6748609

Claims

• I claim: 1. A method of creating an air tight CBR impervious barrier for combatants comprising the steps of: donning protective garments including a protective overgarment, gloves, and over-boots, said protective garments have an annular drawstring interface between a hooded-coat and trousers of said protective overgarment, an annular interface between each sleeve of said hooded-coat and each glove, and an annular interface between each leg portion of said trousers and each over-boot; dilating elastomeric sheaths to distended forms, wherein said step of dilating includes the steps of: immersing said elastomeric sheaths in a swelling agent; and swelling said elastomeric sheaths in said swelling agent into said distended forms; extending the length of each elastomeric sheath to reach over annular surfaces of said protective garments on either side of each annular interface; placing each distended form of each elastomeric sheath over a separate one of said interfaces; constricting each distended form of each elastomeric sheath radially inwardly over a separate one of said interfaces; compressedly engaging said interfaces and said wearer''s body by said constricting elastomeric sheaths; and creating an air-tight CBR impervious barrier at said interfaces. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of constricting includes the step of: removing said distended forms of said elastomeric sheaths from said swelling agent; and shrinking said distended forms of said swelled elastomeric sheaths in the absence of said swelling agent to allow said step of compressedly engaging.