AIRTIGHT WATERPROOF ZIPPER, METHOD FOR MOUNTING THE SAME, AND ARTICLE INCORPORATING THE SAME
A fluid resistant article which includes a panel portion formed of a flexible fluid resistant material having a first side surface and an opposite second side surface where the panel portion has an elongate opening formed therethrough. The article also includes a fluid resistant zipper including a zipper tape supporting a pair of first teeth and a set of second teeth that are engagable and disengagable with one another to define an opening state and a closed state. The zipper tape is secured in a substantially sealed manner to a margin area of the panel portion adjacent to the elongate opening. There is also at least one finger hold disposed proximate to one of the zipper and configured for engagement by a user's finger to assist operating the zipper.
Zippers have been in use since at least 1851 when Elias Howe patented the first variant of the zipper in the United States (U.S. Pat. No. 8,540). Since then zippers have been used in a wide variety of applications including duffle bags, tents, boots, sleeping bags, clothing such as jeans, or anywhere that two edges of fabric need to be temporarily joined.
Zipper inventors and manufacturers alike deserve a great deal of credit for their innovative designs and creative applications of the zipper. These efforts have made the zipper an extremely useful and versatile device that is used in hundreds of different applications. However, there remains room for further improvements in the application of zippers, especially as zipper technology evolves. For example, waterproof/airtight zippers such as those available from various zipper manufacturers present new challenges to waterproof/airtight garment and product designers. One of the challenges associated with waterproof/airtight zippers has to do with the environment in which the zipper is intended to be used. Specifically, the waterproof/airtight zipper is intended to be used in a fluidic environment and thus the garment or product designer is challenged with how to seal the zipper into the article to be sealed. For example, waterproof/airtight zippers are ideal for use in waterproof duffle bags, dry suits used for scuba diving, and waders and boots used for fishing. The designer cannot simply sew the zipper into the product and achieve a waterproof/airtight seal. A more robust and reliable seal is needed.
Waterproof/airtight zippers pose an additional challenge to designers of waterproof/airtight articles. Most waterproof/airtight zippers by their design require a larger than normal amount of force to operate the zipper in either direction when compared with a conventional zipper. The amount of force required to operate a waterproof/airtight zipper is significantly greater than that which garment materials and mounting methods are normally designed to handle. The stress and strain resulting from the operating force of the waterproof/airtight zipper can cause the garment material to eventually tear. Similarly, the repetitive stress applied to the juncture between the zipper and garment can fatigue the seal between the zipper and the garment resulting in leaks.
Accordingly, there remains a need to provide a new and improved method for sealing a waterproof/airtight zipper to a garment or product. In addition, there remains a need for an improved zipper that reduces the strain placed on the seam between a waterproof/airtight zipper and the material to which it is mounted. The improved waterproof/airtight zipper and mounting method described herein are directed to meeting these needs.
SUMMARYProvided is an improved airtight/waterproof zipper and method for mounting the same. A fluid-resistant article, which incorporates the zipper and methods is also disclosed. The fluid-resistant article is comprised of a panel portion formed from a flexible fluid-resistant material that has a first side surface and an opposite second side. An elongate opening is formed in the panel portion in order to provide access to the interior of the fluid-resistant article. The fluid-resistant zipper, which includes a zipper tape supporting a set of first teeth and a set of second teeth that are engageable and disengageable with one another, is secured and sealed to a margin area of the panel portion adjacent to the elongate opening. At least one fingerhold is disposed proximate to one end of the zipper and is configured for engagement by the finger of a user in order to assist the user in operating the zipper.
The fluid-resistant article may also include an elongate flap, which covers the zipper on one of the sides of the zipper. In a preferred embodiment of the fluid-resistant article, a zipper tape and an edge margin of the flap are located on the interior of the article. The fingerholds may be formed integrally with the flap. For instance, the flap may be formed with a generally rectangular piece of material, having first and second long edges and a pair of transverse short edges extending therebetween and intersecting along the long edges to define corners. These corner portions may be folded over to form fingerholds. The flap may be constructed of polypropylene, nylon, or the like. The zipper and the flap may also be stitched to the material around the perimeter margin of the elongate opening. In order to seal the stitching, a heat-activated tape may be used on the interior of the article. The fluid-resistant article may be of any type of article, which resists a fluid such as liquid or gas. Some examples of such a fluid resistant article are hazardous material suits, fire suits, dry suits, dry bags, bivy sacks, waders, space suits, tents, shipping packages, household storage bags, map cases, chart cases, kayak skirts, backpack covers, computer cases, electronic device cases, watercraft containers, inflatable cases, flotation bags, flotation devices, waterproof pockets, fishing vest pockets, smell-proof pockets, wetsuits, jackets, sleeping bags, rain gear, boots, kayak jackets, wind breakers, and wind proof fleeces.
Also contemplated, is a garment for use in a fluidic environment that can be worn by a wearer who has a torso and a central medial axis. The garment body is formed of a fluid-resistant material, which has a trunk portion and extends around at least some of the trunk of the wearer when in a worn state. A fluid-resistant zipper is disposed on the garment such that it is in generally transverse orientation relative the wearer's central medial axis. The fluid-resistant zipper, includes a zipper tape supporting a set of first teeth and a set of second teeth, which are engageable and disengageable with one another thereby to define an open state and a closed state. The garment may also include at least one fingerhold, which is disposed near one end of the zipper and configured for engagement by a user's finger to assist operating the zipper.
The garment may also include an elongate flap, which is covering the zipper on the exterior side of the garment. In addition, the fingerhold may be formed integrally with the flap. The trunk portion of the garment may be adapted to extend around the waist of the wearer and include a crotch portion with a pair of leg portions extending therefrom, such as in the case of a pair of pants or shorts. In this case the zipper may be disposed proximate the crotch portion of the garment. The trunk portion of the garment may also be adapted to extend around the chest of the wearer such as a vest, jacket, or shirt.
Also contemplated is a method for mounting a fluid-resistant zipper in an article, which has a panel portion formed of a flexible, fluid resistant material. The method is comprised of forming an elongate opening through the panel and securing a fluid-resistant zipper in a substantially sealed manner to a margin area of the panel portion. The zipper is secured adjacent to the elongate opening. At least one fingerhold is disposed proximate an end of the zipper whereby a user can engage the fingerhold when operating the zipper. The zipper and the fingerhold are stitched around a perimeter margin of the elongate opening. The stitching may be subsequently sealed with an appropriate sealing tape or glue. The method may further include disposing an elongate flap for covering zipper on a side thereof corresponding to one of the first and second side surfaces.
It should be understood that an improvement to a garment adapted for use in a fluidic environment is also contemplated. In a garment adapted for use in a fluidic environment which has a trunk portion with a central medial axis and that is adapted to extend around at least some of the torso of the wearer, the improvement is comprised of a fluid-resistant zipper that includes a zipper tape supporting a set of first teeth and a set of second teeth engageable and disengageable with one another thereby to define an open state and a closed state. In the improvement, the zipper is disposed on the garment in a generally transverse orientation to the central medial axis.
According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention the existing waterproof/airtight zipper is improved by adding strain relief loops 20. In this embodiment, strain relief loops 20 are attached to the zipper tape 14 on both ends of the zipper opening. It should be understood that attaching only one strain relief loop to either end of the zipper is also contemplated. As illustrated, loops 20 are positioned in close proximity to both the closed end 16 and open end 17. Strain relief loops 20 provide a convenient grip or fingerhold for exerting an opposing force that counteracts the force applied to slider 11 via pull-tab 13. By providing the opposing force through strain relief loop 20 directly to the zipper tape 14, the pulling force associated with operating the zipper is isolated to the construction of zipper 10, which is designed to handle such stresses. This arrangement prevents the stresses associated with operating zipper 10 from being transferred to the panel portion 100 in which the zipper 10 is mounted. The more closely strain relief loops 20 are mounted to ends 16 and 17 of the zipper, the greater the effectiveness of the strain relief.
Use of strain relief loops as disclosed herein is a substantial improvement to standard waterproof/airtight zippers. It has been found in practice that conventional waterproof zippers transfer enough force to the material in which the zipper is mounted to tear the material. Also, where stitching is used to mount the zipper, the force transferred is sufficient to break the stitching. Finally, where the zipper is mounted with adhesive, repeated operation of the zipper can delaminate the materials as well as break the adhesive joint.
With reference to
Now turning to
In a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in
The construction of zipper assembly 230 is best shown in
Accordingly, the article, zipper, and method have been described with some degree of particularity directed to the exemplary embodiments. It should be appreciated, though, that modifications or changes may be made to the exemplary embodiment without departing from the concepts contained herein.
Claims
1. A fluid-resistant article, comprising:
- A. a panel portion formed of a flexible fluid-resistant material having a first side surface and an opposite second side surface, said panel portion having an elongate opening formed therethrough;
- B. a fluid-resistant zipper including a zipper tape supporting a set of first teeth and a set of second teeth engageable and disengageable with one another thereby to define an open state and closed state, said zipper tape secured in a substantially sealed manner to a margin area of said panel portion adjacent to the elongate opening; and
- C. at least one first fingerhold disposed proximate to one end of said zipper and configured for engagement by a user's finger to assist operating said zipper.
2. A fluid-resistant article according to claim 1 further comprising an elongate flap covering said zipper on a side thereof corresponding to one of said first and second side surfaces.
3. A fluid-resistant article according to claim 2 wherein said article has an interior, said tape and an edge margin of said flap are located interiorly of said article.
4. A fluid-resistant article according to claim 2 wherein said fingerhold is formed integrally with said flap.
5. A fluid-resistant article according to claim 4 wherein said flap is formed from a generally rectangular piece of material having first and second long edges and a pair of transverse short edges extending therebetween and intersecting the long edges to define corners and wherein a corner portion of said piece being folded over thereby to form said fingerhold.
6. A fluid-resistant article according to claim 2 wherein said flap is constructed of polypropylene.
7. A fluid-resistant article according to claim 2 wherein said zipper and said flap are stitched to said material around a perimeter margin of said elongate opening.
8. A fluid-resistant article according to claim 7 wherein said stitching is sealed with heat activated tape.
9. A fluid-resistant article according to claim 1 including first and second fingerholds respectively disposed at opposite first and second ends of said zipper.
10. A fluid-resistant article according to claim 9 further comprising an elongate flap covering said zipper on a side thereof corresponding to one of said first and second side surfaces.
11. A fluid-resistant article according to claim 10 wherein said flap is formed from a generally rectangular piece of material having first and second long edges and a pair of transverse short edges extending therebetween and intersecting the long edges to define corners and wherein first and second corner portions of said piece are folded over thereby to form said first and second fingerholds.
12. A fluid-resistant article according to claim 1, wherein said article is selected from the group consisting of hazardous material suits, fire suits, dry suits, dry bags, bivy sacks, waders, space suits, tents, shipping packages, household storage bags, map cases, chart cases, kayak skirts, backpack covers, computer cases, electronic device cases, watercraft containers, inflatable cases, flotation bags, flotation devices, waterproof pockets, fishing vest pockets, smell-proof pockets, wetsuits, jackets, sleeping bags, rain gear, boots, kayak jackets, wind breakers, and wind proof fleeces.
13. A garment for use in a fluidic environment and adapted to be worn by a wearer who has a torso with a central medial axis, comprising:
- A. a garment body formed of a fluid-resistant material and having a trunk portion and adapted to extend around at least some of the trunk of the wearer when in a worn state; and
- B. a fluid-resistant zipper including a zipper tape supporting a set of first teeth and a set of second teeth engageable and disengageable with one another thereby to define an open state and closed state, said zipper being disposed on said garment such that it is in generally transverse orientation relative said axis.
14. A fluid-resistant garment according to claim 13 including at least one first fingerhold disposed proximate to one end of said zipper and configured for engagement by a user's finger to assist operating said zipper.
15. A fluid-resistant garment according to claim 14 wherein said garment has an interior and an exterior, said garment including an elongate flap covering said zipper on a side thereof corresponding to said exterior, said fingerhold being formed integrally with said flap.
16. A fluid-resistant garment according to claim 15 wherein said flap is formed from a generally rectangular piece of material having first and second long edges and a pair of transverse short edges extending therebetween and intersecting the long edges to define corners and wherein a corner portion of said piece being folded over thereby to form said fingerhold.
17. A fluid-resistant garment according to claim 13 wherein said garment has an interior and an exterior, said garment including an elongate flap covering said zipper on a side thereof corresponding to said exterior.
18. A fluid-resistant garment according to claim 17 wherein said tape and an edge margin of said flap are located interiorly of said garment.
19. A fluid-resistant garment according to claim 17 wherein said flap is constructed of polypropylene.
20. A fluid-resistant garment according to claim 17 wherein said zipper and said flap are stitched to said material around a perimeter margin of said elongate opening.
21. A fluid-resistant garment according to claim 20 wherein said stitching is sealed with heat activated tape.
22. A fluid-resistant garment according to claim 13 including first and second fingerholds respectively disposed at opposite first and second ends of said zipper.
23. A fluid-resistant garment according to claim 22 wherein said garment has an interior and an exterior, said garment including an elongate flap covering said zipper on a side thereof corresponding to said exterior.
24. A fluid-resistant garment according to claim 23 wherein said flap is formed from a generally rectangular piece of material having first and second long edges and a pair of transverse short edges extending therebetween and intersecting the long edges to define corners and wherein first and second corner portions of said piece are folded over thereby to form said first and second fingerholds.
25. A fluid-resistant garment according to claim 13 wherein said trunk portion is adapted to extend around the waist of the wearer and includes a crotch portion with a pair of leg portions extending therefrom.
26. A fluid-resistant garment according to claim 25 wherein said zipper is disposed proximate said crotch portion.
27. A fluid-resistant garment according to claim 13 wherein said trunk portion is adapted to extend around the chest of the wearer.
28. A method for mounting a fluid-resistant zipper in an article having a panel portion formed of a flexible fluid-resistant material having a first side surface and an opposite second side surface comprising:
- A. forming an elongate opening through said panel;
- B. securing a fluid-resistant zipper in a substantially sealed manner to a margin area of said panel portion adjacent to the elongate opening, said zipper including a zipper tape supporting a set of first teeth and a set of second teeth engageable and disengageable with one another thereby to define an open state and closed state;
- C. disposing at least one fingerhold proximate an end of said zipper, whereby a user can engage said fingerhold when operating said zipper;
- D. stitching said zipper and said fingerhold to said material around a perimeter margin of said opening; and
- E. sealing said stitching.
29. The method according to claim 28 further comprising disposing an elongate flap covering said zipper on a side thereof corresponding to one of said first and second side surfaces.
30. The method according to claim 29 wherein said article has an interior, said tape and an edge margin of said flap are located interiorly of said article.
31. The method according to claim 29 wherein said fingerhold is formed integrally with said flap.
32. The method according to claim 31 wherein said flap is formed from a generally rectangular piece of material having first and second long edges and a pair of transverse short edges extending therebetween and intersecting the long edges to define corners and wherein a corner portion of said piece is folded over thereby to form said fingerhold.
33. In a garment adapted for use in a fluidic environment having a trunk portion with a central medial axis and adapted to extend around at least some of the torso of the wearer, the improvement comprising: a fluid-resistant zipper including a zipper tape supporting a set of first teeth and a set of second teeth engageable and disengageable with one another thereby to define an open state and closed state, said zipper being disposed on said garment in generally transverse orientation to said axis.
34. The improvement of claim 33 wherein said trunk portion is adapted to extend around the waist of the wearer and includes a crotch portion with a pair of leg portions extending therefrom.
35. The improvement of claim 34 wherein said zipper is disposed proximate said crotch portion.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 30, 2007
Publication Date: Feb 21, 2008
Inventors: Rodney L. King (Denver, CO), Phyllis Grimm (Englewood, CO), Robert M. Beaton (Evergreen, CO)
Application Number: 11/669,052
International Classification: A41D 1/06 (20060101); D05B 3/12 (20060101);