# US 2013/0153119 A1 · Stitchless Seam System For Joining Laminates

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- Number: US 2013/0153119 A1
- Document ID: US20130153119A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/766,293
- Filed: 2013-02-13
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2006-08-17
- Assignees: W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
- Inventors: Gregory E. Hannon
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153119A1

## CPC

- A41D 27/245: {made by welding or gluing (joining of plastics by welding or gluing B29C65/00; sewing machines for concurrently making thread and welded seams D05B17/00; thermal or chemical fixing of seams and hems D06M)}
- B29C 65/085: {using a rotary sonotrode}
- B29C 65/086: {using a rotary anvil}
- B29C 65/10: using hot gases {(e.g. combustion gases) or flames coming in contact with at least one of the parts to be joined}
- B29C 65/5021: {being multi-layered}
- B29C 65/5028: {being textile in woven or non-woven form}
- B29C 65/5042: {covering both elements to be joined}
- B29C 65/7435: {the tool being a roller}
- B29C 65/7443: {by means of ultrasonic vibrations}
- B29C 66/038: {Covering the joint by a coating material}
- B29C 66/0384: {the coating material being in tape, strip or band form (joining using adhesive tapes covering both elements to be joined B29C65/5042)}
- B29C 66/133: {Fin-type joints, the parts to be joined being flexible (the parts to be joined being rigid B29C66/1312)}
- B29C 66/21: {said joint lines being formed by a single dot or dash or by several dots or dashes, i.e. spot joining or spot welding}
- B29C 66/229: {Other specific patterns not provided for in B29C66/221 - B29C66/227}
- B29C 66/232: {said joint lines being multiple and parallel, i.e. the joint being formed by several parallel joint lines}
- B29C 66/43: {Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles (B29C66/45 takes precedence)}
- B29C 66/723: {being multi-layered (B29C66/7292, B29C66/72941 take precedence)}
- B29C 66/72343: {for liquids}
- B29C 66/727: {being porous, e.g. foam}
- B29C 66/729: {Textile or other fibrous material made from plastics}
- B29C 66/7292: {coated (B29C66/72941 takes precedence)}
- B29C 66/81417: {being V-shaped}
- B29C 66/81427: {comprising a single ridge, e.g. for making a weakening line; comprising a single tooth}
- B29C 66/81433: {being toothed, i.e. comprising several teeth or pins (comprising a single tooth B29C66/81429), or being patterned}
- B29C 66/83411: {Roller, cylinder or drum types (B29C66/83431 takes precedence; rollers, cylinders or drums moving relative to and tangentially to the parts to be joined B29C66/8362)}
- B29C 66/83413: {cooperating rollers, cylinders or drums}
- B29C 65/04: Dielectric heating, e.g. high-frequency welding {, i.e. radio frequency welding of plastic materials having dielectric properties, e.g. PVC}
- B29C 65/4815: {Hot melt adhesives, e.g. thermoplastic adhesives}
- B29C 65/484: {Moisture curing adhesives}
- B29C 65/72: by combined operations {or combined techniques}, e.g. welding and stitching
- B29C 66/1122: {Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints (B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence)}
- B29C 66/71: {characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined (welding bar compositions B29C65/125)}
- B29K 2027/18: PTFE, i.e. polytetrafluoroethylene {, e.g. ePTFE, i.e. expanded polytetrafluoroethylene}
- B29K 2313/02: coated
- B29K 2995/0069: non-permeable
- B29L 2009/00: Layered products
- Y10T 156/1052: with cutting, punching, tearing or severing
- Y10T 428/1362: Textile, fabric, cloth, or pile containing [e.g., web, net, woven, knitted, mesh, nonwoven, matted, etc.]
- Y10T 428/19: Sheets or webs edge spliced or joined
- A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A stitchless seam between a first panel having a functional layer and a second panel having a functional layer is provided. The seam system is formed via a discontinuous fused stitchless seam which connects a first panel to a second panel. A reinforcement may be used to strengthen the discontinuous fused stitchless seam connecting the first panel to the second panel, allowing formation of a liquid-impervious stitchless seam system. A method for forming the system is also provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

The method of forming a fused liquid-proof stitchless seam joining together pieces of liquid-proof laminate, said method comprising:
a. placing at least two pieces of a liquid-proof laminate each having at least a textile layer and a liquid proof functional layer in stacked relation with textile regions in contact with one another along a strip defining a stitchless seam line; and
b. applying heat and pressure to the stacked laminates along said strip, the heat being applied continuously and the pressure being applied at a constant interval most proximal to the edge of the stitchless seam line forming a continuous stitchless seam and at spaced-apart intervals juxtaposed to the continuous stitchless seam to form a discontinuous stitchless seam thereby forming multiple seams along the strip.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising step c. cutting the stitchless seam allowance.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 wherein step b. and c. are carried on simultaneously.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 whereby said discontinuous stitchless seam is weakly bonded relative to said continuous seam.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the heat applied in step b.) is in the form of ultrasonic energy.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the pressure is applied by means of an embossed wheel.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the multiple seams are reinforced by at least one reinforcement.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the reinforcement is a tape.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method as defined in claim 8 wherein the reinforcement is a thread.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method as defined in claim 8 wherein the reinforcement is a textile laminate.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the functional layer is comprised of expanded PTFE.