the zip. The flap is securely attached to the ply for the vent along one longitudinal side of the zip. The flap may be releasably securable to the ply at the second longitudinal side of the zip, thus holding it sealingly over the zip. This sealing can be achieved, for example, by a Velcro fastener. Sealing devices may also be envisaged at the short sides of the zip.

The closing devices for the vents may also be equipped with two-way zips, thus enabling, for example, vents at the lower edge of sleeves and legs to be held together at the lower edge while at the same time there is an opening further up along the vent.

In a preferred embodiment the garment is so designed so that the inner ply has a separate drawstring at the waist for the inner ply. Research has shown that, in cases where the garment consists of trousers and a jacket, this results in less exposure of the skin to chemical and biological contaminants. The flap is also provided with an extra width at the neck portion for overlap of the zip.

The outer garment consists in the preferred embodiment of several separate parts such as a jacket and trousers, and may also consist of braces, shoes and mittens. The outer garment will also be adapted with sealing devices at the end openings of the garment. The sealing device is intended to prevent as far as possible the biological and/or chemical contaminants from penetrating the openings of the garment.

Protection may also be envisaged for the outer extremities with a garment corresponding to the invention.

All the parts of the garment can be adapted with reinforcements in some portions or extra parts may be applied in the form of more absorbent material, less permeable membrane material or with extra reinforcements in or applied to the plies.

Additional reinforcements may, for example, be an overlay material, usually at the knees and elbows. The plies may also be envisaged provided with parts with inbuilt or added elasticity, for example this may be envisaged for the inner absorbent ply in

the area round the opening of the hood as a replacement for or in addition to a drawstring.

With regard to the various plies and their characteristics, it is possible to envisage other combinations of the plies, such as, for example, an insulating ply when the garment is to be used in cold areas, or that the insulation is a part of the inner ply.

Another alternative is for the outer ply in addition to having the membrane function to also provide fire protection. There are countless other possible combinations, which may be permanently or temporarily applied to the outer garment. The individual plies may also be envisaged employed separately.

The drawstring and/or straps round all the openings or in the waist of the garment may be entirely or partially elastic. There will also be as mentioned before sealing devices at openings of the garment at extremities. The garment may also be equipped with alternative extra equipment such as, for example, sensors that detect and signal risk of biological and/or chemical exposure.

A garment according to the invention has several uses, one of the most obvious being as part of or form a uniform, either in the military field or also in the field of other uniformed professions such as the police, fire service or other activities where there is a need for a garment with protection against chemical and/or biological exposure. The invention also has an-application as part of emergency equipment for civilian personnel and private persons. An example in this category is persons working with chemicals.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings, in which: Fig. 1 illustrates the principle of absorbent material in the prior art, Fig. 2 illustrates the principle of membrane material in the prior art, Fig. 3 illustrates the principle of the present invention, Figs. 4A-D are cross sectional views of a vent where the principle of separate closing of vents in one or more plies of the outer garment is illustrated.

Fig. 5 is a principle drawing of a complete garment according to the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a view of a vent.

Fig. 7 is a view of parts of the front opening in the outer garment.

In figures 1 and 2 the previously employed principles of either absorption or membrane as protection against chemical and/or biological exposure are illustrated.

The chemical and/or biological exposure is illustrated by thicker arrows marked CB.

In this illustration, the ply containing the absorption material for absorbing the chemical and/or biological exposure comprises an outer top layer x and an absorption layer y. Unlike the chemical and/or biological contaminants, air indicated by the arrow a will be able to penetrate the absorption ply and water vapour indicated by arrows m from the person's skin S will substantially penetrate, but some may also be absorbed by the absorption ply.

The solution will be different for the membrane, depending on the type of membrane. In the situation illustrated in fig. 2, the membrane ply consists of three layers, i, ii and v. The chemical and/or biological contaminants CB are repelled by the membrane ply, while air indicated by arrow a can pass through. Water vapour m from the person's skin S will partially penetrate and partially be repelled by the membrane ply.

In the present invention as illustrated in fig. 3, a double barrier is employed. The outer garment comprises a ply 2 of two-layer membrane material and an inner ply 3 of an absorbent material. Any chemical and/or biological exposure illustrated by arrows marked CB will largely be repelled as indicated by arrow CBl and where the membrane ply is not completely impervious, the chemical and/or biological contaminants will be absorbed in the absorbent ply as indicated by arrow CB2 which penetrates a hole in the membrane ply. Air a and water vapour m from the person's skin S will be able to penetrate the different plies in the outer garment.

As illustrated in principle drawings in figures 4A-D, the vents 9 for each ply in the garment can be equipped with separate closing devices 10. For an outer garment according to the invention there will be at least two separate closing devices 10 for each through-going vent 9. In the cross sectional views in figures 4A-D, the membrane ply 2 and the absorbent ply 3 each have a closing device 10 over the vent 9, each closing device 10 also including an overlying flap 11. For the absorbent ply 3 the flap 11 is preferably provided with a not shown Velcro fastener, while the membrane ply 2 may have not shown press studs. In fig. 4A a situation is illustrated where the vent is closed for both plies in the outer garment, in fig 4B the closing device in the membrane ply 2 is open while the absorbent ply is kept closed. This may be for cases where there is only a minor threat of gas and it is hot. In fig. 4C we have the opposite situation where the absorbent ply is kept open and the membrane ply closed. This may be for cases where there is a liquid threat or it is desirable for the membrane to be more windproof. Fig. 4D illustrates a situation where the vent 9 passes through both the membrane ply 2 and the absorbent ply 3.

In figure 5 an embodiment of the invention is illustrated as a uniform consisting of a jacket 4, trousers 5 and mittens. All the elements in the outer garment are provided

according to the invention with an outer membrane ply 2 and an inner absorbent ply 3.

There are vents 9 right in the central front part of the jacket, under the arms and extending from the outer edge and some distance up along the sleeve. The vent 9 in the central front part of the neck portion of the jacket 4 is equipped with a flap 11 of greater width. The jacket has a hood where the outer ply can be folded up and stored in a compartment in the outer ply's neck portion. The hood is also equipped with sealing devices 13 against a respiratory and/or face protector 7. The hood may also have a not shown brim for additional protection against rain, etc. At the lower edge and at the waist, the jacket has separate drawstrings for both plies of the garment.

The outer garment further comprises trousers 5. The outer ply is releasably secured in a not shown manner to the inner ply by fastening devices in the waist portion.

The trousers may be provided with braces. The trousers 5 at the central front part may have vents 9 (not shown) from the lower edge and some distance up along the legs and at the side of the hip (not shown). In an embodiment the vents 9 which extend from the lower edge of the legs may extend upwards to a point above the knee portion of the trousers, or all the way to the waist.

In an embodiment stiffeners may be inserted in the edges of the vents, thus ensuring that in an open condition the vent remains in an open position.

Fig. 6 is a detail drawing of a vent, for example in an edge of a leg or sleeve. The garment has two plies-an outer membrane ply 2 and an inner absorbent ply 3. For each ply separate closing devices 10 are provided, with zip fasteners and overlapping flaps. The opening of the garment is also provided with a sealing device in the form of a drawstring 12.

Fig. 7 is a detail drawing of the central vent in the central front part of a jacket 4.

The jacket 4 has an inner absorbent ply 3 and an outer membrane ply 2. In addition to the central opening, the jacket has vents 9 as indicated at the lower edge of the sleeves and under the arms. The vents have closing devices 10 in the form of zip fasteners with covering flaps. In this embodiment the overlapping flaps are provided with Velcro fasteners to ensure that the flap is held sealingly over the zip in the closing device. In the neck portion of the jacket the flap in the closing device has been made wider. The outer membrane ply 2 is attached to the inner absorbent ply 3 by fastening devices 15 in the form of zip fasteners. The jacket also has a hood with an inner absorbent ply and an outer membrane ply. In the illustration in fig. 7 the inner absorbent ply is closed with the hood arranged closingly around the head, while the closing devices for the outer membrane ply are kept open and the hood ply is arranged folded up in the outer ply's neck portion.

The present invention has now been described by an embodiment, in which the garment consists of jacket, trousers and mittens. A number of other variations may be envisaged within the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

The jacket and trousers may be provided with integrated hands and feet. Footwear may also be envisaged designed according to the same principle, but preferably with substantial reinforcements in the sole portion. The trousers might be provided with braces. There may be a number of plies or layers in the uniform outer garment to serve different purposes. A ply or layer may also be envisaged in the garment to protect against radioactivity, heat, cold, etc. The sealing devices at the garment openings may be envisaged to be of such a nature that a slight overpressure can be built up within the outer garment, thus providing an extra guarantee against leakage in towards the skin. A variant of the present invention is to manufacture the outer garment with an all-enveloping hood, in which can be provided an internal oxygen supply. This all-enveloping hood may also be provided with a portion of transparent material.