WO1993007776A1

WO1993007776A1 - A water-resistant closure

Info

Publication number: WO1993007776A1
Application number: PCT/US1992/009020
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean Norvell
Original assignee: W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Priority date: 1991-10-25
Filing date: 1992-10-21
Publication date: 1993-04-29

Abstract

A water-resistant closure comprising a layer of waterproof material (15) having an opening and disposed within the opening is a slide fastening device (12) comprised of a pair of stringer tapes (13) coated on both sides with a polymeric material. An attachment means (14) secures the slide fastening device in the opening and a sealing tape (16) covers the attachment means (14) and seals the stringer tape (13) to the waterproof material (15) forming the water-resistant garment closure. An article containing the water-resistant garment closure is also disclosed.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

A Water-Resistant Closure

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a slide fastener, more particularly to a water-resistant closure in which a slide fastener having polymeric coated tapes is sewn through the polymeric coated tapes and sealed against an article made of a waterproof material, and to articles containing the water-resistant garment closure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Water-resistant articles such as jackets, coats, pants and the like have been generally produced from materials made of rubber, waterproof plastics or coated fabrics. The rubber, waterproof plastics or coated fabric generally used to fabricate water-resistant articles have been impermeable to water vapor as well as liquid water. Water-resistant articles fabricated from these materials have limited comfort since perspiration produced by one wearing the article is trapped within the article.

For some years, water-resistant articles have been produced from materials that allow passage of water vapor while preventing passage of liquid water. These articles exhibit increased comfort in wear by permitting moisture vapor present in the wearer's perspiration to escape from within the article while in use. An example of this material is a fabric laminate containing a layer of expanded microporous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) produced by the process taught in USP 3,953,566 to Gore.

In order to construct water-resistant articles of waterproof material, waterproof materials are cut into pattern pieces and sewn together producing the article's shape. Care must be taken in the design of water-resistant articles to allow for sealing of seams present in the waterproof material used to form the article shape. Care must also be taken in design and placement of closures present in water-resistant articles to facilitate donning and doffing of these articles. Closures containing snaps, buttons or slide fasteners have been used in the design of water-resistant garments. However, water-resistant articles have additionally required a storm fly flap or flaps to be placed over the closures. The storm fly flap or flaps prevent the closures from coming in direct contact with a forceful spray of liquid and allowing liquid to pass between gaps in the closure. In the case of slide fasteners having teeth and fabric stringer tapes, liquid may pass between gaps in the teeth of the slide fastener or between the fibers of the fabric stringer tapes. Liquid may also wick tangentially along the fabric surface of the stringer tape thereby entering the article where the slide fastener is attached to the article.

However storm fly flaps are bulky, require sewing and sealing to the article to be effective, and are aesthetically limiting to garment manufacturers desiring to design water-resistant articles.

It is to the production of a simple, effective, water-resistant closure that the instant invention is directed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A water-resistant closure is disclosed. The water-resistant closure is comprised of a layer of waterproof materi l having two parallel longitudinal edges which define an opening in the waterproof material. A slide fastening device comprised of a pair of stringer tapes having an inside surface and an outside surface and coated on both surfaces with polymeric material. A series of cooperating slide fastener elements, such as teeth, coils or scoops comprising a set of such elements mounted on each of the stringer tapes. A slide cooperating with the set of fastener elements on the stringer tapes to open and close the slide fastening device is disposed within the opening in the waterproof material. The slide fastening device is securely attached by the stringer tapes to the waterproof material by an attachment means. A sealing tape covers and seals the attachment means as well as the edge of the stringer tape to the layer of waterproof material.

An article containing the instant water-resistant closure is also disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 depicts a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the instant water-resistant closure.

Figure 2 depicts a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the instant water-resistant closure. Figure 3 depicts a plain view of a separating water-resistant closure.

Figure 4 depicts a plain view of a non-separating water-resistant closure.

Figure 5 depicts an article containing a water-resistant closure of the instant invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Figure 1, a water-resistant closure is depicted. The water-resistant closure comprises a layer of waterproof material IS having two parallel longitudinal edges 13 and JLL which define an opening 1Q. The layer of waterproof material is selected from the group consisting of rubber, waterproof plastic and coated fabric. Preferably, the waterproof material is a breathable waterproof material. A breathable waterproof material is defined as a material that exhibits a water vapor-transmission

2 rate (WVTR) of 50 g/(m x 24 hr.) or greater as determined by the water vapor-transmission rate test described herein.

Breathable waterproof materials include fabrics coated with a breathable polymer. An example of a breathable polymer is a polyurethane taught in USP 4,532,316 to Henn incorporated herein by reference.

A breathable waterproof material may also be a fabric laminate where a breathable waterproof membrane is laminated to a fabric. The breathable waterproof membrane is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyester, polyethers, polyamides, polyacrylates, copolyether esters and copolyether amides. Preferably the breathable membrane is a membrane of microporous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) more preferably a membrane of expanded microporous PTFE taught in USP 3,953,566 to Gore incorporated herein by reference.

Still referring to Figure 1, a slide fastening device H is depicted as disposed within the opening l_O in the waterproof material. The slide fastening device is comprised of a pair of stringer tapes 13; having an inside surface 20. and an outside surface 21 coated on both surfaces with polymeric material. The stringer tapes may be composed of a knitted, woven or non-woven fabric, a porous membrane or a fabric laminate where a breathable waterproof membrane is laminated to a fabric as previously disclosed. The stringer tapes are coated on both sides with polymeric material so to render the stringer tapes water-resistant. The polymeric material coated on the inside surface and outside surface of the stringer tapes prevents water from passing through the stringer tapes in a normal direction. The polymeric material coated on the inside surface and outside surface of the stringer tapes also prevents water from wieking in a tangential direction along the stringer tapes. The polymeric material may be coated on the stringer tapes in various manners known in the art. The polymeric material may be dissolved in an appropriate solvent and brushed, dipped or sprayed onto the stringer tapes. Alternately, the polymeric material may be extruded onto the stringer tapes. Preferably, the polymeric material is in tape form and is melted and pressed onto the inside and outside surfaces of the stringer tapes.

Polymeric materials that have utility in the instant invention are selected from the group consisting of polyamide, polyethylene, polyester, natural rubber, nitrile rubber and butyl rubber. The preferred polymeric material is polyurethane. The polymeric material coated on the inside surface of the stringer tapes is not necessary the same polymeric material coated on the outside surface of the stringer tapes. Referring to Figure 3, a series of cooperating slide fastener elements 12 comprising a set of such elements mounted on each of the stringer tapes 11 and a slider 31 cooperating with the sets of fastener elements on the stringer tapes to open and close the slide fastening device. The series of cooperating slide fastener elements may be in the form of a coil, a series of teeth, or a series of scoops. The series of cooperating fastener elements may be a metal such as steel or brass or a plastic such as polyamide, polyester or polyvinyl chloride. Returning to Figure 1, an attachment means 14 is depicted.

The attachment means securely attaches the stringer tapes 13 of the slide fastening device to the layer of waterproof material 15. The means of attachment is most commonly a stitch.

Still referring to Figure 1, a sealing tape 16 covers and seals the attachment means 14 and the edge of the stringer tape to the layer of waterproof material. The polymeric material coated on the inside surface of the stringer tape 20. may be selected to aid the adherence and sealing of the sealing tape 1_6_ to the stringer tape 13- The sealing tape is composed of a thermoplastic polymeric adhesive layer 17 and a backing layer 18. The thermoplastic polymeric adhesive layer is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride and fluorinated ethylene propylene. Preferably, the thermoplastic polymeric adhesive layer is polyurethane. The backing layer IS is a microporous polymeric membrane. The microporous polymeric membrane preferably is microporous PTFE, more preferably expanded microporous PTFE as taught in USP 3,953,566 to Gore previously incorporated herein by reference.

Alternatively, the backing layer IS may be a fabric laminate comprised of a microporous polymeric membrane laminated to a fabric layer.

Referring to Figure 2, an alternate embodiment of the invention is depicted. In this embodiment, the stringer tapes are folded back on themselves so the tapes essentially cover the series of cooperating slide fastener elements 12, thereby limiting direct access of water to the area between the series of cooperating slide fastener elements. The water-resistant closure may be in the form of a separating slide fastener, as depicted in Figure 3 or in the form of a non-separating slide fastener as depicted in Figure 4.

Articles which contain the water-resistant closure are fabricated from a layer of waterproof material, as previously defined herein, using assembly techniques known in the art such as, for example, cutting the layer of waterproof material into shapes and sewing the shapes together to form an article. Seams formed in the waterproof layer through sewing may be sealed using sealing techniques known in the art such as, for example, sealing with a sealing tape as previously defined herein.

An example of an article containing the water-resistant closure is depicted in Figure 5. The term "article" is defined herein to include coats, pants, gloves, hats, boots, shoes, socks, tents, sleeping bags and luggage is not limited to the embodiment depicted in Figure 5.

Since many modifications, variations and changes in detail may be made to the presently described articles, it is intended that all matter in the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting.

TEST DESCRIPTIONS

HATER VAPOR TRANSMISSION RATE (WVTR)

A description of the test employed to measure water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) is given below. The procedure has been found to be suitable for testing the materials and products of this invention.

In the procedure, approximately 70 ml. of a solution consisting of 35 parts by weight of sodium chloride 133 ml. polypropylene cup, having an inside diameter of 6.5 cm. at its mouth.

An expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane having a WVTR of approximately 34,200 g/( x 24 hr) as tested by the method described in USP 4,862,730 to Crosby, and available from W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. of Newark, Delaware, was heat sealed to the lip of the cup to create a taut, leakproof, microporous barrier containing the solution. A similar expanded PTFE membrane was mounted to the surface of a water bath. The water bath assembly was controlled at 23^βC plus or minus 0.2^βC, utilizing a temperature controlled room and a water-circulating bath.

The sample to be tested was allowed to condition at a temperature of 23°C and a relative humidity of 50% prior to performing the test procedure. Samples were placed in contact with the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane mounted ;o the surface of the water bath.

The cup assembly was weighed to the nearest 1/1000 g and was placed in an inverted manner onto the center of the test sample.

Water transport was provided by the driving force between the water in the water bath and the saturated salt solution providing water flux by diffusion in that direction. The sample was tested for 15 minutes and the cup assembly was then removed, weighed again within 1/1000 g.

The WVTR of the sample was calculated from the weight gain of the cup assembly and was expressed in grams of water per square meter of sample surface area per 24 hours.

EXAMPLES

Example 1

A water-resistant closure of the instant invention was produced in the following manner.

A separating slide fastener was obtained. The slide fastening device had polymeric coils attached to polyester fabric stringer tapes and was 66 cm in length. The stringer tapes were subsequently coated on both sides with a 0.2 mm thick thermoplastic polyurethane tape that had been cut to match the length and width of the stringer tapes. Care was taken so that the polymeric coils would be free of the thermoplastic polyurethane tapes thereby allowing the slide fastening device to operate smoothly. The thermoplastic polyurethane tapes were melted into the stringer tapes by covering the stringer tapes with release paper and placing the stringer tapes in a sealing press heated to 191°C for 15 seconds with sufficient pressure to force the thermoplastic polyurethane into the fabric of the stringer tapes. Care was taken to apply heat and pressure only to the stringer tapes and not to the polymeric coils contained thereon so as not to deform the polymeric coils.

The slide fastening device was removed from the sealing press and the thermoplastic polymeric tapes were allowed to cool before the release paper was stripped from the surface of thermoplastic polyurethane tapes.

The slide fastening device was inserted into a front opening of a jacket made from a waterproof laminate containing a polyester fabric layer laminated to a waterproof layer (GORE-TEX® laminate available from W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Elkton, MD). The slide fastening device was sewn into the jacket using a cotton-covered polyester thread at 3-4 stitches per cm. Subsequently, the stitches were sealed using a 0.2 mm thick thermoplastic polyurethane seam sealing tape (Gore-Seam® tape available from W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc, Elkton, MD). The thermoplastic polyurethane seam sealing tape was arranged so that the thermoplastic polyurethane seam sealing tape covered the stitches found in the stringer tape and a portion of the inside surface of the fabric laminate. Heat and pressure was used to melt and seal the thermoplastic polyurethane seam sealing tape to the stringer tape and to the inside surface of the fabric laminate.

To test the water resistance of the closure, the finished jacket was placed on a mannequin, and the slide fastening device was closed as in actual use. A plastic bag was placed over the head of the mannequin and was sealed over the collar of the jacket so water would not enter the jacket through the head opening.

Water was sprayed upon the jacket from an overhead nozzle to simulate a rainfall of approximately 7.6 cm/hr. The duration of the water spray was thirty minutes. Upon termination of the water spray, the inside surface of the jacket was carefully inspected for the presence of water penetration. No water was found within the jacket.

Example 2

A slide fastener as in Example 1 was obtained. Both surfaces of the stringer tapes were coated by carefully brushing by hand an amount of molten thermoplastic polyurethane onto the surfaces. The molten thermoplastic polyurethane was allowed to cool and solidify.

The slide fastener, containing the coatings of thermoplastic polyurethane was attached and sealed to a jacket as in Example 1.

The jacket was tested by the method as described in Example 1 for thirty minutes. No water was found within the jacket.

Claims

I CLAIM:

1. A water-resistant closure comprising:

(a) a layer of waterproof material having two parallel longitudinal edges defining an opening in the

5 waterproof material ;

(b) a slide fastening device disposed within the opening in the waterproof material comprising a pair of stringer tapes having an inside surface and an outside surface and coated on both surfaces with a polymeric 0 material, a series of cooperating slide fastener elements comprising a set of such elements mounted on each of the stringer tapes and a slider cooperating with the sets of fastener elements on the stringer tapes to open and close the slide fastening device; 5 (c) an attachment means which securely attaches the stringer tapes of the slide fastening device to the layer of waterproof material; and (d) a sealing tape covering and sealing the attachment means and the edge of the stringer tape to the layer o of waterproof materi al .

2. A water-resistant closure as in Claim 1 wherein the slide fastening device is a separating slide fastener.

3. A water-resistant closure as in Claim 1 wherein the slide fastening device is a non-separating slide fastener. 5

4. A water-resistant closure as in Claim 1 wherein the series of cooperating slide fastener element is a coil.

5. A water-resistant closure as in Claim 1 wherein the series of cooperating slide fastener element is a series of teeth.

6. A water-resistant closure as in Claim 1 wherein the series of cooperating slide fastener element is a series of scoops.

7. A water-resistant closure as in Claim 1 wherein the polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyamide, polyethylene, polyester, natural rubber, nitrile rubber and butyl rubber.

8. A water-resistant closure as in Claim 1 wherein the polymeric material is polyurethane.

9. A water-resistant closure as in Claim 1 wherein the sealing tape further comprises a thermoplastic polymeric adhesive layer and a backing layer.

10. A water-resistant closure as in Claim 9 wherein the thermoplastic polymeric adhesive layer is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride and fluorinated ethylene propylene.

11. A water-resistant closure as in Claim 9 wherein the thermoplastic polymeric adhesive layer is polyurethane.

12. A water-resistant closure as in Claim 9 wherein the backing layer is a microporous polymeric membrane.

13. A water-resistant closure as in Claim 12 wherein the microporous polymeric membrane is expanded microporous polytetraf1uoroethylene.

14. A water-resistant closure as in Claim 9 wherein the backing layer further comprises a microporous polymeric membrane laminated to a fabric layer.

15. A water-resistant closure as in Claim 1 wherein the layer of waterproof material is selected from the group consisting of rubber, waterproof plastic and coated fabric.

16. A water-resistant closure as in Claim 1 wherein the layer of waterproof material is a breathable waterproof material.

17. A water-resistant closure as in Claim 16 wherein the breathable waterproof material is a fabric coated with a breathable polymer.

18. A water-resistant closure as in Claim 16 wherein the breathable waterproof material is a breathable waterproof membrane laminated to a fabric.

19. A water-resistant closure as in Claim 18 wherein the breathable waterproof membrane is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyester, polyethers, polyamides, polyacrylates, copolyether esters, and copolyether amides.

20. A water-resistant closure as defined in Claim 18 wherein the breathable waterproof membrane is a membrane of expanded microporous polytetrafluoroethylene.

21. An article comprising: a layer of waterproof material containing a water-resistant closure, and a water-resistant closure comprising;

(a) a layer of waterproof material having two parallel longitudinal edges defining an opening in the waterproof material;

(b) a slide fastening device disposed within the opening in the waterproof material comprising a pair of stringer tapes having an inside surface and an outside surface and coated on both surfaces with a polymeric material, a series of cooperating slide fastener elements comprising a set of such elements mounted on each of the stringer tapes and a slider cooperating with the sets of fastener elements on the stringer tapes to open and close the slide fastening device;

(c) an attachment means which securely attaches the stringer tapes of the slide fastening device to the layer of waterproof material; and

(d) a sealing tape covering and sealing the attachment means and the edge of the stringer tape to the layer of waterproof material .