US 6,797,352 B2 · Hems, edges, patches and seams for durable, water repellant woven fabric, and methods for making the same

Abstract

Edges, hems, patches and seams for woven fabric that has been treated for water repellency, and methods for making the same, are shown and described. In one particular embodiment of the invention, for example, a lapped seam between two pieces of water repellent fabric has an outer material at least partially overlapping an inner material, and a laminate strip positioned between the overlapping portions of the materials. The outer and inner materials, which are both oriented in the same direction, have an exterior layer of woven fabric that has been treated with water repellent and/or stain repellent chemicals, and an inner layer comprising a polymer membrane, such as polyurethane. The laminate strip has a bottom portion in contact with the outer layer of the inner material. The bottom portion has a low melt point, high flow rate adhesive system of one or more layers that penetrates and surrounds the fibers in the woven fiber of the outer layer of the inner piece of material. The laminate strip also has a top layer in contact with the inner layer of the outer piece of material. The top layer of the laminate is a thin, elastic, highly abrasion resistant material with a strong bonding affinity for polyurethane. The layers of the laminate strip bond to the adjacent layers of the overlapped material to create a strong lap seam.

Claims37

Dependent claims

An edge for a multi-layered piece of fabric, the fabric having an outer layer that incorporates woven fibers treated with a liquid-repellent chemical, and an inner layer that incorporates a liquid-proof, breathable coating and/or membrane, the edge comprising:

an adhesive system comprising a first thermoplastic polymer, the adhesive system impregnating a majority of a thickness of the woven fibers in the outer layer of an edge region of the fabric so as to form an adhesive bond with the fabric, the adhesive bond being sufficient to prevent the edge region from fraying or delaminating during a useful life of the piece of fabric without the seam requiring stitching;
and
a second thermoplastic polymer chemically bonded to the adhesive system, the second thermoplastic polymer being sufficiently durable to endure a typical use of the piece of fabric for the useful life of the piece of fabric without the seam requiring stitching.

A liquid-proof, breathable woven fabric, having enhanced resistance to abrasion and wear in selected areas, comprising:

a sheet of a liquid-proof, breathable fabric, the sheet having a first side normally exposed to sources of abrasion and wear and comprising woven fibers having applied thereon a treatment that serves to provide liquid-repellency, and a second side comprising woven fibers having applied thereto a liquid-proof, breathable coating or having laminated thereto a liquid-proof, breathable membrane;
and
at least one overlay comprising a thermoplastic polymer laminate, the laminate having an adhesive system including a first thermoplastic polymer that is a low melting-point, high flow rate first adhesive, and a second layer including a second thermoplastic polymer, chemically bonded to the adhesive system, and being resistant to abrasion and wear,
wherein the at least one overlay is sized and shaped so as to protectively and fixedly cover, by means of an adhesive bond, at least one discreet area of the first side of the sheet for which enhanced resistance to abrasion and wear is desired, the adhesive bond comprising an adhesion layer including at least some of the first thermoplastic polymer and at least some of the woven fibers of the fabric to be protected, wherein the at least some of the first thermoplastic polymer impregnates and surrounds the at least some of the woven fibers so as to form an adhesive bond therebetween;
and wherein the second layer of the laminate is exposed, thereby presenting a thin, as well as abrasion and wear resistant surface overlaying a portion of the woven fabric to be protected.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hems, edges, patches and seams for durable, water repellant woven fabric, and methods for making the same

Life of this patent

Hems, edges, patches and seams for durable, water repellant woven fabric, and methods for making the same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims37