U.S. patent application number 11/972106 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-06 for device for creating a seal between fabrics and/or other materials and methods of making and using the same.
Invention is credited to Matt McCune, Benjamin Meager.
Application Number | 20080271298 11/972106 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39365605 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080271298 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Meager; Benjamin ; et
al. |
November 6, 2008 |
DEVICE FOR CREATING A SEAL BETWEEN FABRICS AND/OR OTHER MATERIALS
AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME
Abstract
Provided is a virtually invisible rail closure for use in
garments or items having a first rail and a second rail configured
to matingly interlock so that the first and second rail are not
visible on the exterior facing surface of the rail closure.
Inventors: |
Meager; Benjamin; (Bozeman,
MT) ; McCune; Matt; (Bozeman, MT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GORE ENTERPRISE HOLDINGS, INC.
551 PAPER MILL ROAD, P. O. BOX 9206
NEWARK
DE
19714-9206
US
|
Family ID: |
39365605 |
Appl. No.: |
11/972106 |
Filed: |
January 10, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60884559 |
Jan 11, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/589.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41H 37/003 20130101;
Y10T 24/45215 20150115; A44B 19/16 20130101; A41F 1/00
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/589.1 |
International
Class: |
A44B 19/16 20060101
A44B019/16 |
Claims
1. A material fastening device comprising two interlocking rails
wherein at least one rail comprises a head with an outward facing
portion having a surface which is configured to bond onto a
material.
2. The material fastening device of claim 1 wherein the outward
facing portion further comprises a material capture means.
3. The material fastening device of claim 2 wherein the material
capture means is on the exterior surface of the head.
4. The material fastening device of claim 3 wherein the material
capture means is on the exterior surface of the head.
5. The material fastening device of claim 3 wherein the material
capture means is on an interior facing surface of the head.
6. The material fastening device of claim 3 wherein the material
capture means is on a transition portion of the head.
7. A material fastening device comprising two interlocking rails
wherein at least one rail comprises a material capturing means.
8. A garment comprising a rail closure having two interlocking
portions wherein at least one of the interlocking portions is
extruded onto the garment.
9. A fabric strip comprising a rail with interlock means extruded
onto the fabric strip wherein the interlock means is fastenable to
a mating interlock means.
10. The fabric strip of claim 9 wherein the interlock means is
extruded onto the edge of the fabric.
11. A material fastening device comprising two interlocking rails
wherein at least one rail comprises a head portion and a tail
portion created by bonding material to the head portion, and a
material capture means within the at least one rail.
12. A virtually invisible rail closure having a interior and
exterior facing surface and comprising: a first rail having a head
portion, a tail portion created by bonding a material to the head
portion, and a material capture means located on the head portion
of the first rail to secure a portion of the material; a second
rail having a tail portion created by bonding a second material to
the second rail and configured to matingly interlock with said
first rail so that the first and second rail are not visible on the
exterior facing surface of the rail closure.
13. The virtually invisible rail closure of claim 12 wherein the
exterior facing surface of the rail closure is void of
stitching.
14. A method for providing a virtually invisible rail closure
comprising: a) providing a first rail head having a surface
configured for bonding and having a material capture means; b)
providing a first fabric strip; c) affixing said first fabric strip
to said first rail head on said surface configured for bonding and
securing the first fabric strip edge in the material capturing
means; d) providing a mating rail head; e) providing a second
fabric strip; f) affixing said mating rail head to said second
fabric strip; and g) forming the virtually invisible seal between
first and second fabric strips by joining said first rail head and
said mating rail head.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/884,559, filed on Jan. 11, 2007, the content of
which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a rail closure device that
is capable of creating a seal between fabrics and other materials
without exterior visibility of the rails.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Fastening devices typically include two flexible elongated
components having teeth which are forced to interlock and separate
by moving a slide along the components. Although such fastening
devices have long been used to close and open various articles,
such as clothing and bags, such devices suffer from the allowance
of liquids and gases within the fastener, and are therefore not
useful for conditions in which a wind-proof, gas-tight and/or
waterproof article is desirable. While rail type closures may be
used to provide protection from the allowance of liquids and gases
within the fastener they have been readily visible on the exterior
of garments and other items. The present devices provide a
virtually invisible closure system using a rail closure wherein
only a garment or item material is visible on the exterior of the
closure system. The closure system may be made without the need for
sewing or stitches thus creating a seamless rail closure
design.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] A material fastening device is disclosed comprising two
interlocking rails wherein at least one rail comprises a head with
an outward facing portion having a surface which is configured to
bond directly onto a desired material. The head may further
comprise a material capture means to secure a portion of the
material.
[0005] A garment having a virtually invisible and seamless rail
closure is disclosed comprising two interlocking portions wherein
at least one of the interlocking portions is extruded directly onto
the garment.
[0006] A fabric strip for use in a seamless rail closure is
disclosed comprising a rail with interlock means extruded directly
onto the fabric strip, so that the interlock means extruded onto
the fabric strip is fastenable to a desired mating interlock
means.
[0007] A material fastening device is disclosed comprising two
interlocking rails wherein at least one rail comprises a head
portion and a tail portion created by bonding material to the head
portion, and a means for capturing a material edge within the at
least one rail.
[0008] A virtually invisible rail closure is disclosed having a
interior and exterior facing surface and comprising a first rail
having a head portion, a tail portion created by bonding a material
to the head portion, and a material capture means located on the
head portion of the first rail to secure a portion of the material;
a second rail having a tail portion created by bonding a second
material to the second rail and configured to matingly interlock
with said first rail so that the first and second rail are not
visible on the exterior facing surface of the rail closure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0009] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of an exemplary fastener
device interlocking rails of the present invention
[0010] FIG. 2 is an exemplary design of an interlocking rail.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional side view of a virtually
invisible closure system of the present exhibiting an interlocking
rail portion.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a depiction of an exemplary rail having no
tail.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a depiction of a rail having interlock means and
two different garment materials joined to the rail.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a depiction of a seamless rail integration wherein
the tailless rail is attached directly to a garment.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a depiction of a seamless rail integration system
wherein the tailless rail attaches directly to a garment on one
side and attaches to seam tape on the opposing side.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a depiction of a seamless rail integration system
comprising a material capture means.
[0017] FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the material capture means on
the head of a rail.
[0018] FIG. 10 shows a depiction of the closure system of the
present invention wherein the rail is covered on the exterior
facing portion with a material.
[0019] FIG. 11 shows a depiction of the closure system of the
present invention wherein the rail is hidden from view on the
exterior facing portion of an item and is void of stitching.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] Rail fasteners may be typically used to create a seal
between fabrics and/or other materials. Rail fasteners make up the
sealing portion of a closure system and usually involve a slider
mechanism to manipulate the profiles of two mating rails together
and apart. FIG. 1 depicts a rail fastener having a standard tail 10
section which facilitates installation of the rail fastener into
the garment by providing a space adjacent to the head of the
fastener for sewing, taping, gluing, or welding. The transition 20
is shown as the portion of the profile that joins the head 30 of
the rail 40 to the tail 10. The head 30 of the rail fastener houses
the interlock means 60 and is the portion manipulated by a slider
and is usually the portion that is visible after installation into
a garment or device. As shown in FIG. 2, the interlock means 60 is
that portion of the rail 40 which locks and seals the rail fastener
to another rail fastener to form the seal of the closure system.
The interlock means 60 is typically formed by a tongue and groove
type configuration which is preferably located on the head 30 of
the rail and which extends the length of the rail, however other
suitable configurations may be used to interlock two mating rails.
The rail 40 has a longitudinal dimension which extends at least the
length of the desired sealing portion of the closure system. The
rail in its most basic form has at least a head 30 portion and at
least an interlock means 60. In certain embodiments, a slider is
used to manipulate the two rail fastener sides or halves apart. The
rail halves separate in front of the slider and fully close after
they have passed through the slider. The following embodiments
describing the closure systems are able to be used with a slider or
independent of a slider in accordance with their desired
applications.
[0021] In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a
seamless rail system functions similar to a typical rail fastener
except that the tail 10 portion is created by bonding material to
the head 30 of the rail, thus creating a closure on an item, which
is void of a stitched seam. A seamless rail system is a material
fastening device which comprises at least two interlocking rails
wherein at least one rail 40 has a head 30 with an outward facing
portion having a surface which is configured to join directly onto
a material surface. Bonding a material to the head 30 of the rail
40 can be accomplished in a number of ways, using numerous material
types and installation or bonding methods. For example, as shown in
FIG. 3, a seamless rail system is able to be manufactured by
extrusion or injection molding a rail fastener without a tail
section. The seamless rail can then be glued, radio frequency (RF)
welded or otherwise bonded directly to a garment material or other
suitable items. The entire head of the rail 40 is able to be
attached to the garment interior or underside allowing the exterior
material of a garment to appear free from rail visibility and in
seamless rail applications, also free from stitching, thus making a
virtually invisible closure system 100 as viewed from the outside
of the garment or other application. This application of a seamless
rail also increases the flexibility of the closure system by
removing the tail portion of the rail fastener associated with
traditional rails, and also alleviates the need for elaborate
sewing and seam taping. In the case of a breathable jacket closure,
breathability can also be increased due to the size of the closure
being reduced, resulting in greater access to the surface of the
breathable fabric.
[0022] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a seamless rail integration where a
tapeless or tailless rail is glued or welded directly to the jacket
or garment using a portion of the garment to both weld to the
seamless rail as well as the opposing material. This application
would be suitable for attaching the seamless rail to a garment such
as a jacket with a barrier fabric, a waterproof material, a
protective fabric, or a fabric comprising a fluoropolymer or
similar membranes. The seamless rail does not require the two
materials to be bonded together in their entirety. Rather, one
piece or portion of material 110 can be used to create the bond
between the rail 40 and the garment or application.
[0023] In accordance with embodiments of the present invention,
FIGS. 6 and 7 show the use of seam tape 85 to create a secure
connection with the head of the rail 40. The seam tape is joined
with a material portion 110 to create a secure interface or bond. A
seam tape 85 can also be replaced by a small fabric or material
portion sufficient to create a bond between the garment material
110 and the rail, leaving the interlock means 60 free from fabric
contact.
[0024] The exterior or outward facing portion of the rail 40
comprises a head, which may employ a material capture means 90. The
material capture means 90 is able to be located on the exterior
surface of the head as depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9, or alternatively
on a surface of the head 30 such as on the transition 20 area of
the head 30, or adjacent to the interlock means 60. In accordance
with embodiments of the present invention, FIGS. 8 and 9 show the
use of a material capture means 90 in the form of a slit in the
rail to better integrate the end or edge of a material 110. A
material capture means may also be used to integrate the edge of a
seam tape when desired. While the material capture means is shown
as a slit, it is to be understood that other suitable
configurations such as indentations, guides, clips or other similar
integration techniques may be substituted. The material capture
means may be located at the edge of the rail head in order to
provide a virtually invisible closure system, as shown in FIG. 8,
thereby providing a closure that is not exposed on the outside of a
garment or other item. FIG. 9 depicts a portion of rail head that
will be visible when the closure is in a closed position thereby
providing a seamless configuration but not a virtually invisible
closure system. The fabric or material 110 can be routed into the
material capture means 90 and sealed by gluing, welding, or sewing.
This material capture means can be on either side of the seamless
rail and can play a role in the incorporation of other materials
not used for the closure, such as functional fabric strips, or
other desirable materials. One example of this would be the
incorporation of a reflective strip on the outside of a jacket.
[0025] FIGS. 10 and 11 demonstrate the use of rail to hide the
closure completely on the front of a jacket, garment or
application; hence creating a virtually invisible closure system
100. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the closure is completely hidden
from view on the outside of the item (garment, bag, or any other
application) and is also void of stitching or material seams. Thus,
a cosmetic benefit to the appearance of the garment or article is
provided as well as a smaller, more flexible closure system
complimented by increased breathability and lower installation
costs. Size and weight are also reduced by not only removing the
need for a traditional tail portion of the rail fastener, but by
removing the need for materials used to sew and tape the closure to
the item. Another benefit of the present invention is that it
removes the stretch and elongation concerns created by a typical
rail fastener and its installation.
[0026] In addition to bonding a material 110 to the outside of the
rail, it is also possible to extrude or injection mold the rail
head directly to a fabric or onto a fabric strip which may be
incorporated directly into garments and other goods. Whether
extruded, injection molded or otherwise formed for ease of
understanding, the method of producing a rail will hereafter be
referred to as extruded. In its most basic form such a garment
comprises a rail closure having two interlocking portions wherein
at least one of the interlocking portions is extruded onto the
garment. The extruded rail is able to be joined directly to the
garment or onto a fabric strip. The extruded rail may be located on
the edge of the garment or onto a functional fabric strip or in
another desired location.
[0027] The fabric strip may be of a dimension suited to incorporate
into the desired applications, in a manner that allows the rail to
maintain its integrity throughout production and processing of the
garments or goods. When a fabric strip is employed, in a most basic
embodiment, the fabric strip comprises a rail 40 having interlock
means 60 extruded onto the fabric strip and configured to allow the
interlock means 60 to fasten with a mating interlock means. The
mating interlock means may be located on an opposing garment edge,
on a related or unrelated garment or item, or on a fabric strip.
The fabric strip may be a functional fabric having barrier
properties or other desirable attributes, a woven material, a
non-woven material, textiles, leathers, membrane, or other similar
materials used in garments, bags or other items requiring
closures.
[0028] A garment such as a jacket having a virtually invisible
closure system is able to be formed using the present teachings.
Such garment comprises at least a material fastening device having
two interlocking rails wherein at least one rail 40 comprises a
head 30 portion and a tail 10 portion created by bonding the
garment material 110 to the head 30 portion, and a material capture
means for securing an edge of said material 110 within a portion of
the at least one rail 40 to form a virtually invisible rail closure
on the exterior of the jacket, thus solving design concerns of the
visible rails.
[0029] In a certain embodiment, the virtually invisible rail
closure comprises a first rail 40 having a head 30 portion, a tail
10 portion created by bonding a material to the head 30 portion,
and a material capture means 90 located on the head 30 portion of
the first rail 40 to secure an edge of the material; a second rail
having a tail 10 portion created by bonding a second material to
the second rail and configured to matingly interlock with said
first rail 40 so that the first and second rail are not visible on
the exterior facing surface of the rail closure. Additionally, the
exterior facing surface of the rail closure is able to be void of
stitching when using welding, gluing or other stitchless bonding
techniques.
[0030] In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a
method of manufacturing a rail on a fabric is provided. The rail
may be extruded directly onto a fabric or functional material in a
single manufacturing process. For example, a fabric or other
material is able to be created with a seamless rail directly
integrated onto the material, for sale as one item. Fabric or
material can also be extruded or molded into the interior of the
rail head similar to the way in which pultrusion integrates fiber
into an extruded profile or rail fastener.
[0031] A basic method for providing a virtually invisible rail
closure comprises the steps of providing a first rail head having a
surface configured for bonding and having a material capture means
along one edge. The first rail head is placed on a first fabric
strip (or garment edge), and then the first fabric strip is affixed
to said first rail head, via the surface configured for bonding.
The first fabric strip edge is then secured in the material
capturing means. A mating rail head is then affixed to second
fabric strip or edge and joined to said first rail head to form a
virtually invisible rail closure.
[0032] For certain applications, a slider used for a seamless rail
system will need to interact with the material bonded to the rails.
Many materials will aid in the slider's interaction and create an
easier slide, but additional materials can be added to the surface
to create a better interaction as well as protect the material's
surface from abrasion caused by the slider.
[0033] These systems can be combined to create numerous rail
devices. All of the features described in this document do not
limit the scope of this invention, but rather expand rail fastener
installation, creation, and manufacturing possibilities.
* * * * *