WO2009139617A2 - An electro-static discharge garment with covered conductive threads in double j-shaped seams - Google Patents

An electro-static discharge garment with covered conductive threads in double j-shaped seams Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2009139617A2
WO2009139617A2 PCT/MY2009/000061 MY2009000061W WO2009139617A2 WO 2009139617 A2 WO2009139617 A2 WO 2009139617A2 MY 2009000061 W MY2009000061 W MY 2009000061W WO 2009139617 A2 WO2009139617 A2 WO 2009139617A2
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
garment
esd
seam
sections
conductive
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/MY2009/000061
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2009139617A3 (en
Inventor
Kek Hing Kow
Original Assignee
Kek Hing Kow
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Kek Hing Kow filed Critical Kek Hing Kow
Publication of WO2009139617A2 publication Critical patent/WO2009139617A2/en
Publication of WO2009139617A3 publication Critical patent/WO2009139617A3/en

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Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A41WEARING APPAREL
    • A41DOUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
    • A41D13/00Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches
    • A41D13/008Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches protecting against electric shocks or static electricity
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A41WEARING APPAREL
    • A41DOUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
    • A41D27/00Details of garments or of their making
    • A41D27/24Hems; Seams

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to electro-static discharge (ESD) garments. It relates specifically to an ESD garment with covered conductive threads in double J-shaped seams.
  • Certain environments for example an electro-static protected area (EPA) are sensitive to the presence of static electricity.
  • static electricity is dissipated from a person is by means of a conductive garment worn by the person, which is electrically connected to the external surface of the body of the person.
  • An electrical conductive grounding wire connects the conductive garment to the ground.
  • the persons it is known for the persons to wear shoes or boots that have electrically conductive soles.
  • ESD garment normally employs carbon loaded conductive filament to form parallel conductive lining or grid conductive lining.
  • the ESD garment can be constructed as a pant suit, a smock or any other type of garment, which is intended to be worn as an over-garment about the usual clothing of a person.
  • An over-garment such as a pant suit, is formed from constituent sections of a torso section to which are attached a collar section, a pair of arm sections, and a pair of leg sections.
  • Such a garment would include a collar seam, two arm seams, a cross seam and a crotch seam.
  • the ESD garment will be effective in draining away any static charge when it is grounded.
  • this joint integrity becomes a critical component in the design of a good ESD garment. It is a standard practice in the industry to wash ESD garment, using a fifty-cycle wash standard. The washing can cause the seam linings to break. Any breakage in the electrical continuity will result in "pockets of charges" floating on the surface of the ESD garment.
  • United States Patent Number 5,548,469 highlights the combination of a sleeve of an electrically conductive smock and a dual-contact wrist strap to dissipate static charge, through two grounding paths.
  • Japanese Patent Number 01-111003 discloses the joining of conductive constituent sections together through the use of "higher density" conductive strip to form an ESD smock garment. The patent did not provide any form of covering or enclosure for the joining strip.
  • United States Patent Number 5,991,922 highlights the use of an electrically conductive ribbon as a collector of static electricity from conductive threads impregnated on the fabric of an ESD garment.
  • the ESD garment can be electrically connected to the ground through the conductive ribbon mounted on both boots, which are electrically connected to both soles.
  • the present invention has therefore a primary object to provide an electro-static discharge (ESD) garment with covered conductive threads in double J-shaped seams. Another object of the present invention is to avoid the occurrence of micro-sparking in ESD garments.
  • ESD electro-static discharge
  • only one conductive thread is first sewed along the edge of either upper or lower constituent conductive fabric section.
  • a conductive thread is first sewed along each joining edge of upper and lower constituent conductive fabric sections. The two adjacent joining edges are next folded to form a double J-shaped seam.
  • This special seam with four layers of conductive fabric is sewed together with normal thread.
  • This special seam enables multiple paths of drainage of static electricity along the joining of an ESD garment, even after long use of the garment.
  • These special seams are employed to form an ESD garment such as a pant suit, by sewing together constituent sections of a collar section, a pair of arm sections, and a pair of leg sections to a torso section.
  • Figure 1 shows generally the locations of seams to be used to construct one example of an ESD garment in the form of a pant suit.
  • Figure 2 shows a cross-section view of broken bends of a prior art double J-shaped seam with a conductive ribbon.
  • Figure 3a shows in cross-section a first step of sewing a conductive thread along each joining edge of each constituent conductive fabric section.
  • Figure 3b shows in cross-section a second step of forming a double J-shaped seam in the present invention, with two constituent conductive fabric sections as in Figure 3a.
  • Figure 3 c shows in cross-section a third step of sewing with normal threads through two adjacent joining constituent conductive fabric sections.
  • Figure 3d shows a perspective view of two constituent conductive fabric sections joined as a double J-shaped seam according to the present invention.
  • Figure 3e shows a cross-section view of upper and lower broken bends of the double J- shaped seam according to the present invention.
  • Figure 4 shows a cross-section view of an upper broken bend of the double J-shaped seam according to the present invention.
  • ESD electro-static discharge
  • Figure 1 One example of an electro-static discharge (ESD) garment is shown in Figure 1 in the form of a pant suit. It comprises constituent conductive fabric sections (10) of a torso section (1), a collar section (2), a pair of arm sections (3) and a pair of leg sections (4). Each two constituent sections (10) is joined together by overlapping a first constituent section onto a second constituent section and sewn together with the use of special seams, which are a collar seam (21), two arm seams (31), a cross seam (41) and a crotch seam (42).
  • the first constituent section and the second constituent section are also referred to an upper section and lower section respectively.
  • the ESD garment of the present invention can be constructed as a pant suit, a smock or any other type of garment. It can also be worn as an over-garment about the usual clothing of a person. It is important to note that the ESD garment is suitably grounded to earth.
  • a prior art double J-shaped seam has been improved with two embodiments.
  • only one conductive thread (9) is first sewed along the joining edge of either upper or lower constituent conductive fabric section (10).
  • a conductive thread (9) is sewed along the joining edges of upper and lower constituent conductive fabric sections (10).
  • a conductive thread (9) is sewed along each joining edge of upper and lower constituent conductive fabric sections (10) making up the ESD garment.
  • the two joining edges of upper and lower constituent conductive fabric sections (10) are next folded to form a double J-shaped seam.
  • Four layers of the conductive fabric are thus pressed together to form the double J-shaped seam.
  • the double arrows shown in the constituent conductive fabric sections (10) indicate how static electricity can travel from one constituent conductive fabric section (10) to another constituent conductive fabric section (10).
  • normal threads (11) are used to sew these four layers of conductive fabric together.
  • the conductive threads (9) act to drain static electricity to the ground.
  • “sharp bend” (12) of the constituent conductive fabric section (10) at the double J-shaped seam is broken off due to washing, drying, and wear and tear.
  • Lower “sharp bend” (12) is however not broken off. It is important to note that the edge of lower constituent conductive fabric section (10) is sewed with a conductive thread (9). The static electricity is thus allowed to travel from one constituent conductive fabric section (10) to another constituent conductive fabric section (10) of the ESD garment.

Abstract

An electro-static discharge (ESD) garment can be constructed as a pant suit, a smock or any other type of garment which is intended to be worn as an over-garment about the usual clothing of a person. An over-garment such as a pant suit is formed from constituent sections (10) of a torso section (1), a collar section (2), a pair of arm sections (3), and a pair of leg sections (4). Such an ESD garment would include a collar seam (21), two arm seams (31), a cross seam (41), and a crotch seam (42). These seam linings dissipate or drain static charge from the human body to the ground, if there is electrical continuity throughout the joining. At each seam, upper and lower constituent conductive fabric sections (10) are sewed together with normal thread (11). According to one embodiment of the present invention, a conductive thread (9) is first sewed along the joining edge of either upper or lower constituent conductive fabric section (10). Alternatively in another embodiment, a conductive thread is sewed along the joining edges of upper and lower constituent conductive fabric sections (10). Next, the two joining edges of upper and lower constituent conductive fabric sections (iθ) are adjacently folded to form a double J-shaped seam. This special seam with four layers of conductive fabric is sewed together with normal threads (11). This special seam enables multiple paths of drainage of static electricity along the joining of the ESD garment, even after long use.

Description

AN ELECTRO-STATIC DISCHARGE GARMENT WITH COVERED CONDUCTIVE THREADS IN DOUBLE J-SHAPED SEAMS
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to electro-static discharge (ESD) garments. It relates specifically to an ESD garment with covered conductive threads in double J-shaped seams.
BACKGROUND ART
The Electro-Static Discharge Association of the United States of America estimates that approximately US$40 billions worth of microchips are lost every year, due to damage caused by electro-static discharge (ESD). Microchips are getting smaller and increasingly more sensitive to static electricity, due to miniaturisation trend of semiconductors. The importance of ESD control is already well known and deserves due attention.
Certain environments, for example an electro-static protected area (EPA), are sensitive to the presence of static electricity. One common way that static electricity is dissipated from a person is by means of a conductive garment worn by the person, which is electrically connected to the external surface of the body of the person. An electrical conductive grounding wire connects the conductive garment to the ground. Also, it is known for the persons to wear shoes or boots that have electrically conductive soles.
Workers in electro-static protected areas (EPA) normally wear ESD garments to shield away any static charge generated from normal clothing worn during daily production work. ESD garment normally employs carbon loaded conductive filament to form parallel conductive lining or grid conductive lining. The ESD garment can be constructed as a pant suit, a smock or any other type of garment, which is intended to be worn as an over-garment about the usual clothing of a person. An over-garment, such as a pant suit, is formed from constituent sections of a torso section to which are attached a collar section, a pair of arm sections, and a pair of leg sections. Such a garment would include a collar seam, two arm seams, a cross seam and a crotch seam. These seam linings dissipate or drain static charge from the human body to the ground, if there is electrical continuity throughout the joining. At each seam, two conductive fabric sections are joined together by stitches.
If there is no breakage of electrical continuity throughout the joining of the constituent sections of an ESD garment, the ESD garment will be effective in draining away any static charge when it is grounded. As per the sleeve-to-sleeve electrical resistance test according to the Electro-Static Discharge Association (USA) STM 2.1. standard test method, this joint integrity becomes a critical component in the design of a good ESD garment. It is a standard practice in the industry to wash ESD garment, using a fifty-cycle wash standard. The washing can cause the seam linings to break. Any breakage in the electrical continuity will result in "pockets of charges" floating on the surface of the ESD garment.
Current methods of joining different constituent sections of the ESD garment include using normal thread, conductive carbon loaded thread or conductive thread. The joining of all current seams is by sewing the thread along the edges of the constituent sections. Tests have shown that the use of conductive thread will provide better contact and have lower electrical resistance between different constituent sections of the ESD garment. Exposed conductive thread poses as a risk to electrical hazard, from an accidental contact of this "live" or "hot" item in a highly automated work environment. The exposed conductive thread is also a concern to the generation of micro-spark. When an electronic item such as a printed circuit board, a microchip or any charge-sensitive production item accidentally comes in contact with this exposed conductive thread of an ESD garment, an ESD occurs, risking damage to an electronic item.
United States Patent Number 5,548,469 highlights the combination of a sleeve of an electrically conductive smock and a dual-contact wrist strap to dissipate static charge, through two grounding paths.
Japanese Patent Number 01-111003 discloses the joining of conductive constituent sections together through the use of "higher density" conductive strip to form an ESD smock garment. The patent did not provide any form of covering or enclosure for the joining strip.
United States Patent Number 5,991,922 highlights the use of an electrically conductive ribbon as a collector of static electricity from conductive threads impregnated on the fabric of an ESD garment. The ESD garment can be electrically connected to the ground through the conductive ribbon mounted on both boots, which are electrically connected to both soles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has therefore a primary object to provide an electro-static discharge (ESD) garment with covered conductive threads in double J-shaped seams. Another object of the present invention is to avoid the occurrence of micro-sparking in ESD garments.
These and other objects are achieved by two embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment, only one conductive thread is first sewed along the edge of either upper or lower constituent conductive fabric section. In another embodiment, a conductive thread is first sewed along each joining edge of upper and lower constituent conductive fabric sections. The two adjacent joining edges are next folded to form a double J-shaped seam. This special seam with four layers of conductive fabric is sewed together with normal thread. This special seam enables multiple paths of drainage of static electricity along the joining of an ESD garment, even after long use of the garment. These special seams are employed to form an ESD garment such as a pant suit, by sewing together constituent sections of a collar section, a pair of arm sections, and a pair of leg sections to a torso section.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, the following description is given, by way of example, of one method of covering up a seam in an electro-static discharge (ESD) garment. Reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows generally the locations of seams to be used to construct one example of an ESD garment in the form of a pant suit.
Figure 2 shows a cross-section view of broken bends of a prior art double J-shaped seam with a conductive ribbon. Figure 3a shows in cross-section a first step of sewing a conductive thread along each joining edge of each constituent conductive fabric section.
Figure 3b shows in cross-section a second step of forming a double J-shaped seam in the present invention, with two constituent conductive fabric sections as in Figure 3a.
Figure 3 c shows in cross-section a third step of sewing with normal threads through two adjacent joining constituent conductive fabric sections.
Figure 3d shows a perspective view of two constituent conductive fabric sections joined as a double J-shaped seam according to the present invention.
Figure 3e shows a cross-section view of upper and lower broken bends of the double J- shaped seam according to the present invention.
Figure 4 shows a cross-section view of an upper broken bend of the double J-shaped seam according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
One example of an electro-static discharge (ESD) garment is shown in Figure 1 in the form of a pant suit. It comprises constituent conductive fabric sections (10) of a torso section (1), a collar section (2), a pair of arm sections (3) and a pair of leg sections (4). Each two constituent sections (10) is joined together by overlapping a first constituent section onto a second constituent section and sewn together with the use of special seams, which are a collar seam (21), two arm seams (31), a cross seam (41) and a crotch seam (42). The first constituent section and the second constituent section are also referred to an upper section and lower section respectively.
The ESD garment of the present invention can be constructed as a pant suit, a smock or any other type of garment. It can also be worn as an over-garment about the usual clothing of a person. It is important to note that the ESD garment is suitably grounded to earth.
As seen in Figure 2, a prior art double J-shaped seam with a conductive ribbon (6) was disclosed in United States Patent Number 5,991,922. The double J-shaped seam in the ESD garment deteriorates after washing, drying, and wear and tear. The "sharp bends" (8) at the seam break off, thus breaking the electrical continuity of the ESD garment. It is obvious that the flow of static electricity (shown in shaded section) is blocked and stopped at the broken bends (8).
According to the present invention, a prior art double J-shaped seam has been improved with two embodiments. In one embodiment, only one conductive thread (9) is first sewed along the joining edge of either upper or lower constituent conductive fabric section (10). In another embodiment, a conductive thread (9) is sewed along the joining edges of upper and lower constituent conductive fabric sections (10).
As a first step of the invention as seen in Figure 3 a, a conductive thread (9) is sewed along each joining edge of upper and lower constituent conductive fabric sections (10) making up the ESD garment. As a second step as seen in Figure 3b, the two joining edges of upper and lower constituent conductive fabric sections (10) are next folded to form a double J-shaped seam. Four layers of the conductive fabric are thus pressed together to form the double J-shaped seam. The double arrows shown in the constituent conductive fabric sections (10) indicate how static electricity can travel from one constituent conductive fabric section (10) to another constituent conductive fabric section (10).
As shown in Figures 3c and 3d, normal threads (11) are used to sew these four layers of conductive fabric together. This is the third step of the invention where conductive threads (9) are imbedded and covered inside a double J-shaped seam. The conductive threads (9) act to drain static electricity to the ground.
In one probable situation according to the present invention as shown in Figure 3e, upper and lower "sharp bends" (12) of the constituent conductive fabric sections (10) at the seam are both broken off due to washing, drying, and wear and tear. However, the flow of static electricity (as shown in shaded sections) continued through the conductive fabric and the conductive threads (9). The conductive threads (9) imbedded in the broken double J-shaped seam connect electrically the four layers of conductive fabric. The static electricity is thus allowed to travel from one constituent conductive fabric section (10) to another constituent conductive fabric section (10) of the ESD garment. Ultimately, the static electricity will be drained to earth since the ESD garment is grounded to earth.
In another probable situation according to the present invention as shown in Figure 4, upper
"sharp bend" (12) of the constituent conductive fabric section (10) at the double J-shaped seam is broken off due to washing, drying, and wear and tear. Lower "sharp bend" (12) is however not broken off. It is important to note that the edge of lower constituent conductive fabric section (10) is sewed with a conductive thread (9). The static electricity is thus allowed to travel from one constituent conductive fabric section (10) to another constituent conductive fabric section (10) of the ESD garment.
Yet in another probable situation, lower "sharp bend" (12) of the constituent conductive fabric section (10) at the double J-shaped seam is broken off. Upper "sharp bend" (12) is however not broken off. The same drainage effect of static electricity is achieved when the edge of upper constituent conductive fabric section (10) is sewed with a conductive thread (9).

Claims

1) An electro-static discharge (ESD) garment, formed from constituent sections (10) made from conductive fabric, where each two constituent sections (10) is joined together by overlapping a first constituent section onto a second constituent section and sewn with seams, each of said seam comprising: a conductive thread (9) sewn along the joining edge of at least one constituent section (10) making up said ESD garment, whereby said joining edge of each constituent section (10) is folded to form a double J-shaped seam; and a normal thread (11) sewn said double J-shaped seam together so that said conductive thread (9) is imbedded and covered inside said double J-shaped seam.
2) An electro-static discharge (ESD) garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conductive thread (9) is sewn along the joining edges of said first and second constituent conductive fabric sections (10).
3) An electro-static discharge (ESD) garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said double J- shaped seam comprises four layers of conductive fabric.
4) An electro-static discharge (ESD) garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ESD garment is suitably grounded to earth.
5) An electro-static discharge (ESD) garment as claimed in claim 4, wherein said ESD garment includes a smock. 6) An electro-static discharge (ESD) garment as claimed in claim 4, wherein said ESD garment includes a pant suit.
PCT/MY2009/000061 2008-05-16 2009-05-15 An electro-static discharge garment with covered conductive threads in double j-shaped seams WO2009139617A2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
MYPI20081642 2008-05-16
MYPI20081642 2008-05-16

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WO2009139617A2 true WO2009139617A2 (en) 2009-11-19
WO2009139617A3 WO2009139617A3 (en) 2010-04-01

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2011098050A1 (en) * 2010-02-12 2011-08-18 Esd Technology Consulting & Licensing Co., Ltd Electrostatic dissipative garment with interchangeable elastic bands
TWI563878B (en) * 2013-01-09 2016-12-21 Advanced Semiconductor Eng Static grounding device for worker
CN111712152A (en) * 2018-02-21 2020-09-25 Sp有限责任公司 Garment incorporating at least one conductive thread and associated production method

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2001073207A (en) * 1999-08-31 2001-03-21 Teijin Ltd Antistatic clothing
JP2008001996A (en) * 2006-06-20 2008-01-10 Asahi Kasei Fibers Corp Antistatic garment
JP6053964B2 (en) * 2013-02-08 2016-12-27 ネステク ソシエテ アノニム Simplified control panel for food preparation machines

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS58160209U (en) * 1982-04-15 1983-10-25 ミドリ安全工業株式会社 Clothing to prevent static electricity
JP3880743B2 (en) * 1998-03-31 2007-02-14 セーレン株式会社 Woven fabric and dust-proof garment with excellent conductivity and antistatic properties

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2001073207A (en) * 1999-08-31 2001-03-21 Teijin Ltd Antistatic clothing
JP2008001996A (en) * 2006-06-20 2008-01-10 Asahi Kasei Fibers Corp Antistatic garment
JP6053964B2 (en) * 2013-02-08 2016-12-27 ネステク ソシエテ アノニム Simplified control panel for food preparation machines

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2011098050A1 (en) * 2010-02-12 2011-08-18 Esd Technology Consulting & Licensing Co., Ltd Electrostatic dissipative garment with interchangeable elastic bands
CN102858195A (en) * 2010-02-12 2013-01-02 大科防静电技术咨询(深圳)有限公司 Electrostatic dissipative garment with interchangeable elastic bands
TWI563878B (en) * 2013-01-09 2016-12-21 Advanced Semiconductor Eng Static grounding device for worker
CN111712152A (en) * 2018-02-21 2020-09-25 Sp有限责任公司 Garment incorporating at least one conductive thread and associated production method
CN111712152B (en) * 2018-02-21 2022-10-21 Sp有限责任公司 Garment incorporating at least one conductive thread and associated production method

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