The invention relates to a protective suit for protection against harmful chemical and biological substances as classified in the preamble of claim 1.
Persons who, in the event of accidents involving harmful substances, work on site and therefore are exposed to these substances have to wear protective suits which stop the harmful substances from getting through to the skin or underwear.
The same is true of the military field when chemical or biological warfare agents are used.
From commercial practice there are known for this purpose two-part protective suits consisting of a jacket and a pair or trousers, each constructed of an outer and a liner into which a carbon-based layer has been introduced. The substances adsorb onto the carbon surface. However, it is disadvantageous in this connection that the carbon will take up a multiplicity of chemicals, including chemicals which are relatively harmless, such as, for example, exhaust gases, deodorants, insect repellents and the like, and hence will become saturated, and consequently pervious, over time. Another problem here is the protective effect against chemicals in the liquid state.
A protective effect, moreover, presupposes a certain layer thickness for the carbon, which not only creates an adverse thermal effect through a heat build-up for the wearer, but also makes the protective suit relatively cumbersome and heavy. In addition, it takes several minutes to put on the two-part protective suit and seal it, which likewise represents an appreciable disadvantage in the event of danger threatening.
The present invention therefore has for its object to provide a protective suit which is simpler to handle and safer in use.
According to the invention, this object is achieved by the features recited in the characterizing part of claim 1.
Instead of a bulky barrier layer of charcoal, the barrier layer which is used now is a membrane which is surrounded by a protective layer on both sides. The protective layer on the outside serves as a mechanical protector for the membrane and the inner protective layer also serves to increase the wear comfort. To this end, for example, the outer protective layer can be formed of breathable polyester. The inner protective layer can consist of polyamide which can be hydrophilicized in order that it may readily absorb perspiration and transport it to the outside. In an advantageous execution of the invention, the membrane is likewise configured to be breathable. A very useful membrane has been determined to be a cellulose-based material. Such a material is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,775 for example.
The configuration as an coverall facilitates and appreciably speeds the putting on of the suit, since distinctly fewer locations have to be sealed. A membrane, unlike a charcoal layer, can be selectively impervious to harmful substances, while being otherwise pervious. A cellulose-based membrane blocks off a multiplicity of harmful chemicals. Moreover, no saturation occurs and at the same time protection is also provided against chemicals in the liquid state or else as an aerosol and not just protection against gas.
The pressure difference on both sides of the membrane ensures that moisture is transported away from the body, so that there is no heat build-up for the person who is wearing the protective suit. In addition, the evaporation processes which take place ensure a cooling effect.
The execution of the protective suit as an coverall provides a suit which is complete in itself, it then merely being necessary to make connecting pieces to a protective mask and to gloves.
In a very advantageous execution of the invention, the coverall is provided with a hood which is integrated in and hence is integral with the coverall. The same applies to the integration of socks in the coverall. This shortens the time needed to put on the protective suit even more compared with known protective suits. In addition, integration of the hood and socks in the coverall also avoids dangerous spots with regard to imperviousness.
In a further very advantageous execution of the invention, the at least one zipper extends beyond the hood and the hood divides into a rear part and a front part when the zipper is in the open state and hence, in the open state, can be laid down on the back and on the chest. It is merely necessary to ensure that the zipper used is impervious to the harmful substances and is also correspondingly imperviously connected to the coverall. One possible zipper of this kind is described for example in German Utility Model DE 201 10 132.7.
Advantageous developments and executions of the protective suit according to the invention will be apparent from the remaining subclaims and from the illustrative embodiment described hereinbelow in principle with reference to the drawing, where